Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 2,028«..1020..2,0272,0282,0292,030..2,0402,050..»

Home » Page 2028

The City Commission unanimously requested Monday that the Florida Department of Transportation undertake a rigorous study of an ambitious plan to alter South Florida Avenue.

LAKELAND The City Commission unanimously requested Monday that the Florida Department of Transportation undertake a rigorous study of an ambitious plan to alter South Florida Avenue.

Commissioners opposed to the most controversial part of the plan, the reduction of South Florida Avenue from five lanes to three from Pine Street to Ariana Street, assured residents speaking in opposition that they were not consenting to the change, but rather to study and potentially test it.

"By approving this, we are not approving the reduction in lanes," Mayor Howard Wiggs said.

The commission requested the study be programmed into FDOT's 2018-19 budget. As part of that study, FDOT may close two of the lanes for one year to demonstrate the feasibility of the "road diet."

The intent of the lane reduction would be to expand the remaining lanes and widen the sidewalks to encourage pedestrian use of South Florida Avenue through Dixieland and downtown.

Until that test happens, the transportation issue that has sharply divided the city and its commission will likely take on a lower profile.

City staff members assured commissioners there would be another "offramp" if the solutions proposed by FDOT to make South Florida Avenue safer and more open for development are undesired.

By the time the state road agency would be seeking the commission's go-ahead to build, every commissioner but two, Jim Malless and Bill Read, will have been term-limited from the board.

Malless said he supports the plan, not only for Dixieland but to connect the area west of downtown into the district that is divided by a road some planners have called hostile to all users.

Commissioner Don Selvage agreed.

"This corridor connects with every district in the city," he said. "I make no equivocation that I support this project."

Selvage said he understood the opposition, which is worried the lane reduction would cause traffic mayhem along the major north-south thoroughfare and divert more cars into residential streets.

"Try to keep an open mind and look at these in a factual, objective manner moving forward," Selvage told opposing residents. "I think we're trying to keep an open mind and listening to both sides."

Lakeland Transportation Planner Chuck Barmby said the commission's approval will allow FDOT to perform a detailed analysis of the entire "complete street" plan for South Florida Avenue, even if the lane reduction isn't ultimately supported.

During the FDOT study, there will be multiple public workshops and forums, Barmby said.

"I'm a little hesitant but I think something needs to be done to make that area safer, spur some economic development," Commissioner Justin Troller said.

Commissioner Bill Read concurred, adding, "at this point I am opposed to the dieting of South Florida Avenue."

Christopher Guinn can be reached at Christopher.Guinn@theledger.com or 863-802-7592. Follow him on Twitter @CGuinnNews.

More here:
Lakeland City Commission OKs Florida Avenue 'diet' study - The Ledger

Read More..

If youre a consumer who struggles with obesity or being overweight, then one of the first suggestions youre likely to hear is that you should restrict the number of calories you consume each day. However, this can be a major test of willpower for some, and different fad diets have tried to come up with ways that allow consumers to lose weight while letting them eat what they want.

One of the newest strategies is called alternate-day fasting, where consumers are encouraged to eat whatever they want on one day and follow it up with a day of fasting where they only consume up to 25% of their usual calorie intake. This approach has increased in popularity and has even made its way into several diet books, with proponents calling it a superior way to lose weight. But does it work?

Researchers from the University of Illinois atChicago set out to answer that question and found that the diet might not be all its cracked up to be. After conducting a one-year randomized clinical trial, they found that participants who followed an alternate-day fasting diet did not experience any additional weight loss when compared to those who dieted normally.

"The results of this randomized clinical trial demonstrated that alternate-day fasting did not produce superior adherence, weight loss, weight maintenance or improvements in risk indicators for cardiovascular disease compared with daily calorie restriction," the researchers said.

The study included 100 obese participants between the ages of 18 and 64 that were assigned to one of three groups for one year. One group followed an alternate-day fasting diet where participants consumed only 25% of their calorie needs on fast days and 125% of calorie needs on feast days; one group restricted their calorie intake to 75% of their caloric needs every day; and one group was given no intervention.

At the beginning of the experiment, the researchers expected that those following an alternate-day fasting diet would be able to adhere to their diet more easily, achieve greater weight loss, and reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease. However, the end results showed that these participants had the most trouble following their diet plan.

Participants in the alternate-day fasting group ate more than prescribed on fast days, and less than prescribed on feast days, while those in the daily calorie restriction group generally met their prescribed energy goals, the researchers said.

In addition to not losing any more weight than participants in the calorie restriction group, the researchers found that those in the alternate-day fasting group were more likely to drop out of the study.

Alternate-day fasting has been promoted as a potentially superior alternative to daily calorie restriction under the assumption that it is easier to restrict calories every other day. However, our data from food records. . . indicate that this assumption is not the case. Rather, it appears as though many participants in the alternate-day fasting group converted their diet into de facto calorie restriction as the trial progressed, the researchers said.

Moreover, the dropout rate in the alternate-day fasting group (38%) was higher than that in the daily calorie restriction group (29%) and the control group (26%). It was also shown that more participants in the alternate-day fasting group withdrew owing to dissatisfaction with diet compared with those in the daily calorie restriction group. Taken together, these findings suggest that alternate-day fasting may be less sustainable in the long term, compared with daily calorie restriction, for most obese individuals.

The researchers point out that some individuals may still prefer alternate-day fasting over more conventional dieting techniques, but their study does put into question whether or not this new technique truly is superior.

The full study has been published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Originally posted here:
Why the alternate-day fasting diet might not be right for you - ConsumerAffairs

Read More..

The studys findings might also explain why runners, cyclists and others athletes can hit the wall when they push themselves hard. Photograph: Tim Flach/Getty Images

For those who cannot exercise, it could be the answer: rather than spending hours in the gym, the benefits of fitness training could be delivered in a tablet.

The prospect of an exercise pill might be music to the ears of couch potatoes, long-distance truck drivers and stressed-out office workers, but researchers believe it could transform the lives of people who are unable to exercise because of obesity or serious physical disabilities.

Hopes for such a pill emerged on Tuesday from scientists who found that an experimental drug allowed mice to run on a treadmill for 270 minutes before exhaustion set in. Mice that went without the drug lasted only 160 minutes before reaching their physical limit.

The endurance boost was accompanied by other apparent health benefits, scientists found, leading mice who had the drug for eight weeks to put on less weight and better control their blood sugar levels, suggesting a pill might also help people with diabetes.

Scientists led by Ronald Evans at the Salk Institute in San Diego made the discovery after they set out to explore what endurance meant on the molecular level. If we really understand the science, can we replace training with a drug? he said.

They turned to a drug known as GW501516 which had previously been shown to improve stamina and burn fat faster. Through a series of tests with mice on treadmills, Evans found that the drug changed the activity of nearly 1000 genes. Many of the genes that became more active were involved in the breakdown and burning of fat. But other genes were suppressed, including some that convert sugar into energy.

Writing in the journal Cell Metabolism, the scientists describe how the findings might explain why runners, cyclists and others athletes can hit the wall when they push themselves hard. The drug makes the body burn fat faster, but also burn sugar more slowly. The upshot is that, on the drug, the drop in blood sugar level that is responsible for the feeling of hitting the wall happens much later than normal.

In endurance sport competitions, such as cycling, marathon runs, race walking and cross-country skiing, hitting the wall is a dramatic demonstration of sudden and complete exhaustion, the scientists write. But the drug, which achieves its effects through muscle proteins called PPARD, is sufficient to dramatically improve endurance capacity.

Exercise activates PPARD, but were showing that you can do the same thing without mechanical training. It means you can improve endurance to the equivalent level as someone in training, without all of the physical effort, said Weiwei Fan, the papers first author.

The compound was originally developed by what is now GlaxoSmithKline and a US company called Ligand pharmaceuticals in the 1990s. Intended to treat metabolic and cardiovascular disease, it was later abandoned, apparently after a number of studies found that high doses might cause cancer.

But despite the drug being dropped commercially, scientists continue to study the compound. A decade ago, tests in animals showed that it could potentially boost stamina. The finding spawned a black market for the drug, and its subsequent abuse by some athletes in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The following year, the World Anti-Doping Agency banned the drug and warned that it was not safe.

Ali Tavassoli, professor of chemical biology at Southampton University who was not involved in the latest study, said that any exercise pill that scientists develop could potentially be abused, not only by athletes, but by horse trainers and others.

But there are groups of people who for one reason or other cannot exercise, people with real problems, and you could potentially have a pill that gives them some of the benefits of exercise, he said. A pill of this sort might allow them to a place where they can start to exercise for real.

Tavassoli is not convinced that an exercise pill will arrive any time soon though. Personally, I am not certain that such a pill would be possible. Theres a big difference between showing in an organism that you can mimic exercise over the short-term and demonstrating the long-term effects of doing this.

Someone with obesity or diabetes might be taking a pill for 40 or 50 years. What happens when you take a drug like this for that long? What happens to you? These are big unanswered questions, Tavassoli said. I cant see these things getting regulatory approval.

Louise MacKenzie, a pharmacologist at the University of Hertfordshire, who has studied GW501516, said it was once considered a wonder drug because of its potential to treat a number of medical conditions. But while the compound appears to have benefits at low doses, it can have bad side effects at high doses. It goes from being remarkably healthy to being the complete opposite, theres no in-between, she said. Nevertheless, MacKenzie said the drug was a good starting block for scientists hoping to find new ways to treat patients. I can definitely see a future where the problems are solved. You just need to have enough clever scientists working on them, she said.

See original here:
'Exercise pill' could deliver benefits of fitness in tablet form - The Guardian

Read More..

Planet Fitness (PLNT), Mondelez International (MDLZ), Diamondback Energy (FANG) and Devon Energy (DVN) topped estimates late Tuesday, while Inphi (IPHI) sank on weak guidance.

Estimates: Profit to vault63% to 44 cents a share, on a 40.6% sales gain to $93.51 million.

Results: EPS of 44 cents on revenue of $93.6 million.

Outlook: Q2 EPS of 27-39 cents, well below consensus for 46 cents, on revenue of $80 million-$88 million, below consensus for $96.3 million.

"However, Q2 revenue will be adversely impacted primarily by inventory accumulation in China Long Haul and Metro, which represents 40% of worldwide optical communications demand," said CEO Ford Tamer in a statement. "We are confident in the growth opportunities for Inphi in 2017 and 2018, in the long haul, metro and inter- and intra-data center markets, because of our product positioning with leading customers and growing market share,"

Stock: Inphi sank 15% late. Shares finished 4.3% lower at 40.54 amid a broad semiconductor sell-off. The fabless chip designer, which has an optical communications unit, reports ahead of fiber-optic parts maker Lumentum (LITE), which is set to reveal fiscal Q3 earnings early Thursday.

Also after the close, optical equipment maker Oclaro (OCLR) gave weak revenue guidance, sending shares down 7%. Lumentum fell 4% late, and Acacia Communications (ACIA) lost 1.7%.

Estimates: EPS should climb 4.2% to 50cents despite a 1.3% revenue dip to $6.372 billion.

Results: EPS of 53 cents on revenue of $6.41 billion.

Stock: Mondelez rallied 3% late. Shares fell 0.7% to 43.77. Shares were back below the 50-day, where they have tradedfor much of the past year. Its52-week high in February came amid merger buzz.

Estimates: Per-share earnings of 16 cents, rising from a year-ago gainof 15 cents. Revenue is seen rising 8.4%, to $90.38 million.

Results: EPS of 19 cents on revenue of $91.1 million.

Outlook: Full-year EPS of 74-77 cents, vs. consensus views for 75 cents, on revenue of $404 million-$415 million.

Stock: Planet Fitness edged up 0.15% late. Shares closed down 1% at 20.27. The gym chain remains lodged well below a 22.23 buy point from a cup-shaped, first-stage base, having made a negligible advance from earlier breakoutsin the past year.

Analysts have been bullish on Planet Fitness' unique strategy that marries low membership costs with a judgment-free setting.

RELATED:

Planet Fitness Bumps 'Gymtimidation' Lunks To Powerlift Its Gyms

Estimates: Earnings to rocket to 60 cents from 2 cents a year ago, as sales climb 150.2% to $218.9 million.

Results: EPS of $1.04 on revenue of $235 million. Production rose 61%, including an acquisition.

Outlook: Diamondback Energy kept its full-year spending outlook of $800 million-$1 billion.

Stock: Diamondback dipped 0.4% late. The shale producer ended down 0.6% at 98.38 as oil prices sold off. Shares have been consolidating for nearly three months and were testing long-term support levels on Tuesday.

Estimates: Per-share profit of 40 cents vs. a year-ago loss of 53 cents, as revenue soars 43.2%, to $3.045billion.

Results: EPS of 41 cents on revenue of $3.55 billion.

Outlook: Devon maintained its full-year capex spending outlook of $2.285 billion-$2.69 billion.

Stock: Deven rallied 2.3%. Shares dropped 1.2% at 38.85.

RELATED:

Apple Beats Views On Earnings, Comes Up Short On Sales

Gilead Stock Topples On Consensus-Lagging Q1 Sales, Earnings

Paycom Software Earnings, Revenue Top Estimates

Twilio Earnings Beat, Guidance Falls Short, Stock Plummets

8:36 PM ET Techs led stock futures Tuesday night following Apple's mixed results and a slew of other after-hours earnings. Facebook and Tesla...

8:36 PM ET Techs led stock futures Tuesday night following Apple's mixed results...

Read the original here:
Planet Fitness - Investor's Business Daily

Read More..

(1) Adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. For reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income to U.S. GAAP ("GAAP") net income see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" accompanying this press release.

Christopher Rondeau, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "There were several highlights from the first quarter that continue to underscore the growing popularity of our fitness offering and reinforce the strength of our business model.We added over 1.2 million net new members during the first three months of 2017 to surpass 10 million members system-wide. This increase was driven by the expansion efforts of our franchisees over the past year, including 54 new store openings and double digit same store sales growth during the quarter. Strong revenue and net income growth was fueled primarily by our high margin Franchise segment and contributed significantly to the Company's robust cash flow generation. With approximately 1,000 new stores scheduled to open in the next 5 years, combined with our growing national and local advertising spend, we are confident that we'll continue to be successful in attracting more and more first time and casual gym users to Planet Fitness."

Operating Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2017

For the first quarter of 2017, total revenue increased $7.8 million or 9.3% to $91.1 million from $83.3 million in the prior year period. By segment:

System-wide same store sales increased 11.1%. By segment, franchisee-owned same store sales increased 11.5% and corporate-owned same store sales increased 4.5%.

For the first quarter of 2017, net income was $17.9 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared to net income of $16.3 million, or $0.09 per diluted share in the prior year period. Adjusted net income (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures") increased 21.2% to $18.4 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, from $15.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted net income has been adjusted to reflect a normalized federal income tax rate of 39.5% for the current year period and 39.4% for the comparable prior year period and excludes certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

Adjusted EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures"), increased 23.3% to $42.3 million from $34.3 million in the prior year period.

Segment EBITDA represents our Total Segment EBITDA broken down by the Company's reportable segments. Total Segment EBITDA is equal to EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

Executive Leadership Promotion

The Company announced that Dorvin Lively, currently Chief Financial Officer of Planet Fitness, has been promoted and will now serve as President and Chief Financial Officer effective immediately. In this newly created position, Lively will oversee the brand's technology and real estate and development functions, as well as its corporate stores, in addition to his ongoing oversight of all finance related functions.

Rondeau, commented, "Dorvin has been instrumental in the successful expansion of our brand since joining Planet Fitness in 2013. During his tenure as Chief Financial Officer, we have more than doubled the number of stores system-wide while achieving strong financial returns for our franchisees, and more recently our shareholders. The Board of Directors and I are confident that Dorvin's experience and deep knowledge of our business will prove invaluable as we execute the Company's growth strategies."

Rondeau continued, "My passion for the Planet Fitness brand and my commitment to bringing affordable and non-intimidating health and wellness to millions of people has never been stronger. We have an exciting future ahead, and with Dorvin's well-deserved promotion, I look forward to increasing my focus on brand growth, long-term strategic initiatives, and franchisee and shareholder returns."

2017 Outlook

For the year ending December31, 2017, the Company now expects:

Presentation of Financial Measures

Planet Fitness, Inc. (the "Company") was formed in March 2015 for the purpose of facilitating the initial public offering (the "IPO") and related recapitalization transactions that occurred in August 2015, and in order to carry on the business of Pla-Fit Holdings, LLC ("Pla-Fit Holdings") and its subsidiaries. As the sole managing member of Pla-Fit Holdings, the Company operates and controls all of the business and affairs of Pla-Fit Holdings, and through Pla-Fit Holdings, conducts its business. As a result, the Company consolidates Pla-Fit Holdings' financial results and reports a non-controlling interest related to the portion of Pla-Fit Holdings not owned by the Company.

The financial information presented in this press release includes non-GAAP financial measures such as EBITDA, Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted to provide measures that we believe are useful to investors in evaluating the Company's performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental measures of the Company's performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. These financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for GAAP financial measures such as net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with, GAAP. In addition, in the future, the Company may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted. The Company's presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by similar amounts or other unusual or nonrecurring items. See the tables at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Total Segment EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

The non-GAAP financial measures used in our full-year outlook will differ from net income and net income per share, diluted, determined in accordance with GAAP in ways similar to those described in the reconciliations at the end of this press release. We do not provide guidance for net income or net income per share, diluted, determined in accordance with GAAP or a reconciliation of guidance for Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because we are not able to predict with reasonable certainty the amount or nature of all items that will be included in our net income and net income per share, diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2017. These items are uncertain, depend on many factors and could have a material impact on our net income and net income per share, diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call at 4:30 pm (ET) on May 2, 2017 to discuss the news announced in this press release. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible at http://www.planetfitness.com via the "Investor Relations" link. The webcast will be archived on the website for one year.

About Planet Fitness

Founded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of March 31, 2017, Planet Fitness had approximately 10.1 million members and 1,367 stores in 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Dominican Republic. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements, approximations, estimates and projections with respect to our anticipated future performance, especially those under the heading "2017 Outlook," ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company's control. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties associated with competition in the fitness industry, the Company's and franchisees' ability to attract and retain new members, changes in consumer demand, changes in equipment costs, the Company's ability to expand into new markets, operating costs for the Company and franchisees generally, availability and cost of capital for franchisees, acquisition activity, developments and changes in laws and regulations, our substantial indebtedness, our corporate structure and tax receivable agreements, general economic conditions and the other factors described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates or representatives undertake any obligation to provide additional information or to correct or update any information set forth in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Planet Fitness, Inc. and subsidiaries

Condensed consolidated statements of operations

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

For the three months ended

March31,

2017

2016

Revenue:

Franchise

$

30,281

$

21,491

Commission income

6,516

6,186

Corporate-owned stores

27,041

25,697

Equipment

27,264

29,969

Total revenue

91,102

83,343

Operating costs and expenses:

Cost of revenue

21,124

23,639

Store operations

15,184

14,732

Selling, general and administrative

13,820

11,845

Depreciation and amortization

7,951

7,703

Other gain

(32)

(186)

Total operating costs and expenses

58,047

57,733

Income from operations

33,055

25,610

Other expense, net:

Interest expense, net

(8,763)

(6,367)

Other income

682

393

Total other expense, net

(8,081)

(5,974)

Income before income taxes

24,974

19,636

Provision for income taxes

7,108

3,291

Net income

17,866

16,345

Less net income attributable to non-controlling interests

9,024

12,977

Net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc.

$

8,842

$

3,368

Net income per share of Class A common stock:

Originally posted here:
Planet Fitness, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2017 Results - PR Newswire (press release)

Read More..

Comments(1)

A new fitness class which consists of nothing but SLEEPING could be heading to Devon very soon. Here is what we know so far.

David Lloyd Clubs, which has a centre in Exeter, is currently trialing an innovative new workout which consists of nothing but climbing into bed and sleeping for 45 minutes (could this answer the prayers of every tired parent in Devon?).

'Napercise' was trialed for the first time last weekend at David Lloyd in Sidcup and depending on the success of the trial David Lloyd Clubs will also look into rolling out the sessions to more of its clubs across the UK in the future.

The class consisted of a 45 minute sleep session, which was designed to help reinvigorate the mind, body and even burn the odd calorie for those that took part.

Read more: This amazing Davy Jones costume could help Devon girl get to Hollywood

'Napercise' arrives in the wake of research revealing the 'tiredness epidemic' across the UK, with 86 per cent of parents admitting to suffer from fatigue, with 26 per cent regularly getting less than five hours sleep a night.

The frantic, stress-inducing nature of modern life means that few of us seem to get enough sleep, and if you're a parent, regularly getting your full 40 winks becomes even more of a luxury. With this in mind, family fitness brand David Lloyd Clubs is launching 'Napercise' a new type of wellbeing class for exhausted parents that consists of nothing but climbing into a bed and having a sleep.

A spokesperson for David Lloyd Clubs said: "According to our research, 86 per cent of parents admit to regularly suffering from fatigue which is alarmingly high when you consider the important role getting a good night's sleep can play in our overall mental and physical wellbeing.

"Here at David Lloyd Clubs, we're always looking for new ways to tackle the issues that everyday families face, which is what 'Napercise' sets out to do. Filling an exercise studio with beds might look unusual, but if it proves to be a success, we're definitely excited at the possibility of rolling out the programme to more of our clubs down the line."

Read more: Pop icon Adam Ant to play Devon show

Upon arrival guests will find the spin-bikes swapped for single beds, and upbeat workout tunes ditched in favour of atmospheric sounds, to create the perfect environment for the soporific sessions to take place.

The studio temperature will also be dropped to a level that promotes calorie burning during sleep. Napercisers will be invited to curl up in one of the beds and indulge in some restorative mid-afternoon shuteye, before continuing on with their day.

The development of Napercise is inspired by past academic studies into the important health benefits that napping in the day can bring. This includes helping boost alertness, alleviate feelings of anxiety or stress, and improving your mood.

Kathryn Pinkham, Dreams Sleep Expert and founder of the Insomnia Clinic added: "Sleep is a lot more important than people realise. We tend to focus on the short-term effects such as being tired or lacking concentration, but it is also essential for our long-term physical and mental wellbeing too.

"In addition to a lack of sleep bringing with it a higher risk of developing anxiety or depression, when we are sleep deprived we lack the energy to exercise regularly, and also the mental clarity to make good decisions about the food we eat, which could negatively impact our physical health in the long-run."

Go here to read the rest:
This Devon gym could soon start a fitness class consisting of nothing but SLEEPING - Devon Live

Read More..

WBTW - Myrtle Beach and Florence SC

Fitness Championship comes to Myrtle Beach WBTW - Myrtle Beach and Florence SC There's so many things that Myrtle Beach adds to the personality of the Stewart Fitness Bodybuilding Championship. When you think of beaches, you think of people being in shape. So, we're going to bring people from all across the country to compete in ...

Read this article:
Fitness Championship comes to Myrtle Beach - WBTW - Myrtle Beach and Florence SC

Read More..

Larry Borysyk takes Lucille Chartiers blood pressure as she exercises in Holyoke Hospitals cardiac rehabilitation gym.

Lucille Chartier had no idea she had heart problems until a day last October when she got out of the shower, began sweating, and felt like she was going to pass out.

I knew something was really wrong, said the 68-year-old Chicopee woman, who was diagnosed with a heart attack after an ambulance took her to the hospital.

While there, she was told about a cardiac-rehabilitation program in a gym, but wasnt given much information, and since she had never exercised on machines, she was hesitant to sign up.

Several months later, she spoke to Larry Borysyk at Holyoke Medical Center (HMC), and after he explained its program in detail and why it was important, Chartier decided to give it a try.

That was two months ago, and today she would advise anyone who has had a cardiac event to take part in cardiac rehabilitation. She enjoys walking on the treadmill as well as the camaraderie between staff and participants, and says it has helped her gain strength and confidence.

Borysyk, cardiac rehabilitation counselor at HMC, said Chartiers initial reaction was not unusual.

Cardiac rehabilitation is life-saving, but it can be a scary adjustment for people who have never exercised in a gym, so we try to reduce their mental and physical stress, he told BusinessWest, adding that individuals need to slowly acclimate to the equipment. Meanwhile, people who exercised on a regular basis before a cardiac event need to relearn what they can do, and how long and hard they can safely push themselves.

Exercise can be problematic because people can become hyper-vigilant after a heart attack and think any symptom is a precursor to another event. But cardiac rehabilitation can help them learn what is normal.

Each participant is assessed by a nurse while they are exercising to make sure they stay within their limits, said Kelley Weider, department director of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Berkshire Medical Center, adding that patients are connected to wireless telemetry monitors, and if they experience symptoms during exercise they are worried about, they are immediately evaluated.

Holyoke, Baystate, and Berkshire medical centers all have cardiac-rehab programs, and participants exercise in their gyms two or three times a week for 10 to 12 weeks under close supervision. Their blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rhythm are measured during activity, and routines are tailored to meet individual needs and fitness levels.

Participants must have a doctors referral, and although the majority have had a heart attack or stent placement, others have had bypass surgery, a heart-valve replacement, congestive heart failure, a heart replacement, or angina.

Kelly Weider says studies show regular exercise can help decrease the risk of a second cardiac event.

In addition to monitoring that takes place during each session, participants receive education on topics that include diet, stress reduction, smoking cessation, and other factors that affect heart health, and slowly build strength, get used to exercising, and understand it needs to become part of their lifestyle.

People also learn the importance of genetics and how that factor and their lifestyle have affected their health. Heart disease does not happen overnight, Borysyk said.

For this issue, BusinessWest examines the importance of cardiac rehabilitation, how treatment has changed, and how it helps people understand what they do can safely and when symptoms should not be ignored.

Borysyk has worked in cardiac rehab since the early 70s, and has seen changes due to technology and medical advances that allow heart disease to be detected and treated earlier than in the past, which results in better outcomes.

Coronary-care units were set up in the 60s, but before that, nurses did everything for patients after a heart attack, including feeding them. They worried about compromising their damaged hearts, and as a result, people ended up as cardiac cripples, he said, noting that, in the late 70s and early 80s, people were kept in the hospital for two weeks after a heart attack, but today they are released after two or three days.

Cardiac procedures and surgeries are not done at Holyoke Medical Center, and in many instances patients who go to their emergency room are transported by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center.

Heidi Szalai, manager of Baystate Medical Centers cardiac-rehab program, which is the largest in the area, told BusinessWest that, although rehab doesnt usually start in the hospital, staff members get patients up and moving.

We want to make sure theyre walking and that it is safe for them to go home, she said, adding that healing speeds up when they leave the hospital and they are told about programs available to them when they are discharged.

However, cardiac rehab doesnt begin for a week or two after a person leaves a medical center, especially if they have had surgery, because the heart needs time to recover.

The programs start with individual assessments to determine the best plan of action. In addition to an exercise routine that is created for each participant, they are taught about risk factors that include high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, stress, nutrition, and lack of exercise.

They are usually on new medications, and we need to make sure they understand them, Szalai said, explaining that some prescription drugs may slow their heart rates, and their doctors receive periodic reports about their blood pressure and how the heart responds during exercise, which helps them determine how well a medication is working and if adjustments need to be made.

Heidi Szalai said cardiac rehab helps patients know how they should feel when they exercise and when to seek medical help.

Lifestyle changes are also discussed. Some people have always eaten well and are doing everything they should, but need to learn to control stress and cope with it so it doesnt affect their heart, she continued, adding that patients have a clinician trained in mindfulness-based stress management. We tell people that exercise is a dose of medication and has positive affects on risk factors; it helps lower blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and improves their overall sense of well-being.

The goal is to get people exercising five days a week, which can make a profound difference because studies show finishing a cardiac-rehab program can lower the likelihood of another event.

Insurance typically covers the cost of the programs, but some people have high co-pays and cannot afford to attend all of the sessions.

When that occurs, staff in cardiac programs do their best in a limited number of sessions. Berkshire Medical Center has a program that pays half of co-pays of $15 or more for qualified individuals, and although it can help, it may not be enough.

Weve seen people with co-pays that are $80 a session, so even if they receive financial help, attending 36 sessions may be cost-prohibitive, Weider said, adding that, in some instances, they have modified the program into six sessions, which is less than ideal, but helps to give a patient security and knowledge about what they can do safely.

During the intake process, we get a sense of what theyve done in the past as well as their level of conditioning, she noted. About 90% of people havent been exercising on a regular basis, but some were running five miles a day.

Exercise machines are integral to the program and include different types of stationary bicycles, a treadmill, and resistance bands, which are used for strength training.

The final phase of the program is maintenance, and although people can join gyms or exercise on their own, if they still want to be monitored, most hospitals have ongoing exercise programs that cost $40 to $45 per month and are overseen by cardiac rehabilitation staff members who are available to take their blood pressure or put them on a cardiac monitor if they feel it is needed.

Some people like the idea of having that safety net ,and Weider said Berkshire Medical Centers maintenance program has about 320 participants who want the peace of mind that comes from knowing that, if any concerning symptoms arise, they can be assessed.

Weve sent some people to the emergency room, but many times they simply need to be checked out and reassured that they are OK, she said, noting that a nurse is always available.

Borysyk says people with cardiac conditions who dont exercise are at greater risk of not being able to do the things they want as they get older, especially if their diet is poor and they smoke. And although some people avoid cardiac rehab because they want to bury the memory of the event, learning what they can do safely is an excellent way to help ensure their heart health in the future.

Many studies show that exercise is the biggest modifiable factor to decrease the risk of another heart event, Weider said, citing one study showing that participants in a cardiac rehab program reduced their risk of another event by 25%.

In addition, it helps participants understand how they should feel when they exercise, what the red flags are, and when they need to call their doctor or go to the emergency room.

It helps them return to what is important to them in life and gets them into a routine of exercising 150 minutes a week that they can continue when they finish the program, Szalai said.

Its definitely an investment of time and money, but one that yields positive results and can lead to a healthier and happier lifestyle.

Read the original here:
Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs Help Keep Hearts Healthy - Business West (blog)

Read More..

Miami Herald

UM football players, other athletes teach children about healthy eating and exercise Miami Herald The youngsters, part of UM's Translational Health in Nutrition and Kinesiology (THINK) program, visited the university on April 19. Players Kc McDermott, Nick Linder and Sunny Odogwu, all on the Hurricanes offensive line, spoke to the children about ...

Read the original:
UM football players, other athletes teach children about healthy eating and exercise - Miami Herald

Read More..

A Millburn-based business is celebrating a big birthday, and its doing so with the help of a Maplewood resident.

Lifelong Millburn resident Michael Romano started Longevity Personal Fitness 25 years ago to help clients incorporate movement into their daily routines in order to promote a healthier lifestyle. Now, Maplewood resident and personal trainer Allison Kalsched is helping Romano add two new programs as part of the businesss 25 anniversary celebration.

Heres the press release from Longevity:

Longevity Personal Fitness, the areas premier private fitness studio, is celebrating 25 years in business this year. In celebration of this anniversary, the studio will be hosting a series of special events throughout the month of May. At a public reception on Thursday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m., Maplewood resident and personal trainer Allison Kalsched will announce the development and launch of two new programs: Longevity at Home and Longevity at Work.

Developed in conjunction with Longevity Co-Founder Michael Romano, both programs are designed to increase the accessibility to the highly successful training programs that are offered to current clients. Longevity at Home is a series of simple exercise programs designed to help clients move better and feel their best. Developed over the past 25 years, the Longevity at Home program will allow adults access to the unique 30-minute training sessions that have enabled people to improve their balance, strength and endurance, correct their posture, recover from injury and restore their bodies after childbirth.

Longevity at Work brings the gym to the workplace. Romano and Kalsched will guide small groups through simple and extremely effective exercises that require no equipment. Given the opportunity to move, and to move well and with a focus, the most sedentary worker can feel and look better.

The programs will be announced on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at the kick off for the 25th Anniversary Celebration, where guests will enjoy refreshments, meet and mingle with local business owners and residents and learn more about the companys training approach from the staff. The reception is open to the general public..

Teaming up with Mike to develop and launch these two programs is a natural progression of my philosophy that fitness and strength leads to happiness. In our increasingly inactive lives, our bodies and our minds are prone to disease at increasingly alarming rates, states Allison Kalsched. Through a simple program that progresses as the user does, we can begin to stave off the effects of a sedentary lifestyle.

Im a lifelong Milburn resident, says Co-Founder Michael Romano. It has personally meant so much to me to be able to run this business in my hometown and help residents feel and look younger and offset the effects of sedentary lifestyles, he says. The best way to maintain a healthier lifestyle is simply to move more all day long and our goal is to help as many men and women FEEL as young as possible by moving more with flexibility and vitality throughout their lives. Im excited to be able to make this lifestyle available to even more people through these two programs.

Longevity Personal Fitness celebrates their 25th year with a series of events including several free fitness-training opportunities:

Thursday, May 4, 2017

25th Anniversary Networking Reception 6:30pm-7:00pm

Hear Our Training Approach & Meet the Trainers 7:00pm-7:30pm

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Hear Our Training Approach 11:00am-11:30am

Free Open Functional Fitness Training 11:45am-12:15pm and 12:30pm-1:00pm

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Hear Our Training Approach 6:45pm-7:15pm

Free Open Functional Fitness Training 7:30pm-8:00pm

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Hear Our Training Approach 1:00pm-1:30pm

Free Open Functional Fitness Training 1:45pm-2:15pm

All events will take place at the Longevity Personal Fitness located at 12 Holmes Street in Millburn, New Jersey. RSVP to attend any of the celebratory events, which are open to the general public, by contacting Longevity Personal Fitness at info@longevitypersonalfitnessnj.com or calling (973) 307-5651. For more information, visit longevitypersonalfitnessnj.com.

About Longevity Personal Fitness

The fitness studio began operations in 1992 as the Millburn Short Hills Athletic Club and has been located in the heart of Downtown Millburn on 12 Holmes Street since the very beginning. Today, Longevity Personal Fitness specializes in 30-minute research-based functional fitness programs for adults. With 25 years of personal fitness experience, Longevity Personal Fitness of Millburn, NJis committed to helping the community maintain their health and wellness through every stage of life. Our trainers are highly experienced in working with all fitness levels and create individualized plans for each client based on their needs and goals. The sessions are thoughtfully planned and specific in their purpose.

Read this article:
Millburn-Based Longevity Personal Fitness Celebrates 25 Years With May 4 Reception - The Village Green

Read More..

Contact Us Today

Page 2,028«..1020..2,0272,0282,0292,030..2,0402,050..»

Home » Page 2028