Front Page  health

Monday, April 28, 2008

Shed A Few Pounds To Be Fit for Summer


Journal Staff Report
      Face it, folks. A lot of us are fat.
       The rest of us might not be among the 34 percent of the American population that is considered obese, but we could stand to shape up a little. And so could our kids.
       That's why the Albuquerque Journal's Fit magazine and KOAT-TV are teaming up to present Summer Shape-Up, an eight-week exercise and healthy eating program designed to help you build a fitness foundation for your family.
       It's open to anyone age 6 and older, and is designed to give you guidance, motivation and rewards.
       Sponsored by New Mexico Sports & Wellness, Lovelace Health Plan, S.E.D. Medical Laboratories, The Vitamin Trader and Sportz Outdoor, Summer Shape-Up offers membership to the five Sports & Wellness health clubs for the eight weeks of the program. That includes access to the clubs' indoor-outdoor pools, state-of-the-art exercise equipment (kids must be at least 13 to use the equipment), steam and sauna rooms, exercise classes (including yoga, aerobics and more), basketball courts and more.
       In addition, four specially designed family-friendly exercise classes will be offered each week of Summer Shape-Up. Nutrition and healthy eating seminars also will be held nearly every week of the program.
       You can attend as many — or as few — as you want; the program isn't designed to be a boot camp-type fitness challenge. Rather, it is designed to get people up and moving.
       At a kick-off health fair you can have your blood pressure checked, get bone density heel scans done, be weighed in and have your body composition determined. (You also will be given the opportunity to have cholesterol and blood glucose screenings done at another time.)
       If you want to have before and after photos taken, that's available, too.
       All of this for $199 for individuals, $259 for couples and $299 for families (up to three members, $25 a person for each additional member).
       Registration will be taken through Wednesday. Forms are available online at ABQjournal.com/fit or at any Sports & Wellness location, Sportz Outdoor and The Vitamin Trader.
       The program begins with the health fair the weekend of May 31-June 1.
   

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Get involved WHERE TO SIGN UP: Registration forms are available at ABQjournal.com/fit, all Sports & Wellness locations; The Vitamin Trader and Sportz Outdoor. Once completed, forms need to be taken to any Sports & Wellness location: Del Norte, Highpoint, Midtown, Downtown or Riverpoint.
       WHEN: Registration closes at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
       COST: Special pricing for Sports & Wellness members. Inquire at club. Nonmembers: $199 individuals, $259 couples and $299 families (up to three members, $25 a person for each additional member.)
       INFORMATION: ABQjournal.com/fit or call 823-3926, 823-3886 or any Sports & Wellness club