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News : Fitness program targets overweight teen girls
NEWS - JOURNALONLINE, July 7 2005 -- During the teen years, young girls establish lifestyle habits that will guide them into adulthood. A recent study reported in Health Scout News found that the amount of regular exercise girls get in their spare time drops by more than 80 percent between elementary school and late adolescence.
Given that 15 percent of American youth are overweight, triple the amount since the 1970s, Ladies Workout Express, a local fitness club owned by Bill and Maureen Minicozzi, is doing something about it. The Daytona Beach club is providing teen girls a safe, comfortable, and friendly environment where they can exercise and receive nutritional counseling. The summer program is free for girls, from ages 13 to 18, until Aug. 31.
Maureen said, "We realize that many weight and health problems are caused by habits formed early in life. That's why at Ladies Workout Express we want to provide young women with an atmosphere where they will feel confident and encouraged to develop positive habits that will start them out on a path to a healthy lifestyle as an adult."
Girls of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to participate. It is the goal of Ladies Workout Express to help teenage girls to lose weight, tone what they have, or begin strength training for fall sports. There is no minimum participation required, so the girls can come in every day or just a few times a week as desired.
Obesity is considered a leading cause of cardiovascular, orthopedic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, hormonal, neurological and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, but it can also manifest itself through psychological difficulties.
Whether or not a teen is struggling with weight, body image is an important component of an adolescent's developing identity, according to researchers. The number of unhealthy messages in today's media and social environments leading to body dissatisfaction have a strong potential to affect an adolescent's sense of identity.
Specializing in women's fitness since 1984, Ladies Workout Express provides a training regiment designed to burn 600-900 calories in 30 minutes. The workout equipment available has 10 adjustable settings allowing for a variable circuit training which, according to the Minicozzis, lessens the probability of reaching a weight loss plateau.
Since teenagers require a healthful, balanced diet in order to grow, all girls in the FitTeen program receive complimentary nutritional counseling. "We can instill the importance of exercise in our teenage girls but, unless we teach them how to eat responsibly and what foods will provide the maximum nutrition, then our girls are facing an uphill battle," Bill said. "We have seen great results from the exercise program and the nutritional counseling."
A parent must approve and endorse appropriate paperwork for a teen to participate in the FitTeen Program. The program was the brainchild of the corporate offices of Ladies Workout Express and 2005 is its the third year in existence. Once summer 2005 has ended, teens may continue at Ladies Workout Express at a cost of $14,95 per month, half the normal rate. "In addition to the great health benefits," said Maureen, the program is designed to promote spending quality time between moms and daughters."
After the summer program, girls can continue to participate for free if their mother is a Ladies Workout Express client.
For more information about the FitTeen Program, contact Bill and Maureen Minicozzi at Ladies Workout Express, 2623 N. Atlantic Ave., No. 43 in the Bellair Plaza, Daytona Beach. The telephone number is 677-4160.
Anxious to make a difference, Maureen said, "The program is fast, simple, and easy. All you have to do is just walk through the doors, say hi, and we'll do the rest!"
(source : www.news-journalonline.com)
