Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Changes Life of Local Volunteer

As most of you know, opportunities to help others are endless, whether it’s traveling across the world to help feed the hungry or by simply crossing the street and helping a neighbor in need. One of those opportunities came to Mike Genovese and has forever changed his view of life and the sport of tennis. The event was the Magee Rehabilitation Wheelchair Tournament, an annual event held at Cherry Hill Health and Racquet Club. His children have participated as ball kids for years and they loved it. So, when Mike heard that Magee was in need of a director this past year, he didn’t hesitate to volunteer.

“It turned out that the initial volunteering was the easy part. What I quickly realized was that running a wheelchair tournament is much different than a typical junior tournament. I had no idea that things like temperature, humidity, and the softness of the court can mean life or death to some of these players. When getting to know the players, one quickly finds that they are not only struggling against their opponent but also against their bodies - something like sweating, that we would never think twice about. The timing of matches varies due to recovery time. This not only involves a player catching their breath but also monitoring for body temperature and fluid intake. Seeing the struggles that these players go through, just to play what many consider to be just a game, has provided me a much better appreciation of the love that people have for tennis. No matter the outcome of the matches, these players will most likely all be back again next year because this is an act of love.” stated Mike.   

Mike is also a USTA Junior Team Tennis coach. The individual goals of these children he coaches, ranges anywhere from making their HS JV team to a spot on the Varsity Doubles. But what they all have in common is the same thing that brings them back  year after year - just like the Magee Tournament players - their love for the game. Mike's desire to help these children is what brings him back year after year. 

"If I can help one child to continue to play and not give up, then all of my time was well spent," Mike stated.

  

#volunteer

#USTA

#chhrc

#magee

#wheelchair 

What Is Relay For Life?

Each year, more than 4 million people in over 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through the Relay For Life movement.

At Relay For Life events, communities across the globe come together to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has already taken too much. The funds you raise truly make a difference in the fight against cancer just ask one of the nearly 14 million cancer survivors who will celebrate another birthday this year!


Relay For Life teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a track or path at a local high school, park, or fairground. Events are up to 24 hours long, and because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times.

At Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club we are hosting our very own Relay For Life fundraiser on Saturday, May 16th! Please join us to raise funds for team CHHRC WARRIORS! Enjoy food, drinks, music, dancing, 50/50's and so much more! Click here to get your tickets now! Or come to CHHRC tonight between 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm to purchase your tickets and get TEN FREE RAFFLE TICKETS!

#relayforlife
#2015
#cancer
#healthclub

#southjersey

25 Days for Free!

Good news - the weather has finally broken! We’re no longer layered up at baseball games and soccer practices with hoodies and blankets. Bad news – we can no longer hide under those layers!  As you sort through your summer wardrobe it’s normal to feel a bit anxious. You might break into a nervous sweat just thinking about putting on tank tops and shorts.  These clothes tend to reveal how many times we cheated and had “just one more bite” of that delicious dessert. They’re also proof that we’ve spent more time on the couch catching up on our DVR recordings and less time getting up and being active. But have no fear - CHHRC is here to help!

We have a wonderful opportunity for you to, not only feel more comfortable in your summer wardrobe, but to make a difference in the lives of a hungry family or under privileged children in Camden.  How? Simply make a $25 donation to the Food Bank of SJ or UrbanPromise and we’ll give you an honorary 25 day membership to our entire 160,000 square foot family health club absolutely FREE! It’s a win-win situation for everyone!

“With a $25 donation, we are able to provide and an entire month of summer camp for an under privileged child at no cost to the family!” ~ Shannon Oberg, Creative Director UrbanPromise. Since 1988, their mission has been to equip Camden's children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth, and Christian leadership. They strive to fulfill this mission through after-school programs, summer camps, two schools, experiential learning, job training, and a host of other programs that challenge youth to develop and realize their potential.

“1 out 4 children in South Jersey goes to bed hungry every night. A $25 donation provides 125 meals for children who may otherwise go without. $50 provides food for 250 meals. A special gift of $150 will provide food for a year’s worth of meals for 2 hungry kids in South Jersey” ~ Yarissa Ortiz Reyes, Food Bank of South Jersey Director of Strategic Marketing and Business Development. The Food Bank of South Jersey and its network of 200+ food pantries and meal kitchens have been here since 1985 providing prepared meals and groceries to people in need. From humble beginnings in a small warehouse in Camden City to our present 65,000 square foot distribution center in Pennsauken, we are the last safety net for those in need.

Your donation not only helps those in need, but gives you access to almost 100 group exercise classes a week including (INSANITY, PIYO and P90X), yoga/pilates, tennis & racquetball courts, personal training, youth programs, summer camps, Parisi Speed School and so much more!

Sign up today! Go to www.chhrc.com/donate25 and change the tomorrow of those less fortunate than us.

Top 5 Fat Loss Strategies by CHHRC Trainer Jon Haas

Top 5 Fat Loss Strategies

By Jon Haas

Today, let’s take a look at my top 5 favorite, no-brainer strategies for losing fat like a champ. If you are not seeing the results you want with your current fat loss plan, implement some, or preferably all of the following strategies and watch the fat literally fall off you!

1) HIIT

High Intensity Interval Training is something that I discuss a lot with clients. In fact, when it comes to conditioning, I can’t say enough good things about it. But let’s focus on its role in fat loss rather than conditioning for a moment. Long Slow Distance (LSD) type cardio is usually what people think about when they want to burn calories and lose fat. Things like running on the treadmill, exercise bike, elliptical, what have you. These are all good for “cardio” and burning calories during exercise. However, once you stop so does the calorie burning. HIIT is different. The high intensity protocol makes the sessions much shorter than traditional cardio, usually about half as long, yet the fat burning effect continues for hours after you stop. This makes HIIT much more efficient and the better choice for fat burning.

2) IF

Intermittent Fasting is key for quickly dropping fat, optimizing your body’s hormone profile, and increasing your daily energy. The cool thing about IF versus traditional fasting is that you can use it in various ways. Skip one meal a day. Sometimes skip 2. Other days set a certain time limit for fasting. 16 hours is usually the most recommended as anything longer than that begins to have a negative impact on muscle mass.

3) Forget Whole Grains

Go No Grain! This means no bread, cereal, rice, pasta, etc. If your goal is rapid fat loss, and I assume it is since you’re reading this article, then you should significantly reduce or remove grains from your diet. There is absolutely zero necessary nutritional content that we obtain from grains. I can hear the cries now – what about my fiber??? Don’t worry, the fruits and vegetables you will be eating to replace them are a much better source! The extra carb load we receive from them however does get stored as fat. Lose the grains. 

As a side note, make sure you also steer clear of all types of soda to drink, especially diet! Drink water during the day.

4) Sleep

Studies have consistently shown that getting under 7-8 hours of sleep per night is detrimental to your health. There are a host of problems lack of sleep can cause, being prone to weight gain is just one. Get your sleep!

5) Build Lean Muscle

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Strength training is an important factor in healthy body weight, and it also increases (or maintains, depending on your diet/intensity) muscle mass. Whole body strength training exercises also stimulates growth hormone production.
And a bonus,

6) Exhale!

This is one that we don’t often think about, but exhalation is the somatic trigger for relaxing the body. Take a few minutes a couple times a day to do 10-20 strong, deep, rapid exhales. This will lower your heart rate, lower blood pressure, and reduce stress. Since stress makes you prone to weight gain, this is a good thing! These sharp, deep exhalations also help in removing toxins and detoxifying the body.

Jon Haas is a certified Underground Strength Coach -Level 2, an ACE certified Personal Trainer, and has been involved in the martial arts for over 30 years. He has been training in the Budō Taijutsu arts of the Bujinkan for more than 22 years and is currently ranked as a Kudan (9th degree black belt) under Jack Hoban Shidōshi. He is the founder of Warrior Fitness Training Systems and author of the book, Warrior Fitness: Conditioning for Martial Arts. Jon Haas is also a certified conflict resolutions specialist through Resolution Group International (RGI.) In addition to personal training, Jon also teaches a one-hour Internal Strength class every Friday at 9:30 am. Learn more.

Surviving Cold & Flu Season: Part 2

Foods that are Immune Boosters:

I personally love kale, spinach, chard, broccoli, radishes, tomatoes, red skin onion, sweet potato, pumpkin, red & yellow squash, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries. The list goes on and on. Even with veggies that I simply detest (like brussel sprouts), I try to find ways to disguise them and put them in my body. My body loves the nutrients and life’s more interesting this way.

Phytochemicals: What are they?

Phyto means plants. Chemicals are the naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and hundreds of other substances that science hasn’t even discovered yet. When vegetables and fruits are brightly colored, they pack powerful agents that deliver immune enhancing agents. This helps your body maintain balance and fight disease. We know that vitamins and minerals don’t work to their potential when they work by themselves in the body. When they are accompanied by broad spectrum phytochemicals, the body utilizes them more effectively. The kicker is, science is still discovering new phytochemicals everyday. For best health, eat a large variety of brightly colored fruits and veggies - the deeper the color, the more nutrient dense the phytochemical.

A Rule to Live By:

Pay careful attention to what you put into your body immediately following your workout. Remember the “Anatomy of Recovery” – your body is a proverbial sponge in that first 30-45 minutes following a workout. Many people hurt themselves physically, and slow down the ability to burn fat or gain muscle by not consuming a liquid meal during this time. The solution is to drink nutrient dense calories NOW and replenish what you have burned. Your body needs the natural glucose and fructose sugars from fruits to properly recover. Make every calorie count and make sure they are nutrient dense. You can do it with a green veggie shake and really boost your immunity! Because your body is a “sponge” at this time, the phytochemicals absorb quickly and helps you maintain good health.

EAT WELL!

Check back next week for Issue 3.                   Brought to you from our partners at PROJECT: PFC

Surviving Cold & Flu Season: Part 1

Brought to you from our partners at PROJECT: PFC

Prevention Is The Best Medicine

Since there are no known cures for cold or flu, prevention is the best medicine. This year, it is more important than ever to take all necessary precautions to avoid getting the flu.

Healthy young people are at less risk for the serious complications, that can accompany the flu, but it could still mean a week or more out of work (not to mention the misery that goes along with that.)

10 Natural Ways to Reduce the Risk of Catching or Transmitting Colds or Flu

1. Eat smart. Eat a variety of brightly colored foods containing phytochemicals. These natural chemicals give the vitamins, held within the foods, a supercharged boost. 
2. Get enough sleep. Your body can’t recover without enough sleep. 
3. Don’t cover a cough with bare hands. Cough into the crook of your elbow or into a clean tissue and then dispose of immediately. 
4. Wash hands frequently. Viruses can live for hours and sometimes weeks outside the body. 
5. Don’t touch your face or the face of others. Cold and flu viruses enter the body through the eyes, nose and mouth. 
6. Manage your stress. It is well documented that stress can lower the immune system. 
7. Drink lots and lots of water. All of life’s functions take place in water and it flushes your system, washing out toxins as it rehydrates you.
8. Take a sauna. Studies prove that those who take two or more a week got half as many colds as those that didn’t. One theory is that viruses cannot live in temperatures higher than 80 degrees. 
9. Do cardio exercises regularly. Cardio forces the body to pump more oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. This helps to eliminate waste and produce more of the body’s natural virus-killing cells. 
10. Take nutritional supplements. Due to stress, food degradation, the environment and other factors, the foods you eat may be missing important nutrients.

Check back next week for ways to boost your immune system!

CHHRC Member Spotlight: George Loesch

Congratulations to CHHRC member George Loesch for winning the USTA 2014 National Men's 60 Grass Court Championships!

George was gracious enough to give us further information about the event. In his own words:

"I went into the tournament as an unseeded player. I played 6 matches, and defeated the 9th seed, 5th seed, 3rd seed and 1st seeded players, and did not lose a set the entire tournament. I defeated the #3 seed Carl Sechen, from Allen, TX in the Semi-Finals 6-3, 6-4 and #1 seed Tom Smith, from Alpharetta, GA in the Finals by a score of 7-6, 7-5 - - winning the USTA Men's Grass Court 2014 Singles Champion receiving a prestigious and respected USTA Gold Ball. An outstanding accomplishment! 

CHHRC has been my tennis club and fitness center of choice since moving to the Philadelphia Region in 1984. From September to May, and  I play doubles on Court #1 Saturday and Sunday, with local stellar and first-rate doubles partner George Norcross. We are always looking for good competition and challenges from any players."

Congratulations to George. Thanks for representing CHHRC, and South Jersey in such a grand fashion! 

View the official results of the entire tournament on the USTA site here.

George is pictured here with his wife LeeAnn and daughter Rachele.