health Archives - Page 2 of 9

How Are Gym Owners Handling Life After COVID?

Cover photo By Matt Stone / MediaNews Group / Boston Herald

LIFEAID randomly surveyed 135 gym owners in July of 2020, in order to find out how they are handling re-opening, keeping members safe, plans for reinvigorating memberships, stocking their fridges with FITAID, and more…

HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY:

Q: How long has your gym been in business?

Q: Has your gym re-opened (as of July 2020)?

Q: What percentage of your members has returned to your gym for regular workouts?

Q: How long do you think it may take for your gym to return to pre-COVID attendance numbers?

Q: Do you plan to continue offering Zoom/virtual class options to your members?

Q: Which LIFEAID products do you currently offer members at your gym?

> > > Stay well.

Into Golf? How Cardio Helps You at Tee Time

Cardio exercise is great for keeping yourself in shape and preparing your muscles for lengthy exercise and outdoor activities. Golfers need cardio for several reasons, one it helps prepare your body for a long day on the golf course, keeps your heart rate down between shots, and can even help prevent injury.

Each of the three cardio benefits listed above is critical for success on the golf course. Although not a high-impact sports like soccer or football, golf requires a fair amount of cardiovascular health to maintain performance on the course. On long summer days, golfers with poor cardiac health will find themselves cramping. Plus, the heat can be uncomfortable too, so wearing your bucket hat and looking into your cardio health is life-changing.

If your muscular structure is not used to being stressed or variations in oxygen content, your performance will suffer. Increased cardiovascular health can even add distance to your shots by increasing muscle performance. As the heart is able to pump blood more efficiently through the body, oxygen is forced into muscles providing a boost in performance. Also, before a round of golf, you may enjoy an energizing caffeine-free GOLFERAID performance blend drink, the best golf drink on the market.

One thing that separates top-level golfers from the rest is being able to score big shots in critical moments. The brain is the control system of the body and the more oxygen going into the brain, the more rested and performing it becomes. Although many golfers ride in carts, walking a round of golf can be a cardio workout. Some courses have terrain differences, hills, and non-flat surfaces.

Because cardio is not as important in golf as it is in marathon running or soccer, you can maintain healthy cardiovascular health without running for hours on end. A few ways to maintain cardio health include taking brisk walks or walking on an incline. If you don’t have access to a treadmill you can find a hilly location to walk up.

Walking on an incline has a lot of benefits compared to walking flat. Not only is the cardio workout better compared to walking on a flat surface, but it is also a better workout for your legs. Again, you don’t need to be sprinting up hills to receive a good cardio workout.

Photo by Jopwell from Pexels

Looking at golf from a cardio perspective, if you walked a 7000-yard course, it translates to roughly 4 miles. If you are able to walk 4 miles a week, you will be able to manage walking a course. Breaking down the 7000 yards even further, taking an average hole length of roughly 400 yards which is about a quarter-mile. Walking a quarter mile is only one time around a track which can be done in a few minutes’ time.

Going deeper, your longest continuous walk on a golf course will be between 250 and 300 yards, likely from the tee box. This is under a quarter-mile. A good tip to keep yourself in golf cardio shape is finding a short hill and walk up and down it several times a day. And of course, a good pair of golf shoes is a must. A quarter-mile only takes ten to fifteen minutes depending on how fast you are walking.

C O N C L U S I O N

Overall good cardio health is needed to maintain a consistent golf game. You don’t necessarily have to be a marathon runner to get in excellent golf cardio shape. A short quarter-mile walk every day will give you enough stamina and strength to play an entire round of golf without any issues.

Cover photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer who also owns a golf publication site, Golf Influence. He has loved golf since he was a kid and feels golf has been significantly helpful in improving his overall health.

> > > Stay well.

How Innovative Concepts Become Top Brands

Taste Radio: Episode 221 features highlights from recent interviews with six entrepreneurs who started small and have made it big, including the founders of Siete Family Foods, Bantam Bagels and Caulipower.

You can listen to the full podcast episode here.

HindeSight | No. 41

Meet Top FITAID Athletes & Discover Their Favorite Products

Brianna Cope is a professional surfer born and raised on the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii. Growing up near the ocean, Cope fell in love with the power of its waves and began surfing on a longboard at the age of four.

“I love how free and alive I feel in the ocean. It is such an indescribable feeling to be able to ride a wave, always thinking how special it is that you can only ride that wave once—you will never get the same wave again,” says Cope.

Cope won her first surfing competition when she was just 11 years old, deciding then and there that she wanted to be a professional surfer. Currently, Cope can be spotted competing on the World Surf League qualifying series, traveling across the globe for competitions. Her 2018 documentary “Surfing to Cope” is now available on iTunes.‘Big Neechi’ is an internationally recognized celebrity, bodybuilder and festival host known for his incredible strength, muscular physique, and for throwing wild parties.

Neechi graduated from Texas State University as somewhat of a campus legend, obtaining a degree in Exercise & Sports Science. His capabilities in the gym came at an early age when he broke his Jr. High School’s bench press record of 315 lb. in the eighth grade! Big Neechi has since won the title of “Combine King” and “Strongest Man”.

During college, Big Neechi also earned another reputation for himself after throwing a Project X-style pool party that went viral and ended up on every news outlet in America. Big Neechi has become the #1 event host in Texas, and even hosted Spring Break in South Padre Island.

No matter how wild his lifestyle gets, Big Neechi always prioritizes fitness, maintains a great physique, and displays insane numbers on all his lifts. (He was the 2019 Iron Wars 4 champion after completing a 475-lb. pause-rep bench press!) Weighing only 215 lb., Big Neechi has proven he can keep up with the best of the best.

Greg Lutzka is a professional skateboarder, best known for his technical skills which have landed him countless trophies, gold medals and awards in contests including: X-Games, The Maloof Money Cup, Dew Tours and World Cups. Currently, Lutzka is also the only skater to have ever won the highly respected Tampa Pro an unprecedented three times.

Lutzka’s reputation as one of the hardest working skateboarders in the industry is well-earned. At the age of 18, Greg moved from the Midwest to Southern California, the Action Sports mecca of the world. During the course of his career, Lutzka has been featured in videos for Almost & Darkstar Skateboards, K-Swiss and Oakley Eyewear. He has also cross-branded himself with Harley Davidson and Aqua Hydrate, always representing sponsors to the fullest while also practicing and improving his skateboarding skills daily.

Lutzka has acted in a movie, commercials and music videos. During whatever remaining freetime Lutzka has, he enjoys snowboarding, cycle riding and spending time with family and friends.

> > > Stay well.

Entrepreneurial Lessons We Didn’t Learn in College

Joshua Schall sat down with LIFEAID co-founder Aaron Hinde during an April 2020* interview—just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to affect both business owners and consumers—for a candid discussion about how to harness the power of your mind to set yourself up for success.

(*Note: This interview contains dated information about the LIFEAID LIFT program which ran until late June 2020, to help get gyms back on their feet.)

Check out Aaron Hinde’s recent post on Instagram here.

You can watch the full podcast episode on YouTube here.

HindeSight | No. 40

Life at The Gym During a Post-COVID-19 Era | LIFEAID

Results from a recent One Poll survey, published in a New York Post article on June 26, 2020

One in four Americans will never be returning to gyms … even once the pandemic is over, according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 Americans who exercise at least twice a week surveyed respondents on their attitudes toward gyms in the “corona age” and found 24 percent are over them, with one in three saying they will be likely to go less than before.

However, four in 10 remain undeterred by COVID-19 and said they will be returning to the gym at the same rate or more once it opens back up.

The study, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of LIFEAID Beverage Co., also found many active Americans are turning to at-home workouts.

Forty-two percent of those polled said they have a home gym set-up that they prefer over their membership gym.

Going back to gyms is currently a big unknown, but many safety measures will surely be implemented upon re-opening, including masks.

Wearing a mask during a pandemic is common sense for many, with only 26 percent saying they are anti-mask and won’t go to any gym that requires it.

Twenty-nine percent said they are anti-mask but would wear one if their gym required it, while 20 percent are for masks and will wear one at the gym reluctantly — and 26 percent are for masks and won’t go to any gym that does not require them.

All that being said, 62 percent of those polled said they believe wearing masks in gyms will help against the spread of COVID-19 and 83 percent agreed they’d feel much more comfortable in gyms if everybody was wearing a mask.

Masks aren’t the only safety concern for gym-goers, however.

Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed said they will be wiping down the equipment each time before they use it.

Over nine in 10 said they’d be more vigilant about others wiping down equipment properly and half (49 percent) said they’d call somebody out for not properly cleaning the equipment after they use it.

“We understand why some gym-goers may reject wearing a mask throughout their entire workout, but no one should drop the ball on cleanliness and disinfection of hands and equipment. It’s a courtesy and a personal responsibility as much as the responsibility of the gyms,” said Aaron Hinde, co-founder of LIFEAID Beverage Co.

“What gym devotees also need to understand is there is a price for higher standards of cleaning and safety at the gym. That requires more staff, more equipment, more cleaning supplies. So gym-goers should not be surprised or even indignant if they get hit with higher fees. And if the gym is critical to your balance and wellness, you should accept those fees.”

People are keen to exhibit caution when returning to public spaces to get back into their exercise routine.

The average respondent said that when their gym opens back up, they’ll still wait around four and half weeks before finally returning for a workout.

Many feel this can’t come soon enough, as 75 percent said they feel they need to put in some overtime in order to get back in shape after a lengthy quarantine.

But it hasn’t been all bad, as the survey showed Americans learned some self-love during the time in isolation.

Three in four said they are more accepting of their bodies now than they were pre-pandemic and the average respondent was found to have made four positive lifestyle changes since it started, too.

“If we experience lasting, positive change from the gym shut down, we hope it’s an embrace of some level of moderation. We can be fit, healthy and very strong without being obsessive,” said Hinde. “And smart moderation may also be better for our longer term physical health.”

5 Virtual Fitness Challenges to Tackle This Summer

Written by travel blogger Tiffany Ammerman

From local 5ks to hikes in far-off, exotic destinations, many of our planned fitness challenges have been added to the list of canceled activities this year. Initially, it might be disheartening to have to remove these events from your calendar, but don’t lose hope. Many competitions and challenges are simply moving to a virtual platform so attendees don’t have to experience fitness FOMO.

Check out these five fun, fitness-related challenges for the summer and get your fitness fix!

Paddle Boarding Competition

For those of you who are heavily involved in the sport of paddle boarding, check out this fundraising event for the World Wildlife Fund! The Panda Paddle helps to support the conservation work of WWF and is typically held in San Diego, California. The organizers of the competition stated, “While we’re sad to not be there in person with our great community of nature loving paddle enthusiasts, we’d like to recreate the friendly competition with our Virtual Paddle Competition which we can now open up to other paddle sports.” If you’re ready to get out on the water for a good cause, sign up for the Panda Paddle HERE.

Limitless Vertical Challenge

This intense endurance challenge focusing on vertical gain is perfect for those who love to continuously push themselves and their physical boundaries. Starting at Level One and moving through to Level Six, you can register, log your vertical gain and attempt to get yourself to “Double Everest”. Run Steep tells us, “Like other virtual races and challenges, you are in control. You get to design your course, choose your location, mix up locations each day as you like, and keep track of your progress through the week. Keep us updated each day and #ShareYourSummit as you trek toward the next level.” Ready to put some elevation gain under your belt? Click HERE to get more info on the Limitless Vertical Challenge.

Virtual Marathon

Offering a 10k, half marathon, 30k and a full marathon option, this virtual race benefitting Blueprints of Love will have you running for a good cause in no time. This virtual race not only facilitates your marathon but it also helps to train and encourage you during the process. If you want to help out a great cause and get in some fitness, check out the virtual race with lots of options HERE.
Camino de Santiago Virtual Pilgrimage

The ancient 480 mile pilgrimage located in Spain beckons many people of all walks of life and all fitness levels. Unfortunately, the Camino has closed for the year but that doesn’t mean you can’t create your own hiking challenge in your own hometown. Each time you log your miles, it inches you across the map and lets you see, virtually, what you would be seeing if you were on this legendary trail using Google Street View. You’ll also receive virtual postcards which give more information about each location you reach on the trail. This pilgrimage is meant to be an intensely personal experience for each pilgrim so not only is it a fitness challenge but it also serves as a mental journey. Start your Camino today by clicking HERE.
Swim the Distance

Whether it’s in the local lake or your own backyard pool, this swimming challenge will have you clocking some serious distance. After you register, you choose your distance and you have the month to document and complete your challenge. This virtual competition is perfect for those who are looking for some virtual fitness motivation. Clock your miles HERE.

C O N C L U S I O N

Whether you’re supporting a fundraiser or attempting to push your own physical boundaries, these virtual fitness challenges will have you motivated and staying fit during a time of many competition cancellations. These challenges are perfect for both beginners who are just getting started on their fitness journey as well as professional athletes who are looking for another sport to add to their repertoire. Join the league of other virtual athletes and start working towards your goal today!

Cover photo courtesy of @the_goodish_traveler
Additional images courtesy of @pandapaddle and @aravaiparunning

About the Author:
Georgia native Tiffany Ammerman is the thru-hiker and CrossFitter behind the travel blog The Goodish Traveler. She spends the majority of her time traveling, eating sushi and searching for hiking trails. When she’s not blogging, Ammerman can be found training at CrossFit LaGrange and teaching art to kids.

You can follow her adventures on Instagram: @the_goodish_traveler or her website: TheGoodishTraveler.com

> > > Stay well.

Introducing Hydration Collection on The GO!

LIFEAID is proud to introduce our new on-the-go collection for HYDRATION + VITAMINS YOU’LL ENJOY DRINKING, perfect for wherever life takes you!

Always made with only the good stuff, each packet of GO has just 5 calories and ZERO SUGAR, naturally sweetened with monk fruit & Stevia. Now you can throw a packet in your pocket, backpack or bag—just add water—and GO!

NOW AVAILABLE:

Workout Recovery + Hydration on the go
45mg Natural Caffeine | Flavor: CITRUS
5 calories | Naturally Sweetened

Immunity Boost + Hydration on the go
No Caffeine | Flavor: ORANGE
5 calories | Naturally Sweetened

Try FITAID GO and IMMUNITYAID GO!
Now available at LIFEAIDgo.com

COMING SOON:

Natural Energy + Hydration on the go
100mg Natural Caffeine | Flavor: MELON
5 calories | Naturally Sweetened

After-Party Recovery + Hydration on the go
No Caffeine | Flavor: Berry
5 calories | Naturally Sweetened

Rip. Replenish. GO!
Because life never stops.

> > > Stay well.

Helping Gyms Reopen Successfully Post-COVID Wave

HindeSight | No. 39

How FITAID Athletes Are Handling Quarantine

Written by travel blogger Tiffany Ammerman

Athletes around the world have become all-too familiar with the struggles of trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle and exercise regimen while gyms have been temporarily closed worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharing our quarantine experiences and struggles with our fitness friends has become a major way for us to connect and stay motivated in a time of social distancing.

But what has quarantine been like for professional athletes?

We interviewed four FITAID athletes—Kelsey Kiel, Jacob Heppner, Neal Maddox and Jackie Perez—to get their take on how they’ve been not only staying fit but also what key learnings they may be taking away from their time in quarantine so far. Here’s what they had to say!

QUESTION 1

FITAID: Isolation coupled with a massive change in our normal day-to-day life can be tough for everyone. What obstacles have you experienced and overcome during quarantine?

Kelsey Kiel: I think one of the biggest things people (including myself) weren’t used to when we started this whole quarantine is the “being alone with yourself” thing. I always thought I was independent (I still think that), but being separated from normal life and interactions, you really have to be okay with sitting with yourself (all the thoughts and feelings that come with that). It was a tough thing for me at first, but I’ve really embraced FEELING and THINKING and BEING. Which is a bit abstract, but I think it’s helped me grow.

Jackie Perez: Quarantine has forced me to really take a look at what I rely on for happiness. Total isolation has shown me that I rely on others and events to make me happy or motivate me. I have overcome this by trying to focus on the things that bring joy to me. The things that if they were taken away, they wouldn’t take my joy. I’ve started doing things I would never stop and take the time to do like read and go on walks or journal. Things that don’t require much but truly make me happy.

QUESTION 2

FITAID: As many of our local CrossFit boxes have been closed, what are some ways that you’ve been keeping fit during quarantine? What is the most unique thing you’ve done so far for fitness?

Jackie Perez: I created a Running Club because I found myself very unmotivated to workout. It was a huge success and had over 500 people sign up. I thrive on community so I created one where we all pushed each other and kept each other accountable. Nothing replaces the community vibe of being at the gym, but we must adapt to the current situation instead of letting it control us.

Neal Maddox: I tend to go for bike rides a lot. I put together a home gym so I am able to train still.

QUESTION 3

FITAID: Staying positive and tuning in to our emotions have been very important lately. How have you been staying present, positive and connected?

Jacob Heppner: For those of you that know me you know I’m already a super positive and connected person! One thing I recently did during the quarantine period was to start Fitness Related Awesome News (FRAN) which shares positive and uplifting news from around the globe in the fitness space!

Kelsey Kiel: I’ve been doing a lot of self work and reading and writing. It’s also been helpful to have people around me (not necessarily physically, haha) who have been there—FaceTiming, phone calling, and connecting that way. My dog also helps me stay positive because he’s so dang cute.

QUESTION 4

FITAID: Describe how you’ve been focusing on nutritional wellness during this time. What have been some of your favorite healthy dishes you’ve made during quarantine?

Kelsey Kiel: I track my macros regularly, and I recognized after a few weeks that nutrition and food is something I can control, so it actually helped me feel a sense of normalcy to continue to count and track my macros and eat the normal, healthy and tasty things I normally would.

Jacob Heppner: I’ve actually spent a lot of time focusing on my nutritional wellness and realized that so many others need that help and need accountability! So I recently started “Functional Eating” which is a nutrition company with a 1-on-1 coach, the same coaches I use for my diet and nutrition for competing at the Games. Our main focus is giving every person that accountability and relationship instead of just a plain ol’ diet template that doesn’t keep you accountable!

QUESTION 5

FITAID: What advice do you have for other athletes during quarantine? What have you personally taken away from this experience?

Neal Maddox: Advice I could give is this: get off social media and pick up a book. I have been basically going back to school and gathering as much knowledge as possible. The reason is because I want to come out of this pandemic a better person and great coach for my clients.

Jackie Perez: The best advice I can give is to only focus on what you can control. See opportunity in the situation that will help you grow. It’s a great time to get back to the fundamentals and make them bullet proof. We won’t have this kind of time to rebuild from square one again so focus on the basics and get really good at them so when things go back to normal, we can continue to build.

C O N C L U S I O N

This experience has shown me just how important it is to control our thoughts. This can either be the biggest tragedy we have had to deal with or an opportunity for growth in areas of our lives we have ignored because we were too busy.

As Jackie Perez mentioned in her interview, “Nothing replaces the community vibe of being at the gym, but we must adapt to the current situation instead of letting it control us.”

While it can be easy to lament the temporary closing of your local gym, remember that everyone—even professional athletes—are going through the same experience, and with that knowledge we can move forward together towards a positive and healthy future.

You can follow her adventures on Instagram: @the_goodish_traveler or her website: TheGoodishTraveler.com

> > > Stay well.

LIFEAID randomly surveyed 135 gym owners in July of 2020, in order to find out how they are handling re-opening, keeping members safe, plans for reinvigorating memberships, stocking their fridges with FITAID, and more…

HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY:

Q: How long has your gym been in business?

Q: Has your gym re-opened (as of July 2020)?

Q: What percentage of your members has returned to your gym for regular workouts?

Q: How long do you think it may take for your gym to return to pre-COVID attendance numbers?

Q: Do you plan to continue offering Zoom/virtual class options to your members?

Q: Which LIFEAID products do you currently offer members at your gym?

C O N C L U S I O N

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer who also owns a golf publication site, Golf Influence. He has loved golf since he was a kid and feels golf has been significantly helpful in improving his overall health.

“Every business is successful exactly to the extent it does something others cannot.”

—Peter Thiel

“It’s very interesting that it took isolation to bring everybody together.”

—Aaron Hinde

One in four Americans will never be returning to gyms … even once the pandemic is over, according to new research.

Check out these five fun, fitness-related challenges for the summer and get your fitness fix!

Paddle Boarding Competition

Limitless Vertical Challenge

Virtual Marathon

Camino de Santiago Virtual Pilgrimage

Swim the Distance

C O N C L U S I O N

LIFEAID is proud to introduce our new on-the-go collection for HYDRATION + VITAMINS YOU’LL ENJOY DRINKING, perfect for wherever life takes you!

NOW AVAILABLE:

Try FITAID GO and IMMUNITYAID GO! Now available at LIFEAIDgo.com

COMING SOON:

Rip. Replenish. GO! Because life never stops.

“The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.“

—Ryan Holiday

But what has quarantine been like for professional athletes?

QUESTION 1

QUESTION 2

QUESTION 3

QUESTION 4

QUESTION 5

C O N C L U S I O N

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer who also owns a golf publication site, Golf Influence. He has loved golf since he was a kid and feels golf has been significantly helpful in improving his overall health.

Try FITAID GO and IMMUNITYAID GO!
Now available at LIFEAIDgo.com

Rip. Replenish. GO!
Because life never stops.