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January 4, 2012

Diet, fitness regimes top New Year’s ‘to-do’ lists

By ROB ANDERSON Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH — A new calendar year has begun, and with comes it a litany of diet, weight loss and gym advertisements.

“I do not like the word diet,” said Aerofit Health Club owner Russ Warner. “It should be more of a lifestyle change. I don’t like the low-calorie, low-carb diets. It’s all about balance. There’s a certain percentage that your body needs to maintain a healthy balance.”

Warner emphasized that a person’s diet should avoid all processed foods, which are foods that have been altered from their natural state to produce a longer shelf life. Some of the artificial ingredients used in this process include monosodium glutamate, flavors, preservatives, hydrogenated oil, fillers and artificial sweeteners.

According to LiveStrong.com, nutritional requirements vary from person to person and are strongly connected to gender, age, health status and level of physical activity. Nutrition requirements for both men and women are similar in that a balanced diet should include adequate consumption of protein, carbohydrates, fat, calories, vitamins, minerals and water. The needed nutrient amounts needed varied by gender. Calorie intake depends on a person’s health condition and the level of daily exercise.

When it comes to beginning or increasing exercise levels, Northeastern State University Physical Fitness Center Director Ron Cox said it is important to first check with a physician to ensure physical readiness for the desired activity.

“I always stress the importance of getting a physical to try to evaluate the person for any major health issues, operations they may have had, or situations where they’ve had treatment,” said Cox. “It’s very important to know those types of things. If you’ve had a torn knee and you’re doing heavy leg extensions you don’t want to cause any damage.”

Guidance, especially for those new to a workout routine, can make a world of difference. Not knowing how to use a piece of equipment or being aware of dangers from activities that increase heart rate can be harmful and potentially fatal.

“My No. 1 recommendation for someone just starting is to hire a personal trainer,” said Warner.

“I’ve heard it more times than I can remember that ‘before I hire a personal trainer I want to get in better shape.’ A personal trainer is great for learning the fundamentals to make sure you’re doing the exercise correctly . You want to make sure you’re getting the most out of what you’re doing. Even if you hire a trainer for a month to get started, it’s worth the money.”

Understanding exercise techniques or receiving the correct nutritional information for the individual need is key, said Cox.

“When we find out what their needs are we then set up plan,” said Cox.

“We have people that are well-trained who can teach someone how to lift and how to exercise. We do give [nutritional} advice, and advice only, because I would like them to meet with a nutritionist. They can go to the hospital or the county health department to get the right information.”

For hours and programs offered at the NSU Physical Fitness Center, call (918) 456-5511, Ext. 3980 or visit their website. To learn more about the cost of a personal trainer and what the Aerofit Health Club offers, call (918) 431-9900..

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