The Countdown Begins

With only 3 days to go before my birthday and the official end day of the Belly Fat Challenge I am now a bit nervous about the final results.  Why??  Well, being human, I have faltered from the nutrition plan here and there and indulged in a few more carbs than what had been recommended. Truth be told; I have also indulged in one or two chocolate bars very recently!! ARG!!!!

But wait!!!! Is this the end of the world????  Have I failed miserably???  Ummmmm, no; in fact these simple facts serve to demonstrate that our society still needs work at improving the image of health and fitness.  Its not just a fad for the severely bored and oppressed.  For those who have no imagination or who have insane prejudice for meat-eaters.  These are all stereo-typical ideas of those who are keen about health and fitness.  Its like the nerdy kid in class.  Everyone knows he's gonna earn waay more than anyone else in the class when he grows up; but he is still persecuted by his classmates simply because he is a nerd.  Thus does society poke fun and stereo-type those of us who make health and fitness a lifestyle choice. I know I get comments from time to time about the amount of time I spend at the gym.  However, I am committed to this lifestyle now and I am enjoying the benefits of being healthy.  Feeling good, having more energy, sleeping better, clothes fitting better, improved self esteem and improved overall outlook on life in general. 

Likely I will NOT post on my birthday, June 7th as I will be busy ....... however I will post final results and final comments on my Belly Fat Challenge this weekend, June 9th or 10th.

enjoy the rest of your week

until then; don't sweat the small stuff!!

Membership: Rights and Responsibilities

As a fitness club member, or a member of any organization for that matter, you have rights and you have responsibilities. Its our nature to focus on our rights and to protest when we feel our rights are being ignored or trampled. And, its also our nature to forget, by-pass, avoid or downright ignore our responsibilities.

As a member, its our responsibility to report problems, errors, and needs to management so that these items can be address and fixed. Makes sense?  But do we do it? Probably not very well. And I am guilty of that also. When I see missing weight pegs, or magnets; broken treadmills or empty towel rolls, I probably should mention it on my way out, at the very least. Why whats the point??

Well, as a member we have the power to improve our club by reporting things that we see need attention.

Furthermore; as a member in a health and fitness facility we should be responsible for our own messes. Dispose of your garbage and wipe down the equipment when you're done.

Its such a small thing, but can make a world of difference in your club.

Again, I am not perfect and do forget to wipe down equipment; but 99% of the time, I do wipe down.

and that, would be the one and only rant I will post on this blog.................

until next time; don't sweat the small stuff

    

Todays Workout - First Day of Spring

Wow!! I don't recall a spring this springy ever before!! I mean, 20 Celsius temperatures in mid-March?!? Not complaining, nope, not at all. In keeping with the turn to spring, tomorrow I will present an article about exercise outside of the gym.

Today, I will update you on my current workout routine. This week, I changed up my routine once again. Upon entering the gym, I spend 10 mins on the elliptical. Then I switch over to the treadmill. On the elliptical, my wonderful, patient BF explained to me the proper use of the settings. So now, I set my 10 min elliptical session to a "fat burn" setting. The computer asks you your weight, age and asks you to set the level (fat burn) and the duration (10 mins) The only thing I don't like is that its constantly asking you to check your heart rate. The reason for this is because the computer calculates what your heart rate should be at to achieve the maximum fat burn by using your age and weight. My optimal heart rate for a fat burn workout is 114 beats per minute. It seems a but slow to me, I was used to the overzealous pace I had set for myself previously.    

On the treadmill, I now start off with a 20 min fat burn session, inputting the requested information into the readout. After that, I switch over to a 20 min cardio session. I discovered my optimal heart rate for this is 140 beats per minute. I was able to make it thru the 20 minute cardio session yesterday. Today I didn't. No big deal. I will try again tomorrow. Never beat yourself up because you fail to perform up to some standard you've put out there for yourself. I mean, who is gonna know??? We are all, waaaay tooo hard on ourselves most of the time.

I finished off my workout with 15 mins on various weight machines; arms and legs. And of course, ended with my 10 min stretch.

I will keep this routine for a couple weeks now. Then change it up again. Most advice I've heard and read says you should change up your exercise routine every 3 weeks. The reason being, your body gets used to certain stresses (exercise) and will adjust over time, thus decreasing the actual results you will get from the workout. (weight loss, muscle build, toning etc)

Until tomorrow; don't sweat the small stuff!!

Music to Burn Fat By

I am a recent convert to using an MP3 player during my workout sessions. Until about 3 weeks ago, I relied on the music that was projected thru the sound systems at the gyms. But I have found that using your own music has its advantages.

When you rely on the broadcast music at the gym, you might be interrupted with radio babble; especially early in the morning. That tends to throw off my stride while I'm pushing my way up the hill on the treadmill. Honestly, I really have no interest in what so and so did last night in Hollywood at the trendiest club of the night.

So, I invested in a nice pair of wireless headphones and fed my blackberry some of the music I have on my DVD collection. Now, technically my tastes are more along the classic alternative rock styles; but I don't find that musically style especially motivational during my workouts. A sudden burst of Dream On lacks the urgency I need to keep moving. So instead, Ive loaded my BB Bold with selections of Lady Gaga, Madonna and Annie Lennox. Three power pumped divas who seem to have a penchant for amazing vocals and hard hitting beats. Perfect!

BTW; I truly love my wireless headphones. They are bluetooth and I could even receive calls if I wanted to .................. The freedom of wireless cannot be understated when in the gym. Now all I need is an armband to strap my BB to and I'm all set.

What's your favourite music to workout to???

don't sweat the small stuff  

The Belly Fat Challenge - Day One

Well, as you can see from the title of this post, I've decided to really make an effort to bust my belly fat before summer starts. This is not going to be an easy challenge. I'm a 45yr old woman who has had two pregnancies. The odds are stacked against me, my age, my gender and the fact that I still have extra skin on my middle from when I was pregnant. I suppose that's why its called a "challenge", if it was easy it wouldn't be a challenge. It would be a walk in the park, a ray of sunshine, a day at the beach.....you know what I mean!!  Wonder who coined these phrases anyway, not everyday I've spent at the beach has been.....well, a "day at the beach".

Anyway, I've digressed.

Day one workout of the BFC (belly fat challenge) I decided to flip my usual workout upsidedown. This decision was due to what I discovered yesterday about the best workouts to beat belly fat. (check out yesterdays post if you missed it)

I started off with 10 mins on the elliptical. I still think this machine is bizarre. I feel like someone/thing is pulling my arms and legs.  I managed to maintain an average 58rpm during the 10 mins. Then I went over to the treadmill. Normally I would do a gradual increase on this but after my research yesterday, I decided to start off more quickly and intensely. Most of what I found in my research suggested that a more intense cardio component was more effective to burn fat. So I started at 6.5 elevation and 3.5 speed. After 5mins I increased the speed to 3.8. At 10 mins I increased the elevation to 9. Then at 20 mins I increased the elevation to 11. At 30mins I hit the "cool down" button. I have no idea just how accurate the readings are on these machines, but I will tell you at the 25min mark my heart rate was 159. According to the readout, I completed 2.1 miles and burned 326 calories.

Up next in my workout, I wandered over to the weight machines. I did 10 reps on various arm machines, working my pecs, biceps and that wobbly bit that we women have under our upper arms. Charming.  Then I went to find the machines that work my legs. I did about 10-15 reps each of the inner and outer adduction machines. Then about 20 reps on the leg press machine. I was trying to find something where I could do ab exercises, where you raise your legs, rather than crunch in, but I didn't find anything. I will check again tomorrow.

Lastly, I wandered into the aerobics studio and finished my workout with 40 crunches (I place my feet on the wall with my knees bent at 90 degrees) I did 20 side rockers, on each side, left and right and then on my back also.

My final 10 mins was stretching, legs, arms, back and neck.

My plan is to do this workout, and alternate with my boxing working, 4 to 5 days per week until the start of summer, which is Wednesday, June 20, 2012. This gives me 15 weeks to try to decrease my belly fat.   

Diet: Yuck; my least favourite thing to keep track of. Like most people, I like to eat. Its one of the few pleasures in life that anyone from any lifestyle, background or social status can enjoy. Even if you cannot afford lobster and steak (personally I don't care much for lobster) anyone can prepare tasty meals from any combination of fresh, simple ingredients.

I am not going to post every single thing I eat in a day, each and every day over the next 15 weeks. That would simply make me crazy!!!! And likely bore you  to tears!!! Instead, I will post a summary of the highlights and the epic fails (like indulging in 2 sour cream dipped donuts).

This morning; I made myself a breakfast burrito. Using the food information on the packaging of the ingredients I used and information I found on the internet, my estimate of the total food value of my breakfast, including one cup of frozen prepared juice beverage is as follows:

Calories: 668

Fat: 26.5 grams

Protein: 23.3 grams

Sugars: 31.7 grams

I used this website to determined an estimate of the food value for my breakfast (and I also used the label information for foods that were labeled; like the tortilla)

Here are the ingredients for my burrito:

1 large white tortilla

2 large eggs

2 tsp canola oil

1 brown mushroom

1tbsp chopped leek

1tbsp canned tomato, diced, no salt added

3tbsp grated marble cheese

1 /3 cup chopped iceberg lettuce

So now on to the days to do list.

Until tomorrow, don't sweat the small stuff

The Skinny on Belly Fat: Part Two - Diet

What? Did you think I was just gonna discuss exercise and NOT diet? Gosh no! Everyone knows that a healthy lifestyle comprises of regular exercise and healthy eating. The tough part for everyone is to maintain that attitude and practice, FOREVER! Yep, you can't just "diet" or decide to exercise every so often. It needs to be a part of your lifestyle, just like waking up and going to work everyday; exercise and diet are an integral part of your daily life. "Diets" don't work. And exercising in the spring so you can fit into your two piece bathing suit this summer is fine and dandy, but if you make it a part of your everyday life, then you don't have to stress every spring. Make sense?

Again, I did some research and came up with some common sense dietary approaches to fighting belly fat:

I liked this site because it offered some very common food suggestions for diet.

Quick and Simple   

Oatmeal – not instant

Almonds and other nuts - Small quantities per day

Protein Powder – Contains amino acids that burn fat and build muscle, add to all natural fruit only smoothies

Olive and Canola Oil

Berries – fresh is best, canned fruit tends to be over processed and contain way too much sugar

Eggs – Contain vitamin B12 which your body needs to metabolize fat.

Beans and Legumes – Packed with protein and fibre.

Lean Meats and Fish – fish is best,  or lean cuts of meat

Whole Grains -  100% whole grain, keep away from instant rice which has little food value

Low Fat All Natural Peanut Butter - PB is packed with niacin, which keeps the digestive system on track and prevents belly bloat.

Green vegetables -  Did you know that iceberg lettuce contains almost no fibre?? Choose leafy vegetable like spinach, arugula or romaine instead.

Dairy – choose low fat or fat-free  dairy products

Avocados

Tea – Especially green tea which is loaded with antioxidants which speed up metabolism

Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese – High in protein

Cannellini beans – Contain resistant starch that resists digestion, thereby digesting slower and burning more calories during the process. Who knew?  

The interesting thing I discovered here, is that most of this I already include in my diet. For breakfast, I usually have a couple soft-boiled eggs with whole grain toast. Oatmeal is great for a before bed snack, at least I think so. I love berries and try to have them in my fridge whenever they are affordable. I like beans in chili and I love lentil salad. Fish is awesome, I tend to only buy when its on sale though because its darned expensive otherwise. Drinking tea has become my new beverage of choice. Green tea is nice, but I've discovered so many other variety's out there, like berry flavoured teas. I've started experimenting more with these and can't wait for summer to brew up some strawberry tea for sipping with ice.  I think my weakest link here is dairy. Like alot of adults I know, milk is not my stomachs favourite food, so I tend to choose yogurt or cheese instead.

When searching for more general information on diet, I found most sites recommend diets that emphasis lean protein and low GI carbs (such as fruits, vegetables and high fibre/whole grains). The true revelation here? None really, this is the type of diet that is recommended for optimal health regardless of what your goal(s) are. The hard truth is food alone cannot and will not affect your overall health. A common sense balance of diet and exercise is what is most recommended.

Does that mean never eating cake, cookies, chips or chocolate ever again? Gosh no, but when you do, limit your intake to a very small portion. You will satisfy your craving and not add on needless fat and sugar to your body. Everything in moderation, right?

The key here is to be aware that your daily caloric intake should not exceed your daily caloric usage. So, if you just burned 400 calories on the treadmill, you probably don't want to go out and kill that effort by wolfing down a fast food burger.

But that's just common sense right?

As part of my belly fat fight, I am going to continue with my usual diet and I will let you know how that goes.

In the meantime; don't sweat the small stuff  

The Skinny on Belly Fat Burn

As promised, I have gathered some info regarding the best and most recommended ways to burn belly fat. In this article, you will find links to the sites where I've found the information/advice. As with anything you read, always consider the source. I am in no way an expert or professional. I am just like you. A common average person with common average belly fat.

Now on to the skinny:

It seems that the 160 crunches I do at the start of my work out are all for naught; "...the amount of calories you spend doing exercises like crunches and sit-ups just isn’t enough to make much of a difference to the appearance of your waist and stomach.

Developing your abdominal muscles is relatively easy. The hard part is getting your body fat low enough so that you can see them." from Beat my Belly fat

The concensus seems to be that a workout that combines high intensity cardio with resistance training is your best bet to burn fat.

Here's an interesting snippet; "...  don't think that you only need to work on your abs. This is another grave misconception. The truth is that when you work all the larger muscle groups, adding more mass to your muscles, you rev up your metabolism to heights it has never before reached. Your muscles need extra calories to maintain themselves, so more of the food you eat will be feeding your muscles instead of your trouble spots. Your conditioned heart (from the cardiovascular stuff) is more effective at burning calories as well, so you have the golden combination there. As the fat comes off your body, it will come off your belly. Your body fat is like one organ, located throughout your body, and you can't take it off of just one spot unless you have liposuction done. The large muscles that you should concentrate on are (in this order):

1. Front and back of thighs
2. Buttocks
3. Back
4. Chest
5. Triceps and biceps
6. Calves
7. Hips
8. Forearms
9. Shoulders

Always work your abs at the end of your workout. There's a good reason for this. You are indirectly using them for all the other exercises you do.
The abs are important stabilizer muscles that keep your form in check. If you do abs first, you will tire them out, and your whole workout will be less than optimal. Work down from the largest to the smallest muscles."
from Body Building.com

So it seems I've been totally doing this wrong!! No problem, I am going to adjust my mis-informed routine and follow the advice I found. This same site also mentioned that the abdominal muscle called the transversus abdominis, "... located at your sides, below the obliques. Often called "lower abs", this is the muscle that women who are trying to lose the belly after pregnancy should concentrate on. Exercises that call for raising the legs instead of the upper body are very effective at strengthening the transversus."

This site also recommends walking, weight training and yoga to reduce belly fat and tone your abs.

I found loads of other sites and recommendations. What I chose to include here were ideas and suggestions that were most commonly found on all the sites I visited. What I chose to not include were recommendations from sites that were directly sponsored by a particular product or company.

Well, I'm gonna try these new ideas, and track my progress here. Hopefully by summer I will have some improvement to show you.

don't sweat the small stuff

Todays Work-Out update

So as mentioned, I've been a gym guru now for about 2 years. I started with 30mins of boxing activities and exercises, and this winter I've added 20mins of weight machines and 30-40mins of cardio on the treadmill.

I've been doing the cardio for about 5 weeks now and I really expected to see more results than what I see. My belly is still jelly. Not happy about that. Maybe it takes longer?? I dunno really. I'm going to do some internet research later today and post my findings. Maybe theres something I'm missing.

I'm also considering booking more personal training sessions to kick-start my new work-out routine. The idea being that a professional will probably know what I need to do to get the results I want. I will let you know how that works out, when I decided to take this step.

So today I went to the Upper Wentworth Premier gym. I wanted to try out their boxing studio as I have not done this previously. I got the key at the front desk. It was attached to a 3 foot wooden plank, a 1X6 I think would be the term. LOL!!

I dragged it upstairs and got access to the studio. The studio is packed with lots of bags, all various sizes. They had a generous supply of gloves, I have my own so I didn't need to use theirs. In the center back of the studio is a small boxing ring, kinda cool, but not something I would use. I could never actually hit anyone, I just like the feeling of tension release when hitting the bag during a workout. One thing missing was a speed bag.

After about 20mins in the boxing studio, I locked up and brought the planked key back to the desk. I decided to try an eliptical. I'd never tried these before. I spent 5 mins on this. I found it felt odd to have my arms moving strangely while my feet were seeming to climb upwards. I could really feel my upper thighs start to burn so I kept it to a modest 5 min trial.

After the eliptical, I went over to the treadmills and did my usual 30mins.

One thing I've noticed since going to the gym, is that only a small percentage of members warm down or stretch after their workout. As I was a competitive figure skater in my youth, I was taught early on the importance of a proper warm down and stretch after each training session. Stretching after a workout is especially good, because the muscles are warm and will respond to a nice slow stretch. This lengthens the muscle and when you cool down, you don't feel knotted and sore. I usually spend a good 10 mins stretching my arms, legs and back after my workout.

Tomorrow,  I may check out another gym and post my findings here for you.

Until then, don't sweat the small stuff!

Premier Fitness/PhysioMed Upper James Hamilton

I visited the Upper James facility on Friday last week. Again I was there around 8am.  Click here to view a map of the facilities

Please note this map indicates a pool, in actuality the area shown as the pool is the womens only and aerobics area.

Customer Service

When I arrived I noticed no one was attending the front desk. Again, this desk is quite expansive. I used the card scanner for my card and when thru the gate.

Staff

There was a staff member in the womens changeroom. She was cleaning and said good morning to me as I entered. When I went upstairs to the main gym I found three personal trainers busy with sessions. I checked again on the front desk, and now there were two staff members attending. Overall, everyone seemed very happy to be there.  

Changerooms

The changerooms at this location are very cool. Although I didn't like the lockers themselves as they were outdated, many were dented and in need of repainting. The changeroom itself was really nice. Lots of mirrors. Lots of privacy with the locker areas divided into nooks. The washroom facilities were totally cool! Each was its own room with sink and toilet. The showers had a public-type area, similar to most other gyms I've been in, but there were also about 4 private shower rooms. Each room had a sink, toilet and shower. This type of setup allows for total privacy. For those of you who are shy about changing and showering in a public facility, this type of setup is ideal. Overall, the changerooms were quite clean.   

Classes

The aerobic studio is part of the womens only area and is adjacent to the womens changeroom. I used this area to warm up. I found the floor in the studio was a bit gritty, the floor itself needed a re-finishing done to it. There was not a class running while I was there and I did not see any schedules posted. 

Personal Trainers

As mentioned earlier, there were 3 PT at this gym at 8am on a Friday. Kudos to them!! They seemed to have a good repoire with their clients and were totally focused on their job.

Hours & Parking

This location is open:

Mon - Thurs Fri Sat Sun

5am - 11pm 5am - 10pm 8am - 6pm 8am - 6pm

Parking is shared at this location. I could see the building from Upper James street, it is inset quite a ways back from United Furniture Warehouse and Eastside Marios. You will need to enter at the Furniture Warehouse entrance and follow the driveway all the way to the back to find the building and parking. There is also parking further behind the building.

Special Features

I did not see any unique features at this location, no pool and no boxing studio. However, the changerooms did have individual sauna rooms. Another feature which I have only seen at this location thus far is that the aerobic machines; treadmills and elipticals are high-end equipment each sporting its own TV screen which you can watch programs or listen to music. There was a place to plug in headphones if desired. Some members will probably appreciate this type of added feature. I might be weird in that I actually like to look around a bit while I'm on the treadmill, and found the screens were in the way. But thats just me!   

Overall

Overall, my first impression of this location was favourable. I felt the gym was well kept and provided some unique and personal features that would appeal to many members. The equipment seemed to be well maintained, something that I am finding many gyms are not so good at. The atmosphere was bright and airy. Again the large windows at the front of the building are great for allowing in natural light and giving the gym a bright glow.

I would definitely go back to this gym again. 

As always, I welcome all comments, suggestions and ideas

don't sweat the small stuff

Premier Fitness/PhysioMed Fitness Upper Wentworth Hamilton

As most of you have already heard or read, Premier Fitness/Physiomed Fitness is currently undergoing some structural problems. However that being said, its not my purpose to comment on the organizations but rather on the services they provide.

As a member of this club I have been able to experience many aspects of their services.

Here is a quick run-down of this particular facility which is located on Upper Wentworth Street Hamilton. Click here to view a map of the facilities

Customer Service

My first visit to this location was about three weeks ago. There was one person at the front desk who greeted me and helped me scan my new bar coded member card. On my second visit, I asked about the boxing studio. She advised me that I would need a key to use the studio and I could get the key here at the front desk. She was friendly and helpful.

Staff

After three weeks of visiting this location, I have not seen alot of staff. At most, there have been two people at the very large and expansive front desk. Inside the gym, I saw two trainers. I usually visit early in the morning, between 8am and 10am. I saw one class in session on one of the days I was there. Oddly, much unlike the Brant Street location, this facility did not have any literature at the front desk.

Changerooms

The changerooms are large and well lit. The overall appearance is one of a more upscale styling. The washroom stalls have large wooden doors. The shower area needs some TLC. One of the stalls has been noted out of order for some time now. I tried to use the neighbouring stall but was unable to get any hot water at all. My second choice had hot water but needed a good scrubbing. The saunas looked nice, but I have not seen anyone use them yet.  

Classes

The aerobic studio is upstairs adjacent to the main gym. Its very nice in appearance. Well lit and somewhat clean. It seems to be under utilized as I have only seen one class in session in the morning during the three weeks I have been going to this location. The main gym has no specified stretch area and I've noticed many members use the empty aerobic studio for this purpose.

Personal Trainers

Again, I have only seen a couple personal trainers in the main gym. They do not stand out from the other gym members on first glance.

Hours & Parking

This location is open:

24 hrs 7 days per week

Parking is not shared at this location, they have their own lot for members. My early morning visits always find plenty of spaces available.

Special Features

Just beyond the vast front desk, there is a lap pool at this location. The pool seems nice, has two lanes and I have seen a few members using this feature. The women's only area, which is located directly off of the women's changeroom is very small, very dark, and very crowded with machines. The ceiling is low and gives the appearance of working out in your basement. I choose not to use this part of the gym. The main gym is very bright, and has a nice window filling the entire front wall of the building. The boxing studio has a boxing ring; mini-sized. Overall, the studio is small and seems packed with way too many bags. Unfortunately, this location keeps the boxing studio locked so its virtually inaccessible unless you've asked for the key at the front desk upon arrival. 

Overall

Overall, I really like the atmosphere in the main gym area at this location. There are plenty of treadmills and ellipticals available and a wide variety of weight machines. Maybe a bit more staff presence in the gym would be helpful to members. And a bit more cleanliness in the changerooms/showers.  

As always, I welcome all comments, suggestions and ideas

don't sweat the small stuff

Premier Fitness/Physiomed Fitness Brant Street

As most of you have already heard or read, Premier Fitness/Physiomed Fitness is currently undergoing some structural problems. However that being said, its not my purpose to comment on the organizations but rather on the services they provide.

As a member of this club I have been able to experience many aspects of their services.

Here is a quick run-down of this particular facility which is located on Brant street in Burlington Ontario. Click here to view a map of the facilities

Customer Service

My experience with this club has been that the customer service is very good. There is always someone available to answer questions and they do so in a friendly manner. A possible improvement would be to have a few more staff on hand at the front desk and office who are knowledgeable in all of the programs and services as sometimes you are asked to wait for someone to return from lunch.

Staff

The staff at this location are all very friendly and helpful. Its not difficult to find a staff member and often if they are unsure of what you are asking, they will find someone who can help you. Staff members seem to be happy to be there, which in my opinion, really adds to the atmosphere of the entire club.

Changerooms

I obviously cannot comment on the mens changerooms, however the womens changerooms are moderately sized and reasonably clean. The changeroom and shower facilities have been upgraded this past fall and the new facelift they received was very well done. Lockers are clean and plenty-full, although if you visit after 6pm, the place is quite busy and sometimes you have to look for awhile to find an open locker.

Classes

I personally have not attended a class here yet. I will update this portion when I have experienced a class. However, I have noted that class schedules are posted and handouts of these are available at the front desk. I have also noted that the classes appear quite popular for members and are well attended.

Personal Trainers

Again, I have to say that the staff at this location are A+. They are well trained and knowledgeable. I've gone into a personal training session and asked for a specific workout, for example: butt and gut. And let me tell you, I got what I asked for!!!!! Myself, I have a small issue with one knee and when I told the trainer, he was able to tailor the workout so that I was still working all muscle groups but in a manner that did not put stress on my knees. My only suggestion would be to have more trainers available at more times throughout the day. I found trying to schedule an early morning session was very difficult.

Hours & Parking

This location is open:

Mon - Thurs Fri Sat Sun

5am - 11pm 5am - 9pm 8am - 5pm 8am - 5pm

The parking is shared with other retailers, including a Silvercity theatre. Depending on the time you arrive, sometimes you have to park fairly far away. Which honestly shouldn't be a problem considering you are going to work out.

Special Features

Brant Street has an awesome boxing studio. It is very large, bright and clean. There is room for up to 6 bags, including a speed bag. Classes are available in boxing, kickboxing and Brazilian Ju Jitsu. I like the mezzanine setup for the ellipticals and treadmills; which overlook the main gym area. The women's only area is large, bright, clean and well maintained.

Overall

Overall I have been quite happy with the services provided at this gym. I know that my experience has not been shared by all members. However, as someone with 10 years in customer service, I also know that some customers cannot be satisfied no matter what you say or do for them. In addition, I am unable to comment on membership fees. Like most services, fees vary depending on the location, type of service and special promotions offered. Lastly, I don't like numerical ratings, they really don't tell you anything useful, so I won't be providing that type of system here on my blog.

As always, I welcome all comments, suggestions and ideas

don't sweat the small stuff

Welcome to the GTA Fitness Reviewer

Did you know that there are literally hundreds of fitness clubs and fitness franchises in Ontario? And did you know that there is very little good, reliable, unbiased reviews available?? Likely if you've ended up here, you have discovered that!

As a fairly new health and fitness enthusiast, I would like to share with you, through this blog, my real life experiences and humble opinions and ideas on fitness clubs in the GTA and Hamilton Niagara area.

Each day that I go to a gym, I will post my workout experience from that day. My intention is NOT to diss any gym or franchise, but rather to express my honest experiences and my impressions and ideas.

Please visit my About Me page to read more about, well......me!!
I welcome all comments, questions and opinions. Speak freely and speak often.
Together, we can help improve the fitness industry which in turn will improve our quality of life.

Always remember; don't sweat the small stuff!!