In this year of COVID-19, we’ve become more concerned than ever about the quality of the air we’re breathing. According to the EPA, the level of pollutants in the air is significantly higher inside than it is outdoors. That’s why many people are more comfortable being around others and exercising outside, because better air circulation and fewer pollutants make it less likely that we’ll come into contact with airborne contagions.
 
Since we reopened in April after the initial COVID-19 lockdown, Next Age Fitness has been rigorously following CDC recommendations on masks, cleaning and sanitizing our studio and equipment, and washing hands or using hand sanitizer. As flu season approached, we began looking at additional steps we could take to make our studio environment even safer — for ourselves and for our clients.

​Flu season in Georgia begins in October and can extend into May. In cooler months, people spend more time inside with the windows and doors closed. Unfortunately, these are the exact conditions that make it easier for infections to spread. As we weighed the additional risk of flu transmission to our ongoing concerns about COVID-19, we committed to expanding our existing health precautions to also address the quality of the air inside our studio. Afterall, Next Age Fitness exists to support our clients’ in achieving and maintaining their optimal health.

After a lot of research, we installed a Reme Halo air purification system. Rather than opting for a portable room solution, the Reme Halo is actually integrated into our HVAC system. That means every cubic inch of air in the Next Age Fitness studio is continuously being purified. The process works much like nature, using ionized hydro-peroxide to refresh the air by restoring negative ions. This technology has been around for 20 years and has proven effective in killing Swine Flu, Avian Flu, and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) viruses. ​

At Next Age Fitness, we’re going above and beyond to ensure that our studio is as safe as it can possibly be. We’re here to support your health and encourage you to take these steps recommended by the CDC to protect yourself this flu season: 

• Wash your hands often
• Social distance whenever possible
• Wear a mask
• Talk with your doctor about the flu shot

 
We also encourage you to maintain a great immune system by eating nutritional dense food, keeping hydrated and getting plenty of sleep.  And of course, maintain an active lifestyle full of movement and resistance training such as push-ups and squats (and/or Next Age Fitness' 20 minute workout - free demo).  
 
Here’s to a strong, safe, and healthy flu season!

Next Age Fitness is re-opening on Friday, April 24th and will be conducting scheduled workouts.  Established clients can book 20 minute appointments online.  Demonstrations are free and also can be scheduled online (allow 30 minutes) anytime after May 10th.   

We will continue with the COVID-19 protocol established in mid- March to do our part in slowing the spread.  Staff will be wearing masks and sanitizing frequently touched surfaces before each workout.  Here's what we need you to consider:

• No Symptoms - Ensure you are feeling well and your body temperature is below 100.4 f.
• Distance - Only one person in the lobby at a time .
• Mask - Wearing a mask is preferred.  If you are unable to wear a mask, a strict 6 ft distance must be maintained. 
• No-hand entry - Enter the building and suite without using your hands, both doors push in.  The side door will be opened so you can exit without using your hands too (see video below).
• Wash Hands - before and after your workout.

During the appointment:
·      6 foot distancing 
·      Only one coach and one client in the workout room at a time.     

We will discuss your options on how coaching will occur.  With a strict 6 feet distancing, you will be setting up the machine and computer while the coach gives instructions 6 feet away.  Your coach will do as much as possible before sanitizing everything but then they will not touch it again.  The first time will likely take longer so please be patient and give a little extra time.  Some routines may need to be altered
 
If you are feeling well and do not personally have or live with someone who has underlying medical conditions, you are welcome.  We look forward to serving you. 

Though Next Age Fitness was able to abide by the rules of social distancing, Dekalb County made an executive order for non-essential business to close until further notice.

Effective March 28 at 9pm, Next Age Fitness has temporarily closed until further notice.  It is our plan to open as soon as the order is lifted and will continue to wash hands frequently, sanitize before each workout and practice social distancing while giving full body workouts to clients in a 20 minute appointment.

We encourage everyone to stay active (how many steps can you do?) and stay strong (how many push-ups can you do?).  

Stay strong,
Tammy

Keeping your healthy New Year’s Resolutions
It’s the new year, and you’re after the new you. Whether it’s a slimmer, stronger, or simply healthier you, building the positive habits to achieve your goals takes work. So how do you convince yourself to keep going and not fall back on old habits and behaviors?

Here are 10 tips to help you get started and keep on track:

1. Start small: Be realistic about what is achievable, and start small. You can build up to bigger goals if you can consistently manage the small building blocks that build towards the goal.
2. Set specific, measurable goals: Your realistic goals should also be things that are small enough and defined enough to be easily measured. This allows you to both plan and track whether you are moving in the right direction. So, instead of, “I want to walk more” or “I want to lose weight”, put some numbers on it: “I want to walk 10,000 steps a day” or  “I want to lose 20 lbs this year”. Set what you want to do and by when, and you’re more likely to keep the willpower to continue moving in the right direction. 
3. Change just one (or two linked) behaviors at a time: In order to make sustainable change, you need to be able to focus on just one behavior at a time. Trying to change too much at once divides your focus and can feel really restrictive, which can backfire when trying to sustain the willpower to build positive habits. The exception to this is changing linked habits. For example, if you want to quit smoking AND save money, link those--by not buying cigarettes, you will have extra funds that you can then put into a savings account. 
4. Set up accountability: Whether it’s making regular appointments with NextAge (wink, wink) , setting alarms on your phone, or having an accountability-buddy, have a way to keep yourself accountable. Once you build a routine, it’s much easier to ‘automatically’ do the right thing, but you’ve got to build the routine, and accountability is key to that.
5. Create a supportive environment: Fill your physical space with things that help you achieve your goals, and consider purging the things (or people!) who undermine your health goals. Surround yourself with the friends and family that support your goals, and if applicable, invite them to join you. Use tracking devices to allow you to build momentum through graphing features and badges (i.e., Fitbit, iWatch, etc.).
6. Be gentle with yourself: Hard-wired habits took a while to build before, and it takes time to ‘re-wire’ yourself. Minor or occasional mistakes are ok, provided that you don’t let them derail you from your overall goal. Don’t let a small setback derail your entire self-improvement plan. Instead, be mindful of the triggers so you will stumble less as you move forward and take some time for self-care.  
7. Make it public: Using social media or personal conversations to truly ‘announce’ your goals can create positive pressure to motivate you to keep up the goal. Crucially, the support you can receive can help you in tough times, including when you might fall off of the wagon.  (This goes hand-in-hand with your accountability structure.)
8. Stop excuses in their tracks: Building new habits can be hard, so it’s likely that excuses or loopholes will pop up giving you an ‘out’ to avoid your goal or only partially complete it. Recognizing these side-tracking thoughts can decrease their power, especially if you can catch the thought before it happens. Don’t give yourself an easy excuse. Pack your gym bag the night before, keep unhealthy foods out of the house, make sure your car has gas and your gym laundry is done--all of these keep you from making lame excuses and derailing yourself.
9. Reward good behavior: When you accomplish your goal, and in the steps along the way, pat yourself on the back or consider a small, goal-friendly reward. If you’re trying to lose weight, consider getting a new kitchen tool for healthy eating, or a new pair of running shoes when you reach your first milestone. Be sure that the behavior gets associated with the reward, such that psychological positive associations are made between the desired habit/behavior and the reward. 
10. Have fun!  Change is not always easy, but the goals you set are your path to the life you want to live.  Keeping your eye on the prize is important, but it is also as important to enjoy the journey getting there!

Next Age Fitness Staff

Visceral fat is denser than subcutaneous fat. It’s stored deep in the body, surrounding your organs. A moderate amount of visceral fat is healthy [E1], because it insulates and protects your organs and plays a role in hormone regulation [E2]. However, too much visceral fat can be deadly.
​

What Causes Visceral Fat? 
Many factors impact the way your body stores fat, including genetics, diet, stress, hormone levels, and lack of exercise. Some people are just more inclined to store fat around the middle than others. The way you handle stress also impacts how fat is stored. When your body senses danger (whether real or perceived) it produces cortisol – the “fight-or-flight” hormone. Elevated cortisol levels cause digestion to slow. Over time this disrupts your body’s normal fat hormone function [E4], which causes it to pack on and retain more visceral fat.

How do you know if you have excess visceral fat?
Fortunately, there are a number of indicators that can help determine if your body is storing an unhealthy amount of visceral fat. A good place to start is by comparing your relative size and proportions. As a general rule, waist circumference should be less than 40 inches for men and 35 for women [E6]. And the ratio of waist to hips should be less than 1 for men and less than 0.8 for women. The formula for calculating waist to hip is waist divided by hip.  It’s important to note that while excess visceral fat often expands the waistline by pushing the mid-section out, some thin people with relatively small waistlines can also be at risk.
 
Technology reveals more than the eye can see.
Body scanning technology, like the 3D body scan that we use at Next Age Fitness can offer critical information beyond what you can measure with a scale or tape measure; in addition, it also provides you with the most popular measurements taken.  With a 3D body scan, we can track your body’s percentage of fat vs lean mass.  We can also track other health markers that will help you understand your risk associated with the way your body stores fat such as waist to hip ratio and torso volume vs leg volume (which can only be done with scanning, either DEXA or our 3d scanning). Knowing these numbers is incredibly helpful for establishing a baseline and in creating a plan to maintain or improve your health. It’s also important, in tracking your overall health, to be aware of changes in these numbers, particularly in relationship to changes in your diet, exercise, and age.
 
How to reduce visceral fat.
When you notice your pants getting tighter at the waist it’s tempting to think about exercise for quick spot reduction. But the truth is, exercise doesn’t eliminate fat in just one area like that. And while liposuction might help in reducing spots of subcutaneous fat, visceral fat is stored too deep in the abdomen for this type of procedure to be effective. Reducing your fat (both subcutaneous and visceral) requires a more holistic approach which gives you more bang for your effort. Here are some steps you can take to be healthier:

1. Track your numbers: Get a 3D body scan to accurately establish your baseline and your level of risk. If you are unable to get a scan, carefully measure your waist and hips.  Determine the ratio (ratio=w/h) to track progress.  Continue to track those numbers over time as you change your diet.  Those numbers will help you understand the success of your food plan so you can make further adjustments and move towards a healthier you.  
2. Eat a well-balanced diet: You can put a dent in your fat stores, through a combination of what you eat and exercise; however, the focus to losing fat must be on food. Look for a healthy eating plan that eliminates high-sugar foods and includes calcium (which reduces the storage of visceral fats).  When it comes to losing fat, the food you eat is key.  Follow a food plan carefully and then compare your effort to the results (see #1).  Note that the bathroom scale is not a good tracking devise for health. 
3. Exercise: Resistance training and keeping active is helpful. Resistance/strength training should be prioritized as it gives the most benefit.  Resistance training can be done traditionally using gravity based weights (45 min, 2 times a week) or with a 20-minute workout at Next Age Fitness.  Resistance training and/or activity will help burn calories but more importantly keep you from adding to your fat storage while you create the deficit needed to use the previously stored energy you have (also known as fat).
4. Manage stress. Explore stress reducing methods like meditation or learning to say no to non-essential tasks. And make sure you’re giving your body the sleep and silent time it needs to fully recharge.  Mediative yoga is a good place to start.

 
The good news about visceral fat – in case you thought it was all bad – visceral fat around the belly can respond better to diet and exercise. Taking on any one of these practices should help you say goodbye to that dense fat and hello to a healthier you.
 
​Next Age Fitness Staff

Check these out if you are in Atlanta:

• Google DEXA scan
• 3D body scan 
• 20-minute strength training Demo

Resources
 [E1]https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/taking-aim-at-belly-fat
 [E2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22572689
 [E3]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10889795
 [E4]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21378472
 [E5]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18458161
 [E6]https://nutritionalassessment.mumc.nl/en/waist-hip-ratio-whr-and-waist-circumference