Time To Get Real
By Allan Scott, Fitness Director

Walking the fairway with Tiger, standing on the podium with Lance, or watching them raise our flag while the National Anthem plays is just not in the cards for most of us. So why do some continue to train like we still have a chance? I am certain you have friends who still try to run marathons under three hours, and cycle century rides in an afternoon. But they struggle getting out of bed in the morning, know a knee surgeon on a first name basis, and can get an MRI in less than a week.

Fitness is all about functionality. It is about keeping your body ready for the more strenuous movements by keeping your core healthy and flexible. It is about lubricating your joints and tissues, and maintaining your range of motion. It gets you ready for the demands of life, like putting your bags in and out of the trunk.

So there are exercises you should do every day, ones that work your body in multiple planes of movement.

There are exercises you should do every other day – like squats and deadlifts. You should change the weights and repetitions to confuse the muscles and keep them strong.

Then there is the cardiovascular system for vital overall health – which you don’t get by coasting for half-an-hour, three times a week, while reading the paper. You want something that helps maintain bone density and fights osteoporosis.

Then to really keep yourself in top shape you need to get plenty of sleep, and watch what you are eating.

If you haven’t had a Fitness Evaluation or a new Program in some time, why not set a goal of doing it this month.

Ask a Trainer
By Allan Scott, Fitness Director

We replaced a number of pieces of equipment in the gym with new improved cable machines. These machines still allow you to perform exercises that attack the same muscles, but at the same time use more natural movements that recruit different muscles to accomplish the task in a much more natural fashion. Thus you get additional core and flexibility involvement. Check with one of the Trainers and he will be able to show you various ways to accomplish these new movements.

In fact maybe it’s time you got an entire new program anyhow.

STOP - September is when we start to get busy again. It is also “Gentleman’s Month” here at the Club. Please take the time to put your newspapers back on the table; your weights, mats and (rubber) balls back on the racks; and wipe down the apparatus when you are finished with it. The next member will really appreciate it.

CARDIO THEATRE - you may have noticed the devices on all the bikes and LifeFitness Cross Trainers. These allow you using headphones to listen to any of the four HDTV’s. Please note that you cannot change channels. To do that you need to use the remote unit.