New Home For My Blog!

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http://skoogfit.wordpress.com/

New Beginnings

Last night I held my first Skoofit Conditioning Class and it was a blast!  It was a great way to kick-off my new status as 'self-employed'.

It was also my sister's first day at her first job in NYC, so new beginnings and milestones all around!  I remember when I moved to NYC over 7 years ago how daunting this city seemed...having my own business run successfully wasn't even a pipe dream!!  I just wanted to GET a job!

My first job in NY was at a lawfirm in midtown and it was simply awful.  My boss was dreadfully mean to me:  in just 3 short months, he called me 'stupid' and I walked out after returning a few choice words.  I waited tables for awhile and finally landed a permanent position about a year later at another firm.  It was a great job for me in that I regained the confidence to dig deep inside myself to figure out what it is that I really wanted to be when I grew up. 

One of the perks at this new job was a huge discount at one of New York's top gyms where I discovered Pilates and lost nearly 10 pounds!!  Early one morning while I was sweating away on the elliptical, I noticed a very fit woman yelling at her client with a giant smirk on her face.  My recent weight loss, coupled with newfound confidence in my adopted city gave me the power to realize my dream of becoming a personal trainer.  I studied during my lunch breaks at work, practiced on my friends and aced the exam.  A few months later, I nailed a job at the very gym that inspired me!

Thinking back to my life as an 18 year-old member of Bally's in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, it would have been a dream of mine to train, to know my way around a gym, to run my own business.  I'm glad I waited for a more mature time in my life to commit to something so inspiring, so personal, so rewarding.

I am living my dream.

Running Club!

Skoogfit is starting a beginner's running club Saturday Mornings!
We will be training for the Ted Corbitt 15K Run on December 19th, 2010 in Central Park sponsored by the New York Road Runners

The Dirty Details:
Cost:  FREE
Who:  You and your friends...this is a beginner class with the goal of running a 15K in December.
When:  8:30 Saturday Mornings, rain or shine
Where:  Columbus Circle: meet under the big Trump globe above the subway station at 60th Street/Bway

RSVP is a MUST.  Email me at jenny@skoogfit.com to sign up!  We'll start this Saturday!

Act Your Age!

My biggest pet peeve is when someone tells me they're 'getting old'.  It drives me nuts!  I realize we're all aging daily, but youth is such a gift! I say to those who are getting old: good luck with that...I refuse! 

I'm having such a good time I want to live forever!  Well, at least a long and HEALTHY life.  

The key word here, is HEALTHY.

There are so many diseases, ailments and setbacks as our growing population ages--we're living longer than ever before.  

Many preventative measures can be taken in our youth to prevent early onset of diseases that come with aging.

Let's consider some of these:

• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Knee & Hip Replacements
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Heart Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol
• Depression
• Parkinson's
• Sarcopenia (muscle loss)

Studies show that these various conditions can be prevented.   Regular exercise is rated among the top 3 in prevention...and leisurely strolls may not be enough.  Vigorous activities such as jogging, swimming, bicycling, playing tennis, doing calisthenics or aerobics were said to be most effective in staving off such diseases as Parkinson's and Osteoporosis.  When we exercise, we are keeping our soft tissues oxygenated, and constantly regenerating.  Studies have also shown that humans lose musculature as we age.  In fact, more sedentary adults begin to lose muscle as early as their late-20's!!  In their 30's, the average person loses between .5%-1% of lean muscle mass per year...and by age 60 the rate of loss doubles!  My advice is to choose activities you enjoy and do them regularly.  Join an age-appropriate gym or hire a trainer who specializes in training mature adults and special populations.  Staying active is key, both mentally and physically.  My parents are in their 'golden years' (though they wouldn't describe them as 'golden' at all) and go to their local gym several times per week and get a discount on their health insurance.  Additionally, they work on crossword puzzles, travel and babysit their grandkids to keep their minds and bodies active.  

Below are some (but not all) ways we can help ourselves:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Reduce salt intake
• Reduce stress
• Ingest vitamins & minerals, and healthy fats such as fish oils
• Avoid smoking and exposure to smoke
• Recognize sun safety-use sunscreen
• Eat colorful fruits & vegetables
• Reduce red meat & animal fats
• Reduce exposure to certain chemicals
• Know your family medical history
• Get screened regularly--annual physical exams are a must
• Eat diets high in fiber, avoid sugary & processed foods
• Reduce alcohol consumption
• Use your brain: keep learning!  Do crossword puzzles or take educational courses that are engaging

This list may seem like you can't have ANY fun, but a little preventative maintenance now will keep you having fun well into your 90's!   

We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing!

-George Bernard Shaw

Running Shoes

With the New York City Marathon coming up in a couple weeks, there's a lot of buzz in the air about running.  Several of my clients have taken up the sport recently:  it's an inexpensive, convenient and easy way to stay in shape especially if you're on the road--all you have to do is pack your shoes and explore a neighborhood or local park.  New York itself is a giant running haven with it's many running paths, parks and tracks.

So how would one go about choosing the right running shoe?  Today's New York Times features an article on this very subject.  To sum it up, the most expensive shoe may not be the best one for you.  Many running shops will analyze your gait, assess how you run and choose most supportive shoe to fit your stride.

Function and comfort should be first and foremost in your selection.  I recommend buying a half-size bigger than you normally do for athletic shoes:  losing toenails is not very fun (trust me).  If you find a shoe that you love, buy 2 pairs and alternate between them both.  

Your shoe should last 350 miles or 6 months.  As soon as you see permanent creases in the heel cushioning, it's time to replace.  But definitely as soon as you feel slight pain in your knees during or after a run.

Avoid gimmicks like the Skechers Shape-Ups, Reebok Easy Toners or the barefoot 5-finger shoe.  These types of shoes do not lose weight for you, nor are they a magical fix-all.  They are simply...gimmicks.  

When you're ready for purchase, ask for a discount!  Running boutiques love students, gym members and fitness addicts!

The Post-Wedding 15

Since getting married, I have put on a solid 4 pounds. 
Ouch.
In my line of work, weight gain can be a career killer.  I always want to look the part and feel my best, no matter what stage of life I find myself in.
So, I marched into my dietitian's office yesterday for a reality check.  Turns out I'm not alone in the weight-gain category:  most newlyweds pack on about 15 pounds during their first year of marriage!!  15?! 
How is this possible?!
Newlyweds want to put the new Cuisinart sitting on the counter to good use.  New wives try to show their husbands their cooking skills.  She eats as much as he does.  The goal of fitting into a little white dress is now behind them. The honeymoon at the beach is over.  Crash-dieting right before the wedding slowed down her metabolism significantly. 
For my part, I didn't lose a huge amount of weight before my wedding but since being back from our honeymoon, I have been so focused on other things I tend to miss workouts.  I have been celebrating with friends and eating rich foods.
I promise to be consistent with my new diet & exercise program and will keep you, dear reader, posted.

Skoogfit Conditioning Class!

Winter is looming, the holidays are right around the corner and the dreaded 5-pound weight gain is threatening to come between us and our hard-earned beach bodies!!!  For this reason, Skoogfit is branching out to small-group (max 8 people) circuit-training and conditioning classes.  We'll do conditioning circuits of 30-seconds on, 20-seconds of transition time for 6-12 exercises with a break between each sequence.  No coordination need apply, no dancing involved.  Just hardcore people determined to improve their fitness level and stay in shape!  All fitness levels welcome!

 

The dirty details:

Where: Ripley Grier Studios 72nd Street, 3rd Floor, Studio 2R and 3R (check the day of to confirm the room number)

When: 8pm Wednesdays & 7pm Fridays in November/December (except for Thanksgiving week and ending December 17th)

Who: With the Skoog!

Cost: $280/person ($35/class with a twice-weekly, 4-week commitment--1 class cancel can be forgiven)

How: Sign up by emailing me at jenny@skoogfit.com

 

Invite friends, co-workers, spouses or give my class as a birthday gift to your best friend!!  Spread the word to anyone you know who might be interested!