Blog Archives

Are You Ready for a Sleeveless Summer? Define your Triceps with These 4 Exercises

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If you’re looking to build lean, well-defined “tank top arms,” then incorporating quality triceps exercises into your weight training plan is a must. The fact is, your triceps make up two-thirds of your upper arm muscle. This is why having exercises that focus on your triceps is integral to building great arms so you can sport a tank top with confidence this summer.

Start toning your triceps today by incorporating these exercises into your routine:

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How ‘Extreme Traveling’ Helped Harry Lose 23 Pounds

travelling can be an extreme activity to say the least-2 Read the rest of this entry

The 6 Weeks to Summer Slim-Down Workout – Look Better in Your Bathing Suit!

Look better in 6 weeks for summer at LA Fitness

If you’re sweating because summertime is drawing near…Perfect! You are on the right track; well as long as you’re sweating from all of the hard work you are putting into getting ready for bikini and board-short season. LIVING HEALTHY is here to help with Part 3 of our preparation for summer workout program – The 6 Weeks to Summer Slim Down Workout to Look Better in Your Bathing Suit!

If you missed Part 1 – 10 Week Workout Routine to have YOU Looking like a 10 this Summer or Part 2 – 8 Weeks Left to Prepare for Swimsuit Season, Your Next Workout is Here, simply click one of the links to get started!

For those of you who are ready, weeks 5 & 6 are sure to challenge your body as we hit the weight room for some Strength Training with Free Weights and integrate High-Intensity Interval Training as your fat-melting cardio workout. Read the rest of this entry

Your Guide to Understanding Food Labels

Learn the facts - the nutrition facts!

This article was contributed by Debbie J., MS, RD - 

A product’s packaging is good for enticing you as a consumer to buy that product; glossy pictures and tag lines attempt to lure us in at the grocery store. But to really compare foods and understand how they fulfill your daily nutrition needs, the most important part of the packaging is the food label. Read the rest of this entry

Enter to Win Our Hockey Memorabilia Giveaway!

Dino Ciccarelli at the London Ontario LA Fitness Grand openingThis is your chance to win one of the great prizes that we are giving away.

Enter now! Simply SUBSCRIBE to receive LIVING HEALTHY for YOUR chance to win hockey memorabilia signed by Hall of Famer, Dino Ciccarelli. If you have already subscribed to LIVING HEALTHY, you are automatically entered to win. Read the rest of this entry

8 Weeks Left to Prepare for Swimsuit Season, Your Next Workout is Here

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Here it is…Your workout PLAN for the next two weeks to get you ready for summer. This is Part 2 of our series 10 Week Workout Routine to have YOU Looking like a 10 this Summer , but don’t worry if you missed Part 1, just CLICK THIS LINK to start your 10 week workout today!

During weeks 1 and 2 you built your strength training base by allowing your muscles to ease into your new workout program, and you strengthened your core with stabilization training. You also built your musculoskeletal and endurance base doing interval training to burn extra calories.

Now it’s time to step it up by challenging your body with circuit training and extended duration cardio for weeks 3 and 4.

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Cut Down on Television and Cut Down Your Weight – 7 Things You Can Do

LA Fitness pits Television against Gardening and other household activity - Gardening Wins!Have you ever wondered how many more calories you could be burning if you actually did something productive instead of watching television? You may be pleasantly surprised at how many calories you can burn making your home and your body look amazing at the same time! But don’t use you these activities as a substitute for your weight and cardio workouts, instead use them as a way to compliment your weight loss efforts while you enjoy beautifying your home.

All of the following activities are based on a 150 pound person performing each activity a duration of 60 minutes at a moderate (as opposed to vigorous) intensity[i]. Read the rest of this entry

Inspired by Kayaking, Harry’s First Day in a Gym at Age 57

Harry Tobin Points to Inspire

When he talks about his childhood and growing up, Harry doesn’t describe himself as an athlete. In fact, Harry never stepped foot into a gym during the first 56 years of his life.

But that would all change, and so would Harry’s life. Read the rest of this entry

5 Great Grocery Tips

LA Fitness Member Joey grocery shopping

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10 Week Workout Routine to have YOU Looking like a 10 this Summer

??????????????????????????????????????????????There’s only 10 weeks left until swimsuit season! If you haven’t committed to a solid workout plan to get your body ready for summer, don’t worry. We have a plan that can help you to get back into the gym and back into shape for summertime with this 5 Part Series.

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Ask our Dietitian your Question Today!

From a Size 18 to a Size 10, Happy Birthday to Mary!

Mary-Collage-Training at LA Fitness San Antonio

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Eat Like This to Help Maximize your Recovery and Results

LA Fitness member Bryant is ready for a recovery snack after a tough workout

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Amazing Dunks Made on LA Fitness Courts, Really? Watch These!

Basketball-League-PICTURE Read the rest of this entry

Incorporating Explosive and Advanced Stability Exercises

Bryant doing an explosive X pushup at la fitness

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Basketball Legend Dan Majerle Autographs Basketball for LIVING HEALTHY Contest

Phoenix Suns legend Dan Majerle autographs a basketball for the LIVING HEALTHY give away contest

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Have a BALL! 3 Great Medicine Ball Exercises to Tone and Define your Entire Body!

Joey with Med Ball Close up at LA Fitness

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Competing at the Arnold Sports Festival, Denita’s Big Day Arrives!

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Fuel your Workouts to Maximize Your Results

Fuel Your Workout and Maximize Your Results

This article was contributed by Debbie M., MS, RD 

Did you know that during anaerobic activity like resistance training, sugar is your body’s primary fuel source?

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Daylight Saving Time Change 2013 is this Weekend, Spring Forward Your Clocks and Your Fitness

Time to Spring your Clocks forward againThat’s right, this weekend marks that time of year again when we all sacrifice an hour of sleep in the wee hours of Sunday morning in order to gain a precious extra hour of daylight to enjoy in the evenings for the next eight months. So mark your calendars and set your alarms because on Sunday, March 10th, 2013 at 2 a.m. we all need to “spring forward” our clocks one hour as we tear apart the space-time continuum warping time as it instantaneously changes from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.
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Get Back to the Basics for a Tight and Toned Body (Part 1 – Walking / Running)

LA Fitness Member Nikki runs outside for her cardio on a sunny day

Tips and Exercises to get you Back in Shape – How to get started RUNNING (or back into it again).

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Preparing to Compete at the Arnold Sports Festival, Denita Shares her Experience

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Were you in Better Shape when you were Young? Get back into Sports, and Get back into Shape!

Join a fun and fit time with an LA Fitness Volleyball Racquetball or Basketball League

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Cleanses vs. Detox Diets and How They Can Help Your Body

Yummy Fresh vegetables make for a happy and healthy family

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How Mary’s 38 Lb. Weight Loss Led to Incredible Health Benefits

LA Fitness Member Mary Before and After Losing 38 pounds

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3 Progressive Chest Exercises – (Part 2 of Creating a Complete Chest Routine)

Bryant doing an explosive pushup at LA Fitness - B Read the rest of this entry

13.1 Miles Away and 6 Pounds to Go, Joey’s Goals Meet the Flu Season

Workers clean the sign used at the Start of the Carlsbad Half Marathon Read the rest of this entry

Two ‘Abmazing’ Exercises for a Flatter Stomach and More Ab Definition

Marc doing a reverse crunch at LA Fitness - b

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How to Create a Complete Chest Routine – (Part 1 – Basic Chest Exercises)

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Fun, Get in Shape and Help Augie’s Quest by taking a ZUMBA class? Yep!

Blog-Auggies-Quest

It is perhaps the best opportunity of the year for you to feel great after a workout both inside and out! On Saturday, February 23rd at 3pm LA Fitness is holding a special Zumba class that you can attend in order to support Augie’s Quest and help find a cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). CLICK here to learn more about this event and make a donation. *LA Fitness clubs not participating in this promotion: Grove City, OH (Former Urban Active), Grandview, OH (Former Urban Active), and Presale locations.

You probably want to know more, right? Well, who better to tell you than Augie Nieto himself? So, we contacted Augie for a Q&A about Augie’s Quest, ALS and the LA Fitness Zumba event.

Why is it important for everyone to participate in this event?

Augie: The fitness industry has been instrumental to MDA’s Augie’s Quest…we’ve raised over $35 million to date because of clubs and members around the country. YOU have the opportunity to be a part of history and help families fighting ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).  Plus, I can’t think of a more entertaining way to get a workout!

How will the donations received from the LA Fitness Zumba event help Augie’s Quest, ALS and MDA?

Augie: Donations received will go directly to fast-track research for ALS.  Our goal is to find an effective treatment for this disease as soon as possible.

How far has research and treatment come since you were first diagnosed?

Augie: When I was first diagnosed, there were ZERO dollars being invested in ALS research from ‘Big Pharma.’  We’ve been able to change the landscape of ALS research drastically.  The lab we fund is called ALS TDI (www.als.net).  It’s the largest ALS research lab in the world and we are focused on finding drugs to treat ALS.  We currently have two drugs moving into Phase 2 clinical trials and 11 more in the pipeline. I know that one day soon, thanks to the support from the fitness industry, we’ll have effective treatments for ALS.

Your challenges, and the challenges faced with treating ALS are daunting, and yet you continue to persevere with Augie’s Quest, how do you do it?

Augie: What keeps me going is the momentum we have right now…we are truly making great strides in ALS drug development.  Right now there is only one FDA approved drug on the market for ALS patients and it doesn’t do much.  I’m confident the research we are funding will result in new effective drugs for the ALS community.

What would you like to tell those who are attending the Zumba event?

Augie: THANK YOU!  Most people who attend probably haven’t had their lives touched by ALS…it’s amazing to me that so many people come out to support our cause.  Oh…and get there early to get a front row spot!

Fun Question: What would you like to tell those who are hiding behind their poor dance skills as an excuse to skip the Zumba event?

Augie: If I can do it, you can do it!  Zumba isn’t about perfect choreography…it’s about having fun.  I promise you won’t regret it…no one has ever left a Zumba class and said “that wasn’t fun!”

George Gervin ‘Finger Rolls’ in for the Grand Opening in San Antonio and the Next REAL STORY

George Iceman Gervin LA Fitness San Antonio Loop Grand Opening Read the rest of this entry

Falcons Cheerleader Denita Trains for National Bikini Physique Competition

Denita flexes at LA Fitness-2 Read the rest of this entry

The New Before & After Segment is Coming Soon!

LA Fitness Blog-ChrissyBe on the lookout for our new segment featuring BEFORE & AFTER photos, results and interviews with LA Fitness members.

Are you proud of your accomplishments? Are you taking on a challenging weight loss or fitness goal? If you would like your story or accomplishments featured on LIVING HEALTHY the official LA Fitness blog, then email socialmedia@fitnessintl.com for consideration.

How Can You Create a Healthy Habit? 21 Days of Dedication

step-in-the-right-direction-v3 Read the rest of this entry

Exercise Your Options to Reach Your Goal

Exercise-Your-Options-Blog-Header Read the rest of this entry

It all Started with Molding Clay – LIVING HEALTHY’s First Anniversary

Clay is still going strong as he works out at LA Fitness in San Marcos Read the rest of this entry

Personal Trainer and Colts’ Cheerleader, Crystal, Helps Client Lose 91 Pounds

aa Read the rest of this entry

The Penny Picker, A Super Simple and Secret Exercise to Define your Legs

A hand full of Pennies can equal toned legs at LA Fitness Read the rest of this entry

REAL STORIES Countdown to 2013

Happy New Year from Living Healthy and REAL STORIES Read the rest of this entry

Dealing with a Major Setback – Chrissy Breaks Her Leg

LA Fitness Member Chrissy takes off her leg brace to reveal the scars from her surgery after breaking her leg Read the rest of this entry

LA Fitness New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Hours

LA Fitness New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Hours

Enjoy Holiday Foods and Lose Weight? Your 3-Step Strategy to Avoid Extra Calories at Holiday Parties!

LA Fitness Holiday Weight Loss tips Read the rest of this entry

Take a Ride on the Resolution Railroad

the LA Fitness Resolution Railroad Read the rest of this entry

Game Day in the Life with an Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader

Altanta Falcons Cheerleader Denita and her team practicing before the game - 2

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How Joey Lost 11 Inches in Her Waist!

Joey is rnning Full Steam Toward her weight loss goal

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No Weights? No Problem! Tone Your Entire Body with These 5 Weight-Free Exercises

LA Fitness Member Haley doing pull ups on the monkee bars at the park Read the rest of this entry

5 Reasons You Should Be Strength Training. Yes You!

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Weight Loss, Workouts, Marathons…Marriage? – A REAL STORIES Fairy Tale

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Popular Thanksgiving Foods, Calories and Healthy Options

Last year Americans consumed around 736 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving[i], which was likely served with several favorite holiday side dishes and courses. This belt busting MEAL can have up to 3,450 calories, which is astounding when you consider that the average amount of calories consumed PER DAY for males is 2,475 and for females is 1,833[ii].

Though your traditions and recipes may make some of your Thanksgiving foods non-negotiable—such as a family recipe for gravy, or maybe this year it is your turn to get one of the savory dark meat legs— perhaps you just didn’t realize how many calories are in some foods, or you never thought to consider other options. You never know, you just might end up loving sweet potato pie, but never considered having anything else but pumpkin pie.

Below is a table with the most popular Thanksgiving Day foods and some healthy options for you to consider. Who knows, maybe this year will be the beginning of some new Thanksgiving dinner traditions that have you feeling energized and invigorated instead of sleepy and uncomfortable.

Food Portion Size Calories        Healthy Option (same portion size) Healthy Option CALORIES Healthy Option Calorie Difference
Turkey, dark meat w/skin 4 oz. 249 Turkey, light meat no skin 189 60
Mashed Potatoes w/ sour cream and butter 1 cup 313 Mashed Potatoes w/ milk and butter 212 101
Stuffing (Bread) 1 cup 404 Stuffing (Cornbread) 358 46
Gravy, made w/meat drippings 1 cup 271 Gravy, made w/out fat 71 200
Green Bean Casserole 1 cup 276 Cooked green beans 44 232
Bread Rolls (white) Medium size (about 2.5” across) 147 Bread Rolls (100% whole wheat) 96 51
Cranberry Sauce 1 cup 418 Fresh Cranberries 51 367
Candied Yams 1 cup 293 Baked Yams 165 128
Apple Pie 1/8 of 9” pie 356 Sweet Potato Pie 265 91
Pumpkin Pie 1/8 of 9” pie 374 Sweet Potato Pie 265 109
Pecan Pie 1/8 of 9” pie 464 Pumpkin pie 374 90
Soda, cola 12 oz. 136 Diet Soda, cola or Water 0 136
Beer 12 oz. 155 Skip it 0 155
Wine 5 oz. 125 Again, skipping the alcohol is the healthiest option 0 125
Squash w/butter and brown Sugar 1 cup 154 Squash w/salt and sugar, no butter 121 33

[iii]

If none of these options work for you, you could just make sure to keep your portions reasonable, but keep in mind that you are having more courses during this particular meal than you may be used to.

Some of you may have noticed that today’s article was not our normal Monday post of REAL STORIES, and was instead a TOP TIP.  We wanted to make sure you had this information before the holiday since TOP TIPS posts every Thursday. So look for another great TOP TIP on Thanksgiving day, and REAL STORIES about real people accomplishing their health and fitness goals will resume on its regularly scheduled day again next Monday.

Want to effortlessly follow our blog? CLICK HERE and we will show you how!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hop, Skip and Jump Your Way to a Perfect Butt and Legs (Part 3)

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