Check out his video below after his first few months with us – he doesn’t even look like the same person).  Then listen to Dan D. The Trainer tell you in his own words what makes him a good trainer.

        Dan D. After 2 Months With Us                                        Dan D. The Trainer Tells His Story

 This past May, Dan mentioned he’d like to become a personal trainer.  I told him to take a few college level courses including functional anatomy, exercise physiology, and nutrition so he could get a solid foundation.  To be perfectly honest I never expected him to actually follow through with it.  

A few months later and over 15 college credits later, he says OK what’s next and by the way I’m gonna be a registered dietitian (which is the gold standard in nutritional counseling – he’s about halfway through the program right now). 

Then I said you should get certified by a nationally recognized organization.  2 months ago Dan passed the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) personal trainer certification.  They were so impressed by Dan that he was actually invited to be on a special NASM committee.  NASM in my opinion is the best certification organization in my industry – they are extremely thorough and methodical in their evil testing process. 

 Since May, he’s logged in over 500 hours of hands experience at Fit-4-Life Personal Training Studio.  Matt and I have been grillin’ him on a daily basis.  He really knows his stuff.  He’s also been running several of our bootcamp workouts - (getting a ton of really great feedback). 

He wants to use his inspiring story to help others lead a healthier life.  He’s especially excited to work with kids.  Dan struggled with his weight his whole life, now he has invaluable insight into the mental and physical issues involved with being overweight and how to overcome them.

I want to welcome Dan to the Fit-4-Life Trainer Family with a bang!!  So I’m going to give away FREE one-on-one and small group (2-5 people with one trainer) New Years Gut Busting Workouts.  Sat 1/2 and Sun 1/3 from 9AM – 3PM, Dan will be performing FREE 60 minute workouts.   Just bring a can of non-perishable vegetables in exchange for a FREE Gut Busting Workout.   It’s  a no brainer you get to welcome Dan to the family, lose the holiday gut, and you also help Philabundance give to families in need.  

Call us ASAP 856-751-0033 or email me at kevinhensel@fitlifeinc.com to reserve your time.

Joe Stezzi Nov/Dec Success Story

Joe Stezzi is our November/December Client of the Month.  Joe has been whining that he’s been working out with us once a week for the past 12 years and never once has been selected as our Client of the Month.  He’s always busting my chops that he’s going to gain 50 lbs and then lose it so he can be selected as our Client of the Month. 

 Now Joe doesn’t really need to lose any weight, he’s in great shape (Not bad for a 46 year old).  He reached his goals and is now in  a maintenance phase.  He gets in one workout/week with us and then exercises at home for the rest of the week with his 7 year old son Dillon (who definitely keeps him on his toes).  During tax season he might even sneak in a 30 minute massage with Pam. 

  Joe and I have become pretty friends over the last 12 years.  I attended his wedding a few years back with Meg.  We play golf together a few times per year –he’s not bad for an old guy.   Joe’s workout philosophy is if it hurts I don’t want to do it.  Obviously we butt heads from time to time over this.

  I hate to admit it and don’t tell Joe I said this, but he’s right.  Real fitness success isn’t about losing weight and inches as quickly as possible.  It’s about the long haul.  Discipline, dedication, and persistence are the real keys to success.  Fitness and health are a life long process not just a few months.  Joes’ 12 years of being tortured by us are a testament to that, he is a good friend and a great example of what real success is.  Great Job Joe!  You can stop whining now!

You could be our next success story, fill out the webform at the bottom of this page to set up your FREE Fitness Consultation.

Committed to your success,

Kevin Hensel, Cherry Hill Personal Trainer

856-751-0033

Over the past 15 years we’ve hit a few road blocks.  A few road blocks might be putting it lightly.  Lori is in a pretty good place right now, but for years she was in complete misery.

The first major road block was and is fibromyalgia.  Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points.  Basically you hurt all over, and you frequently feel exhausted.  We have to focus on flexibility, good posture, core, and light strengthening exercises.  You have to walk a tight rope – too much exercise causes Lori intolerable pain, too little exercise has no real benefit.  Our Medical Exercise SpecialistCertifications really come in handy.  Fibromyalgia has no known cause, often never diagnosed, and thank goodness it is not progressive – severity of symptoms can change day to day.

As if fibromyalgia isn’t bad enough, Lori also has chronic neck pain because of a few disc herniations in her neck.  She’s been to several physical therapists with little benefit, but the latest PT gave her a tremendous amount of relief.  We incorporate the rehabilitative exercises into each of her workouts to make sure her neck doesn’t go back to the bad place.

I won’t even go into her major allergy issues (I’m not talking about the sniffles every spring, I’m talking about major congestion, headaches, blurry eyes, etc. almost every day).  But I think you’re starting to get the point. 

Half of the equation to getting results with your exercise routine is just showing up.  Lori is the most consistent client we ever had.  For the past 15 years, Lori hasn’t missed more than a week or two (Gotta have a vacation every now and again).  Fibromyalgia, neck pain, and alleries make everyday a battle with fatigue and muscle/joint pain.  Her workouts make her pain manageable.  Lori comes in feeling horrible but she feels a million times better after her workout.  “I have many medical problems, and I know I would have a hard time functioning if I didn’t go to Fit-4-Life.  I get the best workout with the most knowlegable staff.”

No matter what has gotten in Lori’s way, she just keeps on going.  Her dedication, perseverence, and mental fortitude serve as a role model to all of us.   The secret to Lori’s success is that she sought the proper medical advice and we constantly adjust her routine to make sure it is safe and in accordance with medical professional guidelines.   

Now if Lori can literally drag herself to her workouts each week when she legitimately feels like crap, then what’s your excuse?  You aren’t alone if you can’t stick with an exercise routine.  We’re here to help.  We can get you over that hump, so you can make exercise a part of your life (Even if you have issues).  You don’t have to come to us for 15 years to get major benefit like Lori has.  We can easily set you up on a program you can do at your home or gym and then you can visit us periodically to evaluate your progress and adjust your workout routine.   You just need a little fitness jumpstart!!

Call to set up your free consultation or complete the form below.

If you are like most people then that realization will 1) bring a grimace to your face and 2) will motivate you to lose some weight.

While I commend your desire to slim down before baring it all, I’m here to warn you of the 5 myths that most people fall for. Don’t waste your time on these:

Myth #1: Starve the pounds away.

Attempting to lose weight by starving yourself is not only ineffective, it’s also dangerous. It may seem that severe calorie restriction would deliver the quickest weight loss, but your body is complex and by doing so you’ll disrupt your metabolism and slow your results.

Tip: Don’t starve yourself – instead eat healthy small meals throughout the day.

Myth #2: Take diet pills to boost your effort.

It’s so tempting! The commercials make compelling claims about the power of diet pills, but don’t fall for it. The ‘magic pill’ has yet to be discovered (it has been discovered – exercise. It’s just not in pill form…). Diet pills are more likely to damage your health and burn your pocketbook than to slim you down.

Tip: Don’t pop a pill – instead burn calories with exercise.

Myth #3: Do extra crunches to flatten your abs.

We all want our midsection to look toned as we stroll down the beach, but excessive crunches aren’t the answer for tight abs. In order to achieve a lean look you’ll have to focus on burning off the layer of fat that is covering up your abs.

Tip: Don’t obsess about crunches – instead focus on fat burning.

Myth #4: Eat packaged diet foods for speedy results.

It is amazing to see the kinds of foods that are packaged as ‘diet’ or ‘weight loss’ aids. More often than not these products are packed with refined sugar and other artificial ingredients that your body doesn’t need.

Tip: Don’t eat packaged diet foods – instead stick with nutritious whole foods.

Myth #5: Avoid all carbohydrates in order to slim down.

Carbohydrates have been given a bad rap, which is unfortunate because you can (and should) eat carbs while losing weight. The key is to stick with whole grains, oatmeal and brown rice while avoiding processed and refined flours and sugars.

Tip: Don’t swear off all carbohydrates – instead stick with wholesome carbs.

Now that you know what not to do in order to look great this summer, it’s time to go over your beach ready game plan. Here’s what you need to know in 3 simple steps:

• Step One: Cut out the junk.

  The best way to do this is to start by purging your kitchen. Get rid of sugary, processed and fat-filled foods. Once the junk has been cleared out don’t buy any more of it. Remember that your beach ready abs depend on what you eat – don’t eat junk!

• Step Two: Focus on whole foods.

  Replace the junk food in your life with plenty of the following: cooked and raw vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, moderate amounts of seeds and nuts, lean meats and low fat dairy. Clean eating really is that simple.

• Step Three: Come train with me.

  This is the most obvious step. You’re ready to get into great shape and I’m in a unique position to make that happen for you. Call or reply to this email to get started on an exercise plan that will make you look great on the beach, and all year round.

Well, that and the fast food restaurants, but we’ll leave that for another day.

If you’re like most people then your shopping trips aren’t exactly organized. In fact, your grocery cart is likely to be more fat than fit.

The good news is that with a few small modifications to your routine you’ll be able to turn your grocery shopping trip into an easy opportunity to slim down.

I’ve broken down the process of healthy grocery store navigation with an easy-to-remember acronym – FITNESS.

Come, take a walk with me through your grocery store and we’ll improve your shape and the shape of your family members.

F: First Veggies
Your mom always told you that you had to eat your veggies before dessert-so this will be an easy one to remember. When you start shopping, first go to the produce section. The bulk of your shopping should take place here. Fresh vegetables, lettuce for salads, and fruits are the best things to eat when you want to look and feel great.

Don’t skimp on produce-aim to fill most of your cart here.

I: Is it Wheat?
When it comes to bread you only need to ask yourself one question. Is it wheat? White bread products have been processed and filled with simple carbohydrates ? these will easily stick to your body as fat. Wheat breads, on the other hand, contain more fiber and are much healthier. Make it a policy to never purchase white bread, wheat bread is the right choice even for the little members of your family.

Always choose 100% whole wheat bread products-the more whole grain, the better.

T: Trim the Fat
In the meat section you are faced with a major decision. Do you go with your taste buds or do you go with your health conscious side? I urge you to stick with the latter. These days lean meats are more available than ever, and the benefits to going lean are numerous. When you choose lean meats you avoid extra saturated fat (your heart will thank you for this) and you also avoid the extra calories that come packed into each fat gram.

Want to be lean? Then eat lean meats. Chicken, turkey, and pork

N: Never enter the Junk Food Aisle
I have a simple policy that has saved me from thousands of unnecessary calories. I don’t walk down the junk food aisle. You and I both know that it is nearly impossible to walk past rows of chips, candies and cookies without putting something into the cart. The bright packages stamped with mouthwatering images will give your will power a run for its money. My two cents? Avoid that row altogether and save yourself from the whole ordeal.

Nothing good ever came from walking down the junk food aisle-just say no.

E: Edge around the store
Here’s a really easy trick for healthy shopping. Edge around the store, as in shop the perimeter and avoid the inner aisles. Think about it-the healthiest products are kept around the perimeter of the store: produce, meat, dairy. The inner aisles are where you run into trouble: processed food, baked goods, and sweets. Don’t get me wrong, there are healthy products kept in the inner aisles too, but a majority of the items are waist-expanders.

Shop in a circle-stick to the perimeter of the store, do less shopping in the aisles.

S: Skinny Cow
The dairy section is filled with many healthy items; it is also filled with extremely high fat items. Your job is to pick out all those calcium-rich foods that you love in the low fat and non fat versions. I realize that many people have a prejudice against low milk or yogurt, simply because they’ve always eaten the full fat version. Making the switch to low fat is such a simple way to cut unnecessary fat and calories from your diet, while still getting all the benefits of dairy.

Fat free dairy products are the way to go-you’ll only lose unwanted pounds.

S: Stick with Water
Warning: mini lecture to follow. I’ll make it short and sweet. Drink more water-period. Sodas, sugary juices and calorie-laden alcoholic beverages are responsible for a large number of unnecessary calories in your diet. Don’t fill your cart with these sneaky calories. Keep them out of your kitchen and out of your life.

Looking for a tasty beverage? Look no farther than crystal clear water.

There you have it-your FITNESS shopping plan that will take your cart from fat to fit. I suggest that you write down the FITNESS steps on a note card and take it to the store with you.

Are you ready to take your body from fat to fit? I’ve got what it takes to get you there! No guess work, no fad diets, and no super long workouts.

Call or email today to learn more about my fitness and fat loss programs that will quickly change your life.

Kevin Hensel
Fit 4 Life
856-751-0033
www.fitlifeinc.com
Cherry Hill Personal Training Studio

Tuna is one of those healthy items that’s found in the inner aisles of the grocery store-so venture down the aisle and pick out white albacore packed in water. This is an ultra-healthy meal that is high in protein and low in fat.
Yield: 2 servings

Here’s what you need…

-1 can albacore chunk tuna, packed in water
-2 Tablespoons finely chopped white onion
-1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
-1/2 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
-1/2 apple, finely chopped
-2 Tablespoons nonfat mayonnaise
-1 Tablespoon nonfat ranch salad dressing
-1 teaspoon dried dill
-4 large lettuce leaves, washed
-Pepper to taste

1. Combine the tuna, onion, bell pepper, and apple in a medium bowl. In a small bowl mix the mayonnaise, ranch dressing and dill.
2. Add the mayonnaise mixture to the tuna and mix until well combined.
3. Arrange the lettuce leaves on two plates, and fill with tuna. Garnish with a dash of pepper.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 124 calories, 1.5g fat, 13g carbohydrate, 2.7g fiber, and 14g protein.

Yours in health,

Kevin Hensel, President
Fit-4-Life, Inc.
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
856-751-0033
www.FitLifeInc.com

For Awesome Recipes, Exercise Secrets,
Client Success Videos, and so much more
visit our blog at http://fitlifeinc.com/blog/

Here’s what you need…

- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
- 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed
- 1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes
- 2 quarts chicken broth, fat free, reduced sodium
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground toasted cumin
- Optional, spoonful of fat free cottage cheese
- Optional, dried parsley

Put the olive oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven and place over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery and salt. Sauté for 6 to 7 minutes.

Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander and cumin; stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook at a low simmer until the lentils are tender, about 40 minutes.
Using a stick blender, puree the soup to your desired consistency. Serve with cottage cheese and sprinkle with dried parsley if desired.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 240 calories, 2g fat, 35g carbohydrate, 18g fiber, and 16g protein.

Kevin Hensel
Fit-4-Life
Cherry Hill Personal Training Studio
www.FitLifeInc.com
856-751-0033

Walk into any gym and you’ll see the bench press taken, the dumbbells being curled-and an empty squat rack in the corner.

Leg exercises are tough, I won’t deny that, but the benefits are more than worth the exertion.

A Case for Your Legs

Your legs are a major muscle group, so it’s no surprise that training them will get you big time results. Training your legs will…

1. Melt fat from your body. As I mentioned above, leg exercises are tough. Your legs are a large part of your body, so each exercise literally moves your whole body. This is precisely why a good leg workout will fire up your metabolism to melt fat away. You’ll burn more calories while exercising your legs than any other body part.

Due to the intense nature of a leg workout, your metabolism becomes elevated for more than 24 hours. That means that for an entire day your body continues to burn extra calories without any extra effort on your part. Who wouldn’t love that?

2. Build strength for everyday life. How often do you use your legs? Most of us depend on our legs constantly throughout the day-so wouldn’t it make sense to strengthen our individual mode of transportation? Kind of like putting a super charger on the engine of your car.

Exercising your legs isn’t only about increased strength; you’ll also improve your coordination and balance. This means that you’ll be able to do and experience things that you otherwise would have missed. You only live once, right?

3. Uncover natural muscle shape. Let’s be honest, toned legs are attractive. I’m not saying that you’re legs will bulge with muscles (unless we trained you for that), but I am saying that consistently training your legs will uncover your natural toned shape.

Many of my clients discover a whole new level of confidence after getting their legs back into shape. Women especially enjoy the freedom to wear shorts or a skirt without feeling embarrassed to show their legs. Wouldn’t you love that freedom?

Oh, and I should tell you that as you strengthen your legs you’ll also reduce the risk of injury to your lower back because you’ll actually learn to pick things up off the ground the right way.

Best Leg Exercises

Now that I’ve convinced you to pay more attention to your legs, here are three of the top exercises you should do. Each of these exercises have dozens of different variations, so have fun and always keep your workouts fresh and challenging.

The Lunge: Start with your feet together, take a large step forward and bend your knees down into a lunge position. Exhale as you press yourself back up to a standing position, or continue through with your step into another lunge.

The Squat: Start with your feet shoulder width apart, inhale as you bend your knees, keeping your back straight. Be sure to keep your knees from going past your toes. Exhale as you push back up to a standing position.

The Dead Lift: Grip the barbell with a mixed grip (one palm faces you, one doesn’t). Allow the barbell to hang down in front of you as you stand on the platform with your feet shoulder width apart. Lean forward at your waist, keeping your back flat, and bend your knees, bringing the bar down past them. Exhale as you straighten your legs and lift the bar up. When you are standing upright lean back slightly and squeeze the muscles of your lower back. Hold this contraction for a moment. Inhale and slowly return back down to the starting position.

By no stretch of the imagination are these three the ONLY leg exercises out available. And that’s the other great thing about training your legs… you have tons of options and variations.

Want to know more about leg exercises and which ones are the best for you? Are you finally ready to get into the best shape of your life? Let me help.

Reply to this email or fill out the form below we’ll schedule a consultation where you and I can assess your goals and I can show you the fastest and safest way to reach them.

Committed to your success,
Kevin Hensel
Fit-4-Life
Cherry Hill Personal Training Studio