We opened our door for business on July 30, and our first month has been terrific. We already have over 20 clients (the national average for Fitness Together studios is 5 clients the first month), and so we cannot thank you enough for your support in helping us to hit the ground running. It has also been a good month to allow us to work out the kinks in our operations, and we believe we now have things under some degree of control 
The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you informed and create a sense of community among our clients. We hope to share with you the following:
The latest health and fitness news and guidelines
Client profiles and milestones
New or revised operating policies
Local events of interest
We hope you enjoy this first issue.
Studio policies:
Please try to arrive 5-10 minutes before your scheduled workout so that you can warm-up on the cardio equipment
Please give us 24 hours notice if you need to cancel a session so that we can reschedule you. If you miss a session and fail to notify us, you will be charged for that session.
Our trainers work in shifts, so if your schedule changes you may train with a different trainer. While we know that many, if not all of you, have already developed a strong rapport with your trainer, it is always beneficial to be exposed to different training approaches. Rest assured that no matter who your trainer is, the focus will always be on you and what your goals are.
Clients coming in to use the cardio for their 5-10 minute warm up prior to their training session have priority use of the equipment. Since we are starting to get busier, we will implement a sign-up sheet for those who want to use the cardio.
Proper workout attire is required so as to ensure your safety and comfort.
Health and Fitness News and Guidelines
Dr. David Bassett from the University of Tennessee monitored physical activity and other health-related parameters in both Amish adults and children, and compared them to the rest of us. Remarkably, only 4 percent of Amish were obese and 26 percent were overweight, compared to the US averages of 30 and 60 percent, respectively. The reason? Everyone – men, women, and children, engage in vigorous physical activity everyday, resulting in weekly physical activity that is 6 times as much as the average activity level of those living in modern cultures.
(courtesy of Dr. Nick DeNubile’s The Training Room blog at yahoo.com Dr. Nick is from Havertown and the author of Framework, an outstanding book!)
Can you turn fat into muscle? This is a myth, fat and muscle are two different entities.. To get rid of fat, you must burn it off, through a combination of diet and exercise. To build muscle, you need to work those muscles (one of the benefits of strength training) and eat an appropriate amount of protein. One useful guideline is to eat an amount of protein, in grams, equal to half your body weight in pounds. (courtesy of Joy’s Healthy Bite blog at yahoo.com)
Five ways to raise your metabolism level
Engage in aerobic activities 4-5 days per week
Do strength training 2-3 days per week
Avoid going into starvation mode as a way to lose weight, eat at least 1000 calories per day
Eat every 4-5 hours
Be sure to get enough lean protein in your diet (see guidelines above for daily recommendations)
(courtesy of Joy’s Healthy Bite blog at yahoo.com)
Exercise can help your brain also. There are many research studies that show the benefits of exercise for maintaining, and in some cases, improving brain function. Dr. Thomas Crook, former Chairman of the National Institute of Mental Health and the author of The Memory Advantage, recommends some form of aerobic activity three to six times per week and strength training, with weights, three times per week. (courtesy of Body + Soul magazine, June,2007).
Coming in next month’s —some of the best web sites for health and fitness!
To your health and happiness.
