Fit to Print Volume 24 Issue 2 June 2015 | Page 7

Xtreme Fit By Kelly Wallace No Summer Slow Down! It’s Power X Time I go to the gym in the summer for the same reason I go all year. I don't believe in taking breaks when it comes to my health. It has beome a lifestyle for the last 27 years at Fitness Incentive. I have friends here and the instructors are amazing, like Kelly and Erin F. They motivate me each and every day to go. Of course there are days when I would rather be at the beach or relaxing, but I choose to put my health first!” - Stella Cella ViPR Vault: Power Xer Kristen Havdoglous A s we move into full summer swing many have good intentions when it comes to their workouts. It can be tough for some to keep the momentum of the spring training they did to get ready for the beach. For quite a few the Fantastic Four contest gets the ball rolling, then what? People like to say, “With the nice weather I like to be outside.” That's understandable, but, unfortunately for many who turn away from the gym for the summer and do their own version of “exercise,” it just isn't enough. They replace intense structured exercise with a long walk, or a game of tennis. By the time fall rolls around they want to know where the 10 extra pounds came from and why they are huffing and puffing through a cardio workout. Why not blast through summer the way you did the spring, continue your routines straight through and not have to start all over again in the fall. We spoke to a few members who told us how and why they continue to commit to exercise here at the Fitness Incentive. Hopefully their words will help you to “stay with it” through the summer! Results, Results, Results… progress and results no matter how big or small are what keeps me coming back. There have definitely been times over the years, when I've felt discouraged, but it is incredibly important to build and motivate from within. Whether it be physically - in inches lost or strength gained, or mentally –in strength gained or coordination improved upon – betterment is my fuel! As the summer approaches, I look to constantly challenge myself with group training , the variety of indoor classes and outdoor workouts available, and any other boot camp I can throw myself into. Whether you can see it yet or not, every day we leave the gym we are making progress. Find your progress and plan how you are going to build on it! - Melissa Mariniello I do have a few personal tricks I use to keep myself motivated through the summer months. The easiest one to stick to has always been to go first thing in the morning! Once the day starts and it's gorgeous weather it can be hard to wrap up whatever it is your into and head to the gym. Plus it feels great to have your workout checked off your daily list early on! Second tip is sign up for a new class or a meeting with a personal trainer. Holding yourself responsible to a time slot really helps keep a gym schedule. Lastly, if you want your summer body you worked so hard to get to stick around after the 4th of July, make yourself a solid gym schedule and stick to it! Results are a constant reward and once you get into a real routine it should get easier to remain there. The changing of seasons brings changes Summer 2015 FIT to Print in routine, changes in eating and sleep patterns, and each season can signify various things for different individuals. I love being in tune with the seasons and adjusting my life to the rhythm of the natural world. One thing that remains consistent for me throughout the changing of the seasons, however, is maintaining a regular work out routine. It's like having an anchor amidst the crazy changing winds that life brings. Getting to Fitness Incentive in the summer, to me, is the same as getting there in the fall, winter and spring. I just go- it's just something that I do. I try not to let the changing seasons give me a reason to change my gym routine because it's something that works no matter what time of the year it is. It is especially important to get there in the summer for obvious reasons, (bikini season-duh!) but more than anything else it's important to get there just to stay on track and to keep such a great habit going strong (plus then I can have that extra margarita at the BBQ). The fact that there are so many great teachers and classes makes it easy to keep it up- as all of us Fitness Incentive members know- it is an addiction- and one I am grateful to have no matter what the season. - Meghan Lambert Getting to the gym during the summer is just as important as getting there any other time of year: to maintain your strength, and increase endurance at whatever it is you're doing. And it's a whole lot easier to get up and get out with the warm weather and longer days. Also, the classes held outside add fun to the mix. As we leave the punitive weather behind us, think of yourself as solar powered and ready to show off the arms and legs you've been working all winter. - Monica Proto Summer of X The arrival of summer also means the start of season 4 of Power X. Its participants share their thoughts about another epic season of challenging themselves both physically and mentally. There's nothing that makes me feel more out of shape than the first power x of the season. Burning lungs and muscles are par for the course. It's always a brutal wake up call of just how much of an impact those 30 intense minutes a week have on my fitness level. Within a few weeks, I see a huge difference in not just my endurance and strength but also, the "fluff" that's built up over those cold winter months starts to disappear. Power continued page 26 7