Fitness Tip: Functional Fitness vs. Machines

Welcome to the Fitness Together - West Seattle Tip of the Week. Each week we will include a note to inspire, motivate, and educate.

Functional Fitness vs. Machines
At Fitness Together, you won't find a lot of big weight training machines for individual body parts. In fact, we only need a few key pieces of equipment that are geared towards "functional fitness." What exactly does that mean?

FUNCTIONAL FITNESS
Functional fitness works on training your whole body as a unit. Your body works together as a unit to move and perform work. For example, when you reach up to get a plate from the top shelf of the cupboard, you may balance on one leg, reach your arm, and lift the plate off the shelf, then slowly lower it so it doesn't slip and break. Our workouts can train your body to lift overhead while balancing. We can help make everyday movements easier and more efficient.

MACHINES
All those machines you see at a big gym are not designed with functional fitness in mind. When you sit down to use a machine at the gym, you are able to isolate individual muscle groups, which is more for body building, but the rest of your body goes to sleep. It rests while your biceps get strong.

Using functional movements, we work your back, legs, core, shoulders, and biceps all at the same time. Combining functional movements shortens the workout, increases the intensity (which burns more calories), and you get more accomplished during your training session. Clients who train with us move more independently, stay active longer, and feel better enjoying time with family and friends.

Remember to make YOU a priority in 2009!

FT - West Seattle Celebrates 2nd Birthday

Time flies when you are sweating. It's hard to believe that we are celebrating 2 years in the West Seattle Junction. The people of West Seattle have been very supportive with this local business and are very health oriented. What a great community!

We want to thank all past and present clients for your support and a big thank you goes out to the following clients who have been with us from Day 1:

Lorrie Brogan
Jim Gahagan
Ce Ce Justice

We look forward to helping more members of the West Seattle community to reach their health and fitness goals in the coming years.

Thanks West Seattle,
Bonnie Katz
Owner

Blackout Cardio Bingo Contest II

It's back!!!! Just in time to start the New Year. The holidays are over so its time to get back to the daily routine including cardio and workouts. This version of the contest gives credit for workouts with the trainer and also encourages doing some form of cardio outside of the studio (e.g. running, biking, hiking, snowshoeing). The main goal of the contest is still to work towards Blackout of your scorecard. Seven weeks - time to get moving to see who will win this contest. Good luck to all participants!!

January Client of the Month - Christine H.

With a new year comes a new month, and a new client of the month. For January 09, Chrstine was selected for her dedication and hard work. Since joining FT, Christine has become a fixture in our studio on a daily basis with cardio work and strength training. If you remember back in the blog, she even won the Blackout Cardio Bingo Contest.

Here is Christine on her experience "Before joining Fitness Together, I’d had some vague ideas about healthy eating and getting regular exercise, but I wasn’t acting on them. Aside from practicing Ashtanga yoga a few days a week, I wasn’t moving much. Climbing Mount Si in September was a rude awakening. I barely made it up and down, and I just didn’t want to be like that—I wanted to be someone who could enjoy a challenging hike and still walk the next day. But I knew it wasn’t going to happen if I joined a big, impersonal gym and found myself alone in a room full of cold gray equipment.

FT is a world away from that. I love the friendly atmosphere, the windows, and the most of all the support of the trainers. Working out with the trainers at FT has overhauled my understanding of how to get fit and eat right, and they make it fun. I followed their suggestions and got real results in my first 8 weeks. It was truly a no-brainer, especially with the Cardio Blackout Bingo competition in November and December. All I had to do was fill in my Bingo card each week, and in the end I won prizes and dropped inches in the right places. After a few weeks of Christmas cookies and vacation eating, I’m glad there’s another Cardio Bingo in January! Plus, I have to fit into a wedding dress in May. But even without those motivators, being more fit just feels great and is the best reason to keep going."

December Client Competition - Elliptical TT

A fierce battle waged yet again for the monthly client competition. This month's challenge: 15 minute Time Trial on the Elliptical. It was close, but Jay eeked out a victory over Rich. But let me tell you, it was not easy. In 15 minutes at Level 13, you are wishing for a break. Jay rang up 2.58 miles while Rich netted 2.34 miles. Great job guys. Keep up the sweat and here's to January's competition - Tabata Pull Squats.

Happy New Year

The New Year is upon us. From our team to you and your family, we wish you happiness, health, and prosperity in 2009!

Let us know how we can help you to achieve your health and fitness goals in the New Year.