By Jeff Harrison
PHC General Manager

Forget the diets!  Forget the gimmicks! Forget the pills, powders, and supplements!  The REAL issue with our nutritional problem in this country begins at a much more “elementary” level.  Have a look:

I can only imagine how many kids would recognize a box of Fruit Loops, a bag of Lays, Oreos, Coca-Cola, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and of course, the Golden Arches.  Who’s to blame? We’ve allowed our media to educate and influence our children on what is good for them and what they should eat, and perhaps a large part of the adult population as well.  What about the schools?  Are they teaching basic nutritional knowledge? Are the school lunches even remotely healthy? (I know of a school that has a baked potato bar as a scheduled lunch!).

It Has To Begin At Home

Having an Italian mother cook meals every night for dinner is something I am eternally grateful for.  But what she taught me most was what a well balanced meal looked like (I could identify most everyday vegetables and loved them, even if they were canned) and why they were such an important part of my growth.  There was always fruit in the house and yes, occasionally there were treats such as tasykakes, ice cream, and a trip to the local fast food joint.  But they were the exception, not the norm.  I know all too well that is not the case today.  Our health and diet issues are only going to be rectified if we take charge in the home.  And that may have to begin with strengthening your own knowledge of nutrition first.

Click on link to view flyer Survivor Family Fun Night

A fun night in store for all ages in our PlayOn Studio,  PLUS a chance to meet Survivor star Gervase Peterson.

Please call today to reserve your spot. 610-326-6216.

By Jeff Harrison
PHC General Manager

Before I even begin, I’ll have to admit that I’m a little biased when it comes to the winningest coach in college football, Joe Paterno. As an alum of Penn State, a big Penn State football fan, and having had the privilege of meeting the hall of fame coach once, there isn’t a lot JoePa does that I disapprove of. For the last several years, he’s been under close scrutiny (except of course when Penn State wins) that he’s too old to coach at such a high level; too old to manage the egos of his young players; too old to keep running on the field with his team. To all the naysayers, they can only hope they can do what he does when (if) they get to be his age.

Age Is A Mindset

In the February 9th issue of The Sporting News, Steve Greenberg interviewed Coach Paterno and asked him questions on everything from the current state of college football to the business of coaching. But what caught my attention the most was when JoePa said “I hate to see people get old when they’re not old. Life is what you make of it.” Couldn’t have said it better myself, Joe! How many people do you know that blame their age on their lack of interest in exercise or eating well? Or blame their age on as to why they feel the way they do? Perhaps it’s you, and it’s the worst excuse there is – we’ve ALL been aging since the day we were born.

Fitness is Ageless

Having not been recruited to play football at Penn State, I can only imagine what the rush of running into Beaver Stadium with 110,000 fans roaring must be like. But JoePa still continues to do it and with the attitude, “And run on that field, and all the 70-year-old guys in the stands who are feeling sorry for themselves because they’re 70 say, “What the hell’s the matter with that guy?” If Joe used age as an excuse, he would have quit a long time ago, and missed those trips to the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, and the history books. Is it because he runs out onto the field or his walks on the Jersey shore? May be, but it’s because he chooses to and does not let his age or anyone else for that matter dictate how he should live his life at 83.

Don’t let your age dictate what you can and can’t do. You can be fit at any age. You can climb any mountain you want. Achieve any goal you set out to accomplish. It’s all in the attitude you take.

Theeerre Heeerrrre! 

After weeks of anticipation and as a sign of our dedication to giving our loyal members the most positive workout experience, Pottstown Health Club is proud to announce the arrival of our new cardio equipment by Precor.   We’ve added new treadmills, recumbent cycles, elliptical trainers, and two of the only of it’s kind in the local region, Precor’s Total Adaptive Motion Trainer (AMT) – a cardio machine unlike anything you’ve ever worked out on before.  Plus, the Cardio Theater has been upgraded to make your workout experience even more enjoyable.

 Come on in and get moving! Make 2010 your best year ever and let Pottstown Health Club show you the way.

By Jeff Harrison
PHC General Manager

We here in the Northeast are dealing with the effects of not one, but two major snow storms in the span of less than a week.  For someone like me who always imagines himself on the beach, these are not my kind of days.  However, nothing is ever as bad as it seems and things could always be worse – that’s what’s called keeping a positive frame of mind.  Shoveling, as much as I loathe the activity, provides some of the best functional exercise there is.  And it burns a lot of calories!

Functional Training and The Snow

Functional training, one of the biggest buzz words in fitness, is simply defined as exercise that is replicable and relevant to real world activity.  No strength machine with guide rods and weight stacks can provide and replicate the real life movement that a pulley system, dumbbell, elastic band, or medicine ball can provide.  While time spent in the gym developing strength is not for naught, the pushing, scooping, lifting, and rotating of snow shoveling is unlike any workout that can be performed indoors.

Put Down The Weights, Pick Up a Shovel

With 30+ inches of snow, there’s plenty of resistance to be had.  Add some wind shear, below freezing temperatures, and the fact that most shovel loads needed to be taken farther than usual (there’s so much snow and no where to put it), there was lots of opportunity to burn some serious calories. For some, shoveling snow represents the most exercise they’ve gotten all year.  But whether shoveling was the only exercise you got or in addition to your regular exercise plan, most would be happy to know that compared to other types of physical activity, shoveling snow is one of the greatest calories burned per minute activity out there.  Who would have thought that the shovel that sits in the shed the other 363 days of the year was the best piece of fitness equipment that you ever bought?

By Jeff Harrison
PHC General Manager

Anyone who knows me knows I completely loathe infomercials, particularly those that are of fitness programs, products, and diet gimmicks.  They completely and utterly insult the intelligence of the average consumer, which says something about our population or the ethical business practices of the companies producing that garbage.  And just when I thought it hit rock bottom – it couldn’t possibly get more laughable, I came across this video which demonstrates the joke that fitness has become to the popular media. 

Now I’ll admit, I’m not ever tuned in to the Ellen show but this one had me in hysterics.  I still think it’s a shame that fitness continues to be the “joke” of popular media, but I got to hand it to Ellen.  She really has a way of making her point.  Sitting of any kind will do more to keep you out of shape than in shape. See what you think.

A New Year isn’t just about taking care of yourself physically.  It’s also a time to get fiscally fit! 

Won’t you join us for a FREE seminar on Wednesday, March 24th at 6:30 PM here at the club, by Melissa Silver, New York Life Agent. 

To reserve your spot, please stop by the club or call 610-326-6216.

By Jeff Harrison
PHC General Manager

You just have to laugh. This time of year is just full of nonsense exercise equipment, lies and deceit as well as the latest diet fabrication broadcasted on TV and print as the new craze.  What makes me laugh is how blatantly obvious the lies are, yet at the same time disgusts me because I know of the 1000s of suckers that are born every minute and buy into the hype.  The retailers are successful because while most people value their health, they really don’t put enough value in their health.

What’s Your Health Worth?

Easy question.  The answer should be priceless.  Not according to a national gym chain who recently ran an ad that put a value of your health not at $0.75, but at $1 to join their facilities.  $1! That’s it.  Some would say that’s a good deal, but in my experience you get what you pay for, and if one is persuaded enough to be convinced their health is worth only a $1, then why even bother working out?

Perception of Value

What one values as cheap and one values as expensive is really a matter of perception.  For someone who really likes cars, $45,000 + for an automobile that depreciates the minute it leaves the lot is something of value to them.  To the family with a fixed income, being able to afford groceries every week whether at the discount or chain grocery store is of significant value. But when it comes to our health, there simply is no comparison because you only get one and one shot only.

The Price of ….What?!?

We don’t think twice about:

• dropping $20+ to see a movie and obnoxiously huge refreshments
• going out to dinner 2-3x week (average American) spending $100+
• squandering $80+ per month to stay connected to EVERYONE by our cell phones
• throwing away $4+ per day on calorie loaded coffee drinks
• splurging hundreds of dollars away on the things we really don’t need or have any real purpose for (Ever see the amount of stuff in a Goodwill store?)

What we should think about more is the eventual cost of our unhealthy and inactive behaviors.  I’m not saying you’re forbidden from having a good time.  I’m just saying invest and place more value in to what is REALLY important….your health.

By Jeff Harrison
PHC General Manager

It’s a new year.  A fresh start; a new beginning; a clean slate – however you want to define it.  And when it comes to my area of expertise, a new year means a lot of hope by the masses placed on erasing last year’s bad nutrition and exercises habits…with new ones.

The Great Diet Dupe

I shouldn’t have to say this because it should be more than common knowledge by now, but diets simply don’t work.  Yet every year a new “diet” plan emerges and some of the best selling books of all time have been diet books.  Am I missing something? Nope. But what I know and what others want to believe is vastly different.  I know the truth, and it’s not based on emotion but fact.

The Word DIE is in Diet

Diets are a sure fire way to destroy, flat out kill the basic physiology of the human body.  Why then do they sometimes show initial promise?  It’s an illusion (a very, very small percentage of people on a particular diet will see long term, positive results) and anyone who drops calories will always see an initial weight loss, but long term success is 99.9% guaranteed failure. Here are some of the many true, hard facts about diets:

• They destroy your metabolism through week after week of calorie restriction by slowing down the processes that keep you alive.  It’s your body’s way of sparing energy due to the decreased influx of energy (calories).
• They eventually lead to massive breakdown of muscle tissue, further decreasing metabolic rate.  Muscle tissue is one of the primary calorie burning furnaces of the body (organs are the top, but without them…well, you figure it out.)
• The drop in metabolism and calorie burning tissue causes any “weight” loss that does occur to be quickly reversed when normal eating is resumed due to the damaged metabolism.
• Generally require that you give up your favorite foods for weeks and months at a time—highly unrealistic for the human psyche.
• Inevitably lead to stalled fat loss and fat loss plateaus.
• Plummets natural hormone levels and overall lethargy, frustration, and misery.
• Works against the body, not with the body.
• Yadda, yadda, yadda.

Don’t buy into gimmicks.  Don’t buy into hype.  Don’t buy into lies. It will only leave you in a swirling eddy of sneaking weight gain that this time next year is just another few more pounds to drop.

By Jeff Harrison
PHC General Manager

Day 12 – Have A Holly, Jolly….Good Time

Ready or not, it is here. A holiday for most.  A day off for others.  Nevertheless, there’s bound to be lots of eating, drinking, and sedentary activity.  Just another day you say?  Perhaps. But we’re now in the home stretch of a season that seems to “sneak up” on people each year, and I’m not referring to the shopping.  It will come to pass but if you don’t watch yourself it will come to haunt you again next year.  It’s calorie overload!

You Are What You Eat

One of the more common phrases when talking about nutrition, and it rings true, loud, and clear.  If you think of food more as fuel and nourishment instead of something evil that just keeps finding its way to your mouth, you’ll appreciate it more.  I like to use the analogy of going to put gas in your car.  I’m not really a car guy, so bear with me.  You have a choice of 87, 89, and 93 octanes.  The higher the number, the better the quality (i.e. the car runs better).  Allegedly. But all 3 will make your car go.  Same with food.  All food will provide fuel – some better than others.  So, are you fueling a Pinto or a Ferrari?

Food For Thought

Now before you go thinking that I don’t eat or drink anything bad, I come from a big Italian family and we know how to celebrate a holiday.  I will thoroughly enjoy myself for one, two, probably three days, but then it’s right back to eating well (fueling the Ferrari) and picking my physical activity right where I left off.  Yes, I will even enjoy a few days of physical rest too.  The other day I came across a website that will calculate for you just how many calories you could consume in one holiday and the amount of physical work you would have to do to burn it off.  Here’s just a small sampling of the damage (and holly jolliness) that is possible.  And don’t think you’re not capable of it either!

• 1 mixed drink; 1 glass of wine;  1 cup of eggnog; ½ a cup of mixed, raw veggies; ½ cup of mixed nuts;  one teaspoon of chip dip; ½ cup of Chex mix;  2 oz. boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce; 2 oz. Swedish meatballs; 3 cups salad greens with 2 tbsp. dressing; 1 tablespoon ranch dressing; 6 oz of cured ham; 6 oz of white and dark turkey; 6 oz of prime rib; ½ cup of stuffing,; ½ cup of mashed potatoes; ½ cup of green bean casserole; 2 small chocolate-chip cookies; a slice of pumpkin pie;  a shortbread cookie; a snickerdoodle cookie…and a partridge in a pear tree.
• That comes to 4347 calories. You would have to walk 43.47 miles, or 86940 steps, assuming you cover one mile in 2,000 steps.

Wow! Don’t let that dampen your spirits.  Enjoy yourself, but keep things in perspective.  Only 364 days to work it all off!