Wedding season is here and that means it’s crunch time for all of you soon-to-be brides and grooms. Let’s be honest: getting in shape is hard work, but it can seem even harder with the added stress of organizing a wedding. The Sculpted Bride program aims to rid you of some of that stress by designing a tailor made plan that will chart the best path to your particular goals, whether that’s shedding a few pounds or toning up. Hard work will still be involved if you want to see…
“The only constant is change” - Heraclitus, Greek philosopher. Our fitness and nutrition philosophy has stayed relatively constant over the years - create custom programs for our clients to achieve optimal results in relation to their goals. Each client is different and has a different idea of what success means to them. But as more research is released in these fields, we’re continually getting more insight into how the body and mind react to certain training methods. This research sometimes leads to fitness and nutrition “fads” which come and go…
On February 25, we had the amazing privilege of taking part in the Albany Cystic Fibrosis Stair Climb at the Corning Tower. The Stair Climb is an annual event to raise funds and increase awareness for Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that effects the lungs, digestive system, immune system, liver, and more. Inspired by dedicated FA client Erin Mark, who was diagnosed with CF as a child, Fitness Artist entered a team of four sculptors to climb 42 flights! After weeks of fundraising with a special customized meal plan promotion, we…
What comes to mind when you hear the word, SELFISH? I know… I get it, I get it! 99 percent of the time it’s considered a terrible word. We all know that friend or family member who always puts their best interests in front of everyone else’s. But, believe it or not, that one percent of the time when it comes to your health, it’s extremely important to be selfish! If you’re not going to take care of yourself, nobody else will. If you’re not willing to invest in you,…
February is American Heart Month, which draws attention to the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. Although certain risk factors are unavoidable (family history, age), it is possible to reduce your risk of heart disease by as much as 80 percent with just a few lifestyle changes. Of course eating right and staying active will only benefit you when it comes to preventing heart disease and other health issues, but there are other measures that you can take to even further lower the risk.…
Thursday, 19 January 2017
Work Force Strong featured in Saratoga Business Journal
Written by Travis Gil
Over the last several decades, an epidemic of so-called lifestyle diseases has developed in the United States. This is due to a more sedentary lifestyle and an increase in portion sizes. We’re just less active than we used to be. As such, we’re seeing rises in many diseases that were already among the most prevalent in our society: cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension and diabetes. Let’s focus on diabetes - 29.1 million Americans have diabetes, or 9.3% of the population, and one in every four who are living with the disease…
Forget What You’ve Been Told. You hear it from the time you’re in diapers. There are healthy and non-healthy foods. Soda and ice cream are always bad, while chicken and broccoli are always good. This is perpetuated so frequently that it becomes an accepted truth and dangerously no one questions it. That is about to change. What is a healthy or, better yet, a “clean” food? Is it whole grain? Is it organic? Is it green? Herein lies the problem with the over simplistic notion of inherently good and bad…
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to fitness and nutrition. Unfortunately, a lot of exercise programs are just that – giving a “broad strokes” approach without taking the individual’s specific needs into account. This is a trend I also noticed in workplace wellness programs. It’s not enough to just get people away from their desks and moving. The trainer and client should have specific goals in mind. Does the client want to increase productivity? Reduce workplace injuries? Cut down on sick time? All of the above? The corporate world…
Thursday, 08 December 2016
Five Questions with Travis Gil, Owner of the Fitness Artist
Written by Travis Gil
Travis Gil is the founder of corporate wellness company Work Force Strong as well as founder and CEO of Fitness Artist, which has locations in Clifton Park, Loudonville and Saratoga Springs. How does Fitness Artist differ from other fitness studios?From the moment you walk in the door of one of our studios, you’ll see that we aren’t like your traditional gym. You’ll notice a more spa-like atmosphere and an inviting environment that lends itself to both private and exclusive small group training. It’s this look and feel that sets us…
Keep the extra holiday pounds off with some quick, calorie-burning exercises. Fitness Artist owner Travis Gil and Kayla Radliff demonstrate a high-intensity workout on WNYT. See more fitness and nutrition tips on our blog
Monday, 05 December 2016
Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder with Fitness and Nutrition
Written by Travis Gil
As we’ve previously discussed, our Northeast winters tend to drain our motivation for regular exercise. Cold temperatures and a lack of sun are partly to blame, but if we become more sedentary this time of year, we also place ourselves at risk for Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is a type of depression that’s common during the winter months, affecting an estimated 16 million Americans. The good news is that there are documented ways, which work to keep symptoms at bay. The reality is that exercising can be just as effective…
For dieters, the holiday period from around October through to January can be a true minefield. Between the specific holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, along with endless goody baskets and parties, folks can run into problems maintaining the habits they strive to follow the rest of the year. A lot of strategies exist to deal with this time, although I’d consider few of them particularly healthy from a mental or psychological standpoint. One is to skip all food during the holidays. While this might avoid food issues, it’s also…
One of the most challenging aspects of any diet can be knowing what to eat day in and day out. While flexible dieting is designed to be, well, flexible, some people may still struggle with knowing what to eat to satisfy each of their macros as accurately as possible. This all gets easier with time and, like most new things, this takes practice. But, here are some meal suggestions that will help the beginner get started, or even give the veteran flexible dieter some meal suggestions that they may not…
Staying Motivated Through the Cold It’s common this time of year to suffer from a lack of motivation. School and sports are back in session, work is picking up…we just tend to be busier at this time of year. So, when we do find ourselves with some free time, exercise might not always be the first thing that comes to mind. Being in shape is as much a mental state of well-being as it is physical. Working out gets our endorphins flowing and lifts our mood. As many of us…
Tuesday, 18 October 2016
Diet and Exercise are Essential for Breast Cancer Survivors
Written by Zack Feeney
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, according to the American Cancer Society (lung cancer kills more women each year). Every October brings an annual awareness campaign, stressing the importance of regular self-exams and getting screened for breast cancer. While early detection can led to a more favorable prognosis, cancer treatments, and even surgery, are often needed. Studies on the breast cancer recovery process have indicated that exercise and dietary choices may play a role in improving the quality of life and lowering the risk…
As featured in Mamatoga Pregnancy and Newborn Issue Spring 2016.Mamas, we live in an exciting time.When strong is the new skinny and fitness is an essential accessory to the modern woman’s life, exercising during pregnancy is a natural progression for healthy-minded mamas. With exercise classes and training opportunities for expectant mothers popping up on a regular basis, how do you decide what’s best for you and your blooming babe?Not only is exercise during pregnancy encouraged by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), but the December 2015 guidelines cited …
Stop trying to get your pre-baby body back.Postpartum is a time of extreme highs and lows. Every 24 hour period can bring hundreds of different emotions and often they are totally inexplicable. In the months following birth, you can definitely chalk much of this up to hormones. The sudden fall in estrogen and progesterone alone can make an even temper a thing of the past.That being said, every woman is different.Everyone will react to the postpartum period in a different way, and that’s ok!As a trainer and a mom myself,…
Want a surefire way to lose weight? Become aware of what you eat and decide to make better choices one bite at a time! The best way to begin is by keeping track of what you eat in a Food Journal. A great app that is free is, My Fitness Pal. Knowing your eating habits, and fueling your body properly will keep energy levels steady, help with weight loss and can keep it off. Most of us have a general idea of what we eat any given day. When keeping…
While the sympathetic system is great when we need to respond to a stressor, it's not ideal to be bathing in it's hormonal milieu all day. I simply call this "being on". I think we can all relate to that feeling. Feeling rushed to work, forgot to bring your textbook to class, pressing hard in the gym, getting stuck in traffic, then we get home and have to figure out what's for dinner. Our inability to turn off can quickly add up and lead to a feeling of burnout. Stress…
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