SHAPE UP
Group training can cut your costs
By Dave Patania
Q: I am a single mother and desperately want to work with a trainer but can't afford it. What are my options?
A: Your best option is to go to a few fitness facilities near your home, ask around for quality personal trainers and get their names and contact information. Call these trainers and ask if they do group or buddy training.
Group training is popular because it allows the trainer to make a good per-session fee while significantly reducing costs for the clients. Group sessions are fun and the atmosphere of support, friendly competition and teamwork is very conducive to everybody reaching his or her goals. The added bonus is knowing that you are saving money by splitting the cost.
Q: I am a 53-year-old woman who is trying to fight off gravity in the chest area. What can I do to stop my chest from sagging?
A: Be sure to strength-train with all major body parts ... legs, chest, back, shoulders and arms.
Do cardiovascular training, such as walking, cycling, etc., (20 to 60 minutes at least four days a week), and be sure to eat a nutritious diet without processed high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt foods.
This will ensure a very lean physique that will effectively maintain a youthful, firm appearance.
With regard to a particular exercise, many women perform the incline bench press or chest press movement because it works the upper chest muscles.
There are conflicting theories on whether this movement helps keep the breasts from sagging by keeping the upper chest muscles developed.
My advice is to work the whole body as a system and eat like a champion. Nevertheless, have a fitness professional show you the incline movement and you be the judge if it works. Everybody is different, so go on your own journey and try it out!
Dave Patania, a certified personal trainer, writes for the Cincinnati Enquirer. Send questions to Personal Trainer, c/o Island Life, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu HI 96802 or e-mail islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com.
