Fantone Fitness
It's about Fitness. A fit life is a fun life!
Archive for the tag “abdominal exercises”
Boot Camp Baby is Back!
Oh here we go, we’re at it again!
Starting July 10th and going for the rest of the month, every Sunday through July 31st!.
We will jump, we will run and we’ll have some fun! Oh yeah, don’t forget the pull ups.
At Boot Camp Baby, everybody lunges and does pull ups. Push ups too.
We’ll do a month of Sundays: all 4 for $120
Contact me by phone or text at 917-657-5489, or email me at jim@fantonefitness.com
Find me on Facebook at, https://www.facebook.com/FantoneFitness/
or, https://www.facebook.com/jimfantone
Here are some pics from the last two years of Boot Camp Baby Fun!
2016 New Year Revolution
Well, I did it! From January 1st through March 25th. That’s exactly 12 weeks of Tabata drills, and Paleo diet. It can be done. I started out at 12.8% body fat and ended up at 8%. I was 148.8 lbs. on January 1st and now I’m hovering at 140 lbs. This morning I was 139.8 lbs.
The first pics are today and following them are some I’ve taken over the last 3 months so you can see the progression.
Why Personal Training?
Working one-on-one with an experienced, qualified, focused fitness professional is a life changing experience. You get undivided attention from someone whose primary purpose is your development and success. You will learn the reasons for every step you make. You will understand why some things work and why some don’t. You will be motivated and pushed beyond anything you could have previously imagined. Simply put: you will get results like never before.I am a certified fitness professional holding three certifications. American Council on Exercise (ACE), Aerobic and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), and Pilates Institute of America (PIA). I am an Army Veteran. I have spent my whole life learning about fitness and getting in better shape as I get older and more experienced. If you want to go from where you are now to a much better version of yourself and get in better shape and get younger as you age, then I have some insights to help you accomplish this goal.
Fantone Fitness and befitnyc team up to bring you the very first ever, Tabates!
Tabates ™
A turbo-charged fusion of basic Pilates exercises and the
Tabata Protocol!
Tabates combines core and alignment with high intensity
interval drills designed to give you a complete workout.
Using the Tabata Protocol we will fire up both your aerobic
and anaerobic systems while we strengthen your core and
much more!
Join Jim at befitnyc on Monday mornings at 7:00 am for this boot camp style Pilates class!
Boot Camp Baby is Back!
Here we go! We’re at it again.
We’re moving out! We’re moving in!
Oh here we go, we’re at it again. We’re moving out, we’re moving in!
We are starting Boot Camp Baby again on May 5th and running through May 31st.
6:30 pm on Tuesday evenings and 12:00 noon on Sundays.
Sign up. Commit, and get fit.
917-657-5489
jim@fantonefitness.com
Boot Camp Baby! Week 18
Fantone Fitness is at it again. The Vitamin Shoppe, that is!
Come on out and have a protein shake with Jim Fantone of Fantone Fitness. This Saturday at 92nd street and Broadway is the intersection of fitness and health. Fantone Fitness and Rebound will be at The Vitamin Shoppe, 2478 Broadway at 92nd street from 11:00 pm til 2:00 pm. Come on out and see what’s new in The Vitamin Shoppe and visit with some fitness pro’s. Ask questions about nutrition, supplements and exercise. Curious about personal training? Well here is your chance to ask the experts. And if you like, we’ll check your body fat percentage, and discuss ways to improve your health.
Jim Fantone owner of Fantone Fitness has been training in New York City for over 20 years. Fantone Fitness has teamed up with Rebound, the upper west sides prime boutique personal training studio, located just 2 blocks from the Vitamin Shoppe, just above The Manhattan Diner. So if you’re interested in getting a trainer and working out to your full potential or just have some fitness questions, come out on Saturday and join in on the fun.
Fantone Fitness Fun Fitness Facts
Fitness, workout, weight-loss, nutrition, diet, cardio, exercise.
What is it all about? I am Jim Fantone and I am here to sort it all out for you. Yes, I have done the footwork so you don’t have to. Cook, mechanic, restaurant manager, social worker, army sergeant, karate student, personal trainer, business owner. Did I forget anything? Oh yeah, father, husband (twice), and actor. My life as a guinea pig.
My evolution has been a fun journey, but I didn’t always think that. The one thing I know from my life experiences is “I make the best of everything”. That is another story which you can read about if you are interested in an autobiography about me.
For now, we will talk exercise. This has got to be one of the most challenging aspects of life. We want to look like super models but it just doesn’t seem to work out that way (pun intended). Why is it so hard to have a six-pack? What is the elusive ingredient to losing weight? How do “they” do it? Well, if you’re reading this, maybe, you’re ready for the warm firm facts.
Fantone Fitness Fun Fitness Facts!
#1. “Your stomach is about the size of both of your hands held out in front of you cupped together like a bowl. It’s your body’s fuel tank. It is the right size for your body. In a car, if you overfill your gas tank, it will spill out on the ground, wasting the gas. In your body, the fuel doesn’t spill out. The body saves it as FAT!” Make sure you’re not over-filling your tank.
#2. If you want to get in shape, take some time every day to do something physically challenging. Every day! That could be going to the gym, going for a run, riding your bike, yoga, aerobic class, push-ups, walking lunges, jumping jacks, toss a frisbee, or chase your cat or dog around. The key is to do something “Every Day”. Yes, every day. You can play every day, it’s OK.
#3. People always ask me “how do you get a six-pak?” The truth is everyone has the six-pack muscles. They are already a part of every body. You couldn’t move properly without them. The problem isn’t in the muscle, it’s in the “stuff” that’s covering the muscle. You guessed it, “body-fat!” So the goal is to reduce body-fat between the skin and those lovely abs. How to do that? Ahh, the million dollar question. If I had a buck for every time…anyway.
Here’s my “plan”. That’s what I call it. Time to get back on the “Plan”
Eat clean. Eat real foods, not processed. Soda is processed, get used to drinking water. Just do it! Eat single ingredient foods like vegetables, fruit, lean meats, eggs or egg whites. Eat nuts and seeds in moderation (and if you can’t do moderation, leave the nuts alone). If you are vegetarian, you know where to get your protein. Eat foods as they come from nature, not scientifically engineered products. And do not add salt! You’ll get used to it. You know this stuff. You keep hearing it over and over, but you don’t want to believe it. Well, it’s true. Eat healthy and exercise at least moderately, and I guarantee you will lose body-fat. If you do, those lovely six-pak muscles will be working their way to the surface. Maybe slowly, but one day, Pow! There they are. You’ve got a six-pack. If I can do it, so can you.
Fantonefitness Fun Fitness Fact #4
Love handlesare from loving junk food. Crunches won’t affect them. Only a better diet will. Oh yeah, and some exercise to burn calories will help too. Keep it simple.
Fantone Fitness Fun Fitness Fact #5 Plan to Succeed.
Have a plan of what you’ll eat today. Don’t wait until its a last minute decision and you end up eating “Fast Food”. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Eat healthy.
Fantone Fitness Fun Fitness Fact #6
After your workout is the best time to eat a high quality meal. Your body is craving nutrition. Eat within 1 ½ hours after your workout for the best results.
Now Is The Only Time
Now is the time for preparation. Now is when I get ready for next summer. Did ya’ ever notice that every year, people start to get in shape in the spring, only to give up before they get there? Can you relate? Here’s why. It’s too late to get in shape in the spring! One must already be in shape in the spring to enjoy the spring…and summer! That’s it! That’s the secret. It’s very discouraging to work out and try to get in shape while you really want to be out in the park or at the beach showing off. So every year people start to think about working out in the spring and by summer they give up. Don’t be a statistic. You’re smarter than that! 917 657 5489 or jim@fantonefitness.com.
So, now that you know the secret, you know something else. NOW is the time to get in shape for spring! You’re welcome.
Leo, Before and After.
Meet Leo. Leo has gone from 19.1% body-fat, to 14.7% body-fat in just 10 weeks! He lost 8 pounds and took off 9 inches. This man is dedicated. We can all take a lesson from Leo. Call or text for your opportunity to transform yourself. 917-657-5489
jim@fantonefitness.com
Have a Heart!
What are you doing?
No, seriously, what are you doing when you’re working out?
Are you counting calories? Are you putting in your minutes on the elliptical? Are you watching television or reading a book?
If you’re not happy with the results you’re getting from your workouts, maybe the answers to these questions can shine some light on why.
I think there are several reasons for working out. I for one, happen to feel better when I exercise. I actually enjoy it.
Not everyone does. Am I right? I can feel the earth shake with the millions of nodding heads.
So, if you don’t love working out, then why do you do it?
Because you have to? Not true. Then why?
I think it’s because you want to be and feel better. You want to look better. You want to live.
That’s the reason we all work out. To live. It is a life or death proposition. A quality of life proposition.
Now back to the original question. What are you doing?
You are using your mind and body to move through life in an effective manner. You walk, run, and pick things up all the time.
So, working out must cause you to be better at these things in order for it to be effective.
I like the analogy of your body being an automobile. After all, both have motors and pumps to keep them moving. Both have fuel that is drawn in and circulated to the necessary places in order to drive them forward (or backward). Both create waste and exhaust. Both can be highly tuned or poorly maintained. Each car or body is just a bit different too. One thing is for sure, if you don’t take your vehicle for a drive on a regular basis, it will not function at its best!
So, what you are doing when you exercise is taking that vehicle out for a test ride. You are pushing the motor past what is a comfortable cruise, to a higher level of activity so that when you want it to take you somewhere, it is ready.
The next question is how you know if you are getting what you need from your workout. I will tell you it is not necessarily about calorie expenditure. Although, weight-loss can be achieved by a caloric deficit, unless you are keeping track of your caloric intake, it doesn’t make much sense to count calories while you are exercising. In fact, if you’ve done this you know that can be very disappointing. A half hour in any moderate treadmill or elliptical workout might result in a 300 calorie burn. That’s going to be less than 1 pound per week if you do it every day.
That, combined with a 200 calorie daily decrease in calorie intake will result in exactly 1 pound weight loss per week, if you do it every day. Most people are never going to be that specific. Most people are not that disciplined.
If we get back to the mission of keeping your body tuned up and ready for anything, then we must talk about functional training. You will need to get your heart rate up to a certain percentage of your heart rate max. In order to do that you must know what that is.
In order to monitor it, you will need a heart rate monitor. Ahh, we finally come to the point. A very valuable tool in your fitness arsenal is a heart rate monitor. A worthwhile investment especially considering they are relatively inexpensive. There are very few items in this world as valuable as this device and as cheap! A heart rate monitor consists of a chest strap (transmitter) and a receiver that you wear on your wrist, just like a watch.
Buy a heart rate monitor today. You will be able to calculate your max heart rate and determine at what percentage you should work.
A minimal effective exercise heart rate begins at about 60% of your max. This is a safe way to start. As you get conditioned to exercise, you will be able to work at a higher rate and experiment with different types of cardiorespiratory challenges. Remember, if you don’t challenge your body to work, it will become deconditioned. A deconditioned body is much more likely to fail when you need it the most i.e. running for a bus, chasing you kids or having sex.
On the other hand, a fit, conditioned body can do just about anything you want it to.
Heart rate monitors are, as I mentioned not too expensive in the grand scheme of things. You can get one for as little as $30 or spend hundreds if you want the bells and whistles. If you get seriously addicted to exercise and monitoring your progress, you can pick up a heart rate monitor that will track your workouts on your computer and print out graphs and charts showing you progress. In the beginning it might be better to keep it simple and spend anywhere between $30 and $100.
Buy one, learn to use it and begin understanding your body and the real reason you work out. Keep your motor tuned.
If you’re confused and need help, hire a trainer to help you sort it out. Even one training session with a fitness pro can teach you what you need to know about your heart rate and how to monitor it. You are worth it.
Spartan Sprint
Spartan Sprint
6/2/12
Ok, so I just did the Spartan Sprint, in Tuxedo, New York this past weekend. That was fun! I can say that now, but there were a few times I questioned my decision, although you’d never know it if you saw the video (and you will), as usual, I was very upbeat and can be heard shouting encouragement to other racers. If you know me, you know that I am also using that encouragement to keep myself going too.
My good friend, Susie Q went with me and we had two more team members there that I ran into coincidentally as I was running the course. It was mostly running up hills and none of us trained for that. We were all walking some of the time and just taking one step at a time to get through some of the obstacles. The two toughest challenges by far for me were carrying the Spartan sandbag up a giant hill that seemed to go on forever. I don’t know the weight of the sandbag, but it felt like 20 pounds. The hill took a full 6 minutes to climb, but it felt like a half an hour. Going back down was relatively easy compared to the climb up. The other killer obstacle, and I do mean killer, was the barbed wire mud crawl. On hands and knees in the rock filled mud, under barbed wire uphill for what seemed like an hour, but was actually about 20 minutes. The rocks hidden in the mud were of all shapes and sizes and we were just grinding into them with our knees and elbows the whole time. Well, not the whole time. Someone figured out that one could roll up the hill and that gave our boney knees and elbows a much appreciated break. That crawl was tough!
There were some really fun challenges too. I loved the rope climb, the wall climbs and the cargo-net obstacles. There were many chances to get dirty and I love crawling in the mud! We dragged concrete and old tires around. We clambered over and under wire and wood, and trekked through a beautiful landscape that I made sure everyone within earshot took note of. Oh man, I loved it!
All in all, it was a great challenge and looking back on it, I’m glad it wasn’t easier. It always makes you feel good to reach deep down inside and find the strength to accomplish something that at times seems impossible. The Spartan Sprint did that for me this weekend and I for one, am better for having done it. I’m already looking forward to the next one. Anyone want to join me?
What is Fitness?
That’s a good question. Everyone I know wants to look good. Looking good is a part of being fit because generally if you look good, you feel good. I think that most people are trying to accomplish the “looking good thing” by the easiest method they can find. That’s why there are so many ridiculous products and gimmicks out there that promise to make us look good.
News flash…It’s and inside job!
You don’t need supplements. You don’t need the newest piece of worthless equipment sold for $19.95. And you don’t need plastic surgery!
You must take responsibility for everything in your life. That’s right, grow up. Fitness is an attitude. It’s a belief in yourself and a desire to get better. It takes an open mind and a willingness to learn. If you think you already know everything and don’t want to listen to new ideas, you are doomed to the same results you’ve been getting all of your life. Yes, it’s about change. Change is good. If you’re thinking, “I don’t like change”, I’m talking to you.
One of the problems I encounter when training people is their old ideas about fitness. If I stop working out, will my muscle turn into fat? What kind of abdominal exercises will get rid of this fat around my middle? It’s not good to work out every day is it? All fat is bad for you, right?
Willingness is the key. It opens the lock of our old habits and patterns. If we are willing to put some old ideas aside and try to begin working from the inside out, we will be surprised at the way our minds and bodies evolve. That’s what fitness means to me. It is a willingness to try something new that might just change the way I see things. My attitude about fitness has changed over the 25 years I have been in the business. First, it was all about getting “big”. Then about being lean and getting a six-pack. Then because of some over-use injuries, I became aware of a more functional approach to exercise. I experimented with vegetarianism, fasting, and eating like a “hunter/gatherer”. The bring-it-home message? Change is good. Evolution happens when we are pushed out of our comfort zone. Willingness to be uncomfortable.
If you want fitness, you must be willing to change. Change is good.
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This is the mat I was telling you about.
Stretch Out Strap
Great wraps for boxing.
A good set of boxing gloves!
This book can change your life. It sure changed mine!
The most important fitness tool.
Ahh, the foam roller
A great tool for relieving plantar fasciitis.
Fantone Fitness 