Are you tired of going to a gym where no one knows your name? Tired of waiting for a treadmill or a piece of cardio equipment during peak hours? Are you tired of going to group fitness classes that are so jammed-pack that you're going to punch your neighbor in the eye? Well fear no more fitness junkies, 220 fitness is here to save you.
220 Fitness, located on Main Street in Santa Monica, Ca. is the brainchild of owner, Matteo Baker. Baker's experience in the fitness world is too long to mention-but I can say, the man know's how to run a gym: He's done it plenty of times and all over the world to be exact.
When you approach 220, you THINK you know exactly what you're going to get. Its large, bright windows open up to Main Street- allowing the members and passers-by to see exactly what's going on inside. As you enter through the open front doors, you feel like you've entered a time machine: circa 1983 in Boston, Massachusetts and on the set of "Cheers." Not because the facility is outdated or because it smells like stale beer and bar food, but because at 220, everyone DOES know your name.
As you walk around this charming gym, you may think "Man, this place is small." And yes, comparatively speaking to gyms like Equinox and Golds that may average 45,000 square feet, it is. But if you're looking to be a part of a community and feel valued like a family member and not just a number, than 220 is what you're looking for. Though I should mention parking- small gym means small lot. But those folks at 220 are one step ahead of you: if there's no space left, they have another lot located about a block away.
The gym has everything you need and then some-dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, various cadio machines and even a kinesis wall. If you travel around back, you'll find even more tools to fancy your functional needs. This is where you can find hanging bags, battling ropes, TRX, gym rings, superbands and even a little rubber, red dummy to punch, kick, throw and slam. And if you want to kickbox-come take a class where you do just that- by kicking and boxing a real bag.
Upstairs holds a group fitness and cycling studio where a plethora of classes are held... too many to mention and I have not taken enough of them to give you all an unbiased view on them. So wait for that one....and trust me, those reviews will be coming.
Here's the point: come to 220. Come check it out if you haven't all ready. Let Henry, the resident sales manager, take you on a quick tour of the joint. And I promise- Henry won't be inundating you with follow-up phone calls every hour to hassle you to join. If you're worried about cost: TELL THEM. As a student, I was concerned about paying the Equinox rate of $150/month and they were able to provide me a student membership of $79/month. And if you're still not convinced- sign up for a guided workout with a member of the training staff or Executive Training Director, Jason Pease, CSCS. Let Pease show you all the tricks he's got up his sleeve to get you in the best shape of your life.
I don't have to be the one to sell this place to you- 220 sells itself: Second2None.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
hCG diet
So summer is around the corner and if you live in southern california, well- let's just say its spring/summer practically year round. This is time when clothes come off and we show off just what we've been working for all year... or do we? If you happen to be one of those folks who have not been putting in the hours to fine-tune your physique, well, don't you worry... I'm sure you (or someone you know) will be one of the millions of americans to try a quick fix. Why not? They ALL claim to work... don't they?
The HCG diet is the new rage and it really has people talking about its success... but what about its risks? But before I get ahead of myself, let me give you a quick background of our friend hCG. hCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin and it is a hormone produced by women early in their pregnancy. Actually, hCG levels peak at week 14 and decrease thereafter. hCG has many roles, but its primary purpose is to make sure the fetus receives the nutrients and calories needed to grow, even if the mother is malnourished. With the presence of hCG in the body, adipocytes (fat cells) are broken down and utilized as energy stores for the fetus. So if there is a chance that the mother is not eating enough nutrients and calories, hCG is there to make sure the fetus does not suffer from malnutrition.
So HOW did this become a fat loss drug? Well, in the early 1950's it was utilized in a study to help adolescent boys who were suffering from a delay in genital development- hence the name gonadotropin (gonadotrophic means genital development). But this study showed another response variable- participants were able to lose excess weight, maintain a low calorie diet and not suffer from hunger pains. And like that- the birth of hCG (no pun intended) became a weight loss tool.
According to creator Dr. Simeons, hCG is the only way to go if you want to lose weight and supposedly, keep it off. Without getting into the nitty-gritty details of it, Dr. Simeone recommends that the patient take hcg injections daily (in cycles of no more than 23 days straight and with no more than 40 pounds lost) IN ADDITION to maintaining a 500 calorie diet. THERE'S YOUR RED FLAG LADIES AND GENTS.
In my book, this diet is FICTION. Yes, you lose weight, but its a crash diet. Most people lose weight on a crash diet. If you do not learn how to transform the way that you eat, you will gain it back. If you are someone who is taking a holistic hcg approach (using drops or drink mixes), you are being DUPED. hCG MUST be given in injectable forms (if you're wanting to get the real thing). Living this way (maintaining 500 calorie diet) will cause major physiological issues down the line. No serious health practitioner would ever prescribe someone to eat 500kcals a day.
DON'T FORGET: hCG was initially used as a fertility drug (and it still is- for those of your who have done IVF are usually taking hCG injections as well). A major risk for you females who are taking hCG for weight loss: pregnancy might be a side effect!
If you're really concerned with losing weight, contact a registered dietician for all of your dietary needs. Always consult a professional before trying the newest fad on the market. Remember- they only pull it off the shelves when someone gets seriously hurt... don't take the chance of that person being you...
The HCG diet is the new rage and it really has people talking about its success... but what about its risks? But before I get ahead of myself, let me give you a quick background of our friend hCG. hCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin and it is a hormone produced by women early in their pregnancy. Actually, hCG levels peak at week 14 and decrease thereafter. hCG has many roles, but its primary purpose is to make sure the fetus receives the nutrients and calories needed to grow, even if the mother is malnourished. With the presence of hCG in the body, adipocytes (fat cells) are broken down and utilized as energy stores for the fetus. So if there is a chance that the mother is not eating enough nutrients and calories, hCG is there to make sure the fetus does not suffer from malnutrition.
So HOW did this become a fat loss drug? Well, in the early 1950's it was utilized in a study to help adolescent boys who were suffering from a delay in genital development- hence the name gonadotropin (gonadotrophic means genital development). But this study showed another response variable- participants were able to lose excess weight, maintain a low calorie diet and not suffer from hunger pains. And like that- the birth of hCG (no pun intended) became a weight loss tool.
According to creator Dr. Simeons, hCG is the only way to go if you want to lose weight and supposedly, keep it off. Without getting into the nitty-gritty details of it, Dr. Simeone recommends that the patient take hcg injections daily (in cycles of no more than 23 days straight and with no more than 40 pounds lost) IN ADDITION to maintaining a 500 calorie diet. THERE'S YOUR RED FLAG LADIES AND GENTS.
In my book, this diet is FICTION. Yes, you lose weight, but its a crash diet. Most people lose weight on a crash diet. If you do not learn how to transform the way that you eat, you will gain it back. If you are someone who is taking a holistic hcg approach (using drops or drink mixes), you are being DUPED. hCG MUST be given in injectable forms (if you're wanting to get the real thing). Living this way (maintaining 500 calorie diet) will cause major physiological issues down the line. No serious health practitioner would ever prescribe someone to eat 500kcals a day.
DON'T FORGET: hCG was initially used as a fertility drug (and it still is- for those of your who have done IVF are usually taking hCG injections as well). A major risk for you females who are taking hCG for weight loss: pregnancy might be a side effect!
If you're really concerned with losing weight, contact a registered dietician for all of your dietary needs. Always consult a professional before trying the newest fad on the market. Remember- they only pull it off the shelves when someone gets seriously hurt... don't take the chance of that person being you...
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