Peak Performance Fitness

Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

holidays

Fast Facts for Successful Resolutions

The New Year is here and New Year’s resolutions have been made. Stay healthy, get in shape, lose weight. These are all very common goals for most “resolutionists,” but too often these goals don’t make it past January. Fitness is a journey, so here are a few quick tips to get you on your way and help you fulfill your new year’s resolutions.

  • Set attainable short term goals. Sometimes, looking down the road at your long term goals can be can be intimidating. Making short terms goals allows you to track your progress and stay positive on your journey.
  • Don’t hesitate. The quicker you begin the process, the faster you will be able to reach your goals. Start today!
  • Create your diet. It is not necessary to “go on a diet.” Small alterations can have an exponential effect on losing weight and attaining your fitness goals.
    • Decreasing meal size- focus on portion control to avoid overeating.
    • In conjunction with the previous point, increase the amount of smaller meals throughout the day. Eating something every 3-4 hours helps create a more efficient metabolism.
    • Exchange simple carbohydrates or sugars for complex carbs. Try having whole wheat/grains instead of white bread or brown rice over white rice.
    • Decrease (not necessarily eliminate) sweats and treats, and try to replace them with fruits and vegetables.
    • Increase protein intake from lean meats and plant based sources.
    • Increase water intake- one of the easiest tasks which can be done throughout the day!
  • Exercise. Both cardiovascular and resistance training are recommended for achieving your body transformation. Cardiovascular exercise increases our endurance and conditions your body to burn fat more effectively. Resistance training preserves lean body mass and builds up muscle and joint strength.
  • Stay determined and stay positive. Surround yourself with positive people and stay away from negative environments that will hinder you from reaching your goals. Focus on completing each short term goal and realize that each step brings you that much further on your journey.

 

By David McCalla

Recipe of the Week: Wintertime Super Food Stew

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup quinoa, uncooked
  • 1 can of white beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 14oz cans of fire roasted diced tomatoes (with chiles if you like spice!)
  • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 stalk of celery, chopped
  • 6 cups low sodium vegetable or chicken stock
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 Tbs olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 cup fresh peas (or frozen)
  • 2 parsnips, peeled and chopped
  • 1 Tbs garlic powder
  • 1 Tbs oregano
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp cumin
  • salt to taste
  • Fresh parsley to garnish

Directions:

Sauté onion with olive oil until translucent. Add all ingredients, including sautéed onion to slow cooker and mix well. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours. Serve and garnish with parsley!

Nutrition per Serving:
Calories: 241
Carbohydrates: 41g
Fat: 3g
Protein: 11g

Creating SMART Goals for the New Year

January is the time of year when we set resolutions. The phrase “new year, new me” is a common mantra. It’s great to set new expectations for yourself; whether it is to commit to a new hobby, cooking healthier meals, spending more time with your kids, or deciding to lose weight. When it comes to making a New Year’s Resolution, broad or general statements are a good start, but most people need to do a little more to make them a reality. Sometimes when we simply make broad statements we end up off track pretty quickly. When you put pen to paper it helps you see and visualize these goals getting accomplished. Creating SMART goals is an effective method to create a plan of attack. Read on for step-by-step instructions to turn your resolutions into SMART goals!

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Realistic
  • Time-Oriented

Specific
Specific is the What, Why, and How of the S.M.A.R.T. model. Goals should be written out clearly and simplistically to emphasize these points.

Basic Example: “I want to run”

SMART: “I want to run 1 mile. by February 15, 2017 by exercising at Peak 3 days per week for 1 hour and start with ¼ mile the first week then ½ mile the second week and so on and so forth.”

Measurable
Goals should be measurable so there is hard evidence that you have accomplished the goal. Using the SMART goal above for this example, the goal can be measured by February 15th. The essential measurement is whether or not this client was able to run a complete mile. by February 15th.

Attainable
Goals should be achievable; they should push you a bit so you feel challenged, but well-defined enough so that you can attain them.

Using the example from above, this client wants to run 1 mile. in about a 6 week time frame. After speaking with your Exercise Physiologist, you have learned that just running 1 mile without training can cause injury, so building up little by little is the best option per week. Committing to exercising and utilizing a running program are the “How” of the SMART model.

If you plan your steps wisely and establish a reasonable timeframe, you should be able to carry out those steps. On the other hand, if a goal is impossible to achieve (i.e. the client wants to lose 30 lbs. in the same time frame), you may not try to accomplish it.

Realistic
Ask yourself if the goal is realistic. In reference to the client and their fitness goals, we have discussed how the goal itself is realistic within the specified time frame.

Another consideration might be if the goal is realistic for this client. Have they spoken with their doctor? Are they committed to exercising at least 3 days per week? Do they have any injuries that might prevent this goal from happening?

Time-Oriented
When are you going to achieve this goal? What can you do in the next six weeks? What are you going to do today? Today you can commit to exercising.

Short terms goals are the building blocks of our long-term goal. If the client’s ultimate goal is to run 5 miles, the long term goal should then be set in an attainable time frame, for example, a 16 week period. Along the way, setting smaller goals will set you up for success!

Utilize our SMART Goal tools to help you be successful in the New Year! Planning before January 1 is already a step towards a successful 2018!

 

By Corynne Duprey

 

Success Story: Cathieann

Since joining Peak Performance Fitness, I have seen many improvements in my health – I have more energy, my blood pressure is down, I sleep better, and I am down quite a few pounds. When I joined Peak, it was never about “the number” or how many pounds I “lost,” it was about changing my eating habits and my lifestyle.

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Tyler has always made me feel welcome and worthwhile from day one. He has never judged me or made me feel like I wouldn’t succeed. He has been my steadfast supporter, my cheerleader, and my voice of reason when I needed it. I have truly enjoyed working with him and look forward to much more success under his guidance.

-Cathieann Rowland

“fIITing” in the HIIT

If there is one thing you can almost guarantee during the holidays, it’s that you’re going to find yourself busier than normal. At one point in time you might even say to yourself “there aren’t enough hours in the day.” Stressful in itself, allotting time to get to and from the gym, as well as, completing the workout might seem impossible, so here is a perfect way to burn a large chunk of calories from your home in just 25 minutes.

You may have heard the term HIIT before and that’s exactly what you are going to be doing, High Intensity Interval Training. HIIT is one of the best, most proven ways to burn calories and keep your metabolism high for the coming hours. All you need is your body, some room in the house and a timer. The science behind HIIT is completing intense exercises back to back, keeping your heart rate elevated followed by minimal rest and repeat. Here’s a great workout that will beat you up in a fraction of the time:

Group 1 (Exercises are preformed back to back)

Jumping Jacks: 30 Air Squats: 20 Drop to floor, Crunches: 20

*Rest 30 seconds and then start over! Do this 4 times!*

*Rest 1 minute and move to group 2!*

Group 2 (Exercises are preformed back to back)

High Knees/Jog in Place: 30sec à Drop to floor, Mountain Climbers: 20sec à Pushups or Pushups on Knees: 8 to 10

*Rest 45 seconds and then start over! Do this 4 times!*

Congratulations! You’re now a sweaty mess and burned more calories than you ever thought you could at home. Remember, modification is key so that you can complete the exercises. Do as many as you can and listen to your body. Have fun and earn those holiday snacks!

 

By Tyler Palmquist