Category Archives for "News and Notes"

We are excited to announce some "upgrades" to the Cr8 Fitness Family page. Nancy and I were talking about how we can help you get even better this year - More Fit, More Happiness, and More Health. Who couldn't use a little more of those things?

Up to this point we have had a number of Facebook groups addressing the topics of fitness and nutrition, along with the family page. Starting today, we are consolidating all of those into one group, with the goal of growing it to 500 members this year. To do that, we need YOUR HELP! We are asking you to join, and to invite everyone you know (yes, even "him") to join the group. There is going to be some serious magic in there! For starters, every Monday through Friday we will be posting something new for you. 

• Monday: Challenge for the Week
• Tuesday: Quotables
• Wednesday: Recipes of the Week
• Thursday: Pro Health & Fitness Tips
• and end the week with Photo Fridays!

And we promise a lot of "extras" along the way to make it worth your while to come and play!

So here's how you can help us - Join the "Fit, Happy and Healthy" Group, and then invite all your friends, family and co-workers to do the same.

It's super easy - just click this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cr8fitness/ to ask for an invite, and once you are in, click the "invite members" on the right hand side of the page. 

Be there or be square (an oldie but goodie).

- DC

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is thick hair and a thin body.

Please don't mix them up, like you did last year.

Why does Santa have 3 gardens? 
So he can ho-ho-ho.

What do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper? 
Ribbon hood.

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? 
Claustrophobic.

Why is Christmas just like a day at the office? 
You do all the work and the fat guy with the suit gets all the credit.

Now that I have given you a reason to laugh, Enjoy Christmas time filled with many smiles.

Coach Nancy

This is one of my favorite posts. If you've read it before then enjoy the read again. It is that good. We've had so much talk about food lately I thought this would help to set us all straight on the matter of holiday eating. 

Before we get to the Christmas Cheer I want to remind you of the schedule going on in December. 

• Recovery week = December 22 - Dec 28. You can read the ins and outs of why recovery week is important right here. Enjoy family and friends during this time.
• December 30, Monday. All regular training times will be happening. You don't want to miss the last day to train in 2019.
• December 31, Tuesday. Its New Year's Eve. Enjoy this day off from training.
• January 1st. World Famous New Year's At Noon happens at noon, duh! First training time of the year always proves to be one remembered all year long.
• January 2 -3. All regular training times will be in full swing. Don't miss out.

There you have it the schedule you'll need to know to finish the year strong and start the year right. 

Now to enjoy some Christmas Cheer: It's from Coach Dean's Dad. He's my Dad too at least that is how I feel about him. He is fantastic. His sense of humor is second to none. 

So anyway he sent this list on holiday eating tips, I figured I would share them with you too.

Thanks Dad!

• Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a Christmas buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit.. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls.

• Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It’s rare. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!

• If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

• As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

• Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

• Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

• If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.

• Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

• Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards. Unless it’s been soaked in rum for a year. (My mother’s recipe)

One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Have a great holiday season!!
Merry Christmas,

Coach Nancy

Where DID this year go? I seriously can't believe it's December already. The last few months particularly have flown right by, and life has been busy.

As you know if you train here with us, Nancy and I are building a house. No Duh, right? We decided when we started that we would complete the interior ourselves, and as is usually the case with me, I underestimated the time it would take to complete it. My goal was Thanksgiving (although to be fair I didn't say which YEAR). 🙂  It would be nice to celebrate Christmas in there, but we will see. Right now we are working on door and window trim, and there seems to be a whole lot of it. The electricians are scheduled to finish up today, and there is a little plumbing left to do. I made a list of what we have to finish - it's only a page and half, how long could it take? Yeah.

Anyway, I appreciate all y'alls patience as I have not been in the gym much. I do miss being in there and hope to be back with you soon. I am looking forward to when the house is complete and we can have a party, If you are interested in some kind of Open House, let me know.

December Happenings

Right now Coach Nancy has the "12 Days of Fitmas" Challenge happening, and she has some very festive and creative ways to help you get in here during what we know is a very busy season. But we are ALL busy, and fitness doesn't take a holiday, know what I mean? So get on in here, sweat out some stress, have some fun, and be with people who love you. And you absolutely DO NOT want to miss the world famous "12 Pains of Christmas" coming your way soon. What day? That will be like a wonderful present  - you just won't know until you open the gym door one of these days.

Our Winter Recovery Break is the week of December 23 - 29. This is my favorite recovery week, as it gives us some time before Christmas to wrap things up (see what I did there) and prepare for a wonderful day.

Stay tuned for plans the week after Christmas, we are still talking about what we want to do on New Years Eve. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Stay Happy!

Coach Dean

I captured Lauren, literally, to grab her thoughts on the nutrition challenges she has participated in the past. She was super happy to be held hostage for a few minutes after training to talk. I love hearing why others want to do our Transform in 4 Challenge coming up on November 1st. I want to feel in control of my eating before the holidays. Thank you Lauren for telling us why you want to do this next challenge. 

Thank you Lauren. Take a tip from Lauren and Sign up for the next challenge- Transform in 4.

Happy Challenging,

Coach Nancy

Nutrition Challenges

Words are powerful. There is a time to speak and then there is a time to take action. Our challenges give you the ability to put your words into practice. 

You see words in themselves are not enough. You need action or a time to practice what your words are telling you. Actions bring those words into deep conviction that are lived out practically.

The unique aspect of the Nutrition Challenges we hold through Cr8 Fitness is it touches lives. Powerful words will not have a lasting impact in our action unless your life is consistent with the message. It is not just words on our lips but words that impact our lives. 

Gretchen and Donna took time with me recently to tell me their favorite aspects of the challenges they have already completed. With our new Transform in 4 Challenge coming in November it is always helpful to hear from some veterans.  

Thank you Gretchen and Donna (and Kim behind the camera) for taking time with me after training. You ladies rock.

To Your Best Health,

Coach Nancy

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for Transform in 4. 

P.S.S. Remember you don't need to train with us so grab a friend to help you stay accountable to Transform in 4. I'll be there too. 

Recovery week is almost here. September 2- September 6 is a scheduled time off from your training at the gym. Most of us take planned vacations from work where your mind can take a break from the routine of all that you do each day at work. We look forward to them, enjoy them, and feel better when we do get back to work. It's refreshing. The same is true for your physical training at Cr8 Fitness. 

If you've been with us for a length of time, your body is giving you a few signals that you are ready for a time away. If this is your first time taking a recovery week here are 5 reasons why it is important. 

C- Confidence. Physical training and the health it brings is what Dean and I specialize in. The trust you place in us continually inspires us to be the best and do the best for you. We design in hour in the gym as part of our plan through the week, the month, and the year. Through the whole process we work at keeping the confidence you placed in us. Check out this great article written by Coach Dean covering the ins and out of "Why Recovery Weeks?". 

H- Health, your health is our primary concern. Each day as you give your all it takes a toll. Remember you train like athletes because life is an event you want to do very well. Every sport has its season and it's off season. Even during a sport season there are weeks off or longer breaks in between games. It's on purpose to keep you training longer and staying healthy for it all. Same goes for you and your training at Cr8 Fitness.

I- Injury prevention. If you are hurt you can't train. (or at least you can't train as hard as you want) Ignoring those little aches and over tired body muscles can be a precursor to injury. 

L- Longevity. Dying is just not on my To Do list- EVER. I'm not in control of all that is going to happen to me and you aren't either. Yet, we can choose to live the best life possible. You've chosen to have a coach(es). Trust us when we say you need a week just to do something a bit different. 

L- Love yourself. Be good to yourself during this week. It might mean extra sleep, or chilling with a friend, or kicking your feet up to read a book or starting to create a better eating routine. If you haven't signed up for the Fall Fat Loss Challenge, you should do that now. You will love how it makes me you feel. 

What are some good things to do while on recovery?

P- Prepare. "Before anything else, Preparation is the key to success." - Alexander Bell, He's a pretty smart guy. Think of how good you'll feel and how much less stress you'll create for yourself if you have your meals planned and prepared for the week. What about a meal ready to go in the freezer for those crazy days you will encounter? How about making your shopping list so your grocery trip is easier? Spend some time checking out some ways we can help you with that too, right here. 

I- Be Idle. Give yourself permission to do nothing. Seriously when is the last time you could just sit and do whatever came to mind for an hour. My days are filled with rush rush, so this is a true gift. Better yet spend that hour with your spouse, a friend, or someone who needs encouragement. Win/win for both of you. 

L- Lighten your work load. Take the hour you would have trained to tackle that nagging item off your To Do list. Cleaning out a closet is one of my favorite ways to feel like I've completed a monumental task. It takes time but I love the organization it gives me. I often have items to donate or give away. And I often find a treasure I had forgotten about. All wins

L- Leisure. That's a fancy word for do what makes you feel good. Hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle boarding, walking, shopping, whale watching, camping, or any other leisurely activity that brings out those happy feelings. Remember the world needs a lot more happy. 

Take it from me- Take a Chill Pill this recovery week. (September 2 - 6) We'll be back at training on September 9th. 

To your best health,

Coach Nancy

Your coaches are always up to something. In July we're going to challenge you to drink a lot of water each day. Here's how we're going to help you do just that. It's going to be a competition. When you come into the gym you'll find one board covered in blue stickie notes. Our goal is simple, clear the board as fast as you can of these blue stickies. We should be able to do that in just about 3 days if we all drink up. 

Here's how you pull a stickie note off: Drink 100 ounces of water in one day. It's that simple - 100 ounces over the course of 1 day. Each of those 100 ounces is one stickie note removed. Your assignment is to drink 100 ounces in one day therefor earning one blue stickie note. As a group we'll be drinking almost 100 gallons a day. We can do that. 

Not convinced that you need to join our challenge?

 Water is the most important nutrient we can feed our bodies. Let's face it we all know we can survive a lot longer without food than without water but we certainly don't act like it. If you are like me, I sometimes feel like I am starving (like every few hours) and yet I rarely say I am dying of thirst. If I truly believed that water is the most important nutrient I would be drinking water all the time. Are you like me?  I usually have a glass of water with my meals and rarely in between. To me that looks like I am giving just as much focus on the food I eat as the water I drink. Science tells us that the body would die without water in just a few days and yet we could survive 3-4 times that without food. Some of us could go even longer. What do we need so much water for?

· 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half world pop.)

· In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

· Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.

· One glass of water deters hunger pangs for 98% of the dieters observed in a University of Washington study.

· The biggest trigger of daytime fatigue is lack of water.

· Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

· A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

· Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, breast cancer by 79%, and develop bladder cancer by 50%.

· Water serves as a lubricant

· Water forms the base for saliva

· Water forms the fluids that surround the joints.

· Water regulates the body temperature, as the cooling and heating is distributed through perspiration.

· Water helps to alleviate constipation by moving food through the intestinal tract and thereby eliminating waste- the best detox agent.

· Regulates metabolism

Did you see that last one? That is how our bodies use the fuel we give it.

This list is not exhaustive but it only touches the surface. Our bodies are 98% water so we need to replenish it and renew it.

So how much water does all this take? Researchers say to take half of your body weight and drink that in ounces. So if you weigh 150 pounds that is 75 ounces of water a day. Remember the 8-10 glasses that your doctor told you to drink. If there are 8 ounces of water in each glass you are not getting enough. (10 glasses times 8 ounces is only 80 ounces of water, so make it 16 ounces of water or two cups in each glass and you are there.)

Water are you waiting for? 

Get your glass filled to the brim and drink up.

To your best health,

Coach Nancy

1. 2757.6 miles and 44 hrs 42 minutes is a lot of driving in 9 days

2. I never knew the etymology of the word "bunk"...until now (unless this sign is just, well, bunk!)

3. Nancy is in way better cycling shape than me. 

4. North Carolina has the twistiest roads I have ever driven on. My motorcycle would have been preferable to the minivan. 🙂

5. One of my favorite authors is buried in Asheville

6. The Biltmore House is really stunning. The history is amazing, the architecture and engineering is incredible. 

7. George Vanderbilt was truly a visionary. He purchased over-used farmland and was instrumental in creating the first managed forests in the United States. After he died, his wife Edith sold the majority of the acreage to the US Government for what is now Pisgah National Forest. One of the most stunning things we were told was that at one time, when you stood on the back verandah everything you saw in every direction (over 15 miles out) was owned by the Vanderbilt's. 

8. Exercise equipment has been around for awhile. Check out the various "toys" in the Biltmore House gymnasium. Barbells, dumbbells, Indian clubs, a rowing machine, a cable pulley machine. Even one of the first massage showers, which they called a "needle bath". Really cool for this gym geek to see!

9. North Carolina is really beautiful.

10. It's good to be home - see y'all soon!

Coach Dean

Sizzlin Summer Slimdown 2019 is over. Once again S3, our six week get ready for summer challenge has created a noticeable loss of weight in over 200 people. We started in the beginning of May with 211 people signed up for six weeks of diving deep and focusing on their nutrition. Their goal was to lose weight. In losing weight our goal is always to become a healthier version of ourselves. We knocked it out of the park this year.

Check out these numbers. We started with 50 teams between the 211 people who signed up for the challenge. 190 of those 211 did the final weigh in. 90% of the people who started this challenge, finished it That is phenomenal numbers. From those 190 people we loss 1, 354.5 pounds over the course of the challenge. (1300 pounds is as much as a male polar bear or a quarter horse)

Out of those 50 teams, each person on 39 teams completed their final weigh in. Which by the way was the average number of teams who completed our weekly challenges as well. Each week, every team who completed the challenge had their name thrown in a drawing for real prizes. The prizes ranged from meals cooked and delivered to the team or food items they'd need during the challenge to kitchen tools to use while prepping. 

After the final numbers were in, 12 teams had over 4.99% of weight loss during the challenge. These teams were in it to win it. They took the challenge as a team and helped each other for six weeks. Working as a group, they achieved more than they could on their own.

High fives go out to these teams:

• Trans4mers
• The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
• The Naturals
• 8:30 Friends

• KECH us if you can
• Dan's Girls- Keeping up with the Jones
• Just do It
• Changing our Weighs
• KlLL
• Chafing the Dream
• Girl Power
• The Three Burritos and Refried Beans

Our team winners walked away with over $800 each. The secret to their team success? Daily check- ins amongst themselves. "Chafing the Dream" was made up of Katie Bean, Andria Collins, and Katrina Lebrecque. They trained each day together at 5am. They didn't miss one training time. They wrote each other in a group chat every day. I know they were snapping pictures of each meal and sending it to the group to keep themselves accountable. These ladies were tight knit in goals and how they were going to achieve them. They managed to lose 13.68% of their beginning weight during the challenge. Congratulations ladies.