Harvard's Women Only Gym Hours: Fair or Unfair?
curves, wacky finds
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This story dates back to March, but did anyone else hear about Harvard segregating its gym in order to comply with famale Muslim demands?
Apparently, several months ago, the Harvard Athletic Department reacted to requests from Muslim female students to create a female-only environment so that they may workout while still abiding by their religious rules. They feel uncomfortable wearing workout clothes around men, and therefore, they claim, have missed out on hitting the gym.
The solution... The Quadrangle Recreational Athletic Center has restricted, female-only hours from 8am to 10am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 3pm to 5pm on Mondays.
Ola Aljawhary - a student at Harvard - said the women only gym is a necessity.
"These hours are necessary because there is a segment of the Harvard female population that is not found in gyms, not because they don't want to work out, but because for them working out in a co-ed gym is uncomfortable, awkward or problematic in some way," she told Boston University's Daily Free Press.
My Thoughts:
It's important to respect others' religions - to an extent. The simple fact is that everyone attending Harvard is paying money which goes toward the gym. It's not fair that men are restricted from using it at certain hours. Suppose someone has a religious believe that doors are evil? Would all doors have to be removed during certain hours of the day?
Harvard, and all universities, should put forth a legitimate effort to accommodate everyone's religion - but if religious beliefs restrict you from using a gym which allows both sexes, then maybe a gym which is PUBLIC to all students is not for you.
If the women are that intense about those religious beliefs, then they can join the local Curves near Harvard.
What does everyone else think?
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on 6/24/2008
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19.6
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Super Busy This Week - Advice on how to find time to workout?
time management
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Since I'm swamped with "stuff" to do this week, I haven't had much time to workout, and sadly I haven't had much time to get on here either.
So I'm cheating with this blog and instead of offering advice, I'm asking for it...
What do you do to still fit in the workouts when you're busy as hell?
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on 6/19/2008
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36
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Be a Successful Personal Trainer by Creating Walking Advertisements
pesronal trainers, fitness marketing
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Today I actually read a few blog entries that were unrelated to fitness, half because a FitConnect member recommended it to me and half because I need a break from reading about the 50 billion different ways to get 6 pack abs and burn fat. So I read up on some of Steve Pavlina's Personal Development for Smart People.
Now I'm not a fan of reading long articles (Stevie likes to ramble) but I somehow got hooked and read one or two of his posts to completion. If you decide to read one of his posts I recommend printing it out first, my eyes are a little sore as I write this - but some of his advice stood out to me, and I wanted to relate and recommend it to all you personal trainers and fitness professionals out there.
Steve was insistent upon letting everyone know that he's wealthy - which made me look down on his personality - but then, he threw in some words that caused me to pull a 180 on my judgement.
He said that "money is only a means to an end, not an end in itself. Making a positive contribution to the world is a lot more important to me than money. Money can be useful in achieving this objective, but human relationships are far more important. The funny thing is that the less I rely on money, the more of it I seem to have.”
Of course, I think most people would agree (although their behaviors probably don't support this notion) that making a positive contribution to society is a much more lasting reward than a monetary one. I agree as well - to an extent. I have to admit that if you sent me $1,000 that would probably put more of a smile on my face than saying "nice post."
Don't worry, "nice post" is still the socially acceptable method of tipping your blogger, don't feel pressured.
So how does any of this relate to Personal Training? Because personal training is a business with a strong emphasis on building relationships and helping people - yes, helping people. Bet you forgot th... read entire entry
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on 6/17/2008
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7.2
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Fitness Advertising on Facebook
fitness ads, facebook fitness, facebook, penguins
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Health and Fitness advertisements are swamping the left column of my facebook page/browser/whatever you want to call it. What if I feel like seeing a non-fitness advertisement every once and a while?
Facebook's Advertising system allows advertisers to target you based on age, sex, region, and the biggy - keywords. Since I am obsessed with fitness, and I'm always fitness networking, my left column is always some picture of a ripped stomach and telling me that I can get 6-pack abs in 5 minutes.
It's kind of crazy how my initial interest in fitness makes me a target for NOTHING BUT fitness. With all of these targeted advertisement marketing engines that are being utilized by facebook and google, will we ever be exposed to something new? I admit, I'm big time into fitness and every once and a while I see a neat ad that I'm suckered into clicking - but eventually I get really sick of being told I should be on this new fad diet.
Is it just me, or does everyone else get mostly fitness advertisements as well?
Also, I have "penguins" listed as one of my interests on facebook... I thought it was funny when I got an "Adopt a Penguin ad" - gotta love targeted advertisements.
I named him Pablo.
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on 6/12/2008
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32.1
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Alli by GlaxoSmithKline: Great Marketing Scam, Terrible Supplement
alli, weight loss, fda
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Alli is one of the most popular over-the-counter weight loss supplements of the year. Developed by GlaxoSmithKline, it is well known that the weight loss supplement is FDA approved. Some of you may have read my recent post about the negative side effects of alli, here I discuss the marketing aspect.
Alli consists mostly of orlistat, which in high doses, is only available by prescription. Orlistat stops the absorption of fats, which can aid in weight loss.
If it’s FDA approved, it has to be the answer… right?
Not necessarily. The only thing that is certain is that GlaxoSmithKline threw out a lot of money to get both the FDA approval – and spent a lot more money getting the word of it’s FDA approved status out to the public.
Just because the FDA approved that orlistat can assist weight loss does not mean that they support all of the Alli weight loss claims. Furthermore, Alli is not the first supplement to have the FDA approval. Other supplements, such as OatVantage, VitaBlue, and Marinol Fish Oil Omega 3 have also been approved.
The FDA Approval was a Marketing gimmick
I purposely waited a while to look into the Alli supplement and how it works. Now that people using Alli have had adequate time to see results, I haven’t noticed less overweight people in the world. I haven’t heard any success stories, and while the hype is still somewhat burning – the hope died out a while ago.
Success stories from Alli users (haven’t heard any) have been drastically overshadowed by horror stories due to Alli’s side effects. If you’re still considering a trial of this supplement, I suggest reading more.
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on 6/11/2008
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17.3
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7 Tips to Save Face if your Body isn’t Beach-Ready
beach body, fitness top lists
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Summer is a stressful time for people who are self conscious about their body. Hopefully, you’ve already prepared for this near naked season by sticking to your fitness goals.
If you’re like most people, however, you probably haven’t.
Don't worry, you can still enjoy the summer weather - you just have to improvise.
Here are some Tips if you’ve let your Beach Body slip:
1. Get Started Now – Yes, Summer has arrived and you’re way behind on getting a killer beach body, but that doesn’t mean you should give up. This should be inspiration to really kick it in gear and eat healthy while working out consistently throughout the week.
2. Don’t Get Crazy – It can be alarming when you step out on the beach for the first time and realize your body is not at all what it used to be. Sometimes people panic and do crazy things in desperation, such as starve themselves or start an unhealthy Fad Diet. Check out RunningBear’s advice on how to spot a Fad Diet.
3. Avoid Carbonation during Beach Days – It often bloats the stomach, which can cause your belly to look bigger than it really is.
4. Maintain Good Posture – A big part of how your body looks is based on your posture. Don’t let your belly jut out and keep your back straight to look healthier and skinnier.
5. Get a Good Pump Guys – Push ups are the best way to get a good pre-beach pump. Do several sets of push ups before dipping off to the beach and you’ll look a lot more muscular than you usually do.
6. Keep Clothes on While Sitting – Have you noticed that stomach’s rarely look very good when you’re sitting down? It’s because all of the fat and skin throughout your stomach is squished together, and rarely looks attractive. If you’re self conscious, stay clothed until your ready to lie down or walk on the beach.
7. Don’t Do Sit Ups Before the Beach – I mentioned above that push ups are great for gett... read entire entry
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on 6/9/2008
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42.6
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Stay Slim to Fly: Airlines Charging Extra for Overweight Flyers
obesity epidemic, wacky finds
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Could you be charged extra to fly based on your weight?
With the rising price of fuel, airlines are making all sorts of moves to cut costs and snatch extra money from their customers. Simple math and common sense shows that a heavy person costs more to transport than an Olson Twin, which has airlines discussing a fat surcharge.
Airlines are now discussing the incorporation of surcharges based on weight. While luggage has always had weight limits, people have not – but that might be changing.
An airline spokesman stated that they average a person and their luggage to weigh 220 Lbs. That is how they crunch their numbers to project profit. Most likely, that will be the magic number used to determine whether your paying standard or extra to fly.
I’ve heard two arguments to this new idea:
The first argument is obvious – Overweight individuals are outraged that there are plans in the works to discriminate and charge extra for being large. I’ve heard some say they wouldn’t fly due to embarrassment, and others claimed they would purposely fly just to sue them for discrimination.
Then there are those consumers that somewhat like the idea. These proponents of the idea claim that the airlines will be raising prices in some way, and it would only be fair to base it on weight. If shipping a package is based on weight, why isn’t it the same to ship a person? If you were shipping a 3 lbs package, how would you feel if you were paying the same price as someone shipping a 20 lbs package?
My Opinion
I am one of those people who can almost always see both side of an argument. I could see where it would be very embarrassing to travel with friends and have to explain how you’re being charged extra because of your weight.
Meanwhile, the "delivering a package" example really makes you wonder if that shouldn’t apply to shipping people as well. In that respect, is it actually discriminati... read entire entry
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on 6/5/2008
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37.3
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Focus on Weight Loss Sacrifices: The Smart Way
weight loss, fitness goals, dieting, time management
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One of the hardest things about losing weight is that it involves sacrifice. If you want to lose weight, you're going to have to give up something.
Whether it's sweets, red meats, TV time, or soft drinks - you're going to say goodbye (or most likely, see ya later) to something you enjoy. What you decide to give up is what usually shapes your entire weight loss gameplan. Most people have several unhealthy habits that could be gotten rid of. In order to lose weight, we usually don't have to give up all of them, so we pick and chose.
Choosing what to sacrifice is key... And the obvious choice might be the wrong one!
I mentioned above how most people have several unhealthy habits, but only need to sacrifice one of them. What does almost everyone do? They focus on the one that is the biggest part of their life. They focus on the unhealthy habit that sticks out the most. A person with a sweet tooth gives up chocolate and a tv-aholic denounces their boob-tube.
Makes sense at a glance right?
If you're trying to create a weight loss plan that you can stick to, it is terribly wrong. Why would you take the one thing you love and can't live without (candy, television, whatever it is) and give it up? Most likely, you will do great the first week, cheat the second, and give up on the third or fourth. Not to mention that you'll probably be miserable after giving up your favorite food or lazy hobby.
Get rid of something you can do without
Generally, to lose weight, you will have to sacrifice types of food or lounge time. Instead of focusing on the most obvious problem, focus on the ones you can afford to sacrifice.
Here's an Example:
Stewie loves soft drinks and absolutely hates diet soda. He drinks soda throughout the day at work. He knows he's consuming a lot of calories throughout the day, but he finds it helps him stay in a better mood while nine-to-fiving (excuse me, ... read entire entry
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on 6/3/2008
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25.3
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Treadmill or Running Outside: Which is Better for your Fitness Needs?
running, treadmill, running outside, vitamin d
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During the winter months, it was all treadmill for most of us, but now that it's getting warmer, do we move our running outside?
It's important to break down the advantages and disadvantages of both running on a treadmill and getting outdoors and running or jogging outside.
Advantages of Running on a Treadmill over Running Outside:
1. Running on a treadmill is easier on the joints and less likely to cause shin splints.
2. The gym atmosphere will almost always have people, which is good if you're into social fitness.
3. Running on a treadmill makes it easier to track how many miles you've ran, and how many calories you've burned.
4. Running on a treadmill allows you to watch television or read a magazine while you're running.
5. Un-affected by weather.
6. Ability to control incline, decline, and set a constant pace for your running/walking.
Advantages of Running Outside over Running on a Treadmill:
1. No need for equipment or gym membership (we simply ask that you wear clothes)
2. Avoid waiting for equipment at the gym - some gyms get pretty crowded.
3. Get to soak up some rays - which is good for getting your daily dose of Vitamin D.
4. Better sense of progression due to actually moving rather than staying in place.
5. Usually the outside air is fresher than Gym-Air
6. Running outside in different terrains is often a better workout for your body.
7. No risk of falling on a treadmill.
So what's the Verdict?
Both have their advantages and disadvantages. There is obviously no right or wrong choice. I'm not big on running but if I had a personal preference I would probably run outside rather than on a treadmill - Mainly because I have a problem running straight and find myself getting tripped up on treadmills a lot, which can result in a disaster.
Generally, I do 10 minutes of uphill power walking on a treadmill for warm u... read entire entry
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on 6/2/2008
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42.8
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