Newtown Fitness Pros Are Poised To Support New Year’s Fitness Goals

By Kendra Bobowick

Focusing on a treadmill’s calorie counter rather than a plate of holiday cookies could determine which way the needle falls on your bathroom scale in the coming months. Luckily, in Newtown, there are a host of fitness professionals and new facilities where clients can focus on decreasing their weight and exercising resolutions as the clock counts down to 2007.

At The Fitness Loft on Simm Lane, owner and trainer Cody Foss notes that weight loss and fitness do not happen through exercise alone. Rather, a combination of small changes in daily habits will boost a person’s metabolism.

“Get your bodies to work for you,” he said.

Promoting smart moves to slim the waistline, Mr Foss said, “Strength training is important. Next to nutrition it might be the most important to increase metabolism.”

Taking a serious look at the fuel one consumes is often the most critical first step toward fitness, and it requires no exertion.

“Start eating smaller meals more frequently,” Mr Foss advises. He also offers a general rule for wise food choices: Anything that comes from the ground such as fruits and vegetables, along with lean meats, are the wisest selections. Processed foods should never make it into the grocery cart.

“The more processed or chemically altered the worse it will be,” Mr Foss said. He suggests eliminating just one of the following food items to start: soda, white bread, candy, chips, and anything deep fried.

“This is not a diet, it’s a food program more about lifestyle choices,” Mr Foss said.

Walt Schneider, who owns and operates two Designer Bodies facilities in Newtown has a motto, “Feed the machine,” but feed it right.

“The whole key is eating the right food at the right time,” he said. “Find a proper balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats; for each individual that’s different.”

Personal trainer Lorelie Carvey, who offers her “training with a twist” services to local clients in the privacy of their own homes, said some people are eating things they should not.

“One important part of staying fit is nutrition and I emphasize it a lot,” she said. Ms Carvey usually starts her clients on the way to learning to make better food selections from the packaging wrapping the item.

“I usually have them start learning more about labels,” she said.

What type of exercise starts up the body’s calorie burners? Strength and endurance training are effective, Mr Foss explained.

“Most people automatically start cardio training and go to the gym and hit the treadmill and the net result is in the short term, and not much in the big picture,” he said. Strength training has longer-lasting effects.

“This will increase your lean body mass and therefore your metabolism,” he said.

Mr Schneider also shares his thoughts about weight training. “Most people don’t realize the importance of weight training… the body is working to repair muscle fibers.” Lean muscle mass results as the body repairs, he said.

Keeping Your Resolutions

Trainers can help keep your belts notched a little more tightly for longer than an upcoming reunion or wedding. The professionals talk about creating routines aimed at permanent results.

Mr Schneider speaks to those who are crossing their fingers with the hopes of losing a few pounds this year.

“People think they have to dive in,” he said, but rather than scrambling to lose an initial 20 pounds, Mr Schneider said, “I stress attainable goals.” People enter his facility at the break of the new year with what he calls, “Happy feet,” and they want a trainer and want to get going on a routine.

“We slow them down,” he said. In an attempt to facilitate changes in their life, health, and physique, Mr Schneider said, “We keep them for the long-term.”

Fitness is a transformation that takes place over time, he explained. “Right from the start you and a friend, or you and a spouse set attainable goals and go gradually,” Mr Schneider said. Also, partners can keep one another motivated.

Mr Schneider advises starting small with walking, and working up to a jog and going a little further after time.

Mr Foss also warns against the pitfalls undermining one’s own fitness program.

“What leads to people giving up is unrealistic goals,” he said. “Be realistic. Starting a program is about making changes for a lifestyle…”

Ms Carvey advises, “Have a personal trainer who will keep you on your goals.” She also mentioned finding a workout partner. “Sometimes friends help each other get to the gym.” Her number one piece of advice is to take steps toward long-term goals.

“If you have a long way to go it’s demotivating in a way,” she said. Look at an exercise routine in steps of 20 minutes a day for one month, for example.

Number two, she said, “Have a plan. When you reach a goal it’s motivation to go further” Often, getting up from the couch and into the habit of minding your health once a day is a challenge. Ms Carvey suggests beginning with just a half-hour walk.

“I often start people with a 20 minute walk, 20 minutes of weight [training], and 10 minutes of stretching,” which she describes as an ideal way to start a routine that can be increased over time.

The fitness habit must be constantly fed. Mr Schneider said, “It takes effort, not strength or intelligence — that is the key to unlocking our potential — continuous effort.”

How a person exercises is also important, especially with cardio workouts.

“Try to avoid long, slow, sustained training,” Mr Foss said. “Mix it up with a slow jog and then to a faster sprint.”

Stressing perseverance, Mr Foss said, “You have to commit…be patient. There are a lot of different ways to do this.”

Enjoyment is also an important ingredient to a successful health and fitness routine.

“If you don’t like it, you won’t do it,” he said. Ms Carvey agrees.

For those who want to keep their resolutions this year, she said, “Find something you love to do, running or dancing.”

Fitness improvements also require intellectual input, she explained.

Thinking about your health and investing in your health are also significant factors in maintaining motivation said Ms Carvey. Improved fitness is more than the increased heart rate and calories consumed during a run.

Ms Carvey said, “One hour a day could completely change your life; if you’re feeling good you feel better and more successful about what you do.”

Susan MacMullen, another local personal trainer, offers clear reasons for getting into shape. Ms MacMullen is among the staff of trainers offering services at Designer Bodies.

“Take care of yourself,” she said. “If you exercise and eat right you can take care of the people you care about, and you will feel good.” She stressed that if you get in shape you feel better about yourself. And fitness is a lifestyle change, she explained.

“It’s a commitment to yourself; it’s looking at who you are and who you want to be and setting a reasonable goal,” she said.

Ms MacMullen also offered reassurances for those new to the concept of fitness. “There is an exercise out there for everyone,” she said.

What’s New On The Fitness Horizon

Ms Carvey, a fitness trainer who also teaches belly dancing in both Newtown and Danbury, has been promoting Personal Training with a Twist through word of mouth referrals and her website, personaltrainingwithatwist.com. The training combines her passions for fitness and belly dancing into a workout.

“A lot of times belly dancers want to get in shape and they take my fitness [classes] so these seem to fit together well,” she said. Besides private clients, she is also conducting group classes in studio at A Graceful Planet near the high school.

Her new combination of dance/training is catching a lot of attention.

“It is so popular right now, and fun and a great way to get people to move,” she said.

Designer Bodies just opened a second location after an extremely successful year in Newtown. Mr Schneider said, “I can’t thank Newtown enough for the unbelievable support.”

His original studio is in the Village Square Plaza at 43 Main Street, and the second recently opened and much larger studio is at 8 Peck’s Lane. It has a loft, projection TV, and sound system, he said.

“We were looking for something different with things to keep people motivated in a unique atmosphere,” he said. Designer Bodies concentrates on personal training specifically, where clients receive the attention and expertise of trainers at his facilities.

The Fitness Loft at 3 Simm Lane, near Newtown Car Wash, is furnished with cutting-edge equipment. A grand opening date is planned for January 6. The gym offers quality supervision, high-end programs, training, and classes.

Mr Foss said he is striving to provide a friendly atmosphere where clients can find encouragement and support. He also notes that one-on-one fitness and small, semiprivate group training are available.

More information and promotions are available at the facility’s website, thefitnessloft.org. Tours are available by appointment.