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!
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?
Fall is here again, and many of us take our workouts back indoors and into Midtown.
While some consider this a negative, it can actually be pretty awesome. With all of the variety in the club, it’s hard to choose what to do next! Of course, there are lots of machines and great classes held daily, but there are also some hidden treasures you may not know about, and ways to make fitness fun without dreaming about next summer.
Give these routine-busters a try:
Cardio Tennis
What is Cardio Tennis? It’s a fun, group activity featuring drills to give players of all abilities an ultimate, high-energy workout. It includes a warm-up, cardio segment, and a cool-down phase. If you want to find a great new way to get in shape and burn calories, give it a try.
Even if you’re not the best tennis player and find yourself unable to reach ANY ball (which is pretty much how I feel when I play), with Cardio Tennis, you’ll experience short cycles of a high-intensity workout and periods of rest, almost like interval training.
You’ll consistently elevate your heart rates into your aerobic training zone and burn more calories than just playing singles or doubles tennis. When you are playing tennis you are focusing on, well, winning at tennis, but Cardio Tennis focuses primarily on getting a great workout.
Group Training
Group training is a great way to personal train without a huge cost. When you split the 
trainer with three or more people, it can cost as little as $25 for a 25-minute session. Personal training in a group can add many elements to your workout.
First, a trainer can push you harder than you would push yourself; and we all know we can be pushed just a LITTLE bit harder! You may also push yourself harder to compete with the other group members.
There is also more accountability when you group train. If you know someone’s waiting for you (the trainer and your group) and you know you’ve paid for the class, you WILL show up! You may also learn a few new exercises you can do on the days you’re not with your trainer.
At Midtown there are many options available for group training; TRX, Kinesis, Kettlebells, Pilates, or even traditional group training that may mix in a few of the ab combine a few of these. Monthly sessions are in full swing, so join one today to shake up your weekly routine.
Laps and Drills
Another way to shake up your routine is our Laps and Drills class. This is not your ordinary aquatics class.
This class uses the strokes you learned in high school swim class to really get your heart racing. It’s a one-hour class filled with form instruction and mini-competitions to increase your endurance. If you regularly run or cycle and think you have great lung capacity and endurance, try the Laps and Drills class. You might be surprised. It’s a completely different way to train your heart and lungs and will only help you run faster or bike smoother.
So, how will you shake it up next week?
Tired of the same old workout? Has your routine become, well, routine? Hey, it’s time to jump out of your rut and into something new here at Midtown!MORE
