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HYPE Tons of Toys

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HYPE Tons of Toys

Jeff Roux B.S. Exercise Science 12/20/11

On Wednesday, December 14, HYPE (Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs) held its annual Tons of Toys event at the Gershon Fox Ball Room at 960 Main.  Nearly 300 people attended the event and HYPE collected 1,410 toys, topping last year’s count of 950 toys collected.  Excel Fitness’ Co-Owners Shawn O’Brien and Jeff Roux were present to donate  over 50 toys they collected at their personal fitness center. Mr. O’Brien stated, “It’s great that over 1400 local kids will have smiles this Christmas.”  “Hosting a toy drive is such a simple thing to do to raise awareness and give back to our community.  We are thankful to be a part of this growing event and to have such generous members and friends who donated,” added Mr. Roux.

All of the toys collected will once again be donated to 96.5 TIC’s We Are the Children.
HYPEsters have been supportive of Tons of Toys since the first event five years ago, and this is Excel Fitness’ second year collecting toys for the community.

Thank you for donating over 50 Toys!

Exercising while injured, my personal story.

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Jeff Roux B.S. Exercise Science 11/23/11

 

I recently and unfortunately suffered a laceration on my dominant hand requiring 9 stitches.  The ER doctor asked me what I do for a living and when I told him he kind of laughed and said, “Well, you won’t be working out for a couple of weeks.”  Little did he know who he was dealing with and what I was capable of trying?  In actuality, I believe that he should have suggested continuing to do lower body exercises and cardiovascular work, ensuring to keep the wound clean and dry, but that is another story in itself.

 

My injured hand

Needless to say within 3 days of the injury I was back in the gym.  I was able to complete a full lower body workout using plate loaded machines, crunches on the ball and two shoulder exercises.  I thought I would still able to palm a shoulder press machine and not affect the stitches and while griping a dumbbell with my left and use my right hand to support and perform a modified DB front raise.  I also ran 2 miles.  2 days after that I returned to do more core, and plate loaded chest machine and used the resistance bands to perform Lat pull downs, back rows, chest fly’s, bicep curls and overhead db triceps extensions.  Through only slight modification in placing the band around my wrist instead of in my palm I was able to complete many of the traditional exercises one would normally complete in the gym.  One week after the injury I was playing tennis with my left hand and actually beat the person I was playing with.  My point is, whatever you’ve hurt there is usually a way to exercise around that injury.  UBE’s (upper body ergo meters, hand bikes) are great for people who have injured their lower body.  The question remains if an injury occurs does this take away from the fact that you still have a health goal?  Are you going to sit at home and wait, or are you going to explore the alternatives?  Everyone knows exercising has positive effects on mood; many people get depressed when they cannot exercise, so why stop exercising?  Find a way, your mind and your body will thank you.

For more information on modifying your exercise program to fit your needs contact the fitness professionals at Excel Fitness, you’ll be glad you did.

My Vision Problems and Sight Loss – My True Story

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My Vision Problems and Sight Loss – My True Story

By: Shawn O’Brien

It was a regular day two months ago, I was having a cup of coffee watching sports center like any other day and something wasn’t right.  I told my girlfriend I was having vision problems.   She suggested, what I described as blurry vision with small black dots forming, might be a migraine.  I did some research and found a few different types of migraines, some of which cause headaches and some don’t.  There were certainly auras and distortions to my vision and wouldn’t you know it, the vision was worse the next day.

I called my eye doctor (who my Lasik surgery years ago) and made an appointment for a few days later.  Let’s remember it has only been a few days from my onset of symptoms to my appointment.  You shouldn’t mess around with your health.  The exam was going as usual, until the eye doctor paused, looked confused and then said he needed to confer with a specialist.  He came back immediately and scheduled an appointment with a retinal specialist later that afternoon. The undertone of this discussion were immediacy and emergency.

I came back to the retinal specialist and after taking a super magnified looked at my retina he asks, how am I feeling?, do i have a fever?, have I been sick?  Well the answer to all of those questions was NO.  He diagnoses my vision problem as Posterior Uveitis.  Uveitis is an inflammation of the inside of the eye, specifically the layer of the eye called the uvea.  Usually caused by some type of infection, but since I have been feeling fine, it would be the unusual or rare type (the kind on “House” the TV show).  The good news is, I don’t have any bacterial or viral infection, it is idiopathic, meaning I will never know what caused my retina to get inflamed.

By this time my vision is worse and the aura and spots are becoming more of a distortion.  I am very worried about this and so was everyone else.  Since there was no infection, TREATMENT: massive amounts of Prednisone.  This stuff made me crazy on some days and other days I was exhausted.

In conclusion, I have been to the doctor over 10 times in the last two months, chest x-rays, full blood panels, eye photos, Prednisone and some positive thinking and the eyes are getting better.  90% better, but may have some permanent scar tissue.  I only have one little blurry spot left in my vision and feel much better off the Prednisone.  Thinking back to the day I was noticing my vision not being 100% I never really put off the doctor.  I made an appointment and had it looked at almost immediately.  The healing to both eyes is going well as of the photos today, but imagine if I had waited.  I could have had some permanent vision loss.

The doctors were great, my family was helpful and supportive and my girlfriend was a rock.  Thank you all.

Be sure to visit your eye doctor and physician regularly and if you don’t feel well don’t put it off!!!

30 Classes in 30 Day Challenge

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30 Classes in 30 Day Challenge: Militant Yoga

By Ilicia Balaban

I am a goal oriented person and I love a good challenge.  Yoga has been a staple of my exercise regime and spiritual practice for years but I have not felt truly challenged by a yoga class in a long time.  Last Monday I decided to try my hand at Bikrum yoga. Bikrum differs from traditional hatha yoga in several important ways. The studio is heated to 107-110 degrees with 60 percent humidity, classes follow a standardized 26 posture protocol with two sets of each posture, breaks (including water breaks) are built in to the class so that the body can return to homeostasis, and students are instructed to stretch beyond their limits to the point that they feel like they are going to “break in half and fall down backwards.”

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I walked in to Simsbury Bikram for the first time. It was a shock to my entire system. All of my faculties were exhausted after that first 90 minute class. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually I felt as if the instructor had rolled up his mat and smacked me in the head with it. But, like I said, I love a challenge and I couldn’t wait to do it again. I signed up for 30 day introductory membership and have since decided to challenge myself by doing 30 classes in 30 days and I’d to take all of you on my journey with me with weekly updates.

I went through waves of love and hate with Bikrum. The first day my goal was simply to stay in the room and try my best.  The next few days I was on a high, so excited to get to class, ready to push myself as hard as I could, convinced that this was the day I would hold the posture for the full 90 seconds or touch my head to my feet. What I have found most interesting this week is the psychological transformation happening. I have always struggled with body image issues having been very overweight as a child. Because of the heat, participants typically don’t wear much clothing in the studio. Every day I spend 90 minutes in a room full of people, in front of a mirror in just my sports bra and shorts. Normally I would spend that time critiquing my body and then feeling bad about myself for wasting energy criticizing myself. I can’t do that in this class. If for even one second I begin thinking about my body rather than the posture I am holding I will lose my balance and fall over. Bikrum forces me to leave my baggage, my hang ups about myself at the door and focus 100% of my energy on the task at hand. Mindfulness and intention are the name of the game and after just one week, the fruits of my labor are becoming apparent in many different facets of my life, from my relationships to training my clients and how I feel about myself.  More to come next week as I continue on with my 30 day challenge…

Excel Fitness Charity Wine Tasting RE-Cap

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Thank you all who attended Excel Fitness’s First Charity Wine Tasting and Open House on Wednesday, July 27th, 2011.  We had approximately 70 people in attendance, who were all here to support our fund raising efforts for The American Cancer Society and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.  Our supporters were greeted with some great wine from WineCellars4, chair massages from Nurturing Hands and great door prizes from over 40 local businesses.

Thank you for your donations
Excel Fitness Charity Wine Tasting to Cure Cancer

We raised over $1200 for The American Cancer Society at the door alone.  Wine Cellars and Excel Fitness are still calculating their percentages for donation.  So all things said and done, we deem this event a total success.
If you attended this event, we would like to thank you by giving you a complimentary personal training session.

(click here to reply to this email to schedule your session)

If you do not receive our newsletter from Constant Contact click here to subscribe.

Have a great weekend.

Shawn, Jeff and TEAM EXCEL FITNESS

Excel Fitness Starts 2nd Annual School Supply Drive

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During August 2011 Excel Fitness will be collecting  school supplies for local children, again.  Please bring in bags, pencils, notebooks, paper, pens …etc and even small snack food for the kids.

We have such wonderful members and friends, that make these types of events a total success.  Last year, Excel Fitness had a very successful school supply drive, which benefited Nutmeg Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Hartford.  This year’s donation will again benefit BBBS.

Excel Fitness School Supply Drive 2010
Excel Fitness School Suply Drive 2010

Help us make this year even better. 

Drop off your donation to Excel Fitness, 589 New Park Ave, West Hartford, CT.

Lee S. Testimonial for Jeff Roux @ Excel Fitness

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Investing in personal training with Jeff Roux is by far the best money I ever spent on my fitness goals.  I recommend him to every person I know who has a fitness, weight loss and/or health-related goal, even if seemingly unattainable. Jeff will help you get there! I’ve trained with Jeff for over 5 years through a variety of stages in my life: wedding preparation, post-back injury (not related to workouts with him), triathlon preparation, maintaining fitness and now post-pregnancy fitness and weight loss.

Jeff has never – I mean NEVER – missed a training session or called in sick. Each time Jeff has tailored the training session to meet my very personal and specific needs. Jeff has his thumb on the pulse of emerging fitness trends and exercise science, keeping the trainings new and fresh, but keeping me safe from fitness fads. There are many poorly educated meatheads out there pretending to be professional personal trainers. Jeff is not one of them!  Jeff is attentive, respectful, energetic, positive, reliable and an expert on motivation. In less than four months after the birth of my son, I am back into my favorite (pre-pregnancy) jeans.  Thank you Jeff Roux!

– Lee S.

Excel Fitness Holds First Wine Tasting for Charity on July 27th

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Wine Tasting Open House For Charity  at

Excel Fitness  – 589 New Park Ave, West Hartford, CT 860-523-8167

Supporting the American Cancer Society

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011 from 6p to 8p.

Wine Cellars of Farmington, CT will be donating 10% of its sales here that night.

Excel Fitness will be donating a portion of its sales from July 13th, 2010 to July 27th

Door Prizes and Gift Cards from all over West Hartford area, $2 Chair Massages by Nurturing Hands, membership and training specials and GREAT WINE!!!!

COME JOIN US.

Visit www.excelfitnessct.com for details.

Matthew Knight’s Marathon Training Update

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Marathon Update

by: Matthew Knight– B.S Exercise Science CSCS Personal Trainer at Excel Fitness

As many of you know I am currently training for a marathon in the Fall Season.  I have been training for about two months and my joints have definitely been taking a pounding running on the hard surface.  I have worked up to my longest run of 16 miles, running that distance I have found it to be more of a mental battle.  But I have pushed myself by running 8 miles out which leaves me no choice but to run 8 miles back.  I recently timed myself in the half marathon and completed it in 1 hour and 37 minutes which is about a 7 minute mile pace.  I figure that isn’t too bad considering 2 months ago I never ran more than a 5k.

In the past month I have also had a battle with maintaining my weight and muscular strength.  By completing a 16 mile run I am burning well over 2000 calories which is the average person’s calorie intake in a whole day.  Therefore I have increased my calorie and protein intake dramatically but it is still hard to keep up with my caloric expenditure.

Have any questions feel free to contact info@excelfitnessct.com or continue following my marathon progression on Excel Fitness’s Blog

Making Change Involves Making Changes

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Motivational Guidance

By: Shawn O’Brien, Excel Fitness

Every get stuck on a plateau with something you are doing, either physically or mentally? 

What is stopping you from getting different/better results?   The Answer…….

Well if it were that simple you would be buying my book not reading this blog (I am working on something for the future, so watch out).

Questions about weight loss plateaus were posed by a few people today.  Regardless of what the objective is:   The true foundation of change and seeing results comes from the mental decision to see change and follow through with the accomplishment. 

My answer for getting out of Plateaus:

Give extra effort, Be consistent, Do the things successful people do and most importantly, Be accountable. 

I challenge all of you to make a 3 month goal and stick to it.  Achieving any accomplishment never gets old.