Posts Tagged ‘Fitness’

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Consult a Personal Trainer

Friday, August 20th, 2010

These days, we have been very hectic with our daily job while we usually lack time for our personal activities. We all need a break from all the strains from our day by day work. Sometimes, we just don’t know where to start when it comes to seeking fitness facilitation. Well, that’s the start when we have to do something for ourselves to be healthy and fit. This is just one of the major reasons why we should consult a personal trainer. Other than that, there are more plenty reasons that would actually convince you to start seeking for a personal trainer’s help now.

Northbrook personal trainers and Glenview personal trainers believe that there are more to life than getting ourselves mugged with our daily job life. These trainers believe that we should work on our body to get fit and naturally healthy. Since we all are not aging backwards, we have to keep a vigorous body as much as we can. And this can of course be possible with the help of personal trainers. Before saying no, you better start reading the following reasons to get you induced hiring your personal fit trainer.

1. Get Challenge
We can fool everyone, but not ourselves. We may confirm to everyone that we’re in shape and strong, but we can’t fool ourselves. As I mentioned above, we are not aging backwards, thus, we need someone’s help in this kind of case. We can consult GH Northbrook personal trainers to help us take challenges. These challenges shape not only our bodies but also our insistence.

2. Work Out at Home Alone
One of the benefits that we could get after finishing a session with Chicago personal trainers is that we can actually already work out by ourselves. That is, we may only need a little supervision from someone like GH Highland Park personal trainers, but for a less posh cost. By experiencing what it is to be trained, we can, on the other note, be familiar with how to train somebody else.

3. Physical and Behavioral Training
Working out requires dedication. Northbrook personal trainers don’t only train you physically but also behaviorally. They help you become dedicated in everything you do and decide for. They also teach you how to be patient. Since working out is a no pain, no gain activity, trainers like Highland Park personal trainers would teach you how to be patient.

4. Motivation
Facing in front of the mirror alone while working out is motivating, but knowing that someone else is looking after you whilst working out is more motivating. Better consult personal trainers for better results.

5. Physical Purposes
Take note that working out is not only for one to tone muscles and stuff. Personal trainers would help you to achieve the body requirements you need in order to qualify into sports events as well. Alternatively, you can also consult a personal trainer in order to help heal injuries that you had like arthritis, heart disease, and any other disease.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Fitness, Motivation, Personal Trainer, energy | View Comments

Spring Forward!

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Often times we think we want to change and we really try. For a few weeks we’ll go all out! But then we get back to our old familiar routine whether it’s from catching up with old friends or enjoying our favorite pastimes, like a baseball game. Our new healthy lifestyle is one that takes a lot of maintenance, and gradual change. If it were easy we would have done it a long time ago. But it isn’t easy. Our environment very much dictates the way we live, what we eat, and how we feel. It is very important to surround ourselves with good supportive people and positive things, to remind ourselves the course we want our lives to take.  If the company we keep doesn’t support us in our change for a better life, should we really want to keep that company?

Don’t eat the piece of wedding cake just because you had a hard workout. Peer pressure is just in our teens, be sensible, do you want to spend your workout making up for the cake, or do you want to use the workout to push farther and burn the piece of cake that’s still there from last wedding season? Sharing that tid bit with your friends will really help the badgering. This spring, spring forward!

As we approach spring, this wonderful time of renewal and freshness we must also remember all the work we have put into our bodies and to our good health and build upon that and move forward. When the weather is nice, make sure to enjoy. Lace up your sneakers and enjoy a nice jog along the lakefront. Renew your love of Chicago and Lake Michigan and yourself! While you’re at the baseball game make sure you take in the fresh air not just the ballpark food. This spring go back to the simple things in life. Enjoy the great friends and times that we share!  Take in the beautiful parks on a picnic or a walk with a friend. I know I can’t wait for spring!

Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers. You can also drop by in our GH Fitness Facilities :)

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Fitness, Goal Setting, Motivation, Nutrition, energy | View Comments

Pregnancy and Exercise a few basics!

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

A few reasons to exercise during your pregnancy:

No kankles for you! Exercise during pregnancy improves circulation which helps with constipation, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, leg cramps and ankle swelling. Exercise can alleviate back pain through strengthening the back.

 You’ll be able to tackle the day! Energy can be restored! Exercise can help some of the lethargy caused by pregnancy; baby-growing takes a lot of energy!

You better get some rest now before the baby comes! Exercise will tire you into a deeper more restful sleep.

Your husband will like you a little more! Mood swings no more! Exercise will help stabilize mood and self-image, helping you adjust to your new body!

You will thank yourself in the delivery room!  Shorter labor? Sign me up! Exercise will also give you more endurance for your labor, will decrease the time in delivery room, and the recovery will be much quicker!

Baby will thank you! Exercising during pregnancy will maintain your muscle strength and tone, making it a little easier to carry your baby in your arms post-pregnancy! And the weight will come off a little easier.

Om! Include relaxation and stretching before and after your exercise! Recovery is just as important as the workout itself!

Things to check after you find out you’re with child:

What’s up doc?  Make sure you are cleared to exercise. This shouldn’t be a problem if you are currently exercising, but its always good to check. If you are just starting an exercise program, start very slowly and try not to over exert yourself.

Tone down the intensity not your muscles! Keep exercise controlled, stay within your recommended heart rate level to ensure the baby is getting the oxygen needed. Do not exercise to exhaustion or breathlessness. When you exercise, the blood flow shifts away from your internal organs (including your uterus) to give your muscles, lungs and heart more oxygen. During the second and third, avoid exercises where you need to lie down on your back, this causes discomfort for you, and lack of blood for baby.

Watch your step! As the center of balance shifts forward, falls are much more likely! Joints also have more give during this time, as well. When exercising where comfortable clothing and footwear, make sure that your sneakers have good support in the ankle and arch! Avoid activities that put you at additional risk for slips and falls. And avoid contact sports! And stay within your comfort zone.

Don’t overheat! Avoid exercising in hot weather. Hot or not, take frequent breaks and HYDRATE!

Don’t over do it! Listen to your body; it will let you know when to reduce level of exercise. If you experience any of the following stop! And contact your doctor immediately! -unusual pain or shortness of breath, dizziness or lightheadness, racing heartbeat or chest pain, fluid or blood leaking from vagina, uterine contractions, muscle cramps

All this and more can be found at http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Fitness, Pregnancy, Strength Training, energy | View Comments

Build more life tissue!

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

What is life tissue? Muscles. More muscles mean more blood, more blood means more circulation and …you get the idea. Muscles are important. The more life in our muscles, i.e. size, strength, density, stamina, the better we feel about ourselves.

Building muscles is very important to every aspect of life, for everything you do you need muscles. For everything you don’t do you need muscles too. Think about it, wouldn’t you like to burn more calories reading, or watching a movie? Having more muscle mass means you are burning more calories at rest! Having more lean muscle mass will increase your metabolism, and you will burn more calories at rest as well as daily activities.

Going for a walk with a friend, playing with the kids, taking the stairs, even putting the groceries away is easier with more muscle mass!  With age our metabolism slows and we lose muscle mass, you can reverse these affects by including more weight bearing exercise into your routine.

Building and maintaining muscles is important for various reasons, more muscle tissue increases the production and need for more blood, with more white blood cells you have a more antibodies and you will have a larger defense system and more resistance to viruses and bacteria.

Your kinesthetic awareness will also heighten. You will move more smoothly through your daily routine, your balance and coordination will improve drastically! By raising this awareness you will also be challenging your mind in ways it hasn’t been challenged recently or ever! Moving your body through the different exercises not only pushes your brain to think about and focus on the muscles but strengthens your mind to also think of where it should be in space, a concept often forgot when thinking of the importance of exercise. Yoga is a great example of this concept, and strength training will help you develop the muscles necessary!

Having more muscle mass will also help reduce the risk of injury, the muscles will do a better job of supporting the joints and the exercises that build the muscle, weight bearing, will also help increase bone density.  If you do unfortunately get injured, you will have a faster recovery time.

Your energy will increase with more lean muscle mass. You will be more productive at work, you will have less sick days, you can turn them into well days!  Your confidence will skyrocket, clothes will fit better, and posture will improve. Who wouldn’t want to build muscle mass and life tissue in their body? Want to workout? :)

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Fitness, Strength Training, energy | View Comments

Feeling tired?

Monday, February 15th, 2010

So, you’re having trouble falling asleep, but you’re doing everything right! You exercise everyday, you’re not drinking caffeine after lunch, you’re not eating late or drinking alcohol. So why can’t you wind down and just relax? Many factors may be to blame…

Sleep regularity is very important in maintaining restful nights. For some six hours will work great, and others need eight or nine. The most crucial factor in this equation would have to be regularity and routine. Sleeping too much and not enough in the same week is also a very common habit. When you are going to bed and waking around the same time everyday do you notice that you are waking up before the alarm? This is a good indicator of adequate sleep and a good routine.

Another thing we do that can cause sleeplessness… working in bed. Beds and Bedrooms are for two things only! Sleeping and intimacy. By working from your bed you are changing that space from a sleep and relaxing place to a work place and you will end up taking work stresses to bed with you, leaving you with a less restful space.

Stress. We are always rushing, to the gym, to work, to take the kids to school, to get home, to make dinner, to do chores, to watch your shows. You name it and you’re probably rushing. You are having a hard time transitioning from day to night. To help make your transition easier look for an adjustment activity.

Just like before your workout, give yourself an adjustment activity, something that lets your body and mind now what’s coming next. For some it’s taking a calming shower, chamomile tea or light stretching. The only requirement for your activity is that you need to incorporate it into your routine.

Try to stay away from talking about your day and your worries while lying in bed, and even in your bedroom. This is your tranquil space.  A great activity to increase your rest and every other aspect of your life is to look at everything you are thankful for before you go to bed. This very positive activity will put you at ease by focusing on all the good in your life. Keep your bedroom very positive and all stresses out!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in energy | View Comments

Take a bite out of one of the countless GH success stories

Friday, June 26th, 2009

GH Personal Training has e been long-term partners with Chicago Social Magazine and have had some of their key leadership as clients over the years. We are proud of Chicago Social’s  selection of GH and Greg Hahaj as part of the Chicago Social Make-over Maven Dream Team.

We continue to advertise alongside the best brands in Chicago – focusing our advertisements not on flash, ego, or beauty – but on the School for Healthy Living and what it means for our clients.

Our September advertisement tells the story of Corey Kaplan – the owner of the New York Bagel Deli in Chicago and a loyal client of GH’s. Corey came to GH, he was struggling with his weight and his health. He was taking medication for diabetes and high blood pressure while constantly battling low energy levels. At GH, we educated Corey on what to eat and how to exercise. We developed a customized nutrition plan to help Corey to make sustainable changes to his diet without going on a diet. The result? With Corey following the nutrition plan and training via GH’s long-proven, one-on-one  sessions with his trainer, Corey has shed over 65 pounds while increasing his energy levels, metabolism, and overall happiness. Now, Corey no longer needs to take medication for his diabetes and high blood pressure.

After running this advertisement, we got grateful calls and inquiries from people with diabetes looking for a way out! People are so appreciative that THERE can be an answer to taking control of your own health and improving it – but it’s not an easy fix.  Not a pill to pop.  Not a supplement to take.  Rather, it’s a process of educating yourself, changing behaviors and creating lasting change.

So many people want to take control of their health but they don’t know where to start.  We love helping them start and SUCCEED.  Just like Corey.  Oh yeah, and his brother.

Tags: ,
Posted in Fitness, Sport, Uncategorized | View Comments

GH is excited to welcome Kim Cavill to our incredible team

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

After an extensive interview process involving more than 50 candidates, GH is proud to have selected Kim Cavill as part of the GH Personal Training Bucktown team.

Kim stood out from the other candidates because of her incredible professionalism, ambition to improve her clients lives, track record of helping clients, and her incredible knowledge of the assessment process that she developed during her years as a self-employed trainer.   She studied personal training and began her career  in Australia where personal training requires multiple years of study – more medicalized than the US version of personal training certificates.

Kim was a teacher and personal trainer in Australia as a community educator with a focus in health education.  She was also an educator here in the US helping low income students on Chicago’s southside with their GED preparation.

Kim started with GH on July 1st and has quickly established herself as a source of motivation and education for her clients. In addition, Kim will work with the GH team to examine our own internal assessment process and brainstorm ways to improve – as we are always revisiting what we do and staying at the cutting edge of Health and Wellness.

Welcome, Kim!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Fitness, Sport, Uncategorized | View Comments