The PTI Blog

PTI staff, clients & friends raced around the clock at the Ragner Relay

Jericho, NY, May 23, 2011 – In her fifth race to benefit Strength for Life, Dee Mullin of the Personal  Training Institute was joined by colleague Jessica Swanson, former longtime PTI client Denise Chapman and current PTI client Nadine Schiavo and eight other members of their relay team “Running from (Celebrity) Rehab with Dr. Drew,” as they ran around the clock on May 13^th and 14^th in the 31-hour Ragnar Relay Series race that covered 197 miles from Bethel to Westchester. The weather held out for the racers, with special credit to PTI’s director of training Jessica Swanson, who ran despite battling poison ivy and a sinus infection. The team ran at a 9:33 mile pace, which is below the 11:00 mile average for this grueling relay http://www.ragnarrelay.com/race/newyork). Dee and two friends raised $1,100, and Denise Chapman raised $810 for a team total of $1900 benefiting Strength for Life, a nonprofit organization that provides free exercise classes and wellness weekends for cancer patients and survivors at locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“I am inspired by Maggie, a client of Strength for Life,” said Ms. Mullin. “She is battling cancer of the appendix and is making tremendous strides thanks in part to the wellness programs provided by Strength for Life.” Fitness training combined with good nutrition can be hugely beneficial to cancer patients, giving them a sense of control in a devastating situation and providing them with more energy and an enhanced quality of life.

Cancer partients find strength in wellness classes

Maggie has been part of the Strength for Life program for more than one year. She had a second surgery in December 2010, yet she has gained remarkable endurance and strength through her workouts at Strength for Life. “… I don’t know if you two (Strength for Life co-founders) realize that you have changed my life forever. I will drop everything to make sure that I go to the exercise on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. Your encouragement helped a lot. I always feel great after exercise, and I get to see all of my friends including both of you.” ~ Maggie

Fitness is all in the family and work culture for Ms. Mullin. Mullin started her career as a personal trainer with PTI and is now responsible for PTI’s franchise development and support. Her mom, Jacqui Errico, a certified Cancer Wellness Specialist and Health Fitness Instructor/Personal Fitness Trainer is the co-founder of Strength for Life, which was founded in honor of Evelyn Knapp, Co/founder of PTI, who lost her battle to breast cancer in 2005. Evan Kaplan, President & CEO of Personal Training Institute, is a member of Strength for Life’s Board of Directors and Carol Kur, Co/founder of PTI is on the organization’s Medical Advisory Board.

Strength for Life is currently seeking sponsors for its 2^nd annual “Evelyn Knapp’s Run to Remember” event, which is scheduled November 20, 2011 at Sunken Meadow State Park. According to the race organizer, they expect 1000+ registrants this year, especially since the course is one of the most challenging in the Northeast and last year’s event was professional and timely. Sponsors receive name and logo placement on marketing materials that are distributed to thousands of potential racers throughout Long Island, as well as publicity on Strength for Life’s website, placement on race day apparel and mentions in all pre-race and post-race publicity. To learn more, visit: http://strength.engineroomdm.com/NewsEvents/FundraisingEvents.aspx.

PERSONAL TRAINING INSTITUTE: PTI has been changing lives since 1987 by combining its proven integrated program that encompasses one-to-one strength training and customized nutrition counseling for every client. Ranked in Entrepreneur’s “Franchise 500,” PTI was also named among “Top 50 Franchises – for franchisee satisfaction” by Franchise Business Review. This results-oriented franchise is growing nationwide to help members and owners to achieve their goals. Visit www.ptifranchise.com for more information.
Strength for Life provides exercise classes, equipment and wellness retreats to cancer patients on Long  Island at no cost to participants. Founded in 2007, the race honors the memory of Evelyn Knapp who lost her battle with breast cancer at 40 years old. As an exercise physiologist Evelyn knew the benefits of exercise and personally experienced how it helped during treatment. We became Certified Cancer Exercise Specialists hoping to share the information and empower cancer patients/survivors to feel their absolute best and regain their ‘strength for life’. After our first breast cancer support group presentation we knew we had to offset the costs somehow because cancer patients have astronomical costs even when they have insurance.

Strength for Life has recently been featured in Long Island Business News, featured on FIOS1 ‘My LITV” and ‘Live it UP’ Ch. 55 and honored by Long Island Press ‘Fortune 52’ celebrating Long Island’s unique and inspirational women. With that recognition comes growth and greater need for funds to maintain the programs at no cost.

CONTACT: Carol Kur, MSRD, Co/founder of PTI at 516-342-9064 x16 or ckur@personaltraininginstitute.com; or Karin Machusic, PR Consultant to PTI at 925-524-4334 or kjmachusic@msn.com.

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Here are eight ways to help you lose those ten pounds that have been hanging around for way too long.  Remember, there are 3500 calories in a pound, you need to create a calorie budget and burn more than you are taking in.

Fitness and Nutrition

1. Switch from whole-milk products to skim-milk products
2. Reduce the use of butter and margarine
3. Use extra-lean ground beef, ground white meat chicken or ground white meat turkey
4. Switch from fried potato chips to the baked ones
5. Switch from 100-plus-calorie sandwich bread to the light whole-grain bread
6. Swap fruit juice for real fruit
7. Increase your exercise and work up to 500 calories a day
8. Remove the skin from a chicken breast after cooking and save 100 calories

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Let’s get started together by incorporating these tips into your 2011 weight loss plan.

• Set a definite date to begin
• Write your goals down
• Remove the temptations
• Make small changes every week
• You don’t have to go it alone!
• Journal everything
• Photograph yourself weekly,pictures don’t lie
• Set realistic goals

Be kind to yourself, you did not gain this weight in two weeks so don’t expect to lose it in two weeks…this is a marathon not a sprint!

Here are ten easy tips to help you lose those extra five pounds.

• Control your portion size
• Trim Fat
• Distance Yourself from Tempting Foods
• Make Smart Choices at Restaurants
• Embrace Fruits and Veggies
• Downsize Your Dinnerware
• Don’t let yourself get too hungry between meals
• Move throughout the day
• Track Your Progress
• Fill Up with Fiber

These are so simple yet so effective. You will see that extra holiday weight come off in no time.

Jericho, NY, November 19, 2010– Personal Training Institute® (PTI) has been sprinting to a number of events with Subway®, sharing its fitness and nutrition expertise. Two events on November 16^th included a school wellness event, as well as a Subway® employee health fair.

 The Rockville Centre Subway® and PTI partnered to deliver a fitness and nutrition event at Jennie E. Hewitt Elementary School as part of its Nutrition Month. Students sampled healthy sandwiches and enjoyed special fitness activities courtesy of PTI’s personal trainers. The students, grades K through 5, participated in fun fitness activities throughout the day, supervised by PTI certified trainers Rosie Santana and Anthony Paruolo, Fitness Manager. “We were honored to participate with SUBWAY^® at Hewitt School and promote healthy attitudes towards fitness and nutrition,” says Rosie. ”We truly enjoyed spending the day with the children and showed them fun ways to incorporate exercise into their daily lives.”

 PTI was invited by the Human Resources department at Franchise World Headquarters, which hosts an annual health fair for approximately 800 employees at Subway’s

Team PTI inspired attendees of Subway's health fair

 world headquarters at 325 Bic Drive, Milford, Connecticut. Carol Kur, MSRD, Co/founder of PTI and Dee Mullin, personal trainer and head of PTI’s franchise development and support, were joined by Guilford, Connecticut PTI franchise owner Kim Starbard. They conducted body fat composition analysis and provided nutrition and fitness guidance to attendees.

 “We were really happy to participate in the health fair,” remarked Dee Mullin of PTI. “Subway not only promotes healthy eating to the public, but they also encourage their employees to make positive lifestyle choices that we are only too happy to support. Making good nutritional choices when paired with strength training and a fit lifestyle can really yield wonderful results.”

Dee Mullin at ADA Conference

PTI also joined the Subway® with its fitness and strength training message at Subway’s booth at the ADA (America Dietetic Association) Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo November 8-9 in Boston, Massachusetts. “Everyday we hear about overweight America,” remarked Dee Mullin of PTI. “We were thrilled to join with Subway, a fast food company that is popularizing healthier food options, because we really believe that combining fitness and nutrition yields amazing results.” Ms. Mullin consulted with ADA conferees specifically about strength training, which too few women are doing, as a way to decrease body fat.

 PTI participated with seminars and a booth at the 2010 Subway® Convention July 21-25 at McCormick Place West Convention Center in downtown Chicago, Illinois. “Our participation at this event added a positive dimension,” commented Carol Kur, MSRD, Co/founder of PTI. “Our nutritional message helps validate the positive options Subway provides consumers, and our fitness guidance provides best practices to help people achieve optimum wellness. I feel that PTI made healthy connections!”

Carol Kur is flanked by Subway-Canada

Kur conducted body fat analysis and provided nutritional advice for meeting attendees. Four members from a Canadian Subway team (see attached photo L-R) Jim Weatherall, Barb Pineau, (PTI’s Carol Kur, center) Mike Lopez and Steve Green were spurred on to lose weight. The foursome will weigh-in at their Fall Field Meeting and name charities that will benefit from their weight loss. Meeting attendees will have the opportunity to bet on which of the four they think will win the challenge. The final weigh-in is scheduled at the Spring Field Meeting and will determine who wins and which charity will benefit. Kur donated a Tanita® weight scale to this Canadian group.

PTI clients have experienced success because they always receive one-to-one nutritional counseling and personal training that combines strength training with cardio regimens to achieve visible results (see http://www.personaltraininginstitute.com/testimonials.html).

About Personal Training Institute: PTI has been changing lives since 1987 by combining its proven integrated program that encompasses one-to-one strength training and customized nutrition counseling for every client. PTI was named “Best in Category” in the recent Top 50 Franchise Business Review. This results-oriented franchise is growing nationwide to help members and owners to achieve their goals. For more information, see www.ptifranchise.com.

CONTACT: Carol Kur, MSRD 516-342-9064 x16 or ckur@personaltraininginstitute.com; www.personaltraininginstitute.com or Karin Machusic, PR Consultant to PTI 925-524-4334 or kjmachusic@msn.com.

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 SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc.

Dee & Carol teamed up to provide fitness & nutrition tips at Subway Health Fair

Jericho, NY, November 19, 2010– Personal Training Institute® (PTI) was invited by the Human Resources department at Franchise World Headquarters, which hosts an annual health fair for approximately 800 employees at Subway’s world headquarters at 325 Bic Drive, Milford, Connecticut. Carol Kur, MSRD, Co/founder of PTI and Dee Mullin, personal trainer and head of PTI’s franchise development and support, were joined by Guilford, Connecticut PTI franchise owner Kim Starbard. They conducted body fat composition analysis and provided nutrition and fitness guidance to attendees.   

“We were really happy to participate in the health fair,” remarked Dee Mullin of PTI. “Subway not only promotes healthy eating to the public, but they also encourage their employees to make positive lifestyle choices that we are only too happy to support. Making good nutritional choices when paired with strength training and a fit lifestyle can really yield wonderful results.”   

Kim Starbard of PTI-Guilford

Speaking of living the fit life, PTI’s Kim Starbard ran ING’s NYC Marathon last week in a time of 4:39, shaving 14 minutes from her previous time. She accomplished this feat by working out at PTI two to three times per week along with sprint training. “I am extremely happy with how things went, and I already put my name in the lottery for next year,” Starbard reports. “I plan to continue integrating the PTI workout with more sprint training. Being a PTI franchisee, I feel so fortunate to see clients (and myself) achieve what they thought was out of reach every day.”  

PTI clients have experienced success because they receive one-on-one nutritional counseling and personal training that combines strength training with cardio regimens to achieve visible results. Visit PTI’s testimonial page to see for yourself.  

About Personal Training Institute: PTI has been changing lives since 1987 by combining its proven integrated program that encompasses one-to-one strength training and customized nutrition counseling for every client. PTI was named “Best in Category” in the recent Top 50 Franchise Business Review. This results-oriented franchise is growing nationwide to help members and owners to achieve their goals. For more information, see www.ptifranchise.com.   

CONTACT: Carol Kur, MSRD 516-342-9064 x16 or ckur@personaltraininginstitute.com; www.personaltraininginstitute.com or Karin Machusic, PR Consultant to PTI 925-524-4334 or kjmachusic@msn.com.   

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SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc.

This is the time of year when our children are back to after school sports and we don’t know what snacks to put in their backpack.  Consider giving your young athlete an energy bar for an after school snack.  Energy bars are high in nutritional value and can give your child a boost of energy so he or she can practice their after school sport at 100%.

Based on taste and nutritional value these are the top:

• Clif Builder’s Bar – Chocolate Mint
• ThinkThin – Brownie Crunch
• Power Crunch – Triple Chocolate High Protein Crème Filled  Wafer
• Kashi GOLEAN Chewy Protein & Fiber Bar – Cookies and Cream
• Kind Fruit+Nut – Macadamia and Apricot
• PureFit – Chocolate Brownie

Remember, this is a great once a day snack for a child that plays sports after school and who is within his or her ideal body weight.

Fitness Fast Fact: Go Bowling with your kids and burn approximately 180 calories in one hour!

Strength for Life honors the memory of Evelyn Knapp with the inaugural 5k run at Sunken Meadow State Park on Nov. 21, 2010.  The course is 5K (3.107miles) through the scenic trails of Sunken Meadow State Park located along the Long Island Sound.

To register for the race download the race registration form (pdf).  You can also be an individual sponsor, click here to download the sponsor form (pdf).  If you have any questions, you can call or stop in at PTI of Smithtown and speak with Paul.

Evelyn Knapp, co-founder of Personal Training Institute, spent a lifetime promoting exercise and proper nutrition to thousands. Her knowledge, motivation and dedication helped inspire countless individuals to engage in a healthier lifestyle. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Evelyn continued exercising throughout treatment. She would say it gave her a feeling of control in an uncontrollable situation. From there she made a new commitment to promote exercise for cancer patients so they, too, would experience the benefits. In 2005 Evelyn lost her battle with breast cancer. However, her mission was not lost. Strength for Life was formed in Evelyn’s memory so we may continue her work and make her vision a reality.

Strength for Life is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization providing free exercise classes and wellness weekends to cancer patients and survivors.

Why is water so good?  Here are just some of the benefits H₂O can bring to you.

• Water flushes toxins from our body
• Water helps with digesting our food
• Water provides a means for nutrients to travel to all the organs in the body
• Water forms the fluids around the joints which protects them
• Water regulates body temperature through perspiration
• Water helps prevent constipation
• Water regulates metabolism
• Water helps with weight loss, speeding up metabolism and acting as a natural appetite suppressant

At PTI we recommend you build up to 64 ounces of H₂O a day.

Watch Dawn Doherty of nysociallight.com describe the benefits of Personal Training Institute that she experienced firsthand.

I’ve never been in a program before where I’ve gotten more results

Dawn lost 8lbs of pure fat, in just one month using Using PTI’s philosophy of one-to-one personal training and nutrition.

Way to go Dawn!

We look forward to seeing you back at PTI of Chelsea in New York City.

Click here to find a Personal Training Institute in your area.

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