All posts by NTrainers

Staying Focused Over the Holidays!

November 16, 2015

John cruz
The holiday season is a wonderful time of joy, unity and hope. It can also be a stressful time for those trying to get in shape or keep their weight under control. Here is my best advice for you:
1. Stay mindful and focused on your goals: 
Stress is your number one enemy. It raises cortisol levels, which in turn, makes you lose control, worry, binge, and perpetuate the vicious cycle you are trying to avoid.. Allow yourself to enjoy the spirit of the season, but exercise control and self awareness. Load up on protein, not on sugars and crappy carbs. Moderation is the key. Overthinking, panicking, or beating yourself up because you had some extra food and drink, will only make you feel worse and give up hope.
2. Plan your exercise around the festivities: 
Train right before your parties not after. In the gym: Lift weights and do compound movements like squats, Over Head Presses, Lunges and Rows, and finish off with
Interval training. My suggestion: 300 meters on the rower Ergometer follow by 20 reps of Kettlebell swings. Rest 60. Seconds and repeat 3-4 times. At home: Do 50 jump rope skips/jumping jacks, 25-50 body weight squats, 15-25 push-ups, 15-30sec side plank per side. Repeat 3-4 times.
Have a happy thanksgiving.
Stay strong!

JC

 

Why avoid large meal pit falls and… why breakfast is so important??

Why avoid large meal pit falls and… why breakfast is so important??Dominick
We always hear rumors that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and to avoid big meals. Is this true? Yes and no. Let me explain. Nutrition is about timing and getting in large amounts of nutrients when the body requires it. Typically in the morning and whenever we are active.
When we wake up in the morning we have a 60 minute window to restore muscle/liver glycogen, which pretty much means eating carbohydrates in order to jump start your metabolism. What happens is when you wait say two hours to eat upon waking, the body goes in to a protective mode and stores the carbohydrates as body fat, instead of glycogen(energy). This is why when we do eat within 60 minutes upon waking that we tend to be hungrier throughout the day which is an indication that your metabolism is speeding up and using the nutrients for energy.
3 quick tips that will significantly help you trim body fat down and improve you health are as follows:
Try to eat a sufficient amount of complex carbohydrates(Like Oats, sweet potatoes, brown rice, eilzikle bread, and quinoa) in your first meal of the day and before activities or workouts.
Try to not yet your self go longer than 3-4 hours without eating, even if its a small snack like a handful of almonds, this will ensure that your metabolism will not slow down and use the nutrients as energy.
Do not eat large portions of carbohydrates two hours prior to sleep. It is ok to eat before bed, however you want to avoid large portions of carbohydrates before bed since you are going to be resting and not utilizing the carbohydrates as energy they are more likely to convert to body fat.

Fitness & Friends Over the Holidays

November 13, 2015

By Lisa Snow, personal trainer

 

When most people think about fitness over the holidays, they picture the aspects of the holidays that make it harder to stay in shape: friends and family bringing rich food to home gatherings, and the ever-present deserts at parties.  But there are actually aspects of the holidays that make it easier to get in shape.

Time off at the holidays can actually make it easier (or at least more possible) to get more sleep.  Not having to get up so early for work may make it feasible to sleep in, while not having such a rigid schedule during the day might allow you to take a nap. People who get enough sleep tend to eat less, make better food choices, and feel less stressed-out.

The holidays also mean being surrounded by more friends and family.  Why not take advantage of that and recruit one or several of them to take a walk with you?  Or go to a dance class or yoga class together?  Many personal trainers are now starting to offer semi-private or small group classes as well as 1-1 training.  Cooking together can also be a great way to express your creativity. (Not to mention peeling and chopping vegetables is a workout!) And beyond exercising together, there are plenty of ways to spend quality time that aren’t centered on food, such as going to a concert or seeing a movie.

Lisa Snow, ACE, NSCA-CPT
Certified Personal Trainer

Potential Venues for Personal Trainers in NYC

 

Looking for a personal trainer in NYC can be daunting for someone who is not familiar with the industry. Who do you contact? Where can you meet with a personal trainer in NYC? Is the commercial gym your only option? With so many different factors to consider when looking for a place to work with a trainer in NYC, it can be a bit bewildering. When you do not have the answers to start, an online search of “Personal Trainer NYC” is a beginning.

Being NYC, there are numerous opportunities available to the aspiring exerciser that extend well beyond the large, commercial gyms. Often, personal trainers will work independently and take a limited number of clients in order to provide a more personal approach. Trainers may also join together to work with clients, combining their skills to improve their product.

Should you feel the need to reach out to a personal trainer, you will find that many have their own studios. The trainers will know what type of spaces they need for the workout you want to do, and they generally have any equipment your planned workout may require.

If the trainer’s personal studio does not suit your needs, many trainers will come to a designated place of your choosing, such as a park or your apartment. It is important to remember that, while this may limit the possibilities of your workout, it can offer you more flexibility and comfort.

And remember, if all else fails, search “Personal Trainer NYC.”

Three things you must do with every new personal training client

November 11, 2015

Don’t start off your new relationship without doing these 3 things

111415 3 things

Health history questionnaire 

Why?  Because you need to know what your client has been doing prior to today.  It is necessary to know if that have had any illnesses, injuries, or surgeries.  You also need to be aware of any chronic conditions, family history.  It’s also great to know if they have an athletic background in the recent past or years ago.

This is the beginning of the assessment.  Knowing any of the above conditions exist will help provide some insight into what you may have to avoid.  On a positive note, this  will help guide you as to where their hot buttons or motivations lie.    Cues on what to say may come from this information.

Fitness assessment

Why?  Because you need to know what kind of activity level your client can handle.  You to check their range of motion, flexibility, joint stiffness, balance, and strength.  This will also give you a chance to see their attitude towards the training.  You want to see your new client displaying a true sense of readiness, openness, and excitement.

Just as with the health questionnaire, this information can help you derive similar information for similar purposes.

Ask for referrals

Why? Because you want to continue to expand your business and find new clients.  Referrals are the life’s blood of any personal training business.  This is a new and exciting time for your newest client.  If there is ever a time they would want give you the name of a friend, it’s now.

This is the point where they are most forthcoming with this type of information.  They are excited about feeling great.  They will want to tell everyone they know about the new fitness program they have undertaken.  This is your chance to pounce.  Carpe diem! Seize the opportunity.  Ask them who they would like to share this experience with.  Don’t even give them a referral bonus opportunity yet.  Let it just sink in that they can share this new found awesomeness with a friend.  This is your road to additional clients and revenue.

 

Healthy Pre-Meal Tips For Thanksgiving

Start off right the night before…
To maximize your fitness routine, make 7 or more hours of sleep a priority Drink lots of water to stay well hydrated,  eat real food to stay satiated. Stay away from the fast-digesting starchy carbs such as sugar, white breads, soda and even sports drinks which spike insulin and will store fat.
Schedule a session with your trainer (30’/40′) of weights/cardio,Multi joint movements such as squat curl press, With uphill interval sprints , so your body metabolizes protein and starch ( turkey/sweet potatoes) to its fullest advantage.
Stay consistent, stay positive and keep your goals in mind.  Enjoy your meal!
By Barbara Crean, personal trainer, yoga instructor, and pilates instructor

Even Marathon Runners Need to Strength Train Their Legs

While the old fashioned training for running was literally just running, modern science tells us that the fastest, longest distance, and injury free runners maintain regular strength training workouts. The gym is not even necessary for most of the workouts, just 10 to 20 minutes at least three days a week in your living room will suffice. Of course as with any athletic regime, don’t forget regular stretching and a healthy diet to boost your best performance.

 

The most common injury for runners, especially long distance runners, is hip injuries. Weak hips may be to blame for ITB injuries, thus body weight and stretching focusing on the hips and glutes can prevent this. Try 30 repetitions of Lateral Leg Raises, 5 sets of side to side shuffles (think basketball defense), or 20 reps of the Iron Cross on both legs.

 

Remember that the gym and heavy weights are not necessary for all of these moves. Using your body weight is a great quick workout. Try doing sets of lunges, planks, side planks, push-ups, and pistol squats. Start slow with less repetitions and fewer exercises. As you progress, add reps and more bodyweight exercises. These routines are best for recovery and also the prevention of injuries.

 

Heavy weights, though, are also important for building the right muscles for running better. Using compound and multi-joint exercises will help you train the movements you need rather than just the muscles independently. Try weighted deadlifts, squats, bench presses, and even step-ups to develop muscles.

 

Before launching into regular gym sessions, have a New Jersey personal trainer help develop the right routine for you. A Hoboken personal trainer can show the exact postures necessary for the most effective workouts, and can offer help in preventing injuries while in the gym. Having someone give feedback during workouts is also important, and a personal trainer in Jersey City can provide just that.

Training for a Marathon? Strength Training is Needed, Too

Athletes, whether professional or laymen, love a good physical challenge. Whether it is getting to the highest peak or being the fastest at a sport, competition with the self and others drives so many of us to seek sports or other avenues to release the competitive self. One such way is the marathon.

 

Marathon running is a unique challenge in and of itself. It is miles and miles of practice runs, dedicated nutrition, daily stretching, and also strength training. While the general misconception is that to be successful at running a marathon one only needs to run, the most stable truth is that preparation in the gym with a Midtown West personal trainer can benefit your time, endurance, and prevent injury.

 

To add strength training to your marathon routine, you need only 10 to 20 minutes each day. Don’t just jump on the next open weight machine, though. There are specialized running exercises to develop your ligaments, tendons, and muscles to work together and maintain good balance while dealing with the brutal impact of running long distances.

 

As you begin strength training, think that you are training for function over merely isolated muscles. Compound movements are best since your body runs using many muscles, not an isolated one or two at a time. Try squats and step-ups to begin. Overall, the best training here is what is called functional training, exercises that imitate functional day-to-day movements like picking up a toddler or pushing a heavy cart filled with protein shake materials.

 

If you don’t have access to the gym regularly, don’t fret. Using your own body weight is an excellent training tool. These build strength while also preventing overuse injury. Some examples are lunges, planks, side planks, and even split squats. Having the right form while completing any of these strength exercises is important. Upper West Side personal trainers can help you develop a routine well before your next marathon. Have a personal trainer in SoHo help you maintain your workout and then challenge you over the weeks as well.

Quality of Life as We Age Means Training Functionally

It is hard to accept that as we age, our bodies change. And with that change, so must our workouts begin to change, too. We can improve and maintain a high quality of life, regardless of our age, if we learn to train right. One such way is functional training. Still incredibly popular in its usage, functional training does exactly as the name suggests: it prepares an aging or weakened body for daily functions to be more efficient, maintain power and mobility, and prevent injuries doing daily work.

 

Functional training can help maintain the best of health. While the gym visits of our youth will change, now a new exploration of working out can start. Previously, we lifted weights by isolated muscles using machines or specialized free weight moves. Functional training, however, introduces the moves that make muscles work together. It focuses on how to use your own body for balance, the skeletal structure for support, and free movements that replicate daily events.

 

While keeping up on cardiovascular workouts like swimming or hiking, and keeping a healthy diet, are all-important, preventing injuries is key as we age. There are many different types of workouts a certified functional aging specialist may offer to develop the perfect functional training workout circuit for you. For example, if you love to garden and spend a great deal of time lifting heavy bags of soil, a trainer may have you do the Wall-Ball Squat. Using an exercise ball pressed between a wall and your back, start in a mostly standing position. Slowly lower until almost sitting in a chair, pause for a beat, then stand up, all the time rolling up and down the ball.

 

For the most effective workout, have a personal trainer in Flatiron help develop just the right circuit for you. Functional training experts everywhere, including Upper East Side personal trainers and Midtown East personal trainers, can provide feedback and guidance once a routine is established.

NYC Personal Trainer Pages by Zip Code

https://www.neighborhoodtrainer.com/personal-trainers/nyc-personal-trainer-pages-by-zip-code/