Fitness PR Division

In Honor of the U.S. Open: Tennis Fitness Tips

2008-08-26T21:10:30Z

With the U.S. Open underway this week, I thought it would be an appropriate time to discover the benefits of a tennis-based workout. I searched the web for some tips on incorporating this fun, fast-paced sport into your fitness routine so you can rock Federer calves, Williams biceps, and Nadal Abs.

Rafael Nadal (the bottom most athlete above), the world's current number one tennis male, is every woman's dream man: talented, muscular, handsome, muscular, sexy...did I say muscular? It's true, Nadal's muscles are a prototype for every woman's fantasy and every man's physical ideal. Rory Cordial, performance coach for professional tennis players and physical therapist, formulated some off-court moves for Men's Fitness Magazine to either improve your tennis game or simply get your body in tip top tennis shape.

And as for us females, wouldn't we all like to have the physique of Miss Maria Sharapova? Check out this clip to see a on court great tennis workout that will get you closer to the well defined limbs of the tennis star beauty.

If you aren't a tennis player then don't fret. You needn't hit the courts or even the gym to get your upper body in tennis shape. My personal experience with tennis only comes via Nintendo Wii and let me tell you- I've gotten rather sore in the aftermath of a long Wii tennis session. Who would have ever thought I'd work muscles I never knew I had by whacking a virtual tennis ball around my living room?

So now you have tennis workout options in the gym, on the court, and (thanks to modern technology) in your living room. Since going to U.S. open is a stretch for me, (you know it's the hottest ticket in town when Anna Wintour actually leaves her perch at Vogue to attend) I am going to host a U.S. open party instead. I'll serve the official cocktail the Honey Duece, watch the matches, and challenge my guests to a Wii Tennis Tournament. I encourage you to find some way of incorporating this age old sport into your lives whether it be for fitness or fun.

Beijing Olympics Behind-the-Scenes Coverage: Boxing USA vs. Bulgaria

2008-08-26T10:19:27Z

What do you get when you put boxers from USA and Bulgaria in the ring together? One heck of a fight.

In this clip filmed behind the scenes by LA Boxing, Javier Molina, the 2007 National Champion in boxing, is taking on one of Bulgaria’s toughest. In the end, Bulgaria won this match, but Molina put up a really great fight. Check out this clip of the two going head to head.

Beijing Olympics Behind-the-Scenes Coverage: Beach Volleyball Match

2008-08-25T09:58:37Z

Guest Post from Julie Freeman:

When it comes to working out, I hate going to the gym because I don’t stay engaged during my workout. That’s one of the reasons I began working out at LA Boxing. There’s always something new to try, I’m constantly being challenged and I’m never bored.

When I’m not boxing though, I usually like to hit the hiking trail or go to the park with some friends. Now that I’m back from the Beijing Olympics though, I’m inspired to start playing beach volleyball. I can’t say that I’m any good at it, but after watching the Chinese women’s team, I’m eager to learn.

Check out one of my behind-the-scenes clips from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This one features a few clips cut together of the men’s and women’s games.

Also be sure to check out our previous post with behind the scenes video from the Olympics.

Pierce Mattie PR's Haute List of Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle Brands

2008-08-22T22:41:11Z

We have always prided ourself for staying ahead of the trends and having the foresight to know who is on track for becoming a haute property. We've comprised a Haute List that contains brands that are haute now as well as brands you should be keeping your eye on.

Indie Fashion & Beauty Magazines:
1. Visionaire
2. Metro.Pop
3. VMAN

Foreign Beauty & Fashion Magazines:
1. Company (UK)
2. Jessica (Hong Kong)
3. Trendi (Finland)

TV Shows:
1. 90210
2. Kath & Kim
3. Gossip Girl

Women’s Apparel:
1. Topshop
2. Valentino under Alessandra Fachinetti
3. Rodarte

Men’s Apparel:
1. Pastelle
2. RMC Martin Ksohoh
3. ANAMA

Jewelry Brands:
1. John Hardy
2. Alexis Bittar
3. Trollbeads

Handbag Lines:
1. Rebecca Minkoff
2. Foley+Corinna
3. Timi & Leslie

Cosmetic Lines:
1. e.l.f.
2. Colorescience
3. Classified Cosmetics

]]> Skin Care:
1. Korner
2. Lavera
3. Kaeline Argatherapie

Hair Care:
1. Re:nu by Joico
2. bain de terre
3. Intelligent Nutrients

Dermal Fillers:
1. Restylane
2. Evolence
3. Elevess

Nail Brands:
1. Butter LONDON
2. Dr. Remedy Nails
3. Borghese Nail Care

Fitness:
1. Mixed Martial Arts
2. Triathlon Training
3. Boxing

Cocktails:
1. Bourbon
2. Martinis (Lychese, Pomegranate, Apple, etc.)
3. Mojito

Vacation Destinations:
1. Panama
2. Costa Rica
3. “Staycations” (finding hot spots close to home)

Social Media Sites on the Rise:
1. LinkedIn
2. Ning
3. Ustream

NFL Fitness Tips from Jets Safety, James Ihedigbo

2008-08-22T01:24:18Z

Numbered are the weekends of barbeques and pool parties with summer quickly coming to an end. Even though hot dogs and hamburgers will be put to bed until next summer, partying certainly doesn’t end with the warm weather. It’s called football season—and people gather to watch the games on their HD Plasmas nearly every weekend. Our football favorites have been hard at work on the off-season to make sure you get your Direct TV NFL Ticket’s worth.

I had the opportunity to sit down with James Ihedigbo, safety of the New York Jets, to talk about just what kind of work he's been doing to get ready for this season and what we as non-athletes can take from his regiment to be more physically fit. Obviously none of us are aspiring to have biceps the size of Ihedigo, but we can learn a thing or two from someone whose job it is to exercise and play a sport demanding the greatest in agility and strength. And if you are after the physique of an NFL player, good luck. His mammoth muscles are from some extremely hard work.

The super talented football player comes out of UMass and is in his second year playing in the NFL. James lives by the motto, "To whom much is given, much is expected.” He has never let natural talent stop him from working as hard as humanly possible. He was injured in training camp last summer and was out the remainder of the season so this year is big. That's where the hard work comes into play. Check out James in action in a typical off-season work out:

Now, I'm sure you won't be running to the nearest open field with a 75lb medicine ball and hoisting it over your head, backwards I might add, as James so effortlessly displayed above. So here are some tips from pro-athlete to Joe and Jane Average:

]]> 1. Cardio, Cardio, Cardio: He advises 30 minutes of cardio at least 3 times a week, this will even pump up your energy all week long.

2. Everyday Core Strengthening: Work on positions that engage your core strength like holding planks or as he refers to them as bridges. James adds yoga to his training often to keep the mind and body strong.

3. Medicine Ball: if you aren't careful, free weights and circuit training can be an inefficient and injury prone way to build overall strength. Using a medicine ball employs natural movement and therefore builds muscles evenly with less chance of improper form. Plus it's fun to do medicine ball excercises with a partner to keep you motivated.

4. A Heathy Diet: Ihedigbo’s fitness success also comes from smart choices in his diet. He grabs a piece of fruit instead of something sweet and loads up on grilled chicken and salad whenever he can.

When I asked James what keeps him motivated in the gym he modestly responded, "I want to be the best, I'm my own worst critic." We might not be striving towards the same goals of physical perfection as he is but his hard work and relentless attitude can be greatly appreciated and can be translated to fit into our own fitness goals.

Fitness PR: 24 Hour Fitness

2008-08-19T04:37:26Z

A Master Class in PR Partnerships at 24 Hour Fitness

California based chain, 24 Hour Fitness, has choosen celebrity endorsed centers as part of their Fitness Public Relations strategy to combat forecasted consumer frugality. Celebrity endorsements might not be a new form of PR, but the cross-promotional tactic has been enjoying frequent use across many industries recently. High-profile personalities have been linking themselves with clothing collections, perfumes, restaurants, television shows, record labels--it seems no single product/service/idea cannot avoid being branded with a well-known person including fitness centers.

Jeter24 is the latest of 24 Hour Fitness owned gyms to open that feature a superstar affiliation. Derek Jeter was chosen to not only be the ambassador of the New York City centers, but also to be closely involed with the design of the gym. Jeter joins the ranks of Andre Agassi, Lance Armstong, Jackie Chan, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, and Shaquille O' Neil as "24" owners. The chain chose these athletes in accordance with their shared attitude towards physical activity.

24 Hour Fitness has attributed much of their success to endorsement. Their first major one was with the United States Olympic team. The success of this conventional partnership was expected, but left 24 Hour Fitness wondering what other organizations and personalities they could link up with to further elevate their image.

They worked with NBC to launch the reality show, "The Biggest Loser." In exchange for designing the gym that would center the weight loss activities of contestants on the show, 24 Hour Fitness reaped the brand identity benefits of a partnership made in heaven. The fitness chain discovered an edge that would eventually propel them past their competitors (they are now the largest gym in the world in terms of membership).

Judging by 24 Hour Fitness' success, celebrity endorsement is a solid PR strategy. The first Jeter24 location in New York City had 700 members before it even opened it's doors. What is it about an athlete designing a center that makes it more superior than the plethora of choices a Manhattanite has on their side? Do we think we will achieve the determination of Armstrong or the physical perfection of Jeter by working out in their respective centers?

If we see that a luxury fitness center chain is responsible for designing a gym that television contestants use, do we feel we will share their results if we attend that same gym chain?

Whatever the attraction is, 24 Hour Fitness can be an example of successful PR partnerships.

A Golden Day – An Inside Look at the Beijing Olympics

2008-08-13T12:11:04Z

I have a few things to be excited about today. For starters, I dropped another 2 pounds of body fat by working out at LA Boxing, the largest Boxing, Kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts Training Organization in the world. They are also leading the fitness industry with The LA Boxing Workout™: the very best, most authentic and effective boxing training possible. It’s an awesome workout and I’m banking on seeing a six pack shortly.

Second, Michael Phelps is officially the best Olympian athlete in history. I must admit that I got a little choked up when he won his fifth gold medal and broke his fifth world record. If nothing else, it is one thing that makes me proud to be an American.

Third, I just received a video feed from LA Boxing’s Beijing correspondent. She’s there shooting footage to give us a behind-the-scenes look at the summer games. Since I’m not fortunate enough to be there myself, it’s the next best thing to watching the games on television. I also appreciate the documentary feel I get from watching the raw footage. You can check it out too by clicking on the link below. Also, make sure to check out LA Boxing’s YouTube page daily for new feeds. You can find them at http://www.youtube.com/user/LABoxingWorkout, or visit their main website at www.LABoxing.com to find a gym in your area.

Fitness Goals: Olympic Athlete Inspiration

2008-08-04T17:52:45Z

Inspiration in Olympic Proportions

I recently stumbled across my new television obsession. In preparation for the Olympics, there is a channel fully dedicated to background Olympic information.

Just when I thought I was over all the pre-Olympic publicity I found the Bejing Olympics channel (channel 99 on Verizon Fios programming). Biographical pieces on Michael Phelps combined with "How to: Pole Vault" make up a repeating reel that is shown 24/7 leading up to the Olympics. The stories are just as much sentimental as they are informational and I couldn't get enough.

I felt slightly mocked when hearing about the physical dedication it takes to be an Olympic athlete. My lack of motivation to get to the gym for an hour everyday seems so pathetic when compared to the several hours a day the typical Olympic athlete trains. While I let a little laziness get in the way of a gym outing, the world record-holding swimmer, Natalie Coughlin, hits the pool 7 days a week for a 5 hour long workout even if the outside temperature is lower than the pool temperature.

So the next time you feel like excusing yourself from the gym for trivial reasons, think about those athletes who dedicate their entire lives to physical perfection. Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson has determination above and beyond her tiny 4’9’’, 90 lb frame and her young age (just 15 years old). The reigning world champion makes her Olympic debut this Friday and disclosed to the New York Times today that she writes poems to escape from the pressures of her demanding life. One poem titled Champion keeps her so motivated she painted it on her headboard,

“You fear the loss and pain of defeat;

But still are able to stand on two feet;

You crumble and cry as much as you want;

But nothing can keep you away from the hunt.

This is what you’ve been working for.”

Let these be words of inspiration to all of you not only in your fitness endeavors, but any challenge you face. Forget Batman, Hancock and the Incredible Hulk, the super humans of the Olympics should be hailed as the real superheroes of this summer.

To follow the Olympics blog-style, check out the following sites:

Beijing Olympics Blog

New York Times "Rings" Blog

ImageThief: From a PR professional's POV

Exercise Trends: Incorporating Dance into your Workout

2008-07-28T14:36:07Z

So You Think You Can Have a Dancer's Body?

Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of the hot dance show So You Think You Can Dance (“SYTYCD”), said it best this week, "The guys on this show all look like they are out of the movie 300,” pointing out that the dance moves aren’t the only sexy thing on the show. Between SYTYCD, Dancing with the Stars, America’s Best Dance Crew, Dancelife (and not to mention the new Chris Brown dance competition series announced this week) there has never been a time where dance has been more widely popular.

Luckily you don't have to dance the countless hours the contestants of these shows do to start to see some dancer-like features. There are plenty of fitness options you can take advantage of in order to achieve the leaner and longer physique most dancers have. For you gym-goers there are a bunch of dance fitness group classes, and for those of you who choose your home as your gym of choice there are DVDs to watch and moves to try.

As a former dancer myself, I am more than happy with the lasting results that 18 years of dance training has proved for me, so I have always incorporated a dance-focused fitness regimen. Below, I took the guesswork out for you and offer my favorite dance-themed fitness tips:

]]> The 5, 6 pack, 7, 8 Workout Plans

DVD Watcher: SYTYCD’s Mary Murphy endorses the DVD workout, Core Rhythms, which incorporates ball room dance movements into a cardio vascular workout routine that will get your hips swaying and your heart pumping. Since all dance movement involves a strong core, this DVD will help you melt away your mid section.

Group Class Goer: Depending on where you live, there are many different dance related group classes out there to choose from. The most talked about is the L.A. originated and celebrity sworn S Factor classes. Best known as the original pole dancing workout , owner Sheila Kelly decided to take the physically demanding moves from the gentlemen’s club to the gym. News of results and praise spread across the nation and many pole dancing spin offs have popped up at local gyms. The S Factor also expanded and went bi-coastal with a newly opened New York City space.

Routine Amendments: If 60 minutes of dance focused workouts doesn’t sound appealing to you or you want to mix the benefits of dance movement with your already existing work out, there are a few simple amendments you can make. Pilates is a prime example of movements derived from dance, Ballet in this case, that are used to elongate and strengthen your muscles. There are also a lot of really fun hip hop movements that can help you with defining your upper body while showing you some really great moves.

All forms of “dancercise” are designed with fun in mind. The workouts are always choreographed to the music so that you are forgetting the work in your work out. You might even feel better prepared for your next visit to the dance floor. Now, the next time you are watching your favorite dance show you don’t have to be so jealous of the washboard stomach or the long lean legs. Scratch that, you will still be jealous, but at least it won’t seem so unattainable.

Need Weight Loss Inspiration? Mark Salinas is Your Guy

2008-07-18T10:33:49Z

Getting motivated to lose weight is the easy part but remaining inspired to stay the course is tough. We're inundated with opportunities to go on a diet vs. a lifestyle change, try this fad weight loss plan or this fad workout and it's no wonder most of us fail. Two and half weeks ago I began working out everyday, something I've never done before. I know that in order to keep myself mentally motivated I needed to find a source of inspiration when that little voice fills me with doubt that I can't meet my weight loss goal. Then, out of the blue, Mark Salinas began following me on Twitter and I became inspired.

Mark Salinas Before & After

Mark's story is one you may be familiar with, as he at one time was at a healthy weight, but ate whatever he wanted and as time went on, his weight increased. He kept putting off exercise and making excuses until one day he just made the commitment to tackle a healthy lifestyle head on and joined Lifetime Fitness. Mark weighed in at 250 lbs but now, a year after starting his fitness quest, he is a healthy and trim 190 lbs. Wanting to know more about his success, I asked him a few questions...

]]> Shannon: What types of weight loss products/activities have you tried in the past?

Mark Salinas: I have tried Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, Jenny Craig and many other diets. No GO!

Shannon: What prompted you to get that gym membership and make a commitment to health & fitness?

Mark: My children and my family. I want to enjoy my time with the kids and be around for a long time. I wanted to be more active and enjoy life! I knew it was time for me to take this thing head on and I was going to win!

Shannon: What has been the hardest part of changing your lifestyle?

Mark: Accepting minor setbacks as just that…MINOR. For example, eating a big bowl of ice cream and feeling okay about it. I would just add an extra 15 minutes to my cardio the next day. I found that the hardest part of weight loss was the food…I love food! I decided to take the food thing in steps. I would first cut out fast food then sugar. In the meantime I would push myself to do an a.m. workout 5 times a week.

Shannon: What has surprised you as the easiest?

Mark: Staying motivated.

Shannon: Now that it has been a year, do you find that you sometimes fall back into old habits or have you basically “retrained” yourself in the way you eat and workout?

Mark: Of course, occasionally I will take a “step back,” for example I might have consecutive family gatherings over a weekend and I will eat more than I should. In the past I would have the “all or nothing” mentality and after just continue down the slide. Now I just turn it around and get back at it! A day or two off…no biggie!

Shannon: What words of advice can you lend to anyone out there who may be feeling defeated by their weight and aren’t sure they have the mental strength to keep up a healthy lifestyle and fitness routine?

Mark: Write down what your long term goals are and work backwards. Each day take a step forward, do the little things to stay active, take the stairs instead of an escalator, park further away at the store, mow the lawn, go for a walk after dinner. If you miss a day, no worries! Understand your body, a heart rate monitor has been key for me. With a HR monitor you can understand your zones and what your body is doing. These things will make a huge difference! If I can lose 50+ lbs anybody can! You deserve to feel good about yourself! Knowledge is important…learn, learn, learn!

You can keep up with Mark and follow his Healthy Living Today blog. Stay inspired and stay motivated!

Life Fitness 95T Treadmill houses iPod®

2008-07-16T15:14:55Z

New Treadmills Go the Extra Mile

Don’t you hate it when you finally get motivated to go to gym and as soon as you get there you realize your iPod® is dead? This morning was definately one of those times for me. I got all stretched out and warmed up, hopped on the treadmill, got my ear buds in perfect position only to find a dim screen in place of the usual oh, so comforting glow of the opening apple logo on my iPod®. Feeling slightly defeated (and intimidated at the thought of running without music, I mean who does that these days anyway?) I looked down at the treadmill to set my workout and realized my gym made a huge equipment upgrade!

As if the Apple God’s were looking down on me, I heard a resounding choir of angels when I saw the “iPod®” logo on a cord coming out of the new futuristic console! Turns out, Life Fitness has delivered the ultimate computer-assisted workout equipment called the Elevation Line. The treadmill not only seamlessly integrates your iPod® into it’s touch screen (while charging it I might add), it has a whole gang of other techonologic features including USB connectivity and virtual terrain interfaces.

The bells and whistles of this fitness equipment are endless. You can opt to have a virtual personal trainer who will pop up on the screen at appropriate intervals to keep you motivated. He says things like "You are doing great!" and “You are halfway there!” Also available is USB connectivity that allows you to save your workout to a memory stick and track workout progress.

It appears the fitness world is heading in the right in direction with the electronic revolution. I have to admit I actually enjoyed running today and can't wait to get back on the treadmill tomorrow! And I don't even have to remember to charge my iPod®! Have any of you found that technological advances have helped you stay on track with your fitness goals?

The Newest Fitness Craze: Wii Fit

2008-06-09T21:32:48Z

Gone are the days of monotonous exercise. Running on the treadmill not your idea of an exciting fitness routine? Nintendo has got the cure for those of us who need something more to get us motivated to work out--the Wii Fit. Wii's interactive games have been captivating people from all age groups for a while now, but with the Wii Fit specifically focused on toning and strengthening your body, as well as weight loss through aerobic exercise, it is a craze that is selling out Wii Fit packages everywhere.

The Wii Fit system has you create a profile so that you can track your progress and create your onscreen self. You can chart your progress towards your goals through your BMI, weight, Wii age and Fit credits. It comes with a balance board which tracks your movements to coordinate them with what is happening onscreen. The games are fun and interactive such as snowboarding, hula hooping, dancing and balance games. Yoga helps with your core strength and stress relief.

After my girlfriend relayed to me that she lost 20 lbs using a combination of Wii Fit and Weight Watchers, I've decided this will be my next "paycheck purchase."

Have you tried Wii Fit? If you've seen results, I'd love to hear about them.

With Bathing Suit Season Comes Panic Workouts

2008-05-20T21:26:11Z

With spring and summer comes the season most people dread – bathing suit season! It is during the New Year that most make the resolution to staying fit. Before you know it, you have stopped going to the gym and have even ordered a few pizzas along the way.

Come mid-March it starts to click in our mind that it might be time to start actually getting in shape. April rolls around and your gym shoes have yet to be worn. Finally, May – the most frantic fitness time of the year, where you have exactly 31 days to look fabulous in your bathing suit. This is when you find yourself up at the crack of dawn on the elliptical machine every morning to get that killer figure you just saw in SHAPE magazine.

Word to the wise: incorporate fitness into your everyday routine. Sign up for fun, new fitness classes or programs online to help you tone up and get ready to sit poolside - you’ll feel and look great the whole year round!

Don’t Put Your Swimsuit Body Off Like Your Taxes: Invest in a New You

2008-04-14T15:15:43Z

While many people wait until the last minute to file their taxes, others do the same when it comes to getting their bodies ready for swimsuit season. This year, invest part of your return towards something that will give back to you long-term; your health. We’ve searched for some of the hottest workout programs on the market today that will help motivate and whip you into shape. Who knows, you may even be able to use some of these as a tax write off at the end of the year. Motivation is Key The most important part to any exercise program is motivation. Whether you workout alone or have a gym partner, having positive feedback is key to continued success. FitFiend.com, one of many social networking communities geared towards fitness and health, recently launched with a number of interactive tools to help guide you on your path to a better body and overall health. Similar to Facebook, FitFiend.com allows users to connect with fitness and health experts, search for workout partners and trainers in their area, get fitness and nutritional tips, watch original fitness programming, read about the latest in workout trends, and interact with other fitness enthusiasts for positive feedback. The best part is that this service is free, but the benefits keep on giving. Log on today at www.FitFiend.com. Balance Your Elements If social networking isn’t your forte, the creators of elements™ for women, a premium fitness and lifestyle brand, have upgraded the offerings of a personal trainer into an easy-to-use web portal called BalanceD. This upscale and stylish weight loss brand offers a robust online diet program, customized workouts with video demos, nutrition and diet coaching, and expert advice and tips. For those who need extra guidance with their meal planning but don’t want to use pre-packaged foods that are full of salt and preservatives, BalanceD offers a customized meal plan program that takes all of the guess work out of calorie counting. All of this is yours for a $99 lifetime membership, less than you’d pay for some gym memberships. For more information, visit www.balanceyourelements.com. ]]> 1,000 Calorie Burn If you’re not tech-savvy, forget about the computer and head directly to the gym. LA Boxing, one of the leading boxing and mixed martial arts gyms in North America offers a wide range of classes for men and women of all experience levels. Unlike your standard gym that may offer only a handful of boxing classes each week, LA Boxing has an experienced staff with dozens of classes daily that burn up to 1,000 calories an hour. There are few workouts, other than spinning, that can achieve this level of burn, which will get you ripped just in time to don your new swimsuit. With more than 100 gyms open or in development, there is a location in nearly every state. For more information and to find a gym near you, visit www.laboxing.com. Roll Away Fat & Stress If you want something more low key, Yamuna Body Rolling™ (YBR) may be for you. Developed by internationally-acclaimed educator, Yamuna, YBR is a revolutionary approach to health and fitness using exercise balls designed exclusively for this practice. It consists of a series of routines using 6 to 10-inch balls. Unlike other ball exercises, YBR goes far beyond random movement and stretch. It allows you to work specific muscles in detail, to create suppleness in tight areas and optimize range of motion. YBR reeducates muscles and stimulates bone, creating positive, permanent changes in the body. While there are practioners of Yamuna’s philosophy throughout the world, her bestselling DVDs and equipment can be purchased at www.YamunaStudio.com, and used any time, any place.

Fitness PR: Tips From FitFiend Fitness Advisor

2008-03-03T20:13:40Z

Each year, people from around the world make the same New Year's resolution; to get into better shape. The only problem is that after the first few weeks they've already started to stray from their program, and by March, most have dropped off altogether. I sat down with Kristi Molinaro, one of the resident fitness advisors for FitFiend.com, a social networking site for the fitness enthusiast, to get some tips on why people have such a hard time making fitness a part of their everyday lifestyle. Find Time – The number one excuse I hear from clients is that they can't find time to workout. If you can find time to watch TV, then you can certainly find time to workout. If traveling to the gym is an issue, invest in one or two pieces for your home. The biggest calorie burners, which also don't take up too much space, are spinning and elliptical machines. Patience – An issue that a lot of people have when working out is that they expect too much too quickly. It's important to note that you didn't pack on the pounds overnight, so you're not going to drop them in a week. Be Adventurous – A common mistake that people make is sticking to the same routine. Not only is this boring, but it can also slow fat burning. Try mixing things up by taking a new class. If you enjoy running, try one week of cardio on the elliptical or rowing machine. The trick is to keep your body guessing so that it is continuously burning fat. Take a Break – At the end of a hard workout, it's important to give your body sufficient time to rest. Try alternating your weightlifting days with cardio and ab work. You can also train different muscle groups on different days so that you don't over-train. Beginners always make the same mistake of doing too much too quickly, and it's important to remember that your body needs some downtime to recover and build stronger muscle. To find more great fitness tips and to network with other fitness fiends, check out FitFiend.com