Smart Strategies For Starting A Fitness Business

Starting a fitness enterprise can be incredibly rewarding. Indeed, you can enjoy assisting people in reaching their exercise objectives and living a better lifestyle. Research shows that the industry is projected to grow by 171% by 2028. The numbers make it compelling to consider starting a fitness center, whether full-time or as a part-time gig. Are you a fitness fanatic or already like working out? Now is a good time to make money while doing what you love. Below are a few tips to guide you in getting started.

1. Decide your fitness business type

Image Credit

Several types of fitness firms are available, each with advantages and disadvantages. You can work as a fitness instructor, teach lessons, or run your own business. If you're considering launching a fitness company with no money, becoming a fitness instructor is a low-cost option. Still, it takes an extensive understanding of nutrition and fitness approaches. Running a facility necessitates a significant investment, but you can rely on the knowledge of others. When considering beginning a fitness company, gym franchising possibilities also exist. Your final decision will depend on the kind of fitness business you intend to run.

2. Write a business plan 

After deciding your type of fitness business, it's now time to plan. If you haven't chosen a name for your business, you can use a name generator to get a few suggestions. You'll also need a business strategy, an official document covering your venture's purpose, goals, strategy, and financials, not forgetting rent, insurance, gym equipment, and so on. It often comprises a business description, sector and customer assessment, an operational strategy, and financial predictions. You may customize it to meet your specific requirements. This document will guide you and help you stay organized as you lay the foundations for your business.

3. Get a dedicated space 

Even if your company is entirely digital, you'll need to consider where you'll film your fitness videos and hold your online sessions. It's crucial to have a consistent appearance for your set, so choose a brightly lit space in your home and use the same place for each of the videos in your series. Renting a location for a full-fledged workout center requires more time and money. The good news is that many landlords are currently eager to negotiate rent, but it would be useful to wear your bargaining hat to get the best deal. Consider factors such as location, space, and cost, among others, to ensure you get value for money.

4. Obtain the required permit and insurance 

When establishing a gym, you must comply with the specific business licenses and permits mandated by your state and local authorities. It is advisable to consult your town, city, or county clerk's office. One essential permit is the certificate of occupancy, which verifies compliance with building codes, zoning laws, and government regulations. If you are leasing the gym space, it typically falls upon the landlord to obtain this certificate. Running a gym entails certain risks not typically associated with other businesses. Potential hazards may arise as individuals work out, use equipment, and move around the premises. Obtaining small business insurance is crucial to cover various scenarios, particularly for incidents involving customers on the premises.

5. Acquire training

Image Credit

Getting some training is essential in launching a fitness company. Whether you want to learn how to establish a training business or run a gym, you must have some fitness experience for others to be confident that you know what you're about. You may consider several credentialing organizations, such as the NCCA or the DEAC, which approve legitimate credentials. Of course, physical training isn't the only knowledge you'll require. You'll also need to conduct many studies to determine what it requires to begin a firm.

Is Food Medicine?

Nutrition science is an incredibly young discipline. The idea that we could tackle some of our most dangerous modern diseases, like heart disease, stroke, and cancer, only really began to gain traction in the 1970s, and even then, people didn’t take the idea particularly seriously. Sure, eating right was good for overall health, but it couldn’t make THAT much of a difference. As the years wore on and the science developed, a clear pattern emerged. The more people ate a certain kind of diet high in nutrients and low in junk, the longer and healthier they lived. What’s more, they had an uncanny knack to avoid the diseases of aging - conditions that the modern medical establishment still can’t really do much about.

Photo from Pixabay

Food is a kind of medicine if you use it right. There are all kinds of cancer-fighting foods that research reveals helps to improve symptoms in vivo and in vitro. In some cases, the effect of lifestyle change is so profound that it can REVERSE conditions like prostate cancer. Researcher Dean Ornish, for instance, found that when he fed men with prostate cancer a diet high in fruits and vegetables, their tumors actually shrank over the twelve months of the study. Some patients went into full remission. 

The Long-Term Effects Of Food

The medical community is fighting back against Hippocrates’ notion that food is a kind of medicine. The common retort is “food is just food,” and anyone who says that you can heal our biggest killers is a quack. 

Photo from Pixabay

The problem with this view is that we now have a mountain of evidence from a large number of researchers that food really can heal the body over the long-term.

What’s more, the epidemiological studies from the places where people live the longest all seem to point to a healthy diet as a significant contributing factor. None of these areas eat a diet high in animal products. Most live on simple plant foods grown in local soil. When you eat lots of beans, greens, fruits, and seeds over the long term, it appears to change the body in fundamental ways, making it more resistant to the ravages of aging over time.

Don’t Rely On Food For All Ailments

There are situations, however, when food is not enough to protect you against illness, and you need medical intervention.

Antibiotics are a good example. While what you eat will help make you more robust against bacterial infection, it can’t protect you entirely. Occasionally, some nasty pathogens will overwhelm your defenses, giving you no choice but to go along to the doctors.

The same applies to autoimmune conditions. While changing your diet can help, the only proven effective intervention are conventional pharmaceutical drugs.

Food has its limits, but it has also been neglected terribly. There are now numerous studies that show that changing your overall dietary pattern to eat more whole plant foods can help enormously in reducing the chances that you’ll fall seriously ill. Use food as a powerful intervention and concentrate on eating the healthiest varieties out there.

5 Ways To Lose Weight Fast Before Levelling Out At A Healthy Weight

Photo from Pixabay

The harsh reality of life is that there is no magic cheat to gain the perfect body forever. If you truly wish to maintain your look and health, it’ll be necessary to adopt a sustainable strategy. Nonetheless, failure to see positive results in the first few weeks of a health kick can seriously damage your hopes of staying on track. Starting your transformation in style to gain quick weight loss before settling into a more sustainable long-term plan is key. Here are five simple solutions.

Opt For HIIT 

High-Intensity Interval Training is a great way to lose weight quickly. In truth, you’ll probably keep it in your workout schedule for the long haul too. For the immediate challenge, though, focusing solely on HIIT cardio is a great way to lose weight. Wearing a fitness band to track calorie burns and gain the right frame of mind is useful too. The competitive nature will inspire results.

The fun factor is a key ingredient in the recipe for success, and enjoying a range of activities is vital for the long-term situation. For now, shedding the pounds is where your fun starts.

Choose An Extreme Diet

Nutrition is a hugely influential part of any healthy living strategy. If you’re eager to lose weight fast, there are several options at your disposal. Meal replacements can work but may leave you feeling hungry. The carnivore diet, or an alternative low-carb plan, can work wonders. You’ll drop the pounds rapidly and can significantly aid your metabolism for the long haul.

Opting for this type of diet rather than meal replacements can allow you to maintain it for longer. Just be sure to replace any lost vitamins and nutrients.

Change Your Life Habits

Physical activity shouldn’t be limited to the gym. Increasing your exercise throughout the day can have a seriously positive influence. Cycling to work or walking to the gym can burn a few extra calories and keep your metabolism on its toes. Turning housework and other chores into a workout can also aid the cause. It may also increase your enjoyment.

It’s unlikely that you’ll be ready to keep this up for the long haul due to time constraints and the need for balance. Nonetheless, it can give you a serious short-term boost.

Target Water Weight

Water retention will increase your weight and size. While it’s not a huge problem, losing this can be a great way to promote quick transformations. Avoiding your food intolerances is a crucial step to consider while a morning coffee can support water loss too. Dandelion extract is another ingredient that’ll help you lose water weight at a rapid rate.

You could easily lose a few pounds and an inch or two from the stomach in this way. It’s arguably the easiest solution at your disposal.

Get Surgery

Finally, you could choose surgery or medical procedures. CoolSculpting, liposuction, and gastric bands are three of many options. If this is the route you wish to take, additional research is required.

Fitbit Alta HR announced!

Info and photo from Fitbit website

Finaaaally, Fitbit is releasing the much anticipated HR version of the Alta! So what's new? Well it has a heart rate monitor now (duh), an improved sleep tracker, and a buckle strap. Yey! And it costs $20 more than the debut price of Fitbit Alta. Fair enough?

Right now it's available for pre-order at $149.95. Expect it to be released around April in the US and Australia. It will be out on March 26 in the UK though. :)

I'm actually very happy about this and I think I'll get this version when my Alta retires && my wallet agrees. So far, it's done all the upgrades I wanted for the Alta, which is really just an HR monitor haha and a better strap. So plus points for changing the bands to a buckle strap yey! Curious about the improved sleep analysis though. Really, it can track the REM stage? Ooooh. But I figured, with a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking could be made more accurate so... argh I want to test this feature out! Oh wait, I hope they improved the charging cable. Can't be sure but looks like they didn't hehe. The original one has a clamp that's quite a hassle to put on. The clips on mine have actually snapped off already and is only being held by rubberbands haha. Looking forward to a wireless charging option in the future, or just a better charger design.

GPS? Nope it doesn't have one but since the Alta is geared towards the less hardcore fitness enthusiasts, dude this one's already too frkn feature packed (says someone who thought the Alta is enough)! :D

For more details, read here: Fitbit Alta HR

Related:
Fitbit Alta unboxing and review
Setting up Fitbit Alta for the first time

My 5 Dream Fitness Equipment

You know how lazy I am when it comes to working out. I'm that fitness enthusiast who isn't fit at all. I've tried a lot things, gyms, bootcamp, zumba, yoga. I've hoarded a lot of exercise videos, from Just Dance to just about everything Les Mills offered, and still here I am, overweight and in need of constant goading.

It doesn't help that we have an entire floor in our house filled with gym equipment. We have a manual treadmill, 2 stationary bikes, an exercise ball, an ab rocket, a couple of other ab contraption thingies, an ab belt, weights, a Ceragem bed massager, a chair massager, a foot massager, oh boy, that crazy fit vibrating plates, etc. Now that I think of it, we have a lot! So what gives? Why am I not going upstairs sweating my life away? Because I'm too lazy and the things we have, they're all outdated. Our equipment are super old and while they're all still functioning, it doesn't motivate me enough.

If I had unlimited funds for a fitness station upgrade, I'd get the following:

1. Motorized Treadmill

Source: lifefitness.com

I was once so excited about training for a marathon that I actually looked into updating our manual treadmill into an automatic one complete with an LCD screen and all those other fancy buttons so I could practice at home. But lo and behold, my preferred one from Life Fitness cost over ₱100,000 lol

2. Pull up bar

This isn't such a big investment but it baffles me where in the house I could put one. I want to get something like this

Source: gymstrength.net

but I'm not sure where I can hang the damn thing without breaking away a doorway's structure lol

3. Trampoline

Oh boy, I've never tried a trampoline before, not even in an enclosed one filled with balls where kids love to play. The tramp is pretty simple, all you have to do is jump to your heart's content. But there's something so exciting about being propelled upwards and mastering a graceful fall that makes me want to get one!

But then I wouldn't know where to put it, the only open space we have large enough for a trampoline is on our roof deck but I sure didn't want to risk falling 10m down a patch of weed.

Nonetheless here's a great info guide from Trampolinea for you in case you want to get one!

4. Punching Bag

Source: clubsolutionsmagazine.com

Aha! On the same ground with a pull up bar, my preferred one is a hanging one but again, I don't know where to put it and how to install one. I asked my dad once about it but there's really no way to hang it on the rooftop because the ceiling there is too high. Hay.

Still, if only to get one, I can settle with a standing one like this

Source: dragonsports.eu

5. Sauna Room

Oh not those portable things with my head sticking out like this

Source: bluewaveproducts.com

We already have that and it looks awkward, funny, and I get lazy just thinking about setting it up haha. How did she even reach the magazine? Anyway. Instead, I want something like this!

Source: monalisa-bathtub.en.made-in-china.com

Super cool, feels like a real sauna, and of course it's over a hundred thousand bucks lol. This is one of those lazy equipment I'd like to have cos I literally just have to sit inside and sweat away.

------

So I guess that's it! While I'll keep on dreaming for my own sauna room, trampoline, and a high-end motorized treadmill, I guess I could manage to get a standing punching bag!

How about you? What's your dream home fitness equipment? :D

The Yoga+ Makati Experience

If I were to sum up my first formal yoga session in one word, it would be INTENSE. 90 minutes, 50 poses, and a room heated to 37 degrees - that's how Hot A Yoga works. I was very excited to try it, but later on the class I had to recall what kind of evil I did to deserve such punishment. It was a painfully funny exercise for me, and I took consolation at the fact that I stayed at the last row, where I could hide and no one would notice me dying. Kidding, it was really hard, but at the end it's very fulfilling. Will definitely do it again.

Here's a quick tour!

Upon entering the studio you're required to go barefoot by leaving your shoes at the racks in front of the elevators. Shiela, the receptionist, was very nice and helpful and gave me a tour of the place :D

Yoga+ Makati has two yoga rooms, Yin and Yang. The Yang room (below) is the bigger of the two, the ceiling is filled with panels of heaters, and two sides of the room are filled with mirrors. This is where we did Hot Yoga. Students are entitled to use yoga mats and mat towels, as well as posture aides like blocks and belts. Bath towels can be borrowed from the towel room for free but you have to deposit ₱100 along with an ID. Pwede na!

Here's the Yin room,

Both rooms have wide windows and are equipped with Ozein Air Purifiers. Sosyaaaal. Inside the women's changing room are seven shower stalls, one dressing cube, and a clothes rack. They also have shampoo and body wash available, as well as hair dryers. The toilet area is separate. Didn't check the men's haha

Very spacious changing room,

The long hallway leading to the yoga rooms are lined with lockers. They're free for use but you have to bring your own padlocks, otherwise you may put your things on the empty shelves across the lockers. Valuables like wallets and cellphones may be deposited at the counter, they'll give you a number for it. :) Beside the shelves is an alkaline water dispenser, bongga. Bring your own bottle k.

They also sell yoga apparel! 

Love their waiting lounge!

Pa-effect lang,

Hot yoga virgin no more

Eto na, the experience! It was crazy hard for a first timer like me. Like in most sports and fitness activities I'm interested in, I suck big time lol. But that's okay and totally expected. I was actually inspired to get better, especially after seeing how the first rowers could tangle their legs together and plank forever. The goal is to friggin go from figurine left to right in no time! Weeeh!

It helped a lot that our instructor, Chi, gave an orientation for us hot yoga virgins, lelz. These were the tips I got from her, and also from the beginners guide they let me read when I signed the waiver:

1. Hydrate big time the day before a hot yoga session.
2. Do not drink too much before the session because it will be harder for the body to get warmed up
3. Wear less clothing. Most of the students were wearing sports bras, tanks, shorts, cyclings. I was wearing a large drifit shirt and leggings nubayan, also socks but I took them off haha. Note to self: need to get a pedicure
4. Resort to Balasana (Child's pose) to rest if the poses get too intense for you. I personally prefer resorting to Shavasana (Corpse pose) but as I've learned, I have to reward myself with it. What peace it brings to realize that death is a reward. Naks all these yoga terms are elevating my spirituality, charot.
5. Push yourself with the poses. While options are available, try to aim for the advanced versions too
6. Enjoy (the pain and suffering)! 

Because of the hot environment, not 5 minutes into the workout and I was sweating like a pig already. Every asana was a struggle. As the minutes pass by, the poses get harder and harder and it was becoming more difficult to keep my flat foot grounded on the mat. There was a moment I felt really dizzy I wanted to die (Corpse pose) but I fought it out like a true warrior. Char. 

While on our last Shavasana, Chi put some muscle relief cream on the back of our necks and oh my gulay I just found my new favorite thing! After the class I learned where she bought it; it's Muscle Relief Rub from Messy Bessy Glorietta. Got myself one on the way home, you should get yours too, ka-adik.

Try Yoga+ with Fit Access PH

Thanks to Fit Access I was able to try this life changing practice huwaw. After the class I felt so alive and invigorated, who wouldn't after escaping death? No seriously, I wanted to do it again I searched up online for hot yoga videos on youtube and was shocked to see the results. Tip: search for "hot yoga workout" instead of just "hot yoga" and spare yourself from glaring cameltoes and NSFW thumbnails. My goodness.

Sign up with Fit Access for discounted rates and access to different studios! 

Related: Go Gym Hopping with Fit Access

Yoga+ Rates and Classes

Rates
Drop in (1 class/anytime)	₱799
Drop in (1 class/daytime - weekdays before 6pm)	₱599
2 Weeks Unlimited (First-timer rate)	₱1,499
1 Month Unlimited (First-timer rate)	₱3,399
10 Classes	₱5,999
10 Classes (daytime - weekdays before 6pm)	₱4,999
50 Classes	₱19,950
50 Classes (daytime - weekdays before 6pm)	₱17,450
1 Week Unlimited	₱1,699
1 Week Unlimited (daytime - weekdays before 6pm)	₱999
1 Month Unlimited	₱6,499
1 Month Unlimited (daytime - weekdays before 6pm)	₱3,999
1 Year Unlimited	₱47,988
2 Years Unlimited	₱86,376

For a complete and updated list of prices, check here. Their class schedule is also regularly updated at their website.

Location and Contact

Yoga+ Makati is located at

3/F Cambridge Bldg., Tordesillas cor. Gallardo Streets, Salcedo Village, Makati City

Phone: (02) 847 0697

Hours: 6am - 10pm

Web: www.yogaplus.ph

YogaPlusPH

How to get there? I took a bus labeled LRT Ayala Leveriza and got off at Paseo de Roxas bus stop. Cambridge bldg. is just some 500m walk from there. It's across the side of Makati Sports Club. :)

Namaste.

Go gym-hopping with Fit Access

Sometimes, a change in environment is all we need. If you could get a subscription than enables you to visit multiple gyms in a month, versus one that locks all your visits in a single gym, what would you choose?

Here's the perfect solution for fitness enthusiasts who easily get tired of routine and want a more customized fitness program, and a variety of studios to visit.

From Unsplash

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Manila-based startup Fit Access launches a booking platform that caters to tech-savvy millennials and on-the-go professionals and encourage them to find their joy and passion in fitness.

Fit Access allows members to enjoy a wide variety of fitness activities every month in all its partner gyms and studios. Members can choose from different workout categories that suit their mood and match their fitness level.

Co-founders Ia Hernandez and Natalie Cruz, are both athletes who want to share their love of fitness and help others find the workout that fits their schedule and taste.

“As athletes, Ia and I know that fitness is more than just a lifestyle but a way of life. With Fit Access we hope that Filipino professionals can incorporate any fitness routine they like into their weekly schedules,” says Natalie Cruz, a Girevoy (Kettlebell) Sport athlete, IKSFA Level 2 Coach, and a current student of ACE Personal Trainer Certification.

Fit Access, a mobile-friendly website, was created for individuals at any age and fitness level. Whether you’re a busy professional planning to start a new fitness regime, a fitness enthusiast wanting to try something new, or an athlete looking to cross train, the platform has all the fitness activities and group classes you can possibly think of. With 30 (and still growing) partner studios, Fit Access is the perfect place to discover new workout options. Members can check class schedules and book a class at their favorite studios with just a few clicks, making it doubly easier to attend a session. Its accessibility and user-friendly interface makes finding a class a breeze. Nobody has to call in and book their workout sessions anymore!

What makes this new platform different from its competition? Fit Access offers the most flexible subscription plans that suit individual needs. Fit Access features three membership options ranging from 6-12 visits per month, all designed to bring you the best service possible. Co-founder Ia Hernandez says, “Our monthly membership plans are perfect for those who might already have an existing gym membership but would like to complement their workouts with new activities. If they’re thinking of picking up a new sport, Fit Access is definitely a great platform for that as well!”

Beyond monthly classes, members will also receive exclusive deals from partner establishments such as discounts on gym membership packages, fitness workshops, and free invites to health and fitness events. Visit www.fitaccess.ph to know more about their partner establishments and subscription plans!

Is #BalikAlindog on your 2016 goals? Are you planning to break the monotony of your fitness routine? Then Fit Access may just be the one you need. What are you waiting for? Join now and be part of a dynamic fitness revolution!

How it works

Fitbit Alta unboxing and review

So I bought a fitness tracker (my first) in response to my rotting motivation to live actively and limit my attachment to my office chair. And so far, here's what I have to say with my first two weeks with the Alta...

Previously, I shared about how to setup your Fitbit Alta for the first time. In this post, I'm sharing an unboxing (of sorts) and a review (kindof) having been using the fancy bracelet for two weeks (and counting).

UNBOXING

The box contains four major items:

1. Fitbit Alta fitness tracker (small)
2. Rubber strap (attached to the tracker) -- or is it silicone?
3. Charging cable
4. USB wireless dongle

Detachable straps

Back view lol

Just another shot haha

Other items include paper stuff and warranty notes in multiple languages that nobody really reads. Instead of a comprehensive setup guide, a note in the box suggests you go to ww.fitbit.com/setup to get your gadget up and running. I did just that and had quite a few hiccups but I eventually got over the initial setup hullabaloo. So don't follow the note, read my setup guide instead haha.

Related: Setting up Fitbit Alta for the first time

REVIEW (pros and cons)

Pros (you know, features I like):

Aaaah love the size

1. The form - It's functional and stylish at the same time. I got the small black version which I found perfect for my wrists. There's also a larger version available. The main reason I decided to go for the Alta is the form factor. The band isn't too wide and the straps can be swapped, though for now only Fitbit sells them and they're horribly expensive. Don't worry, I'm sure eventually 3rd party sellers will come out with better bands and more colors to choose from.

10k steps orayt + my sensored belly lol

2. It tracks steps quite accurately - I tried walking 10 steps while watching the step counter on the Fitbit app and holey moley it's perfect haha. I'm thinking it has something to do with the observer effect (naks very quantum physics) which changes the behavior of the activity being observed (in this case, the tracking) just by the mere act of observation. Don't we all try to act perfectly under close watch? Joke lang lol. It tracks well enough for me not to doubt my activity for the day.

3. Silent alarm - before you call it stupid, here's the magic word: vibration!

4. Move reminders - 10 mins before every hour (within your designated time range) it reminds you to walk 250 steps para cool. On the first day of using my Fitbit, I was so amused by this feature that I really took it to heart to walk 250 steps every time it reminds me to. Anyway, it will only remind you to walk if you haven't met the 250 steps/hour goal.

5. Call and text alerts -  as long as my bluetooth is on, the phone with push call and text alerts to my fitbit. It shows the sender name and message in a marquee which I find very useful specially when I'm out on commute and my phone is buried in my bag.

6. Good battery life - I was able to use it for a good 4 days before I received a notification (vibe and email) that my Alta's running low on juice. At my current settings (no silent alarms, no all-day sync), I only need to charge once a week.

7. Auto sleep tracking - which is super cool. Fitbit logs your 'restless' and 'awake' minutes and takes all that into account to calculate your sleep quality based on your #sleepgoals lol. I set mine at 7hrs a day and so far I'm averaging at 8. It's not really something I would check myself so it's good know a gadget is tracking all this for me.

9. Clock faces - with various display options

10. Water resistant - it doesn't mind me washing the dishes with it, but I take it off in the shower to be sure.

Cons:

1. Short charging cable - it's awkwardly short and a hassle to use. I hope the cable can be detached from the cradle. Good thing I only have to charge the Alta every 4 days or so. yey for long battery life.

2. No HR monitor - This doesn't monitor your heart rate. No biggie cos I'm not particularly looking for this feature, but I thought I'd tag it as a con so you'd know. I'm thinking Fitbit has plans to release a HR version of the Alta sometime in the future I'M NOT SURE. But given that it could compromise the size, who knows.

3. Move reminder - the move reminder is limited to 5-14 consecutive hours WITHIN THE SAME DAY. Working the graveyard, I wanted to be reminded from 9pm to 5am, but it won't let me cos it's crossing the next day and I figured it'd mess Fitbit's daily reporting chorvabels. I wish they'd enhance this feature to allow adding multiple move reminders instead.

4. Screen isn't scratch proof - I plan to buy screen protectors but I'm not sure if it will affect the tap efficiency haha. The face of my Alta has a tiny hairline already huhu.

5. Limited 3rd party app integration - Fitbit has partnered with quite a number of health monitoring apps (see here) but I don't see Nike+ Running yet which is weird cos it's too popular haha. It's where all my runs are logged and I would love to be able to integrate that with my fitbit data. Counts for better estimate of calories burned.

6. No GPS - I would love the Alta to have GPS without sacrificing its already perfect form factor. I've read about super small GPS modules, I hope they could find a way to get a small receiver that wouldn't compromise Alta's size.

7. I developed rashes - Taray! And it's not because I have sensitive dugong bughaw skin, but because I'm dugyot most of the time and the strap has turned into a cozy abode for bacteria. Now, I keep it a point to clean the watch every once in a while specially when I sweat a lot haha. It's really just a matter of sanitizing haha.

8. Hard to put on - Amazon reviews contain a lot of griping about how hard it is to put on. If you see the image on Con #1 you'll see how it's supposed to be strapped on. Unlike the Charge HR or the Blaze, it doesn't have a buckle strap, you have to push the two pins to the holes to set it in place. I have to agree that it's hard to put on, but that's only at the beginning. Eventually the holes will loosen up and make it easier to lock in the pins.

In summary:

This Fitbit is really not for the active type, if you're already familiar with the range of Fitbit trackers, the Alta offers literally nothing new except for the form factor. The older Fitbits have sported the same set of features, step counter, silent alarm, sleep tracking, fitness goals, etc. so if you're looking for something new minus the form factor, you can check out other trackers instead. Seriously though, this is (IMO) the best looking and most functional fitness tracker there is for people like me who is mostly sedentary.

Has it helped me in my seemingly eternal weight loss journey? As with any tracker, like a fitness trainer, it's a good motivator. Looking at my wrist sporting a fitness tracker kindof pushes me to live up to my fitbit goals naaaaks. But of course, a gadget can only be as effective as the one who wears it. I really need to be more disciplined haha.

:)

Pricing and availability

I bought the Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker, Silver/Black, Small at Amazon for $129 when I was still in the US. I'm not sure if it will be available locally.

Setting up Fitbit Alta for the first time

Got a new Alta? Here's how to set it up the first time :D

My Fitbit Alta just arrived in the mail yesterday and I was super excited to try it but I got so frustrated setting it up the first time! It just won't sync on my phone! But after a bunch of googling and almost hitting that 'refund' button on Amazon, I was able to solve my initial setup problem, thank you Lord!

So here's how to setup your Fitbit Alta for the first time :)

Short answer: 

Sync it using your PC and wireless dongle FIRST. Then it would be easier to pair it with your mobile next.

Short (story) answer:

I turned on the tracker by hooking it to the charging cable. It started alright: Fitbit logo, version number, and a message that says 'fitbit.com/setup'. Okay, so I came to the link, and followed the setup instructions for Android. I downloaded the Fitbit app, registered a new account, and went on to add the device.

As per instructions, I kept the tracker plugged, charging, and nearby while the app tries to search for my Alta. Unfortunately, it just won't pickup. I restarted my bluetooth, restarted my phone, tried to setup using my tablet, to no avail.

My heart was getting heavy cos I just recorded an unboxing video haha and was excited to shoot a 'hands on' one next. Clearly, not much hands are needed on a defective product so that's frkn saaad.  Anyway, what's extra saddening is having to comb through this difficulty knowing that I can only have it refunded. I can't wait any more days to get a replacement since I'm leaving the US this weekend. I really want this thing to work.

Google eventually led me to a solution, which is to sync using the PC instead. The Fitbit Alta came with a wireless USB dongle you can use to sync your tracker to your PC, you just have to download an app. Apparently, while the OP was able to sync on her PC, it still wouldn't sync with her phone. Much to her dismay, it looks like she can only sync all her Fitbit data on a PC. That makes her Alta a defective one.

And so I tried. I installed Fitbit Connect on my PC, plugged in the wireless dongle, and prayed hard for this solution to work. 

And it did! My Alta finally appeared on the list of devices on my dashboard! Yayyy!

But that doesn't end my problem, the real moment of truth is validating whether it would sync via Bluetooth, otherwise I would have to return the item. I unplugged the dongle and refreshed the Fitbit app on my phone to see if it has listed the Alta as well. It did! And after a couple of clicks, MY ALTA FINALLY SYNCED! Thank God!

That's pretty much it, if you're having trouble setting up your Alta for the first time, use your PC instead. I'm thinking it's the real proper way of setting up your Fitbit.

Hope this helps and sorry for the excessive blabber!

Next up: Fitbit Alta Unboxing and Review

Group exercises you can join at Quezon City Memorial Circle

have you ever wondered what group classes you can join at Circle?! I did! and i searched all over the web for schedules and stuff but found none. so this morning, i braved a serious case of tamaditis and went to inquire at Circle about whatever group classes they have there. i know they have one, because my parents used to always go there to join aerobics. sometimes they take my sister and i with them, and we'll bike around while they dance, then afterwards we'll eat lugaw and buko juice and go home sweaty and filled! happy times :D

so here you go, in total they have 3 classes operating regularly (as far as i have asked) and i went to each of them to inquire:

1. Zumba

Location: People's Hall
Rate: P50/hr
Schedule: Mondays -Thursdays (7am, 8am - that's 1 session per hour), Saturdays and Sundays (7am, 8am, 9am).

i'm actually excited to try everything HAHA. i'm curious about the different types of zumba you know. i mean there's zumba gold (is this for oldies?), fitness, sentao, and toning. XD shocks, naexcite ako bigla. HAHA

there are chairs on the side you can use to put your things on. :)

2. Aerobics Forever

Location: Planas Garden

Rate: FREE

Schedule: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays (TThSSun) - 6am

This is probably the least attended one even though it's free, maybe because it's not covered (apparently, it just rained). one of the sweet girls there told me they have color codes per day and today is purple day. XD they do accept donations too, but of course it's all optional. then again, there must be a cost to running this thing, especially that they seem to intend to do this forever! :D

there are tents on the side with a few chairs, and there's a small roofed stage at the front of the garden. you may leave your things there, in case you're wondering where to put your stuff.

3. Aero Sport

hey peepers

Location: Basketball Court

Rate: P20/session

Schedule: Daily at 6am

I think this is where most people go. the place is big, the music is lively and so are the steps! i can't wait to try this too! :D

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so far that's what they have! let's push this! i wanted to get in shape so bad because night shift's a bitch, when i'm up all day i'm eating almost 5 meals a day. CRAAAAP! huhu

[Quick Tour] Quantum Fitness Gym at UP AyalaLand TechnoHub

Quantum Fitness is an Elorde Xtreme Boxing gym located at UP AyalaLand Technohub.

i was pretty excited cos it's located where i work, so my thoughts of finally getting a regular fitness fix could (probably) come true! so one afternoon i paid a visit to see what's in and to generally feel the place and decide whether its worth the membership fee. haha

here's a pic spam of their facilities:

it's big and spacious :) they have warm/cold showers and i noticed a shampoo/bath gel dispenser too. yay. they also have a small cocktail lounge. i'm calling it that cos there are no seats, just two high tables. hehe

locker areas and changing stalls are available too, just bring your own padlocks or you can borrow at the counter.

more comfort room pics cos i'm maarte when it comes to that. 

there's the boxing ring of course

and a group exercise studio that caters to different classes like zumba, hiphop, spinning, yogilates, etc. it's pretty small. but it's exciting you know!

more bikes at the back (if you notice hehe)! i think the two in front are for instructors?  XD

there's also a cycling area! there's a group class for that too.

since it's an Elorde gym i supposed it's pretty complete in terms of boxing essentials. that is, the place has no shortage of objects to punch and kick.

the equipment area is filled with lots of items to help you workout as well.

Membership Rates

Source

Why I'm not joining (at least, yet)

i found the membership fee expensive. even their pre-selling rate of 15k for 1 year is still a bit too much (btw it ended this May). i have no plans of trying out boxing or muaythai or body building yet so what's left they have to offer me are the group classes and the treadmill. but they only have 2 treadmills so that's a downer. :(

i was excited by their group classes esp the spinning, zumba, and yogilates, but just like any class... it has a schedule. and by the looks of it i may not be able to fully commit myself to any of their time slots. loool kulang sa dedication haha so, not now... but maybe someday! XD i have high hopes that it'll suit me better one day because as i was told, they're gonna eat up their neighboring shop (that's CD-R King) and extend the gym space. that's really exciting. hope they add more treadmills and provide a bigger group exercise studio. haha

And that's it!

if you live or work nearby you can go check the place out to see if it fits your fitness needs! :D

Location and Contact

Quantum Fitness Elorde Xtreme Gym
2/F UP - AyalaLand TechnoHub
Commonwealth Ave., Diliman, Q.C.
quantumfitness.elordextreme@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/quantumfitness.elordextreme