WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The GENYOUth Foundation is joining National Dairy Council (NDC), the American College of Sports Medicine, the American School Health Association and the National Football League (NFL) to host the "Nutrition + Physical Activity Learning Connection Summit." The conference brings together leaders from the private and public sectors - including athletes, celebrities, respected non-profit organizations and leading iconic American companies - to explore innovative solutions in order to reverse the child health crisis and positively impact academic performance.

One strategy being announced today is the youth-driven AdVenture Capital Initiative, which invites youth to "pitch" a realistic solution to help improve access to nutritious foods such as low-fat and fat-free dairy, whole grains, fruits and vegetables and physical activity at their schools. Students present to a panel of judges, encompassing business, education, health and fitness leaders and will have a chance to receive a grant to make their idea a reality. Ultimately, the program will kick-start lasting student/corporate partnerships that will benefit students and schools today and the American workforce tomorrow.

"We can't accept this paradox of obesity and poor nutrition among youth as the new normal, we must change it. While many are familiar with the long-term health effects poor nutrition and physical activity have on a child, there's also a connection to a child's ability to learn," said Alexis Glick, CEO of GENYOUth. "We're constantly looking for reasons why academic achievement isn't as high as it could be. School breakfast and time for physical activity are often overlooked and underutilized, and we believe these are areas where improvement can be made to help schools across the country."

Health-based solutions in the school setting can be critical not only for children's physical well-being, but also for their academic performance.1 According to "The Learning Connection: The Value of Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity in our Schools," a 2004 report authored by 16th U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, nearly half of all young people ages 12 to 21 didn't participate in regular physical activity, and only 2 percent of school-aged children ate the recommended servings from the fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein food groups.1 Now, the CDC notes less than 3 in 10 high school students get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.2 This underscores the need for collaboration from the classroom to the boardroom to unlock the right solutions to pave the way for a better tomorrow.

"As industry leaders, it's our responsibility to drive action that's aimed at improving the health and wellness of our children and the quality of their learning environments," said Jose Luis Prado, President of Quaker Foods North America. "Whether we're talking about new technology, new food choices, or new ideas and solutions for providing nourishing options for today's families, we can help provide inspiration and motivation that will yield progress for generations to come."

This challenge comes at a time when school budgets are stretched thin and every minute of the school day is accounted for and used. Nevertheless, GENYOUth believes the solution must begin in schools, because students often consume up to 50% of their daily calories at school,3 and schools present a great opportunity for daily structured and unstructured physical activity. It's why GENYOUth Foundation has turned to some of America's most innovative companies such as Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard (HP) for support and leadership in changing the way we view nutrition, physical activity and academic achievement in our schools. And to ensure all schools have access to these ideas, GENYOUth also works directly with school stakeholders and offers programs to help schools and communities with limited resources and declining budgets improve their facilities.

An example of GENYOUth's commitment to schools is the flagship in-school nutrition and physical activity program, Fuel Up to Play 60. Launched by NDC and the NFL, the program currently has more than 73,000 schools enrolled, with the potential to reach approximately 38 million students nationwide. The program's unique approach for youth, with youth empowers kids to take action, equipping them to create change both personally and within their school environment. As a result, schools across the country are reporting that Fuel Up to Play 60 is an engine for positive change, helping them achieve their wellness goals. GENYOUth will take what's been learned from this partnership between NDC and NFL and use it to tap into the unique expertise forward-thinking companies across America can offer educators, parents and students.

"This is about ensuring that children are empowered to realize their full potential as our future innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders," said Curt Kolcun, Vice President of the U.S. Public Sector at Microsoft, who joined the Summit. "The Summit's exploration of new ways to address the connection between physical activity, nutrition and academic achievement aligns nicely with our commitment at Microsoft to ensure that our technologies and programs are connecting youth with new skills and opportunities in education and life."

The Summit is made possible thanks to sponsorship from Quaker Oats, Microsoft Xbox Kinect and Dole.

To view the full agenda or get involved with GENYOUth Foundation, please visit http://www.genyouthfoundation.org.

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Innovative Business Leaders and Health, Fitness and Education Experts Unite With Youth to Help Protect Productivity ...

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17-09-2012 05:49 Online degrees, accelerated, affordable, fitness training, health and fitness, nutrition and exercise and sport psychology. fitness degree online, personal training degree, health and fitness degrees, sport psychology degrees

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Wexford University Health, Fitness, Nutrition Degrees - Video

(PRWEB) September 18, 2012

U.S. and international students who want to get an early start on their New Years resolutions can now register for online classes in health, fitness, nutrition, exercise and sports psychology at Wexford University; winter session online college classes begin Jan. 7, 2013. The 100 percent online university offers associate through doctoral programs with self-directed learning and flexible scheduling.

In addition, foreign students can complete international degree programs with an easy online credit transfer process, and all military personnel can enjoy a 15 percent discount on their health, fitness and wellness education through Wexford University online. Likewise, both U.S. and international students receive a 10 percent education when tuition is paid in full up front.

Online registration for degrees in fitness training, health and fitness, nutrition and sports psychology is now available at http://wexford.edu/. Innovative online classes run through mid-March, and spring, summer and fall online college sessions are also available in 2013.

Starting out the year with a flexible online education is a great way to launch both the year and a career in health and wellness, said Jack Bauerle, Chancellor of Wexford University. Wexfords real-world education can help people find lucrative careers in the growing health and fitness field, and our students can enjoy a convenient, affordable, self-paced education process.

Wexford Universitys online degree programs include the following options: associate of arts degree in Fitness Training, bachelor of science degree in Health and Fitness, master of science degree in Nutrition and Exercise, master of arts in Applied Sports Psychology and a doctorate degree in Applied Sports Psychology.

Interested students can complete an online application at http://wexford.edu/.

About Wexford University Wexford University is dedicated to providing world-class education through cutting-edge technology, offering direct application degree programs in an accelerated format with 100 percent online learning to save time and money. Programs include an associate of arts degree in Fitness Training, bachelors degree in Health and Fitness, masters degree in Nutrition and Exercise as well as masters degree and doctorate degree in Applied Sport Psychology. Wexford University is the higher education division of NESTA (National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association). For more information, please visit http://wexford.edu/.

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Wexford University Now Accepting Applications for January Classes in Fitness, Nutrition and Sport Psychology for U.S ...

There are quite a few last minute touches being put on the new Choice Health and Fitness Center. A Grand Opening Celebration will be held Monday and health officials are hoping to have everything done before that day.

There is plenty of work going on including pouring concrete for sidewalks, cleaning up the parking lot and laying sod before next week. And there's much more happening inside the nearly $24 million facility. More than $27 million was raised with $3.5 million going to the YMCA Family Center for updates and renovations.

Workers are finishing up locker rooms, steam rooms, tiling and one of the final areas to be finished up will be the tennis area which still needs curtains and nets hung up. Fitness officials say the nice weather has construction ahead of schedule. The facility was originally going to open more than a month from now. Work will continue on the 42 acres of land surrounding the facility which will have six outdoor tennis courts, a splash park and possibly a greenhouse and orchard next spring.

The Grand Opening which is open to the the public will be Monday, September 24th from 3:30 to 7 p.m.

Tags: reporter stories,lezlie johnson,choice health and fitness,news,updates

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Choice Health and Fitness Center to Open Next Week

Home business Two leading fitness firms in good health

Watchiranont Thongtep The Nation September 18, 2012 1:00 am

Fitness First (Thailand) has earmarked Bt1.5 billion to establish 15 new clubs within the next five years, while True Fitness plans to invest more than Bt360 million for four new branches next year.

Thailand is a fast-growing market for the UK-based Fitness First group in terms of profits and branch expansion despite the global economic downturn, said Mark Buchanan, managing director of the Thai unit.

He said the company was looking at setting up small clubs of about 1,000-1,500 square metres, targeting small communities in high-density areas of Bangkok with easy access to the mass-transit system. Currently, Fitness First clubs average 3,000sqm. The new type of club will also be seen in the provinces.

The company aims to see a return on each new project within four years. This year, it projects revenue growth of 10-15 per cent to Bt1.5 billion from the 23 clubs it operates currently. This will help the company enjoy a 40-per-cent surge in profit.

Buchanan said there was more room to grow in the fitness business in the Kingdom as only 2 per cent of the population use such a service.

"We believe we can create more than 50 jobs for each club and also support sports-science education," he said.

The company employs about 1,200 people, 70-75 per cent of whom are fitness instructors with full international certification.

Next year, True Fitness plans to facelift its six clubs in Thailand with an investment of Bt180 million. Founder and chief executive officer Patrick Wee said the company had 30 centres across the region, in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, mainland China and Thailand. It aims to expand to 50 centres in the region within five years.

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Two leading fitness firms in good health

Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 17, 2012

Fitness Together, Inc was awarded the "Best of the Best" designation by Follow Media Consulting, Inc. for excellence in the field of personal fitness in the Washington, DC metro area in the categories of Fitness Fairfax VA, Gym in Fairfax and Fairfax Fitness.

Established in 1996, Fitness Together Franchise Corporation has led the industry for one-on-one personal fitness training. Whether clients are looking to lose weight, tone and tighten muscles or simply work toward better health, Fitness Together pairs clients with a personal trainer in a private setting equipped with a workout plan tailored just for them. The reason why they have such great results is very simple. Fitness Together provides a private, personal and complete approach. No shortcuts. No gimmicks.

Named one of the best SEO Companies by Jonas Marketing, Follow Media Consulting, Inc. is a rapidly growing worldwide firm of SEO, Social Media, and Mobile Marketing Professionals. Follow Media Consulting, Inc. headquarters is located in Richmond, VA. However, our professional team is networked across the world, with regional offices across the United States, in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, South Africa, the Philippines, and India.

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Fitness Fairfax VA and Gym in Fairfax "Best of the Best" Awarded to Fitness Together for Excellence in the Field of ...

SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

24 Hour Fitness, one of the nations leading fitness club chains, is excited to announce the much-anticipated grand opening of its first club in Virginia, located at 1000 E. Broad Street in the City of Falls Church on Friday, Sept. 21 at 6:00 a.m. To celebrate, a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on opening day at 9:00 a.m., hosted by 24 Hour Fitness president and CEO Carl Liebert alongside special guest Falls Church Mayor Nader Baroukh.

24 Hour Fitness is proud to become a member of the Falls Church community and serve as not only a fitness resource for the thousands of people who call it home, but also as a role model for helping people live active, healthy lives, said Dan Benning, division president, 24 Hour Fitness. We are thrilled to have received such a warm welcome and look forward to supporting the fitness goals of this community for many years to come.

As an avid supporter of military personnel and their families, 24 Hour Fitness will also present 100 memberships to the National Military Family Association during the ribbon cutting ceremony. The association is dedicated to improving lives of military families of all ranks and service branches.

24 Hour Fitness invites the community to experience the new club and join the following festivities on Sept. 21:

We are excited that our residents now have a brand new fitness club available to help them pursue healthy and active lifestyles, said Mayor Nader Baroukh. With the arrival of a fitness leader like 24 Hour Fitness, were proud to demonstrate that the City of Falls Church is a great community to not only live, but also an ideal place to establish and grow a business.

Additionally, in honor of the local community, 24 Hour Fitness will donate $13,000 in sporting equipment to Baileys Community Center in partnership with Good Sports. Hundreds of pieces of equipment including basketballs, baseball gear, helmets, nets, soccer equipment, sport uniforms, volleyballs and more will be made available to approximately 150 children and teenagers who use the center each day. Baileys Community Center is operated by the Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation and hosts activities for county residents of all ages including senior programs, after-school activities, youth mentoring and tutoring programs, health and technology classes, prevention programs and sports.

We know this is a community with deep respect for our nations heritage and history, which 24 Hour Fitness also shares through our support of youth, families, and the thousands of men and women in the U.S. armed services, said Carl Liebert, president and CEO, 24 Hour Fitness. We are honored that the City of Falls Church joins us for this milestone celebration. Our grand opening marks our first club in Virginia and the start of many years supporting fitness in this community.

Darren Bluffin, a 14-year veteran of 24 Hour Fitness, will oversee more than 100 team members as club manager of the more than 48,000 square foot club. The club will feature a wide variety of amenities and fitness resources for members and guests to enjoy, including:

For more information about memberships, club amenities, group exercise classes, personal training services and more, guests are welcome to stop by the new 24 Hour Fitness Falls Church Super-Sport club or visit 24hourfitness.com.

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24 Hour Fitness Opens First Club in Virginia and Hosts Grand Opening on Sept. 21

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Fitbit, the market leader in the Digital Health & Fitness category, unveiled two new trackers today, the Fitbit Zip Wireless Activity Tracker and the Fitbit One Activity + Sleep Trackerreinventing the category once again. The first all-day digital health & fitness trackers to offer Bluetooth 4.0/Smart compatibility, Zip and One have been redesigned to fit more seamlessly into peoples everyday lives, making it easier than ever to count steps taken, distance traveled and calories burned, track your fitness trends, challenge and share with others, and earn fitness badges.

In addition to the two new trackers, Fitbit also released an updated iPhone app to allow these trackers to sync through Bluetooth Smart devices, like the iPhone 4S. The free Fitbit app, available on all iPhones and Android devices, now allows you to track activity charts and leaderboards and log food and other workouts on the go. Starting in October, your fitness stats will sync automatically to notify you when you are near or meet your daily goals and share your standings on fitness challenges in real time. Like earlier Fitbit trackers, Zip and One also wirelessly and automatically upload your information to any computer for deeper insight and more information.

People are growing increasingly aware about how little we move and how we need to move more throughout the day, said James Park, CEO and founder of Fitbit. Fitbit is dedicated to helping people achieve health and fitness with products that are well designed, beautiful, easy, and fit seamlessly into their lives. To get people moving, we know that people want a tracker that will accurately inform and motivate them to move throughout the day. We are launching Zip and One to encourage our users to get fitin their own way.

Zip is offered in retail stores and at Fitbit.com for $59.95; One, which will replace the best-selling Ultra, will be available for sale later this fall at $99.95.

Add a Little Zip to Your Step

Available in five bright colors, Zip makes fitness fun for everyone and is priced to be the perfect gift for yourself or a fitness friend. Zip captures and provides your everyday activity stats in real time, including steps taken, distance traveled and calories burned, to encourage you to walk more and be more active, wherever you are. About the size of a quarter, Zip easily slips into your pocket for the day and comes with a small silicone clip that the Zip tracker snaps into and can be clipped snugly onto the inside or outside of your clothes.

Fitbit Zip features and benefits include:

Tracking Day and Night. All in One.

The Fitbit One Wireless Activity + Sleep Tracker is the redesigned flagship product that encourages people to be more active and helps them learn how to sleep bettertwo keys to a healthy, active life. It tracks steps, distance, calories burned, even stairs climbed, and also monitors how long and how well you sleep. The Fitbit One also has a Silent Wake alarm that gently vibrates when worn on your wrist at night to wake you without waking your sleep partner.

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Fitbit Gets People Moving With Launch of Two New Digital Health Trackers

Over the last decade or so, the kettlebell has enjoyed a successful reintroduction into the fitness industry. Kettlebell exercises are usually fast-paced, relatively simple, and tend to involve the whole body.

The foundational kettlebell exercise, the swing, provides an excellent example of this. The swing exercise is initiated by driving the hips backward in a hip-hinging motion, loading the hamstrings while maintaining correct alignment of the head and spine. The motion is then powerfully reversed squeezing the glutes and driving the kettlebell forward.

However, despite the popularity of kettlebells, limited research appears to have been done regarding the metabolic demand of kettlebell swing exercise routines. Leading research from Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., and tests the kettlebell swing against a time honored fat loss favorite; running on a treadmill.

Thirteen subjects, 11 male and two females, completed a 10-minute kettlebell swing routine consisting of 35-second swing intervals followed by 25-second rest intervals.

Men used a 35-pound kettlebell, and women used an 18-pound kettlebell. After 48 hours of rest, the same subjects completed a 10-minute treadmill run at same equivalent rate of perceived exertion, or intensity, as measured during the swing workout. The researchers observed if running or swinging would be more metabolically demanding and in turn burn more energy for fat loss.

The authors stated that, according to the American College of Sports Medicine standards, this kettlebell drill could provide sufficient exercise stress to produce gains in aerobic capacity. Swings are proven to increase cardiovascular health, Therefore, on days when a subject wanted an alternative to treadmill running or stationary cycling, kettlebell swings might be substituted to maintain cardiovascular training levels.

While swings may be good for heart health, they may be even better at helping you lose body fat.

In the same study, the authors notes that, The current caloric expenditure was 1.7 times greater than a modified ACSM single-set resistance training routine and required 60 percent less time to achieve.

It got the heart rate up in less time than weight training and burned more calories. The swing is similar to sprinting, as there is a large demand on the cardiovascular system. In fact, it challenges the body so much it surprised researches.

The University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Health and Exercise department tested the kettlebell snatch. The Kettlebell snatch is a total body move that swings the kettlebell overhead; it is very similar to the swing. The results of the study were interesting, So (the subjects) were burning at least 20.2 calories per minute, which is off the charts. That's equivalent to running a 6-minute mile pace.

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Health and Fitness: Swing to slim down

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16-09-2012 18:29 Subscribe Now: Watch More: A bent-over row needs to be performed in a very particular way if you're going to see any of the benefits from this specific exercise. Do a bent-over row with help from a health and fitness expert with fifteen years of experience in this free video clip. Expert: Jeremy Shore Bio: Jeremy Shore is a health and fitness expert with 15 years experience in the fitness industry. Filmmaker: Jeremy Shore Series Description: Staying fit and being healthy is all about what exercises you're doing and how you're doing them. Learn about the basics of fitness and put together a routine that works for you with help from a health and fitness expert with fifteen years of experience in this free video series.

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How to Do a Bent-Over Row : LIVESTRONG - Exercising with Jeremy Shore - Video