Health Advantage is in the business of educating and empowering. We do that through the following...
1. Professional fitness training
2. Nutrition counseling
3. Fitness consulting
4. Program design
Our focus is to provide goal oriented training with a functional focus. We are experts in every aspect of wellness from strength, toning, fat loss, sport specific conditioning to cardiovascular and respiratory fitness.
Our mission statement is as follows:
We exist to serve...To create an atmosphere that enables people to feel like they belong and are an important part of our facility. We will maintain our equipment and keep an exceptionally clean facility, but that is not nearly enough...each person must know that they are not just a member, but are valued and cared for. It is not about the money!
Health Advantage Fitness
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
The Squat
Exercise of the week...the SQUAT. We all need thigh, hip, hamstring, abductor and adductor, low back and abdominal strength and the squat works them all. In fact studies show that just squatting will increase overall body strength. Vary the distance your feet are apart. The squat is the most functional exercise there is.
GOALS
There are those who constantly fly by the seat of their pants and there are people who plan everything. While both types of personalities can have great progress in the gym, I know from experience that the best way to avoid wasting time and energy is to set realistic goals and then map out a plan of action. Look around the gym and you will see folks day after day performing the same exercises with the same weight. They may be appear to b working really hard but you see little or no change. There is a plethora of information available on the web that will guarantee progress. Everyday experts post goal specific routines, exercises, videos and diet tips. Most are free of charge! If you are one who is flying by the seat of your pants, then take a deep breath and critically look at your habits. A little research and planning will catapult you to new levels of progress and progress yields greater motivation. Take advantage of this blog...ask questions. Learn 1 new fitness or nutrition fact every day. START TODAY!
Burn baby BURN!
Want to burn a ton of calories, while building great cardio and lung capacity? Find the biggest hill you can and sprint to the top. Walk down, catch your breath and repeat. The big glute, thigh and hip muscles burn a boat load of calories with much less joint stress than running distance. It is really difficult but If you want amazing progress in terms of fat loss, heart and lung condition then your exercise routine MUST be uncomfortable. You have to push yourself through the heart pounding and lung burning! That's where the progress comes from.
Weight, cardio combination
Strength training is essential for muscle, bone, connective tissue & increasing metabolism. Cardio builds lung & heart capacity. Try putting them together. For example, 2 minutes on the elliptical followed by a set of squats, 1 minute jump rope followed by a set of dumbell bench press, 2 minutes walking up hill on the treadmill followed by set of straight leg dead lifts. Repeat for 30 minutes. Share your ideas.
Life is about BALANCE!
Many of us, in an effort to meet or maintain our goals cut out things we enjoy. Well let me tell you something. STOP IT! life should be about balance and not deprivation. Ok, you like Oreo cookies...who doesn't so on occasion eat a few. Enjoy your favorite guilty pleasure food and libation. I'm not saying a whole bottle of your favorite wine or a pint of Ben & Jerry's, but an occasional glass, or a cup of ice cream will not only put a smile on your face, it will also help you stay on track. Research has proven that this type of splurge actually helps prevent bingeing.
Here is my best advice on splurging...
1. Plan your treat and DO NOT cut our calories that day to "make room" for it.
2. Plan your treat after exercise when you have more glycogen storage and your metabolism is boosted.
3. PORTION CONTROL...again it is about balance.
Our goals should lead us to our permanent lifestyle that is healthy, positive, and reproducible on a daily basis.
Life...Be in it!
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About Health Advantage
- Dr. Tim French, ScD
- 4 years USAF Fitness Advisor BS Exercise Physiology MS Physical Education ScD Nutritional Science 25 years self employed professional coach and trainer