Wonderfully Fit Personal Training

Want to be sharper at work? Feel less tired at home? Spend some quality time with your spouse? How about enjoying a cookie without guilt? If you answered "yes" to all of these questions (and who wouldn't?), exercise is the answer. Being physically active offers benefits far beyond the obvious. (Of course, an improved physique and a clean bill of health aren't too shabby, either.) If you've been looking for the motivation to begin an exercise program or get back into working out regularly, here are 10 fitness facts that may help inspire you to get off the couch. 1. Exercise Boosts Brainpower Not only does exercise improve your body, it helps your mental function, says certified trainer David Atkinson. "Exercise increases energy levels and increases serotonin in the brain, which leads to improved mental clarity," says Atkinson, director of program development for Cooper Ventures, a division of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas. All that makes for a more

Packing lunch will help you control your portion sizes. It also provides a good alternative to restaurants and takeaways, where making healthy choices every day can be challenging (not to mention expensive).

Learn to swap healthier foods for their less-healthy counterparts. Today, find a substitution that works for you: Use skim or low-fat milk instead of whole milk; try whole-wheat bread instead of white.

Zumba® at Shear Rhythm Dance Studio by Wonderfully Fit Studio and Terrine Pearsall Fall into Fitness with our Zumba® Classes. The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. The goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked. Zumba® Fanatics achieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exciting hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life! Take salsa, cha cha, samba, tango meringue, add hints of flamenco, calypso, hip-hop and belly dancing, put in a workout routine and you have Zumba®! Burn 500 Calories an Hour with this Hot New Workout! Come Join the Party! The goal of Zumba® is “to move fast and have fun”. No dance experience necessary. SPECIAL FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER: Every Saturday class is FREE! CLASSES HELD: 7:00 p.m. Thursday and 8:00 a.m. Saturday at Shear Rhythm

Make a healthy substitution Learn to swap healthier foods for their less-healthy counterparts. Today, find a substitution that works for you: Use skim or low-fat milk instead of whole milk; try whole-wheat bread instead of white.

Get to know your portion sizes It's easy to underestimate how much you're eating. Today, don't just estimate things — make sure. Ask how much is in a serving, read the fine print on labels, measure your food. And learn portion equivalents: One serving of pasta, for instance, should be around the size of a tennis ball.

Leave something on your plate at every meal One bite of bagel, half your sandwich, the bun from your burger. See if you still feel satisfied eating just a bit less.

Taste something new Broaden your food repertoire — you may find you like more healthy foods than you knew. Try a new fruit or vegetable (ever had plantain, bak choy, starfruit or papaya?).

Don't multi-task while you eat If you're working, reading or watching TV while you eat, you won't be paying attention to what's going into your mouth—and you won't be enjoying every bite. Today, every time you have a meal, sit down. Chew slowly and pay attention to flavors and textures. You'll enjoy your food more and eat less.

Look for high-fat hints Want an easy way to identify high-calorie meals? Keep an eye out for these words: au gratin, parmigiana, tempura, alfredo, creamy and carbonara, and enjoy them in moderation.

Ease your way into produce If you're new to eating lots of fruits and vegetables, start slowly. Just add them to the foods you already enjoy. Pile salad veggies into your sandwiches, or add fruit to your cereal.

Listen to your cravings If you're craving something sweet, eat something sweet — just opt for a healthier nosh (like fruit) instead of a high-calorie one like ice cream. The same goes for crunchy cravings—for example, try air-popped popcorn instead of high-fat chips. It's just smart substitution!

Doggie-bag that dinner. At restaurants that you know serve large portions, ask the waiter to put half of your main course in a take-home box before bringing it to your table. Putting the food away before you start your meal will help you practice portion control.

Herb it up Stock up your spice rack, and start growing a small herb garden in your kitchen window. Spices and herbs add fantastic flavor to foods without adding fat or calories.

Get "water-wise" Make a habit of reaching for a glass of water instead of a high-fat snack. It will help your overall health as well as your waistline. So drink up! Add some zest to your six to eight glasses a day with a twist of lemon or lime.

Good things come in small packages Here's a trick for staying satisfied without consuming large portions: Chop high-calorie foods like cheese and chocolate into smaller pieces. It will seem like you're getting more than you actually are.

Fit Tip: Look for a distraction when you’re fighting a craving. Call a friend, put on music and dance or exercise, clean the house, pull weeds in your garden, or run an errand. When your mind is occupied with something else, the cravings quickly go away.

Fit Tip: Reward yourself losing weight and keeping the pounds off is a major accomplishment. Celebrate your success with nonfood rewards, such as new clothes or an outing with friends

Not only does exercise improve your body, it helps your mental function, says certified trainer David Atkinson. "Exercise increases energy levels and increases serotonin in the brain, which leads to improved mental clarity," says Atkinson, director of program development for Cooper Ventures, a division of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas. All that makes for a more productive day. "It is clear that those who are active and who exercise are much more productive at work," says Todd A. Astorino, assistant professor of kinesiology at California State University-San Marcos. Improved productivity not only makes you a better worker, it makes things better for everyone in the workplace. Companies with less wasted work hours and less sick time end up with lower health care costs -- and an improved bottom line, Astorino says.

Zumba® starts in 1 Week -- Sept 8th @ Wonderfully Fit Studio and New Saturday Location Mark your calendar! This exciting hot new workout starts at Wonderfully Fit Studio next Wednesday, September 8th @ 7:00 p.m. @ 4180 Gardenia Avenue, Long Beach and next Saturday, September 11th @ 8:00 a.m. @ Shear Rhythm Dance Studio, 4126 Viking Way, #220, Long Beach (cross streets Carson & Bellflower Blvd.). Shear Rhythm Dance Studio is upstairs and directly across the street from Cirivello’s Sport Stop (banner located on side of building) and close to Wonderful Fit Studio. We’ve all seen the infomercials and I must say this is one infomercial that is true. Zumba® is fun, exciting and will have you moving and dancing your way to health. Bring a water bottle and a towel and be ready to move! When: Starts September 8 7:00 p.m. Wednesday and 8:00 a.m. Saturday Price: $15/class Payment Option: 7 week package deal: 14 classes x $15 = $210 – 10% discount = $189 Per week -- $ 30 Per class -- $15 Conta