Nutrition

Nutrition services are often lumped together with a variety of other things at health clubs. Sometimes it is even under the heading of “Spa Services.”  According to recent studies, including some by IHRSA, nutrition consulting is deemed too expensive by many members, who also perceive spa services as too expensive. What’s wrong with this picture? [...]

Despite all the positive exposure it gets in the media, breakfast is still a difficult meal for many people to pull off. We are told loudly and often that we should eat breakfast and yet, it seems to be a hard habit to acquire if it isn’t something you are accustomed to doing. This goes [...]

I have to admit that I am not the most “tech-savvy” person around. I am not afraid of technology like some, but I have to patiently learn what I need to know from someone who does. So when it comes to social media, I am a true novice. Today, using social media marketing (SMM) is [...]

Last Sunday, CBS’s “60 Minutes” caused quite a stir when they reported on new research that indicated the possibly toxic effects of sugar on our bodies. “Toxic” may seem like a pretty strong word, but we already knew that sugar was bad for us. Now we have some scientific evidence to show just how bad [...]

All of us have daily conversations with members for so many reasons. For some, it is all about listening to complaints, both big and small. For others like me, I hear people talk about their health problems, both physical and nutritional because they want me to help solve them. So here’s my pet peeve, and [...]

So, how are all the New Year’s “resolutioners” doing in your club? Are they still there? Typically, these “newbies” join the gym with lots of enthusiasm in January, but by the time spring rolls around, they have gradually faded away — with a few exceptions to the rule. I think it is important to determine [...]

This past weekend, I had the fantastic opportunity of working with the local group of Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. This year is their 10th anniversary walk, and our club was fortunate to be chosen as the location for their basic training and boot camp for the Washington, DC area. The DC organization had a [...]

Genetics aside, can we say that our clubs are not just selling fitness and exercise, but are actually in the business of longevity? When members come to us to lose weight, there may be several reasons for that objective. It could be that they simply want to look better, but they are probably just as [...]

In 2010, one in three adults were advised by their medical professional to diet and exercise to improve their health. However, only three in 10 adults get the recommended amount. Where are they? Are they in your club? Some probably are, but the majority most likely are not making the kinds of healthy behavior changes [...]

Anyone who has raised a teenager knows how difficult that can be. But we all can imagine that if a teenager is overweight or obese, there are more problems to solve than the usual teen angst. Being obese can be a very isolating experience, and losing weight can be difficult for anyone, particularly for a teenager. Nearly [...]