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During a national securitypanel at last week's Aspen Idea Festival, retired general David Petraeus offered what the panel's host labeled perhaps the most robust defense of the Trump administration's foreign policy yet.

Then Petraeus was asked about Trump personally, and things took a turn.

As political affairs scholarDavid Rothkopf noted in an op-ed he wrote for The Washington Post onTuesday, he asked Petraeus after Petraeus argued that Trump had surrounded himself with a solid team that was instituting a measured, continuity-based foreign policy with plenty of successes whether Trump himself was fit to serve as president.

Petraues's response was decidedly not yes. Instead, he said Trump's fitness for the office was actually immaterial.

I went back to the video to see if some context was missing from Rothkopf's op-ed. There isn't: It's as damning as it sounds. Here's a guy whom Trump considered nominating forsecretary of state putting a pretty good face on the Trump administrationand then being unable to say whether the president isa mentally fit commander in chief.

The exchange:

ROTHKOPF: But thats the question, and let me ask you guys that directly. Julia [Ioffe]s addressed it directly. I talk to lots of world leaders, traveled around. I cant tell you, in all of my life doing this, it never once came up the question whether or not the president of the United States was fit to serve and whether or not the president of the United States was actually mentally ill. And in the course of the past six months, its come up every couple of days from senior leaders around the world. Do you think the president of the United States is fit to serve as president?

PETER FEAVER: General Petraeus? [LAUGHTER]

PETRAEUS: Thank you. As I used to say in uniform, that sounds like a policy question. [LAUGHTER] And look, I think its immaterial. Again, what Im focusing on is the team. [GROANS] No, I

ROTHKOPF: Give him a chance to explain.

PETRAUES: Let me explain. You know, pronouncing yes or no, I dont think that changes a darn thing. What Im pointing out is that around him, he has a very good team. Theyve been slightly tested a few times I think the use of chemical weapons was one of those --and I think they did better than was done the last time, when there was an explicit red line already in existence, stated on multiple occasions. Again, I think a lot of the policies that had been pursued so far -- look, theres all kinds of discordant stuff. Bibi Netanyahus sitting there, and the president says one state, two state, eh, whatever they want. Were back to the two-state solution. Again, I talked about China. Were back to the One China [policy], and we actually have strategic dialogue. By the way, I dont think it is at all bad that a president of the United States talks to another leader -- even if that leader has many conflicting objectives -- at all. I believe Henry Kissinger said that you should have strategic dialogue with your adversaries.

This is a dance that many a Trump defender has been forced into arguing that things aren't as bad with Trump as some would have you believe, and then punting when being asked to vouch for Trump personally. The latter is a much more difficult thing to do, because it means you are attaching your expertise to Trump's unpredictability and whatever he might do in the future.

But it's also important to emphasize just how low a bar this is. The fact that Petraeus can't even say that Trump is a fit commander in chief speaks volumes. And Petraeus seemed to be going out of his way on the panel to argue that U.S. foreign policy and national security are on the right path. Hesaidrepeatedly that we shouldn't get bogged down in Trump's discordant tweets and public comments and should focus onactions.

Here's a taste:

Follow the money, and follow the troops; follow the decisions. Dont necessarily always follow the tweets. You do need to listen to them, you need to read them, but, again, its about what is actually happening. This is a president who, when Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on his people, did not temporize. Within 36 hours, there were 50 or so cruise missiles that hit. It was measured. It was deliberate, pointed and so forth. And when it was threatened this time, I think Bashar al-Assad took note of that. Its hard to say whether it absolutely deterred something that was in the works or not, but thats how you build American credibility building, I think, effectively on the work that was done in the previous administration in the fight against the Islamic State, prosecuting that well. ...

So, again, you just take issue after issue, theres a devolution of responsibility that I applaud again, in part because I have such confidence in the national security team. Theres not micromanagement of troop numbers, yet the troops numbers arent ballooning. And so I think its actually going forward in a very measured manner and, again, much more continuity than change. You had lots of disruption. You had a phone call from the Taiwanese president [which ran counter to longstanding U.S. policy toward China], but ultimately the president adopts the One China policy, embraces it, invites President Xi, has a relationship, and now theres four working groups established that are working together so they can address the core issue of North Korea and the other challenges. Certainly missed an opportunity at NATO headquarters when the 9/11 memorial was unveiled, reminding us that that was the only time that Article 5 was ever invoked was after 9/11, and we did not step up at that moment and guarantee the Article 5 collective self-defense [clause]. But ultimately weve done that, have reassured our alliance partners in the Far East. So again, I think a good bit more continuity than might be expected if you just, again, read different tweets or statements to the press. ...

I think the problem here is actually distilling out the discordant comments to the press, the tweets you name it and actually trying to focus on what is going on. Look, there are lots of things here about which one could wring his hands. There are also things that I actually am happy to see. I dont think this is a president who is going to announce a surge of forces and in the same speech announce a drawdown date, regardless of the conditions on the battlefield. So lets keep that in perspective, even as you may or may necessarily applaud, again, all the communications.

Even in these comments, the argument from Petraeus seemed to be that Trump himself can only do so much damage and that the people around him would keep him in check implying that Trump was, to his credit, allowing them to keep him in check. This is what some of Trump's biggest critics have hoped would be the case, and Petraeus suggested their wishes were coming true.

Then he was offered the chance to come out and say what he really meant. His nonresponse spoke volumes.

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David Petraeus's damning nonresponse on Trump's fitness to serve ... - Washington Post

From the ballet to the barre to Body by Chaz, Chaz Glunkhas a crafted a stronghold in the local fitness community with a steadfast following. There'sno doubt he's a pro, but it's his earnest belief in the health of his clients that's brought him collective loyalty.

And thisSarasota native has come full circle since his early days of dance. After Chaz earned his degree at Southern Methodist University, he danced his way from Floridato Vegas. Since returning home in2010, he's combinedhis penchant for dance withhis passion for fitness. By 2012, he'd begun transforming bodies at PureBarre Sarasota (which is where I first met him), and now, after five years of exclusively teaching at Pure Barre Sarasota, he's NASM-certified and offering personal training sessions.

So it's not a surprise that I turned to him for some tips and technique hacks to focus on this summer. Here's what Chaz had to say.

Adapt. Transform. Evolve. Over the years, as both a professional dancer and a fitness professional, I have seen the how much of a struggle it can be to successfully adopt an active, disciplined lifestyle. As a result, I have broken my fitness philosophy into three stages that apply to everyone at every fitness level.

Adapt is stage one. Its the most important because it's when we set goals and create a foundation of healthy exercises based on individual strengths and weaknesses. One of the biggest roadblocks I hear about is when people take on a one size fits all approach to exercise and feel like they arent getting results.

The next stage is transform. We create more focused workouts, reassess your goals and literally sculpt your body toward them. The transform stage lasts until each goal is met. From there, we evolve your goals, your body and your fitness level. Evolve isn't an end goal, though. Instead, it feeds into a new beginning where we adapt, transform, and evolve yet again!

This is why I emphasize the importance of the adaptstage. One of the most direct paths to disappointment is when you create goals based on societys pressure to look a certain way, fit into a certain size or be a certain weight. They're just not realistic. They're not healthy, either.

Empowerment comes from awareness. Face your fears and remember that you're not alone. Sarasota has an amazing fitness community. All you have to do is start. Once you wake up your muscles, align your body and challenge your limits, you realize that you can take on a lot more than you may have thought. It is amazing to me when I see someone who never thought she could do a single push up do 10in a row.

Posture and alignment are the cornerstone hacks of exercise. If you take your time to do an exercise correctly, you will see real results. Also, remember that total body conditioning and strength building is going to help you see results faster than focusing on just abs or arms. For example, if you are looking for beach-ready arms, I am likely going to incorporate triceps kickbacks. The triceps are an essential part of your arms' overall aesthetic and strength. So it's good to focus on them. But if you do a bent-over triceps extension, feet planted and body aligned, suddenly you're engaging your abs, legs and back. A focused exercise transforms into much more.

For those new to fitness or taking on a new plan, I don't believe in the one size fits all approach unless your workouts are going to be overseen by a trainer or experienced teacher. However, some core concepts can help you evolve your body into a healthy, bikini-ready bombshell.

First, don't be scared of weights or increased resistance. You would be shocked at what some of the leanest female athletes are capable of bench pressing. Next, focus on high-repetition exercises with minimal rest between sets. Not only will this help increase strength, but it will help you achieve that firm, toned look. Finally, set goals, stick to your routine, and engage your friends and family (social media is great for this). Getting involved in fitness challenges is also another great way to keep your momentum going.

There are so many to choose from! Motivation can come from the most unlikely of places. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you know that I gravitate toward the concept that the mind and body can transform each other. So, I would have to say my favorite motivational quote is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi: Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.

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Fitness Pro Chaz Glunk Talks Summer Beach Bod Hacks and Tips for Adopting an Active Lifestyle - Sarasota

POTTSVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) -- After eating hotdogs and hamburgers on the Fourth of July, some people are hitting the gym today to burn off some of those extra calories. One town in our area is cheering on its residents as they shed some pounds.

It's round two of the Pottsville Fitness Challenge! 15-dollars gets members access to several gyms, pools and different work out activities in the city, throughout the summer.

City leaders knew they had to do something when a study indicated that Schuylkill County has a problem..

"Schuylkill County was identified as one of the least fit counties in the state of Pennsylvania and it was a distinction that we didn't want to have," said Thomas Palamar, city of Pottsville.

Now in it's second year, nearly 200 people signed up - double the first year.

With access to the Schuylkill YMCA, you'll find people trying out new types of exercises.

"I always was hesitant to do yoga, because I was afraid of it," said Charlotte Babcock, doing yoga.

But now, she's a big fan!

Other people are using weights and machines to keep fit.

"I'm trying to stay alive! And I'm 79 so it helps to keep moving," said Mike Wyda, working out.

The woman who won the challenge last year lost 15 pounds. And she was rewarded with a fitbit. She's using that to achieve her goal this year -- she wants to lose 30 pounds!

While the challenge is to get fit and to feel good, it's also about bonding with people in the community.

"I've made lots of friends here, through yoga," said Sue Bendle, made friends.

"You make new friends and that way it's a nice way to get out and socialize a little bit, too," said Wyda.

And you don't have to be a Pottsville resident to participate, anyone is welcome to join the fitness program. It continues through mid-August.

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Pottsville Fitness Challenge brings community together to exercise - PA home page

You've decided you want to live a healthier life, and use the power of wearable technology to help go about it, but where do you start looking a fitness tracker? A host of different devices are available, each with their own specs and apps and specific features. We're here to help you make sense of the fitness tracker maze and find the right device for you.

It helps if you know a little bit about what you want before you startlike the specific activities that you're going to want to trackbut if you'd rather see what devices are out there first, that's fine too.

All of the fitness trackers on the market, and indeed your existing smartphone, will be able to track your steps and calorie burn for you, but after that don't take anything for granted. You can find fitness trackers with a pile of differing features, all the way up to the smartwatches that are essentially mini computers on your wrist, which we'll mention last.

Almost all fitness trackers will slip around your wrist to measure your activities and give you feedback. One of the exceptions is the Misfit Shine 2 ($49.99), a circular disc you can put just about anywhere (including on your wrist if you really want). If you want to keep your arms free from dangling attachments, it's worth considering.

When you've decided where you want to wear your fitness tracker, think about the information you want it to show. The Fitbit Charge 2 ($148.95) displays you the time and some phone notifications, whereas the Misfit Ray ($49.99) just has a single LED light. The lack of information translates into lighter weight, which can be important for some athletes or aspiring athletes.

Also weigh up how important battery life is to you: The Misfit Ray, for example, runs off cell batteries that need to be swapped out every four months, whereas the Fitbit Charge 2 (and most fitness trackers) need to be recharged from an outlet or from a computer every few days. It comes down to personal preference which one you favor.

Where you want to wear your fitness tracker, whether or not you care about a screen, and how much you care about battery life will have you well on the way to choosing the right fitness tracker. We'd also suggest taking a look at the associated app before purchasing a device. Does it track the data you need? Is it available on the web? Does it work with Google Fit or Apple Health? Most fitness tracker apps are now perfectly decent bits of software but it's another factor to bear in mind when you're doing your choosing.

With the basics out of the way, you can start looking at more advanced specs. One of the key features that distinguishes cheaper trackers from more expensive ones is an integrated heart rate sensor: If you value a more detailed breakdown of your cardiovascular health, make sure it's included, otherwise you can save yourself some cash.

Waterproofing is another key feature to look out for, and whether or not you want a waterproof tracker really depends on whether or not you plan to take it swimming. Most wearables can handle a bit of rain, but be sure to double-check the specifications to make sureif you do a lot of outdoor activities, it's better to be safe than sorry. The Fitbit Flex 2 ($59.95), for example, will give you waterproofing but not heart rate sensing.

Plenty of fitness trackers will promise some kind of sleep tracking as well, though it's well worth digging deeper into the specs to check the small print, because some trackers can tell the difference between light sleep and deep sleep and some can't.

Fitness trackers with GPSso they can track your running route and more accurately track the distance you've covered while not in contact with your phoneare few and far between, but you do have some options, including the Samsung Gear Fit 2 ($127.95) and the Garmin Vivosmart HR+ ($149.99). Usually though, you'll need to take the smartwatch route if you want to have GPS on board.

Speaking of smartwatches, you can of course upgrade to a full smartwatch as your fitness tracker, and indeed the lines are blurring between the two device types anyway. You'll usually get a lot more features, and have to pay significantly more money, but you might consider the trade-off worth it depending on what you actually want out of your wearable.

One of the biggest questions is the one we mentioned near the start: What are you actually going to be doing with your fitness tracker? If the answer's running around a muddy sports field and getting barged from all sides by other players, then maybe you don't want a $300 smartwatch strapped to your wrist. If your main pursuits are going to be running and cycling, however, then it's a lot safer.

We've previously written a full guide to smartwatches but the Apple Watch Series 2 ($369 and up) is one of the best options for tracking your health and fitness, provided you don't have an Android phone, as it won't work with it. Android Wear alternatives are available with some decent tracking features as well, including the LG Watch Sport ($550), which works with both iPhones and Android phones.

You get a host of added extras with a smartwatch, including GPS (usually), more interactive notifications from your phone, and even the ability to make and receive calls in some cases. However, they are bulkier, which isn't ideal when you're exercising, and as we noted above they are another step up in terms of price.

Those eight points to ponderbody placement, display, battery life, associated app, heart rate tracking capabilities, waterproofing, sleep tracking, and GPSshould be enough to get you pretty close to the fitness tracker (or smartwatch) that's right for you, but you've got a few more ways of telling one wearable from another.

The overall design and look of your fitness tracker might be important to you, so try and see it from as many angles as possible before buying, if you can. Pay particularly attention to the bands that come with the trackers you're considering, and whether or not they can be swappedcheap plastic isn't quite as good on the skin as quality leather or some synthetics.

As with any gadget, you can only tell so much about a fitness tracker in advance. Read up on as many reviews as possible for the wearables you're considering, and you'll get an idea of how well their advertised features hold up, whether they have the accuracy you're looking for, and whether or not they fall apart after a week of use.

With all that done, it's time to take the plunge, part with your cash and enjoy the features of your brand new fitness tracker. Just don't be one of the 30 percent of people who give up on their tracker after buying it due to boredom, a lack of motivation or some other factorkeep an eye on those step counts, and the rest should take care of itself.

Read more:
How to choose the best fitness tracker for you | Popular Science - Popular Science

Pact, the startup that incentivized users to healthy behaviors by getting them to essentially bet money on their own adherence, has shut down, according to an email the company sent out to its users on Friday. The company will pay out its final rewards to users on July 11th and will continue supporting users until the end of August.

Thanks for choosing Pact - we hope it has helped you live a healthier lifestyle, and been that kick you need to get off the couch on rainy days, the company wrote in its email. Sadly, after much discussion, we have decided to shut Pact down.

Founded by Geoff Oberhofer and Yifan Zhang towards the end of 2011, Pact, originally known as GymPact, aimed to help keep users accountable to their fitness goals. Initially, the app tracked one behavior going to the gym using GPS for accountability.

When users signed up for GymPact, they gave the company their credit card information and chose an amount of money that they would have to pay if they missed their workout goal for the week. If the user achieved their goal instead, GymPact would pay them -- divvying up the money made off of the slackers. The company tracked whether the user really went by requiring them to check in with their phone's GPS.

In 2014, the company took on its new name and raised $1.5 million in a round led by Khosla Ventures and PayPal alum Max Levchin, bringing the companys total funding to $2.5 million. At that point, Pact added two other pact options, one for eating more vegetables and one for tracking meals with MyFitnessPal. Pact also eventually added GPS tracking for workouts outside the gym as well.

Its not clear exactly what led the company to shut down, or if any of the company's assets are being sold. Weve reached out to the team for comment and will update if we hear back.

While we are sad that we will no longer be able to help our users get healthy, we are also thankful to have had such a passionate, supportive community throughout the years. Ultimately, while we hope that our incentives motivated you, it was each of you that snapped veggie photos, typed food logs, and went on runs. Its amazing that together, you completed over 40 million healthy activities during our 5 years of existence. We are proud of what you have accomplished, and you should be too, the team wrote.

According to LinkedIn, Zhang has already moved on, starting a new startup called Loftium in January. Loftium is a complete departure from the fitness space. Its a real estate startup that helps users pay the down payment on a new home in exchange for them listing a spare room on AirBNB for the first few years of home ownership.

Continue reading here:
Khosla-backed fitness startup Pact shuts down - MobiHealthNews

Boutique fitness studios, CrossFit and FitBits are as popular today as Jane Fonda, the ThighMaster and Tae Bo were in the 1980s and 90s.

Roughly 20 percent of the $30 billion health club industry are boutique fitness concepts, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. Those studios specialize in everything from boot camps to dance classes to indoor cycling.

The CrossFit brand, meanwhile, is an industry of its own, annually bringing in roughly $4 billion worldwide. FitBit, which looks like a watch and tracks steps taken, earned revenues of $2.17 billion worldwide for fiscal year 2016, the company reported.

Every so often, a fitness movement comes along that gets people pumped up in the seemingly never-ending quest to lose weight and get in shape. Thirty years ago, it was workout videos or devices that now seem weird. Today, its specialty workout classes and tech-minded fitness.

Why do people need to jump onto whatever is trendy to get motivated? And, with a recent University of Washington study estimating that more than 107 million children and 603 million adults are obese is it working?

Hopefully, said Julie Cobos, supervisor of clinical fitness at Lakeside Hospital in west Omaha. Trends come and go, but the desire remains.

This is nothing new, she said. Its whatever new thing people are seeing, the marketing and the visibility. Everyone wants to look good and see results.

But while some fitness crazes end up being short-term fads (anyone remember Buns of Steel?), others appear to have staying power, perhaps because they can work. They also can inspire people to push themselves harder than they thought they could, subsequently changing their lives.

We gained nearly 70 members our first year in business and have nearly 150 adult members after being in business for three-plus years, said James Kuna, co-owner of CrossFit Viral near 165th Street and West Maple Road. We have all levels of participants, from elementary-school kids to young college-aged athletes to middle-aged soccer moms to 60-plus year-olds looking to restore some physical function.

Advocates believe CrossFit is unlikely to go the way of pole dancing fitness classes.

CrossFit in particular has become arguably the biggest fitness trend in the world, with more than 4 million devotees at 13,000 gyms in 120 countries, according to its website.

Individuals of all fitness levels can take part. Professional CrossFit athletes compete at the national CrossFit Games every year. Elite athletes and regular folks can exercise at their local gyms and get really, really good at it.

People who go to CrossFit are told what workout to do every day, and since they can spend a lot of money on it, they can be more motivated to show up.

Many people simply need accountability as it pertains to physical fitness, Kuna said. If they spend X amount of dollars on a personal trainer, there is someone expecting them at the gym every week. When they might otherwise find a reason to not go to the gym, they now have both a personal and monetary commitment to someone to show up.

The friendships that can evolve from popular fitness trends, especially at smaller gyms and boutique fitness studios, boosts motivation, Cobos said.

It becomes a community, she said. Its like, I know Im going to see Denise and Bobby today, and we can catch up after class. That social aspect keeps people going back to any facility.

Sabry Edwards belongs to Renegade Bootcamp and Boxing, a boutique fitness studio at 1851 Madison Ave. in Council Bluffs. She likes the extra motivation the smaller group setting and one-on-one instruction the gym provides.

The Council Bluffs woman said her coach does all the thinking for her.

I literally walk in the door and have an instant awesome workout without having to plan anything or think out a game plan. Working out makes me feel great and helps me get my day started on the right track. It also helps in making better choices in my eating.

Sarah Ziegler of Council Bluffs also belongs to a boutique fitness studio. A runner for years, she bought a FitBit a few years ago after noticing how much fun her workout buddies were having counting their steps and competing with each other.

I do so much as it is that I dont really care how many steps I get in, Ziegler said. But that being said, on my off days it truly showed me how lazy I was and would prompt me to get up and walk around.

For her part, Cobos, the Lakeside fitness head, said she doesnt mind what people glom onto as long as they never stop trying to improve their health.

We encourage a healthy lifestyle, and healthy lifestyle has a broad range, she said. We just focus on keeping everyone in a healthy state, whatever it takes.

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Fitness trends evolve, keep people active - Omaha World-Herald

Deborah Allard Herald News Staff Reporter @debsallard

SWANSEA SALT Fitness Yoga Cafe and the Swansea Mall will team up for a Summer Fitness Challenge with other local wellness partners over eight weeks.

The challenge will kick off on Sunday, July 9, at Center Court in the mall from noon to 2 p.m.

Fitness, food, fashion and other vendors will be on site when participants sign up for the challenge.

Free fitness classes in a variety of styles will be offered throughout the challenge.

Itll feature beauty from the inside out, said Shaun Gadbois, owner of Salt Fitness along with Andre Gadbois.

He said it will be a way for people of all fitness levels to get in shape, and also help revitalize the area through all the good things people are already doing in the community.

Classes will be held in a mall space next to SALT Fitness. SALT staffers and other fitness gurus will offer the free classes in the rented space.

Its an amazing opportunity to get ... a taste for different types of fitness, Gadbois said.

A schedule of fitness classes is being finalized and will be available by July 9. Participants can download an app and sign up for classes.

Participants will weigh in at the kickoff and will be eligible for prizes throughout the Summer Challenge.

The program will end in August. There will be a dinner to celebrate the winners.

An advance registration cost of $20 will go toward paying rent on the workout space. Registration on the day of the kickoff event will be $30.

For more information, call SALT at 508-617-4554.

Those who would like to participate can register at http://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=9505&stype=41&prodid=1812.

Email Deborah Allard at dallard@heraldnews.com.

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SALT, Swansea Mall to kick off Summer Fitness Challenge - Fall River Herald News

Deborah Allard Herald News Staff Reporter @debsallard

A passion for fitness, hard work, and muscle has put Angela Gargano on the cover of Womens Health magazines July/August issue, now on store shelves.

Gargano, 27, of Cranston Rhode Island, is one of five finalists in the magazines fifth annual search for the next Fitness Star. Shes the only contestant in New England.

This is like the coolest thing ever, Gargano said.

Gargano, with a degree in biology and chemistry, gave up her pharmaceutical career to follow her heart and became a personal trainer in Rhode Island gyms. She opened her own gym, AGAthletics in Cranston last Wednesday, and is also teaching a class at Prestige Fitness and Gymnastic in Swansea later this month.

Gargano, who has always been athletic, remembers a time when it wasnt fashionable for a girl to be strong.

She was bullied and called man arms when she was in the fifth grade.

My arms were muscular, she said. People didnt really understand that.

She covered her arms so the kids wouldnt make fun of her.

I was literally just wearing hoodies ... even when it was 90 degrees, Gargano said.

But Gargano learned to embrace, and cultivate, her strength.

She grew up in New Jersey, and was captain of the gymnastics team as a student at Rhode Island College. That all changed when she suffered an ACL tear of a main ligament in her knee.

After being told her future as a gymnast was over, she turned to a personal trainer and began strength building.

It opened the door to fitness beyond gymnastics, Gargano said. As I got older, I learned my strength is the best part of myself.

Gargano said she teaches and trains people of all ages and fitness levels in her classes, helping them to find their outer and inner strength.

She was chosen as a Womens Health magazine Fitness Star finalist because of her tenacity, passion, empowering personal story and incredible workouts, according to a Womens Health statement.

Gargano is a certified personal trainer, Fitness and Bikini Professional and a featured fitness model.

Shes been in numerous fitness competitions and was a qualifier on America Ninja Warrior a couple of years back. She leads boot-camp-style workouts and a Sunday Shred.

Things keep growing and growing, Gargano said.

She said the best part of being chosen as a Womens Health finalist was meeting the four other finalists during the March photo shoot in New York. She said they share a common belief in good nutrition, natural fitness and how it leads to living a good life.

Strong looks good, but it feels even better, Gargano said.

The other four finalists are Lana Titus, of Los Angeles, California, Denise Harris, of Brooklyn, New York, Darcey Wion, of Columbus, Ohio, and Betina Gozo, of Portland, Oregon.

The women will compete for the title of 2017 Next Fitness Star and the opportunity to star in a Womens Health workout video series.

Readers and fans can visit WHNextFitnessStar.com to watch videos of each finalist and vote for their favorite.

After the votes are tallied, the magazines panel of expert and celebrity judges will decide who should be crowned the 2017 Next Fitness Star.

Voting is open now through Aug. 4. The winner will be revealed on CBSs The Insider on Tuesday, Aug. 22.

Visit http://www.agathletics.com to learn more about fitness classes.

Email Deborah Allard at dallard@heraldnews.com.

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RI woman, local instructor a finalist for 'Women's Health' Next Fitness Star - Fall River Herald News

WESTBROOK >> Barefoot Bands. Its the insanely popular workout at Westbrooks Fitness on the Water thats strengthening, lengthening and toning bodies up and down the Shoreline and its coming to Branford on Saturday, July 15.

Witness a recent morning class. Dance music pulses through the sun-lit space. A group moves together like fitness marionettes, tethered to a rainbow of resistance bands they pull down from the ceiling.

Theyre on their feet. Theyre on their knees. Theyre on the floor. Theyre lunging, kicking, squatting, twisting, planking. Theyre working their shoulders, triceps, and biceps. Theyre getting down with the music. Theyre having a blast.

The mashup of yoga, Pilates, and barefoot cardio is the brainchild of Dana Brown, the ringleader of the morning festivities, as well as operations manager and fitness instructor at Fitness on the Water.

You pull down the colored bands that correspond to your fitness level so anyone can do it, said Brown, amid the scent of lavender and the tinkling sound of the waterwall in the spa-like sitting area on the grounds of Waters Edge Resort.

Its invigorating, its all-absorbing, its fun, it sets the tone for the rest of my day, said Becky Armstrong of Madison, whos not averse to traveling to the studios flagship location in Essex when theres a wait list.

Jennifer DiPasquale, who had suffered from chronic stress fractures and knee issues, is also a Barefoot Bands enthusiast.

Its fun, its challenging, and thank goodness, because its the only exercise I can do, said the Old Saybrook mother of two whos lost 21 pounds since joining the studio four months ago. Its gentle on the joints and it gives you stability and helps with balance.

Jillian Hill of Old Saybrook, a former marathoner and morning regular, had a similar take. The classes are a blast, she said. You get the benefit of a full cardio workout without having to spend hours on a treadmill. Plus youre working your whole body. Ive never been in better shape.

Theres a reason its so effective, according to Brown, a level 3 comprehensive certified Peak Pilates instructor, a designation thats involved 800 hours of training and has refined her ability to read bodies and identify imbalances.

For one thing, Barefoot Bands is part and parcel of the studios philosophy.

Fitness should be a fun and inviting activity and never a chore, said the lithe 42-year-old dynamo. Were about helping people of all ages and levels feel welcome to come in with their particular fitness goals and motivated to keep coming back to achieve them.

For another, Barefoot Bands, as with other classes offered by the studio Piloxing at the Barre, for example, a fusion of Pilates, boxing, and Barre is based on the principles of Pilates.

Ive been teaching fitness my whole life, Brown said. Pilates is the one form of exercise I can guarantee that if you do on a regular basis, your entire body changes. You build your bodys core strength. Your posture improves. Your muscles get longer and leaner.

That DiPasquale has seen palpable results is no surprise. Pilates is one of the only forms of exercise thats great for everyone no matter their age or fitness level, said Brown.

Its really an extension of physical therapy. Everything can be modified. Everything can be progressed. Its gentle but when done correctly, it can be extremely challenging and effective.

The same can be said of the Barre classes, of which Hill, who works in real estate at Seabury-Hill Realtors in New Haven, is a devotee. The full-body workout features a combination of postures inspired by ballet, yoga and Pilates, with the barre used as a prop for stretching and strengthening.

As with many of the classes at Fitness on the Water, the emphasis is less on how many reps you can do or how much weight you can lift than on precision and proper form, said Hill.

Thats because, according to Brown, form is everything. You have to master the basics. If you dont, if youre not doing it right, youre either going to get hurt or youre going to think its too easy.

That Susan Connelly, formerly with the Joffrey Ballet, is one of the Barre instructors, is by design. All of our instructors are very experienced, Brown said.

That said, you dont need to be a classically trained dancer to pli your way to a stronger body.

There are no superstars, said DiPasquale. There are people of every size. All of them, she said, the instructors get moving and keep moving. Dana [Brown] in particular is inspiring. She checks in with me about my knee. She makes me want to keep coming in and keep working harder.

Thats not to say that pulling down those resistance bands or bellying up to the barre wont be a challenge. Theres a reason Hillary Kennedy, who leads classes in Barre, Pilates, and Barefoot Bands, is known as Killary Hillary. Youre going to discover muscles you never knew you had, Brown said.

Of course, if Barefoot Bands, Piloxing at the Barre and Shockwave Rowing, a circuit challenge that includes a specially designed WaterRower machine as well as infrared saunas to cure insomnia and soothe arthritis seem like the latest fitness fads, the instructors at Fitness on the Water arent apologizing.

We offer classes, and services, that you can only find in the most cutting-edge studios in New York and L.A., said Brown.

Whats different with us is that we do it in a non-intimidating, encouraging environment with instructors who have the experience and know-how to modify workouts for anyone of any age or fitness level.

More than that, it seems, it works. I never imagined I could see these results, DiPasquale said. Barefoot Bands has changed my life.

Fitness on the Water is located at 1587 Boston Post Road in Westbrook. For more information, visit http://www.fitnessonthewater.com, call 860-391-8735, or email dana@fitnessonthewater.com. The Branford studio will be located at 469 East Main St. in the Planet Fitness building. For information on classes and schedules, visit http://www.fitnessonthewater.com or facebook.com/fitnessonthewaterbranford.

Read the rest here:
Fitness on the Water: Taking workouts to a new level - Shoreline Times

The good

The bad

Verdict

Polar's A370 fitness tracker gets a boost from continuous heart rate-monitoring, connected GPS and and a colorful display, but the GPS is wonky.

Polar's new A370 fitness-tracking wristband is a course correction from its predecessor, the A360, which was lacking in a few key areas. The A370 improves upon the last-gen model, with continuous heart-rate monitoring, GPS (sort of), an easier-to-fasten band clasp and a new sleep-tracking tool called Polar Sleep Plus.

But the $179 A370 is also a direct shot at Fitbit, the category leader, with a handful of marquee features yanked straight from last year's best-selling Fitbit Charge 2. Can Polar out-Fitbit Fitbit? Spoiler alert: no.

The A370 looks almost exactly the same as the A360. Both have beautiful, bright, full-color TFT capacitive touch screens that show the time when you move your wrist. Fitbit's Charge 2 also has a touch display, but I prefer the A370's because it's much longer and can show more information at a glance.

When you swipe down from the main clock view, you'll see settings, your heart rate and an overview of your daily activity. You can also start a training session from that menu. A bigger display makes it easier to see data at a glance while you're running outside, which is a bonus.

To sync the tracker with the Polar Flow app, press and hold the side button on the A370. (It's bizarre that this function has a dedicated hardware button.) The same button will pause or end a workout. The A370 supports phone notifications from any app, which is far better than what the Charge 2 offers: limited text, call and calendar alerts. Like the Charge 2, the A370 also enables alarms and sends you messages encouraging you to move. All of these alerts are accompanied by a strong vibration, which will definitely wake you from a dead sleep. Trust me.

With the A370, Polar has moved to a more traditional watch buckle to fasten the fitness tracker, which makes it much easier to put on than the A360.

But the A370 still looks very much like a run-of-the-mill fitness band. Its six interchangeable straps are available only in a sporty elastomer material, which you won't want to wear with a dressy outfit or to a fancy event. Polar offers two band lengths, small and medium/large, but if you have a small wrist, the A370 will look massive. There's no getting around it. I prefer the size of Fitbit's Alta HR over both the Charge 2 and the A370, which both look ridiculous on me. But the A370's larger display almost makes up for its all-around huge size.

Where the A370 differs from its predecessor is in its continuous heart-rate tracking, which means the device can do almost everything the first-gen fitness tracker couldn't: log your outdoor running mileage and speed, offer heart-rate-based insights on your activity, and give you a more comprehensive look at your sleep patterns. Polar is touting its new sleep-tracking tool as one of the A370's marquee features.

While Fitbit uses the heart rate sensors on its Charge 2 and Alta HR to track your sleep cycles which presumably Polar could also do with the A370's continuous heart-rate monitor Polar Sleep Plus is pretty bare-bones. The device accurately detected my sleep and wake times and synced them to the Polar Flow app, but the graphed data didn't include how much REM versus light sleep I got per night, like Fitbit's app does. Your heart rate during sleep says a lot about the quality of rest you're getting, and Polar Sleep Plus could offer more useful insights.

I do like the in-app sleep-continuity rating, which tells me how many times I woke during the night, and the ability to give my own feedback on each night's sleep. Polar's nightly report also includes your lowest heart rate during sleep, which Fitbit's doesn't. While that data point is probably more useful to people with sleep disorders or heart problems, I still found it fascinating.

The continuous heart-rate tracking is more relevant for runners than it is for insomniacs. The A370 samples your heart rate every 5 minutes during the day and night, but when you start a training session, the device kicks into high gear and tracks your heart rate throughout your workout. Polar uses this data to more accurately estimate calories burned during your session and offer post-exercise feedback based on how hard you trained.

Optical heart rate sensors have improved by leaps and bounds over the last few years. I took the A370 on several 3-mile runs over the course of a week and a half, and it consistently and accurately tracked my heart rate. I strapped a Polar H10 heart rate monitor to my chest for comparison and got almost exactly the same results.

With the A370, Polar addressed the lack of GPS that made the A360 a no-go for runners and bikers. Instead of baking GPS directly into the device, Polar went with the Fitbit Charge 2 approach: allowing the A370 to use your phone's GPS. However, this means you can't accurately track your mileage without toting a second device along.

Frankly, the connected GPS was annoying. First you have to change your smartphone settings to allow Polar Flow to constantly track your location, which is a setting I hate to turn on for any app. Without doing that, you won't get maps of your routes. Even after I changed my settings, the A370 kept losing the GPS signal on my morning runs and vibrating my wrist every single time to alert me. That may have been the fault of my iPhone 7 Plus and Brooklyn's tree-lined streets and parks, but it was still irritating. The Polar Flow app still managed to accurately map my route and graph my pace per mile, but those constant vibrations killed me.

Like many fitness-tracking apps, Polar Flow (available for Android and iOS) has a lot going on. There are tabs for your main feed, which displays your daily activity and workouts, as well as updates from any friends you've added in the app.

The Activity tab gives you an overview of your day with charts and graphs galore, and includes data on workouts and sleep. But then workouts and sleep get their own tabs with deeper insights, because why not? The whole app could use a streamlined redesign. This is where Fitbit shines. Its app is gorgeous; its social features are easy to find and use, and I don't have to dig around to find the data I want to see.

I took the A370 on several 3-mile runs over the course of a week and a half, and it consistently and accurately tracked my heart rate.

Polar has another app, Polar Beat, which syncs with the company's H10 chest strap and offers voice coaching. That app looks like a million bucks with a very Apple-inspired design, but it offers far fewer features than Polar Flow. If Polar would marry the two, I would love the A370 a whole lot more.

Few people want to wear a device that has to be charged every single day. Our phones alone require constant care and feeding, and the last thing my routine needs is more devices that require nightly charging. Polar's device promises up to four days on a single charge, though I was getting just three days with continuous wear, notifications enabled and 30- to 40-minute daily training sessions. That's on par with the A360, but the Fitbit Charge 2 can last about five days on a charge.

The A370 wins bonus points for using a micro USB cable instead of a proprietary charger, though the port cover feels flimsy, like I might lose it at any moment.

The A370 is a vast improvement over the A360. It offers accurate, continuous heart-rate tracking; connected GPS; deeper sleep insights; and a better band clasp at a lower price than Polar's previous band.

If you're a serious athlete, a more fully-featured GPS watch, such as the Garmin Forerunner 35, would be a better investment. If you just want a fitness band that can track your exercise and sleep without too much fuss, the A370 is a good option. But Fitbit's Charge 2 is less expensive and offers many of the same features, with the bonus of a great app and interchangeable bands that can transition from the gym to the office.

Excerpt from:
Polar A370 Review: This Fitness Tracker Has Heart - Tom's Guide

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