Why Do I Need That?

Clearly not my bag – it’s not large enough

What’s in your gym bag? Please tell me you read that line in the Capital One commercial voice. The must haves. The essentials. The stuff. Ugh. All the stuff. Do you really need anything in your bag? Do you need a bag at all? In short, yes, but there’s much more to it.

An often overlooked first tip is finding the right gym bag. Breathable materials allow odors to mix with fresh air preventing the mildew-y smell of nightmares. And if your bag is washable then problem solved! Manager tip: place a few dryer sheets in the bottom of your bag to keep it smelling nice. Adjustable shoulder straps, as well as number of pockets, are also good to examine.

Basic gym bag essentials range from the common…hello, deodorant….to the indulgent…roller ball, anyone? I’m not judging. There were times in the Navy when I had to choose between sleep or a shower. It seemed my division was much more cooperative when I’d slept so that should answer your question. Here’s a rundown of the most useful items to bring to the gym –

Towel – NECESSITY. PLEASE!
Flip Flops – do I really have to explain why shower shoes are necessary?
Dry Shampoo – because a Hollywood shower in a gym bathroom is rude
Hand Sanitizer – did you know your hands harbor more bacteria than a public toilet seat?
Hair Thingies – this is a scientific term, trust me
Deodorant – travel size is available, but regular size is cheaper
Face Wipes – an effective substitute for a shower
Socks – for some reason, dry feet have the power to make or break your entire day
Snacks – munchkin will be 25 yrs old, moved out, and have her own family and I’ll still carry around snacks because you just never know
Water Bottle – ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY! Go green, people. You’re always telling me you recycle, so why do I keep finding plastic bottles in the regular trashcans versus the blue recycling container? Hmmmm

Obviously this is a short list. SHORT?! It can be as extravagant or as minimal as you desire.

As you can see in the photo above, I have many of the items from the list. There’s also unmentionables and random sticky notes for stuff I was trying to remember. You just never know when a good idea will hit!

I think of a gym bag much like a diaper bag. There will be times when it’s not necessary. Then there will be other times when you wish there was a department store inside it. I envision a Mary Poppins-style scenario. Umbrella, anyone?

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I ask you –

What’s in your bag?

Name one thing at the gym you can’t live without.

Advice for a gym bag carrier?

Running Man + Tattoos + Do You Have Brand Loyalty?

Anytime Fitness CEO Chuck Runyon uses the phrase ROEI (return on emotional investment). Similar to ROE (return on investment), ROEI is the backbone of a company, except it includes an immeasurable aspect: emotion. How can it be a company staple if you can’t quantify it, you ask? Because health is more than a number.

All about the numbers.

Medical professionals will state your health in terms of blood pressure, a pain level on a scale of 1-10, or what your lab results indicate in numeric form.

A personal trainer or H2i will ask you how you feel and fully expect you to state an adjective, like happy, tired, sick, or amazing. Pretty sure those aren’t all adjectives; work with me here. This is the difference between charting numbers and evaluating emotions.

“How do you feel?”

ROEI is the idea that people continue coming back to Anytime Fitness for more than the measurable results; they do it for themselves. Do you remember when you graduated or got married or stood on a stage before thousands of other people and then they CLAPPED for you? Funny story: Munchkin once crossed the finish line at a race, received her well-deserved clapping, grabbed a banana, then repeated the finish line routine 4 more times just so the spectators would clap again and again…and again…and again…you get the idea. The feeling you get from other people cheering you on is incredible! Recognizing a sense of accomplishment is the great part about human nature. Cheer for others! Encourage them! Clap!

At Anytime Fitness, we support you. If you’ve had a bad day because you received a phone call with hard news or you walked into work and received a pay raise, we want to hear about it all. This is the return on your emotional investment. I’m invested in not only your health, but also your life. I want to share in your accomplishments and your downfalls. My members are just as much a part of my family as my own biological family.

So where do tattoos fit into this?

Chuck Runyon (& Son Charlie), Anytime Fitness CEO

People get tattoos for a variety of reasons. Brand loyalty can be one of those reasons. Logo tattoos, like the Running Man, isn’t necessarily about the brand – it can be about what the company represents to the tattoo holder. Or maybe they just like the color purple!

Keep reading for the MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS BLOG POST!

I’m sad to say I don’t know anyone personally who has the Running Man tattoo on his/her body. I did briefly meet one woman who has the tattoo, but I can’t say I know much about her (I met her at a Vitals event). I do have it on good authority July 17th is National Tattoo Day. If this blog post receives 13 comments, I will personally go get my very own Running Man tattoo during the month of August.

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I ask you –

What brands are you loyal to?

Do you have any tattoos?

Leave a comment and if I receive at least 13 I will get my very own Running Man tattoo!

Body after Baby

Do you have young children? Infants? Toddlers? Or are your children in their teens, twenties, grown up and moved away? Do you keep telling yourself it’s time to get rid of the baby weight?

Boy do I have good news for you!

The answers to all your problems is in this little bottle! Vitameatavegamin! – huge I Love Lucy fan, check out “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” for the reason why 10% alcohol in a bottle of health supplements is a BAD idea. Find it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcZ9JZZRWM0

Truthfully, it doesn’t matter how old your children are – there is a never a better time to begin focusing on you than now. Right. Now. Yesterday has come and gone. But today is still an option! Tomorrow is a close second.

Some ladies will find it easier than others to get back in the gym, workout from home, balance motherhood with a new human you’re responsible for caring for until…whenever. And the rest of us? Hahahahaha! What is this balance you speak of? Munchkin is 3 and I think I just now got it kinda worked out! Way to go, Kel! Aside from your own internal cheering squad, it may be a long time (ahem, years; a decade even) before you come to the startling conclusion you are still in there, under the skin and muscle and bone, and maybe you’re pleased with the results you’ve attained. Or you may not recognize her at all. That’s ok! You’re doing a great job, Mama!

Fact: it can take up to 8 full weeks for your hormones to return to “normal” levels post-childbirth. Other fact: it could potentially be 18 years before the previous fact is accepted as fact. Maybe longer. I’m just guessing. So even if it’s been awhile since your baby wore diapers, the hormone swings can affect you just as much now as then.

Let’s talk about menopause. This must be everyone’s favorite subject, right? Perimenopause can occur as early as your mid-to-late 30’s. Oh great! The hormonal shifts during this time vary erratically and can affect your ability to lose weight, build muscle, and not yell at the dog. Many women complain of short-term memory problems or difficulty concentrating during this transition, too. Haha you thought it ended after you gave birth? Good try! Wait. Did it end? I can’t remember. My point, which I don’t entirely remember at this moment, is that your body will go through many changes post-baby. From pregnancy to birth, from postpartum to menopause, your body is constantly adjusting to shifts in weight, balance, and hormones – all responsible for how well (or not) you’re able to shape the body you have, as well as deal with stress. Final fact: Exercise is widely known to increase overall health and a sense of well-being. It positively affects your endorphins, the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. And feeling good is our goal!

In the meantime, let us help you get moving toward your goals. Be it weight loss, muscle-building, or training for an event, we’re here to help. I’ll even provide comedic relief when the sweat drips in your eyes and you fear blindness.

No one said it would be easy. Either category you’ve found yourself in, you’ve come to the right place. I feel your pain. I feel your disappointment. I feel your jaded hope. I also feel how you’re ready to change your life. I will be with you each step of the way. Note: if you’re one of the lucky few who have it all figured out, teach me your ways!

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I ask you –

How old are your children?

Fun fact: I’m a twin. There’s 2 of me! Any of you have twins in your family? Triplets? Quads?!

Have any advice for those experiencing perimenopause? You know, so I can be even more terrified than I am already.

Customer Service + Plan of the Day

In the Navy, our daily tasking was called POD (pronounced pee-oh-dee), not to be confused with pod (of the tea or low hanging fruit variety). In my infinite, worldly experience (don’t laugh now, the jokes get better), I have found not every corporation runs like the well-oiled machine of the US government. Unfortunate, I’m certain. “eye roll“

So even though we don’t call our daily tasks a fancy name like POD, businesses, like the military, strive to deliver excellent customer service. Ok, ok, the military doesn’t really put customer service at the forefront of its plan. Let’s be real. We serve to protect our country and those of our allies. Period. Customer service? Eh. Not so much. But I digress.

Is it a secret if it’s written for everyone to see? Hmmm…

My goal is amazing customer service – to give each member and guest an experience like no other. Business owners will tell you this is the top priority, as it should be. People want to feel like they are the only ones who matter when standing in front of you. You are the expert. They the eager learner. It can be tough to balance wants/needs of a customer, but a good listener can almost always decipher what’s being said vs not said. We must read the body language and other non-verbal cues of a member/guest to give them what they came for. Sometimes humor doesn’t sell. I’m more upset than you!

Listening is the hallmark trait of customer service. What did you say?! I say again… Navy speak. It’s not so much about information you are providing, but delivery of said information and the only way to accurately convey it is to listen first, speak second. Imagine a world where humans considered then re-considered what they’d like to say before eliciting a single syllable. Just imagine!

My entire point is this: in order to form a connection with members and guests in a customer service field, one must open their ears and close their mouth to give the customer a chance to state what it is they need. The POD will never serve a purpose if we don’t feel heard, truly heard. It should include amplifying information necessary for the reader to understand what is expected.

At Anytime Fitness, we strive to be the best at giving our attention to our members. Without a POD, the Navy is just floating aimlessly. Are you prepared to answer the proverbial call?

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I ask you –

Do you think some people are more suited than others for customer service professions?

Are you introverted or extroverted?

Tell me a time you received exceptional service!

What Members Want / How To

We’re not going to be everyone’s cup o’ tea. Not only is it an unrealistic goal, but it’s also impractical. Where would we put them all?! Anytime Fitness is not a big box gym; it’s not a pack-em-in-and-stack-em-high facility; we’re not made for that.

What’s more important to you: a gym with every amenity known to man (most of which you’ll never use or didn’t even know was there) or a smaller place with a home-like atmosphere where the manager knows your name and you’re able to get in/get out in a reasonable amount of time? Not to mention the humor you receive! Only you can decide.

From the gym manager’s desk: I love how Anytime Fitness brings together people from all walks of life. You all have the most incredible stories of companionship, overcoming adversity, and success of anyone I’ve ever met.

Funny how you find people like yourself when you walk in the door, right? You made this time to feel good and work on you. Oh look! There’s others here doing the same thing. Are you going to work upper body today? Oh look! I’ve never seen the personal trainer demonstrating that exercise before; let me ask him/her for some advice. Do you need to update your information? Oh look! We have extended hours so we can reach more members who need our assistance. P.S. You can call me, too.

Building a local following amidst a national brand like Anytime Fitness is a feat like no other. But it’s so worth it! To experience and be a part of the impact a gym can make in someone’s life is life-changing in its own right.

And can we brag on the secure access for a minute, please? Hello, that’s so awesome! I can walk in the member door at any time of the day or night and know I’m safe and secure while focusing on myself. I know if I need help, it’s only a phone call away. We enforce the members-only access rules because we believe your safety is the top priority (second is your health). Just because the office isn’t open every hour of every day doesn’t mean you should be weary of working out alone.

What about training? Truthfully, anyone can be strong. Even me! But did you know strength and being functionally fit are quite different? In the Navy, we call it “operational fitness”; although it’s nice to be big and strong, the Sailors who do well are the ones who are operationally able to do it all. Swim, lift, run, pick up heavy things, and seemingly never tire. This functional fitness ideal translates to everyone because if you can’t transport your groceries from your car into your home…how do you survive daily life? Anytime Fitness believes in functional training. We believe in your health. We know it takes some work, but you can be a rockstar at every activity placed in front of you. Operation Rockstar Status! (I meant you, not me). I’m like a snail being chased by a tiger.

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I ask you –

Have you ever worked out in the middle of the night? Was there anyone else here?

Who is your workout buddy? Are they an Anytime Fitness member, too?

What’s your favorite part of Anytime Fitness: the lack of crowds, the 24/7 access, the group training program, or something else?

Most Important Hour of the Day

Affectionately known as Power Hour. Or Golden Hour. Or anything remotely resembling the first hour of your day.

To clarify, I don’t mean the first hour of your workday or of your workout. I simply mean the very first hour you become conscious upon waking up from whatever sleep you did or didn’t receive last night.

The reasoning behind this label of most important is because what you do within this hour sets the tone for your entire day. Many business professionals and successful entrepreneurs swear by a tried-and-true routine each day, including weekends. Often it takes the form of re-hydration, mindfulness, and exercise.

Personally, I enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book while stretched across two dining chairs and repeating the mantra “munchkin, please don’t wake up before I’m 3/4 into this cup”. Sometimes I make it through the whole mug, sometimes I get whispered pleas to share said coffee. Hey, you do whatever works for you!

So why is it important to devote an hour to you?

…because no one else will. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. You can wish, hope, and think yourself into setting a power hour chock full of good intentions, but it means absolutely nothing if you won’t commit to it.

Start simple. Fill up your reusable water bottle (think green, folks; plastic bottles are senseless; please remember not to freeze glass bottles unless you like digging through your freezer with a vacuum attachment looking for shards that somehow eerily resemble ice chips, not that I’ve ever had to deal with a similar situation). Find a notebook and pen (stop. I know everything is digital now; get over it. you need a real piece of paper and an ink pen. that stylus won’t work here). Seek out a quiet place (nope, try again, the local coffee shop doesn’t count. those places are louder than an airport).

Do you see where I’m going with this? Get out of your head and into your head. Put your thoughts on paper – goals, worries, daydreams, whatever it is that makes you think. This isn’t the time for a to-do list. Save that for when your boss is paying you to work (to my boss: I don’t practice what I preach so we’re safe).

Each day update what you did in the days prior. Or don’t! This is your time to reflect. If you stand by ‘the past is in the past’, then good for you. But if you need to see what you’ve written make forward progression, then good for you, too. No one asks to see your notes. Make this about YOU.

And once 60 minutes have been reached, begin your day with a little more space available in your overflowing mind. Kick ass.

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I ask you –

Do you have a goal for completing your power hour? Twice a week? 7 days a week?

At what age did you realize self-care was important?

Share your routine with us!