We’re having our best garden yet this year. So far, we’ve picked summer squash, lots of gigantic cucumbers and although not ready yet, the carrots and onions are gonna be prize winners. The only problem is that the tomato blight is rearing it’s ugly head. Hopefully we can salvage some.
Learn more about Vitality Fitness And Nutrition Personal Training Services
Approaching ten years in the fitness and wellness industry, I’ve worked with scores of people and have seen many great successes. Unfortunately, along with the successes, I’ve seen my share of individuals who for various reasons have not been able to achieve their goals. Given that it is my job ,or more accurately, my responsibility to promote change in my clients lives, witnessing someone fall short is probably the least fun part of my job.
Usually, when a prospective client contacts me it’s because they want to change how they look on the outside. They want to be thinner or more muscular. Or maybe they want to look younger. No matter what the goal is, there is one critical factor that determines their success or failure. Interestingly, that factor has nothing to do with the training program or nutrition regime.
When I look at all of the great success stories I’ve been honored to take part in, the one factor that they all have in common is the change that took place within them. Sure, they worked their butts off and that certainly plays a part, but the one thing that separates them from the rest was their willingness to examine their lives from the inside. In doing so, they create an inner change that fuels the outer transformation.
Changing how you think changes how you feel. It also changes how we act.
The longer I stay in this game, the more I see how important it is that before anything can change on the outside, there needs to be a change on the inside. It is said that a persons outer appearance is a reflection of their inner state. I’ve found this to be true for myself and in my experiences with others.
So, if you’ve been having trouble finding success in your fitness and wellness goals, perhaps its time to stop focusing on the things you do on the outside and start focusing on the inside. That is where the real change begins.
Learn more about Vitality Fitness And Nutrition Personal Training Services
I thought I’d share some personal info about what we’re doing “around the house” here at Vitality to enhance our own family’s wellness.
Every year when spring rolls around, the whole family gets involved turning the soil, planting seeds and growing vegetables. We’ve been doing it for 5 years now, making some mistakes, but always learning along the way. Last year was tough dealing with too much rain and a tomato blight and we lost a lot of stuff. So this year we are prepared. We have a great garden planted, and I can’t wait until we can pick and eat our own fresh home grown veggies.
Even better, this will be our first year juicing! Now there’s a wellness enhancer. I have been sucessfully applying my new years resolution to eat more vegetables and this will let me take it to the next level! Keep an eye out for updates on my juucing experience. Cheers!
Vitality Fitness and Nutrition provides in-home wellness services including personal training and group fitness classes to client throughout CT, focusing in Bristol, Southington, Burlington, Litchfield County, Avon and Farmington Connecticut.
Group classes are growing in popularity in every gym. But with summer approaching, gym attendance falls off because people want to seek activities outdoors. Also, when you belong to a gym you’re at the mercy of the class schedule and you pretty much have to accept what they offer.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to pick the kind of class you want and take it when you want to? How about doing it outside in the beauty and privacy of your own back yard? Well now you can!
I’m proud to announce another innovative solution for wellness inside and outside the home. If you have two or more friends willing to join you, then you can sponsor an outdoor group class right in your own backyard. You tell us what you want, when you want it and we’ll bring it right to you. At Vitality Fitness and Nutrition, we network with high quality instructors of all kinds – Zumba, Boot Camp and Yoga are just a few.
So grab some friends and give us a call. Tell us what kind of class you’re looking for. Remember- A minimum of three people is all it takes to bring a high energy outdoor class to your back yard.
Learn more about Vitality Fitness And Nutrition Personal Training Services
Vitality Fitness and Nutrition provides in-home wellness services including personal training and group fitness classes to client throughout CT, focusing in Bristol, Southington, Burlington, Litchfield County, Avon and Farmington Connecticut.
If you live in the Torrington area, and are looking for someone you can trust to provide the best quality equipment at a price you can afford, then stop by Brumells Cycling and Fitness on East Main ST in Torrington CT. Owned and operated by Randy Brumell a man with a well established reputation in the area. Randy currently serves the needs of the torrington police department, and Is also a trusted source for Vitality fitness and nutrition when we get a client looking to invest in quality home exercise equipment.
Christmas is coming and we all know what follows! Stop by and see Randy and get ready to succeed with those New Years resolutions!
Learn more about Vitality Fitness And Nutrition Personal Training Services
Gene therapy is coming. Get ready for some mind blowing stuff…
This certainly blows my mind. Last week scientists from The Institute for Healthy Ageing at University College in London published a study that showed how researchers were able to successfully extend the lifespan of mice by up to a fifth and reduce the number of age related diseases overall by manipulating their genes to stop producing a special type of protein called S6 Kinase or, S6K1 for short.
Researchers have long studied the effects of reducing calorie intake and its relationship to longevity. By reducing calorie intake by 30%, rats, mice and more recently primates, have been shown to live much longer healthier lives and have far less incidence of age related diseases. Those smart people in London have in essence produced the same effect through genetic manipulation with…are you seated?? NO REDUCTION IN CALORIE INTAKE!
This truly is revolutionary stuff. My favorite quote comes from a researcher in an article written by Jean-Louis Santini, “The mice lived longer, were leaner, more active and generally healthier than the control group. We added life to their years as well as years to their lives.” You can read the full story here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091002/wl_uk_afp/healthscienceusbritainbiology/print
This does raise some interesting questions though. Surely this has potential to help increase the length and quality of life. Once again though, I must sprinkle in some truth here. The lazy person’s pill is a few more years down the road. In the mean time, get yourself in shape. Personally, when medicine perfects this technology- and they will as long as we don’t destroy ourselves- I want to be waiting in peak condition. What would you do with an extra 50 to 75 years to live? Hmmm…
Join Us at the Jane Kinney Wellness Fair on 9/12/09!
Do you live in the Bristol area and want to learn more about how to enhance your own personal wellness? Then come down to St. Paul High School on Stafford Avenue in Bristol, CT. There will be a host of activities and games for young and old, and Vitality Fitness and Nutrition will be there to discuss performance nutrition and individualized nutrition programming. We’ve even donated a free nutrition set up for a lucky individual on our exclusive My Vitality Online Nutrition System. This is our secret weapon in the weight management war. The My Vitality system is customized specifically to your individual needs and can be tailored to fit your goal; whether you’re a student training for a school sport or an active parent wanting to set the right example for your kids.
The event will be held at St. Paul High School in Bristol, CT on Sept 12, 2009 from 10am to 3pm. There will be many local wellness providers attending with yoga demonstrations by Inner Quest Yoga, and sports evaluations by Parisi Speed School. Also, Michelle Bonner, anchor from ESPN will be in attendance to sign autographs and there will be prizes given away all day.
Come join the fun and bring the kids! There will be a bounce house, face painting and a dunk tank. Not to mention lots of fun and games. And don’t forget to stop by and say “hi” at the Vitality Fitness and Nutrition Booth. You can pick my brain with your nutrition questions, or ask about the many wellness services we offer!
The Corporate Wellness Solution
Recently while thumbing through The Hartford Business Journal, I noticed a column written by Laura Petrecca; a writer for USA Today. The title was “Wellness Programs Targeted” and it went on to explain how in today’s economy many corporations are cutting workplace wellness programs to save on their healthcare costs.
Weren’t workplace wellness programs first instituted as a means to help lower costs?
Well, whatever the case, it seems that far too often it’s the hard working employee who ends up getting the short end of that deal- whether the business saves money or not. This certainly isn’t what a business owner that cares about their employees would want. True, it does take a certain investment to provide an effective workplace wellness program for workers, but it shouldn’t and doesn’t have to break the bank. There are many solutions.
For example, my company Vitality Fitness and Nutrition can help you downsize the cost of your wellness program without downsizing the benefits your employees will receive. We can help you plan an onsite fitness center to fit your needs and your budget. We can provide, install and even service your equipment. We can also provide a variety of wellness services including but not limited to one-on-one personal training, group exercise classes, nutrition and weight management services and educational and motivational classes. Learn more!
Why pay year after year for gym memberships or wellness services for your employees when Vitality Fitness and Nutrition can help you to provide those same great services right in your own workplace? With Vitality, everyone wins. You save money, your employees get healthier and your company gets stronger. So what are you waiting for?
Announcing Outdoor Group Exercise Classes at Rockwell Park –
Sign-up for Camp Vitality!
Since the formation of Vitality fitness and Nutrition, most of our business has been done in a private setting, either in our studio, or in the privacy of the clients’ own home. We have been looking for a way to get involved in our community on a public level for a while and we’re very pleased and excited to announce that Vitality Fitness and Nutrition has been given a green light to offer outdoor group exercise classes in beautiful and historic Rockwell Park in Bristol CT!
At one time, Rockwell Park was a jewel in the crown of Bristol’s park system and it is listed in the national registry of historic sites. I can personally recall many fun-filled memories from childhood swimming in the lagoon and tearing up the playgrounds. Unfortunately, the park fell into disrepair over the years, but that is now all changing as we speak. The town of Bristol is well under way bringing about the restoration of this beautiful asset of ours. What better way to get fit and healthy than being able to take your workout outdoors in this beautiful setting. The best part of all of this for me, is that I now have two children of my own, and they absolutely love the new changes happening in the park
Among the initial classes being offered are Zumba, Yoga, Kickboxing and Fitness Bootcamp. For more information about the classes being offered and to sign up, contact Scott Chasse at scott@vitalityfitnessandnutrition.com or 860.707.3158.
We’re extremely grateful to the town of Bristol for working with us on getting this project off the ground. I have a feeling these classes will book up fast so make sure you sign up early. Many of my past and existing clients have already expressed their excitement about being able to take their fitness programs outdoors and will be signing up themselves. Why stay locked up in an indoor class packed like sardines? Get outside with Vitality Fitness and Nutrition at Rockwell Park, where the sky truly is the limit!
Recently, there’s been a lot of talk in the news about “brown fat”. This was spurred on after the April 9th release of The New England Journal of Medicine in which there were three published studies on the subject. Much of the media talk around this has been filled with phrases like, “exercise in a pill”, and “cure for obesity”. As a fitness professional, I often end up frustrated by the way the media can relay this information to the public. Very often the “news” you’re watching is little more than a precursor to a pharmaceutical ad and little else.
We’re going to take a closer look at this now, and see if brown fat really is the next great hope for people living with obesity related diseases, or is it just more smoke and mirror tricks played by greedy pharmaceutical companies.
In order to put things into a realistic perspective, we need to understand a little bit about what brown fat is and what its role is in our bodies. Then, we’ll look at what the studies say and whether this information is really something that can benefit us.
Brown fat, as opposed to white fat, is a special type of fat that is found to be present in babies and small children. Scientists used to think that brown fat went away as we grow into adult hood. It was thought that the fat acted as some part of a survival mechanism helping us to adapt to cooler climates. Interestingly, animals are found to have more brown fat than humans. What makes brown fat so special is that it is thought of as an “active fat” in that it is responsible for increasing metabolism and generating heat in cooler conditions. Part of the mechanism for this is that the cells have a higher mitochondrial density. This causes the cell to act like a passive calorie burner; and this is why the pharmaceutical companies are taking a closer look at it.
The ultimate goal of the physicians studying this is to find a way to modify brown fats activity and possibly it’s distribution over the body. Interestingly, doctors have found higher concentrations of brown fat in leaner people. They also discovered that individuals with the highest brown fat concentrations also showed healthier blood glucose levels. So it seems there is some real value in gaining a better understanding of brown fat and how we can use it to help us be healthier people. However, any real treatment for obesity- if they are actually able to create one- is still years down the road.
And so, we end up back where we started. The most effective treatment for, and prevention for type 2 diabetes and obesity related diseases is- you guessed it! A sound nutrition and exercise program. Sorry couch potatoes. The holy grail for the lazy is still out of reach. I think rightly so. To me, personal health and vitality are a blessing and a luxury that I hold in high value. It is something that when worked for, even fought for, pays in ways too numerous to say. The satisfaction and reward of working for and earning your greatest health and vitality are something that no exercise in a pill could ever give.