Gibson's Gym Newsletter - November 2007
(Download a printable .pdf version of this newsletter here.)
Gibson’s First Annual
Golf Outing to Benefit “Helping the Hungry” of Warren County
On Sunday, October 7th, Gibson's Gym hosted its first annual Golf Outing at Apple Mountain Golf and Country Club. The event began with a 7AM continental breakfast followed by a shotgun start at 8AM and featured over 60 golfers. Prizes were awarded for the winning foursome, a grouping that included Ron Pantuso and Bob Politano, the longest drive (Robin May), and the closest to the pin. After the round, a buffet style lunch was had by all golfers.
Not only did the participants have a great time, but the outing was able to raise nearly $ 6000 for local "Helping the Hungry" charities. For all of you who participated and / or donated, we thank you greatly. If you missed this year's outing, we hope you will be able to join us next year as we plan on making this event an annual fundraiser to help those in need in Warren County.
New, New, New!
At Gibson's, we pride ourselves in our commitment to staying current, continuously striving to update both workout equipment and our facility as a whole. To this end, we have a few new updates and renovations that we would like to bring to your attention. First off, we have purchased 6 brand-spanking new upright bikes and 6 new recumbent bicycles (12 new stationary bikes in all) to replace our current collection of stationary bikes. The new bikes will provide the latest and greatest in riding technology and come equipped with their own personal viewing screens (PVS). These PVS’s will enable you to individually select your TV programming and help to keep you entertained as you ride.
For you strength trainers, we got you covered, too. 6 new Nautilus strength training pieces will be arriving over the next few months. Included in this order are 3 Nautilus OneTM abdominal pieces (OneTM is Nautilus’ newest line of strength training equipment that features turn style resistance) and 3 Nautilus upper body machines.
Finally, when you guys are finished working out, you will be able to retire to a newly renovated locker room complete with mahogany laminate lockers, stamped concrete floors and showers, expanded changing area, new sinks and fixtures, an additional urinal and commode, and greatly improved ventilation. Ladies, you're next.
Back to Basics
Fitness can be a confusing venture. Start with exercise physiology and anatomy, add in some endocrinology, a pinch of kinesiology, and tie it all together with psychology. What's more? Combine fitness with an equally important component, nutrition, and the plot thickens. But, there are some practical, take-home messages that can simplify an overly complicated milieu that is health and fitness.
Marion Nestle, don't think Crunch Bar, but rather, a New York University professor and small-time author, states this simplification nicely in an article entitled "Eating Made Simple" that can be found in the publication Scientific American. Nestle posits, "...basic dietary principles are not in dispute: eat less; move more; eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; and avoid too much junk food."
Follow this basic advice and you will soon be able to mark off your health and fitness to-do list. Weight loss? Check. Stress management? Check. Cardiovascular health? Immune system health? Muscular strength? Check. Check. Check. Balance? Coordination? Decreased disease risks? All check.
Shape Up or Ship Out
Chances are that some time in your life you found yourself in the unenviable position of being in close proximity to someone exuding a not so pleasant body odor (BO). Time to move. Repulsion to bad BO seems instinctive and most folks wouldn’t purposely subject others to it. Yet, many folks lathered in perfume or cologne don’t always realize the equally irritating effects such “fragrances” pose to nearby exercisers. These effects can include physical symptoms such as watery eyes and scratchy throats.
What’s more, it’s not only perfume and cologne that act as olfactory irritants. When used in moderation, rub-on pain relievers provide relief to the user, but at higher concentrations, the odor can be quite irritating to fellow gym goers. So, please, if you wear perfume or cologne, use rub-on pain relievers, or find yourself applying any other "fragrant" substance, use in moderation.
New Hands on Deck
In an effort to deliver the best service we can to our members, Gibson's has hired a few new deckhands. Kim Koch has very generously volunteered (alright, paid volunteerism) to help us out behind the desk in order to streamline our operations and free up time for us to complete projects and meet member needs. Thanks Kim.
While you're saying hi to Kim, say hi to our newest personal trainer: Kristy Kopsaftis. Kristy, a physical therapist at PT Plus, is going to lend her expertise and expertise and knowledge in the areas of rehabilitation, anatomy, and physiology to help us continue to provide you with the best fitness programs available.
The Myth of Fat
Misunderstood concepts abound in the health and fitness industry. For example, many folks still believe that doing hundreds of sit-ups a day is the key to getting those washboard abs; when, in fact, the real key to realizing that six-pack is eroding the topical layer of blubber that overlays those hidden abdominal muscles. And, since spot reducing is merely a mythical concept, those heaping servings of sit-ups only act as an inefficient mechanism to burn calories. You'd be much better served by incorporating a few very challenging, moderate-rep sets of abdominal work into a full body strength and cardio program in conjunction with a sensible diet. Boy, have I gotten off track?
Anyway, the plight of the six-pack is just one of the numerous examples in the health and fitness industry of misguided thinking. I illustrate such a concept of misguided thinking in order to bring to you yet another example of the myths of mainstream health and fitness: FAT. Over the years, we have heard many dialogues surrounding the discussion of fat. Either folks are trying to lose it, get rid of it, avoid it, disparage it, blow it up. You get the point. Rarely, if ever, can I say that I have overheard folks discussing fat in a more positive light. But, the fact of the matter is, the human body very much relies on fat to function.
Cell membranes are composed, to a very large percentage, of fat. Without fat, these membranes would dissociate and our cells would cease to be. Another use of fat by the human body is as a precursor to many of our hormones (steroid, and otherwise). Hormones provide a crucial link between cells by acting as chemical messengers. Without fat, the hormones would not exist and neither would we. Fats are also found in the membranes of high density lipoproteins (i.e. the “good cholesterol“). Without fat we would not have HDL.
As you can begin to see, the list of positive functions of fat is as seemingly endless as the list of negative connotations to which fat has been linked. The goal, then, should not be to eliminate fat, but rather to take in a necessary amount of “good fats.” “Good fats”, in this context, are those that result in the most efficient conversion to biologically useful fatty products, not excessive fatty tissue. Examples of “good fats?” Try fatty fish (like salmon), almonds or cashews, or a supplement. Barlean's makes a great fish oil with high levels of omega-3 fats ("good fats") including EPA and DHA. And, at $10 for a 50-day supply or $ 20 for a 125-day supply the price is very reasonable.
Stop by the front desk and we'd be more than happy to point you in the right direction.
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