The Heart of Fitness Recognizes the National Problem
Most doctors would agree that the nation’s alarming obesity and overweight rates and their associated healthcare costs make fitness professionals an integral part of the healthcare solution. With 34 percent of Americans being obese and 32.7 percent overweight, linked medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and heart disease will likely only worsen without some type of intervention. Early detection and dietary interventions can only go so far. The government physical activity guidelines indicate that exercise may be the missing link for most Americans. But what is the best exercise program?

Most physicians are trained to think in terms of medicines and procedures rather than empowering patients through activity. My goal is to enlighten physicians to include asking their patients about their exercise habits and advise them to follow government recommendations for exercise. Most people don’t realize that “eating less and moving more will go a long way.” I would like to enlighten the medical community about qualified trainers’ and our abilities in the medical community.

Unfortunately, as of yet, Personal Fitness Training costs are not covered by insurance companies. But slowly some insurance companies are starting to give discounts for those involved in an on-going fitness program and are having positive health results. Acknowledging the reality of insurance nonparticipation, I have carefully fashioned an affordable, small group program that is a safe and effective core fitness program geared toward those aged 45 and up. There is a maximum of 8 people to a class, allowing me to work with each client to address their specific needs. My clients do not need to be members of the Sierra Athletic Club.

The cost for a Heart of Fitness Class is as follows:
$20.00 per class for Non Sierra Athletic Club Members
$15.00 per class for Members of Sierra Athletic Club
A purchase of 12 classes will include a 15% discount for either one.
Compare: a Certified Personal Trainer session usually costs between $50 to $75 per session.

Class Details
There is no loud music or to complicated choreography in my classes. Heart of Fitness classes are perfect for someone who hasn’t exercised and doesn’t really know how to get started and needs help with the basics. Beginners and nonexercisers are welcome. A decision to try my class could change your life! To keep it simple and easy to get started, I demonstrate each exercise then walk around and assist you personally as needed. My classes are held at Sierra Athletic Clubs group fitness room located across the parking lot from the gym. It is quiet room without any on-lookers which I know quite often can keep those who may have a less than athletic body type from participating and enjoying the many benefits of a fitness program. I not only provide an effective exercise program, but I also am certified to help clients in the areas of Weight Management and Lifestyle changes. Note: Physicians and their Staff are invited to attend a complementary class so that they gain firsthand experience and knowledge of the Heart of Fitness Core Exercise approach that might benefit their patients and prove to be an ancillary solution along with primary health care functions to patients age-related, strength decline problems.

Core Training and Its Relation to Workplace Fitness and
Overall Health Care
According to the American Journal of Prevention Medicine (2009; 36 (2)), workplace goal setting helped motivate employees to improve their health and fitness standards. And from a press released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Community – base physical activity interventions designed to promote more active lifestyles among adults are cost-effective in reducing heart disease, stroke, colorectal and breast cancers, and type 2 diabetes. In addition, wellness programs are a key component of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to overhaul California health care. The governor views this as a method to reduce overall health spending.

Corporate Wellness Concerns
Several studies have shown that companies save about $3.00 in reduced medical claims and absenteeism for every $1.00 spent on health and wellness programs. Employers directly benefit from less absenteeism and improved productivity.

Workers also benefit, considering that many spend more of their own money on health care, in response to insurance plans with higher deductibles. When workers buy-in into a healthier lifestyle, it not only saves the company money, but it saves the employee money with respect to their health premiums. For example, Blue Shield of California offers “Healthy Lifestyles Rewards,” a program that rewards its customers’ employees with cash and other prizes for filing out health questionnaires and engaging in healthy behavior. Regardless of whether employers offer a wellness program or not, employers receive lower rates if their employees use fewer health services.

The Heart of Fitness goal is to work with businesses in South Lake Tahoe to promote an ongoing, affordable, and optimally effectual on fitness program that focuses on results. As worker-stress increases in response to economic problems: fewer paid hours, reduced pay, and increased layoffs, and growing feeling of economic insecurity, the consequences are rising healthcare use and thus rising costs.

From study after study, there is no question that proper exercise and nutrition play a huge role in the maintenance of health and increasing longevity. To mitigate the effects of economic stress and inefficiencies of traditional weight training programs, I offer affordable classes in breakthrough Core Fitness Instruction.

Share the Costs to Reach More Workers
As a means of helping more workers in more businesses realize the benefits of Core Fitness Instruction, I propose to Owner/Managers that they help pay for half the cost of an employees class if the employee makes a commitment to exercise at least 3 days per week. I in turn offer free mini lectures at your facility on Life Style and Weight Management. Each lecture will be short and very informative.

Partner Businesses in the Heart of Fitness Program
Enjoy Free Presentations for their Workers

The topics covered in my Mini-Heart of Fitness Presentations are:

• Fitness Assessment—(Fat body mass vs. Lean Mass). This will be hands on as everyone will be doing their own measurements and finding out where they fall in their prospective fitness category. This helps each individual design their fitness and nutrition goals.
  
  
• Dishing it out and Becoming Label Savvy—What exactly is a serving size? Learn how to lose or maintain your weight by staying within the portion amounts that your body actually needs.
  
  
• Favorable & Unfavorable Food Choices—To fight weight problems the Heart of Fitness nutritional goal is to eat nutritionally 80% of the time and 20% “Oh Well”. Learn how to lose weight or maintain a weight even when eating appropriate portions of an individual’s preferred “comfort foods.”
  
  
• Eating Out and the Skinny on Fast Foods—Learn how to eat out when restaurant food is usually loaded with fat and calories. While our friends are munching down cheesy, saucy, deep friend food and drinking alcohol, do we just order a boring salad and water? NO! Of course not. I teach how to select great tasting, lower calorie foods without compromising taste.

The Bottom Line
The Heart of Fitness program focuses on core muscle training and exercises that increase balance and over all body strength combined with smart eating that is especially targeted for those aged 45 or older.
Most participants experience a combination of benefits among them are:

• Increased static and dynamic balance
• Increased resistance to falling.
• Increased mobility range.
• Higher resistance to Age Strength Decline.
• Increased movement speed.
• Better weight control through practical portion and nutritional knowledge.
• Increased confidence and self esteem.
• A better life.