Don’t miss our DECEMBER DEAL!
Get a 3 Month Membership for ONLY $250!
Valid for new members only. Must be 3 consecutive months. Deal ends Dec. 31, 2017!
GET IN TOUCH TO SIGN UP:
[contactform email=”[email protected]”]
The Holiday season is closing in, which means airplanes, long drives or perhaps even vacationing where the weather is warmer.
No matter where you’re going, you can’t escape the literally sugar-coated temptations that surround you at every rest stop and gas station. When you’re traveling, it’s easy to go overboard on the processed junk simply out of desperation.
Check out these tips to ward off unhealthy snacking, and to help you practice healthier habits!
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Rather than stopping at the gas station for food, head to the grocery store. The extra time it takes will be far worth it, especially since you won’t be left feeling bloated or tired like you would from candy or chips. Pick up carrots and hummus, nuts, fruit, or even a salad from the salad bar for a more nourishing option.
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Don’t ignore your hunger in the attempt to “save” your calories. You may be driving home to a big dinner, but if you don’t regulate your blood sugar during the drive, you’re far more likely to overeat when you finally do sit down to the table. Even an apple and a cheese stick mid-afternoon will help you enjoy your dinner without regret.
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Drink lots of water. Especially if you’re flying! It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday craziness and forget to drink, but water is crucial for a healthy lifestyle. Not only will it help prevent your skin from drying out on the dry airplanes, it wards of unnecessary hunger, and may even help prevent jet lag. So don’t forget your reusable water bottle!
Options for travel-friendly perishable foods:
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Vegetables like carrots and broccoli
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Hard boiled eggs (pre peeled!)
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Pre-cooked roasted sweet potatoes
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Meats like shrimp, chicken or beef pre-cut into strips
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Single serving packs of guacamole
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Slices of cheeses
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Pre-made salad (yes, you can get this through security with dressing on!)
Options for travel-friendly “no fridge” necessary foods:
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Bars like RXBAR, Larabars, or Square Bars
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Nuts and seeds (or pre-made trail mixes)
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Dried or freeze-dried fruit (dried mango or apple chips)
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Individual packets of almond butter or peanut butter
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Tunafish (in a pouch, not a can!)
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Fresh fruits like apples, bananas, avocados or oranges
No matter where you go this holiday season, bring along a few of your favorite healthy snacks. I promise, it’ll make the trip a lot easier!
Need some assistance with FREE WEIGHTS and FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT?
Watch these how-to videos if you are just starting out, OR if you are an experienced weightlifter hoping to correct or check your form!
Check out VIM’s Free Weights & Functional Movement Series – Each week we’ll post a video demonstrating a new move. Next up, DUMBBELL LATERAL RAISES!
In my opinion, I think potatoes get an unfairly bad rep.
I love potatoes! In fact, I eat a sweet potato (or two) nearly every day.
But this starchy vegetable is frequently assumed to be fattening.
It is true that a diet full of french fried and mashed potatoes every day is not going to help with your health goals. However, baked or roasted potatoes may actually help you become healthier.
Aid in Weight Loss
Chilled, cooked potato is packed with resistant starch, a fibrous substance that could help you lose weight.
Fight disease
Within 100 different potato varieties, there are over 60 different vitamins and phytochemicals. Some of these are flavonoids, which are credited with improving heart health and protecting against lung and prostate cancers. Other nutrients may even boost immunity.
Help maintain healthy blood pressure
Potatoes are packed with kukoamines, plant chemicals that help lower blood pressure. In addition, one medium baked potato (including the skin) provides 20% of your daily potassium, a known hypertension fighter.
So why fear potatoes?
Especially when there are so many good recipes to make! Fun fact: there are almost 4,000 different potato varieties! Imagine all the tasty (and nutritious!) meals you could make with those. Here are a few just to get your started!
Need some assistance with FREE WEIGHTS and FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT?
Watch these how-to videos if you are just starting out, OR if you are an experienced weightlifter hoping to correct or check your form!
Check out VIM’s Free Weights & Functional Movement Series – Each week we’ll post a video demonstrating a new move. Next up, INCLINE DUMBBELL ROWS!
Under VIM’s TRAINER SPOTLIGHT for December: RYAN!
[slideshow gallery=”2905,2970″ width=”402″ align=”left”]Read on to get to know him:
Athletics have always been a major part of Ryan’s life. Whether running track or playing basketball during his middle school days, or on the soccer and wrestling teams during high school and college, Ryan learned early on that consistency is key and mind has to be matter in order to see success.
Practice off the field was important too as an all-season athlete, and Ryan began lifting weights early on as part of his regimen. But like when any athlete pushes their body past its comfort level, Ryan sustained various injuries over time, including a broken humerus, surgery on his meniscus and multiple stress fractures. His injuries definitely served as short-term setbacks, but Ryan didn’t let anything stop him from getting back to working out. He continued to weight train smartly during his time off, which in fact helped him recover more quickly, stave off any repetitive injuries and also push him to explore new modes and methods of working out and see fitness gains in areas he’d never realized before.
As an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer, Ryan today uses his past experiences coupled with his deep knowledge of fitness to design exercise programs that can help his clients make strides in their own exercise and athletic goals, all while keeping them as healthy and injury free as possible. He truly believes that there is always a new goal to reach and surpass in the workout arena and, by extension, in other areas of life.
Hobbies/Experience/Interests:
- High School/College Track: 200m, 400m and relays/Watch all things track and field when possible
- Soccer Interest/player since high school
- Love the Kettlebell
- Watch all Strong Man competitions possible
- Train all levels from young to older, perfect health/injury carrying individuals
- Have own injury back ground that I dealt with with (i.e. meniscus surgery on knee, broken arm/humerus surgery, stress fractures, etc.)
- Began Training in 2006
[button link=”https://www.smartwaiver.com/w/52e3f4c984538/web/” text=”TRAIN WITH RYAN!” color=”green” size=”large” fullwidth=”true”]
Need some assistance with FREE WEIGHTS and FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT?
Watch these how-to videos if you are just starting out, OR if you are an experienced weightlifter hoping to correct or check your form!
Check out VIM’s Free Weights & Functional Movement Series – Each week we’ll post a video demonstrating a new move. Next up, BARBELL SKULL CRUSHERS!
Don’t miss out on this SWEET deal!
Take advantage of our November Promo to get:
- 12 Month Membership for ONLY $69/month
- First Month FREE & Includes 1 Month of UNLIMITED Team Training
- Total Savings of $198
One time $29 Initiation Fee & $59 Facilities Fee charged 60 days after sign up.
OFFER ENDS NOVEMBER 30TH!
Want in? Shoot us an email!
[contactform email=”[email protected]”]
Wishing our members and staff and very Happy Thanksgiving!
Our holiday week schedule is as follows:
University Park
Wednesday, November 22 8am-4pm
Thursday, November 23 CLOSED
Friday, November 24 9am-7pm
Central Square
Wednesday, November 22 6am-8am
Thursday, November 23 8am-2pm
Friday, November 24 8am-8pm
We’re less than a week away from that turkey dinner, which means it’s time to stock up on all the food!
Luckily Star Market (located right down the street from VIM) has all the necessities on sale. Whether it’s just you or your entire family on Thursday, here’s your buying guide to ensure your day of thanks leaves your wallet saying thanks, too. Here’s to an affordable Thanksgiving!
Fruit and Vegetables:
Peeled Butternut Squash- 99¢ a pound
Sweet Potatoes- 45¢ a pound
Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce- 3 for $5
Birds Eye Bagged or Green Giant Boxed Frozen Vegetables- buy 1 get 2 free
Meat:
Fresh Grade A Turkeys- 88¢ a pound
Frozen Turkeys- 39¢ a pound
Pepperidge Farm Stuffing- 2 for $5
Dessert:
8-inch apple or pumpkin pie- $3.99
Friendly’s Ice Cream- $1.99
Reddi Wip Whipped Cream- 2 for $5
Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark Bars- 2 for $5
Martinelli’s Cider- 2 for $5
If you enjoy cooking or baking, there is also canned pumpkin, pie crusts, fresh vegetables, cranberries, baking supplies and paper goods on sale as well! If you refuse to even touch the stove, pick up a couple platters of fresh cut vegetables or fruit. You can throw them in a pot to cook, or leave out a vegetable crudite tray. I’m sure your guests will be thankful for a lighter option in the array of dense and indulgent!
Despite all the food surrounding the holiday season, remember that this time of year is meant for love and appreciation. Enjoy your time with loved ones, and give yourself a break, too!
