My name is Louie Arecco and I have been in the industry of Health and Fitness for 14 years.

My education and professional experience has served me well for the amazing career of fitness. I hold an Economics Degree from University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana, a Master in Business Administration from Loyola University of Chicago, and spent most of my professional life working with Fortune 500 companies. By no means I know everything about fitness, but I do have an amazing team and collectively we help people change their lives effectively. My passion and challenge is helping my clients stay in a fitness lifestyle.
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Fitness Options

It is time to start thinking about swimming suits or perhaps thinking about why you didn’t get your workout program sooner. Regardless of which story you tell yourself; regret is the most painful feeling. So, instead of finding the very good “reason” and justify why you are not going to start exercising and eating healthy, why don’t you challenge yourself to start immediately to reclaim your health. It is possible to go to the beach at the end of September. Three months are long enough to make a substantial change.
There are many fitness options out there to take care of your health. Some are good and some are garbage. So pick wisely because you pay for what you get. Cheaper is only good for commodities like potatoes and corn. But when you need professionals to make sure you don’t get hurt, hold you accountable, make sure stay motivated, and teach you a sustainable system to maintain your gains, then you can’t go cheap.
I have never heard anyone say “I need to find the cheapest doctor for my heart surgery”. You would never choose the cheapest surgeon because your life is that important. If so, why choose the cheap – and most likely- less knowledgeable fitness professional.
Let’s return to the subject. Here are a few questions to see if you must call immediately to set up an appointment with a fitness professional. I always recommend more intimate venues. Places where they can pay attention to you. If you answer “NO” to any of the following questions, you call me, or a reputable fitness professional, to set up a time to meet: (1) Can you see your toes while standing up. (2) Can you walk three flights of stairs? (3) Are you more than 50 pounds from your high school weight? (4) Can you jog a block without hyperventilating? (5) Have you worked out in the last 90 days? (6) Are you happy with your health and fitness?
We can write a couple hundred more questions, but I think you get the picture. Listen, life is a lot better when all your systems are functioning at optimal levels. It is the same with your car, your computer, your boat, your refrigerator, your microwave, etc. but none of those systems is as important as your own health. I am willing to bet that if you answer “NO” to any of those questions, you take care of everything else but your health.
Reality is brutal. You can find good “reasons” and justify why not to take care of your health and fitness. But if you don’t take the time today, you will have to make time to be ill. If you think fitness is expensive, wait to get the medical bills.
The truth is that no one can talk you into taking care of yourself. You have to do it for your own reasons. You have to do it for those you love. You have to do it because your life is the greatest gift you have ever received. Anyone that stops you or discourages you from taking care of yourself, should not be in your life. You are worth the effort. Life is too short to live it with a broken down body. You are worth to live life to its fullest.

Louie Arecco is the owner of Anytime Fitness located in Downtown Kenosha at
611 56th street 3rd Floor
Anytimefitness.com
Facebook Page
(This blog  first appeared in the 7/15/21 issue of the Smart Reader publication)

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The Wrong Industry

I am in the wrong industry. The Fitness industry has always faced an upward battle to get people to take care of themselves.  While driving around Kenosha, it is impossible not to see the multiple new hospitals and clinics that are popping up everywhere.

These beautiful enormous high-end facilities could compete against the Ritz, or any other luxury hotel. They are monuments of modern architecture that house thousands of people. They also employ a large number of Kenosha’s workforce. According to the 2018 numbers from Data USA, the City of Kenosha employs 7,212 people in Healthcare and Social Assistance. The 2021 Kenosha Area Business Alliance states that the Aurora Health Care Hospital System employs 1,220 people, and the United Hospital Systems 2,245. I had the opportunity to visit the Saint Catherine’s Hospital and observed the hundreds of people patiently waiting to get to their doctors to get “fixed”.  Furthermore, people pay thousands of dollars for just about any visit they have to the doctor.  The first thing they ask is for your insurance card, before they even let you see the doctor.  I am willing to wage that the cost of one average hospital visit would pay for an entire year of any Kenosha fitness center.

There are only a handful of fitness centers in Kenosha. My facility in downtown Kenosha employs 6 people and constantly struggles to get people to join.  Yes, we have a solid base of members that take care of themselves, but for the last 15-years, we continue to be at less than half of our capacity.  The demand of having a beautiful clean place with capable professionals is high, but the expectation of what people are willing to pay for it is not in alignment with the value of what they get from the club.

Your fitness is such a vital part of having the body and state of mind to be the best you can be and operate at your highest performance.  But the fact that fitness takes effort deters 80% of the entire country.  In Kenosha that number is probably higher.

The irony of the above equation is that fit people do not need a hospital that much.  Yes, we break bones and have yearly checkups, but for the most part staying healthy not only allows us to enjoy life at its full capacity, but also saves us thousands of dollars in hospital visits.

During my visit to the hospital last week for my check up, I could not stop thinking; “what if there was the same demand for fitness centers as there are for hospitals.  If people were willing to stay in long lines to access fitness facilities,  we would be able to build hundreds of places like Anytime Fitness, offering all sorts of fitness.

Well, I tell you one thing; we would not need as many hospitals as we currently have.  We would not spend so much on healthcare. And we would be a much healthier community.  A healthier community would bring a lot of jobs. We would demand better food options from the grocery stores to the restaurants.  Furthermore, studies show that fit people have happier lives, make more money, and even have better sex than unfit people.  So, if the benefits of being fit are so great, why aren’t more people working hard to be fit? Perhaps because it takes effort, perhaps because of ignorance, perhaps because our parents and teachers do not teach us the importance of being fit.  In any case, next time you go to a hospital, think about the fact, that if you are not there for an accident, giving birth, or genetic predisposition, most likely you could have avoided being there by being fit.

At the end, the story always ends the same; either you make time to get fit or you spend the time being sick.  It is your body, it is your life, and it is your choice to make.

Louie Arecco is the owner of Anytime Fitness located in Downtown Kenosha at
611 56th street 3rd Floor
Anytimefitness.com
Facebook Page
(This blog  first appeared in the 5/06/21 issue of the Smart Reader publication)

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“LIKE IT OR NOT”

Being healthy and being successful- at anything- have more similarities that you may think. To begin, no one becomes healthy by working out just for one month.  Likewise, the first time you try something worthwhile you most likely you will not be successful (in any aspect of life).  Perseverance and discipline are important components on reaching either of those objectives, but the most important ingredient is your mindset.  Having a resilient positive mindset will help you find and stay on a path to reach any objective. The modern ideology to success is to reach it quickly by doing what makes you happy.  This truth is in fact correct but is highly misunderstood.  The misconception is portrayed by this example: “if eating ice-cream makes you happy, why shouldn’t I be eating it every day?” The implications of consuming that amount of sugar daily will be counterproductive to your own wellbeing.  You will get sick and with that your state of mind will decline, most likely starting a chain reaction of misery and health issues.  I hope you agree with me that eating ice-cream daily is not good for you.

 

Reaching success quickly by doing what you like has the leaders of tomorrow wanting to be famous, rich, and fit, without the work it requires to get there.  Being an influencer or an overnight celebrity is up on the list of wanted “careers”.  Make money fast ideas are paramount and our entire youth is looking to have the most “likes” and followers to feel accomplished. Getting “likes” at work requires earning your stripes.  If your boss does not praise you for doing your job, don’t get discouraged and instead of trying to blame your boss by finding his faults, realize that doing your job is the minimum expected. That means that it is the minimum requirement to get paid.  No praises are earned so far. So, if you want praises and accolades earn your keep, prove your employer that his investment in hiring you and training you was a good idea.  Sticking around to earn respect and experience is the perseverance and discipline we mentioned before.  This works in fitness too.  If you have a strong workout and therefore are sore the next few days, it isn’t a reason to hate working out, it is a sign of progress.  Pushing yourself to the next level helps you develop the skills you need to be a better employee, or in fitness, to build muscles or run faster.  You will not make the cover of a fitness magazine after a month of workouts, so don’t expect appraisal for every ounce of effort you put in. You get to decide how healthy you are and how well your muscles or athletic accomplishments flourish. Again, there is satisfaction on a job well done or achieving your fitness goals.  Enjoy the results for what they are.  The “likes” are nice but should not be your reason you do it.

 

Life is not about what you deserve. Life is what you are willing to make of it.  Opportunities are constantly presenting themselves for you and it is up to you to embrace them.  Be grateful to those giving you a chance.  A positive mindset will help you on this journey to success, while holding yourself accountable for your own discipline and perseverance.  Success is seldom achieved on the first, second, or even fifth attempt.  You will never enjoy your success if you did not have to work for it.  Opportunities are given to those people that demonstrate the attitude and appreciation to take them.  Remember failure is only failure when you stop trying.  So, failing is necessary, but not learning from your failures is not.  Stop turning down the possibility of improving by hiding behind fear and excuses just because people don’t recognize your efforts. Learn to have pride in the process without expecting a medal for doing the minimum.  Make some mistakes, get your hands dirty, enjoy the journey and take chances.  Engage in life and find your purpose, because when you do it will bring you positive energy and evidence that you are doing a worthwhile thing for you.   Your health, happiness, and attitude are yours and so is your misery and failure.  Take charge of your mindset and conquer all obstacles. Reset your expectations and begin taking care of your body and mindset and you will see how life will shine for you.

Louie Arecco is the owner of Anytime Fitness located in Downtown Kenosha at
611 56th street 3rd Floor
Anytimefitness.com
Facebook Page
(This blog  first appeared in the 4/08/21 issue of the Smart Reader publication)

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Written by Jennafer Ziegler

What is your why? And how to achieve your goals without motivation!

 Before we get started, I want to share a little bit of a background about myself. My name is Jennafer Ziegler. Currently I am working as a personal trainer at Anytime Fitness in Downtown Kenosha. I have had a background in athletics/ fitness my whole life. I played soccer at the University of Wisconsin Parkside. Being in athletics for most of my life is what made me start to become passionate about training. Seeing how training can transform your mind and body is what led me to want to help others in their fitness journey. Helping people become a better and healthier version of themselves.

 So, what is your why? We all have our WHY. Why we get up every morning and smash that 5 am lift or why we push through the exhaustion after a long workday to get into the gym. For me, it is the feeling I get while I am training. That empowering feeling, I get after hitting that “Personal Record” on a deadlift or running those 5 miles without having to slow down. Now when it comes to training, we are all different. There are various types of training, like weightlifting, HIIT training, running, cycling, CrossFit and so many more. So, with that we will all have a different Why. Like me I just enjoy the feeling of pushing past my limits to see what my body can do. For you it might be you just like the feeling of exercises, or you have health issues that require you exercise. Whether it be that you like to exercise or that you need to exercise, you still have a WHY.

 That is why setting your own goals is important. Either being a beginner or advanced in the gym, we set goals. Goals are not always going to be “I want to deadlift this amount” or “I want to be able to run a marathon”. A goal can be as simple as “I want to exercise 3 days a week” or “I want to be able to get down and play with my kids”. The goal should be what pertains to you and what ways it’s going to keep you on track to living a healthy lifestyle. In each step of our fitness journey we will change what kind of goals we want to achieve. It’s very important to keep setting goals throughout your journey so you are having something to work towards and look forward to each day.

 A good way to go about setting goals is to use what is called SMART goals, which is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely. When setting goals you don’t want to be setting unattainable goals because that will only lead you to disappointment and not wanting to continue because you didn’t get to where you wanted. Set realistic goals that pertain to your lifestyle and to be met in a timely manner. 

We all are going to want to hit our goal within the time frame we had chosen. I often see people relying on motivation to get them into the gym, when that’s not always the case. If you are serious about meeting your goals you have to be disciplined and ready to push past that thought in your head telling you that you are tired or you just don’t feel like it. Motivation isn’t what is going to get you to your goals, discipline will be what sets you apart from meeting your goals or not. Remember there is a difference between just being lazy that day or actually needing a break, so before you decide to stay home from the gym ask yourself…… what’s stopping you.

Anytime Fitness located in Downtown Kenosha at
611 56th street 3rd Floor
Anytimefitness.com
Facebook Page
(This blog  first appeared in the 3/125/21 issue of the Smart Reader publication

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Evolutionary Choices

It seems like it is believed in our beautiful Kenosha that proper rest time between workouts is between 6-months and 25-years? As much as I laugh with you about what seems to be an attempt to humor, it actually is a true reality for our local adult population.  I work at a health club, and I constantly welcome people that haven’t worked out in years.  But why? There is no doubt that people “care” about their health. Is there anyone in Kenosha that has not brushed their teeth in 6 months or 25 years? Is there anyone in Kenosha that has not taken a shower in 6 months or 25 years? Probably not, but then why are there people in Kenosha that have not exercised their heart or strengthened their muscles in years?  I have more questions than answers. But I know that our bodies will adjust to just about anything we ask them to. You can see your body doing so when you enter a room with a terrible smell, and if you stay there for a while, the odor will “disappear” and you will not notice it. This example works with all of our body parts and our moods. Be in a bad mood for a long time and that will become your comfortable mood. Nature will engineer evolution and de-evolution depending on the environment that it encounters. We all have seen the science videos of the ameba growing into a fish, then growing legs, and then leaving the water on an evolutionary journey to adjust to its environmental necessities. Since many people rarely leave the couch nowadays, will future generations be born without legs? Is this question too crazy?

Perhaps my opening paragraph is an exaggeration.  But I do make a point that it is easy to create habits.  We tend to follow the pack and lately the pack has been taking us in a “feel-good-comfort” and “hide-to-be-safe” journey.  What I mean is that the most powerful pandemic in our lifetime knocked at our doors, and instead of promoting exercising and proper nutrition to be healthier to face it, we paid more attention to baking recipes.

But the same forces that led us that path, can be changed to lead us on a better path.  Habit creation is powerful.  Peer pressure is too.  You can choose to pick the messages that work best for your intentions.  We are aware that we are taking a path that is not good for us. Even though we know that the easy path is not the best path.

The truth is that we have a difficult task, but there is hope of change by creating good habits.  We are sophisticated machines, and we can quickly build our bodies to be on their best performance.  It just takes consistency and dedication.  One small step every day, regardless of how many steps back you had to take for whatever reason.

Do not get discouraged if you don’t have immediate progress. We are used to things happening instantaneously. No need to go to the store to rent a movie, we can stream it. No need to go to the phone, we have one in our pocket. So, yes if you feel this way, you want immediate results. One way to shorten the learning curve is to hire a personal trainer or someone with the expertise to help you get to your results faster and safer. Also, keep in mind that it is a lot easier to maintain your gains than it is to get them in the first place. Why is this? Because your habits are powerful and if you are just starting, your old habits will fight you. Yes, some habits hold you back and some push you forward. You must build these habits despite the obstacles on your way.  Life is full of adversity and that is what makes life fun and challenging. So, overcoming adversity to build positive habits is an evolutionary necessity.

No one will ever achieve anything by doing nothing.  And no one will get a different result by doing the same thing over and over again. So, if you would like to step out of that mode, create a challenge worth taking.  Taking control of your health and fitness is a challenge worth taking. Be the example your children should have. Be the partner your spouse would be proud of.  Be the mentor your employees should have. Be the person you were meant to be by showing yourself that you are worth the challenge. If you are that person, you start now, not tomorrow or next week. The ball is on your court.

Louie Arecco is the owner of Anytime Fitness located in Downtown Kenosha at
611 56th street 3rd Floor
Anytimefitness.com
Facebook Page
(This blog  first appeared in the 3/11/21 issue of the Smart Reader publication)

THE PIZZA TRAP
This piece was written by Alessandro Arecco

When you were a child, were you ever told to eat your vegetables? You probably were. What about today? Do you still have somebody in your life that tells you to eat greens as much as you can? Most likely not. The majority of us do not have our parents or friends texting us at every meal to ask if we’re eating healthy. Some people may ask, “Why is it that Americans have so many health problems?” My thought is, we care about our health, but many of us just do not know that what we eat, and don’t eat, hurts our health. Mainstream media advertises that food that is artificial, smells good, smothered with cheese, dipped in ranch is perfectly fine for us to eat. As we progress further into a society where everyone is bombarded with biased messages about how to eat healthy, our future generations become more and more at risk. If we stay with the path of nutritionally starving our bodies, what impact do you think that makes on our society? What about our kids? What about our healthcare costs? What about your ability to enjoy and participate in life? Now, the point of this article isn’t to tell you that you’ve been eating wrong, because the media will tell you that you are doing fine. Instead I want to bring to your attention that pizza isn’t a vegetable, and perhaps I can share some unbiased solutions or tweaks that you can implement to be able to be a healthier person.

Here’s when I tell you that you should be eating vegetables and fruits. I know you already knew this, but what is the importance? Most people don’t realize that there are actually thousands of different nutrients that we consume when eating vegetables and fruits. It is still not possible with modern day technology to perfectly replicate what you can gain from a strawberry into a simple antioxidant pill every morning. While humans do survive off of calories and water, if we want our cells to thrive (how they should be functioning), we require a load of different nutritional components. Without this wide variety of nutrition, our cells will not function at their best, also shrinking your telomeres faster and your body will begin to fail you. Do you have back pain or trouble sleeping? This could heavily be impacted by the nutrition you are getting and aren’t getting. Of course, we have not even spoken about exercising, which we will leave for another article. Now, to actually be able to obtain all of these nutrition necessities, try to eat a wide variety of nutrients (this will also keep you from getting bored with your everyday meals). While there are thousands of benefits of eating fruits and veggies, there are some that solve some of our greatest modern day problems. One main problem solved is that eating healthy means you are less likely to develop diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and more.

            Why are fresh and organic foods important? Studies have shown that within hours of picking food, all the protective nutrients inside fruits and vegetables begin to break down. This means that whenever food is imported, it has already lost the majority of its nutrients. Also, while harvesting crops, companies will prematurely pick fruits and vegetables so they may last longer (to make it to the store before it goes bad). This deprives it of completely developing and finishing providing all of its nutrients. Okay, so eating fresh is clearly important, but why is it important to buy organic food? Organic food is grown without the use of chemicals nor other artificial agents. Non-organic vegetables lose their nutrients because the chemicals used to protect them take the responsibility from the plants to protect themselves which means reducing their antioxidants. Furthermore, the chemicals that you may be consuming with these non-organic products do not show many bad results short term, but over time they compound and are able to get to the level of producing deadly diseases that kill people. While your intentions could be to eat healthy, you could be harming yourself. Would you rather spend extra money on organic food now or spend it on hospital bills in 10-20 years?

            All in all, a simple fix to make you less prone to diseases and able to be more active with your friends and family is to consume a wide-variety of fresh, organic fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, seeds, and nuts. Meat is okay for you to consume in small amounts. Staying healthy prepares you for a life where you are the protagonist of the story, a life where you play the sport, where you chase the kids, a life with less visits to the doctor and more tight jeans.

(This article first appeared in the 2/25/21 issue of the Smart Reader)

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One Little Step Every Day  by Louie Flores Arecco

My Kenosha friends, when was the last time you created goals? Can you write down your top 2 professional and health goals? WAIT, before you skip this article read this; People without goals work for people with goals.  Mm…  Yes sir! And this applies to all disciplines; including health and fitness. That means that people with fitness goals are more likely to get results.

Goals require acting on- while dreams are something you just think about. That simply means that dreams are goals without action plans.  Why is it important to set goals? Well, goals give you the final destination, for which you will find the way to get there.  Most people don’t take the time to visualize this little, but cataclysmic and powerful tool. Most people just dream.

Let’s make sure we understand the difference. Dreams are wonderful and they can inspire you, but without making them into goals, they just remain imaginary.  When you make the decision to turn them into goals, they transform into real actions and now have a chance to see the light of the day.  

Dreams are wonderful ways to stretch the imagination.  Dreams are vague and easy, everyone can have dreams. They can inspire wonderful ideas and they are free.  Goals stretch you as a person. They force you to learn, to work hard, and to keep finding ways around obstacles until you achieve your objectives.  They cost effort and sacrifices too.

Let’s make sure you also understand that dreams never come true, goals do.  If you dream that you want to run a marathon, keep dreaming, it will always be a dream.  If your goal is to run a marathon, then most likely you will be learning the steps to prepare for a marathon.  You will be reading about shoes and which marathons are around you.  You will be researching the Internet and asking your friends if any of them have experience with running a marathon.  Sooner than later, you will be training properly because you will run a marathon.  After you run your marathon, you can say that you made your dream a reality.  But, let’s be clear that the dream came true only because you made it into a goal and you took action.

Now that we know the difference, let’s start thinking about your dreams.  Are any of those dreams worth making them into reality? You can start small.  Let’s get some goals achieved to build your confidence.  It is fun and exciting to achieve goals.  What would you love to achieve in the next few months?  How about jogging a mile?  How about doing 5 pushups? How about eating healthy during the week? How about trying new cuisine? How about visiting different parks? How about asking your wife to join you for a walk every week?

Listen, my job is to help people reach their health and fitness dreams, by helping them make those dreams into goals.  It isn’t difficult, it just requires action.  One little step every day.

Start small, but start now…

Louie Arecco is the owner of Anytime Fitness located in Downtown Kenosha at
611 56th street 3rd Floor
Anytimefitness.com
Facebook Page
(This blog  first appeared in the 2/11/21 issue of the Smart Reader publication)
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As a society, we have a tendency to reinvent the wheel.  But in reality, people that have good mentors always achieve more than those that don’t.  The last few months have proven that we are easily distracted, which proves over and over again, that though control is the key to controlling your destiny.  What exactly do I mean by this? Well, with all these craziness around us, each day you must make a purposeful decision on how your day will go.  The attitude you will take towards what the day brings to you is crucial.  How you interact with others, and most importantly, how you interact with yourself.  It’s all about the little things.  Do you eat crap to start the day? I guarantee you already have a limitation and an obstacle.  Do you exercise? Do you take the time to appreciate the fruit of your efforts? How about appreciating your family and friends?  

It all sounds so fluffy and irrelevant. The truth is that you can’t achieve anything if you don’t know what you have, where you want to go, and why are you doing it. The steps to success and happiness are not rocket science.  To achieve success and happiness you need conscious decisions and discipline.  Conscious decision just means that you mean and believe in your actions.  If you say you are going to get in shape, you no longer are going to “try” to get in shape.  You will get in shape.  The knowledge, the time, the obstacles, and any excuse will not derail you.  You can trust your own word.  No outside force will interfere with your decision.  Can there be setbacks? Of course they can, but they are just that – your discipline of though and action will prevail.  Discipline is not something that you require to climb a mountain to find.  Discipline is built of little actions.  You get up at a certain hour, you have the proper nutrients, you exercise, you write your game plan for the day, etc. If you fail a couple of times, it doesn’t matter; you get back to keep trying. If you have no destination that day, how in the world are you going to feel good about your accomplishments for the day?  

Not everyone must have a Novel Price or be the richest person; your achievements can be to clean the bathroom, to make a healthy meal, to make your wife smile by doing something fun, to show your kids that you can take the time to play with them.  Discipline is important, because you will not always be motivated, so if you have a plan you can get things done and feel great about your achievements- even if they are simple as getting a sincere smile from your wife.  If you are taking action to follow your plan, you will be always moving forward on the right direction.  This will not only allow you to reach all your goals, but also will build your confidence and your self-worth.  Anything worth doing must be started and nibbled until it is done.  If you are waiting for the right time, or to align everything to get started, you have already failed at taking the first step forward. If that is the case, then the task wasn’t important.  If it is, and you did not get started, then you have self-imposed limit that is hurting you- break it!

Let’s bring it all together.  Find yourself someone to coach you in whatever you are trying to achieve.  Start the task today with forward steps- no matter how small.  Make purposeful decisions on your actions. Don’t let the day just take you.  You must decide what the plan is.  Enjoy the little things by evaluating what they mean to you.  And finally, if you truly take care of your body, everything else will become a lot easier to achieve.  I hope this help and I hope I can see you at the gym!

 

Louie Arecco is the owner of Anytime Fitness located in Downtown Kenosha at
611 56th street 3rd Floor
https://www.anytimefitness.com/gyms/512/kenosha-wi-53140/

https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessKenosha/
(This blog  first appeared in the 1/28/21 issue of the Smart Reader publication)
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Holy whiskers Batman, the world is inside out, but we don’t have to be. . Crraack! Pow!

2021 is here and hopefully you have a New Year Resolution that involves some self-improvement.  So, if becoming healthier is your resolution, this is the article for you.  Let’s give you some tips on how to map out the journey and provide you better chances of reaching your goal.

The most difficult obstacle to overcome to become healthy is to “Make The Decision”.  That is right, it is the first step to any life changing decisions; you must make the decision to go to the next level.  No decision, no pudding, baby.   This step is not a light one.  It isn’t just saying you will do it; it is committing to do it.  To make sure you will do whatever it is required to do. That means that everything must be planned around your workouts, your meals, and your rest.  Yes, bad habits like smoking must be addressed here too.

The second obstacle is to set realistic goals.  Goals will provide milestones for your journey.  They will help guide you and let you know that you are heading in the “right” direction.

The third obstacle is getting the knowhow. Many people believe that their knowledge from high school’s PE from 10 years ago is going to be enough. OUCH! Nope, you need fresh information.  Personal Trainers must constantly educate themselves to remain certified.  Exercise science is always evolving and we must keep learning what works and unlearning bad habits or erroneous knowledge.

The fourth obstacle is finding a place where to exercise. For many, home is the only alternative.  Luckily, you can find virtual trainers and coaches.  But if you can, find a gym.  The energy of other people around you will motivate you.

The fifth obstacle is creating the habit.  It takes at least 21-days to make a habit.  So, this means you must endure 21 days of your fitness plan without breaking the pattern.  This is the minimum amount of time for your brain to start accepting the changes.  It doesn’t mean you can’t have an emergency and skip a workout; it just means that you must have a true reason, not an excuse to skip it.  No cheating here because while you are not yet there, your brain will find excuses and reasons of why you should stop.  We are creatures of habits and not-exercising is a habit that needs to be replaced with a new one.

The sixth obstacle is learning how to integrate your new lifestyle with your family and friends.  If you have friends and a family that do not have a fit lifestyle, they will fight back for the “old” you to return.  So, if your friends are true friends, then you should have the guts to elevate their own expectations and begin their own fitness journey.  If they don’t want you to be healthy….perhaps they were not your friends.

The seventh and final obstacle is to remain inspired.  Goals will motivate you, but inspiration will help you keep going.  Inspiration is from within.  You must keep searching within you and appreciating that you are worth all the effort that goes into taking care of yourself.  Loving yourself is a decision.  A decision that defines the value you give yourself and how much you are willing to do for you.

Good luck in your journey and feel free to contact me with your questions.

Louie Arecco is the owner of Anytime Fitness located in Downtown Kenosha at
611 56th street 3rd Floor
https://www.anytimefitness.com/gyms/512/kenosha-wi-53140/

https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessKenosha/
(This blog  first appeared in the 1/14/21 issue of the Smart Reader publication)

 

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• It is time to fix the problem

When we look at the massive economic, emotional, physical, societal, and political devastation that this pandemic brought to the world, we should realize how fragile the fabric that joins us all together truly is.  In any society, we expect our leaders to protect everyone, especially the high-risk segments of our populations.  That is what good leadership should do.  Any other formula would bring us to barbaric times where only the strong will survive.  We are passed the Spartan or Roman times.  We are a civilized society with values and morals that are above pure economic growth.  I believe that most of us will agree that this benevolent strategy is what all governments should aim to achieve.

The above endgame is one that still requires a strategic approach to solve the problem. Instead, we received band-aids and mental comfort and plenty of fear to address the problem. In actuality,we have not yet had an actual long-term solution.  The problem we face is related to the actions we take, as well as the actions we do not take.  In a connected world, we can spread any pandemic within days.  People travel across the world every day.Daily, people travel from Europe to South America, from Thailand to Russia, and from every remote corner to the post populated cities.  Stopping all travelling to solve a pandemic is like holding your breath under water, or dieting to lose weight.  You can’t do it forever; instead we have to find a permanent solution.

According to the CDC, in 2018, there were 2,839,205 deaths in the U.S. and in 2017 there were 2,813,503. The leading cause of death in the U.S. for the last several years was Heart Disease. There were 655,381 Heart Disease deaths in 2018.  HeartDisease refers to buildup of plaque in the walls of the arteries.To protect yourself from Heart Disease a person can adopt a healthy diet and regularly exercise.

The second leading cause is Cancer with 599,274 deaths in 2018.  Cancer is produced when cells do not die at their normal life cycle.  When this happens, they can interfere with essential, life sustaining systems. There are many reasons why a person can get Cancer and your genetics, age, race, and lifestyle can be part of it.  Many of these reasons are out of our control, but lifestyle is not.  Exposure to carcinogens such as smoking and certain chemicals in processed foods can be avoided.  Of course, adopting a healthy diet and regular exercise can improve your chances of not getting cancer.

The official third leading cause is “Accidents or Unintentional Injuries”.  167,127 deaths in 2018.  Again, not much we can do about this, because accidents happen, but in the larger picture is 6%.  However, the unofficial third leading cause according to John Hopkins university is “Medical Malpractice” estimating 250,000 to 440,000 deaths. I will not go into this, but you can research it yourself.  There is not much you can do to avoid this,except to be healthy to avoid hospitals.

The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh leading causes are Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease with 159,486, Stroke with 147,810, Alzheimer’s Disease with 122,019, and Diabetes with 84,946deaths, respectively. I will not go into details about these causes of death, but all of them can be reduced, controlled, or eliminated by a proper healthy diet and regular exercise.

Can you see the pattern? Most of the leading reasons why people are currently dying, at a much higher rate than COVID-19 deaths, are preventable by healthy eating and regular exercise.  I am all for the extra protection we are taking, based on the current health of our world, but, if we want to reduce the number of people that die due to illnesses, if we want to protect our society from economic disasters by massive shutdowns, if we want to be able to respond to most nature’s curveballs, we need to have leadership that will educate us and create strong campaigns for people to demand healthy foods and maintain their bodies through regular exercising.

In addition to demand to be vaccinated, how about proving that your physical shape and immune system are strong? Maybe we just need one of those two requirements. This seems to be a big mountain to conquer, but perhaps with the encouragement of our communities, government, employers, and leaders we can have a response-able society ready to start paying attention to their bodies and the effect that being healthy has in our world.  It is time that that we reclaim our health, take responsibility for our wellbeing, and stop living in fear! Let’s Make Healthy Happen!

Louie Arecco is the owner of Anytime Fitness located in Downtown Kenosha at
611 56th street 3rd Floor
https://www.anytimefitness.com/gyms/512/kenosha-wi-53140/

https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessKenosha/

 

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The Road

The road from article to article brings cataclysmic occurrences.  Today is Thursday; and as I begin this article, my father is in the hospital fighting COVID-19.  He has always been a strong role-model, and I am the man that I am, greatly, because of his example.  Over the last few months, the pandemic has been very hard for all of us especially for the older population and those with higher risk.    

Before the pandemic, my father and I meet every week to do something fun.  We enjoyed going to museums, restaurants, or just simply walked.  He enjoyed exploring the underground Chicago Pedway System which is one of the least known Chicago attractions.  I enjoyed the Museum of Science and Industry.  As you have figured out, he lives in Chicago and loves exploring what it offers.  We have enjoyed so much together and today, I am hopeful that his time has not run out.  

Today is Friday; he told me that the virus will be disappointed to have wasted his time on him.  He is confident that he will survive this match and I am sure he will too. I truly hope that he is as strong as I think he is.  At 76-years of age, he can physically outperform most 30-year olds.  Before the pandemic, he was accustomed to visiting the gym, but to protect himself and the family, he stayed away from the health club.  He was very aware that he could not lose his strength and conditioning so, he decided to use elastic bands for strength and, for his stamina, he went up and down the 47 floors of his building’s emergency stairs. I trust that all of his preparation will help him stand strong against the virus that crippled our economy, separated families, divided neighbors, and has prematurely taken a large number of people.

In all of my past articles, I shared with you that taking care of your health is a must.  A strong body and immune system can increase your chances to face any circumstances. Today, my wife shared COVID-19 statistics from Peru South-America.  In their video, they disclose that 85% of their COVID-19 deaths were people that were obese and out-of-shape.  Is this surprising? Not really. But you will not see those statistics disclosed in our beautiful country.  Why? Well, that will take many more articles about the sensitivity of our current society. In the video they also took the time to encourage people to keep an eye on their weight and fitness to fight the virus.  It was very refreshing they could overcome that barrier to hold their population accountable.  

Today is Saturday; I received I text from my step-mom that my father beat COVID-19 and he is going home.  I am sure that a large contributor of this success has to do with his dedication to his health. But, one thing is for sure, I am proud that he has been my role model and I am proud that he showed me to always walk-the-talk.

Please start showing true love and care by taking care of yourself, and begin holding those you love to a higher standard by demanding they too take care of themselves.

Stay fit and strong my Kenosha neighbors- it might just safe your lives.

 

Louie Arecco is the owner of Anytime Fitness located in Downtown Kenosha at
611 56th street 3rd Floor
https://www.anytimefitness.com/gyms/512/kenosha-wi-53140/

https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessKenosha/

 

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Hello Kenosha,

  I am glad to tell you that after regrettably missing my workouts since our beautiful town was attacked, I have a few workouts to report.  It is still very difficult to get started and to stay on track- but I am doing it.  I feel like when I was 8-years old and my mom forced me to brush my teeth.  I know better and I will keep “brushing my teeth” until it becomes a necessity that my body and mind craves again.  As much as you may think that a workout can never “become a necessity”, I am here to tell you that it does.  It just requires consistency, dedication, and purpose.  It does not take the same time for everyone, but it is estimated that 21-consecutive times can do the trick.  Now, depending on your purpose, it can be immediate.  Let’s say your doctor says “If you don’t exercise that leg, you will lose it – I will have to amputate”.  I am sure you will get your act together immediately- well at least for most people.

Returning to exercising is not easy, but for sure, staying in shape is actually not difficult.  So, this means that there is a hill to climb, but when you get there, you can stay on top a little easier.  This should be an incentive to get it behind sooner than later.

Today, I ran on a treadmill.  I hate running, but running on a treadmill is the only way for me to do my cardio.  I usually pick a TV series that I truly enjoy and promise myself to only view it while jogging.  I invest on a good pair of Bluetooth headphones.  I usually use my phone-elevated by a book.  Some people use an IPad to have a larger screen.  While the show is playing I completely forget that I am there.  This helps to keep going.  It truly is a mind game.

Yesterday, I lifted weights.  I enjoy lifting weights, but I know that if I lift too much in the beginning, I will be soar and in pain.  So, I had a very light start.  Yes, that is boring for me because I like to push hard while I work out, but again, I don’t need more excuses to not work out.  Patience! Patience! Patience!

I am a true believer that failing to plan is planning to fail.  I am in the fitness industry and working out during difficult times is still difficult.  During the pandemic shutdown, I actually worked out harder than normal and had great results.  After the riots, my mood dropped and so did my work outs.

Luckily, I value my health, my state of mind, my body, my spouse, my children, and my life,  These are my reasons to be happy.  That is why; I will never let myself drift away for too long.  This is why I will always “Make Healthy Happen” for me.

 

Louie Arecco is the owner of Anytime Fitness located in Downtown Kenosha at
611 56th street 3rd Floor
https://www.anytimefitness.com/gyms/512/kenosha-wi-53140/

https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessKenosha/

 

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Dear Kenosha.

It is been a while since we chat.  If you are on the same boat, you might be struggling to keep up with your workouts.  We have had plenty happening in the last few weeks to derail even the strongest fitness minds.   I have passed several opportunities to write to you, because I could not come up with ideas to share how to stay in-shape while juggling my emotions about the current events.
It does not matter which side of the isle your political views are, our small business owners are held hostage and destruction and ruining hard-working peoples’ lives has become currency to get what you want. I really should not turn our fitness-blog into a political discussion. So, I won’t go there.
Let’s talk fitness under the pandemic we still have to deal with. This means keeping distance from others, hiding your smiles, not sharing your fitness toys, and for sure no high-fives. If you are lucky to have a club that has very few people and you can keep your distance, you have a huge advantage and have a place to take care of your fitness.  If you don’t, it is time to consider online bodyweight workouts or building your home gym.  The last two options are not my favorite.  I have always enjoyed being around other people while I work out.  Not only I benefit from their energy and positive effort, but I also have the opportunity to learn something new – ones in a while.
The last few months have presented a number of obstacles in all fronts.  Socializing is difficult, meeting new people is difficult, spending time with family and friends that don’t live with you is difficult, working is difficult, exercising is difficult, and even talking with others over the phone or text  is difficult, because the new norm is to feel guilty if you do or if you don’t- regardless of the activity.
So, my wonderful Kenoshans, if you are tired to hear from people not living in Kenosha erroneously telling you what is happening in Kenosha. If you are tired of burning calories by not understanding what is expected from our officials and our town to bring harmony and safety, maybe, it is time to concentrate on your own personal health and fitness.  Yes, it is time to start focusing on making your body and mind to be capable to take a few more months of this. Hopefully, it will all end soon, and we can all go back to attempting to get alone. Until then, let’s start by joining a health club or picking up some dumbbells and a jump rope.
Can we all agree that our health is important? I hope this is not for debate.  After all, if you want to be loved, you must start by loving yourself.

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Get Fit

Dear Kenoshan, we would to think that you have already taken the initiative to reclaim your health.  Today’s health stakes are so high that the only insurance policy you can get to protect yourself is to be healthy and in-shape.  So, here is the self-test you can do to see if you are doing enough:

1. While standing up straight, can you see your toes?

2. Can you brisk walk a city block?

3. Can you stand up from a chair without holding on to the sides?

4. Are you happy with the way you look?

If you answer “no” to any of the above questions, you have great incentive to get in-shape. Of course, as a side-effect you will have a stronger immune system.  How does that sound? If you say yes, keep reading, if not, there are some other interested articles in this publication you can find. You can return later on when you are ready to reclaim your health.  -it’s all good.

If you are reading this- you decided to get in-shape.  Final check: Is the decision made? Kind of made? Thinking about it? You have to check with your spouse? You have to check your finances? You think you might be too old? You think you might be too broken already? You think your genetics are not good?  You think you might not have the time? If your answer is anything other than you are ready, again there are some great articles in this magazine to keep you entertain.  

Okay, we have checked twice and you are still here.  Let’s have fun by getting serious.  Yes, let’s have fun reclaiming all the fun that you will have by being healthy and in-shape.  First, let’s take a walk around the block.  Ask a family member to come with you. If no one wants to, pick up your phone and let’s pick a fun song to keep you company.  The last few yards before you arrive, make it a brisk walk and get your heart rate higher than normal.  Not too much, just enough to let your ticking muscle know that you mean business. Go now… I’ll be here when you return.

Welcome back! How was that? That is an awesome start.  Let’s add this walk around the block strategy every day of the week.  Try to make it around the same time of the day.  Every time, start making the brisk walk a little longer.  With time, you will be doing a brisk walk for the entire block. Keep track of how long it took you to get to that point.  

What’s next you ask? Well, the fuel you eat needs to be improved.  Nothing radical, just pick one or two things you know you should avoid and start reducing your intake daily.  Let’s use that above strategy and attempt to reduce it until it goes away.

How hard was that? Piece of cake!

Now, go look in the mirror, I guarantee you will see an awesome person you have not seen for a while.  Be proud of you and own the results.  There is no failing with this strategy, unless you don’t start or just simply give up.

This article first appeared in the July 30th 2020 Smart Reader

Anytime Fitness
611 56th St. Third Floor
Downtown Kenosha
262-612-3155
Visit their website at anytimefitness.com
and like them on Facebook!

                                              _____________________________

“Beach-body”

You still have time to make your “beach-body” by the end of the summer.  My last few articles have been about the health benefits of being in shape to fight any sickness.  This article will take a 180 degree turn and help you prepare to have your mirror-on-the-wall tell you that you are better looking than you were before.  Does that work for you? If so, stand up and aim your right fist to the sky and claim victory for making the decision.  If not, oh well you can finish the article but don’t expect much.

Let’s get started!

First, you are going to need a bench mark, so let’s take a swimming suit picture to know where you are starting from.  Don’t worry this is just for yourself.  Take it with your phone and make sure to capture your entire body.  Second, study your picture and write down what you would like to change. Now, let’s be realistic, we can work on getting you tighter abs and arms, but we can’t make your hair grow or your height increase.  Write what you want to see changed as “tasks” on your phone.  I want to make sure you can go back and check them out when completed.  Now, many of you will stop after taking the picture because it seems like an impossible challenge.  Better yet, you will justify what you don’t like with statements like “I am not vain” or “I have thick bones”.  Knock it off and get back to the game.  If you decide to do this, you are doing this.  Complete this task and you will be 90% closer to your goal.  Surprised? Can’t believe this? I am telling you, making the decision and acknowledging that you want to change is the most difficult part of the entire process.

Now, we have the mechanical 10% head of us.  This part of the process is not rocket science, but it requires consistency and dedication to change your habits.  First, let’s model our actions after someone you admire.  Do you have a healthy and fit friend? If you do, maybe it is time to start cultivating that relationship.  They will be more than glad to help.  See, healthy people like to share what they do.  They are proud of their accomplishments.  Perhaps they can introduce you to their health club and friends.  Being surrounded by healthy people will help you develop these healthy habits.

Now that you have an environment conducive of healthy habits, let’s make sure you are aware of your actions.  For your fuel, pick the healthy option.  Stay away from creamy salad dressings, fried foods or anything you truly don’t know what is in it- if you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.  Everything that comes from the earth or has a mother is most likely safe to eat.

The easiest part of the process is the exercise and rest.  You need to try to raise your heart rate at last 3 times per week for about 20 minutes.  If you are walking, then walk as if you were rushing to go somewhere.  If your heart rate is not up, it does not count.  For strength you must lift heavier things to get your muscles to react.  I highly recommend a health club so that you can safely target all your muscle groups.  The health club staff – or your friend – can help you design your first routines.  Finally, try to sleep well.  6 to 8 hours per night are good for most people.

This oversimplified guide will work.  If you need more guidance and you don’t have someone to help, feel free to contact me.

Anytime Fitness
611 56th St. Third Floor
Downtown Kenosha
262-612-3155
Visit their website at anytimefitness.com
and like them on Facebook!

This article first appeared in the July 16, 2020 print edition of the Smart Reader.

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It is difficult to come up with fitness subjects to engage a society when the competing media keeps everyone scared and confused, nonetheless, glued to the hype. Through the years, our fictional entertainment (movies, novels, etc.) has grown more violent, packed with more creative ways for destroying humanity and the world.  To compete for your attention, the actual news seems to resemble the same formula.

So, I am now presenting you with research from the Berlin University of Applied Sciences where they have been able to arrange the human chromosome molecular structure to mimic the rapid growth properties of small reptiles- i.e. when a gecko regrows its tail.  This process of genetic mutation to improve your health, without much effort, is possible thanks to the CRISPR.

CRISPR technology was adapted from the natural defense mechanisms of bacteria and archaea (the domain of single-celled microorganisms). CRISPR has provided the necessary tools to develop the next generation of super humans.  What is more interesting is that you can change your current DNA structure to be stronger, taller, faster, and improve your immune system. Genetic mutating kits are starting to be sold and it isn’t illegal. We might be at the verge of ending all sicknesses and suffering.  Here is the good news, it is not expensive (around $100) and you can do it from the comfort and safety of your own home.  

How is this related to our fitness article you ask? Well perhaps small part of the science mentioned might be true, but most of what I shared here is fake and not true. Did you enjoy reading about a way to be healthy, stronger, and faster without much effort?  Of course you did, I followed the formula you are constantly being feed and enjoy. The Berlin University of Applied Sciences does not exist, CHRISPR is a reality and might someday be of your interest, but not now when fear and panic controls our lives.

Now the truth, everything worthwhile takes time and effort, so does being healthy and fit.  You will not improve your muscular, respiratory, and immune systems by being at home watching TV. Your desire to be fit can only translate into reality if you physically take action.  This means exercising and also eating better.  Everything else you wish to accomplish regarding on how to be Healthy and Fit, can certainly be achieved, only if you lived in a movie like in Captain America.  

If you are truly ready to take responsibility for your actions and take control of your health, then, let’s get started right now.  Start choosing wisely what you eat and begin exercising.  Either you do the research or join a gym, or even better, hire a personal trainer.  You can’t afford to be healthy? LOL. Do the numbers, it is a lot more expensive to be unhealthy? Even if you take baby steps, start TODAY not next Monday.

Anytime Fitness
611 56th St. Third Floor
Downtown Kenosha
262-612-3155
Visit their website at anytimefitness.com
and like them on Facebook!

_______________________

It is the social aspect of humans that allows us to grow and develop. As social animals we come together to solve our common problems.  Health and Fitness is no different. The need to be around people for inspiration, motivation, education, and socialization is a vital component of keeping the desire of staying in shape.  As we all have been in lockdown and are now starting to test the waters and attempting to restart our lives, removing socialization creates a dangerous state of irrational behaviors.  Regardless of the intentions, a mandated order that facilitated us to become couch-potatoes will impact our logic and hopefully not our wisdom.  We are lucky to live not only in a beautiful city, but also in one that was not hit as hard during this pandemic.  So, let’s take the opportunity to strengthen our health to insure a greater chance to face any challenge.

Okay my fellow Kenoshans, these are the steps to get you either back on track, or get you started.  (1) Make the decision that you will reclaim your health.  This is the most difficult part of the process.  Without a true decision, the rest of the steps will be short-lived.  Your well-being is important enough to make yourself a priority. (2) Inspire a friend or family members to join you.  Remember socialization is a must and everyone is going through the same experience.  If you don’t have someone willing to join you, join a gym.  It is very important that you should pick your health club wisely.  There is a gym for everyone, but picking the wrong gym will set you back. If you take your meat-eater friend to the best vegan restaurant, you will not have a happy friend. (3) Make progress every day.  There are four components to be fit and healthy: Sleep, nutrition, strength and cardio training.  Whether big or small, every day try to take an improvement step in one of the four mentioned areas. Most importantly keep the improvements moving forward. (4) Ask for help.  If you join a health club, you have joined a team.  You should get guidance from your club.  This does not mean that they necessarily will work out with you, but it does mean that they should get you started and show you how you can get more knowledge. (5) Don’t quit!  If you hate failure, don’t quit this time.  It is easier to maintain than restart. Just keep moving forward. Not throwing the towel means you have not failed.

The above oversimplified steps seem like a mountain for those just starting, but without them you put yourself at the mercy and fear of sickness.  Knowing that you are healthy and strong will allow you to be mentally stronger.  Staying social with healthypeople will give you a support group that will encourage you to remain strong.  After all, we are social animals. Take away the social component and we are just animals.

This article first appeared in the June 19th, 2020 issue of  Smart Reader

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Your health is essential

Dear reader, it is 11:26 pm Wednesday night and my wife and I just finished our work day.  My deadline for this article was today and I don’t even know if this article will make it to the publication.  It is not like me to miss a deadline, but with the long hours, I can’t even remember if the word is deadline or dateline.

Just about every day for the last two months has been exhausting.  I am sure that your life is also a version of ours.  My wife and I did not dare to stop with the improvements for the business for two reasons; (1) if the place is empty it is the best way to make sure our clients are thrilled when they return, and (2) we had to keep busy to distract ourselves from the crazy and confusing news about people dying, people that could die, and the devastating damage our economy and our business is experiencing.  Without keeping busy, we would join the panic and suffer the mental consequences.

In order to be strong and healthy, our bodies require regular exercises, proper nutrition, and sleep.  To avoid crowds, we have been purchasing foods that can be stored longer, hence, not fresh.  So our fuel is not helping.  Since health clubs were considered non-essential, most people defaulted to lazy mode at home, so most people are now deconditioned.  Finally, since watching the news is stressful and completely drain any hope you may have, people are defensive and stressed.  This combination is just not conducive of any lifestyle that will end well.

Now, it might not be the end of the tunnel, but we can see some light; at least to allow us to have some tools to take care of our health. Health clubs are opening, with restrictions, but they are opening.  Many people will take the necessary precautions and begin the journey to get strong again.  Many others can’t afford to take a chance because of their age or a condition outside of their control.  Many others simply are too scared to make any decisions.  Keep this in mind; health clubs will work hard to meet the guidelines to keep you as safe as they can.  If you believe that they can do something more, ask for it.  Most likely, they will appreciate the input.

This is a fitness article, so let me wrap it up for you.  Taking care of your health is essential.  For a large majority of people, this will not happen at home.  You are important and the healthier you are, the better chances you have to face anything in your life- including this pandemic. You will have strong and better functioning lungs, heart, muscles and bones. You will be less stressed and your immune system will be better prepared for anything. So, if you can’t make it to the health club, do everything in your power to begin your journey for a lifestyle that will help you improve your health.  Don’t give up on the only activity that can truly safe your life.  Because after all, regardless of what you are told, the place that helps you achieve all the benefits mentioned before – has to be essential.

      _______

Take Control

Listen! Listen! Listen! No matter what I write here, there will be many people that find my logic and reasoning sound and many that will fully disagree.  It is not only natural and normal to have your own opinion, but nowadays we are misguided with so much misinformation and then encouraged and actually framed to disagree with each other.  This is one of the oldest conquering war strategies; it is called “Divide and Conquer”.  The best way to achieve this is by brining Fear and Confusion into the equation.  When the facts are not clear and fear is high, historyhas demonstrated that intelligent people will agree to do things that they normally would not agree too.  In this article I will not take sides at all.  You can do your own research and come up with your own conclusions, but I do like to encourage you to wear the shoes of those that you disagree with.

Over the last few weeks, we have turned our way-of-life inside-out. The conversation has been framed around survival.  If you fall under the at-risk population, you are fighting for everyone to stay home to give you a chance not to die. If you are a small-business owner, you heart breaks as you see the massive retailers stay open generating four times their normal profits and servicing thousands of people daily, while you are not allowed to service one person at the time.  Most entrepreneurs are seeing their entire dreams flashed down the toilet. If you are young, you are asked to sacrifice your interactions with friends, the experience of school, and your valuable time to experience those glorious moments; moments that will never be recovered.

We used to show love with kisses and hugs. Now we show our love by staying distant from each other.  All of these sacrifices are in the name of staying healthy.  We are willing to sacrifice interaction with our grandparents, our teachers, our family, our friends, our neighbors, our small restaurants, our gyms, our and hair dressers, in order to stay healthy and not die.  We have been successfully divided and now we can easily be conquered.  As you can see, our survival instincts are stronger than our reasoning and logic.  This is not new knowledge. This is basic psychology.  Regardless, which dream you must shutter or basic right you are willing to sacrifice; taking care of your health can give you the immune system to fight this and any other future viruses.  This should be everyone’s main objective.

Now that punch line; if you are home -to stay alive- and continue to struggle between French fries or salad, fruit or candy, vegetables or cake, exercising or the coach. You’re allowing your pleasure instincts to be stronger than your survival, and that is just plain crazy. Let’s get real my fellow humans; this is not a war against a virus, this is a war against not being healthy. One thing is for sure, you will not see our media embark in a massive campaign to get our nation healthy- there is very little money in health.  Ah, for those about to send me to hell, yes, many people have no choice and they have debilitating conditions to no fault of their own – you are exceptions to my logic, but for most of us, this isn’t the case.  Take a good look in the mirror and tell yourself the truth about yourself.

I am not writing this article with the intentions of making you feel guilty.  I am writing this article with the intention to have you take action and make your health a priority.  You have the time now, start exercising and make a greater effort to consume the best fuel for your body.

Whether you agree that we should all stay at home or we should not, it is totally irrelevant. But I truly hope you agree with me; it is your time to take control of your health. You should be that important!

Anytime Fitness 611 – 56th Street 3 rd floor – Kenosha, WI 53140  – 262-612-3155

https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessKenosha/

https://www.anytimefitness.com/gyms/512/kenosha-wi-53140/

This article first appeared in the May 7th 2020 issue of the Smart Reader

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Oh boy- is there a silver lining

Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!  The world works in amazing and cruel ways.  Mother Nature has sent us to our rooms. We hear that since so many people are staying home; pollution is reducing and the oceans are getting cleaner.  Perhaps there is a silver lining in this huge lockdown mess.  I know I am over simplifying the effects of a deadly Pandemic and potentially the greatest economic downturn in history, but hey, we have to find a positive angle to move forward. After all, if we were sent to our rooms, there had to be something expected of us worth doing there. Reflection, self-improvement, relationship building, organizing, cleaning, I don’t know.  But I am certain we were not sent to our rooms just to watch Game of Thrones.

While nature is doing whatever it needs to do, we now have lots of time to do whatever we want to do.  So this will be another test for humanity. The current Pandemic has proven that being healthy is one of the pillars to fight this virus.  Although there are exceptions, the virus is attacking mostly older people and individuals with weak immune systems.  These clearly are the most vulnerable segments of our population.  So, getting back to all the available time we have, you get the opportunity to reclaim your health and enter the new world – because it will be a new world – with the best version of you.

Reclaiming your health requires effort, discipline, and commitment. But let’s be real, most people don’t like to hear the “C” word, but everything good in life requires commitment. The most used excuse for not exercising is not having time.  I guess this time we can’t use that one.  So, if you are ready not to reach back in the excuses bag attempting to find one you can justify and believe; II am hoping that you can accept some guidance and take the first few steps towards reclaiming your heath.  I know it sounds more painful that a root canal, but I tell you, I can try to make it easy, fun, and with your help, long lasting.

My unknown friends, it takes 15 minutes a day for the first week.  20 minutes for the second week. Finally, 30 minutes per day starting on the third week. After you return to the new world, you can reduce to 30 minutes three times per week.  Can we commit to that? Let’s hear it out loud!

If you are not ready, that is okay, the time for you might still come in the future- you will know when the right time is therefor you.  But if this sign is massive enough to be the sign from God, hey, this Pandemic is your call to action. I hope that the current events have not only awakened you to the reality and importance of being healthy, but also provided you with the time to commit to the change. If this is the case, you can certainly take the first step towards the best version of you.  You are worth the effort – and without a doubt; your body is the greatest gift you will ever receive.

To finally commit and get started- which is the most difficult part of the entire process -I am certain that you can find plenty of YouTube videos. But it takes time to sort and learn who knows what, and if they know what they are doing. So, I am publishing free workout videos on our Facebook page“anytimefitnesskenosha” to shorten your learning curve.   As you finish reading this article, still housebound and bored of endless TV series marathons; go find a pair shorts, find our Facebook page, and Make Healthy Happen for you.

https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessKenosha/

https://www.anytimefitness.com/gyms/512/kenosha-wi-53140/

Anytime Fitness 611 – 56th Street 3 rd floor – Kenosha, WI 53140  – 262-612-3155

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Don’t Be Like Bill

If you have extra undesired pounds, experience any of the following: back pain, knee pain, diabetes type II, sleep apnea, lack of stamina, difficulty breathing, depression, low-self-esteem or any other side-effect of being overweight and not fit, read this article as I might give you a tip to change your life.

Last week, I meet Bill, who was not happy with his big belly, back pain, lack of stamina and strength.  He sat across me claiming that he just needed a place to walk on the treadmill. I suggested strength machines and free weights and he looked at me as if I had no idea what I was talking about.  He said that at this age he had to take it easy and do minimal exercising.  He proceeded to tell me that it would be hard for me to understand since I was young and fit.  I asked if he had any medical restrictions or current injuries- but he quickly clarified that he was “just old”.  He said this while he was still recovering from the struggled after he had climbed three flights of stairs.  I am currently 51 years old, so I had to ask for his age.  It turns out he was turning 41. Obviously, he had decided that he was old and no longer able to do much.  Can you relate to Bill? Do you know someone like Bill?

Bill represents a large majority of people that are prematurely giving up on physical activity. This decision comes with a huge commitment of not enjoying the many things this world offers.  It also brings emotional imbalances and closes the doors to so much.  The dominos that led to this kind of thinking started falling in the mid 80’s and we are no living the consequences.  We now have a society of no commitment that preaches the illusion that working-out is an option; the delusion that it is too late to get started; the misconception that your boat already left; the perception that it is too expensive; and the worst excuse not to exercise is that we have no time. This article is to unveil that there is a way out of this.  Is it a secret medicine? Is it secret exercise routine or secret super-food that only few have the privilege of knowing?  Actually, none of those are real, but yes, there truly is a fountain of youth that we will finally share with you.

While at the gym this morning, Alfredo complained that the calf-machine had been left loaded with four 45-lbs and two 25-lbs plates.  I offered to unload the weights and he said that he did not need any help.  He was just upset that people leave their weights for other people to worry about. He said, “you never know if the next person can carry those heavy weights”.  Here is the thing, this concerned man is 86 years old and did not need my help moving several weights amounting to 230lbs.  Although I shared the task with him, he had no issue carrying the heavy weights all by himself and enjoyed helping others.  As a matter of fact, he loaded them on a leg-press to continue his leg routine.  In several occasions I have seen him do hanging leg-raises, assisted pull-ups, and jog – not walk- on the treadmill. Seeing that Alfredo is physically more capable than a 41-years-old old man (more than twice as young as Alfredo); staying fit and keeping your appropriate weight are without a doubt the fountain of youth.  The big issue is that the fountain of youth comes with a commitment and effort price.

Here is a challenge for all of you that want to take the first step toward a physically younger and healthier you.
(1) Find a picture of you from a time that you were in better shape- tape it to your bathroom mirror- if  you never been fit, find a picture of someone you admire.
(2) Write down everything you eat in one day- if there is one or many things you know you should not be eating, pick one to eliminate, if you can’t, reduce it by 50%.
(3) Everywhere you go, park on the furthers parking spot.
(4) Depending on your current physical capabilities pick three simple exercises like sit-ups, push-ups, air squats- do a set of 10 every day when you wake up.
(5) Every morning and every night promise yourself (out loud) that you will not quit.
(6) at the end of every successful day, send a text to 224-628-8350 with the words “I did it”.

Disclaimer, not every day is perfect.  The only way to fail is to quit.  Let’s do this for a month and see how it goes.  Feel free to text me any questions you may have.  Let’s Make Healthy Happen…

This story originally appeared in the March 12th, 2020 edition of The Smart Reader.

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Don’t Give Up!

How is that New Year’s Resolution? We are entering the time when you realize that you are started to find a reason why you could not deliver this year. I am here to ask you not to give up yet. I know it is tough, and many factors are involved in your ability to stick with a fitness lifestyle. Whatever is holding you back; food addiction, procrastination, lack of family support, lack of commitment, or simply you choose the wrong health club. Let me give you some guidance to get you back on the right track. We are lucky that in Kenosha, there is a health club to match just about everyone. There are alternatives and it is up to us to know which club offers the best chances for our own success. Every health club has a specific target market- and everyone is not the right match. Specialization always works best. If you are a jack of all trades, then you can’t be a master of one. The burden is on the user to select the right match and that is where the problem is. Again, it isn’t the club faults you did not know what they are all about. Clubs are clear to advertise their prefer target market. If they advertise strong man competitions, why would you go there if you need to just lose a couple pounds? If you are looking to develop a strong habit of fitness, why would you go where no commitment is required? it is just the wrong match; like taking a vegetarian to the best stake house in town, it isn’t the stakes that are bad, it is just the wrong match.

CNN Money breaks down the health club industry in three main categories. You can watch the report by searching the report’s title online. This is a quick summary of it; “Lux, 24-hour, and dirt cheap: Inside America’s gyms”; The Luxury Gym, Middle Class Gym, and Dirt-Cheap Gyms. The Luxury category leader brand is The Equinox. Memberships range between $160 to $300 per month. In each location they have an average of 6,000 members. Although Wikipedia claims they have about 300 locations and there isn’t one in Wisconsin, there are five of them in Illinois between Highland Park and Downtown Chicago. I am sure the experience there must be incredible- if you want to pay $300 per month. The Middle-Class category leader is Anytime Fitness and it caters to the working adult. Their offer is accessibility, convenience, guidance, and environment only for adults. Memberships range from $30 to $70 per month depending on what they offer, the experience of the operator, and where they are located. The Kenosha Downtown location is about $50 per month. The average Anytime Fitness club has about 800 members. There are bout 4,500 clubs in 50 countries, 127 in Wisconsin, and they have worldwide reciprocity. The final category for the CNN Money report is the Dirt Cheap Club. This category leader is Planet Fitness. According to Business Insider “Planet Fitness has created a successful business by catering to a very real, but specific, demographic: casual exercisers who know they have to work out, but don’t necessarily want to”. I am not going to go into detail about their target market, but their advertisements are clever, engaging, and draw a lot of teens and first timers. There are about 38 Planet Fitness locations in Wisconsin and each average 6,600 members. They membership price is between $10 and $20 per month.

The CNN Money categories paint three distinctive worlds, but I believe that your personal lifecycle adds another dimension to the club you should choose. For instance, if you want to keep your children active you will need a family center instead of one of the above CNN categories. The Kenosha Young Men’s Christian association (YMCA) charges $56 for an adult membership. Family add-ons are inexpensive for children. The YMCA or Y (for short) is a religious non-profit and its main purpose is to “strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.” This organization is necessary in our community. If you have a difficult time paying the membership, the Y has Financial Hardships scholarships- if you have a financial hardship, you can get assistance. Again, they are a non-profit Christian organization and they do fund raisers to help the less fortunate. The RecPlex is the largest municipally owned recreational facility in North America and it is owned by the Villa of Pleasant Prairie. It charges $61 for an adult membership. If you have children, these family centers are great since they offer everything from pools, water parks, beauty pageants, ballet lessons, etc. They are both excellent places and they both have different offerings. Another great club we have in Kenosha is Atlas 2. Their membership is $20 per month. Although they have a variety of clients, this great club is well known for their powerlifters & bodybuilders. Note that neither the YMCA, RecPlex, nor Atlas-2 have 24-hour access or reciprocity nationwide.

It is important to note that there are many specialized health clubs like kickboxing, cross-fit, etc. These types of venues are much more expensive than the mentioned health clubs and have classes on specific times of the day. If you do well in groups and have the time to meet at specific hours, and want a pretty intense workout you will find value on clubs like Harbor Park Cross-Fit or I love Kickboxing. I have personally tried Cross-Fit and enjoyed it. It is very intense and I would personally recommend it to young athletes.

Conclusion, there are many important variables to be successful in developing and keeping a fitness lifestyle. Having good guidance, good equipment, realistic goals are important, but also finding the best club for you. Although different brands have different target markets, it is up to you to find the correct match. It is impossible to compare health clubs just by the monthly amount they charge. Determine what you need and learn if they offer it. Visit the facility to see if you like the colors, smells, bathrooms, equipment, energy, and price. However, when it comes to staying healthy, price truly is the least important of the variables. Your health is worth a lot more than any health club monthly price in Kenosha. No matter how you see it, either you will pay to stay healthy or you will have to spend on your medical bills down the line.

This story originally appeared in the February 13th, 2020 edition of The Smart Reader.

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Reclaim your health!

The year just ended and many of us are looking forward to learning from our mistakes to guarantee a better future.  The New Year brings hope, specially when it comes to our health and fitness.  It is no secret that most New Year Resolutions end by mid-February.  What are the factors that make most of the population fail at such an important decision?  Don’t feel bad, the game is rigged! What you need to feel bad about is that you keep falling for it!

Remember the 2008 Pixar movie WALL-E? If you didn’t see this movie, I highly recommend it.  It is not only entertaining, but it also shows an amazing parallel to our current path of evolution.  The movie was about a polluted earth due to human trash to the point that life was impossible on earth.  As a result, the main corporation that controlled all commerce created a spaceship where all humanity lived.  For 700 years, WALL-E, short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class attempts to clean earth in hopes that someday humans can return to earth.  Although making our planet into a wasteland is a topic worth discussing, it isn’t my intent in this article.  The movie shows what life had become at the spaceship.  Technology had created so much comfort that walking was unnecessary. Over time humans had forgotten how to walk and their bodies were damaged making it even more difficult.  Is this a crazy idea that can only exist in fictional children movies? – Not anymore, as there are many examples in Western Culture of similar cases.  The interesting part of this movie is not only that a large powerful corporation had built comfort and consumerism to the point of atrophy, but also that once earth was cleaner and was ready to receive humans again, the system fought against giving us back our freedom of choice; attempting to keep humanity in the dark in order to protect it.

The Wisconsin Health Rankings places Kenosha County as the 60th from 72 counties in 2019 (1 healthiest – 72 unhealthiest). There are many factors that go into this ranking and you are welcome to learn more about it.  But my point is simple, our regional society does not encourage or support a healthy lifestyle.  From the family activities encouraged by the media, to the rewards you receive at school, or the teacher, or nurse, or doctor that is unhealthy, or the predatory advertising about diets, or pills, or damaging ideas that anyone attempting to call your attention about being unhealthy is judging you.  Buyer beware does not work when the information you need is polluted by billions of dollars of confusion.  I am not here to judge free speech, what I am just simply pointing out is the power of those that benefit from you not being healthy.  The game is rigged.  Those that took the “Red Pill” (The Matrix Reference- for those not familiar with this term meaning wanting to embrace and live the truth), do not have the marketing dollars and most importantly the necessary resources to clean the information noise.  Let’s be real, working out and eating healthy takes effort. It takes time to “learn” to like it by changing your habits.  It is a lot easier giving in to the lazy ways.  Therefore, it is a lot easier to cling to the information that supports our current state to justify our lack of effort.

For a large majority that won’t take the red pill, this article is just another fitness fanatic rambling without understanding your personal circumstances. If that is the case, there isn’t much anyone can say to change your mind.  If you are lucky, perhaps a life changing event will deliver you to the steps of a place that can help you reclaim your health- or perhaps not.  After all, we humans get used to anything. However, if you really want to take action, but not just “give-it-a-try”, If you are done being numbed by clever advertisement, overnight solutions, or accepting experts that insult your intelligence with gimmicks and empty promises; I have some advice to give you a real chance to fully live a life as a participant and no longer be an spectator; (1) Make the decision that you will take control of your health.  It doesn’t mean it will be easy (in the beginning), but you are worth it. Yes, circumstances might bring adversity and setbacks, but does not mean stopping the journey. Stopping the journey is the only option not acceptable. (2) Write down how will your life change by changing your lifestyle.  It is important to know the effects of your decision.  Your decision will not only impact you, but it will impact your loved ones.  I have seen people make great friends, meet their perfect partners through fitness, and erroneously matched couples split. If someone close to you creates barriers for you to take care of yourself, that relationship needs to be re-evaluated. (3) Make a public pledge.  This is a tough proposition to most people.  It makes you feel vulnerable because the fear of failing.  The difference is that failing does not happen unless you quit.  The fist item in this list is to decide to do it, not to try. So, making a public pledge should be a no-brainer. (4) Surround yourself with people that enjoy taking care of themselves.  Find a serious health club, one that has qualified professionals and experience to help you.  If your mentors set you up on a vicious circle to perpetuate your misery, fire them immediately.   As a comparison; if you depend on Alcoholic Anonymous, would you listen to their advice if they served you a drink before they start the meeting?  Anything worth doing requires commitment.  School, relationships, sports, hobbies, etc.  There isn’t anything worth doing that does not require commitment. Look for a place that will not tell you what you want to hear, but instead professionals that will hold you accountable for your actions.  Let’s be clear, this does not give them permission to be rude, but you should also be aware of your defense mechanisms because everyone claims to want to hear the truth, until they are told something they don’t want to hear.  It is a lot easier to use this moment to feel attacked, blame the messenger, and have a reason to through the towel. Finally, (5) promise yourself that you are worth keeping your word to yourself.  Here is a reality check for you; if you can’t keep your word to yourself, is your word worth much? Now, don’t take this final statement as a reason to shy away from committing to this journey, instead, commit to the journey because reclaiming your health will also regain your own trust.

2020 is the opportunity to start fresh.  It is the year that you take control.  It is the year that you stop blaming circumstances for your inability to Make Healthy Happen.  It is the year that you reclaim your health. 2020 is your year.

This story originally appeared in the January 16, 2020 edition of The Smart Reader.

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No excuses!

If you been hiding behind your excuses, I am about to say some things you might not like to hear. But before that, I want you to know that staying fit can be fun and exciting and the rewards are priceless. I am hoping that you take this piece as a tool to launch your life to find the best version of you. Hopefully, you will seek a team to help you embark in a lifetime enjoyment of the benefits of being fit and healthy.
Now, let’s get on with it. I have come to understand that fitness for the average Kenoshan is as foreign as speaking Latin. In theory, most people understand the importance of fitness; however, the lack of importance given at home, schools, and community organizations contribute into us becoming the sedentary people we are. Working out should be as important as brushing your teeth. So by socially learned behaviors, we struggle with a vital component for our longevity and quality of life. If my brushing-your-teeth example seems silly to you, then here is a question to put it into perspective: If the Grim Reaper asked for either your heart or your teeth, which one you would give him? Okay then, it is time to work on your cardio- because the health of my heart is not negotiable.
It is also clear that the basic principle of exercising is common sense; like the more you move, the better your health. However, the reality is that it takes fitness professionals to identify and correct imbalances created by bad posture, or repetitive movements like gardening or shoveling the snow. We all have movement preferences. If you are a righty, you will carry things with your right arm. These repetitive motions will create a stronger side; which will create imbalances that will turn into pains and aches with time.
A common mistake we find is the person who learned how to work out many years ago believes that this knowledge will carry with them forever. Fitness professionals are constantly continuing their education to incorporate more knowledge with new scientific discoveries. Exercise science is always evolving, just like any other science related to our health, like surgery or pharmaceuticals. Can one learn how to assess what we must do to create an effective workout plan? For sure, but you can also do your taxes on your on- and I guarantee you that a tax professional will do a much better job than you.
As a society we are defensive about our fitness condition. We become guarded and feel attacked when anyone questions our lack of dedication towards our fitness. The truth is that the reason or excuse why you are not working out is a valid reason. Yes, I said it is valid. No one has the time, we can use the money for something else, we are tired, you have a kid or two and don’t have daycare, etc. But, that same reason, which is valid, will never be worth more than your health. So, one must make the time and rearrange their lives around taking care of yourself. Not only this is a principle not shared by our community, but it also is a terrible example for our children.
People get frustrated by not getting immediate results. Our lack of patience will have us start and stop many times. Starting a fitness journey is difficult and we subconsciously look for a good reason to quit. Music too loud or too low, temperature to high or too low, too many people at the gym or too few people, no one helps me, or people are bothering me by trying to help me too much. You pick your reason; they are all good reasons to stop taking care of yourself. Transferring your frustrations in order to find a reason to quit is a defense mechanism to justify your behaviors. Regardless, if you don’t check yourself, you will soon associate fitness as an experience that brings emotional pain.
In my profession, I have helped many people who positively changed their lives through fitness. But I also have lost a few friends. Ultimate taking care of yourself is your responsibility and nobody else will do it for you. Neither your genes, your job, your parents, your kids, your lack of time, and most definitely not your spouse are responsible for your health — you are!
I hope I shined some light on what it takes. I hope you were not offended by my words, but if you are, remember that I don’t know you, but you and only you know what you are about. I will be answering your questions, and providing any guidance to help you reach whatever fitness and health goals you choose to achieve. I can’t wait to hear from you.

 

Anytime Fitness
611 56th St. Third Floor
Downtown Kenosha
262-612-3155
Visit their website at anytimefitness.com
and like them on Facebook!

this first appeared in the January 2nd 2020 edition of the Smart Reader