Let's Be Real About Weight Loss

Great blog by Huffington Post contributor Andrew Dixon: "Seduced by the Illusion: The Truth About Transformation Photos" cautioning against accepting the slick, snake-oil claims so predominant in anecdotal marketing about quick weight loss programs and strategies. The above photos were taken by Dixon in a single day, illustrating how much can be affected by your pose, your lighting and other tricks to give the illusion of magical transformation. As Dixon cautions, live a healthy lifestyle and be happy with yourself. Good words to live by.

For the rest of the blog, see here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-dixon/weight-loss-secrets_b_3643898.html

Don't Skip Breakfast

Start your day with a healthy breakfast - you'll be more productive, happier and live a lot longer.

Do you skip breakfast? You might want to consider new research linking missed morning meals with increased risk of heart attacks.

New research published by Eric Rimm, Associate Professor of Epidemiology & Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health in the journal Circulation, finds that men who routinely skipped breakfast had a 27 percent higher risk of having a heart attack or dying from coronary heart disease compared to men who ate breakfast.

Worse yet, those who tended to eat late at night were 55% more likely to die than those who did not.

In an interview posted on NPR by Allison Aubrey, (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/07/23/204567839/SKIPPING-BREAKFAST-IS-RISKY Rimm pointed out that by simply changing what time of day you eat, you can have a huge positive effect on your risk of heart attack and a host of other metabolic issues: “It’s such a simple lifestyle change that people can make. This is a cheap one and should be a part of any primary care provider’s message to a patient.”

“Don’t skip breakfast,” concludes study co-author Leah Cahill, a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health.

The long-term, 16-year study included nearly 27,000 men.

Previous studies dating back to a ground-breaking Alameda County study back in the 1960 have linked missing breakfast to excess weight, dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance, and diabetes.

Huffington Post has a “Quick Trick – Snack Stack” plan that is gluten free, healthy, nutritious and takes care of busy people who skip breakfast because they are out of time – check it out: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/09/gluten-free-breakfast-grain-free_n_3392053.html

Monterey Sports Center on the Fourth of July Weekend

Monterey's Fourth of July Parade - July 4, 2013

Seaside's Parade of Champions with Olympian Nick Cunningham - July 7, 2013

Having a bit of fun with Skipper, Sparkle, Cheerleading Camp Director Rebecca Armbruster and some of the Monterey Sports Center cheerleaders.

Making Fitness Work for You

What makes fitness work for you? Do you like something invigorating like Yoga or Pilates? Do you like to dance and move with Zumba or Cardio Dance Party? Are you a fan of combining your workout with strength and cardio together? Does social media keep you going while you’re running on a treadmill or using a cross-trainer? Are you into a comprehensive weight room that is both fully furnished and easy to use, but has advanced enough equipment to really challenge you? Is swimming, triathlon training, water aerobics or anything having to do with a pool exciting?

Whatever motivates you to work out is the best fitness plan for you. And where can you find a huge number of class options, a large pool facility with therapeutic and athletic classes and program, a multiple room cardio, strength and flexibility training center with outstanding, new and challenging equipment, a three-court gymnasium with basketball, volleyball, badminton and table tennis available all day long and so many fitness options to choose from? Right here in Monterey – the Monterey Sports Center – built by the community to benefit the community.

Group exercise classes start as early as 5:45 in the morning and go all the way to 9:00 pm at night with more than 120 classes offered every week. Whether your into High Intensity Training, Kettlbell Workouts, Outdoor Bootcamps, Power Yoga, Restorative Yoga, RIPPED, Zumba, Pilates or any other trending fitness class – we have it. We are currently adding new equipment to enhance  the fitness experience in our cardio fitness and strength training centers. From internet and social media access to the latest trends in athletic training, the Sports Center has the equipment and the professional staff to make sure you are always motivated to work out.

Stop by, take a tour and sign up today at the most complete fitness facility on the Monterey Peninsula.

124 Fitness Classes Every Week - Working out Can Be Fun