Category Archives: Excel Fitness News

Workout with Martha Price – Miss Hartford County

Excel Fitness News, Fitness Tips, , , ,

Miss Martha Price’s Workout Program

by Shawn O’Brien

This year I am working with Martha Price, Miss Hartford County, as she prepares to compete for Miss Connecticut this summer.  Miss Price has been coming to Excel Fitness every few weeks for a workout since she won Miss Hartford County.  As her trainer I helped her set some goals for her diet and exercise program.  I also helped her set some physical goals she wanted to see by Miss Connecticut this summer.  For more information on Excel Fitness visit us at www.excelfitnessct.com.

During our workout times we talk about nutritional changes, workout improvements, motivation and of course we get in some joking around.  She has been doing great.  She is getting stronger, leaner and realizes now with a few adjustments she can see greater success.  Here are a few exercises we threw into her workout a few weeks ago.  Enjoy.

Shawn O’Brien

Testimonial – Deby Van Ohlen

Excel Fitness News, , ,

March 21, 2011

To: Excel Fitness (www.excelfitnessct.com)

Attention:  Matthew Knight as My Trainer

I checked out Excel Fitness due to recommendations from people I trust.  I joined the gym due to the atmosphere and the qualifications of the owners and trainers;  I am an active participant because of Matt Knight, my personal trainer.

I am now in the best shape and lowest weight that I have been in since high school.  I feel that this success is directly attributable to my work with Matt.  He is extremely knowledgeable about exercise physiology and is able to easily adapt exercises and customize the workout to my needs and issues (such as elbow tendonitis, arthritic wrist, etc.).  He approaches the sessions with encouragement, humor, and a desire to see you always improve.  Along with his exercise expertise, Matt takes the time to know you so that he is able to push you to the point of optimal results without injury.  He also explains why he is having you do the different types of workouts which make the session make more sense.  As a massage therapist, I have been able to share several of the stretches Matt has shown me with my clients.

I have recommended several of my friends and clients to Matt and they all concur with my high opinion of him.  Matt is a real asset to the gym and I am extremely happy to have him as my trainer.

Sincerely,

Deby Van Ohlen

Our Biggest Loser [Season 2]

Excel Fitness News, Local Happenings

Last year, Excel Fitness ran its first Biggest Loser type program.   We gave away a 40 inch flat screen tv to the Byron Kidd our Grand Prize winner.   Byron had the greatest percent change in body fat reduction (16lbs of fat in 3 months).   The contestants who finished Season 1  lost an average of 12 pounds and the most weight lost was almost 50 pounds during the 3 months February, March and April.  What at great event!!!!

We are starting Season 2 of Excel Fitness’s “Our Biggest Loser” contests.  New rules. New prizes. More Training. Female and Male Grand Prize Winners. MORE Exercise Testing.

Visit us at www.excelfitnessct.com.

Will you make this your healthiest year ever?

@shawnexcelfit

“Transcending Health”

Excel Fitness News, Fitness Tips, , , ,

Transcending Health will be a new reoccurring addition to the Excel Fitness Blog.  Transcending  is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “to rise above or go beyond the limits of” and “to rise above or extend notably beyond ordinary limits.”

The purpose of this new segment is to demonstrate how Health and Fitness transcends beyond the act of exercising properly and eating well.

Hope you enjoy this segment and the many to come.

@shawnexcelfit

DENTAL HEALTH

(too easy, the term has health in it already)

by Jerry Stien, DDS

The mouth is the opening to the human body. Can you imagine a person with missing teeth, decay, discoloration, and swollen red gums ?

We all know how important it is to stay in good shape through daily exercise and a healthy diet. It is also essential to keep the teeth and mouth clean and free of disease.

Missing teeth can cause shifting of the remaining teeth, thus causing pain in the hinge joint of the lower jaw bone, which can quickly intensify with constant opening and closing. Decay can cause bacteria to enter the nerve tissue of the tooth, resulting in extreme pain and swelling, thus necessitating either root canal therapy or extraction of the involved tooth or teeth.

Built up of food or plaque around the tooth has been found to be more harmful than previously believed. Without routine dental appointments and daily care, this plaque can build up and destroy the bone holding the tooth in its socket. If it progresses to an extreme, it can cause bad breath,and loss of teeth. More importantly, the bacteria present in this area between the tooth bone and gums can get into the blood stream causing systemic disease, heart problems and, in some cases, even death.

In the long run, by taking care of your mouth, teeth, and gums along with regular physical exercise and a healthy diet, the average individual can count on a longer life, less stress, and a more positive personal image.

Excel Fitness Goes Pink!!!

Excel Fitness News, Local Happenings, ,

October 17th, 2010 was the American Cancer Society’s- Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.   Excel Fitness started it fund raising campaign for this event about a month ago.  Last year we raised over $6000 and Shawn O’Brien raised over $3000.  This year we committed to raise $8000 and Shawn committed to raise $4000.  Team Excel Fitness has raised $7500 and is #3 as a Team and Shawn has raised $4500 and is #2 as a participant.

Our pledge to you was to paint ourselves PINK for the race.  Mission Accomplished!!!!!  Thank you everyone for your donations.  See the photos below.

@shawnexcelfit

Excel Finishes School Supply Collection

Excel Fitness News, Local Happenings,

After only a few short weeks of collecting school supplies for local students, we successfully collected book bags, single servings of cereal, pencils, pens, glue sticks, notebooks and all those fun Arts and Craft items we had to bring to school as kids.

Nutmeg Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Circles of Meriden will receive these supplies this week.

Thank you so much to those of you who donated.  If we can help your cause in anyway, like donated memberships or training for your charity’s auctions, please contact us.

@shawnexcelft
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Jeff and Shawn finish up school supply drive for local students
Jeff and Shawn finish up school supply drive for local students
Supplies will go to Nutmeg Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Circles of Meriden
Nutmeg Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Circles of Meriden will get Supplies!!

2010 Dragon Boat Races and Asian Festival

Excel Fitness News, , ,


August 27, 2010

2010 Dragon Boat Races and Asian Festival

By:  Jeff Roux

August 21,2010 marked the annual Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Races held at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza.  This year Hartford Young Professional and Entrepreneurs HYPE, entered two boats into the challenge.  Also this year, Excel Fitness proudly offered the complementary use of its facility to all HYPE Dragon Boat paddlers with the intention of helping the athletes get into top condition which may have contributed to faster overall times over last year.  The event has lots of attractions for people of all ages and ethnicities including Asian Martial Arts and Musical Performances, Art, Food, and of course the Dragon Boat Competition.  More boats enter every year sponsored by corporations, non-profits, and private entries.

Although the two teams shared the common interest of HYPE and bettering Hartford there was still a strong spirit of competition between the experienced boat from last year and the first-timers boat.  Jeff Roux was placed in the center of the novice boat known to paddlers as the “powerhouse” of the boat and Shoshanna Silverberg, yoga instructor at Excel Fitness, known for her fighting spirit was placed in the boat as well.  After winning its first heat the two HYPE boats were placed head to head in the next heat with boat teams improving their times by 15 seconds eventually with the novice boat winning the heat by a dragon’s head.  In the end both teams placed very well 12th and 13th respectively overall.

All participants look forward to next year’s races with another possible head to head rematch.

Jeff Roux and Shoshanna Silverberg                          Both HYPE Teams ready to go at it!

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – Excel Fitness Participate, again

Excel Fitness News, Uncategorized, ,

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Today was the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Kickoff Breakfast for the 5k walk on Sunday, October 17th in Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT.  Last year Excel Fitness put a team together last minute and raised over $6000 and was 5th as a company in fundraising beating larger company’s like Verizon Wireless.  Shawn O’Brien raised over $3000 and became a pacesetter with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

This year we have been challenged by another gym to see who can raise the most money and the competition will go to a great cause.  We have accepted the challenge to participate in the walk this year and have another team EXCEL FITNESS.

Shawn O’Brien and Todd Sullivan

Testimonial from Paul Bunker – Working with Jeff Roux at Excel Fitness

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At the age of 53, I decided to embark on a second career as registered nurse.  As I continued my science and medical studies, I realized I would have to be in top physical shape to withstand the daily demands of nursing, and to be an effective role model in promoting wellness to my patients.  I needed to be in the best shape of my life.

While I had always worked out and stayed in decent shape, I decided I had to do more and started a weight training program in earnest.  My program was a mish-mash of exercises I had picked up from magazines, the internet, and just watching other people in the gym.  After making some nice gains, the steady improvements began to plateau, and I was constantly plagued by annoying joint inflammation caused by repeating the same exercises over and over again.  And, I had a hard keeping my body fat low.  It was time to consider hiring a trainer.

When I moved to West Hartford, and asked friends for advice on selecting a gym and a trainer.  Excel Fitness was the overwhelming response, and trainer Jeff Roux was suggested as being the best match to my fitness goals.  After visiting the Excel Fitness web site, I was impressed with the facility, but a bit apprehensive about working with Jeff, whose impressive background includes success as a competitive bodybuilder.

I needn’t have worried.  At our first meeting, Jeff put me at ease as I explained to him that I wanted to be in the best shape possible in 18 months, by May 22, 2010 – the date of my graduation from nursing school.  He accepted my goal, did a personal assessment to create a baseline, and designed an exercise program to get me started.  From day one, the effect of his training program on my body has been intense and wonderful,  to say the least.

Jeff always explains the purpose of each exercise, and demonstrates its proper form and execution.  He consistently pushes me beyond my own self-perceived limits, and provides me with fresh approaches to standard exercises and adding new ones.  For my part, I am encouraged to train to my real potential each time, and I have not sustained any training injuries, as I had in the past.

The result:  I felt I had reached the best shape of my life within 12 months, but in the past six months I have added more muscle, lost more body fat, and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon.  I am able to wear clothes sizes I wore when I was in my 30’s, and friends and family have noticed the change in my body, with the comment “You must live in the gym!”  Well, I train just a little over an hour three times a week.  That’s just a bit more than three hours a week to be in the best shape of your life at any age!   My doctor once said I am his most boring patient, as I take no medications, and have never had any surgery.

Getting back to my graduation as a RN on May 22, I was able to walk proudly onstage at the age of 58 with my white scrub top tucked into my pants, in the best shape of my life.  And I have Jeff Roux and Excel Fitness to thank for this accomplishment.

Paul Bunker