the17thman

24 Fitness - ON YOUR MARKS. SET. GO!

24 HOUR FITNESS ANNOUNCES SUPPORT OF U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM AT 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES

With just 100 days to go, we are thrilled to announce the kickoff of our campaign— “Our Gym is Going with Team USA to the Olympic Games” and it begins by unveiling our amazing sponsored athletes. So, a drumroll please for: two-time Olympic Gold medalist and beach volleyball wonder-woman, Kerri Walsh; three-time Olympian, Silver medalist and attacking Water Polo player, Tony Azevedo; Paralympic Gold medalist and the world’s fastest female amputee, April Holmes; and last but not least, one of our very own, 24 Hour Fitness trainer, 200 meter sprinter, and first-time Olympic Hopeful, Rubin Williams.

OUR ATHLETES, OUR TEAM, EVEN OUR GYM IS HEADED TO LONDON

London 2012 marks our biggest ever commitment to the US Olympic team. We’ve given memberships to more than 500 Olympic athletes and hopefuls to help them pursue their Olympic dreams. We’ve donated our expertise and training equipment to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. And, this summer, we’re taking an entire gym—plus an elite team of support staff—to power the U.S. High Performance Training Center in London, and help athletes make their final preparations.

And that’s not all. We’ve got a summer-long program packed with great content, contests, and news to bring you closer to the U.S. Olympic Team experience. Stay tuned by following @24hourfitness and the #24HFOlympic hashtag. Go team USA!

Best Of - Aqua Aerobics at 24 Hour Fitness

Celebrating my 2,000,00 page views with a classic post -

This article was posted on 06/2009

To discuss working out in the pool, I had the opportunity to speak with 24 Hour Fitness Master Instructor Doris Dodge-Thews.   Doris has over 25 years of fitness experience, has run the Boston Marathon, the Nike Women's Marathon and teaches group exercise classes such as Aqua Aerobics at 24 Hour Fitness clubs throughout Orange County.

 

If you’ve never tried a water exercise class, select 24 Hour Fitness club locations with pools nationwide are giving you the chance on Saturday, June 13. As part of “Open Door Saturday” 24 Hour Fitness clubs nationwide are opening their doors to the public for free workouts. Non-members are invited to try all the amenities 24 Hour Fitness has to offer, including the group exercise classes such as Aqua Aerobics offered at select clubs on Saturday. Check-out 24hourfitness.com to find a club location near you offering the Aqua Aerobics classes!

Joel:  First off tell me a little bit about yourself and how you got interested in the fitness industry?

Doris Dodge-Thews:  I was a high school and college athlete and just never stopped.  I started instructing when I was in high school and have continued through today at age 42.  Over the past 25 years, I have seen companies like 24 Hour Fitness serve the community and promote health and fitness. I travel around the country teaching 24 Hour Fitness instructors different group exercise classes.  I’m passionate about helping others reach their fitness goals and I’m fortunate that 24 Hour Fitness allows me to do so for a living!

Joel:  For someone who has never attended an Aqua Aerobics Class what should they expect the first time in the water?

Doris Dodge-Thews:  They’ll be pleasantly surprised by the environment. They'll learn that the best thing about Aqua Aerobics is its variety.  Each class is different and so much fun.  You can't help but smile when you are in the water!  You’re constantly propelling through the water, and it’s a great non-impact way to improve your cardio while increasing strength and flexibility. Anyone can do Aqua Aerobics - runners and marathoners, basketball  players, swimmers, weight lifters, walkers and anyone looking to build muscle and burn fat quickly.  Members and guests should come to select 24 Hour Fitness clubs with pools on Saturday, June 13 to check-out an Aqua Aerobics class. It’s free!  

Joel:  What are some of the benefits of doing an Aqua Aerobics class?

Doris Dodge-Thews:  When you are working in water at every move you are facing resistance.  It's a fun challenging aerobic workout.  The body is facing hydrostatic pressure which allows one to exercise more vigorously with less strain.  You have drag at every turn which gives you the resistance for strength training.  Aqua Aerobics is a cardio workout that has no impact on the joints, and you reduce your risk of injury compared to other forms of exercise such as running or weight lifting.  

Aqua aerobics is a group exercise class at 24 Hour Fitness. It’s great because you’re working out in a group that is supportive and it motivates you to work hard. We encourage all of our members to work out in a group exercise class or with a partner.  It’s a way to hold you accountable and you’re more likely to stick to a fitness routine if you’ve got someone to work out with.

Joel:  Can you give the readers one basic Aqua Aerobics routine that they can do on their own?

Doris Dodge-Thews:  One all around exercise is Flip and Kick.  Grab a kick-board.  Hold it out in front of you with face down and kick 6 times.  Flip on to your side still holding the kick-board.  Scissor kick 6 times then flip on your back.  Kick 6 times holding the kick-board over your head on the water then flip to the other side.  Kick 6 more times still holding the kick-board above your head on the water.  It’s a great cardio workout and by holding the kick-board you are getting an upper body workout.

Joel:  What got you interested in Aqua Aerobics?

Doris Dodge-Thews:  Its variety. And I wanted to cross train.  After running a marathon it takes 26 days for the body to recover.  Aqua Aerobics doesn't impact the joints so it's great to be working out and be in the water.  At triathlons you see the participants always getting back in the water after the race to allow the body to recover faster.  Plus I love the environment of these classes and it's a lot of fun!

Joel:  You also instruct 24 Cycle Classes.  Now that is a whole different level of intensity then Aqua Aerobics.  Or are they?  Can you compare and contrast the two different activities?

Doris Dodge-Thews:  When you are in the water you have constant drag.  When you are on a bike you have gravity to deal with.  24 Cycle has a high caloric burn rate.  In a class you can burn anywhere between 600 and 1,000 calories depending on your intensity and how fast you sprint.  But both are important for a healthy lifestyle

Joel:  In 24 Cycle Classes the instructors always give the cyclers a guide to level ones intensity.  With each instructor having his or her own unique way of describing these levels.  One instructor I know uses "ordering at a bar" and how at different intensities you can only order so much.  How do you describe these levels to your cyclers?

Doris Dodge-Thews: That is called RPE, Rate Perceived Exertion, and 24 Hour Fitness instructors use it in all group classes.  Each bike and person is different so it is what each person perceives.  The RPE can be broken down into four zones:  Easy, Endurance, Edge and Elite anaerobic.  I use ordering at Starbucks since I love coffee.  At the Easy level, I can tell you for an extended period of time all about coffee including what beans I favor. At the Endurance level, I can talk but I’m working harder. I can order my vanilla latte non-fat with two pumps of vanilla for 12-20 minutes at the Endurance level. During the Edge level, for 5-7 minutes, I could only tell you “yes” if you asked me if I like coffee. At the Elite level, I’m breathless and can only shake my head, I can’t talk, for 1-3 minutes. 

Joel:  What type of music do you like to use in your classes?

Doris Dodge-Thews:  In my 24 Cycle classes I play high energy music with a strong beat.  My music will reflect my drills.  Hill drills will have slower music while speed drills will have faster music.  Then I also have recovery music.  I try to have a variety of music that at the end of the class I've played something for everyone. In the Aqua Aerobics class I play either just background music or some cadence tempo music depending on the class.

Joel:  Finally for those 24 Hour Fitness members which locations can they find you at?

Doris Dodge-Thews:  I teach across Orange County at the Laguna Niguel, Irvine Center Drive and Irvine Spectrum 24 Hour Fitness clubs.

Fore more information on 24 Hour Fitness go to http://www.24hourfitness.com

 

 

Best Of - Dance With Me @ 24 Hour Fitness

To celebrate my 2,000,000 page view I will be reposting some classic 17thman articles.  Mostly cuz' I'm lazy! 

This post was posted on 08/21/2009 

The other day I was asked if I wanted to attend a class at 24 Hour Fitness called "Dance With Me" and I have to  admit, I hesitated at first.  Me in a dance related fitness class?  With my two left feet?  I eventually decided I'd go and hang in the very back of the class.  I became more comfortable as the class filled up and  I began to see everyone from teenage boys and girls to senior citizens in the group.  At this point I figured I could do it.  The first ten minutes were tough as I struggled to feel the rhythm and let myself go.  But after a group line dance, my stress and worries went away and I was having the time of my life.  I was laughing and cheering on others in the class.  All in between learning a few new dance steps and sweating my ass off.  By the time the one hour class was over I was ready for more.  After class, I sat down with Billy Blanks, Jr and his wife Sharon Catherine Blanks to talk about the class.

A little background on Billy Blanks, Jr and his wife Sharon Catherine Blanks.  As you have probably already guessed, Billy is the son of Tae Bo Kicking exercise legend Billy Blanks.  Billy is a professional dancer who has performed on Broadway in Fame and 42nd Street.  His wife Sharon Catherine Blanks is a Broadway singer and dancer and has performed in Rent, Dreamgirls and others.  Together they perform as a rock / soul duo called "The Blanx".  Billy and Sharon have taken these years of Broadway experience and combined it with exercise to form the 24 Hour Fitness Group X class “Dance With Me” which is now offered to members at the Sherman Oaks and Hollywood Sport club locations.


What Is "Dance With Me"?

"Dance with Me" is a group excercise class that takes dance movements from hip-hop, Latin, ballroom, bollywood, broadway, belly dancing and jazz all mixed in with cardio movement.  Classes mix it up with various dance styles.  Each style offers a different type of workout for different parts of the body.  Stretching, high intensity cardio, core work, strength training and pretty much an all around workout.
Sharon commented that she is very excited about this class as it has grown very quickly.  It's cool that different people attend these classes from all walks of life.  A few weeks ago an older man approached her and told her he was just going to warm up during the beginning of the class.  By the end of the class he was still dancing.  Afterwards, he came  up to Sharon and told her how excited he was about this class.
The day I attended the class we warmed up before moving to some cardio to get the heart rate up with a bit of latin/samba music.  For a bit we did some Broadway tunes and even did the Charleston.  I gotta admit doing the Charleston was fun.  Even when I danced into a few of the classmates.

 

Both Billy and Sharon talked about how you can’t help but smile when dancing.  Both instructors have the attitude that in this class participants should just do the best they can according to their fitness level.  Billy talked about one of the younger class members who at first told Billy that he had two left feet and he was a bit worried.  Billy assured him that all he had to do was have fun.  A few classes later this young man was in the front row of the class dancing up a storm.  I got to tell you that story was just one of many I heard from people I talked to before the class started.

Sharon starts the class talking about the importance on breathing during excercise. She instructs participants to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. She called it "diaphragmatic breathing".  Throughout the class both Billy and Sharon remind everyone to breathe. Sharon said that when she was on stage she gave 200% and was constantly working to be a stronger performer. She knew that by breathing correctly she would have more stamina. She commented, "Performers who sing and dance are in shape because they're breathing correctly."  Sharon also reminds the class not to pant but to breathe. She warned that, "Panting is not controlled breathing and one can hyperventlate".  She also commented that in class we need to be careful when reaching down to pick up the bottle of water as one can get dizzy.  During the class Billy talks about the benefits of singing out loud while working out just like the military do on marches.  This helps to build stamina and endurance.  Also, by breathing correctly during excercise one can double the amount of calories burned.

One last thing about breathing is that Billy recommended that everyone should wake up 5 minutes early every day and just lay in bed practicing breathing. It may sound simple but 5 minutes a day of diaphragmatic breathing will make breathing while working out that much easier.

During the class Billy dances around the room interacting with the class members. Everyone is singing, cheering and having a blast. From time to time we pair up and form groups. You forget that you are working out. The class takes a life of its own. Sharon commented that she never experienced a trainer like Billy who encourages everyone so much. While I was dancing about and having the time of my life, I kept hearing Billy talk about taking out our daily stress out in this class by dancing and yelling out loud.  When Sharon talked about how you can't help but smile when you are dancing it really is true.  You just get all the days worries out of your head and just go with the music.

 

The Group X class "Dance With Me" is offered at two 24 Hour Fitness locations in L.A. –  Hollywood Sport (6380 Sunset Blvd) and Sherman Oaks (15301 Ventura Blvd). For more information, check out http://www.24hourfitness.com/

 

Tuesday's Swim Report - This, That and More

While I was out running around Disney World with Mickey and the gang a few news items from the world of swimming happened.  Here are a few of them...

1.  Carolina Live reports that "Olympic swimmer Rowdy Gaines to teach class in NMB…Olympic swimming gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, also known as the "voice of swimming", will hold a South Carolina Masters Swimming clinic January 22 from 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m. at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center.  Swimmers must be at least 18 years old and registered as a U.S. Master Swimmer. A one day U.S. Master Swimmer registration may be purchased for $12. The clinic is intended for swimmers of all abilities."

2.  Check out "The Morning Swim Show, Jan. 11, 2011: Charlotte Davis Makes Successful Transition from Synchronized Swimmer to Masters Swimmer…Charlotte Davis has taken an interesting path to becoming a Masters swimming world record holder, and on today's edition of The Morning Swim Show, she talks about how her years in synchronized swimming helped her make a successful transition."

3.  Speaking of Masters Swimming check out the New England Masters Newsletter (via google docs) online.  The newsletter has some interesting swimming articles including "Dragging Around Half a Bowling Ball: A Scientific Approach to Holiday Weight Gain."

4.  Swimming Is Back!  USA Swimming posts "GRAND PRIX SERIES RESUMES THIS WEEK IN AUSTIN."

5.  Swim Network looks at "Ryan Lochte's Work with Muscular Dystrophy."

 6.  It's actually a sad story from Swimming World as "USA Swimming's Swimnetwork.com to Merge Platform and Content Into USASwimming.org…The blogging elements on Swimnetwork.com will be de-emphasized. Webcasts and events will take on a greater focus for the organization. The brand Swimnetwork will no longer be used, but USA Swimming will keep the domain to re-direct traffic.  The move will generate an estimated savings of approximately $170,000 in 2011 and $240,000 in 2012, according to USA Swimming."  I'm going to miss Mike and posts and webisodes from the world of swimming and hope Mike starts a blog of his own about swimming.  Swim Network was the official voice of USA Swimming but at the same time promoted aquatics across various other organizations including USMS Swimming.  By consolidating these two web properties USA Swimming can build on the USA Swimming "brand".  Also by consolidating USA Swimming can use the money savings for lawyers for the pedo-coach lawsuits.  It's just a shame that another voice in swimming is going down the gutter. (post update with usaswimming.org's new pedobear-coach logo)

7.  The Masters Swim Blog goes tv watching with the documentary "Men Who Swim".  The documentary aired this past weekend on PBS.  Check out PBS Online for clips and future airtimes.

8.  Let's all sing along and sing the Kast-a-way blog a Happy 2 Year Blog Birthday!

9.  Swimming World Magazine reports that "24 Hour Fitness and USA Water Polo Announce Partnership…24 Hour Fitness will provide memberships to the USA Water Polo Men's and Women's Senior National Teams to support their training for the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China, while also offering discounted memberships to USA Water Polo members."

10.  The Science of Sport chimes in on" Power balance, placebo and perceptions…'It works, who cares why?' vs 'The fraud of Power Balance bracelets'"  This weekend at the Walt Disney World Marathon the Power Balance folks had a booth and I did see lots of people checking them out.  Maybe next year I'll come up with a crazy fake product and have my own booth.  Maybe, 17thman Power Water which will be basically tap water from my water hose out back.

The Biggest Loser Recap - May 4th Makeovers & Jacob's Ladder

After swimming tonight I went on a little hike thinking that my TWC DVR would record the beginning of The Biggest Loser.  When I got home at 8:40 the first thing I did was turn the tv on.  I was crushed to find out I missed the first 40 minutes that didn't record, the MAKEOVER MINUTES!  When I got the DVR back recording I was a bit confused at first wondering who was who.  Damn.  Since I can't recap that part of the episode here is a link at Stylist.com that talked to Jonathan Antin who did The Biggest Loser Makeovers.  Jonathan Antin…hmm…maybe missing the makeovers was a blessing.  I was able to catch about 30 seconds of Ashanti singing to The Biggest Loser contestants all made over.  Really Wanted talks to Ashanti about singing on BL9.

I joined the show right before the start of this week's challenge.  Jacob's Ladder.  Not only Jacob's Ladder on it's own the machines were lifted 10 feet over a pool.  You stop on these machines and bam right into the pool.  Before I started I was prepared to   laugh.  I know it's mean but watching people fall into water can be funny!  Actually each time someone did fall I yelled "Ohhh...that hurt".  

Ashley was the first to fall.  Which didn't surprise me as minutes before she called the challenge "Jacob's Ladder to HELL!"  I also feel that she always gives up at the challenges and the last chance workouts.  I so keep thinking every week she will be sent home.  By being the first person to fall in she received a 1 pound disadvantage.  At the end it was Koli vs Daris.  After 2 hours Daris just gave up and Koli won the challenge and a 1 pound advantage.  While the   challenge was playing everyone on twitter was talking about how they wanted a Jacobs Ladder (pictured in this post.)  One twitter person found a machine online for $3,399.  I no longer want one at that price.  I need to check my local 24 Hour Fitness and see if they have any to use.

Then it was time for The Last Chance Workout.  Bob pulled Daris aside to give him a pep talk.  Bob pointed out a sign in the gym that was a quote from Bob "Stand Up and finish what you started".  Gotta love that quote. ALso I got to say that I don't like Daris' new hair doo.  He looks like a mushroom head! Ashley was having issues with the treadmill.  Good god how has she stayed on so long this season?  

The weigh in.  Koli got on the scale first and kicked some ass.  Then Sam who only lost 2 pounds.  But hey he looks HOT!  Next up was Ashley who lost 10 pounds.  DOH!  So wanted her to watch her say good bye.  Everyone had a great week.  The two below the yellow line turned out to be Sam and Michael.  Of course it being a game and everyone is jockeying to win so Sam was sent home.  I was upset until I watched the video of Sam being home.  Not just home but home with former The Biggest Loser contestant Stephanie.  Awe!  As Sam said "I come home to my at-home prize every day."

Another great week in season 9 of The Biggest Loser!

The Biggest Loser - Weekly Recap #BL9 Sorta The Bob Edition

Season 9 is almost over.  I don't know about you but every season I start out thinking that I don't really have a favorite.  Then out of no where someone gets sent home and I realized how much I miss them.  This season has been one of the rockiest seasons in some time.  I gotta admit after the second episode I was almost bored with everyone but that didn't last.  Soon I had my favorites and those I wanted to be sent home. Anyways here is some The Biggest Loser news...

1.  Win Bob Harpers ticket to The Biggest Loser FINAL!  Bob is giving away a trip for   two to Los Angeles AND two of his personal tickets to the live Biggest Loser finale!  Go to mytrainerbob.com for more info!

2.  As you know 24 Hour Fitness is key to The Biggest Loser so for a limited time you can "Get Your Free 14 Day Pass" to 24 Hour Fitness.  Click this LINK for more info and to sign up! 

3.  Want to look like one of The Biggest Losers?  The Huffington Post reports that "'Biggest Loser' Clothing Collection To Hit Stores In September".  According to the article "The 27-piece collection includes compression tops, shirts, shorts, pants and jackets in brightly colored performance fabrics. Jackets are cut longer to cover bottoms and waistbands on shorts are cut higher to hold in the stomach. There are plentiful zippers and pockets for iPods and keys.  Sized from S to 5XL, pieces will cost between $39 and $59. The garments should be ready for September, when the new season airs."  All I can say is I am ordering the full line all in PINK!

4.  Check out the Today Show website for last weeks recap.  And check out today's Today show for O'Neal.  He will be on!  It's early enough for you to set your dvr's!  QUICK!

 5.  Awe!  Bob has a new love in his life.  Meet his new dog Carl! foto from mytrainerbob.com

6.  Never heard of this site till now but BuddyTV has a recap with a slideshow from last week.  I miss O'Neal already!

7.  Need more play by play action.  Check our the Baltimore Sun's reality check.

8.  The seattlepi looks into "Why The Biggest Loser's O'Neal Has Such a Strong Bond with Daughter Sunshine".

9.  tv.com looks at the alliances and says "time to break up the alliances".  Good luck.  Although last week was a start.

10.  Okay so Earth Day or Month is over!  But Bob talks about working out with energy star in order to save our earth.  Check the video out at mytrainerbob.com.

The Biggest Loser Goes Big In Texas

Normally I wait till next Tuesday to talk about The Biggest Loser but tonights episode was this seasons best so far.  The first 30 minutes of the show was shot in Texas. Why Texas?  Texas is home to five of the ten fattest cities in America.  So the contestants were sent to Texas to promote getting fit and hit the local airwaves to talk up a 5K around The Cotton Bowl.  This is when the waterworks started to turn on.  While walking and some running of local Texas folks during the 5K they opened up to tell life struggles with obesity.  It was a tear jerker.  If that wasn't enough to make you cry Jillian then visited a local high school to deliver a pep talk about getting fit.  During a Q&A period a young teenage girl stood up to talk about her own obesity issues.  This poor girl is probably teased every day by her classmates and here she is standing up before them telling her story in tears.  And that was only the first hour of the show. 

Yeah the show was filled with the usual lamest attempts at slipping in advertising.  Umm..really Walgreen's sells healthy snacks?  But Bob did drop in on a local 24 Hour Fitness and held a boot camp style class and some of the 5K Contestants won passes to 24 Hour Fitness.  I can over look the 24 Hour Fitness cross promotional tools cuz' it's about Fitness and Working Out.  But Walgreens?  

The last hour of the show was mostly the weigh in.  This week outside in 34 degree weather.  Brrr....damn thats cold.  I won't say who went home but I cried some more.  But watching the video of the contestant who was sent home made it easier.  It made the episode just more inspiring.  As Comic Book Guy would say "BEST EPISODE EVER!"

Don't take my word for it here is what others have to say...

Entertainment Weekly has a great play by play recap of the entire episode. 

The Houston Chronicle chimes in with some quotes about how fat Texas really is.  Oh and for those you care about Health Care Reform in regards to Obesity "It costs you Texans $10 billion annually to treat obesity related health issues."  

also the examiner.com has a short recap of the episode.

Next week is the make over show.  That is always a fun episode to watch!  

Women's Health - Jillian Michaels

I love The Biggest Loser.  I watch the show, follow all the gossip blogs about the show and play the video game on Wii. I even attended The Biggest Loser Boot Camp Class at my local 24 Hour Fitness.  So of course when I see Jillian Michaels on the cover of Women's Health I buy a copy.  Now I'm not going to spoil anything so go and buy the magazine but till then enjoy this behind the scenes of the photo shoot...

Skinny Scooper's Talk Up The Body Bugg

CW3's Good Day Sacramento talk to Skinny Scoopers and a few fitness gadgets.  They talk about the Body Bugg which you can get over at 24 Hour Fitness.  The contestants on The Biggest Loser wear these!  They work!  

A few weeks ago I had a chance to talk to the folks at 24 Hour Fitness about the BodyBugg and hopefully will post about it soon,  

Limited Time 24 Hour Fitness Hosts Biggest Loser Boot Camps!

Every week I talk about The Biggest Loser and how addicted I am to the show.  Well coming up will be my and everyone's chance to attend The Biggest Loser Boot Camp at 24 Hour Fitness.  Here is some info:

When is the next Biggest Loser Boot Camp?  

Saturday, April 10 is the next official Biggest Loser Boot Camp. Some clubs have additional Boot Camp classes on an ongoing basis. Check with your local club for 

their schedule.

What are the benefits of boot camp-style workouts?

24 Hour Fitness Boot Camp classes combine intervals of cardio drills and muscle conditioning exercises to provide you with the ultimate circuit workout. You can burn hundreds of calories in a variety of classes that may use jump ropes, boxing drills, free weights, and even a little healthy competition. Expect the unexpected in these full-body Boot Camp classes, which are packed with lots of variety and tons of fun.

see 24hourfitness.com for more information