raw-fitness-southwest

Goals, Gains & How To Get There (Your Summer Body Is Waiting)

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 02:06:48 GMT

Believe it or not, pool season in Las Vegas is right around the corner, which means it’s time to see the results from all the hard work you put in at the gym over the winter. As they say, summer bodies are made in the winter!

Whether you’re looking to ease back into it or just adding an extra burn to your everyday workout, Raw Fitness certified trainers recommend two total body exercises that will help you burn the most calories during your workout.

Burpees: Burpees are a Raw Fitness favorite as our members know (and love). While this is a great full body exercise, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you are doing them correctly and getting the full benefit.

-Keep your core tight: Actively be tightening your core during the entire exercise. This will not only make the exercise more effective, but it will also work your core and overall improve the benefits you get while maximizing calorie burn.

-Land on your heels: When jumping up from the push up position onto your feet, try to jump directly on your heels from the push up position rather than the balls of your feet. This will keep your legs from fatiguing too much and protect your knees from injury.

-Don’t forget to breathe: Holding your breath during a workout is a common mistake that many people make. Don’t do it! It could potentially cause you to faint or black out. Burpees are a full body exercise and require an extreme amount of endurance, which makes breathing even more important to ensure you get through the workout successfully.

Sumo Squats: Sumo squats are an effective lower body strength exercise that emphasizes the muscles of the inner thighs, glutes, quads, hamstrings, hip flexors and calves. Before jumping right into this exercise, remember these quick tips.

-Stand with your feet wide and toes pointed out. Bend your knees while lowering your hips deeply, keeping the weight in your heels as you sit back to protect your knees from injury.

-As you rise back up, make sure to straighten your legs completely and squeeze your glutes at the top to get the full benefit of the exercise.

-Do as many squats as you can with correct form for 30 seconds, rest and repeat for four rounds.

As many people have heard before, abs are made in the kitchen not the gym, but our trainers have some insight on the best five ab exercise to add at the end of your workout and help define that six-pack.

Toe touch crunch: Lay flat on your back with your legs straight up in the air. Make sure to keep your back flat to the ground and your core tight, as you reach up and touch your toes while breathing in as you go up and out as you come back to the floor.

Russian twist: Lean back slightly while keeping your core tight and back straight. Hold your hands near your belly button and twist side to side, making sure to keep your torso tight and shoulder aligned to your opposite hip.

V-up: Lay flat on your back with your arms over your head, keeping your core tight. One at a time, bring a leg up so your toes and hands meet in the middle as you crunch up. Alternate your legs each time as you crunch up. Once you nail this move, try it with both legs at the same time.

Leg lift: Start by laying flat on your back with your feet flexed and together. Place your hands under your hips for support with your head and shoulders off the ground. Bring your feet up while keeping your core tight, keep them off the ground as you bring them back down. Repeat for ten reps.

Combine a regular workout routine with a healthy diet and you’ll be on your way to your summer body in no time. Remember patience is key! Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results right away, keep at it and you’ll start to see the changes little by little that make all the hard work worth it.

Love Is In The…..Workout

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 02:23:42 GMT

A huge part of finding your fitness success is the community you do it with, and at Raw Fitness, we are all about holding one another accountable, cheering each other on, sharing our challenges and successes and keeping our #RawTribe motivated. From your husband or wife, partner, family, friend or gym-buddy-turned-bestie, your fellow Raw Fitness members play a huge part in helping you stay on track towards living a happier, healthier lifestyle.

Challengers and members are all too familiar with “partner day” at Raw Fitness where you are paired up in teams of two for a fun, high-energy and high intensity workout. In celebration of Valentine’s Day and a love-themed month, our team of expert trainers demonstrate some of the top two-person workouts to tone, strengthen and build your best body yet.

Exercise #1: Banded High Knees
Decide who is partner A and who is partner B. Partner A will wrap the resistance band around his/her waist while partner B holds a squat, putting tension and creating resistance on the band. Partner A will then spring forward, pulling his/her knees up one at a time as quickly as possible for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, switch!

Exercise #2: Medicine Ball Sit Ups
Sit facing each other, bend knees and lock feet together. Starting on your back, with the medicine ball at your chest, suck your belly button in towards your spine and pull yourself up into a sit up position. Partner A will pass the medicine ball to partner B at the top. Both partners will lower themselves back into starting position, meeting at the top each time, passing the medicine from partner A to partner B each time. Both partners will be completing full sit ups in between turns.

Exercise #3: Partner Planks
Start facing each other in a high plank position, hands directly below shoulders and legs straight out behind you. Lift your right hand up and reach out to high five your partner. Then, repeat using your left hand. For a little extra challenge, add a push-up before every high-five!

Exercise #4:Jump Squats With High Five
Both partners will stand facing each other. At the same time, push your hips back and drop your glutes as if sitting in a chair. When both of you are at the bottom, with thighs parallel to the floor, push through your heels and jump up as high as you can, high-fiving each other at top.

Exercise #5: Partner Leg Circles
Both partners will lie flat on their backs, feet facing each other. Bring your shoulders off the mat, with your back pressed into the floor. Using your hands underneath your hips for support, keep your feet together and make circles around each others legs.

How To Keep Your New Year, New You Motivation All Year Long

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 02:32:27 GMT

We’re halfway through January and the topic of health is buzzing with everyone’s New Year’s resolutions, but did you know that 80 percentof New Year’s resolutions actually fail by February?

Running faster or longer than before

Decrease in stress levels
Improved sleep
Increasing your repetitions or upping your weight
Converting your body fat percentage and lean muscle mass
Celebrating a week’s worth of clean eating

Invest In Yourself: Many Raw Fitness members have already checked this off their list and joined our weight loss challenge or strength training programs, which is already the first step towards success. Much like a savings plan, putting a little of money (or gym time) aside for yourself adds up over time. Treat yourself like an investment, because personal health is one of the best payoffs. Since money is always a great motivation, here are a couple of ways to hold yourself responsible and work towards that fitness “paycheck.”

Start a “gym jar” and award yourself $1 for every time you workout. Choose your time frame (30 days, 60 days, 90 days) and treat yourself to something you’ve been wanting when you reach it!
Compete with friends with a “gym pool!” Round up your gym buddies and buy in to the contest for a certain amount, the winner who loses the most weight, or takes the most classes in a month, or decreases their body fat percentage wins the pool.
If you are new to Raw Fitness, you can take on our “20 in six” weight loss challenge, which has helped thousands of people jumpstart their fitness journey with ultimate accountability.
Make a bet. At the beginning of the month, put away a certain amount of money with a certain goal in mind. If and when you reach that goal, enjoy the pay off. If you miss the mark, the money goes elsewhere. Donate it to charity or have a friend/trainer hold onto it.

Check out what some of our clients have to say about their investments in themselves:

In 2018, the most common New Year’s resolutions were, you guessed it, to eat healthier and get more exercise. Whether you’ve joined our six-week challenge, STRENGTH program or are a longtime member of Raw Fitness, we’re here to set you up for success, whatever your goals may be.

Maybe you started out strong on Jan. 1. Maybe you’re still going strong and crushing it at the gym and following your meal plans, working your way to that goal. Maybe you’re still waiting to push the “go” button and are taking things a little slower, or maybe you’re sticking to your routine as usual. Everyone is different, but no matter where you are, here are some simple tips for maintaining that “New Year, New You” attitude, all year long.

Find Your Why: Raw Fitness CEO Justin Blum posted last year in the gym’s Facebook group and asked members to share their main motivation and the reason they go to Raw Fitness. If you are looking for inspiration, look no further than your gym mates’ answers to “what motivates you to stay healthy, stay active and stay fit?”

“To inspire others and to prove to myself I’m able, I’m capable and I’m tough!” – Mal Ross
“For me it’s my kids. I love being able to be more active with them. I also find that mentally I am less stressed and more patient with them.” – Harvey Tadmor
“I do it for my survival. In my line of work now health and fitness has to be a top priority. We don’t rise to the occasion we fall back to our level of training so I have to ensure I put in the necessary work everyday so I make it back home to my family. The workouts at Raw help to make sure that I stay in great physical and mental condition.” – Christopher Knight
“I’m going to be graduating nursing school in May. I want to be healthy and fit to set an example for my patients. I want to be able to give them my best at all times. I want to be able to be their strength when they themselves are too weak to even get out of bed. It’s also been great for my mental health. I feel better about myself overall and love that my clothes that fit me before nursing school fit me once again.” – Megan Spanier
“I do it for my boys. My husband died when they were three and five years old, they are now 21 and 19. I’m the only parent they have left. Obesity runs in my family. I’ve decided to be the change.” – Yvette Chervo
“I grew up with very low self esteem and low body image that was perpetuated with bad family eating habits and yo-yo dieting. This has been a lifelong battle for me to overcome, one that influences all areas of my life. I want my daughter to grow up loving herself and for food and body issues not to be a “thing.” I want to raise her with naturally occurring healthy food and fitness habits so that she doesn’t have the same negative self image that I had.” – Margaret Nitzel
“To inspire others to do the same. No matter how busy you are, how many things you THINK are holding you back, there’s always time for your health because in the end, it’s the only thing that’s going to get you more time!” – Savannah Dawn Scarlett
“Self health. It’s a way for me to manage the stressful things.” – Rae Ford

Holidays, Health & Happiness

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 02:38:23 GMT

Raw Fitness’ Second Annual Holiday Party, How We Celebrated & Tips To Get You Through This Holiday Season

Once the spirits started flowing, guests got their cardio in with some epic dance moves before the first-ever member award ceremony. CEO/Owner Justin Blum announced winners for “Most Inspirational Male and Female,” “Best Meal Prep,” “Most Animated,” “Best Iron Chef” and “Half Century” for those who have lost 50 or more pounds through Raw Fitness.

After a year’s worth of hard work, hitting the gym and following meal plans, the Raw Fitness community gathered together to celebrate at the second annual Raw Fitness holiday party. More than 1,000 Raw Fitness members, friends and family were in attendance sporting their best cocktail attire to enjoy dinner, drinks and dancing on the very top floor of World Market Center, with unparalleled views of iconic Downtown Las Vegas all and The Strip.

Typically, walking into a room full of people you’ve never met before would be intimidating. With Raw Fitness, whether you’re with your best workout buddies, significant other or rolling solo, everyone is welcomed with open arms, both in the gym and outside of it. The holiday party was a true testament to Raw Fitness’ unique culture of community, and even non-members could tell that the Raw Fitness family is close.

Between Facebook peer support groups, the talented team of trainers, one-on-one nutrition coaching, 24/7 support and daily social media motivation, Blum knows that true transformation takes a lot more than just counting calories. To truly succeed and sustain positive change, it takes a village, which is why he started the #RawTribe.

From family parties, work get-togethers and, of course, the casual cocktail hour, this won’t be the only party the Raw Fitness members attend this holiday season. So the question always is, how do you stay on track during the holiday season? Keep these tips in mind when feeling down and need some extra motivation.

Eat the best-for-you dishes first.

Start your meals with healthy, filling foods so you have less room for treats and sweets.

Keep moving

Don’t let the holiday season change your workout schedule. Remember to set aside some time each day to get moving, even if it’s a family walk before heading to dinner.

Don’t drink your calories

We know those holiday cocktails can be very tempting, but do your best to stick to water or low calorie beverages to avoid extra calorie and sugar intake.

Eat smaller portions

Holiday meals tend to be filled with 20+ dishes you’re dying to try. Maintain your healthy eating goals by only taking a small serving of each dish so you still get to try everything, but don’t leave feeling guilty and overly full.

Get back to your routine

There is nothing wrong with a good cheat day, but don’t let it overpower a productive and healthy week. Get back in the flow of eating healthy and keeping your body moving to help you bounce back when the parties end.

RAW FITNESS NOW FRANCHISING

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 05:36:02 GMT

In early July 2018, Franchising.com added Raw Fitness on their list of Franchise opportunities. Raw Fitness officially launched the franchise in June expanding the award-winning health and wellness program nationwide.

LINK:

https://www.franchising.com/rawfitness/

Healing, Hope, and Health with Raw Fitness

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 02:40:56 GMT

One year has passed since the tragic mass shooting that claimed 58 innocent lives and injured hundreds more at last year’s Route 91 Harvest Festival.

In the wake of unspeakable tragedy and turmoil, the Las Vegas community has banded together in an unprecedented way. We will never forget the victims and we continue to be #VegasStrong in support of all the friends, families and loved ones whose lives were turned upside down.

In tribute to our fallen brothers and sisters, more than 500 Raw Fitness members came together to release 58 balloons, one for each of the victims. Gathered behind a banner with the names of the fallen, Raw Fitness united as a community of health and healing that is forever #VegasStronger.