Voting season is HERE! Buckle up...

The Hippo Best of awards are officially open. This year they have a few more categories that we would love to go after if you are feeling up to the challenge! We have won the best gym in Concord for 10 years and we are going for 11 years here in 2020. Last year we made a team decision to rotate which coach we vote for as best fitness instructor and last year Coach Adam took that title (for the second year in a row!) This year we have decided to vote for Coach Erin Constantin. Here are the numbers and questions so we can be the champions (and I do mean WE, because if we win then that makes you a winner too because you train here!) 

#17 Best Gym (Please include town): Get Fit NH Concord

#18 Workout class that will get you to your goal fastest (please include name of class, location and town): Smart Group Training Get Fit NH Concord)

#82 Best Crowd: Get Fit NH Concord

#104 Butt-kicking-est fitness instructor: Coach Erin Constantin Get Fit NH Concord

#113 Happiest place in NH: Get Fit NH Concord

You must vote for 15 for your vote to count. It is so easy to name drop local businesses. 

VOTE HERE

Thank you so much for your continued support!

Coach Meagan

I hear the question every once in a while so I decided to do a short blog explaining
just why we hardly ever program it.

In talking with a physical therapist as well as some reading in the past I learned more about why it’s something that probably doesn’t need to be done often (some believe not at all). The reason is because the IT band is not contractile tissue. The IT band is actually a long tendon that stretches from the TFL (a muscle on the side of the hip) down to the knee. Its main purpose is to help stabilize the legs/hips when moving forward and backward. However, in  cases where someone has tight or weak lateral hips this smaller muscle goes into overdrive, which is why it can feel “tight."  More often than not, the cause of that tightness is actually the muscle on the side of the hip. Another reason can be someone who does a lot of something that involves a major need for stabilization moving forward or backward​ such as running.

I’ve spoken in the past about just how large of forces are involved with running, it creates a lot of demand from a relatively small muscle, the TFL, which is a muscle that we roll when we hit the glutes.  Also often that feeling of “pain” or “tightness” can actually be due to tightness from one of the quads that runs partially under the IT band, which can be rolled without directly rolling on the IT band, it's just assumed that it is the IT band because its in the same proximity.

It is just fine to roll it! We don't focus on it because it is not a muscle that actively contracts, so tightness is due to muscles up in the hip not the IT band itself.

Coach Adam

I have been thinking about this new year and asking myself how I am going to make my goals a reality. I read an article by Richard Branson, founder of Virgin, and I loved what he said,

“The odds have been stacked against us during my career, but never one to follow the rules or listen to naysayers; I’ve set out each day to turn our dreams into reality. If I could give entrepreneurs one piece of advice it would be: make it happen. The ability to get on and do it is what sets change-makers apart from dreamers.”

Now, I have never considered myself an entrepreneur, but I do want to make my dreams a reality! I think everyone does, but what separates the people who succeed from those that don’t? Many of us can relate to having the odds stacked against us. Maybe we battle an incredibly busy work and home life, illness, or injuries. We might even feel like the cards are always against us. I believe we all have “the ability to get on and do it”. It might not always feel like we have the ability, but I think fear often holds us back. We focus on the obstacles and fear the unknown. One of Branson’s favorite quotes is by Jack Canfield “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” Branson had many failed business attempts but in 2007 he was placed on the “Time 100 Most Influential People in The World”. We must learn from our past, step outside of fear and “get on and do it”. 

Together we can Make It Happen!

Coach Erin

Determination can be defined as “a positive emotional feeling that involves persevering towards a difficult goal in spite of obstacles. J.J. Watt from the Houston Texans has shown some incredible determination in the face of obstacles. Watt played for the first time in the Wildcard game against the Buffalo Bills after tearing his pectoral in week eight. His injury was thought to be season ending. Watt asked his doctors if there was a chance he could return for the playoffs if the Texans made it that far. The doctor said there was a chance it would be possible. Watt said that was all he needed to hear. He was determined to be game ready if Houston made it to the playoffs. Watt’s performance in their win against Buffalo was impressive to say the least. He played with intense determination to help put his team in the best place to win. Watt could have eased himself back into the game in an effort to protect his pectoral. Instead he was played without reservation and had laser focus.

What would happen if we approached our health and fitness goals with the same determination? If I have a goal to lose 30 lbs in the next three months and someone told me it was possible then I would need some serious determination to meet that goal. There are going to be obstacles and I am going to have to make sacrifices. I will not reach my goal by playing it safe. I have to be all in and persevere through the tough times. What are your goals and how determined are you to achieve them? Are you playing it safe or are you all in? The good news
is that you are not in it alone! You have your Get Fit NH Family to support you every step of the way!

Coach Erin

Before I get into the details about this event I want to share my heart with you a little bit...

In 2010 I married a man with an older brother who had an intellectual disability. My husband's brother is Jon and he is the kindest and the sweetest soul you will ever meet. He is 35 years old and lives at home with his family in Deering. Some of his favorite things to do are cook and call family and friends to chit chat. He is the life of the party and every wedding we have been to with him he has completely torn it up on the dance floor. He is magical. 

Before I married into this family I really did not have any interaction with individuals with intellectual disabilities. I did have these individuals in my school, but they were pretty secluded from the rest of us...

Did you see that word?

​SECLUDED.

That is not okay. 

Fast forward to 2019, where I joined a BNI chapter who was heavily involved with Best Buddies NH. I did not know very much about the program. I understood that two people were matched up and the buddies would go out together and build a friendship and bond. It was not until I was invited to the Best Buddies Gala in 2019 where my heart exploded and i was called to get involved IMMEDIATELY. 

The Best Buddies gala is where a champion and their campaign manager work together to raise money for Best Buddies. This can be done on many fronts. Some do frisbee tournaments,  corn hole tournaments, events, fundraisers, donations and more. The winning champion and their campaign manager raised almost $9,000 at the 2019 gala.

Let me tell you this... I am registered to be a 2020 Best Buddies champion, my campaign manager is my brother in law, Jon Sbat and we are taking this title in November 2020. 

So, the first event we are hosting for Best Buddies will be held here at the gym on Saturday. February 1st at 10AM. We will be playing movement BINGO! This event is open to Best Buddies, Get Fit NH peeps, kids, families, and the general public. We are encouraging you to bring a buddy...any buddy. Someone to play buddy BINGO with! This is not going to be your typical sweat fest charity training. This is an INCLUSIVE event. Everybody deserves to move their body and our typical group setting does not work for everyone.

Donation cost is not set. Donate what you are able to. Please come and bring a buddy. This is a powerful community event. If you would like to respond on the Facebook event you can do so here

Help us make it happen,

Coach Meagan.

Body. Active. Mobility. B.A.M. Course will be returning for 2020!

Staying healthy is a continual effort that should continue into the new year! Come join Sarah Coulombe, a Physical Therapist from Performance Health, as a guest instructor at our gym. She brings a unique body control class . Due to her background as a physical therapist and certified functional strength coach, her knowledge base is extensive to help you reach your goals! 

Do you wish you had more mobility and flexibility? Do you constantly feel stiff and immobile? Or do you feel very unsteady like you don’t have control over your own body? The purpose of this course is to increase body awareness through active mobility using body weight exercises and minimal equipment.  Learn your joint limitations and how to best promote optimal movement and health of your joints. Maintaining and improving upon joint mobility as we age can be a struggle! Let this class show you how you can intervene!

• January 22nd at 6:30 AM
• February 19th at 6:30 AM

Classes are $25 each. Sign up here!

Bonus content below about wrist's and what lack of movement can cause!

Read your labels! Sugar is sneaky and hidden in so many places you would not expect. Some sneaky places you can expect to find sugar include:

• Tomato sauce 
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Frozen vegetables done for you. Such as the mashed cauliflower and veggie bites

Also, while I am on my tangent...don't fall for the gluten free, organic cookie. A cookie is a cookie and I can guarantee the cookie marketing as the healthy cookie has twice the calories. It's a marketing tactic and it drives me bonkers!

That's all folks,

Coach Meagan