Merritt Clubs Blog

For those in their 20's, 30's, and 40's, it feels like life is moving at warp speed. Between a career, household responsibilities, raising children, and other family commitments, the one thing that often gets put on hold is exercising. A visit to a health club often isn't a priority when there are so many pressing needs. But for those who have concerns over brain function later in life, a new study shows it is very beneficial to fit in a workout now.

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.

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.

Most people think nothing of drinking a cup or two of coffee every day to wake up and keep ourselves going throughout the. Caffeine can be part of a healthy lifestyle, and it seems harmless enough- until you decide to quit cold-turkey and suffer from painful caffeine-withdrawal headaches and other symptoms. Many people find it almost impossible to quit caffeine and go back to drinking their coffee in a hurry. Why is it so difficult to give up caffeine?

Both caffeine withdrawal and intoxication are now listed as official diagnoses in the latest version of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, commonly referred to as DSM-5. When these caffeine “conditions” impair a person’s ability to function in their daily life, they are considered mental disorders. Both caffeine intoxication and withdrawal occur on a regular basis, but only rarely are symptoms serious enough to be considered a mental disorder.

Caffeine withdrawal headaches can mimic other medical issues. According to Laura Juliano, a psychology professor at American University, “We've heard many times people went to the doctor for chronic headaches or because they thought that they had the flu and it turns out it was caffeine withdrawal and they didn't even know it."

Caffeine withdrawal is classified as a patient experiencing at least three of five symptoms within 24 hours of cutting back or eliminating caffeine: headache, difficulty concentrating, fatigue or sleepiness, irritability, and flulike symptoms such as muscle pain or nausea.

Caffeine intoxication is defined as having symptoms such as insomnia, muscle twitching, irregular heartbeat, rambling flow of thought and speech, restlessness, or nervousness. The other criteria for intoxication are that the person must have five out of a possible twelve symptoms. Intoxication can occur at levels of more than 250 milligrams of caffeine, and it must be very difficult to function at home or at work.

Many studies have shown that caffeine can have beneficial health effects. But anyone who experiences unwanted effects from caffeine, such as sleeplessness or the jitters should consider scaling back on their consumption. People with diabetes, anxiety, insomnia, or high blood pressure are also advised to avoid caffeine.

"Some people cannot drink any coffee, half-a-cup of coffee or a Coke will keep them up at a night," said Jim Lane, a professor of behavioral medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. However, "if a person doesn't have any unpleasant symptoms, or any health problems that we know are affected by caffeine use, then I would not try to suggest that whatever they consume is too much," he said.

For more information about reaching your health and fitness goals, please contact us.

Taste The Six Pack

“Do you have abs”? This is a question that a friend of mine who is also trainer was asked by one of his clients. The quick answer, for anyone who is asked this is, YES! We all have “abs” which is the short name for the rectus abdominis, a large muscle in front of the abdomen that if weren’t there we couldn’t walk, lift things, stand upright, and our intestines and other organs would be falling out! So, yes, we all have abs. The specific question this client meant to ask is, “do you have visible abs, or the ever sought after six pack?” That is a very different story. So if we all have abs but most of us can’t see them the question is how do we get a six pack? Well the easy answer is exercise and a proper diet with a strong emphasis on proper diet. We all can’t see our abs but we can all taste them. Taste abs? What the heck do I mean right?! Well as you are reading this right now (as long as you aren’t eating anything) you are tasting what a six pack taste like. Six pack abs taste like seeing that bag of peanut M&Ms and walking past them. Six pack abs taste like not eating a piece of cake, not eating that bag of chips, not overeating, not overloading on carbs. This is a little trick that I taught myself to keep myself from eating junk food. I see something that would be delicious and I am tempted until I remember that NOT eating it is the way to the six pack.