In the months leading up to summer, many people put a lot of emphasis on achieving the perfect ‘summer body’. They want to be in their best shape for vacations, pool time, and overall, the whole shorts and t-shirts season. What many don’t take into account, however, is that this time of year, while it can be a good motivation to work up to, is often a time during which many fall behind their fitness goals.
Between fun plans, out of town trips, and general relaxation, it can be difficult to find time to stop into the gym and keep up your normal routine. That’s why it’s important that you switch up your routine to fit your summer!
Start off strong by working on a new routine to fit your new weekly schedule. If you’re working different hours, if you have different hobbies or interests to keep up with, or even if you have a different pick-up and drop-off schedule for your kids, it’s time to alter your gym time to better suit what other things you have going on this season. This step will make sure you can appropriately pick what times will best suit you, encouraging you to keep with your fitness goals!
Make new fitness goals to up your game and best suit your upcoming months! To keep up your momentum leading up to the summer, it’s important to heighten your goals and make sure you keep working towards bigger and better things. Increase the number of reps you do, your cardio intensity or the amount of weight you’re lifting. You can also re-evaluate where you’re at with your fitness goals in order to figure out what to work on next.
This change of seasons shouldn’t be thought of as the end of your workout goals, with the months leading up to summer bringing you to this point, but instead as another part of the year that you need to plan and adjust for. Keep up your momentum and start your season off strong with a FREE 7-Day pass from Platinum Fitness! We’ll be happy to keep you motivated and help you get your efforts on track.
It’s the countdown to summer and while people have always been buzzing about achieving their summer body, it’s time to kick your efforts into high gear! However, fad diets and overloading yourself with fitness are not sustainable ways to lose weight and get more in shape. Let us help you discover some healthier ways in which to get yourself prepared for summer:
1 – Make yourself a bottom line. – Figure out your minimum for what efforts you can reasonably make within your weekly routine. If you think you can easily manage going to the gym 3 times, but 4 seems like it may not work some weeks, then make 3 gym trips your baseline and add onto that when possible. This also goes for your workout routine, for example, how long you use certain equipment, how much weight you lift, how many calories you intake, etc.
2 – Consume your calories earlier in the day. – Various studies have suggested that the earlier you eat your calories, the better! Instead of focusing on cutting calories severely, consider eating no later than 4 hours before you go to sleep. If you can keep dinner light and eat a bigger lunch, then give it a try!
3 – Replace your unhealthy habits with fitness-related ones. – Are you used to going out drinking with your friends weekly? Do you enjoy your time with the TV and junk food? Give these a switch for more health-conscious hobbies! Ask your friends to join you on a hike, take a stroll around the block with your dog, or take up a class at our facilities to give yourself a fun pick-me-up without taking a step back in your progress.
4 – Go all-out during your workout sessions. – While the amount of time you dedicate to working out is important, so is the intensity you put into it! It’s often more important to feel a good impact and ensure you’re making a difference for yourself than to do something half-hearted for twice as long. Give your all to your workout sessions, either by following HIIT strategies, giving yourself an up-beat workout playlist, or focusing by leaving your cell phone out of your time at the gym.
No matter your goals for the Summer, give these tips a look for some guidance! You still have time before the Summer hits and we’re here to have your back not only during your last efforts, but throughout your fitness journey. Give Platinum a try with a FREE 7-day pass!
Starting off with April Fool’s Day, this month may be made for tricks, pranks, and general funniness, but fitness isn’t a joking matter! This goes especially for advice given to those working towards their fitness goals. There are always new trends, techniques, and fad diets gaining popularity, but there are also many myths that are important to look past! This month, we’d like to break down a few of these common myths in order to help keep you on the right track.
1 – It’s best to workout in the morning. – The best time to work out is actually when you can do so most consistently! If you’re only free to work out one morning every week, but you’re free every night after 8pm, you are better deciding to keep up your routine at night. Consistency is key, so don’t hyper focus on the time of day!
2 – Weightlifting can turn your fat into muscle. – Fat and muscle cells are entirely different, so one can’t simply turn into the other! While working out can help you to burn away fat, muscles actually form in the areas surrounding fat. Don’t be fooled into thinking the process is that easy!
3 – You need to workout (x amount of time) in order to get any benefit from it. – While there are a wide variety of opinions and rumors surrounding how long you need to work out in order to gain any benefits from it, we encourage you instead to focus on finding time for a consistent workout routine, no matter how much time you have available. If you only have 30 free minutes once a week or an hour free daily, the key is consistency and ensuring that you do keep up a workout routine in order to earn the health benefits.
4 – The more you sweat, the better your workout has been. – This one is widely popular, but also false! Sweat may be the way your body vents heat, but it doesn’t always correspond to how intense your workout has been. Sweat varies person to person and it’s a matter of individuality, not a sure measure of your workout achievements!
No matter what myths you’ve heard about fitness, the Platinum team, our certified trainers, and our blog are ready to help keep you on the right track! Be wary of what workout rumors you hear– be sure to fact check when it comes to your fitness goals! To experience Platinum for yourself, claim a FREE 7-Day pass here!
What you eat has a huge impact on your overall fitness, including your workout routine at the gym! Ensuring that you’re eating a healthy diet is a powerful counterpart to keeping up a workout routine, as it can be crucial to helping you reap all of the benefits of your gym sessions. Focusing on eating superfoods with powerful nutrients is a great way to start ensuring your diet complements your fitness routine. Here are our recommended superfoods to help give you a boost while you work out:
1 Chia Seeds – These are not only a versatile ingredient, but they’re packed with protein, potassium, and calcium! They’ll work to help strengthen and condition your body, keeping your bones strong to support you in your fitness pursuits. Try eating these on top of your favorite fruit, in smoothies or salads, or even with yogurt.
2 Eggs – Eggs are another powerful and versatile source of protein! They also contain all of your essential amino acids, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and vitamins A, B, D, and E. Take advantage of them to help you in bone and muscle growth and rejuvenation! They’re available in a wide variety of forms, boiled, scrambled, poached, or otherwise!
3 Bananas – Bananas are nutrient-rich, with potassium, magnesium, manganese, fiber, and vitamins B6 and C. The potassium and sodium in them play a fundamental part in activating your muscles, but also in keeping up your energy and cooling off after a workout. Try eating one after your workout to aid in your recovery! They’re easy to pack and eat anytime.
4 Salmon – Need a healthy main dish? No problem! Try salmon for its complete proteins, which can be easily used by your body for muscle growth and joint care. The omega-3s in salmon can help not only your joints, but it can fight inflammation too. Try eating salmon as a meal after your workout, whether cooked with vegetables, in a salad, or raw with some sushi!
5 Nuts – Nuts like almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews, and more are all high in protein and therefore great snacks for post-workout! Their protein and amino acids make them a strong contender as super foods, plus they’re easy to pack and keep on-hand. Try a handful as-is or even in nut butter!
Any of these superfoods would be excellent sources of nutrients after your workouts, so try giving them a try in your next weekly routine! There are so many ways to boost your physical fitness goals with healthy eating habits, so focusing on food alongside gym time is crucial. Learn more from Platinum’s blog or from our certified trainers!
As we are celebrating this month of love, we’re here to share our secrets to falling in love with your workout routine! While some may view working out as a hassle that’s hard to stick to, it’s much easier to keep up with a routine if you can begin to enjoy it. While everyone may have different tastes and preferences, there are some general steps you can take to help you start loving working out.
1 – Make it a routine. Workout routines may start with dedication but can often fall apart, if there’s no schedule set up. Make it a point to schedule workouts into your week, regardless of whether you need to switch up times to be squeeze it in. The point is, you have to stick to it in order to start enjoying it!
2 – Focus on the workout session. By turning off your phone, ignoring thoughts about work, and trying to focus fully on what you’re doing, you’ll be getting the full benefit of truly experiencing your workout. Take in the sights of the gym, spend time thinking about how your workout is going and how you’re feeling, talk to people around you or take a workout partner– focusing like this can help you to create an attachment to your routine!
3 – Plan your routine. Know your starting point! Plan your gym time out to ensure you don’t waste time trying to make decisions while there. Schedule what your plan will be: what equipment will you use, for how long, what you’re focusing on, how many reps you’ll do, etc. This way, you can also take measured steps in increasing the intensity and length of your workouts to meet your growing goals!
4 – Check out your results. No matter what part of your fitness journey you’re on and what your focus is, there are always results to work for. Reaching goals like being able to take a flight of stairs easily, increasing your weight-lifting limits, becoming more flexible, and more, are all huge successes to celebrate! By the time you start reaching your goals, your workout routine should be one of your best allies.
Furthermore, how can you start taking all of these steps? Try out Platinum Fitness! Our certified trainers are there to show you the ropes, instruct you on techniques, and help you to form routines and goals. Work on these steps and you’ll be falling in love with your workout routine in no time!
Fitness and overall health are always common themes for New Year’s resolutions, and at Platinum Fitness, we’re here to help you achieve them this year! Health is of prime importance in everyone’s life, with an incredible payoff that you can see and feel. However, making realistic, healthy fitness goals are sometimes difficult– especially when it comes to making the plans come true! That’s where we can help. Take a look at these three major ways that we can assist you:
1 – Our classes can keep you on track. Classes are a great way to workout without needing to focus on planning, getting lost in monotony, or losing motivation spending your gym time alone. Our instructors will keep you on your toes with classes prepared for every level of fitness in a wide variety of workouts!
2 – We have certified trainers to keep you on track. Not only do they have special offerings that you can take FREE advantage of (Complimentary Personal Training Sessions at Speedway, Body Composition Analysis and Fitness Assessments at Oracle, etc), but they are ALL certified to assist you in your fitness journey. You can rely on them to help you form and accomplish your goals!
3 – We give you the opportunity to reward yourself. Our amenities are there to help you work out, but also for fun! Our free childcare can help you find the time you need, our equipment and classes can give you a variety of full-range workouts, and our fun-fueled theater rooms, tannings beds, saunas, and more are here to make your workout routine a fun one! We even have an on-site spa with member discounts!
When it comes to making a New Year’s Resolution into a reality, Platinum has your back! We can help you to form your dreams into realistic goals, plan your journey to accomplish them, and even help you see them through! Give us a try by taking advantage of a FREE 7-Day Pass!
Still last minute holiday shopping? Take away the stress off by deciding to give the gift of fitness! Gift your friends, family, or even colleagues a membership to Platinum Fitness just in time for the holidays. A gym membership with us is a one-size-fits-all choice for gifting, available to every age, with aspects to suit a variety of tastes, and its use goes beyond that of simple nicknacks! Let us explain why gifting a membership to Platinum Fitness is the best option this year.
Platinum has something for everyone! Kids will love the childcare play centers, teens might flock to the tanning beds or theater rooms, moms can relax in the spa and saunas– families will love the time together and everyone can take advantage of the assorted equipment and other resources available! We even have classes for those with special talents or who are eager to embrace new hobbies, like Yoga, Boxing, Pound, and more! Platinum is a space meant for a wide variety of people to enjoy, with something for everyone within its three convenient locations.
A gym membership is much more meaningful than a simple holiday nicknack. Gift people something that they’ll enjoy using! With a membership to Platinum, you give them not only an abundance of resources but the means to make positive life change. Fitness is a lifestyle and giving someone the ability to fully embrace it in an environment made to encourage it is priceless! Platinum itself is also a community, so giving them a membership means they’re welcome to become a part of a community of fitness-minded people, including certified trainers, regulars, and everyone else who enters its doors.
No matter who you’ve still got on your holiday shopping list, consider picking the gift of fitness for them! Gifting a month’s membership to someone else can be a meaningful, thoughtful gesture that might just change their lives. Contact Platinum Fitness over the phone or at one of our locations today to learn more about memberships!
As Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season approaches, you may fear for your diet and fitness routine. It can be easy to fall behind on workout routines, indulge in more food and relaxation time, and possibly end up sending yourself backward on your fitness journey! However, some simple steps can be taken to help decrease the negative impact of your upcoming Thanksgiving feast, giving you the room to enjoy the holiday while also avoiding a bigger setback:
1 – Don’t focus on appetizers and finger food! If your Thanksgiving dinner starts with appetizers earlier on, then try to pass or skimp on them in order to focus on the real meal. These are both extra calories to digest as well as harmful to your appetite for the main course.
2 – Pass on buns, rolls, and other types of bread. These extra sources of butter, flour, and carbs are not only potentially harmful to your diet, but they can also work to distract from the main course. Who wants to fill their appetite too quickly on another aspect of the meal that isn’t the main focus? Moreover, saving this room for meats, vegetables, and other foods can prove more nutritious.
3 – Try to skimp on gravy, sweet sauces, butter, and other holiday extras! These meal add-ons are often full of sugars, fats, and extra calories that can weigh down the effects of the meal as a whole. Focusing on limiting or avoiding them is best!
4 – Avoid the dark meat and skin of the turkey. Both of these parts are high in fat, especially the skin, in varying intensities depending on how it’s cooked. The lighter meat is far preferable, with fewer fats and calories.
These small steps can make a large impact on your Thanksgiving food intake, limiting the negative effects of the meal. If continued throughout the holiday season, they can surely make a difference in helping you avoid an all-around fitness setback. This, coupled with the continuation of your regular workout routine, can ensure you only continue to move forward. Count on Platinum Fitness to get you through the season!
At Platinum Fitness, we may have a focus on gym equipment and working out, but we’re also proud to offer a variety of other resources! Our facilities function as far more than a gym, with features made for the enjoyment of everyone. All three locations are equipped with special features to take full advantage of for you and your family, workout buddies, significant other, or just on your own time! These special resources include, but aren’t limited to:
1. Saunas – Take in some heat after your workout to wind down, with benefits for your body and skin to enjoy. Spend time in the sauna with your friends or on your own to ease your stress and relish the warm sensation.
2. Tanning Booths – Multiple tanning booths are open for use at all three locations, ready for you to make the most of in capturing that summer glow all year round! A fresh tan is a great confidence boost, so why not treat yourself?
3. Cinema Rooms – There are also cinema rooms at all three locations, ready for you or your group of friends to come and enjoy! Relax in your own movie theater space, with the experience of the theater without the price tag.
4. Childcare Centers – Want to get some gym time but don’t want to leave the kids alone? Bring them along with you! Each location has a childcare center where your kids will be cared for and entertained.
5. FACE It. Aesthetics – Pamper yourself with the variety of services available at Platinum’s very own spa, at our Oracle location. All members enjoy them at 15% off, plus you get the convenience of having the spa seconds from your weekly workout routine spot.
No matter your interests or age, we have all sorts of amenities beyond our fitness specialties! At Platinum Fitness, we’re here to provide all these resources and more to you with a friendly atmosphere and room for all your family and friends. Stop in to start your membership today!
It’s no secret that what you eat and when is important, but sometimes time or lack of planning can make people lose focus of this. For instance, while it may occur to some people to eat a balanced meal before hitting the gym, not everyone sits down to a proper meal. Some may only grab a granola bar or a quick bottle of water as they run out the door or even pick up fast food along the way, but this can be detrimental to your workout efforts.
Nutrition is a key component of not only your daily routine but also your workout schedule– it’s time to start treating it as such! Eating well can help you to perform better and assist your body in recovering faster! Let us talk you through the three kinds of food you should be using to kickstart your workout and earn you these benefits:
1 – Carbs – Carbs are a major source of energy for your body! Your muscles take the glucose from carbs to fuel you, so ensuring you have plenty in your system is key. The amount needed will depend on the length and intensity of your workout plans, but this nutrient remains important regardless.
2 – Proteins – Protein is known to help improve many sorts of athletic performance, but it also carries other benefits you should capitalize on! This includes increased muscle growth and recovery, more strength, and better overall muscle performance. Proteins are key in both making the most of your muscles and helping to protect and help them recover.
3 – Fats – Alongside carbs, fats are another important source of fuel for your body! This is a key nutrient, needed especially during longer or moderate/low-intensity workout sessions. For athletes or those maintaining a continuous workout routine, fat is important to include in your diet, not only before workouts but overall.
Eating before a workout is key, but when you do so is also important to consider! The optimal meal would be 2-3 hours before a workout session, with carbs, protein, and fat present to fuel you. However, the closer you get to your workout, the less important it is to include fats in what you eat, in order to favor good digestion. Therefore, for when you eat closer to your gym time, focus on getting carbs, some protein, and avoiding the fats. To learn more, let the experts at Platinum Fitness guide you in our ongoing blog or come in to see us today!