Merritt Clubs Blog

Knock those love handles out! Become a member at Merritt Athletic Clubs with your significant other. Love makes the world go round, but it can also add to your waistline when relationship weight gain creeps up on you. Visiting a fitness center regularly will help you stay in top shape together.

It’s great to have someone to share your life with. It’s not so great when that same contentment makes it tempting to stay home and eat in front of the TV. Add in the pressures of parenthood and the stress of juggling career and home responsibilities, and it’s no wonder people in committed relationships tend to put on weight.

Working out together will help you stay healthy and attractive for each other. Obviously, it’s cruel and not even effective to get into name calling and nagging if your partner has a gotten a little bigger than when you first met. The most effective strategy is to support each other in making constructive changes to improve your future.

In addition to your gym membership, there are some other strategies for handling this situation. Work on eating better. The combination of physical activity and a balanced diet is the best way to lose weight safely and keep it off. You should also try to view the problem objectively. You may feel like your partner got heavier as a sign of disrespect for you. In reality, it may mean that they trust you so much that they’ve let down their defenses and feel more comfortable indulging in food. Hang onto that trust while you work on getting back in shape.

Contact us to see how Merritt Athletic Clubs can makeover your body and your love life.

Knock those love handles out! Become a member at Merritt Athletic Clubs with your significant other. Love makes the world go round, but it can also add to your waistline when relationship weight gain creeps up on you. Visiting a fitness center regularly will help you stay in top shape together.

It’s great to have someone to share your life with. It’s not so great when that same contentment makes it tempting to stay home and eat in front of the TV. Add in the pressures of parenthood and the stress of juggling career and home responsibilities, and it’s no wonder people in committed relationships tend to put on weight.

Working out together will help you stay healthy and attractive for each other. Obviously, it’s cruel and not even effective to get into name calling and nagging if your partner has a gotten a little bigger than when you first met. The most effective strategy is to support each other in making constructive changes to improve your future.

In addition to your gym membership, there are some other strategies for handling this situation. Work on eating better. The combination of physical activity and a balanced diet is the best way to lose weight safely and keep it off. You should also try to view the problem objectively. You may feel like your partner got heavier as a sign of disrespect for you. In reality, it may mean that they trust you so much that they’ve let down their defenses and feel more comfortable indulging in food. Hang onto that trust while you work on getting back in shape.

Contact us to see how Merritt Athletic Clubs can makeover your body and your love life.

Walking in to your local drugstore, you may feel overwhelmed by all of the vitamins and minerals displayed on the shelves. Your goal: wellness. But which vitamins will benefit you? What do these specific vitamins help with? Here's some information that will prepare you for your next trip to the vitamin aisle:

Vitamin A (Retinol):

Vitamin A supports healthy eyes and bones. If you have a vitamin A deficiency, you may suffer from night blindness and/or itchy eyes. Vitamin A will help your immune system protect you from illness. It aides white blood cells, which play a key role in killing bacteria and fighting disease. Taking vitamin A also helps free the body from radicals and toxins that can harm your skin. It helps your skin retain moisture so that it stays soft. Natural sources of vitamin A include cream, egg yolk, and cheddar cheese.

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vitamins/health-benefits-of-vitamin-a-or-retinol.html

Vitamin B7 (Biotin):

This vitamin is important in maintaining overall health. If you have a vitamin B7 deficiency, you may experience symptoms such as fatigue, depression, or hair loss. Vitamin B7 helps control your metabolism because it is a catalyst for many metabolic reactions. It also plays a key role in having healthy hair, skin and nails. This vitamin can also aide with weight loss because it helps to reduce extra body fat. Natural sources of this vitamin include egg yolks, fish and milk.

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vitamins/health-benefits-of-vitamin-b7-or-biotin.html

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid):

A vitamin C deficiency can cause scurvy, a disease often associated with men at sea. Symptoms of this include loss of teeth and joint pain. Vitamin C can be used to treat the common cold because it helps strengthen your immune system. It can also help lower hypertension (high blood pressure). Vitamin C also plays a role in the production of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that affects your mood. A natural source of vitamin C is citrus fruit such as oranges and lemons.

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vitamins/health-benefits-of-vitamin-c-or-ascorbic-acid.html

Let us help you on your journey to wellness. Contact us to find membership options and healthy opportunities that fit your lifestyle.

Walking in to your local drugstore, you may feel overwhelmed by all of the vitamins and minerals displayed on the shelves. Your goal: wellness. But which vitamins will benefit you? What do these specific vitamins help with? Here's some information that will prepare you for your next trip to the vitamin aisle:

Vitamin A (Retinol):

Vitamin A supports healthy eyes and bones. If you have a vitamin A deficiency, you may suffer from night blindness and/or itchy eyes. Vitamin A will help your immune system protect you from illness. It aides white blood cells, which play a key role in killing bacteria and fighting disease. Taking vitamin A also helps free the body from radicals and toxins that can harm your skin. It helps your skin retain moisture so that it stays soft. Natural sources of vitamin A include cream, egg yolk, and cheddar cheese.

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vitamins/health-benefits-of-vitamin-a-or-retinol.html

Vitamin B7 (Biotin):

This vitamin is important in maintaining overall health. If you have a vitamin B7 deficiency, you may experience symptoms such as fatigue, depression, or hair loss. Vitamin B7 helps control your metabolism because it is a catalyst for many metabolic reactions. It also plays a key role in having healthy hair, skin and nails. This vitamin can also aide with weight loss because it helps to reduce extra body fat. Natural sources of this vitamin include egg yolks, fish and milk.

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vitamins/health-benefits-of-vitamin-b7-or-biotin.html

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid):

A vitamin C deficiency can cause scurvy, a disease often associated with men at sea. Symptoms of this include loss of teeth and joint pain. Vitamin C can be used to treat the common cold because it helps strengthen your immune system. It can also help lower hypertension (high blood pressure). Vitamin C also plays a role in the production of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that affects your mood. A natural source of vitamin C is citrus fruit such as oranges and lemons.

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vitamins/health-benefits-of-vitamin-c-or-ascorbic-acid.html

Let us help you on your journey to wellness. Contact us to find membership options and healthy opportunities that fit your lifestyle.

You may be a master of self-discipline, but if you find yourself bored with your current routines, the following will you help bring the passion back.

Hire a Trainer. Sign up for a boot camp, or a one on one session with a trainer at a Merritt Athletic Clubs. Trainers can give solid advice and the encouragement you need to make it past a plateau.

Compete. Sign up for an event, like the Merritt Challenges, or join a team. The social support a team gives you can fire up your resolve for a healthy lifestyle. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is an important component in a healthy lifestyle.

Go for the gold. Give swimming a try. The pool can introduce you to muscles you didn't know you had! It is not too late to take a class if you had never learned to swim.

Take Martial Arts Class. Karate is a great place to start. Attending a weekly class as a newbie is a challenge to even the very fit. Build your confidence and focus while learning practical new self-defense skills.

Virtual Workouts. Technology can give your workout the boost of energy you need. Reserve a spot in the XRKade to kick boredom to the curb once and for all. Play your way out of boredom through an exhilarating session of Dance Dance Revolution or virtual sports like snowboarding and cycling.

Contact us to help you break out of boredom and into an enjoyable pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.

You may be a master of self-discipline, but if you find yourself bored with your current routines, the following will you help bring the passion back.

Hire a Trainer. Sign up for a boot camp, or a one on one session with a trainer at a Merritt Athletic Clubs. Trainers can give solid advice and the encouragement you need to make it past a plateau.

Compete. Sign up for an event, like the Merritt Challenges, or join a team. The social support a team gives you can fire up your resolve for a healthy lifestyle. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is an important component in a healthy lifestyle.

Go for the gold. Give swimming a try. The pool can introduce you to muscles you didn't know you had! It is not too late to take a class if you had never learned to swim.

Take Martial Arts Class. Karate is a great place to start. Attending a weekly class as a newbie is a challenge to even the very fit. Build your confidence and focus while learning practical new self-defense skills.

Virtual Workouts. Technology can give your workout the boost of energy you need. Reserve a spot in the XRKade to kick boredom to the curb once and for all. Play your way out of boredom through an exhilarating session of Dance Dance Revolution or virtual sports like snowboarding and cycling.

Contact us to help you break out of boredom and into an enjoyable pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.

Maybe you’re one of those people who works out alone most of the time, and that’s fine if it helps you reach your fitness goals. Many people need the focus and quiet that they experience when exercising by themselves. However, if you want to get fit and meet new people at the same time, the logical solution is to find a group fitness class that you like. Beneficial for introverts and extroverts alike, group fitness classes are widely available and suitable for anyone.

According to this article, many people mistakenly think of group fitness as a room full of women and men in sweatbands doing aerobics, circa 1986. The trend was started years ago by the likes of Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda. Times have changed, though, and today’s group fitness offerings include everything from kickboxing and cross training to gentler workouts like yoga and aqua aerobics.

Why has group fitness remained so popular? It has many advantages, but here are just three of the most cited reasons:

1) Accountability. This is particularly true if your class or training group is small. Your absence will be noticed, so you’re less likely to skip that morning class on those days that you’d rather stay in bed. Many people also find a workout buddy to accompany them and keep them accountable; this is especially helpful when you need encouragement to work toward your fitness goals.

2) Motivation. You’re all there for the same reason, and this sense of purpose can help you work harder when you feel your energy waning. Looking around and seeing how easily the rest of the class does those 50 push-ups can give you the confidence boost needed to do the same.

3) Availability of professional advice. When you work out on your own without a trainer or companion, you might be missing out on ways to improve your program. You also risk doing certain exercises incorrectly (while lifting weights, for example), whereas group fitness leaders can show you the correct techniques to keep you safe and maximize your efforts.

With so many options, you’re sure to find a class or group that will help you meet your fitness goals. Contact us today to get started.

Maybe you’re one of those people who works out alone most of the time, and that’s fine if it helps you reach your fitness goals. Many people need the focus and quiet that they experience when exercising by themselves. However, if you want to get fit and meet new people at the same time, the logical solution is to find a group fitness class that you like. Beneficial for introverts and extroverts alike, group fitness classes are widely available and suitable for anyone.

According to this article, many people mistakenly think of group fitness as a room full of women and men in sweatbands doing aerobics, circa 1986. The trend was started years ago by the likes of Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda. Times have changed, though, and today’s group fitness offerings include everything from kickboxing and cross training to gentler workouts like yoga and aqua aerobics.

Why has group fitness remained so popular? It has many advantages, but here are just three of the most cited reasons:

1) Accountability. This is particularly true if your class or training group is small. Your absence will be noticed, so you’re less likely to skip that morning class on those days that you’d rather stay in bed. Many people also find a workout buddy to accompany them and keep them accountable; this is especially helpful when you need encouragement to work toward your fitness goals.

2) Motivation. You’re all there for the same reason, and this sense of purpose can help you work harder when you feel your energy waning. Looking around and seeing how easily the rest of the class does those 50 push-ups can give you the confidence boost needed to do the same.

3) Availability of professional advice. When you work out on your own without a trainer or companion, you might be missing out on ways to improve your program. You also risk doing certain exercises incorrectly (while lifting weights, for example), whereas group fitness leaders can show you the correct techniques to keep you safe and maximize your efforts.

With so many options, you’re sure to find a class or group that will help you meet your fitness goals. Contact us today to get started.

“If you never had problems losing or maintaining your weight in your 20s or even in your early 30s, you may not be ready for what happens next,” warns Madelyn H. Fernstrom, Ph.D., director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “Your metabolism slows by 5 percent each decade. Compared to age 25, you’ll burn about 100 fewer calories a day at 35 and 200 fewer at 45. Do nothing, and you could gain eight to 12 pounds a year.”

Read more: Boost Metabolism - Lose Weight - Middle-Age Weight Loss - Good Housekeeping

Is this where you find yourself? Running just to stay in place? It may not be your metabolism slowing down at all. It may be about body fat. The more body fat you have, the fewer calories you will burn. As we age, our bodies develop more fat than muscle unless we work at building muscle and keeping fit. Merritt Athletic Clubs are a great place to get help.

Ask for a body-fat reading at your health club or from your doctor. Then chart your progress approximately every three months. You can also check for a general idea of body fat. If you can pinch an inch or more of fat at your waist or upper arm, you are carrying more fat than you should.

Then it's time to set up workouts with an expert to gradually lose weight and build muscle. The key is to lose the weight slowly so it stays off and to develop the habit of a regular fitness routine. Many weight loss plans fail because healthy eating and healthy workouts never become a habit. Just as we can have a habit of snacking and late night pizzas, we can develop the habit of exercising and eating appropriately. It has to become a lifestyle change and not just a weight loss plan.

Exercise has so many side benefits beyond weight loss that it should be an easy habit for us to develop. We just plain feel better when we move more and sit less. Merritt Athletic Clubs can help you feel good and lose weight all at the same time.

For more information, http://www.merrittclubs.com/contact-us/index.html

or visit our website http://www.merrittclubs.com/

“If you never had problems losing or maintaining your weight in your 20s or even in your early 30s, you may not be ready for what happens next,” warns Madelyn H. Fernstrom, Ph.D., director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “Your metabolism slows by 5 percent each decade. Compared to age 25, you’ll burn about 100 fewer calories a day at 35 and 200 fewer at 45. Do nothing, and you could gain eight to 12 pounds a year.”

Read more: Boost Metabolism - Lose Weight - Middle-Age Weight Loss - Good Housekeeping

Is this where you find yourself? Running just to stay in place? It may not be your metabolism slowing down at all. It may be about body fat. The more body fat you have, the fewer calories you will burn. As we age, our bodies develop more fat than muscle unless we work at building muscle and keeping fit. Merritt Athletic Clubs are a great place to get help.

Ask for a body-fat reading at your health club or from your doctor. Then chart your progress approximately every three months. You can also check for a general idea of body fat. If you can pinch an inch or more of fat at your waist or upper arm, you are carrying more fat than you should.

Then it's time to set up workouts with an expert to gradually lose weight and build muscle. The key is to lose the weight slowly so it stays off and to develop the habit of a regular fitness routine. Many weight loss plans fail because healthy eating and healthy workouts never become a habit. Just as we can have a habit of snacking and late night pizzas, we can develop the habit of exercising and eating appropriately. It has to become a lifestyle change and not just a weight loss plan.

Exercise has so many side benefits beyond weight loss that it should be an easy habit for us to develop. We just plain feel better when we move more and sit less. Merritt Athletic Clubs can help you feel good and lose weight all at the same time.

For more information, http://www.merrittclubs.com/contact-us/index.html

or visit our website http://www.merrittclubs.com/