Competition, Community and a Championship

by Fitness Contributor | Jan 18, 2017 | All, Community, Fitness, Home

Competition, Community and a Championship

Bump, set, and spike your way into the LA Fitness Club Leagues volleyball championship game! Joining an LA Fitness Club Leagues team is a chance to show off your skills, be a part of a community, and build relationships with your teammates that can ultimately lead to a successful season!

In Irvine, California the Ducks and Team LAF took to the court for the final volleyball game of the season. The Ducks took the victory and brought home the title. This particular Club Leagues volleyball team had a competitive roster as most of the players on the Ducks played either in high school or college. Playing in Club Leagues through LA Fitness has been an outlet for them to compete and continue playing the sport they love.

“It’s been a while since I played volleyball in college” said Cameron. “Indoor competitive leagues aren’t too common, so it was nice to find one. It just keeps getting better every year and I have gotten to know some of the other guys a lot more!”

“The best experience is just to be able to play volleyball again at a high level” said Logan C., a former college volleyball player. “One thing you miss when you get out of high school and college is competing. We’ve got rotations down, started to feel comfortable with each other and it has just been a great place to come to once a week and compete!”

“I had a couple of buddies who were looking for the last player on their team” said Kohlman, a first time Club Leagues player. “The new team and exercise have both been really good for me! It’s just a great excuse to get fired up after work and get to spend time with a few of my friends. It’s fun to adapt to each different team you compete against and to get to know other players.”

“This season has been the best experience with these guys” said Bryan, who recently joined LA Fitness. “I just love the competitiveness of this particular league. I was dormant for a good two years as far as fitness goes. When I joined LA Fitness, that’s when I started playing volleyball again. I was very out of shape when I first started, and playing volleyball has helped me get back into shape. I have played volleyball my whole life and this league is bringing back great memories!”

Get Involved

LA Fitness offers competitive leagues for those looking for a higher level of play and a way to stay in shape. LA Fitness also offers recreational leagues for those just learning or for those looking for a way to get involved with the LA Fitness community. So if you are looking to get involved, learn a new sport or even compete in a competitive atmosphere, check out the upcoming Club Leagues volleyball schedule.

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Commit to Fit | Member Spotlights

by Fitness Contributor | Jan 17, 2017 | All, Community

Commit to Fit

Do you have a fitness goal? Let us know here! To learn more about Commit to fit, click here.

Goals, Commitments, Community

These are our most recent members who have committed to their fitness goals.

Stephany N.

Going to the gym 3-4 times a week, Stephany’s goal is to gain 35% muscle and get her body fat to 15%! We are excited to see her commitment.

Thomas W.

Lung cancer survivor and gym-goer who enjoys long walks on the beach, Thomas wants to make it to be 100 years old! Let’s cheer him on together!

Christopher M.

Commitment has been a key factor in Christopher’s fitness journey. He now strives to maintain his healthy lifestyle and stay fit!

Ready to make a commitment? Get started here.

**Selected submissions will be featured on the LA Fitness blog and possibly other LA Fitness digital media entities & websites. By making a submission, you hereby grant LA Fitness a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, irrevocable license to use and make copies of the contents of such submission for any purpose and in any medium whatsoever, and you hereby waive and relinquish any copyright or other intellectual property right you may have in the contents of such submission and your right to pursue any claim for LA Fitness’s violation of those intellectual property rights

Commit to Fit | Member Spotlights

by Fitness Contributor | Jan 10, 2017 | All, Community, Fitness, Home

Goals, Commitments, Community

These are our most recent members who have committed to their fitness goals.

David T. (left) & Tim S. (Right)

These two guys keep each other motivated in the work place and outside! Tim wants to lose 6 pounds but gain more strength, while David wants to gain 10 pounds and build muscle. Keep motivating each other guys, you are doing great!

Dorothy F.

“Be Better Than I am.” Enough said.

Erin C.

Erin is working towards a body competition in March of 2017. Cycle, lifting and staying motivated are her keys to success!

Cavi B.

This hard working mom of an 11-month old goes to the gym 6 days a week! Her goal? Lose baby weight and be there for her baby. Great work Cavi!

QueBai X.

Upper body and core strength are great goals QueBai has set for herself. How is she achieving these? Personal training, dedication and hard work. Keep it up QueBai!

Gerardo R.

With a family history of heart disease, Gerardo continuously goes to the gym to stay in shape and live a healthy lifestyle!

Ready to make a commitment? Get started here.

Yoga For Digestion

by Fitness Contributor | Sep 9, 2016 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Health

Debbie J., MS, RD contributed this article –

In the Living Healthy blog, we’re often sharing nutrition advice to help you achieve better physical performance. In this article, we’re promoting certain exercise to improve your nutrition status. What a twist! Yes, pun intended.

Many digestive ills are relieved by yoga including gas, bloating and constipation. The practice of ayurvedic medicine promotes yoga for digestion. In fact, yoga is used to treat abdominal pain for several digestive disorders. Improving digestive health means better nutrition since nutrient absorption and waste elimination are enhanced.

How does yoga achieve this? Primarily by utilizing the poses that stimulate nerves, enhance the flow of blood and digestive juices, promote the travel of food in the GI tract and proper elimination. Alternate tension in your abdominal muscles with deep breathing (Pranayama), abdominal stretches and massaging twists, and you’ve got a perfect combination of yoga to help relieve your belly woes.

Primary yoga poses that are believed to aid digestion:

Cat-Cow (marjaryasana-bitilasana)
Downward Facing Dog (adho mukha svanasana)
Triangle (trikonasana) and Revolved triangle (pavrtta trikonasana)
Extended puppy (uttana shishosana)
Bridge (setu bandha saravangasana)
Gas release (ardha pawamuktasana)
Supine twist (supta matsyendrasana)
Knees to chest (apanasana) followed by Corpse (savasana)

The underlying tenet of Ayrurveda is that health begins in the digestive system.

LA Fitness yoga classes flow through a series of dynamic movements that help to increase your flexibility, restore balance, and strengthen core muscles of the lower back and abdominals. The class is great for improving focus and self-awareness.

Find an LA Fitness yoga class near you.

See available classes.

Should you wish to modify your diet to compliment your yoga, consider that most traditional practitioners eat a diet comprised mainly of vegetable proteins, rich in cereals, vitamin- and mineral-rich fruits, and which is low in salt content. Promoting a healthy balance of bacteria is indispensable to gut function. A high fiber diet combined with probiotic sources such as active culture yogurt, kefir and kimchi helps achieve this balance.

This information is not meant to replace medical advice. See your healthcare practitioner for any digestive concerns as there may be a more serious underlying condition.

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Do you enjoy yoga? Leave a comment and share below!

“I work out and track my food intake with an online tracker but haven’t lost weight, what do I need to change?”

by Fitness Contributor | Jul 13, 2016 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Health, Nutrition

I am a 69 year-old woman, 5’6″ and weigh about 160 pounds. I have been trying to lose 10 pounds for about three months with no noticeable change. I work out about 4 times a week and I eat about 1500 calories a day. What should I change? I keep track of my food intake with an online fitness tracker.
Thanks for your help! – Helen

If the “calories in versus calories out method” is not working for you, consider the content and timing of your meals. 1500 calories of processed starch and saturated fat may keep the weight on, compared with 1500 calories from whole grains, lean protein, plenty of produce and healthy fats. Not only do the latter foods satisfy better, they take longer to digest thus keeping blood sugar and insulin levels down. The net effect is more calories burned in order to process and metabolize the food and greater ability to release fat for burning.

Supporting your workouts with meals and snacks at the right times can pay off two-fold. First, pre-loading with a small supply of carbohydrates, such as from a piece of fruit, a half hour before may give you more endurance for cardio and a stronger finish to weight training. Second, eating a main meal within an hour after exercise capitalizes on your increased metabolic rate to burn more fuel.

– Debbie J., MS, RD

Do you have a question about your diet or nutrition? Ask our dietitian by submitting your question to nutrition@lafitness.com or simply ask it in the COMMENTS section below.

To learn how to follow the “Ask Our Dietitian” Q&A CLICK HERE!