August 26 2008 by admin.

Getting your loved ones, your friends and family members, or your coworkers to join you in losing weight or getting stronger can seem like a waste of time. Changing habits, learning new things and becoming proactive about their health are some of the toughest things for people to do. More and more research, however, is reinforcing the many and varied benefits good health has on everyone.

In an article titled, “How Much Does Physical Inactivity Cost You?,” Entrepreneur.com provides a link to East Carolina University’s Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator. ECU combined research on medical costs, workers’ productivity and workers’ compensation to create this tool useful for quantifying the benefits of a healthy team or community. The calculator computes dollar amounts representing the total costs to a business or community, the per-person cost, medical care, workers comp and lost productivity costs, and the potential savings if only 5% of the group became more active!

Using Census.gov Factfinder data for the Blue Bell area, this is what the numbers look like:

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What could your community do with $2.6 million? The state of Pennsylvania could save $942 million per year- imagine the programs that could benefit from that kind of money! Corporations can run this calculator too- partnering with your local IM=X Pilates Studio franchise for special group rates can be an inexpensive way to cut down on healthcare costs among employees. Don’t underestimate the importance of team building in small-group exercise classes, either- but that’s a topic for another time.

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May 16 2008 by admin.

Here at the IM=X Pilates Studio in Blue Bell, we see a LOT of really wonderful, dedicated clients week-in and week-out. We know who to expect in certain classes, and if a few go by without them, their classmates start pressing us for reasons!

At the same time, we have just as many motivated, hopeful clients who are ready to change their body, ready to look good for the summer, and ready to simply feel better in their own skin, but they haven’t quite made the time commitment yet. They’re not quite ready to change their habits and be responsible for their workouts and results.

In an article by author Bill Phillips (Body for Life, Eating for Life),  he lists 7 Ways to Find Time for Fitness. These ideas are great for newbies, as well as workout veterans who need some inspiration to get going again.

#1. Watch Less TV- Lost and Idol are frequent discussion topics during stretches. And TV time is great for relaxing! But think about it this way: “The average American spends 30 hours a week watching TV (and people say they can’t even find 4 hours a week to exercise!).”

#2. Plan Ahead- Bill talks about making lists the night before and checking off your accomplishments. I take this a step futher by spending 10 minutes packing a lunch bag so I don’t just grab anything edible during the busy day, and laying out my gear so that getting up and going for a morning run takes no morning prep time at all. Pants, top, jacket, socks and shoes, headband, flashlight since it’s usually dark out still- knowing I took the time to get it ready helps me get up and use it, and keeps me from running up and down the stairs looking for things I lost and things I forgot, wasting time and starting my day annoyed at myself!

#3.  Exercise Regularly- Bill says, “Not only does exercise help give you more energy, it has also been scientifically proven to improve the quality of sleep…Do not, under any circumstances, skip workouts in an effort to save time. This “quasi solution” will backfire,” and many people’s experience will agree. Every success story I have read includes a description of that magnate, mogul or tycoon’s daily excercise routine.

#4. Consume a Nutritious Diet- You are what you eat! Do some research, consult an expert, and be firm in the grocery store.

#5. Eliminate Mindless Phone Chitchat- How much time do you spend on the phone each day? Now take a look at your minutes counter and see if your guess was accurate! Try to multitask while you talk- for example, you could exercise!

#6. Have a Sense of Urgency- Have a good reason to do something, and to do it quickly and efficiently. You’ll be able to get more done.

#7. Don’t Get Sick- Like you have a choice, right? But Bill makes a good point: “if you won’t make the time to be well, you’ll be forced to make the time to be sick!” How often has it happened that you run yourself ragged only to have some illness come on right at an important time- think weddings, graduations, vacations…  A few hours a week exercising and a few extra minutes to make healthy choices are a better use of your time than a few days in bed, or acting like the walking dead, not to mention the havoc a simple cold can wreak on a family!

Read the whole article here: http://www.successmagazine.com/7-Ways-to-Find-Time-for-Fitness/PARAMS/article/211/channel/221

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