Take it from Guy Petruzzelli, personal trainer and swimming instructor, swimming is a great workout.  And just like lifting weights or working on your abs, a lesson or two to learn exactly what to do can reap big benefits.  Swim lessons aren’t just for kids anymore.

Here are Guy’s Top Five Reasons to Take Swim Lessons, even if you already know how to swim:

1. Comfort: Swim lessons will help you feel more comfortable and safe in the water. Whether you’re in a pool or the ocean, you should at all times feel comfortable so you can enjoy your experience. Swim lessons will teach you that you can make the water your friend no matter how turbulent it is.

2. Increase Your Cardio Fitness: Swimming works all of your muscle groups, and the best way to use those muscles to their fullest potential is to learn how to swim correctly and reap the benefits. The doggie paddle, side stroke or lying on your back are not going to improve your cardio fitness level.

3. Helps You Work Through Injuries: Since swimming is non-weight-bearing, it’s a great way to keep exercising while injured. If your form is good it’s a great way to stay active. Runners are often told to swim to give their muscles and joints a break and if you haven’t worked out for years because of an injury, it’s a great way to begin a fitness program.

4. Safety First: If you know how to swim and you find yourself near someone that begins to panic in the water, you’ll know how to calmly react and get that person and yourself to safety. The better swimmer you become, the stronger you will become, and in turn, you’ll act more confidently in stressful situations.

5. Helping Your Muscles Work as a Unit: Swimming helps other muscles fire correctly. Some of your muscles may not work correctly when you’re doing other exercises. For example, plantar flexion: if I have someone that is swimming and cannot point their toes, and they’ve mentioned they’re having problems running, I can help them. What I see in the water is very different than what I would see in the gym.

For more information on swimming lessons, contact Guy at guy.petruzzelli@midtown.com. Guy also offers lessons for kids as well. 

Have you taken swimming lessons? What fitness benefits have you experienced?

February is here and with its arrival comes the opportunity to evaluate the success of health-related resolutions. If you’ve resolved to lose weight in 2012, and find yourself struggling, here are three tips to set you back on track.

Start a Food Diary

One of the tips you hear most often to help you change your nutritional lifestyle is to start a food diary. But what does that mean really? And why is it helpful?  Won’t it be depressing to see everything you’ve eaten? 

Allow me to de-mystify it for you. Here’s why you need to keep one:

1. You become accountable for what you are putting in your mouth. I don’t ask my clients to write a food diary just to yell at them about everything “bad” they ate.  It’s not about “bad” and “good.”  It’s being honest about what you’re eating and seeing where you can make small changes in your everyday nutrition that will add up big at the end of the month and year. 

2. You recognize emotional triggers or habits that you’ve created.  I like to see why my clients are eating what they are eating.  This may sound silly but we don’t always eat for energy.  Maybe we snack in front of the TV at night or always order dessert when we have lunch with our mom.  These are habits and triggers that affect our better judgment when it comes to nutrition.

3. You realize why you are starving  before dinner and snack on chips while you cook.  It’s important to note what time you wake, eat, and go to bed.  How soon you eat breakfast, how often you eat, and when your last meal is before you snooze are important.  If you wait too long to eat your next meal you’ll be starving and end up snacking on an entire meal before you sit down for dinner.  Or you’ll stop at a fast food drive thru. Both habits are not good.

Here’s an example of a thorough food diary:

7:30 a.m. – Woke up

8 a.m. – 1 apple, 2 tbsp. peanut butter, 1 glass water, 1 cup coffee w/1 tbsp. cream (breakfast, hungry)

10 a.m. – 1 Kashi bar and water (140 calories) (a little hungry before workout)

12 p.m. – sandwich w/2 slices of 35 cal bread, low-fat mayo and reduced sodium turkey lunchmeat (3oz.), 1 serving fat-free pretzels and ¼ cup hummus, water (lunch, hungry)

12:30 p.m. – 8 Hershey kisses, water (needed chocolate )

2 p.m. – 1 cup grapes, 2 slices provolone cheese, water (snack, hungry)

3 p.m. – 1 apple, small bottle Coke Zero (hungry)

5 p.m. – spinach salad w/craisins, blue cheese, mushrooms, candied walnuts & balsamic dressing, water (starving, had to go to Whole Foods)

8 p.m. – one glass red wine, one small 96% lean hamburger w/o bun, one handful M&M’s (wanted wine and chocolate, hubby made dinner)

10 p.m. – bed

This was my food diary for a day and I was totally honest!  Times, exactly what I ate, why I ate what I did, and when I went to bed.  So try one for a week, even better two weeks, and see how you do.

Include a Fruit or Vegetable in Every Meal and Snack

These pure and clean foods add more vitamins and minerals with the least amount of calories than any other food. With all of the fiber, water and nutrients that occur naturally in fruits and veggies, you’ll feel fuller longer and will have better health overall.  Pair them with lean protein for a well rounded meal or snack.  Apples and peanut butter, pears and walnuts, broccoli and low-fat cheese, or baked potatoes and salsa all add up to feeling satisfied without a ton of fat and calories.

Pay Attention to the Calories You Drink

The calories in fancy coffees, pop, juice, protein shakes, smoothies, and alcohol are all included in your calorie total at the end of the day.  You can eat great, sticking within your calorie limit, but a Starbucks frappucino and two glasses of wine can add over 350 calories to your total. Over a week’s time, that’s ¾ of a pound.  In a month’s time you have almost three pounds!  Yikes! 

So stick with water, black coffee and tea, and diet drinks, and count those special drinks as a meal to stay on track.

Which of these tips has worked best for you?

Midtown personal trainer Guy Petruzzelli is a professional triathlete and duathlete who brings to the club a wealth of fitness and endurance-based knowledge.  After being hit by a car in 1996, he thought his racing career was over.  But with much determination and drive, he trained himself back into the game. 

Here is a glimpse of what keeps him striving toward the next finish line:

Nicole: How did you get into fitness?

Guy: I started sports at a young age, and I played football and basketball in grammar school. I always stayed active, even in the summer with friends. Actual “fitness” really became critical to me in high school swimming. While swimming for the varsity team, I began to understand what it meant to be fit aside from just swimming.

Once I started working for the park district as a lifeguard on the lake front, it became critical to understand how to do other things besides just swim. I had to run and row as well. During our breaks, we would do push-ups, pull-ups and other basic exercises to stay fit.

While preparing to compete against other lifeguard crews for the Lifeguard Games and the National Lifeguard Championships, I was exposed to a variety of different fitness techniques and experiences. I always loved the idea of pushing harder, going further, and learning more.

Nicole: How has your training paid off?

Guy: In the last three years I’ve been granted a pro card by USA Triathlon and ITU, the International Triathlon Union to compete as a professional. That allows me to participate in higher profile races and gain better sponsorships. It also gives me the opportunity to interact with a higher level of athletes from all over the world. I’m now able to race for the United States in international competitions, which is an unbelievable feeling. I race from February to early November, about 20 races a year.

Nicole: How did you transition from giving swim lessons to working as a trainer?

Guy: Becoming a trainer is new for me but my passion for fitness has just gotten stronger over time.

It started close to home helping family members with illnesses and knowing it could have been curtailed if they would have taken care of themselves. Then I came to Midtown and developed a deeper understanding of health and fitness-related issues. I wanted to be able to take my fitness knowledge and help others.

Now, what excites me about fitness now isn’t as much “How can it help me?” but instead,  ”How can I help other people?” by using my racing experiences and techniques I use to increase fitness through nutrition, exercise, and sleep.

Nicole: We know you are super healthy, but you have to have a vice in there somewhere.  What two foods do you always have at home: one healthy and one not-so-healthy?

Guy: I always have 100% pure Italian almond butter as a healthy snack, and I drink regular Sprite as a treat.

Have a question for Guy?  You can e-mail him at: guy.petruzzelli@midtown.com

And stay tuned for Guy’s Top 5 Reasons to Take Adult Swim Lessons coming soon.

The New Year is approaching and along with it comes the hope of new beginnings, new promises, and new possibilities. Included in this sometimes very personal and lengthy list are the new and exciting things that are coming to Midtown. 

One of the first things you might have noticed is the big green flag hanging outside the Group Exercise studio that says “Group Core.”  Group Core is the newest addition to our Body Training Systems class line-up.  It’s a 30-minute class that focuses exclusively on your mid-section (abdominals and back). 

Since they work as a unit, it’s important to work them together and that’s exactly what this class helps you do.  The class launches the week of January 9, 2012.

Another new program coming soon is ViPR. ViPR enables full-body movement so you are entirely unified as you move.  Whole-body integrated exercises are tailored to your body and fitness level.  Members of our Atlanta club have been enjoying this workout for months. Here’s a sneak peek.

The personal trainer training class will be held January 14, 2012, and sessions for members are soon to follow so be on the look out!

We also have a few cool events planned to get you on the right track to health and fitness in 2012. 

Nutrition 101: New Year, New You! takes place on January 9, from 6-7 p.m

During this hour I’ll talk about some nutritional basics you can incorporate into your every day life, the benefits of a food diary, and we’ll answer any questions you may have about how to make small changes in your eating habits. 

F.I.T.-Functional Interval Training on January 16, from 6-7 p.m

F.I.T. teaches the muscles to work together rather than independently, using your core to hold your body, and not relying on a machine to do it for you.  Guy Petruzzelli will help you incorporate this into your workouts and show you how it can benefit you more than traditional weight training.

Raw Food Demos on January 19, at 6:30 p.m. and January 23, at 9:30 a.m

Guest instructor Heidi Geiger will speak to the advantages of a raw food diet and will have a few dishes for you to try. Raw food is a great way to eat a more pure and natural diet.

Want more? Here is the entire event list for January so mark your calendars today!

Remember, there is always a newer and better version of yourself just waiting to be discovered.

Happy New Year from Midtown!

The holidays are in full swing. Between shopping, wrapping, hosting parties, attending parties, visiting Santa, making snowmen, cooking, AND baking; you just might be at your boiling point! 

And it’s not just annoying or painful.  Too much stress can be dangerous.  Stress contributes to high-blood pressure, heart disease, poor habits and a lowered immunity.

Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here are the top 5 ways to reduce your stress level throughout the holidays here at the Club.  

1. Friday Night Family Swim

Bring your kiddos to our pool any Friday night from 6-8pm and they can swim, splash, and just go water-crazy.  It’s a great way for you to relax while they have fun.  They will be exhausted when you go home, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll get the rest of the night to yourself while the children are nestled all snug in their beds.  Ah, peace and quiet. 

2. Take a Yoga Class

Yoga reduces stress and tension.  When your shoulder or neck starts to hurt, it’s more than likely due to worry and pressure that has built up inside you.  One of the ancient yogis’ most profound insights was the link between breathing patterns and state of mind.  In yoga, the goal is to slow down the breath, primarily by breathing through your nose.  We currently have nine yoga classes per week at various levels.  Check out our website for our full schedule.

3. Get a Massage

When we are stressed we tend to tense up the muscles in our body; our shoulders, neck, and jaw are the biggest culprits.  Massage can help relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles and helps release endorphins . 

Even better, through December 31, 2011, if you purchase any combination of spa services of $60 or more, you’ll receive a voucher for up to $20 towards your next spa service.  How cool is that?

4. Kick it Out in Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a full-body contact sport that provides a great way to hit and kick my aggression out!  And hey, certified personal trainer Rick Guzaski doesn’t mind.  He runs weekly MMA sessions, so contact him at rick.guzaski@midtown.com to see when you can kick him next!

5. Pedal Through a Cycle Class

Sure, any form of exercise is a stress reliever but cycling in particular can be better than some others.  The repetitive action of pedaling involved in cycling can help your brain release outside stresses in the same way that mediating on a phrase or a word is used in classical mediation.  

By focusing on your pedal stoke you can block out other worries and stresses of the day, giving your brain a break from your daily problems.  And with the upbeat music and encouragement from our instructors, it gives you all the more reason to try out a class.

Let the relaxation begin.  What’s your favorite way to reduce stress during the holidays?

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with it comes big meals, extra glasses of wine, and scoops of ice cream that magically appear on your plate.  (Hmmm, where did that come from?  Yummy!) 

We consume between 2,000-3,500 calories during our Thanksgiving lunch/dinner with a total of 4,000-4,500 calories total for the day.  That’s two to three days’ worth in one meal!   

Fortunately, we are open on Thanksgiving Day, 5am-2pm, and are here to help you pre-burn off some of those calories.  Besides your normal routine of cardio and a bit of weights, you can join any of our seven group exercise classes to get your metabolism revved up for the turkey stuffing (pun intended).  

Want to know how many calories you’ll burn off in these classes?

Group Step

You burn 360-660 calories in a one-hour step class. So join Frank at 8:45am, and you’ll blast away a 6-ounce serving of turkey (340 calories) and a 6-ounce serving of ham (300 calories).

Mat Pilates

You burn approximately 360 calories in Mat Pilates.  Do the The Hundred and more with Diane and one piece of pumpkin pie (180 calories) and 1/2 cup gravy (150 calories) are gone.

Turkey Buster Cycle

Best yet, take our special 75-minute Turkey Buster Cycle class and burn a total of 800-1000 calories.  If you finish that class on a high note you’ll have pre-burned your 1/2 cup serving of green bean casserole (150 calories), 1/2 cup stuffing (180 calories), one roll with butter (155 calories), 1/2 cup cranberry sauce (150 calories), and 1/2 cup mashed potatoes (150 calories).

So what have you got to lose but a few pounds?

What are your fitness plans for Thanksgiving Day?

Our members are our greatest assets and there is no better way to tell the Midtown story than by delving into theirs. 

Kelly hard at work.

Kelly Johnson is a local firefighter and long-time Midtown member who recommitted herself to fitness two-and-a-half years ago. 

Here’s what keeps her healthy and able to lift 60 pounds of equipment every day at her job.

What brought you to Chicago after living in Cyclone Country?

Kelly: Most of my friends were from the Chicagoland area so after graduating from Iowa State University, I thought it would be easier to find a job here. I worked for a year as a manager of a rental car company, and decided I didn’t like it, so I went back to school to become an EMT.  I then changed jobs and worked for Superior Ambulance Service and gave myself a year to get into paramedics school. I graduated in 1992 and after six years, started at the Broadview Fire Department in 1998. I then started working for the Clarendon Hills Fire Department in 2000.

Why did you join Midtown?

Kelly: I joined in December of 2008 but once my dad died in April of 2009, I really began using the club often.  He died of lung cancer but had had several heart attacks and was diabetic. I saw my family’s health history of heart attacks and diabetes and was scared; my aunt also had diabetes and died of a massive heart attack and so did my grandfather. It was not a path I wanted to head down. 

The second reason is because of my job and how physical it is.  I have to be able to do the same amount of work, if not more, as the guys and I didn’t want to get injured on the job.  Whether my coworker is a fit 21-year-old rookie or a guy retiring in his 60s, I have to be able to wear an air pack, carry equipment, and lift heavy people, just like they do.

What triggered the renewal of your commitment to fitness?

Kelly: The major things that happen with people in our line of work are heart attacks; disability injuries, including shoulder, knee, and back injuries; or burnout from stress. Police officers and firefighters have a higher rate of alcoholism and domestic violence and I think a lot of it is because they don’t have an avenue to de-stress. 

I know my personality and it’s difficult for me to let things roll off my back and I carry it for a long period of time so I needed to find a way to de-stress.  Sleep was also an issue.  I would lie down and think about everything that happened that day.  My body was tired but my mind wasn’t shutting off.  By working out, it’s helped me know that when I lie down, I can go to sleep.

How has working out and training at Midtown  helped you?

Kelly's other motivation, her niece Keira.

Kelly: It’s helped decrease injury and if I have an injury I’m able to get back up and in service faster.  For example, a few months ago, I hurt my back, but I still came in to the club.  We had to alter the workout a little bit but normally that injury would have knocked me out a lot longer, if I hadn’t been working out. 

So between working out with you and Pilates with Paula, it made it so my injury wasn’t catastrophic and I didn’t have to take off time from work. It’s also improved the two serious injuries I sustained to my left shoulder and my right lower back. 

I want to be able to retire and not be like some of these guys that are walking out with bad injuries that require multiple surgeries.  When I retire I’m going to be 53 and to me, 53 years old is still very young.

I want to feel good when I leave. 

Plus, I don’t want to be like the rest of my family members, taking medication for being diabetic or having a heart attack.  And cosmetically I want to look nice, keep my weight down and feel good about how I look.  I want to be able to put on a pair of jeans and love how I look. 

What are some of your favorite aspects of the Club?

Kelly: The answer is you and Paula!  I also enjoy the hot tub.  It’s my reward, it’s my “Zen” time.  It’s a time where I can sit and not focus or think about anything. I enjoy watching the ladies that are in the pool and listening to their gossip when they come and sit down in the hot tub!

Do you have an inspiring story like Kelly’s to share? Send an email to nicole.duval@midtown.com. We would love to interview you for a future blog post.

Ahh, the holidays. Such a joyous time: themed parties, family get-togethers, surprise presents. 

But all of these “fun” times can wreck havoc on waistlines. So how do you stay within your happy weight range and still have fun through the new year?  Here are a few tips to help you stay an active and smart party-goer!

Purchase Halloween Candy on October 30th

This holiday is fast approaching and the biggest temptation is not the candy your kids get when they trick-or-treat, but the candy you buy to give out!  

The stores advertise their HUGE sales weeks in advance, so not only are you tempted to buy candy at these stores, but you’ll buy it, eat it all, and have to buy more. So wait until the last minute and it won’t be sitting in your cupboard calling your name when you sit down to watch that DVR’d episode of Parenthood.  I promise, it will still be on sale.

If you must have a few pieces, steal them from your kid’s loot.  Just don’t tell them I told you to do that.

Buy Opposite Your Taste Buds

Another idea is to buy candy you don’t really enjoy. Nerds and Smarties just don’t do it for me so I’m not going to eat half a bag before the doorbell starts ringing. If you buy candy you’re not crazy about, you’re less likely to pig out when you’re giving the candy away. 

Use this tip throughout the season. If you stock-up on hostess gifts such as boxes of candy or tins full of nuts just in case you have a last-minute event to attend, buy treats that you won’t eat by the handful. If you’re not a popcorn person, buy three-flavor tins of popcorn for hosts, or if you prefer red wine, buy a few whites to have in your stockpile. You’ll be less likely to open one of these “gifts” if you don’t like them.

Plan Your “Cheat” Meals

So now Thanksgiving is drawing near followed by Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s. Your calendar is filling up with parties to attend and you can already feel your pants getting tighter. 

How do you enjoy your friends and family without having to buy new clothes next year?  Your first step is to check your calendar every Sunday for the upcoming week and see what function(s) you’re attending.  Plan your “cheat” meal to be that event.  That way you’ll have something to look forward to when you’re eating ”good and clean” all week. 

Scan and Plan

When you arrive at the event, scan the party for the entire spread before you start noshing.  Pick one or two treats that you’ll indulge in (such as mini beef wellingtons or chocolate chip cheesecake) and fill the rest of your plate with vegetable-based appetizers, shrimp cocktail, and anything without puff pastry. 

Drink Smartly

Pick a lower-calorie beverage such as wine (100 calories per 4 oz. serving), or a light beer; preferably one that has the amount of calories in the name, such as Budweiser Select 55 or MGD 64, so you can easily track your alcohol calories.

It’s also best to stop after one alcoholic beverage, not only for the calorie count or to be a safe driver, but because the more tipsy you get, the more your inhibitions go down and the more mindlessly you’ll end up eating. You don’t want to ruin your entire week’s worth of workouts on a whole bottle of wine and in turn eat the entire bowl of chips! 

Get Grooving

Lastly, if there is dancing at any of these events, then bust a move!  Getting some cardio in will help you burn off your extra treat pounds so when 2012 comes, you can slip back into your skinny jeans just like it’s 2011.  Or maybe 2001 if you REALLY break it down!

So what are your holiday healthy tips?  Do share!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Pink is everywhere: in retail stores, on NFL players, and even the lights on our downtown Chicago buildings are pink.

 As our show of support, Midtown is holding an exciting fundraiser to support breast cancer research. 

I am fortunate in that I don’t have any family members or friends who have battled the disease. But since I am a woman, and do my best to stay healthy, I thought I would start with the basics: to learn more about this disease and why we need a full month to create awareness. 

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebrated its 25th anniversary back in 2009.  The organization is a partnership of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working together to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease, and provide greater access to screening services. 

According to the NBCAM, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S., aside from skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the US this year. An estimated 40,170 women are expected to die from the disease in 2009 alone.

Today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the U.S.

And it doesn’t just affect women. 

Men can also develop breast cancer.  Although men have less breast tissue than women, they do have breast cells that can undergo cancerous changes. Male breast cancer makes up less than 1 percent of all cases of breast cancer, and is usually detected in men between 60 and 70 years of age.

So if you’re like me, and you want to do more than wear a pink t-shirt and socks but you’re not sure how to help, you’re in luck! 

We have a few different events coming up at the Club that you can participate in.  The first one is our special Zumba class, Get Your Pink On.  It’s taking place on Wednesday, October 26th, at 9:30am.  It is open to the public and our members are encouraged to bring a friend.  Donations for the class are accepted from 10/22 – 10/28.

All proceeds go to Open Arms, the breast cancer outreach and education fund supported by Hinsdale Hospital’s Foundation.  Open Arms focuses on sustaining programs designed to support breast cancer patients and their families. Their goal is to bring hope and healing by helping families navigate the difficult journey through cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.  So you know your donations will help local patients.

If you cannot attend the class or are just not ready to shake your stuff in Zumba, you can also make a donation anytime at the front desk between 10/22 – 10/28. 

You will receive a balloon to put on the window of the group exercise studio to show your support.  You can also purchase raffle tickets for baskets that were donated by Whole Foods, Hinsdale Hospital, and the Club, including a Pilates basket and a personal training basket.  The raffle tickets are $5 and can also be purchased at the front desk.

So support breast cancer research and survivors. 

And let’s kick this disease in the butt!

Motivation comes in many forms. Whether it’s used to get somewhere or to stay far, far away from something, motivation drives us to Midtown every day. 

Some may think we are all here to lose weight or to be a certain size but that’s just not the case. 

There are many reasons why we are here, getting healthier, and making changes.

As a trainer, most people think working out, eating right, and making goals comes easier for me than you. 

Let me assure you, it doesn’t! 

Sure, I may have more overall knowledge, but applying it to my life can be just as challenging.  And after having a baby almost a year ago, it’s even harder!  So yes, I’d love to have my pre-baby body back exactly the way it was (mainly so I could fit into all of my old clothes), but that’s not always possible. 

So instead of focusing on the number on the scale, I decided to focus on fitness-based goals.  This is more motivational for me than stepping on the scale because it puts a positive spin on getting where I want to be.

So what are fitness-based goals? 

Well, instead of weighing yourself and feeling disappointed with what you see, focus on “upping” one aspect of your workout. 

Add a bit more weight than you always do on your favorite exercise, or two more reps than last time, or burn an extra 100 calories in the same amount of time doing cardio. 

That way feeling stronger or faster will help you towards your ultimate goal. 

After my son was born, and I was back working out, I would try to get to a certain block faster than I did the last time on my run, or ahem, jog.  And I was super-excited when I could finally do 12 full, (not “girlie”) pushups on the ground, so much that I posted it on Facebook to make sure everyone knew! 

That’s when I knew I was getting closer to the old me and I didn’t need the scale to tell me so. 

Now some people don’t care about weight or size.  That’s just not why they they are regulars at the Club.  They are here to get their insides healthier.  One of my clients’ dad passed away from heart disease and she knew that if she didn’t make a change she’d meet the same end. Now she uses exercise as a stress-reliever and also recognizes she sleeps better since she’s been working out. 

Our sessions have made a huge difference in her daily life. 

My dad also has his health as a goal. After telling him numerous times (he’d probably call it harping, I am a trainer you know), that he needs to work out and stop relying on medicine to cure his ails, he started coming in regularly and in less than a year, he was on lower doses of his cholesterol and blood pressure medications. 

So, find a way to gauge your health by either your energy level, quality of sleep, or whether you are spending less on prescriptions.  These are huge benefits you may not see right now, but when you’re 70 and want to spend the afternoon with your grandkids without having to sit down to rest, you’ll be glad you worked hard now!

Another reason you might come to Midtown is the social aspect of the Club.  We pride ourselves on being your “third place,” after home and work, and on creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere. 

So knowing there is a group of people waiting for you in a group ex class or that your lifting partner needs a spotter, gives you another reason to show up.  Sometimes they help you work hard even though you’d rather be doing anything other than working out.  And sometimes you just like hanging out with them and may even hit the M-Cafe for a bite to eat after class.  Either way, they motivate you to keep going and getting healthier!

So, what motivates you?  We’d love to know what brings you back to Midtown day after day.  And how can we help you stay motivated?