Merritt Clubs Blog

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All of us here at Baltimore's best gym and fitness club want to remind everyone that it’s Emotional Wellness Month. And as many family doctors have pointed out over the years, the condition of our bodies has the potential to impact our emotions. So this is the perfect week to sign up for a gym and fitness club membership.

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends physical exercise, healthy eating, forming social bonds and developing relaxation routines as some of the best ways to achieve emotional wellness. And you’ll find opportunities to do all four at our Merritt Athletic Clubs locations. Just look at our list of health and wellness programs alone. It includes, but isn’t restricted to the following:

• Lunchtime Fitness Sessions with Personal Trainers
• Health Counseling and Wellness Coaching
• Get Fit, Stay Fit Support Groups
• Nutrition and Weight Management
• Anti-Aging Workouts for Seniors
• Fit & Pregnant Classes

 

We’ve also got a short list of fitness club programs and amenities designed to help people toss away their stress. It includes group fitness, yoga, pilates, dance, aquatics, gymnastics and massage. Of course some folks may find sweating the stress out during a kickboxing class or elliptical workout helpful too.

Plus, there’s something for all members of the family, including the kids. They may enjoy our XRKade, camps, birthday parties and classes. Parents, on the other hand, rave about our onsite childcare services. They make it possible for moms and dads to get a workout in even when their kids’ regular babysitter is out of town.

To learn more about them and the other benefits of joining Baltimore’s best gym during Emotional Wellness Month, please contact us today. And when you do call or e-mail us, be sure to ask about our free e-book offer. It will help provide you with the secrets to achieving excellent health.

 

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If you're looking for a place to work out, there are options on just about every corner. But if you're serious about getting healthy, you need to look a little deeper into what a health club offers.

Speak with a Dietician

Exercise is important to your health, but it's just as important to monitor how you are fueling your body. People trying to lose weight or just maintain a healthy lifestyle are often left to their own devices in the area of diet, because most gyms just deal with exercise. Merritt Athletic Clubs offers a dietician on staff (learn more here) who can help with issues such as weight loss, nutritional help for medical problems, diets to achieve peak athletic performance, and eating to prevent illness. When trying to achieve wellness, don't leave out this piece of the puzzle.

Massage Therapy

Many people view massage as an unnecessary, indulgent activity, but it has many health benefits, including stress relief, increasing blood flow, release of toxins, and overall wellness. We offer Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, Sports, and Pregnancy Massages. Call us to find out which one is right for you. Learn more and book appointment here!

Spa Services

Part of overall wellness is simply feeling good about yourself, so we also offer spa services at many of our locations. Whether you need a facial, hair services, a manicure or pedicure, we are hear to make sure you leave feeling your best.

For overall wellness, it's important to have all the pieces of the puzzle. Once you do, exercising becomes much more productive and you will see more impressive results. The Mayo Clinic suggests 150 minutes of moderate, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week, as well as strength training twice a week. Whether you enjoy swimming laps in the pool, taking a group class, or working out on the machines by yourself, we provide many opportunities so that you can achieve optimal health.

To find a location that provides the services you are looking for, contact us.

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Looking at these pictures, I am reminded of why I love CrossFit. I can see the agony and determination on our faces. What’s more difficult to see is the the elation. This was one of the most fun and challenging competitions I’ve ever experienced. The pictures are from the Mid-Atlantic Affiliate Challenge, a team competition for CrossFitters from the entire Mid-Atlantic region. This weekend I’ll be competing for a second time. A lot has happened in the last year, including a shoulder injury, a lot of time off and rehab. Leading up to this point every time I think about it I fight back the urge to toss my cookies. All the old self-doubts surface. Am I ready to compete again? Will I hurt my shoulder? What if I let my teammates down? And so, on. What's worse is after last year I know just how bad it hurts physically. Why on Earth then, would I voluntarily put myself through the agony once again?

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When I was eliminated from the show (The Biggest Loser) during week 7, I had so many different thoughts going through my mind. After a good nights sleep, a long flight home from L.A. and being reunited with my family and friends, I realized I still had a job to do and that was lose this weight I started losing during production. Fast forward a year and I find myself in the real competition. NBC has wrapped season 15, I have settled back into my life as a professional speaker and college instructor, not to mention being a husband and father. That is the TRUE reality. While I was blessed to be afforded the opportunity to be trained by television personalities in a "state of the art" fitness center, that was a vacation compared to where the true competition is.

As you are embarking on this challenge, remember to keep everything in perspective. One of the biggest lessons I learned while on "The Ranch" was to make sure I celebrate EVERY single victory, no matter how great or small. During an on camera workout, Bob Harper was teaching my team how to do Thrusters. The other four members of my team got to do them with just the bar while he actually made me perform the workout with weight on the bar. This particular part of the workout was 3 rounds for time and I was very discouraged that I was the last person to finish my three rounds. Later that night, while icing following the workout, our athletic trainer Sandy Krum was talking to me about that workout and told me how proud of me he was. I looked at him as if to say, "are you kidding me?" and he IMMEDIATELY retorted that I did a great job! "How?" I asked and he said, "not only did you have the most weight of everyone to lift, but you were able to complete it and last week, that probably would not have been the case. You need to make sure you celebrate all the victories so that you can reflect on them when the times are rough or you need to be encouraged."

While I am not satisfied with where I am physically ( remember I still weighed over 300 pounds during my finale weighin), I look back at who I was a year ago and realize I have come a LONG way. Now, the key is moving onto this next challenge and getting to my goal weight which is going to take time.....but what fun it is going to be along the way.

Hey Biggest Loser Club, yeah, there is a $1,000 prize on the line and who couldn't use an extra $1,000? But remember what the BIGGEST prize is. Yes, for most of us, this is going to be one of the hardest things we have ever done. But there is a reason you signed up and I am almost certain that prize money was a secondary reason. What will your success story be when the April finale comes along? What are the goals you are setting for the next 2 months and how are you going to celebrate your victories (great or small)? I am so honored that I get to take part in this journey with you all....so what are YOU waiting for?!

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