Total Gym

Former Biggest Loser Contestant Visits Total Gym

Tracey Yukich is one of the most memorable contestants on NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser.” With a spunky attitude and southern drawl, Tracey, who appeared on Season 8, is known for achieving one of the most surprising post-show transformations as a contestant on Biggest Loser. Once a size 22 and 250 pounds, Tracey has slimmed down to a healthy 140 pounds thanks to a combination of GRAVITY Training on Total Gym, running, swimming and a newly-adopted vegetarian diet.

After leaving the Biggest Loser Ranch just a few weeks before her season ended, Tracey returned home to continue shedding the pounds. She discovered GRAVITY on Total Gym at Cooper Institute in the Dallas area and lost an additional 72 pounds. Today, she still trains on Total Gym at Cooper and also uses Total Gym GTS at home – and does she look great! Not to mention, she just ran her fourth marathon in April!

On Wednesday, Tracey paid a special visit to the Total Gym headquarters in San Diego. Myself and Senior Vice President of Marketing Joy Campanaro hosted Tracey for her two-day trip, where she made appearances at two local GRAVITY health clubs – Pure Fitness in Carlsbad and The Training Club in Del Mar. There she participated in GRAVITY workouts and spoke to members about her Biggest Loser experience. She also had a chance to check out the new Total Gym incline bodyweight trainer product line and meet our staff – with a few avid fans among us!

Truth be told, Tracey was unfairly portrayed as a villain on her season when, in fact, the opposite is true. Tracey is a determined woman, no doubt, but she has a heart of gold and as we discovered, she’s a true motivator, inspiring thousands of people with speaking gigs booked across the country.

Tracey Yukich with Total Gym's Joy Campanaro and Cassie Piercey (far right)

Next week we’ll kick off a four-part series of exclusive video interviews with Tracey. She’ll discuss the “aha” moment that compelled her to try out for the Biggest Loser, talk about her near death experience during the first competition on Biggest Loser and fill us in on how she’s staying fit today.

Read more about Tracey Yukich’s appearance in San Diego on the San Diego Magazine blog here.

Stay tuned for more from Tracey next week!

Total Gym Sports Training with Brett Fischer

“Total Gym is one of the main tools in my toolbox when it comes to helping athletes and patients come back faster,” said Brett Fischer, PT,ATC, CSCS, owner of Fischer Sports Physical Therapy & Conditioning in Phoenix, Arizona. Total Gym is a major player in Fischer’s treatment of MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA athletes.

Tara’s Friday Bite – Stocking Your Pantry & Freezer

Tara Coleman www.taracoleman.com

Time and planning are the two biggest saboteurs of good nutrition. So what should you do when your week gets over scheduled and out of control? Always make sure your house is stocked with essential non-perishables. Having these healthy staples on hand will offer an on-the-go meal and can be the difference between a quick run through the grocery store or an hour long extravaganza!

(Quick note:  If you are wondering about the shelf/freezer life of these items, check out this article.)

Stock Your Pantry

• Cold Cereal – Look for options with equal amount of sugar and fiber.
• Hot Cereal – Slow cooked oatmeal is the best option.
• Canned Tuna – Make sure it’s packed in water and not oil.
• Brown Rice – A quick, healthy staple that accommodates most dishes.
• Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) – This is a rice alternative that is high in protein.
• 100% Whole Wheat Pasta
• 100% Whole Wheat Bread/Tortillas – If you don’t eat these very often, keep them in the freezer.
• Raw Nuts – Walnuts and almonds are my favorite. Watch the serving size!
• Canned Beans & Lentils – Remember to rinse before you eat them to reduce the sodium.
• Low Sodium Soups
• Low Sodium Pasta Sauce
• Low Sodium Soy Sauce – This still has quite a bit of sodium so combine it with an oil or vinegar.  A little will go a long way.
• Almond Butter
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• Olive Oil
• Vinegar

Stock Your Freezer

• Frozen Chicken – Either individually frozen or separate them into freezer bags.
• Frozen Fish – Again, separate into freezer bags before freezing.
• Frozen Veggies – These are perfect to throw in a quick stir-fry and much healthier than canned.
• Frozen Fruit – Great for a quick smoothie or a sweet snack.
• Veggie Burgers
• Turkey Burgers – These are great as a burger or you can break them up and mix them with sauce and pasta.

Remember, FRESH produce should be the foundation of every athlete’s diet. If you have these above staples on hand, you will always have something to combine with your fruits & vegetables for a quick and healthy meal!

Tara Coleman is a Clinical Nutritionist in San Diego, CA. She blogs twice a month with “Tara’s Friday Bite.” Leave us your comments with ideas for future topics or email Tara directly attara@taracoleman.com.

Ask Dr. Salada – A Real Pain in the Foot

Q:  I’m a runner and recently started feeling pain in my heel when I run. It feels like I’m stepping on a rock with every step. What does this mean?

A:  Heel pain is a very common complaint for many populations, especially among avid exercisers, such as runners and participants in other high impact sports. Pain in the heel can be caused by issues such as heel spurs or another condition called Plantar Fasciitis. Pain due to these issues can be caused by improper “loading” on the arch of the foot. The fascia (connective tissue) gets overstretched and sometimes can even get pulled off of the bone, causing micro-tears which then become calcified and cause a spur. These conditions can be eased by applying ice to the arches two to three times immediately after exercising for ten minutes or so each, with a ten minute break in between sessions. Also, try strapping the arch with tape before exercising for extra support.

As always, if the symptoms don’t resolve in a week or so with these conservative treatments, consult your doctor. If the pain gets worse quickly, see your doctor immediately to identify other causes of pain. Your doctor may have you stay off the foot for a specific period of time. When you’re ready to get back on your feet, you may have to shorten your workout routine or change the terrain for a complete recovery. Take care of your feet; they are your most precious piece of exercise equipment!

Until next time, keep moving!!
Elizabeth Salada

Dr. Salada is board certified in Internal Medicine and has been in practice in San Diego since 1996. She attended medical school at Wake Forest University where she received high honors in Family Practice and Internal Medicine. Her final training was obtained from Pennsylvania State University where she completed her residency in Internal Medicine.

Visit Dr. Salada’s website for more information: http://elizabethsaladamd.com/.

Total Gym Weekly Workout: Great Moves on GTS and PowerTower

GRAVITYMaterTrainer Rob Glick reviews the features and benefits of the Total Gym GTS and Total Gym PowerTower models while Nicole demonstrates a selection of exercises to work your entire body.

Total Gym GTS and PowerTower video

Visit TotalGym.com for an overview of all our products.  For more great exercises and videos check out GRAVITYClubhouse.com.

Total Gym Weekly Workout: Tom's Favorite Upper Body Exercises

For the days when time is not of the essence, Total Gym creator Tom Campanaro demonstrates the upper body moves that he does to get a results-driven Total Gym workout in less time.

Those on the run love the Total Gym “GRAVITY Blast Series” offering 15-minute, muscle isolation exercises that work the agonist and antagonist muscle groups to feel the burn and see results!
Click here to learn more.

Tara's Friday Bite: Hyponatremia – Too Much of a Good Thing

Last week, I discussed my love of water and how simply increasing your hydration can improve everything from your hair to your heart. I’m staying true to my H2O romance, however, even with water, you can have too much of a good thing. This over hydration is called Hyponatremia and is becoming increasingly more prevalent amongst endurance athletes, especially during the summer months.

In order for our bodies to function properly, we must have a certain level of sodium in our blood stream. If our sodium level drops too low, we are unable to transmit nerve impulses, we lose muscle function and the cells in our brain can begin to swell. During high intensity exercise we lose sodium through our sweat. If you rehydrate with too much water, you can dilute the sodium in your system and ultimately become hyponatremic.

Signs of hyponatremia are:

• Muscle cramps
• Nausea
• Slurred speech
• Confusion

At first signs of Hyponatremia, you should drink a sports drink containing sodium, like Gatorade, or have a salty snack. If your symptoms are extreme, you should consult a medical professional immediately. In the most extreme cases Hyponatremia can result in seizures, comas or even death.

Now this isn’t meant to make you fear water or get heavy handed with the salt shaker!  Here are a few solutions to help keep you balanced (NOTE:  If you have high blood pressure, please consult your doctor before increasing your sodium intake):

• Alternate between water and a sports drink containing sodium on your long, high-intensity workout days (e.g., longer than 60 minutes).
• Increase your salt intake a few days prior to a long distance event (e.g., marathon, triathlon).
• Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen (NSAIDS) as they may predispose you to Hyponatremia.

Most importantly, know your body! Are your clothes covered in salt after your long runs? Do you find that water goes right through you after working out? Have you determined your sweat rate so you know how much water you should be drinking?  Training is not only meant to increase your strength and endurance, but also to help you recognize when your body is feeling great and when it is just a little off. If you stay in tune with your body’s signals, you can enjoy race season happy and healthy! You can also enjoy a few salty chips prior to your long training days because your nutritionist told you to!

If you have questions or concerns about Hyponatremia, email me at tara@taracoleman.com.

Tara Coleman www.taracoleman.com

Tara Coleman is a Clinical Nutritionist in San Diego, CA. She blogs twice a month with “Tara’s Friday Bite.” Leave us your comments with ideas for future topics or email Tara directly attara@taracoleman.com.