Perhaps I shouldn’t be admitting this as the co-owner of this fitness blog, but I have lost my motivation to get to the gym since the kids have been out of school.  I used to drop them off at school for 830am and than I would go straight to the gym.  I didn’t even think about not going, it was just automatic. BUT since the kids have been out, I have lost all of my motivation to get my butt into the gym. I really do not have an excuse but if I had to make a couple..I could use these two excuses…..

Click on image for a larger picture. Do you see the 'Curve' like weight system that takes up 1/2 of the gym. The tiny free weight area is in the corner.

Firstly, my gym used to be called Just Ladies Fitness and they had these awesome classes.   They also had this crazy cardio class with a crazy instructor, Collette on Thursday that I did not miss for over one year.  I loved that class and I loved how hard she worked us.  She was so passionate about fitness and it really showed.   They also had Body Pump with the weights, which I adored with many great instructors.  The classes were always packed to the brim.  Especially on Thursday!  Just Ladies also had child minding which I could take my kids to on holidays and weekends. 

BUT, than the stupid greedy unskilled executives at this  gym changed it to She’s Fit and took away ALL of the CLASSES AWAY and replaced the space with an area similar to Curves.  Haven’t they heard that Curves closed 1,000′s of gyms across North America?  Perhaps the stupid exe’s should have researched this before changing MY gym!  Urghhhh….so now I am left to my own motivation on free weights and cardio machines.  I have NOT once left with such a great sweat that I once did when I took my beloved, Collette’s class.

My second excuse, is that I just can’t trust my kids alone at the moment. I think they may kill each other.  At the ages of 10 and 12, they are just so close to age that both of them want to take charge.  Boy oh boy, they fight like cats and dogs.  Just to back pedal a little, I have taken the kids on bike rides, walks, swimming and to the park.  We also just got a brand new puppy, which we have been taking on short walks.

My hubby, is taking my lovely kids to a dude ranch for two weeks very soon, while I slave happily work away.  I will be using that time to search out for a new gym in this area, but the picking are so slim for this growing town.  So frustrating.  I may have to travel further to get to the gym I will be excited about going to. 

I know I really don’t have any excuses not to get my weight training in.  But I would like to blame my gym, because I know if my classes were still there, I would be in that gym everyday.

Do you like your gym? What would like to see change?  Is there anything at your gym that would be a deal breaker if it changed?  Any new trends that I should know about?  (I heard one had a media room where you do your cardio in the dark while watching a big screen, too cool!) Please do share and maybe those gym Executives will take note.

I came across this story and really made me think about how the fitness industry is changing…

While Curves fitness centers have been pretty easy to find in shopping centers all across the country, that has been rapidly changing in recent years. Since 2007, Curves International Inc. has closed thousands of its franchise locations.

Curves locations have shrunk by a third in the U.S., with 5,208 sites at the end of 2009, down from 7,748 at the beginning of 2007. More than 1,000 Curves chains closed in 2009, while just 35 new locations opened.

While franchisees and industry experts say that the closings are due to a failure to keep up with changing fitness trends (flexible hours, cheaper options), the company disagrees.

According to Curves President Mike Raymond, they are closing Curves locations as a way to “prune the system.” He puts much of the onus on the franchisees, saying that they got into the business for the wrong reasons.

“They were motivated primarily as investors rather than owners,” he says.

At the end of 2008, Curves was one of the most poplar fitness centers, with almost four million members across the globe. Gold’s Gym came in second with 3.5 million members.

Each Curves club features a circuit of strengthening and cardiovascular exercise equipment. Members are prompted by an audio tape to move from machine to machine for a 30-minute workout. Monthly dues range from $29 to $49, depending on the market.

Some club owners have complained that corporate ignored pleas to be more flexible with the format, including the 30-minute routine, and amenities offered, such as showers and exercise choices.

While there is always the recession to consider, potential business miscues seem to be a recurring theme among those in the know.

“They’re so constrained in their present model they don’t appear to be open to enough feedback from their franchisees,” says Tom Garmon, a broker with Fitness Industry Business Brokers.

(source: Wall Street Journal)

What do you think the real reason is for closing all these locations?  This is not the type of gym I would become a member of but I’m sure it works for some.

With every shoe company hopping on the band wagon to get a piece of the “toning’ shoes pie (shoes that claim to shape up and tone up your legs, improve circulation, burn calories, and helps you “lose weight”), how does the savvy consumer decide which shoes to buy?

They are sometimes referred as wellness shoes, shaping shoes or toning shoes, heck, call them whatever you want.  BUT, do they work? and what are some pros and cons of these shoes. We took these shoes to the ultimate test and tried the ones we could get our hands on or should I say feet on.

(Price reflects what that particular site had at the time of publication.  Prices may vary else where.) The GGS crew have reviewed each of these shoes indivdually to get these results.  See each of those detailed posts here.

In no particular order:

Toning Shoes	Price US $	What we liked	What we did NOT like
Earth Shoes	$109.00 www.earthshoes.com	all leather looks like a regular training shoe like the accent color could feel it working	very wide width not very breathable heavy weight
Skechers Shape-Ups	$150.00 www.fitnessfootwear.com	super comfortable lots of colors and styles breathable	screamed toning shoe priced high
Reebok Easy Tone	$99.00 www.reebok.com	looked like regular training shoes pink accent light weight feel like walking on cushions comes in many styles and colors	the sexist commercials could not tell if they were working
Champion Pace Shoes	$39.99 www.payless.com	great price light weight could feel them working super comfortable	screams toning shoe too white (needs an accent color on this style) not many colors
New Balance Rock & Tone	$84.99 www.newbalance.com	good price leather does not look like a typical toning shoe light weight	not too many styles/ colors not overly breathable
MBT	$250.00 www.ca.mbt.com	could feel them working lots of colors/ styles/ choice	screamed toning shoes very expensive heavy in weight

We also reviewed the FitFlops, but you can’t really compare them to the sneakers style toning shoes.  (Do I see a toning sandal review in the future?)

So I hope this helps you, my savvy girlfriends. They MAY  tone your legs, correct your posture, increase your blood flow in the legs, improve balance, and aid in weight loss. It depends on how much and how long you wear these shoes. Be warned, once you wear a pair of  these shoes, you may become addicted to them. Walking will never be the same again!

Reviews on GirlGetStrong.com reflect the personal opinion of the writer, whether it is good, bad or ugly.  These products were supplied to GGS, however no compensation was accepted by me or GGS Media Corporation for this review.

Guest blogger Amy Applebaum is a success coach whose work includes the Release Your Inner Millionairess coaching program designed to create life-changing breakthroughs in her clients. Amy’s groundbreaking six-step process has helped thousands of female entrepreneurs accomplish goals they never imagined possible. Amy’s coaching success has led to appearances on ABC News, CNN, TLC, and Martha Stewart, to name a few. For more information on Amy’s coaching club, go to AmyApplebaum.com.

In order to help my clients achieve an amazing life, I give them assignments and challenges that sometimes push them to the limit. (Hey, it’s the only way I know to get real results!) And to help my peeps get more done I always tell them they need the right fuel; super-charged, all-natural foods that give them a burst of energy when they need it most. Here’s a look at some of my favorite foods to help get things done, and stay healthy (with a note on a few): 

• Blueberries and Strawberries(Researchers say blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.)
• Citrus fruits
• Mangoes
• Cantaloupe (An excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and C, and potassium)
• Beans
• Spinach (Researchers have identified at least a dozen flavonoids compounds in spinach that work as antioxidants and anti-cancer agents.)
• Sweet potatoes (Contains proteins with antioxidant properties)
• Low-fat dairy products and soy milk
• Oatmeal and whole grains
• Salmon
• Nuts
• Tea

It’s also very important to remember that no matter how busy you are, you should never miss a meal. Your body and mind just won’t operate at peak performance unless properly nourished. Try to keep these foods handy at all times whether it’s in your purse, at your desk, or in your car.

Thank you Amy for taking time out to share your knowlegde with us!

5 Diet and Nutrition Tips You Need to Follow

Dr. Lisa Hark, registered dietitian, offers advice about a healthy diet. In this short video, she describes the 5 simple things that can make a big difference in your health and fitness journey: