NIFS Healthy Living Blog

Protein is all the craze lately, and rightfully so due to its many benefits. However, many protein sources, especially animal based protein sources, can be high in nutrients that can harm the heart, specifically saturated fat, trans fats, cholesterol and sodium, if not selected carefully.

Intake of foods high in saturated fat, trans fats in cholesterol can increase LDL cholesterol levels in the blood, or the “bad” cholesterol, that is associated with heart disease. Trans fats can also lower your HDL cholesterol levels - the beneficial cholesterol that works to lower the amount of LDL/bad cholesterol in the bloodstream. Sodium, on the other hand, when consumed in excess, is associated with an increase in blood pressure, which makes the heart have to work harder to successfully pump blood throughout the body. Over time, high blood pressure can result in injury to the blood vessels, speeding up the buildup of plaque, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.

Foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol include fatty cuts of beef, lamb and pork; beef tallow (and foods that are fried with it); poultry with skin; full fat dairy products such as butter, cream, ice cream, and most cheeses; and “tropical” oils such as coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil. While we don’t frequently use or cook with coconut oil, palm oil, or palm kernel oil, it is used in a variety of processed and packaged foods, including some protein supplements like protein bars and shakes. Similarly, many protein-rich foods can also be high in sodium, especially processed meats like cold cuts and cured meats (deli meats, sausages, hot dogs, bacon, etc) and highly processed protein supplements and protein foods (protein crackers, protein chips, protein breads, protein pastas, etc.) which are increasing in popularity.

So how do you meet your protein needs while also protecting your heart health? It’s all about balance. When opting for animal based proteins, it is best to choose those that are leaner, such as “round”, “loin”, and “sirloin” cuts of red meat, skinless chicken and turkey, fish and seafood, eggs and egg whites and low fat dairy products (nonfat, 1% or 2% milk products - greek yogurt, cottage cheese, milk). Many animal based proteins are likely to still provide some saturated and trans fats and cholesterol into the diet, so it’s important to also include plant based proteins, such as tofu, tempeh, lentils and legumes, nuts, beans, and seeds. Fruits and vegetables typically provide little protein, however, they are still equally important for heart and overall health, so be sure to incorporate them alongside your protein sources at meals and snacks!

Celebrate Heart Health Month at NIFS ❤️

February is Heart Health Month at NIFS, and we’re putting your heart first with FREE Bod Pod & NIFS 3D Scans, blood pressure testing, HIIT & Burn classes, a Heart-a-thon Walk, and our Heart & Hustle Challenge.

Register for classes in the NIFS app, and earn raffle entries for every class you attend in our new Group Fitness Room 1. The more you move, the more chances you have to win—while doing something great for your heart.

Follow us on social for event updates and reminders, and stop by the Service Desk for full details. 

Gratitude could be defined as recognizing and appreciating the “good” things in our lives, regardless of challenges that come up. Gratitude is a positive emotion that aligns with a growth mindset. Practicing this emotion can benefit our sense of well-being by reminding us of the strengths, resources, and support systems in our lives. These positive aspects of our day-to-day empower us and remind us of many gifts we have. Positive thinking and gratitude can lead to an increased sense of self-efficacy and resiliency against setbacks. In other words, positive thinking leads to positive results.

Don’t Focus on the “Bad”

Focusing on the negative aspects of the day can be an avoidable trap. Life constantly evolves with new challenges and often distracts us from the things that make us happy. If we aren’t mindful of our thought habits, we may follow a pattern of negative thinking. Negative thinking and self-criticism build up over time and can detract fromthe overall sense of happiness and fulfillment. Negativity may affect performance, may diminish morale, and may contribute long-term to the progression of disorders such as anxiety and depression. Focusing on the “bad” can decrease our perception of happiness and ultimately lead to a more fixed mindset. Appreciating the better things in life steers our thoughts and emotions towards progression and growth, rather than fixating on the negative aspects. In 1998, Martin Seligman, former president of the American Psychological Association, started the discussion on positive psychology, which has evolved over the years. The P.E.R.M.A. model of well-being was later developed from his original theories. P.E.R.M.A is an acronym for positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement. This theory of positive psychology states that by acknowledging these positive aspects in our lives, we feed a deeper sense of intrinsic well-being.

Why is it important to practice gratitude?

Feeling gratitude, or practicing it intentionally, can benefit our sense of happiness because we train our thoughts to entertain aspects of P.E.R.M.A. These thoughts serve our own greater good and connect us back to relationships, meaning, and life purpose. These thoughts are focused on things we value, regardless of the circumstances we are in.

New challenges are approached with optimism as we make positive thinking habitual. Positive emotions, in a way, “strengthen” our mind by reinforcing our sense of contentment in ourselves and our surroundings. The practice of intentional positive thinking builds up mental resiliency to new challenges. Resiliency leads to approaching problems as a relative event, rather than an innate issue.

Gratitude can be a choice to acknowledge what is going well and move past the things that detract from our happiness. Gradually, positive thinking fosters a positive outlook when problem-solving, while we are actively engaged with day-to-day life.

How Gratitude can change a Fixed Mindset toward a Growth Mindset

Fixed-minded people often make the mistake of treating problems as failures or things to avoid. Growth-minded people are resilient because they treat problems as a process of ongoing development. By adopting a growth mindset, we can meet our challenges with an appreciation for where we are and embrace challenges as an anticipated part of the process. People who feel gratitude tend to be happier as they understand that life may be challenging at times, but offers many gifts to cherish.

Make Gratitude a Habit

You can start practicing gratitude in many ways by taking mindful moments throughout the day. One idea is to explore yoga, the inward journey, which was created to be a physical means of introspection and mindfulness. Try this… Before your next yoga session, try setting intentions on gratitude before your asana practice. Joining the Level 1 Yoga Class at NIFS, for example, could be a time to slow down and think about one or two things that provide meaning and happiness in your life. After 45 minutes, you may be surprised by how your thoughts are naturally more optimistic. The troubles from the day suddenly seem not so bad.

Ready to bring more mindfulness and gratitude into your day? Join NIFS Mindful November! Follow along on our social media or stop by the service desk to discover this month’s weekly prompts and participating fitness classes as part of our Mindful Challenge.

As we get into the season of gratitude, it’s the perfect time to think about how we can strengthen our bodies and minds. This November, we’re super excited to kick off the holiday season with a Planksgiving Challenge! Whether you’re a fitness pro or just starting out, planks are a fantastic way to build your core strength, improve posture, and up your overall fitness game.

Let’s chat about the benefits of adding planks to your routine and tips to make the most of your Planksgiving efforts. Get ready to boost your fitness while appreciating the strength and resilience of your body by committing to a stronger you—one plank at a time!

Why Planks?

1. Posture and Low Back Pain Prevention: Planks are a great way to help maintain good posture and can prevent lower back pain by strengthening the core muscles.
2. Balance and Coordination: They engage multiple muscle groups at once, which helps improve your balance and coordination, making everyday activities easier.
3. Convenient, Total Body Exercise: Planks are super versatile! Whether you are doing a workout in a gym, at a park, or at home, planks activate multiple muscle groups at once to allow a bigger bang for your buck.

How to Work Planks into Your Routine

There are several ways to incorporate planks into your routine. For example, you can add them at the beginning of your workout as a full-body warm-up before you start. Performing three to four sets of planks before you start your workout is a great way to warm up those tiny stabilizer muscles and help you build a mind-muscle connection before performing your workout. Planks can also be added to the end of your workout as a finisher. Adding in planks at the end of a workout is a great way to strengthen your core and help build endurance in the muscle groups activated.

Sample Plank Circuit

• Standard plank hold: 2 sets, 30 seconds each
• Side plank hold: 2 sets, 30 seconds each side

If you’re new to planks, they can also be easily modified by dropping the knees to the ground, coming up to the hands in a high plank position or by being performed on an elevated surface such as a weight bench or box.

Make November a time to celebrate fitness, resilience, and gratitude by joining us for the Planksgiving Challenge! Whether you’re looking to strengthen your core, improve your balance, or just try something new, this challenge is for everyone. See a NIFS staff member to get started!

Looking to build strength that lasts a lifetime? Squats are a foundational movement that supports health, mobility, and longevity, yet many of us overlook this natural exercise due to our modern, sedentary lifestyles. Incorporating squats into your routine can help you stay strong, flexible, and resilient as you age.

Importance of Squats

Sitting for long periods weakens key muscles like the glutes and reduces hip mobility. But with consistent squatting movements in your routine, you can reverse these effects, improving your posture and making daily activities—from climbing stairs to picking up objects—much easier. Squats help maintain strength, mobility, and stability, making them essential for daily life.

Muscle Activation

When you squat, you’re not just targeting your legs. You’re working the gluteus maximus, quadriceps, and hamstrings, while also activating secondary muscles like the gluteus medius and erector spinae. This full-body engagement helps you move with more power and stability throughout the day, allowing you to perform everyday movements with ease and efficiency.

Benefits Across Ages

Squats aren’t just for athletes—they’re essential as we age. Studies show that enhanced single-leg strength correlates with increased physical activity, particularly in individuals over 50. Increasing single-leg strength can correlate to increased Activities of Energy Expenditure (AEE) and often directly affect activity levels in these populations. The easier it is to move, the more likely we are to stay active and reduce disease risk.

Preventative Health

As we age, muscle mass, bone density, and reaction times decline. Resistance training, including squats, can mitigate these changes. Loading bones through resistance training stimulates bone density, making our pelvic, femur, tibia, fibula, and small foot bones stronger and more resilient to injury. We also strengthen tendons through resistance training, which aids in maintaining joint health.

No matter your age, it’s never too late to start squatting. Building strength, mobility, and bone density now will help you move with ease and avoid injuries later. Start your squat journey today to protect your health for tomorrow.

Gathering inspiration from the Greeks’ history of gamification and pushing oneself to their physical and mental limits, DEKA, meaning “ten” in Greek, was created to be a staple of the popular Spartan Races. As an indoor fitness test, DEKA has impacted peoples’ lives because it forces them to go out of their comfort zones (physically and mentally) and face the challenge most people won’t. In this blog, I will share the significance and popularity of DEKA internationally, and within our NIFS facility.

What Is the DEKA Challenge?

DEKA consists of ten zones and serves as a test of one’s functional abilities that simulates lifting, pushing, pulling, kneeling, rowing, biking, and more. The DEKA website states, “Think thousands of years ago when it wasn’t called exercise, fitness, or training. It was survival…” (DEKA Philosophy, 2022). The exercises that make up this challenge are the following:

• 30 RAM ALT. REVERSE LUNGE
• 500M ROW
• 20 BOX JUMP/STEP OVER
• 25 MED BALL SIT-UP THROW
• 500M SKI ERG
• 100M FARMERS CARRY
• 25 CALORIE AIR BIKE
• 20 DEAD BALL WALL OVER
• 100M TANK PUSH/PULL
• 20 RAM BURPEES

Why Should You Compete?

I don’t view DEKA, or any Spartan race for that matter, as a competition. Instead, it’s an opportunity to become an improved version of yourself both physically and mentally. In addition, DEKA provides a benchmark and significant milestone for your fitness journey because it will show you how you could improve your functional fitness going forward. For example, if the TANK PUSH/PULL is a significant challenge for you, improving your muscular endurance and leg power will be beneficial for the next fitness test.

Where Can You Compete?

NIFS has recently become a DEKA affiliate, meaning that we can host DEKA competitions within our facility. With the success of our first event in November, we’re excited to not only continue hosting but also to provide a training program for the events. For specific dates and descriptions of the various training sessions, visit our DEKA website here.

For more information regarding DEKA, detailed zone descriptions, and additional DEKA locations and hosts, visit the official DEKA website here.

This blog was written by Deveon Martin, NIFS Health Fitness Specialist. To read more about the NIFS bloggers, click here.

Overtraining is a simple concept: just go hard for many days in a row without proper rest and recovery. I don’t recommend it. The effects of overtraining are:

• Lack of sleep (although you should be exhausted)
• Brain fog (can’t remember a thing)
• Body soreness (little aches and pains)
• Short of breath with everything (but I was gaining endurance)
• Hungry and thirsty (but you don’t want to eat or drink)
• Grouchy (everything and everyone will make you mad)

How I Did It

I needed a challenge: get in better shape, lose a bit of weight, just complete something. “It’s the end of the year,” I thought. “Why start January 1?” I went looking and found the Rapha 500K bike challenge. This was it for me, with a tweak. The challenge consists of 500K on your bike (inside or out) from Christmas to New Year’s Day. That is over 40 miles per day. I knew that would be too much (since I have not been on my bike in months), so I picked the 12 days of Christmas (one of my favorite Christmas songs!). That equates to just under 26 miles per day. I started a day early, on Christmas Day, so I gave myself another day to complete my task.

It was a quiet Christmas, so I got on my bike two times that day to get in over 25 miles. I did fear the pain of sitting the next day, but it was okay. I rode daily (or twice) as if it were my job. The fourth day my early leg soreness was gone, and I could actually sit on my saddle for 45 minutes to an hour every morning—though by that fourth day I was noticing being tired and not being able to sleep. As a fitness professional I know the importance of sleep, and I tried to get in naps. (I have perfected the 10-minute power nap). At night I could not fall asleep or stay asleep for more that a few hours at a time. I do have to get up early many days a week and keep my schedule as normal as possible.

I was thinking if I averaged 20mph it would only be a little over an hour to get in the amount needed for the day. Every morning I would sing that day’s part of the 12 days of Christmas over and over!

I knew my brain was foggy when during rides I would try to do the math and it always seemed like I was behind in numbers (yes, it took me a long time to figure out also that just like a 5K run is 3.1 miles, it would take 310 miles to get 500K).

I also couldn’t remember what my client’s workout was, although I just looked at their workout sheet. I often couldn’t remember who I was training next, or where my pen was (it’s in your hand, idiot). Focusing on anything for more than a few minutes WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Coffee only gets you so far.

I did try to hydrate before, during, and after workouts, but I always seemed thirsty in the evenings). As for the hydration, I drank a lot, so I had to go to the bathroom a lot. This made staying asleep a challenge as well.

I figured I could eat anything since I was burning calories by the hundreds (at least that’s what my hunger was telling me). Christmas goodies were not the best replenisher. (I had the idea I would eat super clean and see what it did for my body fat, but that idea went out the window with the cookies calling my name with every trip through the kitchen.)

I was short of breath in everything I did, but my endurance in other workouts was there. Oh yes, I kept up my HIT and strength sessions those 13 days as well. No rest for the weary, as they say.

The last two days were easy (ha!) in mileage terms. I went 15 miles at NIFS on the 11^th day, which was almost interrupted by a fire alarm. “Unless I see smoke and flames, I’m not getting off this bike,” I said to no one in particular.

The 12^th day (13^th technically), I had an “easy” 10 miles, just like the Tour de France heading into Paris. UGH, nothing could be further from the truth. My legs ached and it seemed to take forever to finish. But with a sense of relief and sadness, I had finished what I started.

I still was not sleeping well for a few weeks after, and I was still hungry, because your body doesn’t know if you’re getting back on that bike again or not. It’s going to tell you to EAT!

I miss my bike, and it misses me I’m sure, but I got a new level of endurance, and my brain has come back to remembering (thank goodness). I do feel like this led to me catching a cold later. I just didn’t feel like total recovery was possible without more days off, better eating, and quality sleep.

Take on Your Own Challenge

Do push yourself, but also make sure you recover. That means REALLY LISTENING to your body. It is a magnificent machine it you take care of it.

This blog was written by Kris Simpson, BS, ACSM-PT, HFS, personal trainer, and USTA at NIFS. To read more about the NIFS bloggers, click here.

Fall is hands-down one of my favorite times of the year. There’s a crispness in the air, the leaves begin to change, there’s pumpkin-flavored everything, football season is in full swing, and there’s the return of a little phenomenon known as Squatober!

Yes, you read that correctly: SQUATober. Squatober is known as “the world’s largest knee-bending party,” and consists of squatting 5–6 times per week for the entirety of the month of October. Crazy, right? Crazy awesome! The program is written and was originally created by Aaron Ausmus, NCAA D1 shot put champion and strength and conditioning coach. It culminates in a PR party sometime around Halloween (“personal record” for those of you playing at home), and all proceeds from shirts and merchandise are ultimately donated to outfitting a high school weight room in need of some upgrades.

I can almost hear the confusion, apprehension, or flat-out scoffs through the screen. Squatting, and squatting heavy no less, five days a week, every week for a month—why would anyone want to embark on something so outlandish? Well, a lot of strength coaches, fitness professionals, and gym junkies have taken the plunge into Squatober since its inception.

And while I understand that it’s not for everyone, there’s something about stepping up to the plate (or under the bar, I should say) that really appealed to me. It was a "challenge accepted” moment that took me back to the days of being a competitive athlete. Plus, I wanted to be a part of a larger, worldwide phenomenon that ultimately ended in giving back to communities and those in need. There have also been numerous stories of other coaches citing Squatober as the reason they overcame personal struggles such as addiction, mental health struggles, and much more.

After completing the sometimes grueling squat party for the first time last year, I came away with a little more than soreness. Here are my four biggest takeaways after completing Squatober.   

Our bodies are capable of some incredible feats.

Now, I’m not saying I broke the female world record for the back squat. But after squatting for 27 days, my estimated 1-rep max increased by over 10 percent! This definitely exceeded my expectations (seeing as all I wanted to do was make it to the end). And I understand that picking up things and putting them down might not be everyone’s favorite pastime. But if you’ve been debating signing up for that triathlon, or that Spartan race, or picking up trail running, or training to hike to the top of Pike’s Peak, my advice? Just start! It’s never too late, and our bodies are able to do some pretty cool stuff; you may surprise yourself with what you’re able to handle.

Coaches need coaches, too.

I’ve always been more of a nerd when it comes to training. I want to know the ins and outs when it comes to physiology, how certain periodization schemes affect the body’s ability to adapt. I view programming as a puzzle: trying to piece together the optimal exercises, at the correct dose, in the right order, in order to achieve the desired result. But when you do that for numerous clients, athletes, and friends, for hours at a time, week after week, I’ll be honest: I feel a little brain-dead when it comes to my own programming. Having another coach be in charge of the plan, so all I had to do was open my phone, see the workout, and get down to business? That was a huge weight lifted (pun intended). Since completing Squatober, I’ve reached out to colleagues multiple times to get not only their advice but also their take on my programming. I’ve found that this leaves me fresh, more motivated, and honestly more accountable.

If you want to improve a skill, do it every day (or close to it).

I’ll be honest, the first 6–7 days were a little rough. I was waddling around like I was learning to walk for the first time (hello soreness!). But once I progressed into week two and beyond, I noticed a few things. My depth was consistently better. I wasn’t compensating as much (toes turning out, trunk lean). And my bar path remained more constant (not moving forward or back). By addressing my ankle mobility each day, and my hip stability before each lift, the pieces started to come together. This premise holds true for any habit you want to start or any skill you want to learn. Even if you address it for only a minute a day, making your mission constant improvement, even if it’s only 1 percent each session, it can lead to profound results over time.

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

This message was echoed from many of my coaches growing up. Similar sentiments float around the fitness industry fairly regularly. “Comfort is the enemy of achievement,” for example. And Squatober was a nice reminder of that. Again, going into week two, knowing that I had another heavy load that would literally be placed on my back, I started to shift my mentality. I began to look forward to the challenge. I wasn’t worried about any soreness that might ensue. I had begun to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Now, I’m not saying we have to be uncomfortable 24/7, 365 in order to achieve results. But rather, what was once uncomfortable became the new normal. We adapt, we overcome. And we ultimately change for the better!

I admittedly was only able to complete some of the workouts this year due to scheduling. And I do want to reiterate that I understand this is not for everyone. Would I program this way for athletes? No. Is this the end-all be-all in terms of workout plans? No. Was it fun? For me it absolutely was. I loved the camaraderie it offered. I loved checking in with former colleagues and coaches as we all progressed from week to week. I loved that I could look back and say, “Yeah, I did that. I made it.”

So, if you are interested in hopping into Squatober next year, you can check out @sorinex or @penandpaperstrengthapp on Instagram for workouts. Don’t be afraid to modify when you need to, either. And at the end of the day? Just have some fun with it while accepting the challenge! Happy lifting!

This blog was written by Lauren Zakrajsek, NIFS Assistant Fitness Center Manager, Health Fitness Instructor, and Personal Trainer. To learn more about the NIFS bloggers, click here.

It’s time to get serious about goal setting. Setting goals can help you dig more deeply into fitness and think about what you truly want to accomplish. Goals can range from wanting to walk 1 mile to squatting 2 times your body weight, and absolutely everything in between and beyond. Everyone is on a different path to fitness, so whatever your goals may be is completely up to you.

The current trend in the fitness industry is to lose weight, gain muscle, and look like this girl or that guy that you see on social media. While there’s nothing wrong with setting a weight-based goal, we’re completely missing one major key of what working out can do for you: unlock your potential.

The Pitfalls of Rapid Weight Loss

When we set a goal of losing weight, we often lose sight of the importance of being strong and healthy, and this may lead to behaviors such as disordered eating or excessive exercise. All too often, people just want to get rid of the extra weight quickly. This mindset may encourage rapid weight loss that is not sustainable over the long term. Rapid weight loss can also lead to the loss of muscle mass, instead of fat loss, which is not desirable because muscle plays so many important roles in the body. It drives metabolism (having muscle increases Resting Metabolic Rate), keeps people strong as they age so that they can maintain their independence for as long as possible, and more.

Focus on Performance

The human body is capable of so much more than how much weight it can gain or lose—it has the power to perform. If you want to run a half marathon, you can train to run a half marathon. If you want to deadlift 300 pounds, you can train to do that. You can push the boundaries of your strength and endurance to do the things that may seem impossible right now. By going beyond what you think your limits are, you will adapt to the stress and become stronger. If you limit your goals to how much you would like to weigh, your focus is on what your body is, not what it can do.

It’s perfectly reasonable to have a weight-loss goal. There’s plenty of research describing how losing weight is beneficial for long-term health if one is overweight. However, it is rarely a linear process, and you must be prepared to face ups, downs, and plateaus. Having a goal that revolves around some type of strength or endurance feat will give you something to work toward even during the hurdles of a weight loss journey. You’ll be too distracted trying to do three pull ups or running five miles to notice those tiny, yet frustrating weight fluctuations that are a natural part of weight loss (and in general).

Beyond Your Weight-Loss Goal

Besides, the work doesn’t stop once you have reached your weight goal. The last thing you want to do is gain back what you spent months or years working toward. So if you haven’t yet set a goal beyond weight loss, now would be a great time to do so. The moral of this blog is to remind you that it’s okay to want to weigh “X” amount of pounds, but it’s not in your best interest to limit your body to a goal revolving around a number. You are capable of much more than just weighing a certain amount. Unlock your true potential by knocking down barriers and pushing the limits in and out of the gym.

This blog was written by Hannah Peters, BS, CPT, Health Fitness Instructor. To learn more about the NIFS bloggers, click here.

Greetings NIFS friends! Hopefully your New Year’s resolutions are keeping you more active at the gym and less active at the buffet line. All joking aside, getting back to the gym can be challenging, especially if you are not sure what to do when you get there or if you are burnt out on cookie-cutter workouts that are barely working anymore. With that being said, introducing new equipment, ideas, and strategies can be a daunting task. Don’t let that get you down, though, because we are here to rescue your workout!

Breathing life into your workout can have numerous benefits. Sometimes the benefits allow us to break through plateaus, keep us interested in what we are doing (refocusing our goals), and give us variety (aka “the spice”). Highlighted in this blog are three pieces of equipment that may be overlooked by the simple reason that we just don’t know what it is or what it can do for our body. Without a doubt, just trying these exercises will not only be challenging, but also effective as you strive to reach your fitness goals.

Tire and Sledgehammer Workouts

The tire and sledgehammer workout was derived out of simplicity, necessity, and function. There are two main exercises to consider here, tire flips and sledgehammer strikes. With an optional smaller tire, one does not have to possess the strength of Paul Bunyan to complete this task (but there are bonus points if you do). To flip the tire, first squat low and get your fingers under the edge of the tire. As you stand up, use your legs and drive your body into the tire, leveraging it up on its end. The tire should tip over easily and come to rest square on the ground.

The other exercise is called sledgehammer strikes. This is not much different than chopping wood or driving a railroad spike. Because your goals may not include having the strength of a lumberjack, there are several sledgehammer weight options to choose from, ranging from 8lb to 16lb. Strike directly in the middle of the tire to avoid a glancing strike. Try this in your next workout:

5 tire flips, 20 strikes (10 each side) for 4 sets

Slideboard

The slideboard was designed as a means of training lateral movements as well as developing balance and stability in the lower body and core. If done properly, this exercise can also produce a high-intensity workout all while gliding side to side. As an application, the strength and power developed from this lateral movement translates well to the world of speed skating, where athletes are known for incredible leg strength.

Because the gliding might not feel as natural to everyone, there are other exercises to consider, including Slideboard Hamstring Curls and Slideboard Mountain Climbers. For both exercises, you will need to use the booties to decrease friction (otherwise, the exercises won’t work). For Hamstring Curls, position your body toward the end of the board, with your knees bent and heels on the slick part of the board. Keeping your back flat and head down, raise your hips fully. Finally, extend your legs and return to the starting position. For beginners, this can be done with one leg at a time.

The other exercise, Mountain Climbers, is done by positioning the body at the end of the slide board in an “all-fours” position. With your toes on the slick part of the board, rise up so that your knees are off the ground. At a quick tempo, slide your legs inward, being sure to alternate legs. Additional pushups can add some variety to this movement. Try this in your next workout:

12 Hamstring Curls, 30 seconds of Mountain Climbers x 4 sets

Slosh Pipes

One thing to consider when making workouts: most of the good equipment and exercises have already been invented. The slosh pipe, a unique, homemade piece of equipment, is both odd and beautiful at the same time. It allows us to think and work so far out of the box that everyone can benefit in some way from using it. Basically, a slosh pipe is a PVC tube (3 or 4 inches in diameter and anywhere from 40 to 96 inches long) filled halfway with water and sealed on both ends. The water is meant to slosh around inside the pipe, hence the name Slosh Pipe.

Thinking outside the box, the pipes can be used to develop strength as well as core, balance, and stability. Two exercises to try here include the half-kneeling overhead hold and the walking lunges. The first exercise, the overhead hold, is pretty self-explanatory: find a slosh pipe and hold it over your head for time. The pipe needs to be moderately heavy, but if there is a question about safety, always have a spotter on overhead lifts such as this one. As you hold that weight overhead from a half-kneeling position (one knee up, one knee down), seconds turn into minutes. There is a constant rebalance happening with your core, as water tips one way or the other. Grip strength and overall upper-body strength are challenged as fatigue sets in. Lower the weight back to the floor with the help of a partner.

The other exercise is a walking lunge. This is accomplished by holding the slosh pipe in the crooks of your elbows and performing a walking lunge. The same effects as the overhead hold are prevalent. Try this in your next workout:

45–60-second half-kneeling Overhead Hold, 20 walking lunges x 4 sets

***

As you can see, there are several pieces of equipment at the gym that you may have overlooked. Keep looking; there are more than you think. The NIFS staff of Certified Fitness Professionals strives to give you not only a good workout, but also to introduce you to new exercises and cutting-edge equipment. If you want a new routine to save your resolution from disaster, contact NIFS’ Fitness Rescue to set up a strategy session, testing, and workout.

This blog was written by Thomas Livengood, Health Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer. To read more about the NIFS bloggers, click here.

It’s that time of year when millions of people around the world start looking for that next “best” thing to give them the body they have always dreamed of. Aggressive physical challenges, cleanses, elaborate diets that usually involve the removal of a food source (and result in you craving it even more); people will take some drastic steps to help erase the past year of poor nutrition and lifestyle decisions.

Unfortunately, the successes of these different “new year, new you” initiatives are short-lived, and many people will be looking again for another fix a year from now. Why is this so? I can list many reasons why weight-loss challenges don’t work and do not provide long-term, sustainable results. In a previous post I explained why mindset is crucial to fitness success, so it truly starts there. But what are some other reasons why New Year challenges don’t deliver? Most are…

• Too much
• Too fast
• Too easy to quit

Many contests or challenges demand that you take too much out of your diet or exercise way too much. They also usually want to see these changes made and results achieved too fast. Lastly, many fail to provide ample accountability, encouragement, and motivation, making it too easy to quit. So does this mean that all contests, challenges, or programs are doomed to fail? Not if they are done right!

Slim It to Win It is one of NIFS’ longest-running programs, and has been helping so many people for just shy of a decade. We here at NIFS are super proud of the life-changing results that SITWI has been able to provide hundreds of individuals here in the Indianapolis area. So how do we do it?

Not Too Much

NIFS coaches focus on small behavioral changes piled onto one another during an 8–10-week period. We don’t want anyone changing too much too fast; that is proven to be an unsuccessful practice. Focusing on one or maybe two changes at a time is a proven method that we teach our teams. Slow and steady wins the race, and we want to provide our people with the tools to continue building a healthy lifestyle long after they have completed the program.

Too much exercise, especially from the get-go (and with those who might have been less than active leading up to the program), is another mistake our coaches do not make. With two training sessions a week to start, with supplemental workouts provided, our teams get the right dose of exercise at the right time.

Not Too Fast

Once again we focus on sustainable changes and results over the course of eight weeks and beyond. The journey is not over on March 11; it’s really just beginning. NIFS coaches work toward the individual’s specific goals over many weeks—not pushing to see drastic changes in a very short amount of time. It’s just not safe, and it just doesn’t last!

When the focus is more on speed, retention of critical lifestyle practices and education will suffer, leading to the “cramming effect.” Do you remember cramming for that chemistry exam in high school? If you are anything like me and most people, you probably didn’t retain a great deal of that information. We want our team members to keep the life-changing information so they can continue to use these best practices to maintain their success.

Not Too Easy to Quit

Positive accountability truly is a key ingredient in a successful lifestyle-change process. A strong support group will provide the needed accountability and motivation to keep at it, even when you want to hang it up and return to old behaviors that got you in the situation you are in. During SITWI, you have a whole team cheering you on and providing support, because everybody is going through a similar battle.

A group of motivated, like-minded individuals can be unstoppable in the pursuit of its goals. Not only will you be relying on your team to pick you up at times, they are going to need you right back. And speaking from experience, there is no better feeling than when you make a difference in someone’s life, or help them see their true capabilities. You can be that to someone!

The idea of a New Year, starting over, or making some improvements can be very exciting. This excitement can lead to creating real change or a repeat of the past, keeping you in the cycle of thinking it will be better next year. Remember, mindset matters most, but a strong call to make changes followed by taking action to create that change are the next best steps. Let Slim It to Win It help you take action.

This blog was written by Tony Maloney, ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist and Fitness Center Manager. To find out more about the NIFS bloggers, click here.