617-254-1711

How to be successful at the gym, Part 1: Nutrition

Start by making sustainable changes For weight loss,members changing their whole lifestyle at once may work for some, but definitely not everyone. People who start with big changes usually start well, they’re focused and committed to eating healthy foods, meal prepping, working out 5x a week and setting up a crazy caloric deficit. However, most of those people are just setting themselves up for failure and disappointment because they drastically cut out on the amount of daily calorie intake and eliminate foods they love to eat. They could make this work for a week or two, then something happens that

Read More

Setting Yourself Up For Success

You’ve decided that you want to better your life so you started coming to the gym a few times a week. That’s great…but what else? Do you have a plan for what you will be eating? Where is your mindset in this whole process? Getting to the gym to join a class or to get a workout in on your own is a great first step, but the saying “you can’t out work a bad diet” is quite true. If you are not eating a healthy balanced diet or not eating enough, getting to your goals will be an uphill

Read More

Maximum health benefits in minimal time

High intensity interval training involves short bouts of vigorous exercise (where your heart rate reaches 80% of its maximal capacity) followed by low intensity recovery periods (such as walking or stretching). Your heart rate has achieved 80% of its maximal capacity when you cannot speak more than a word or two without pausing to gulp air. We all know this feeling and generally try to avoid it because of the discomfort. In HIIT training, such discomfort is sought out in a controlled manner, leading to improved heart health. Short bouts of more intense running, jumping, or weight lifting will increase

Read More

What to pack in your gym bag

Finding the motivation and time to get to the gym can be challenging enough, but arriving only to discover that you forgot something is a total bummer! The best way to avoid this is to organize your gear and pack your gym bag the night before. Trying to pack everything you need while rushing out of the house in the morning is a total waste of time and a practice that is bound to result in a forgotten pair of socks, yoga mat, or protein bar. Organizing your gym bag before you head to the gym is a great practice

Read More

Why EVERYONE Should do Pilates

Hello, Maria Barry here! As most of you probably know, I am the Pure Pilates and Group Fitness Manager at Commonwealth Sports Club, Boston. Over the last 20 years of teaching strength, cardio, yoga and barre classes, I realized there was one common factor preventing me from injury: the core strength I’ve developed from Pilates training. After speaking with clients, friends and members, all of whom work out in many different ways, I have put together a list of the top reasons to practice Pilates studio equipment and Pilates mat. 1.       It’s exercise while you’re laying down AND a great workout!

Read More

Why Booties and Cookies Don’t Mix

Let’s face it, the holidays can be very challenging. Getting into the festive spirit tends to mean abandoning all notion of self-control and consuming insane amounts of sugar.  But you know what…? It’s OK!  The cookies are colorful and pretty, the punch looks beautiful and there is loads of candy, pies and all kinds of chocolatey treats at every party. So let your inhibitions go and give in a little! I gave myself just 24 glorious hours where I allowed myself unchecked treats including cookies, midnight snacks and candy all day long. I let myself splurge like this because I

Read More

Understanding Supplements

The world of supplements is vast and confusing. Everywhere there are manufacturers claiming their pill will help you lose twenty pounds fast, boost your libido, help you gain more muscle, or reduce soreness and help you work out longer. There are so many products out there, all claiming to have the solution to our problems or be ‘the next big thing’ in fitness, it can be almost impossible to sift through them all and understand what is beneficial and what is snake oil. (more…)

Read More

Fueling Your Workouts

You’ve probably wondered how to make the most out of your time at the gym, or you wouldn’t be reading this. One of the pillars of success in fitness is eating right for exercise. This means eating the right foods, at the right times, to get the best possible workout. You shouldn’t be showing up to the gym starving, or totally stuffed. You should be properly hydrated, and you shouldn’t be feeling hungry or weak by the end of a training session. (more…)

Read More

What should you be eating to lower your body fat?

One of the most important things we can do to lose weight and achieve the body shape we desire is to change the way we eat. Many of us have probably heard the phrase “abs are made in the kitchen,” and this is one of the most accurate mantras in the fitness industry. There are many elements of a healthy diet, but this article is going to focus on the simple and most important changes we can make to begin to fix the problems with the American diet. (more…)

Read More