Health

I read an article which indicated you lose about a percent of muscle mass annually after age 35. So I joined a small gym in the Toledo area about 6 years ago and was surprised how little I could lift … not that I could ever lift much of anything!  So before going the Silver Sneakers route, I thought I would try some of the other classes.  They were tough but the instructors and classmates were very encouraging (as they are at the MAC!). 

Like many people, I believed this would always be the case, however when I hit my forties I discovered I was wrong. In my youth I had acquired some bad habits, smoking, poor diet etc... These bad habits caught up with me. I was getting the "love handles" and if I tried to exercise, it was difficult because I couldn't breathe due to my smoking. 

If you see me at MAC, I always have a smile on my face.  Thankful for this awesome gym, the staff, and all the members!  Remember: don’t allow yourself to make the same mistake as me and believe that you can’t.  Because, you can!

"It’s one thing to admit to yourself that you’ve gained weight but seeing it.... that’s a whole other story. I just decided that I needed a huge (pun intended) change in my life."

Expected Benefits:

- Increase Strength - Increase Endurance - Fat Loss - Increase Muscle Density - Increase Bone Density -Improve Balance - Tone - Improve Heart Function - Increase Vo2 Max - Rehab and Recovery

"The doctors and the nurses were convinced that if I was not in as good shape as I was, I would not have survived any of it. All of the weight training with machines and class workouts really paid off in the most amazing way."

"Kathy, MAC Group Exercise Director, was very helpful in telling me about the classes and the gym. In fact, Kathy's Monday night class was the first class I attended -- which was great!  I continued to come to classes and got to know the instructors and other members in class."

"Each month, the weight kept falling off.  After 100+ pounds lost in 1 year, I can’t say enough about CrossFit and the changes is has made in my life.  I went from a XXXL size 22 to a M and size 10-12 in 1 year.  I am no longer pre-diabetic, I don’t count calories and my metabolism actually burns now."

"I requested the help of Nick, MAC Personal Trainer, to help get me more flexible, stronger and to help me with my injuries. He’s helped me tremendously. I’m so much stronger,  have learned so much, and I’m slowly becoming more confident."

"Working out isn’t a short term goal.  It is a lifelong commitment. It takes time and there is no quick fix or magical pill.  You just have to keep pushing yourself and set new goals.  When you plateau, do something different and don’t quit.  Keep it exciting, change it up, find what works for you!  God gave you one body.  Take care of it the best of your ability and it’ll take care of you."

"The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago.  The second-best time is now."

"I have been a single parent of two awesome girls all these years and have still found a way to train 5 to 6 days a week. I train because it makes me feel good. I believe that if you feel good about yourself, it leads to a positive attitude and in return makes you more of a pleasant person to be around."

"I was able to train for boxing and racing and ended up being successful in both. I lost 50 pounds before my crash. After I broke my neck, I used MAC to get myself back to as close to pre-crash shape as possible."

Did you know there are multiple variations of lunges?  Watch Nick demonstrate in this quick video.  Learn how to burn fat and build muscle!

MACtion Fitness Video - highlighting 6 variations of a push up. Think the push up is a standard simple move? You'll think twice after watching Nick's variations on the push up and add these to your next workout.

Marilou believes all of us can be helpful to someone else and that helpfulness will be paid back ten-fold! Marilou is 81 years old and still living a very full and active life.

"Join a class/program. Don’t knock it until you try it (I joined WOW (Women on Weights) and because of this class I now enjoy lifting weights! This program has also helped me with my fitness journey.  I absolutely love Carol!)"

"If you’re reading this then you’ve already taken one of the most important steps in your own personal journey – you’ve decided to make a change and joined a gym. Now, outline your goals and create your how-to plan. Once you do that, all that’s left is implementation of your plan – put it into action! Remember, nothing works unless you do."

It is not easy, but anyone and everyone can make significant change in their lifestyle. Like so many things, I had to decide for myself to make a change before anybody or anything could help me.  There are virtually unlimited people and resources waiting and willing to help, but it simply could not work until I made the decision to change.  

Looking for a bit more challenge in the water? This class is designed to be a step above the regular water class.  It is a fast paced 30 minute shallow water workout that consists of a combination of Tabata, boot camp, and interval training moves.  These aerobic exercises can be modified for all ages and abilities.

My best pieces of advice are:

1-     If your goal is fat loss, ensure that strength training is the primary focus of your exercise routine.  A common misconception (especially among women) is that you need to do more cardio to burn more calories, which will translate to fat loss.  The truth is, the positive metabolic effect of added muscle will trump the temporary calorie burn from cardio EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. 

Have you heard of PiYo or PoundFit? Both are new Group Exercise classes offered at MAC. For days and times, check out the schedule here - Group Exercise Schedule

Also, for the month of March, Monday & Wednesday, 10:30am Spinning Classes are FREE for all MAC members. Come take a ride with us!

My fitness journey began about 3 years ago, when I was so sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time. I had tried everything on the planet to lose weight.

Here we go.  December is here, and as we head into the glorious gluttony that is ahead of us through the end of the year, we here at MAC want to give you a few things to keep in mind.  Enjoy the deliciousness of the holidays while staying on track with your health goals with these 12 tips from the MAC personal trainers:

What led you to join MAC’s Dangerous Curves Program?
I saw a MAC Facebook post for the Dangerous Curves group training program. I knew I needed to make a life change and this class seemed to call to me. I messaged the trainer, Jen and she told me a little about the program. I tried to talk myself out of joining because I didn’t think I could do it. I told my family about this opportunity, and they said DO IT!

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I am 32 years old. I am originally from Tennessee. In 2012, I graduated from West Texas A&M with a M.S in Meat Science. With that degree, I have worked in food manufacturing facilities where there was always good tasting food available. I am currently working in R&D at AdvancePierre Foods in West Chester. My hobbies include hunting, fishing, and now my love for the gym and a healthier lifestyle. I am a devoted family man with a wonderful, loving wife and an 8.5 month old little girl.

 I am an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with my Doctorate Degree and tri-certifications in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Care. I work at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. When not at work, I spend time biking, gardening, and hanging out with my two cats, Sassy and Stash.

Small Group Training (SGT) is quickly becoming one of the hottest trends. There are some very good reasons why SGT is becoming so popular. Here are 10 reasons why it is so appealing and the benefits that SGT can offer:

Summer might have snuck up on you, but fortunately there is still enough time for you to have the physique you want and be the healthiest that you can be. Here are some fitness tips to help you achieve your goals for the healthiest and fittest summer body.

Many people see the popular fitness brand “CrossFit” nowadays, and wonder what it’s all about. A quick search for the term “CrossFit” will turn up a variety of information, ranging from YouTube workouts featuring grunting, training individuals cranking out seemingly impossible numbers of repetitions with seemingly (and indeed, actually) often dangerous form.