Obamas' Personal Trainer Struts His Stuff

“Cornell McClellan can boast that he's got about the biggest celebrities you can as clients - the first couple. McClellan, a personal trainer who owns a gym called Naturally Fit in President and Michelle Obamas' hometown of Chicago, is still helping them keep in shape - he flies to Washington about once a week, mostly to work with the first lady, but sometimes Mr. Obama, as well. Mrs. Obama was referred to McClellan by...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/20/earlyshow/saturday/main6226369.shtml

Trustmark Completes Tender Offer for Health Fitness Corporation; Acquisition Expected to Be Completed Tomorrow

“Trustmark Mutual Holding Company today announced that, as of the expiration of its tender offer for all the outstanding common stock of Health Fitness Corporation (NYSE: FIT), shareholders of HealthFitness tendered 9,102,844 shares, representing approximately 89.1% of HealthFitness' outstanding shares. In addition, the depositary has advised Trustmark that it has received commitments to tender...

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0590690.htm

One-of-a-Kind CYBEX Arc Trainer to be Auctioned During Fifth Annual B*A*S*H for Augie’s Quest at IHRSA 2010

“Cybex International, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYBI), a leading manufacturer of premium exercise equipment for the commercial and consumer markets, announced today that it has specially crafted and donated a one-of-a-kind chrome Arc Trainer to the Muscular Dystrophy Association as the centerpiece of a live auction during the Fifth Annual B*A*S*H for Augie’s Quest taking place March 12 at IHRSA 2010. Showcasing the signature of Augie’s Quest founder and prominent fitness industry leader Augie Nieto, this unique 750AT Total Body Arc Trainer features nickel chrome parts highly polished to a mirror finish. To be auctioned by Augie’s Quest committee member and benefit MC Ron Hemelgarn, this piece also includes a personal entertainment monitor and distinctive Augie’s Quest decals. ‘The Fitness Industry has come together for the fifth year in a row and my friend, CYBEX Chairman and CEO John Aglialoro, has been with me every year!” says Nieto. ‘To date, we’ve raised $22 million! The B*A*S*H will have an army theme this year… Winning the War on ALS!’ ‘The Augie’s Quest CYBEX Arc Trainer is an incredible piece of fitness art,’ adds Hemelgarn, who also serves as president of Hemelgarn Enterprises. ‘In my 43 years in the health and fitness business, I’ve never seen such an elegant piece of exercise equipment. Without a doubt, the lucky high bidder at the Augie’s Quest Live Auction will display this in their home or office for all to admire.’”

http://boston.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?newsid=201983&type_news=latest

Gold's Gym and Us Weekly Join Forces to Present The First-Ever Hollywood's Hottest Body Awards

“With award season in full swing, many celebrities are being recognized for their remarkable performances on the big screen, in television and in the recording studio. But some of the best performances in Hollywood actually happen at the gym ... before the cameras start rolling. That's why Gold's Gym is teaming up with Us Weekly to present the 1st Annual Hollywood's Hottest Body Awards ... the only awards to recognize outstanding fitness achievements in television, film and entertainment. On February 25th, an expert panel of Us Weekly editors and Gold's Gym celebrity trainers will unveil this year's nominees on Usmagazine.com. The public will then decide the winners by voting for their favorite nominee in each category. Awards will be presented to winners across eleven different categories and will be announced on March 3rd.”

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/golds-gym-and-us-weekly-join-forces-to-present-the-first-ever-hollywoods-hottest-body-awards-85056087.html

Exercise Classes At The Gym Bring Out Our Wild Side

“As most of us will admit, we’ve become a nation huffing and puffing toward our next super-size meal. Each January, hordes of us try to combat the trend by joining a gym. By now, many are bored and ready to quit. Well, here’s a little secret: The gym can be a wildly exciting place. Follow me. There I was, faithfully plugging away on an exercise machine, watching a sea of others in front of me doing the same. Up, down, around and around, going nowhere except OUT OF MY MIND. The bobbing bodies were a blur of gray T-shirts, gray sweatpants, gray hair. The machines were gray, the ceiling was gray, the sky outside the windows was gray. At times like this, it’s easy for dark thoughts to creep in, making you question the point of it all. I know, I know. The point is to tone up, trim down and stay alive, but that wasn’t cutting it for me, and I was about to give up and head over to Starbucks. Better to die with a muffin in my mouth than to be alive and tethered to an exercise machine. Then a little voice in my head said, ‘Why not try Zumba?’ For those of you who are hopelessly out of it, Zumba is an ex...

http://www.gateline.com/2010/02/23/6328/exercise-classes-at-the-gym-bring.html

Nautilus, Inc. to Announce Fourth Quarter 2009 Results on Monday, March 1st

“Nautilus, Inc. today announced that the Company will host a conference call to discuss results for its fourth quarter on Monday, March 1, 2010. The Company will issue an earnings release prior to the call. The conference call is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. EST (1:30 p.m. PST), March 1, 2010. It will be broadcast live over the Internet hosted at http://www.nautilusinc.com/events and will be archived online within one hour after completion of the call. In addition, listeners may call (800) 918-9476 in North America, and international listeners may call (212) 231-2917. Participants from the Company will be Edward Bramson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer...

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nautilus-inc-to-announce-fourth-quarter-2009-results-on-monday-march-1st-2010-02-22?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Hedge-Fund Analyst Turns Passion for Yoga into Job [video]

“Exercise kept worn-out hedge-fund analyst Tingting Peng going during her long workdays. When she lost her job, she turned her passion--yoga--into a business. WSJ's Lam Thuy Vo reports.”

http://online.wsj.com/video/hedgefund-analyst-turns-passion-for-yoga-into-job/5DBE1DB4-B062-4585-83E5-0868E90AC93C.html?KEYWORDS=exercise

Who is the Fittest CEO in the World's Fittest City?

“According to Outside Magazine, Boulder's Flatiron Athletic Club is ‘The premier workout facility in the World's Fittest City’. Many world champions live and train in Boulder, and the assumption is that some of the fittest CEOs in the World most likely also call Boulder their home. Flatiron AC and Boulder-based CEO Challenges, the world leader in sport competitions for CEOs, are working together to find out who is the Fittest CEO® in the World's fittest City via a specially designed CEO Fitness Challenge. The competition runs for the month of March, and includes a 15-minute test that has been designed as an accurate way to measure a person's fitness. The CEO Fitness Challenge is free and open to Business Owners, CEOs, Presidents, and C-level executives of companies with at least $1 million in annual gross revenue. The simple fitness test is age-graded to allow older CEOs the opportunity for a level playing field, and consists of five components:...

http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_frameset.html?http://www.runnersweb.com/running/news_2010/rw_news_20100222_CEO_Challenge.html

Exercise Eases Anxiety in Chronically Ill People

“Regular exercise may provide an unexpected benefit for people who have chronic illnesses like heart disease and arthritis. A new study shows that regular exercise relieves anxiety in chronically ill people and may help improve their quality of life. Researchers say this anxiety relief is in addition to other proven general health and well-being benefits of regular exercise...

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20100222/exercise-eases-anxiety-even-with-illness

Zumba Class is Chicken Soup for the Body and Soul [video]

“Marci Shimoff, co-author of ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul,’ details her ‘zumba’ dancing and exercise class in this latest installment of the WSJ's ‘What's Your Workout’ series.”

http://online.wsj.com/video/zumba-class-is-chicken-soup-for-the-body-and-soul/D5C1DA20-BB80-4E7F-B30A-6E52E83EC6B0.html?KEYWORDS=exercise

Intense Sports for Diabetics

“Even as rates of Type 2, or ‘adult onset,’ diabetes skyrocket in the U.S. because of obesity and physical sluggishness, a culture of extreme exercise is taking hold among Type 1 diabetics, replete with specialized coaches and training camps. ‘The crazy perception out there is that if you have diabetes, you must have weighed 300 pounds,’ says Michelle Adams, a Chicago-area exercise physiologist, Type 1 diabetic and coach for an organization called Diabetes Training Camp, which supports and promotes athletics among people with diabetes. ‘In fact, there are thousands of Type 1 diabetics who were always active and who are now competing in half-marathons and marathons, all the way up to Ironman-distance triathlons...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703494404575081584098774478.html?KEYWORDS=exercise

Local Family Gets Fit Together

...I felt better mentally and physically. I had more energy, and my body was changing.’ Todd Savage, who is married to Leslie, took a year to join. His reluctance was due to trying to fit it in the workday. ‘I used to be active and played a lot of sports through high school, but I got away from it. Once you get to working and get married, you kind of let yourself go,’ says Savage. ‘But once I got in here, I started losing weight and feeling better -- it got addictive. Now, I've even stopped eating hamburgers and fast food.’ For the kids, they either come in and play active games such as tag or take kids yoga classes. Eleven-year-old Brewer agrees that East Shore has become a ‘home away from home’ and that he envisions seeing himself belonging to a health club the rest of his life...

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/feb/23/local-family-gets-fit-together

SOKO Fitness & Spa Group Completes Construction of Yoga Wave Harbin

“SOKO Fitness & Spa Group, Inc., an operator of fitness center and beauty salons and spas in Northeast China as well as suburban Beijing, today announced that it has completed construction of its newest yoga center, a 23,000 square foot facility in the Long Dian Building, located in the center of downtown Harbin, China. The facility will be operated under SOKO's Yoga Wave brand and will join SOKO's two existing Yoga Wave centers which are located in Shenyang, China. SOKO has registered approximately 500 members for the new facility through pre-opening sales and marketing activity...

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soko-fitness--spa-group-completes-construction-of-yoga-wave-harbin-85030177.html

Laid Off And Looking

“Food and drink is all well and good, but the most important element to a healthy body and mind during the job search is exercise. I’ve gone through alternating periods of frequent and less-frequent exercise during my professional life. I’m the furthest thing from a fitness compulsive. As I write this I know that I should be getting more exercise than I do, but I just can’t overemphasize how important exercise has been for me. Firstly, there is no better way to break up the job search monotony and intense focus on one’s PC screen than by hiking up the nearby mountains or spending an hour in the gym. Second, much like with eating unprocessed food, I’m constantly thinking about ways to stay healthy during...

http://blogs.wsj.com/laidoff/2010/02/11/staying-healthy-and-sane-during-the-job-search/?KEYWORDS=exercise

Embracing Green

“It's clear that safeguarding the environment has become top of mind for many Americans, Rob Densen, CEO of Tiller LLC, said in a statement. The hanging question is the degree to which we actually put these good intentions to work. Let's hope we have more success counting carbons than we have counting carbs. However, health clubs in general continue to adopt greener practices, says Kara M. Thompson, public relations coordinator for the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). As society gets more eco-conscious, they're going to expect...

http://clubindustry.com/forprofits/0201-environmental-efforts-moving-forward/index.html

Nautilus Commercial Division Assets To Be Purchased By Med-Fit Systems

“Dean Sbragia, the president and CEO of Med-Fit Systems, has announced that agreements have been reached to purchase Nautilus’ commercial company assets. ‘We are extremely pleased to have reached agreements with Nautilus, Inc. to acquire the Nautilus commercial products manufacturing and intellectual property, says Sbragia. We have plans to aggressively expand upon this iconic brand, enhance the facilities in Virginia...

http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/17418.html

Snap Fitness CEO Peter Taunton Works Up New Formula For Fitness and Franchising

“Peter Taunton has come a long way from selling popcorn as a 10-year-old in front of his father’s grocery store in Willmar, Minn. As CEO of Chanhassen-based Snap Fitness, Taunton is still giving customers what they want where they want it, but applying that formula — and breaking a few rules — to create a fast-growing $30 million fitness-center franchising business. Honored Monday by the Association for Corporate Growth as the...

http://www.minnpost.com/bradallen/2010/02/19/16071/snap_fitness_ceo_peter_taunton_works_up_new_formula_for_fitness_and_franchising

Life Time Fitness Announces Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2009 Financial Results

“Fourth quarter 2009 revenue grew 5.0% to $203.7 million from $194.0 million during the same period last year. Revenue for the year totaled $837.0 million, up 8.8% from $769.6 million in 2008. Net income for the quarter was $18.4 million, or $0.46 per diluted share. This compares to net income of $13.0 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for 4Q 2008. For the full year, net income was $72.4 million, or $1.82 per diluted share, compared to $71.8 million, or $1.83 per diluted share, for 2008. ‘In 2009, we set our minds on winning on a number of fronts and I'm pleased with our progress on many of them, including free cash flow delivery...

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/life-time-fitness-announces-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2009-financial-results-2010-02-18?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Never Too Cool for a Hard Workout [videos and images]

“It was not long ago that most snowboarders, even professionals, saw exercise and training as redundant. Snowboarding was exercise enough, and the sport’s countercultural ethos did not mesh with the structure of a fitness regimen or a gym membership. ‘When I first started snowboarding, nobody trained off-hill,’ said Gretchen Bleiler, the 2006 Olympic silver medalist and a favorite to top the podium for her event, halfpipe, scheduled for Feb. 18. ‘People weren’t going to the gym and getting stronger. Snowboarding was more self-expression, like skateboarding. It was just something you went and did. It wasn’t something you trained for.’ Ms. Bleiler, 28, is among the sport’s icons who have been leading a cultural shift by example. She probably spends more time in a gym than on a mountain, more time in workout clothes than in an oversize jacket and snow pants. With more at stake than ever — in terms of prestige and money, mostly earned through endorsements — the ride-hard, party-hard attitude among top snowboarders has given way to a more mainstream, professional athlete work ethic. Even Shaun White, the top men’s rider, likes to jokingly flex his gym-built arms. One of Ms. Bleiler’s many sponsors is 24 Hour Fitness, the health club chain. And in past years, she has showed off the body hidden beneath all those baggy clothes in various magazine spreads. These days, Ms. Bleiler divides her snowboarding time between halfpipe competitions and back-country riding. The one constancy in her busy world is training — before she takes the hill, after she comes down and through the off-season. Her general advice is never to forget about cardio, take care of the oft-injured joints like knees and shoulders, and do not underestimate the importance of a strong core.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/fashion/18fitness.html

Cardinal Fitness Donates to Haiti Relief

“Cardinal Fitness is in the process of donating more than 2,000 cases of bottled water to those devastated by the recent earthquake in Haiti. As a community-focused fitness center, Cardinal Fitness hopes to spread health and replenishment in this time of need. By partnering with Friends of the Orphans, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of orphaned, abandoned and disadvantaged children in Latin America and the Caribbean, Cardinal Fitness will transport the 34 pallets of water to where it is needed in Haiti.”...

http://www.morrisdailyherald.com/articles/2010/02/17/94356165/index.xml

Fitness Feeds The Food Drive

“Shed pounds, gain strength and help those in need. Curves of Big Bear Lake is participating in the annual Curves Food Drive, collecting food for local food banks and offering incentives to join the health club. During March, Curves will collect nonperishable items and monetary donations for local food banks. The goal, according to Curves founder Diane Heavin, is for the community to help families in need. “At the core of our business is the message that women are stronger when they rally together...

http://www.bigbeargrizzly.net/articles/2010/02/17/news/business/doc4b7b52177485c007210698.txt

Obesity Tied To Poorer Sperm Quality

“Studies have come to conflicting conclusions as to whether obesity impairs a man's fertility. But several recent ones have found that obese men tend to have poorer quality sperm than leaner men do -- including lower sperm counts and fewer progressively motile sperm, which refers to sperm that swim forward in a straight line rather than moving about aimlessly. ‘To our knowledge, ours is the first study proposing a deleterious effect of obesity on epididymal function,’ lead researcher Dr. Ana Carolina Martini, of the National University of Cor...

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61G55620100217

O2 Fitness Expands Group Fitness Program To Include Zumba® Classes

“O2 Fitness is offering yet another way for Triangle residents to get excited about achieving their health and fitness goals in 2010. Now the largest fitness provider throughout North Carolina and the only locally owned and operated health club chain in the Triangle, O2 Fitness is proud to announce the addition of world-famous Zumba® to its celebrated list of group fitness classes, which also includes the popular line of Les Mills classes.”...

http://carolinanewswire.com/news/News.cgi?database=000001news.db&command=viewone&id=1181&op=t

Healthways Reports Fourth-Quarter Earnings of $0.22 Per Diluted Share

“Healthways, Inc. today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2009. Total revenues for the quarter were $175.2 million compared with $185.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $7.5 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $3.1 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, which included charges of $0.47 per diluted share related to the Company's restructuring initiative and stock option tender offer...

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/healthways-reports-fourth-quarter-earnings-of-022-per-diluted-share-2010-02-16?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Sonoma County Tops State For Well Being

“To Heather Ruggles, it's no surprise that Sonoma County is a haven for healthy people who like where their lives are headed. ‘What's there not to be happy about?’ said Ruggles, a 34-year-old Santa Rosa mother, following a one-hour yoga class on Tuesday. ‘I think it is California at its best.” Her view echoes a national survey that identified Sonoma County as a land of wholesome living: Hiking in the redwoods, shopping at farmers' markets and sipping red wine.’ The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index released Monday ranked Sonoma County first in California and fifth nationwide for 2009 on factors such as mental and physical health, job satisfaction and healthy behavior. Isaac Hastings, a control systems engineer who works in Santa Rosa, said he participates one or two days a week at the yoga class that Ruggles also attends at Parkpoint Health Club. ‘It helps keep me out of the chiropractor's office,’ said Hastings, 37, of Healdsburg. If he misses yoga, workday stress stiffens his spine. ‘A little of the hunchback effect,’ he said. ‘Yoga undoes all that.’”


http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100216/ARTICLES/100219561/1033?tc=ar

THE GYM Armonk’s YouTube Contest Awards Nearly $7,000 of Services

“High school prom is a defining event in a young adult’s life, one that every teenager should attend feeling confident and memorable. To help make the milestone truly unforgettable, THE GYM Armonk has partnered with Paulo’s Atelier Salon to create a YouTube video contest encouraging high school seniors to take better care of their bodies by getting healthy and in shape. Two winners will be selected in the ‘Prep for Prom Challenge’ – a male and female contestant – and each will receive nearly $7,000 in prizes. THE GYM Armonk’s ‘Prep for Prom Challenge’ was designed for teens that want to slim down, get into better shape, and are ready to make a significant change in their lifestyle. High school seniors are invited to submit a 1-2 minute video on YouTube describing why they deserve to win and how the prize will personally benefit them. A panel of judges will review the...


http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/21925-1266337613-the-gym-armonks-youtube-contest-awards-nearly-7000-of-services.html

Life Time Fitness Reclaims Guinness World Record(TM) for Largest Static Cycling Class

“On a frigid, historically cold morning on January 9, 2010, in Houston, Texas, Life Time Fitness held the ‘Ride of a Lifetime,’ a two-hour long, high-energy outdoor stationary cycle ride. Participants won't soon forget the day, which saw a low of 20-degrees Fahrenheit and topped out at just 43-degrees. Nor will they forget their role in setting the new World Record for the largest static cycling class in history, as was confirmed by Guinness World Records on February 12, 2010.”...

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/life-time-fitness-reclaims-guinness-world-recordtm-for-largest-static-cycling-class-2010-02-15?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Hot to Trot? IHRSA Helps Biz Travelers Workout Just About Anywhere

So what's a road warrior to do? Here’s a tip both you and your next group of convention guests need to know about -- the ‘IHRSA Passport program’ which enables travelers to access fully-loaded, ‘real’ gyms near their host hotels. IHRSA (The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association) is an organization that represents health and fitness facilities worldwide. One of the services they offer is Healthclubs.com, a web site that enables travelers to locate locate IHRSA member health clubs in the United States, Canada, and overseas. Once you and your guests find a convenient participating gym on the site, just follow the instructions, fill out the required information, call the club to verify availability or guest fees, head to the gym, and get your sweat on -- just like we plan to do when we head to London next month. So what’s the catch? You may only visit clubs that are at least 50 miles away from your home club -- and you’ll need to be a member of an IHRSA club. For details, visit Healthclubs.com. We’ll see you on the treadmill.”...

http://blog.cvent.com/blog/new-york-meetings-and-events/0/0/hot-to-trot-ihrsa-helps-biz-travelers-workout-just-about-anywhere-

Zoom Media & Marketing, Tiger Schulmann’s Sign Media and Marketing Partnership

“Zoom Media & Marketing, the US and the world’s largest and fastest growing fitness digital media company, and Tiger Schulmann’s Mixed Martial Arts, the largest martial arts organization in the US with 48 locations in five states, today announced a deal for Zoom to operate a digital signage and billboard network across all Tiger Schulmann locations. “We are thrilled to work with an outstanding partner in Tiger Schulmann,” said Dennis Roche, President of Zoom Media & Marketing. ‘As a premier company in the rapidly growing mixed martial arts industry, Tiger Schulmann’s is an outstanding brand built around the idea of achieving self confidence through physical conditioning.’...

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100216005768&newsLang=en

Olympics: Trickle-Down Fitness For The Rest Of Us

“It's thrilling to watch those Olympians perform in Vancouver, but what have their superhuman feats to do with the fitness needs of us mere mortals? Industry experts say the Olympic example can be a tool to uproot couch potatoes and fire the workouts of everyday athletes. ‘Millions of people who are watching the games will start to think about the importance of regular physical activity,’ said Kara Thompson, spokeswoman for the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). ‘The Olympics demonstrate how we can push our bodies physically and how perseverance can yield extraordinary results,’ she said. The lesson is translatable to the world of fitness. Thompson said health clubs can use the Olympics to invigorate clients' workout routines. ‘It's certainly an opportunity for clubs to connect their in-club programming with the Olympics and create excitement.'...

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61E22E20100215

Bally Total Fitness Celebrates a Heart-Healthy Valentine's Day

“There's more than one way to get your heart racing on Valentine's Day. Instead of over-indulging with an expensive dinner and high-calorie chocolates, Bally Total Fitness encourages couples to get physical with a holiday workout.
Fitness expert David Van Daff, Senior Director of Education and Development, offers his recommendations on how to strengthen your relationship and your body on the most romantic day of the year:...

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bally-total-fitness-celebrates-a-heart-healthy-valentines-day-84022092.html

Furman University To Tap Alternative ‘Elliptical’ Power

“South Carolina’s Furman University, one of the schools that has signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, will be using a new form of renewable energy to improve its carbon profile: Student power. Along with other schools such as the University of Kansas and the University of Florida, Furman is going to tap the energy of exercising students (and faculty) and turn it into electricity...

http://www.greenrightnow.com/kabc/2010/02/12/furman-university-to-tap-alternative-elliptical-power

Mom Turns Passion For Fitness Into Thriving Business

“Ironically, when friends complimented Carlene Steenekamp about how good she looked after the birth of her last child in 2007, their words had an opposite effect. ‘I got so tired of hearing, 'Oh, you look great to have had three kids.' I know friends meant well, but that was a backhanded compliment,’ says Steenekamp, 32, a personal trainer from West Knoxville. ‘I wasn't ready to accept that I would never feel good about my body again.’ Steenekamp had always worked hard at staying fit, but after that, her efforts went into overdrive. "People in...

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/feb/14/building-mom-body

IHRSA Heartily Applauds First Lady’s "Let’s Move" Initiative and Vows Support

The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) today pledged its support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative and praised the First Lady for her leadership in tackling the problem of childhood obesity—a long-standing issue that threatens both the health of America’s children and the future of our country. “On behalf of the entire health club industry, IHRSA heartily commends Mrs. Obama for standing up and leading America in a nationwide effort to solve the problem of childhood obesity,” said Joe Moore, IHRSA’s president and CEO. “As a devoted mother of two school-aged children, Mrs. Obama...

http://www.prweb.com/releases/IHRSA/LetsMove/prweb3598754.htm

Health Club Media Network Announces Long-Term Partnership with Town Sports International

“Health Club Media Network (HCMN), the nation's largest provider of advertising and marketing opportunities for national brands in health clubs, announced today that Town Sports International Holdings, Inc., the largest owner and operator of fitness clubs in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, has joined its network. The addition of TSI extends HCMN's exclusive media and marketing offerings into nearly 4,000 health clubs, with significant depth in the top DMAs - including New York, where adding TSI expands HCMN into close to 450 clubs.”

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/health-club-media-network-announces-long-term-partnership-with-town-sports-international-84217387.html

Settlement Reached In Case Of Failed Work Out World

“The case against an Alton man who pleaded guilty to charges of unfair or deceptive trade practices for misappropriating health club membership deposits has been settled. The case had been scheduled to go to trial on Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by the former business partners of Steven J. Borghi, 45, of 70 Timber Ridge Road, but Borghi's lawyer told officials at Belknap County Superior Court that the case had been resolved and did not need to proceed. No documents detailing the terms of the settlement had been filed with the court on Thursday. In the suit, Borghi's business partners charged that Borghi ...

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100212/GJNEWS02/702129956/-1/CITNEWS

Fight Against Obesity: From Surgery To Shakes, More Overweight Americans Are Seeking Successful Solutions To Shed Unwanted Pounds

The CDC is proposing strategies local governments can take to help people lose weight. Gyms are also seeing an increase in business. A survey by the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association found that despite the recession, since the beginning of 2009, most clubs have reported that their revenues have increased or remained the same. Leigh Nielsen, a personal trainer at Merritt Athletic Club in Eldersburg, said weight loss is the No. 1 reason members approach the personal training staff. Nielsen said exercise is something everyone can do as long as a person is ready to commit to the exercise. He said one of his mottos is that there is an alternative to everything. So those with an illness or an injury can still find ways to work out....

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2010/02/10/healthy_balance/health/1_obesity_fight.txt

YMCA Promises To Be Good Neighbor To Health And Fitness Businesses On Ridge

...Critics of a YMCA on Snoqualmie Ridge said it wouldn’t benefit many people, but Gilbertson disagreed, though he acknowledged it isn’t clear what percent of the membership is expected to qualify for reduced-membership rates. The percent of members at a YMCA on reduced fees ranges in King County from 18 percent to 50 percent, he said. Revenue from business unrelated to an organization’s tax-exempt purpose is supposed to be taxed by the IRS. The report by Citizens Against Government Waste argues that the IRS does not adequately enforce this tax on YMCAs by not taxing their health and fitness operations in affluent communities. ‘Our mission is not limited to communities that are economically-challenged,’ Gilbertson said. Advocates of for-profit health and fitness businesses take issue with that. ‘Selling fitness services to adults who can afford them is a business,’ said Kara Thompson, a spokeswoman for the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. Gilbertson said he expects that if the YMCA goes into Snoqualmie Ridge, there will be enough business for multiple health and fitness providers. Many adults probably won’t want to work out at the YMCA, which will have children in the facility, he said.

http://snovalleystar.com/2010/02/10/ymca-promises-to-be-good-neighbor-to-health-and-fitness-businesses-on-ridge

Life Time Fitness Announces Date for Release of Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Financial Result

“Life Time Fitness, Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!ltm/quotes/nls/ltm (LTM 24.91, +0.23, +0.93%) today announced that the Company is scheduled to release its Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 financial results on Thursday, February 18, 2010. A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 10:00 a.m. ET. Bahram Akradi, chairman, chief executive officer, and president, Michael Robinson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Kenneth Cooper, vice president of finance, will host the call. mThe conference call will be Web cast live and may be accessed via the Company's Investor Relations section of its Web site at lifetimefitness.com. A replay of the call will be available beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET on February 18, 2010.”

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/life-time-fitness-announces-date-for-release-of-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2009-financial-results-2010-02-11?reflink=MW_news_stmp

24 Hour Fitness and Dominique Wilkins Announce Youth Basketball Program

“24 Hour Fitness, the largest privately owned U.S. fitness chain and a health club industry pioneer, announced a partnership with Dominique Wilkins, a nine time NBA All-Star and one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, to operate a series of youth basketball camps in Austin, Texas and Honolulu, Hawaii. The youth basketball camps will roll out into three 24 Hour Fitness clubs (see list below) in early summer 2010 with anticipation of additional camps in other cities being scheduled in the future. The Atlanta Hawks’ vice president of basketball...

http://www.your-story.org/24-hour-fitness-and-dominique-wilkins-announce-youth-basketball-program-107937/

Some Entrepreneurs Put In Olympic Effort

"For Olympic athletes who double as small-business owners, the more challenging feat sometimes takes place off the slopes. Trying to juggle Olympic training with the demands of running a small business can be grueling. For some of the athletes, training during the peak winter months is so intense and time-consuming that the business often gets pushed to the sidelines. Bengt Walden, a member of the U.S. luge team, also leans heavily on his staff to keep daily operations going at his gym in Stockholm. That's why, even when he is in Sweden, Mr. Walden tries to stay out of the employees' way. ‘You have to train people to not call you when they need to change a light bulb,’ he says. Still, Mr. Walden recalls instances where he has had to fly back to Stockholm to handle housekeeping activities. ‘That can get expensive so I've learned to think ahead,’ he says. ‘You have to set up the business so that deadlines for paying bills and renewing contracts and signing leases are all when you're home.’"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703630404575053551039526156.html?KEYWORDS=gym

Wellness Programs Boost Bottom Line

“There are other incentives. Alyeska has access to an on-site gym for its employees but the facility isn't available to dependents, so the company subsidizes health club membership fees for the family, Brady said. Participation in other programs, like Weight Watchers and smoking cessation, also are subsidized, sometimes heavily. Overall, it's the mutual support among employees in the program that produces results, Brady said. Weight-loss competitions and other kinds of contests, usually with prizes, builds morale and makes it fun, he said.”

http://homernews.com/stories/021010/business_bu3_001.shtml

Olympians Join 24 Hour Fitness to Launch "We Are All Athletes" Integrated Marketing Campaign

“24 Hour Fitness, the largest privately-owned U.S. fitness chain and the Official Fitness Center Sponsor of the 2010 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, will launch on February 12, the latest iteration of its Olympic-themed integrated marketing campaign titled “We Are All Athletes,” starring U.S. Olympians, Paralympians and Team 24 Hour Fitness athletes Gretchen Bleiler, Rockne Brubaker, J.R. Celski, Chris Devlin-Young, Tucker Fredricks and Julia Mancuso. ‘My goal heading into Vancouver was simple – win Olympic gold. However, after my accident my goal was to walk again. I’m hopeful my story will inspire others that with hard work and dedication, the possibilities are endless.’...

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100209005907&newsLang=en

Michelle Obama's War On Childhood Obesity [includes video of FLOTUS speech]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/02/08/coley.obesity.michelle.obama/index.html

Maternal Obesity Puts A Load On Her Offspring That Lasts A Lifetime

“ As if there are not enough reasons for obese people to lose weight, a new research report published online in The FASEB Journal, adds several more. In a study involving rats, researchers from Duke University found that obesity in mothers causes cellular programming in utero that predisposes offspring to inflammation-related disorders (such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and more) from the day that they are born, regardless of whether or not the offspring are obese themselves. Staci D. Bilbo, Ph.D., co-...


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/178754.php

Michelle Obama: 'Let's Move' Initiative Battles Childhood Obesity [video]

“Michelle Obama is just hours from formally announcing what she called a ‘very ambitious’ program to end the American plague of childhood obesity in a single generation. The first lady talks about her nationwide campaign called ‘Let's Move.’ ‘We want to eliminate this problem of childhood obesity in a generation. We want to get that done," the first lady told ‘Good Morning America's...


http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Childhood_Obesity

More Than 175 Public Health Organizations Send Letter of Support for Health Reform to Congress and the President

“More than 175 organizations issued a letter of support today to the President, the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to strongly support comprehensive health reform efforts, emphasizing the need to modernize and increase funding for disease prevention, wellness, and public health in the United States. The following is the text of the letter and a list of the organizations that have signed on in support of the letter: ….84. International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association.”

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/public-health-organizations-send-letter-support-health-reform-congress

Universal Music Group (UMG) and Bally Total Fitness Partner to Make Workouts Rock With Free MP3 Song Downloads to Members

“Universal Music Group (UMG), the world's leading music company, and Bally Total Fitness today announced a two-year agreement whereby Bally will use MP3 downloads to acquire new members, reward member loyalty and incentivize employee sales performance. The collaboration between the world's leading music company and one of the country's most popular health club chains is the first of its kind and underscores the natural relationship between working out and music ‘Music plays such an important role in enhancing workouts as music provides the inspiration to keep work outs going strong for so many of our members,’ added Mike Sheehan, Bally CEO....

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/universal-music-group-umg-and-bally-total-fitness-partner-to-make-workouts-rock-with-free-mp3-song-downloads-to-members-83871432.html

A Celebrity Sweats: It’s Richard!

“You hear Richard Simmons before you see him. On a recent Saturday morning, his tittering acolytes waited in the small green and pink pastel-colored lobby of Slimmons, his fitness studio here. His familiar Southern-tinged voice floated through the doors of the studio where he was holding Project Me, a talk therapy class about exercise. Suddenly, the doors flung open. 'Hello, everybody!' Mr. Simmons called out, as a high-energy remix of ‘Poker Face’ by Lady Gaga throbbed through the sound system. Ninety-one students ran to take their places in the long, narrow gym, among them the swimmer Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist who was visiting from Florida with his wife. Mr. Simmons is everything you expect him to be. At a recent class, he stood at the front of the room wearing teeny....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/fashion/24fitness.html?_r=1&ref=nutrition

Slimmer Doesn’t Always Mean Fitter

Exercise physiologists agree that if your sport is particularly affected by the tug of gravity — running, cross-country skiing, cycling up hills — you are penalized for excess weight. But that leaves some questions: What is the ideal weight for your sport? And how much difference will it make if you actually achieve it? There have been few direct tests of the body-weight effect, said Hirofumi Tanaka, an exercise physiologist at the University of Texas at Austin. Most of them were done in the 1970s and involved subjects who were asked to run with weights on their backs or ankles. Sure enough, the heavier the people were...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/fashion/04best.html?ref=nutrition

It's Survival Of The Fittest For Southland's Small Gyms And Fitness Studios

“Small gyms and fitness studios in Southern California are battling the recession like boxers in the ring fighting for any advantage. For many, 2010 will be another year of dodging blows from rivals and anxious customers coping with economic uncertainty. With new customers harder to land, the pressure is on to keep the old ones. ‘We are working so much harder for our money,’ said Stephanie Moore, owner of Revolution Fitness in...

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-smallbiz8-2010feb08,0,1255490.story

Cirulli's Way - How Joe Cirulli Turned A Dream Into The 30,000-Member Gainesville Health And Fitness Centers

“Like the football play-ers he saw at age 7 yelling encouragement to a teammate lifting weights, Joe Cirulli, owner of Gainesville Health and Fitness Centers, has trained the voice in his head to constantly push his body and his business to new heights. In the past 32 years, Joe Cirulli has grown his Gainesville Health and Fitness Centers to a mega-club with nearly 30,000 members who visit 1.4 million times a year. What started as a three-man operation in 1,500 square feet has grown to three locations totaling"

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100207/MAGAZINE01/100209528/-1/MAGAZINE?Title=Cirulli-s-way&tc=ar

Woman With MS Finds Strength, Friendship In Frisco Pilates Sessions

“For the first time in years, Sharon Marchioli is walking down stairs. And she's wearing heels, tapping her right foot, standing up straight – things she thought she had lost to multiple sclerosis. ‘I am having fun,’ the 61-year-old said. ‘I am just like a liberated woman right now, totally liberated.’ She says her savior has been Frisco Pilates trainer Rebecca Swieczkowski, whose patience and compassion have given her back her life."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/prosper/stories/DN-frpilates_08met.ART.State.Edition2.4b95d77.html

Working Out, Wearing Red For Awareness

Town & Country Sports and Health Club, teamed up with the American Heart Association to honor National Heart Health Day. On Friday, Feb. 5, members and guests of Town & Country were encouraged to wear red to receive free club passes or areoball passes. ‘It is our second year honoring Heart Health Day,’ said Beth Thomas, membership..."

http://www.kypost.com/content/livinginthe859/story/Working-Out-Wearing-Red-For-Awareness/4YWU51zd7k-KSwO85p8ZdQ.cspx

Cybex Announces Date and Conference Call for Fourth Quarter 2009 Earnings Results

“Cybex International, Inc., a leading manufacturer of premium, high-performance exercise equipment for the commercial and consumer markets, will discuss its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009 in a conference call on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. ET."...

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/press-release/cybi_cybex-announces-date-and-conference-call-for-fourth-quarter-2009-earnings-results-760747.html

Stroller Strides Makes Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 List

“Stroller Strides, a company that promotes health and fitness for prenatal and post-pregnancy moms and their babies, was recently ranked among Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500. Its programs not only help moms stay fit, but they also promote entrepreneurship for women. ‘We are so pleased to have been recognized for our unique business model and overall success as a company,’ said Lisa Druxman, founder of Stroller Strides. ‘Although we have made the list in years past, we are especially proud this year because it has been a tough year for businesses, especially franchises. Even with the challenges of the economy, this ranking shows that the Stroller Strides program is something that mothers want and need.’ All franchises ranked in the Franchise 500 list were judged by the same criteria...

http://sanfrancisco.dbusinessnews.com/viewnews.php?article=bwire/20100203007059r1.xml

Sensus Health Club Makes Donation To Haitian Relief Effort

“The newly established Sensus Health Club called on its members and supporters for a walkathon and spinning fundraiser last Saturday morning in support of the BVI Haitian Disaster Relief Effort (BVI HDRE). At the end of an eight mile walk and two hour spin session, participants raised just under $1500. Managers of Sensus, Lisa Adamson and Kate Jackson also made a donation on behalf of the club, to bring the total funds raised to $2,000. Vice President of the BVI Haitian Association, Martine Mompoint said the contribution is greatly appreciated. ‘We are very thankful for the efforts of the managers of Sensus as well as the gym's members. Their contribution will go a very long way in making the lives of residents of Les Cayes, Haiti a little easier after the devastation left by the earthquake.’”...

http://www.bvinews.com/all_news/general/9428.html

Top 10 Eco-Friendly Retailers

“#2 GAIAM- - Having coined the term LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability), GAIAM has long been a leader in providing green lifestyle solutions. GAIAM specializes in fitness products, certified organic cotton/natural fiber bedding and apparel, renewable energy solutions, eco-gadgets and household items that help consumers reduce their environmental impact, save money and increase efficiency. In 2006, GAIAM partnered with The Conservation Fund to launch the world’s first “Go Zero®” sustainable shipping program, which allows online customers to offset their package delivery emissions through donations to tree planting projects.”...

http://www.mnn.com/business/green-jobs/stories/top-10-eco-friendly-retailers

Man Convicted In Health Club Locker Room Thefts

“A Texas man has been convicted of federal charges for his role in a scheme to steal credit cards from health club locker rooms across the country and scam more than $400,000 in cash advances at horse racetracks and casinos in at least 10 states. Dennis Savarese, 52, of Austin, was found guilty in US District Court in Boston Tuesday of conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and identity theft fraud, and faces up to 10 years in prison on the most serious charge. He is to be sentenced April 27. Savarese conspired with at least four other indicted men, all from Revere and East Boston, according to US Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz. Every week for more than two years, he traveled around the country and broke into lockers at two nationwide health club chains to steal credit cards. Often the victims did n...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/02/man_convicted_i_6.html

Snap Fitness Finds Business Booming At Basehor Gym

It’s been nearly two months since Snap Fitness opened its newest location in Basehor, and business is booming. ‘We’ve been so busy,’ co-owner Jen Rhodes said Wednesday morning at the gym’s ribbon cutting ceremony. ‘Really, since we opened, we’ve been at a dead sprint. We didn’t expect the response to be this huge, but it’s been so amazing.’ With approximately 250 members already signed up, co-owner Matt Rhodes agreed with his wife that the word has sufficiently been spreading. ‘We actually became kind of overwhelmed at first,’ he said. ‘But now we’re getting our feet under us, and it’s going great. It has been very good to do business in Basehor.’ The Rhodes established a gym in Shawnee nearly three years ago, and Basehor was their latest adventure in offering communities a unique, convenient and affordable approach to exercise."...

http://www.basehorinfo.com/news/2010/feb/03/snap-fitness-finds-business-booming-basehor-gym

Burry Port Gym Owner Still Fighting Fit After 53 Years [audio]

“A lot has changed since Ted McKibbin bought an old wooden hut in 1957 and opened his own gym. But a few rules are still strictly observed: No under-14s can use the weights. No steroids. And definitely no posing. Mr McKibbin, now aged 83, is proud that the gym that bears his name near the railway station in Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, remains so traditional. That said, over the years he has added considerably to the solitary set of barbells that furnished the redundant telephone exchange he bought for £50 to establish Ted's Gym. The wooden walls have been replaced by brick and it has grown into three rooms and now boasts weight, cycling, rowing and running machines. ‘I have always been fit and used to train in the house - my mother used to let us train in the parlour,’ he said. ‘Then one day...


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/8496781.stm

Gym Staff Shape Up For £1m Charity Fitness Test

“Health club staff will be building up a sweat to raise cash for breast cancer. Bosses at Pulse 8 Health and Fitness Club have set an ambitious fundraising target of £1 million – and won’t stop until they get every penny. This includes the launch of a ‘pink’ membership scheme with £5 a month of the membership fees going directly to breast cancer awareness charities. The campaign marks the opening of the new ladies-only fitness suite at the Mole Road complex in Sindlesham, where sporty women can boost the health of the charity’s coffers as well as their ow...


http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/business/s/2065209_gym_staff_shape_up_for_1m_charity_fitness_test

Underused Therapy for the Heart: The Gym

“For years, doctors have known that cardiac rehabilitation programs — incorporating not only regular exercise, but also nutritional counseling, stress management and smoking cessation — can speed up patients’ recovery and extend their lives. But the experts didn’t know whether, in research jargon, there was a ‘dose-response relationship.’ In other words, said Bradley Hammill, a biostatistician at Duke University School of Medicine, ‘Do we see that increasing the number of sessions you go to leads to a better outcome?’ Now, thanks to a broad study led by Mr. Hammill, they know the answer: yes. When it comes to cardiac rehab, more is better. Just published in the journal Circulation, the study shows that patients who had heart attacks, had undergone coronary bypass graft surgery or had been hospit...

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/for-seniors-an-underused-heart-therapy-the-gym

Rolling Out the Yoga Mat

“Like Wi-Fi, on-demand movies and fitness centers, yoga is becoming an amenity many hotels and resorts just can’t do without. Long popular at spas and retreat centers, yoga classes have been spreading to mainstream hotels, resorts and tour operators over the last several years. As the ancient stretching and meditation practice gained popularity, the travel industry began seeing dollar signs in sun salutations. Soon, yoga classes were showing up on the on-demand channels in Hyatts and Marriotts, and at the...

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/travel/07pracyoga.html

Looking For A New Gym? You Don't Have To Go Far

“Several health club operators are hoping that Northeast Ohioans are ready to get fit. New clubs are popping up across the region, many aiming to attract new populations of gym members. Body builders and athletes once dominated fitness centers, but now all sorts of people are interested in working out, said John Craig, brand development manager of Planet Fitness, which opened a new location in Rocky River last month. People are becoming more educated about health issues through the government and the media, Craig said. ‘It's almost like a public health movement,’ he said. ‘It's like the anti-smoking crusade of 40 years ago. Everybody knows they should be exercising to some degree.’”...

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/02/looking_for_a_new_gym_you_dont_have_to_go_far.html

Women's Fitness Center Forced to Close in Saudi Arabia

“Local reports say that Saudi health authorities have closed down a women’s fitness center attached to a hospital in Jeddah, with officials saying it is illegal to run health clubs or fitness centers for women in the country. Speaking to Arab News Muhammad Abdul Jawad, director of Jeddah’s Medical Licensing Administration said, ‘Anyone who violates regulations governing the running of health facilities would be punished...

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2010/01/womens-fitness-center-forced-to-close-in-saudi-arabia.html

Experts Say 40 Percent Of Cancers Could Be Prevented

“Forty percent of the 12 million people diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year could avert the killer disease by protecting themselves against infections and changing their lifestyles, experts said Tuesday...

http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2010/02/02/eline/links/20100202elin012.html

NASM Launches New Business Development Course for Club Fitness Professionals

“The National Academy of Sports Medicine® (NASM®), a global leader in personal trainer certification and sports performance training, today announced the release of its new course, ‘Business Development for the Club Fitness Professional.’ The latest offering from NASM is ...

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/NASM-Launches-New-Business-Development-Course-for-Club-Fitness-Professionals-1110945.htm

Fitness as a Full-Time Pursuit [video]

“In April 2003, corporal Hector Delgado lay in an induced coma on a Navy ship in the Persian Gulf. His pelvis had been crushed into six pieces and his legs and nerves were mangled after a fuel tank fell on him while he was with the Marines in Iraq. Being in a wheelchair doesn't stop U.S. Marine and Iraqi veteran Hector Delgado from keeping fit. He does CrossFit, a highly intense exercise program that combines Olympic lifts, body weight exercises, kettle ball exercises, and much more. The accident kept him in a hospital for a year. His right foot was paralyzed and his left foot was partially damaged. Mr. Delgado, who often has to use a wheelchair, fell into what he calls a three-year ‘funk.’ His weight ballooned ...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703837004575013350262520066.html

Does This Sound Like YOU?

It may not get as bad as "I'm washing my hair" but, when February brings with it a loss of motivation, the excuses to duck out of a fitness session are just too easy for some. The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has produced a list of the most common excuses used to stay clear of exercise...

http://kellycullen.typepad.com/kellysfitness/2010/02/does-this-sound-like-you.html

Weight-Loss Tax Breaks

James T. Rogers, an internal medicine specialist at St. John's, says many physicians will consider writing prescriptions for things like gym memberships, nutrition classes, even McClelland's Wii Fit, long as it gets patients moving and they can prove the treatment helps. Still, Weimer says the breaks are mostly for options in addition to daily life. For example, IRS guidelines show you can't deduct gym membership dues as a medical expense, but you can still get tax help with services from a health club. And even if you're burning calories on doctor's orders, H&R Block says you have to invest more than 7.5 percent of you're gross income on health costs before you ...

http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=231272

Worst Thing You Can Do In Winter Is Hibernate

“Every year millions of Americans resolve to commit to an exercise program. But starting or maintaining an exercise regimen during winter can be tough. Motivation drops with the temperatures, and when the winds are howling only the hardy and most dedicated venture out. Exercise is a lifetime commitment: Give it up for a week and it's hard to get back in the swing; give it up for six to eight weeks and you're back to couch potato status. The older you are and the longer the period of inactivity...

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100202/HEALTH/2020301/1113/Worst-thing-you-can-do-in-winter-is-hibernate

Founder of Merritt Properties Dies at 79

“The founder and chairman of Merritt Properties — a major player in the Loudoun County real estate landscape — died Jan. 25. Leroy Merritt, 79, founded Merritt Properties LLC in 1967 and later expanded the company to operate Merritt Athletic Clubs, a string of fitness centers in Greater Baltimore. The firm’s portfolio includes about two dozen office, flex and industrial properties that dot the Ashburn and Sterling areas of Loudoun County. Its main concentration is in Greater Baltimore, where it is the largest property management firm with a portfolio of 13.8 million square feet of managed space. ‘His commitment to forthright business dealings was matched by a generosity of spirit and a passion for helping those in need,’ said a statement from Merritt Properties. ‘Under his stewardship, Merritt Properties became one of the most altruistic companies in the region, a tradition that continues to this day.’ Merritt stepped down from day-to-day management of the company in 1997 but remained chairman of the company. The company is led by President Scott Dorsey and Vice President Robb Merritt, the son of Leroy Merritt.”

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=ACBJ&date=20100126&id=11060064