And this time it's shining on Julie Robinson!

Although Julie has only been with us a little over a month at this point, she has been a great positive addition to class! She works hard and is very accepting of ways to improve and keep getting better. Here is a little more information about Julie’s journey at Get Fit NH in her own words…

Julie is pictured on the far left getting her "I survived" shirt!

“I heard about Get Fit NH on Facebook. I read about the 28-day metabolic challenge and it spurred my interest. I have always loved working out and am always looking for new ways to improve my overall health and flexibility and decided to give it a try. I am a runner, but like anything else, if that is all you do your body becomes accustomed to the effort and you stop seeing results. I also have been doing cross fit training for many years now but know there is always more you can learn and add to your workouts. One of the great things about Get Fit NH is the team of coaches. They are always cheering you on and giving you pointers on better form to get the most from the exercise and not injure yourself.

I have been at Get Fit NH now for about 6 weeks and have found that I have more stamina and a bit more flexibility. I have also learned that for many years I have been doing a lot of my exercises wrong! I have severe scoliosis and have difficulty straightening my back, I tend to round my shoulders to compensate. With Coach Adam and Coach Cari's help I am improving on my form. This has helped me when not at the gym too because I am now more aware of my poor posture and find myself constantly working to improve it.

I also like the nutritional portion of the Get Fit NH program. I have a very restricted diet but have learned a lot already on how I can add some variation to my often times bland diet. What is really nice about the program and the staff at Get Fit NH is they are always giving you options on how you can improve physically and nutritionally and explaining how you will get your best results by incorporating both into your routine. I have met some wonderful people through Get Fit NH, it is fun to work with people that have the same goals and needs. It truly is a great group of people and I am enjoying it very much!”

Keep up the great work, Julie!

-Coach Adam

The request was: "I'd like to learn more about how to transition safely back to training after injuries. After going through this several times I find it challenging both mentally and physically. It's hard for me to know when I'm overdoing vs training carefully."

Who has ever felt this way? Most of us deal with aches and pains, but injuries can be really frustrating and confusing. So, how do we know when it is safe to train a movement pattern that was once painful?

1. Nobody knows your body better than you do. Each training day your coach will check in with you. When we ask you how you are doing we want to know everything. Your day, your mood, your aches and pains…all of it! We want to know on a scale of 1-10 what your pain is today. There is a fancy chart hanging on the wall to help guide you. If we don’t know we can’t help you. We even want to know if you have a slight headache or heartburn! All of it!

2. Let’s pretend like you felt a tweak in your back while you were cleaning the garage over the weekend. It’s not bothering you now, but it happened….we need to know. Even if you think it is nothing, we need to be cautious to prevent injury.

3. Be mindful of your progress. What is your pain today compared to when you first injured? What is your pain today compared to last week? What is your pain today after training yesterday?

4. Are you aware of this injury while you’re not in training? What bothers you at home? Are you noticing it more or less with day to day activities?

We put Amy in the spotlight a few weeks ago, and this time it's shining on her husband, Jim. Like Amy, Jim has been a fantastic addition to the Get Fit NH family, someone who always comes in with a positive attitude and works his butt off time in and time out. Jim tells us a little more about his time with Get Fit NH...

Why did you choose Get Fit NH?

My wife Amy had heard about Get Fit from some of her co-workers at Bow Memorial Middle School. They raved about what a great program it was, and she really wanted to try it. We had a membership at the Concord YMCA, but hardly used it at all, and both wanted to find a workout solution that got us excited and motivated to be in the gym. It seemed like Get Fit was making it happen for her friends, and so we decided to give it a shot. What a great decision!

What changes did you notice in the first few weeks?

Well the first thing I noticed was how out of shape I was…ha! But it wasn’t long until I remembered just how great it felt to be in the gym and exercising regularly. You get through that initial sore period, and then everything starts to feel much tighter and better. Feeling better and better like that becomes its own form of motivation (at least for me!) I enjoy working out, but haven’t always had the best discipline. Get Fit has really helped me with that. I never thought I would be “that guy” who gets up at 5:30am to go workout, and yet now I’m doing it on a regular basis (4:30am on Mondays and Fridays!).

What outside of Get Fit NH has become easier since starting?

One of the biggest impacts I noticed had to do with my annual participation in the Reach-The-Beach Relay. I’ve run in it since 2012, but almost every year I would end the relay with some kind of nagging injury or pain (plantar fasciitis, patellar tendonitis, shin splints, etc.). Keep in mind, my only preparation for the relay was running. However, when I ran in it this past fall (after having been at Get Fit for just 3 months), I felt much stronger than in any previous year, and I finished with absolutely zero aches and pain (and that was even with a grueling 9 mile run with plenty of hills!). I credit that largely to the workouts we do at Get Fit. The full body strength and conditioning that Coach Dean and his team prepare have a huge impact on my overall fitness level.

What are your goals?

I was really big when I was younger (topped the scales at 280 lbs. my freshman year in college), and so weight has always been an issue for me. I have a tendency to yo-yo when it comes to my weight. As everyone knows, the older you get the harder it is to keep the weight off. I’ve set a long-term goal to take charge of this area of my life and make a permanent commitment to proper weight management and control.

What have you accomplished so far?

I started at Get Fit last August, and so far I’ve managed to lose 15 pounds as far as the scale reads, and have seen a 5% drop in my overall body fat composition. I’ve also gone from an XXL down to an XL, and feel like I can confidently set my sights on getting back into an L before July of this year.

What is your favorite part of Get Fit NH?

The coaches and the workouts they design. One thing I really appreciate about the coaches is how encouraging they are, gently pushing us to strive for more, but never making us feel like we aren’t getting to where we need to be. I guess what I mean is that they take the time to get to know you, it’s not a cookie cutter approach. They understand each one of us is different, and we are doing “our” workout even though everyone else is doing the same thing. It’s like the old adage “the weight is not the goal…the weight is the tool you use to achieve your goal.” To that end, I also really appreciate how vigilant they are about making sure we are using proper form so we don’t hurt ourselves.

Great job, Jim! Keep it up!

Coach Adam

Most of you that know me know that I hate cooking. Because I hate cooking I am not patient, which means when I cook it doesn’t always come out as planned, because I tend to miss important steps. Anyone else like that? For years I have tried to overcome this hatred, but here I am still not enjoying it.

Here is what I do- I am totally one of those people who CAN eat the same thing over and over, BUT eventually it will get old. Each week I make a meal plan. On that plan, I include ONE brand new (easy) recipe. If I like it then it gets added to an index card and I file it in my recipe box, if I don’t care for it then it gets trashed. The rest of my meals are pulled from the front of the recipe box then I make my grocery list. I ALWAYS cook the new recipe on a Wednesday or a weekend when I have more time to pay attention.

Once the week is over and I am ready to make my new meal plan I file the week’s recipe cards in the BACK of the box (with or without new recipe if I liked it) so that I am keeping it fresh, with what I know I like and what I know I can cook. And I am gradually growing my recipe bank.

What is your system? Is there a system or are you constantly on Google trying to find next week's meal plan? Don’t reinvent the wheel each week- keep it simple!

Coach Meagan

You have heard us preach time and time again about how having a plan can change your life. I want to take a small bite out of life and just tell you a few things about how planning and preparing can change your mood and the whole tempo of your day.

Here are a few things I do for my specific situation that make sure each morning is enjoyable, stress free and ready to go:

1. Prepare the coffee pot. I put fresh coffee grounds in and make sure the water tank is full…all I have to do when I wake up is push start. I even put the mug next to the coffee maker with a spoon inside so that all I have to do is pour. If you are a tea drinker, you can have your tea bag out and water ready to go. It may sound silly, but sometimes we’re a little foggy in the morning and spend a lot of time trying to remember what we were just about to do.

2. Box up your lunch. Whether it is left overs or a fresh salad, put it in Tupperware the night before so that all you have to do is grab and go.

3. No dishes in the sink. This is a house rule. I NEVER go to bed with dishes in the sink. In fact, I never leave my kitchen with dishes in the sink. You don’t need to be waking up to dishes either. Who wants to start their day by cleaning up a mess? A clean home really is a happy home. Less stressful when you're organized 🙂 .

4. Prepare your kids’ breakfast. I prepare my son’s oatmeal the night before and place it in the fridge. I even take the spoon out of the drawer and put it next to the microwave along with a banana. When I get his breakfast ready, all I have to do it pop his oatmeal in the microwave. I also fill his water cup and his milk cup so that those are readily available. I know a lot of you have young kids who need to get up and get ready for school…how can you help you and them have a better morning and not feel rushed? You would be surprised what a minute here and a minute there can do to change the mood of the entire day. If you don’t have kids, then all you have to worry about is YOU and getting yourself ready for the next morning, and you can use the same practices for your own breakfast. If you usually have veggies with your eggs, make sure your veggies are chopped and ready to go for the morning.

5. Make a daily list. What do you WANT your morning routine to look like and what CAN happen the night before to help that run smooth. I live and operate off of lists. I know we have to veer off that path because things come up every now and then, but routines are a good thing and we can’t get into a routine without a plan.

What are you going to do to make sure you have the day you want to have? You are in control, but not without a plan!

Coach Meagan

Real food is always THE BEST choice when it comes to fueling your body, but some days are just a blur. When we are running around or we have a busy morning it is so easy to fly off track and make bad choices. Recently my mornings have been INSANELY busy. Tending to a newborn, chasing a toddler, sleep deprived and HUNGRY is a recipe for poor choices so these have been 3 shakes/smoothies have helped me make it until nap time when I can feed my mouth with real food!

Pina Colada

• 1 scoop SFH Fuel Coconut
• 5 chunks pineapple 
• 1/2 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes
• Water/ice

Blend and serve with an umbrella in a goblet glass and pretend you're laying on a beach in Mexico.

Iced Coffee Delight

• 1 scoop UMP Cookies n Cream
• 16 oz "left over" coffee
• Ice

Shake it up!

*Choosing this over your daily DD run will save you about $40/month, temptation and calories! A container of UMP lasts about a month and costs $38. A medium iced coffee at DD is about $2.35 (I totally don’t know from experience!). That adds up!

Gettin' the Greens

• 1 scoop UMP Vanilla
• 2 generous handfuls spinach
• 1/4 avocado
• 1/4 cup frozen berries
• 1/2 banana
• Water/ice

Blend and serve. I realize this SOUNDS kinda yucky, but it is SO delicious!

Warm weather is coming - which one do you want to try?
-Coach Meagan

Another Athlete Academy spotlight going out, this time to Crista. Crista joined our Athlete Academy program a couple months ago and I have already seen big improvements. She has come in with a great attitude, a willingness to be coached and overall just to get better. She has a goal to be doing chin-ups in the immediate future and with every week I see serious improvement so I have no doubt she will get there. Enough from me, here is some of Crista’s experience in her own words...

"Why did you choose Athlete Academy?

I chose Athlete Academy because I was really interested in becoming a stronger version of myself and strengthening parts of my body that I've never felt the need to invest time into before.

What changes did you notice in the first few weeks?

Within the first few weeks I began to feel stronger, especially in my upper body. I've never done specific upper body workouts and so I definitely noticed an improvement.

What outside of Athlete Academy has become easier since starting?

Outside of Get Fit NH I've noticed improvements in strength in soccer games and I've also noticed it when I go for runs. Personally, with working out comes the motivation to eat healthier and stay motivated in other aspects of my life and so that's also been great.

What are your goals?

A major goal that I have for these sessions is to improve my muscle strength, especially in the legs and arms and, so far, I've been able to do that! I've felt much stronger in both of those areas. I also would love to excel in the upcoming track season and I can't wait to see how I've improved from last season!

What is your favorite part of Athlete Academy?

How had Athlete Academy affected your performance?

The academy has affected my performance positively both physically and mentally. I felt stronger over the past weeks in soccer games as well as when I run to prepare for the outdoor track season. During the trainings I've also pushed myself mentally to work harder than I think I can and that's shown outside the gym.

Overall I've absolutely loved joining, I've felt the improvements in outside sports and I know I will only get stronger! :)”

Great job, Crista! I am impressed at the progress you have made in such a short period of time and the mentality you approach your training with!

-Coach Adam

With this recent Friday where we gave out some free samples of our new “Churro” flavor of SFH, I talked to a few different people about using UMP or SFH in their coffee. This helps in a couple of different ways:

1. helps you increase your daily protein amount
2. helps cut down on the cream and tons of sugar you add to your coffee, either as sugar itself or as flavor shots or swirls

When I mix UMP with my coffee its very simple - I get black iced coffee from Dunkins, pour it into a blender bottle, add a scoop of ump and shake. Its that easy. It even works if you dump the coffee in, ice and all. Below are some comparisons. For the sake of comparison, all coffees will be sized “medium” with flavor swirls from Dunkins.

As you can see, not only can using UMP instead of sweeteners and flavor swirls make a huge difference in your sugar intake on a daily basis, it also can heavily affect your protein intake and how many calories you are getting with your coffee. That stuff adds up, especially if you are someone who drinks more than one coffee a week. UMP and coffee even tastes pretty good too. My favorite is the Cookies and Cream UMP with coffee - tastes wicked good. Give it a try!

Coach Adam

If you have been with us for longer than a month, than you probably know we talk a lot about nutrition and we offer nutrition coaching as well. If it wasn’t important and 100% necessary for results, then we would not waste our breath. Keep that in mind if you are a student struggling with results, but haven’t jumped on the nutrition ship yet.

It isn’t an easy leap, but I can assure you Coach Nancy has poured her time and heart into simplifying for you. In case you are new to our blogs, allow me to remind you, you cannot out train poor eating habits. Below are 3 ways you can get in control and start making steps in the right direction. These are habits and won’t feel natural right away. Start with one and work your way up until one, two, or all three become part of your routine.

1. Meal plan. Your family should be involved in this. It can be done while watching TV. It takes almost no effort to figure out meals that everyone likes. There are plenty of recipes that can be tweaked to make smart choices. Ever tried almond flour chicken fingers? It is a favorite in this house!

2. Make your grocery list from your meal plan. When I make my grocery list based off the plan it reassures me that I won’t forget anything, because I checked to see what was in the house. To take it a step further, I always make my list based on the layout of the grocery store. This way I am not tempted to go down any additional aisle. When I go to the grocery store with a scattered list, I ALWAYS forget something which can quickly lead to a bad choice if you don’t have what you planned for.

3. Meal prep. My husband teases me, because when I get home from the store I take everything out of the bags and line it near the fridge or cabinet where it goes. I put everything that can go away in it’s spot and prep everything else that I can to make my week easier. Chop veggies, boil cauliflower, cut meat, etc. Because of my schedule I usually prep on Sundays for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday I have more flexibility so I prep for the rest of the week at that time. You know your schedule. Do what works best for you.

You don’t have to do all of that, but start somewhere! Jumping aboard the nutrition ship can seem like a ginormous leap, but with small steps you will find that you are ready to step up. We are here for you!

Coach Meagan

I would imagine many of you watched or at least heard about the recent Super Bowl. What an epic performance. As many of you know, I am no athlete. If you throw a ball to me, I will most certainly duck. Despite the fact that I am not an athlete, this year’s Super Bowl performance taught a powerful lesson that I believe is worth talking about.

First and foremost, how about the “why” this Patriots team shared. Not only was this the biggest and most meaningful game to them, but it was a chance for Tom Brady to make history. History was made for many reasons that night. Because of this “why”, the team fought with every ounce of strength for every second of that game. What is your why? Is it big enough that you are willing to fight for it every second of every day- even when it seems nearly impossible?

Pushing through even when odds are against you. When I fell asleep on Super Bowl Sunday, the score was 28-9 in the third quarter. There was no way the Patriots were coming back from this. Never, in the history of super bowls, had any team come back from such a score. I was honestly wondering if the Patriots were throwing in the towel, because there was no way they could recover from this (because let’s get real, for a little while they didn’t show up to that game!).

I woke up to my husband jumping up and down and Tom Brady on his knees, because he had just won his 5th super bowl. Despite the odds, despite the naysayers, despite the challenge they pushed through, because they wanted to win that bad. Do you want to reach your goals that bad? Where absolutely nothing will stand in your way? So bad that when someone tells you there is no way, you find a way?

Every second counts. Man, did the Patriots prove that or what? Even with 3 seconds left on the clock Bill was calling a timeout to get one more play in in hopes that he could get some points on the board. And did you see the fourth quarter? Even with less than 3 minutes left they were still down. Those guys played with every bit they had left, left it all on the field and walked away champions.

Are you paying attention to the other 165 hours per week that you are not in the gym? That is crucial time and if you’re not paying attention then you’re not going to get very far.

Learn from the Patriots. They are a successful team because they are coached by the best and they give it their all every time!

Coach Meagan