Personal Trainer Charged With First-Degree Murder
SAN JOSE, CA -- A personal trainer at Fitness USA in Milpitas, CA, will be arraigned on Friday in Santa Clara (CA) County Superior Court for charges of first-degree murder of one of his clients, according to the San Jose Mercury News....
Gerend Moves into Life Time President Position
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN -- Michael J. Gerend is the new president of Life Time Fitness, Eden Prairie, MN, according to an announcement today from the company. Gerend had been chief operating officer with the company since March 2003. He will continue in that role in addition to serving as president. ...
Nautilus Vote Too Close to Call
By: By Pamela Kufahl, editor
VANCOUVER, WA -- Although Sherborne Investors is claiming victory at yesterday’s meeting of Nautilus shareholders, Robert Falcone, CEO of the equipment manufacturer, told one media outlet that it was too close to call....
People Want Financial Fitness More Than Physical Fitness, Survey Says
THOUSAND OAKS, CA -- More Americans will make financial fitness more of a priority than physical fitness in 2008, according to a recent survey....
New Hampshire Club Faces Eviction, Trademark-Infringement Charges
HUDSON, NH -- A fitness club that had already been charged with trademark infringement has also failed to pay nearly $14,000 in rent and faces court-ordered eviction on Friday, according to the Nashua (NH) Telegraph. ...
School Equipment Scammers Sentenced to Prison
By: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor
MINNEAPOLIS -- A father and son who bilked school districts into acquiring “free” fitness equipment as part of a pyramid scheme were sentenced Dec. 7 to lengthy prison terms and will have to pay $39 million in restitution....
Nautilus Gets Support from Advisory Firms
By: By Pamela Kufahl, editor
VANCOUVER, WA – Three voting advisory services have recommended that Nautilus Inc. shareholders vote against the full proposal by Sherborne Investors LP to oust four of Nautilus’ seven board members at the company’s shareholder meeting on Dec. 18 in Vancouver, WA, according to Nautilus. ...
Navy Fitness Launches Youth Fitness Program
MILLINGTON, TN -- In a proactive effort to help Navy youth discover the benefits of healthy lifestyles and combat obesity, Navy Child and Youth Programs (CYP) launched FitFactor, a Web-based health and fitness initiative....
New Jersey Y Employee Tests Positive for MRSA
By: By Jennipher Shaver, senior associate editor
MIDDLETOWN, NJ -- A part-time administrative employee at the Community YMCA's Red Bank Family Health and Fitness Center in Red Bank, NJ, tested positive for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on Friday. ...
Bricks Buy Rights to Planet Fitness Club Locations
DOVER, NH -- Victor and Lynne Brick, owners of the Brick Bodies chain in Maryland, recently purchased the rights to several Planet Fitness locations in their home state, according to Planet Fitness and World Gym President Ben Midgley....
Even Minimal Amount of Fitness Can Slow Death Rate, Study Shows
COLUMBIA, SC -- A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that fitness level, not body fat, is a stronger indicator in judging longevity for older adults....
Michigan Y Throws Out Sex Offenders
MUSKEGON, MI -- The Muskegon Family YMCA in Muskegon, MI, recently terminated 20 memberships after finding members’ names on the Michigan State Police Sex Offender Registry during a recent check, according to the Muskegon Chronicle. ...
New Fitness Program Helps Pregnant Soldiers
FORT JACKSON, SC -- The Army's U.S. Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine recently created and instated a pregnancy/postpartum physical training program at Fort Jackson, SC, to bring pregnant soldiers back to their mission as quickly as possible, as well as increase the health benefits for both mother and child. ...
Members at The Rush Expelled After Locker Room Shooting
KNOXVILLE, TN -- A shooting in the locker room of The Rush Fitness Complex facility in Knoxville, TN, has resulted in the membership cancellation of both men involved, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel....
Certification Program Launched for Health and Fitness Centers
RICHMOND, VA -- The Medical Fitness Association (MFA) has launched a facility certification program for health and fitness centers interested in the medical fitness model. ...
America Maintains Its Weight
WASHINGTON, DC -- After a quarter century of increases, obesity prevalence has not measurably increased in the past few years but levels are still high –- at 34 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 and over, according to a study released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)....
Gyms Pop Up in California Parks
By: By Pamela Kufahl, editor
LOS ANGELES -- For some California club owners, new competition—or perhaps a new “feeder club”—just popped up in their local parks, thanks to a partnership between Kaiser Permanente and Trust for Public Lands. During the next three years, the two groups will put Fitness Zones in five parks in Los Angeles County as a way to encourage people to get out and exercise. Kaiser Permanente is giving Trust for Public Lands $750,000 in funding for the project, which was developed by Trust for Public Lands. ...
Curves Launches Weight Loss Subscription Site
WACO, TX -- This month, Curves International Inc. teamed with Rodale, a source for content in health and wellness, to launch www.CurvesComplete.com. The online weight loss subscription service site is based on the book Curves: Permanent Results Without Permanent Dieting, written by Curves Founder and Chief Executive Officer Gary Heavin. The service is available in the United States and Canada and allows subscribers to look at fitness information, tools, expert opinions and motivational advice to lose weight and keep their fitness goals in mind. ...
Pedometers Plus Diaries, Goals Motivate Fitness, Studies Show
CHICAGO -- Pedometers help people increase their physical activity, provided that they set a goal and log their steps, according to a recent analysis....
Billie Jean King Supports Girls’ Fitness with New Initiative
BOSTON -- Tennis legend Billie Jean King and soccer star Kristine Lilly are scheduled to launch a new initiative called GoGirlGo!, which hopes to raise awareness about the role fitness should play in the lives of girls age 8 to 18, according to The Boston Globe. The ceremony is to take place today at the University of Massachusetts at Boston campus....
Hawaii Urges Board of Education to Increase P.E.
HONOLULU -- Several health organizations in Hawaii are urging the state Board of Education to double the amount of time that students in public elementary and middle schools spend in physical education classes, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin....
Gold’s Plans to Expand In Hawaii
HONOLULU -- After the closure of four Gold’s Gym locations left the chain with only one gym in Hawaii, Gold’s Gym International is planning to open several franchised fitness centers in the state, according to the Honolulu Advertiser....
Soldier Dies During Physical Fitness Training
FORT DRUM, NY -- A Fort Drum, NY, soldier collapsed during physical fitness training and died on Nov. 20 at the Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, NY. The cause of death is under investigation, according to a statement from the Army....
Nautilus Restructures, Says No to Shareholder Group
VANCOUVER, WA -- Nautilus Inc., under siege by its largest shareholder Sherborne Investors, has turned down that group’s request to replace four of the Nautilus board members with Sherborne representatives. In addition, the company has restructured, making appointments to four positions, two of which are newly created. ...
MWR Hosts ‘Right Spirit Fair’ in Guam
SANTA RITA, GUAM -- Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, personnel and civilians enjoyed a day of sports and camaraderie while learning about staying healthy at the third annual Right Spirit Fair held earlier this month at U.S. Naval Base Guam. The event featured basketball, volleyball and other competitions held outside Charles King Gym (CKG). ...
