According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, the average American guzzles 44.7 gallons of the sweet stuff every year. Not sure what 44.7 gallons looks like? It’s about what you’d need to fill a small kiddie pool.

But the truth is, you don’t need me to tell you that soda isn’t healthy. We all know that America’s drink of choice contributes to our country’s ever expanding obesity problem.

Shocking Soda Fact #1: Soda fattens up your organs

A recent Danish study revealed that drinking non-diet soda leads to dramatic increases in dangerous hard-to-detect fats. Researchers asked participants to drink either regular soda, milk containing the same amount of calories as regular soda, diet cola, or water every day for six months. The results? Total fat mass remained the same across all beverage-consuming groups, but regular-soda drinkers experienced dramatic increases in harmful hidden fats, including liver fat and skeletal fat. The regular-soda group also experienced an 11 percent increase in cholesterol compared to the other groups! And don’t think switching to diet varieties will save you from harm: Artificial sweeteners and food dyes have been linked to brain cell damage and hyperactivity, and research has shown that people who drink diet soda have a higher risk of developing diabetes.

Shocking Soda Fact #2: Soda contains flame retardants

Some popular soda brands, including Mountain Dew, use brominated vegetable oil- a toxic flame retardant- to keep the artificial flavoring from separating from the rest of the liquid. This hazardous ingredient- sometimes listed as BVO on soda and sports drinks- can cause bromide poisoning symptoms like skin lesions and memory loss, as well as nerve disorders. If that’s not a good enough reason not to “Do the Dew”, I don’t know what is.

Shocking Soda Fact #3: Drinking soda makes you a lab rat

Many American soda brands are sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, a heart- harming man-made compound derived mainly from genetically engineered corn. The problem? Genetically engineered ingredients have only been in our food chain since the 1990’s and we don’t know their long-term health impacts because the corporations that developed the crops never had to test them for long-term safety. Case in point: Some recent findings suggest that genetically engineered crops are linked to digestive tract damage, accelerated aging and even infertility.

Go Red For Women presents: ‘Just a Little Heart Attack’

In today’s busy world, people are not eating correctly, and have a myriad of lifestyle-induced illness along with hereditary issues.  Many people truly don’t know what is the right thing to eat. Television and the media is filled with a lot of misinformation, magic cures, miracle diets. So much of this is trash, invented solely to make somebody's wallet fatter! 

I am here to sort it all out with you. Read more here.

What I won’t do is put you on a diet or give them a pill. What I will do is educate you to begin a new lifestyle change.

It is all about changing old habits into better healthier habits so you maintain a healthy weight for the rest of your life.

Diets are temporary, people go on them, they lose the weight and after six months the weight is back. Then they are on to the next new diet.  Yo-yo weight loss and gain is very unhealthy and hard on your body. So let's stop the cycle now.

In 2012, committ to fit. You are what you eat, so let's start eating smarter and feeling better!

author: Sports Fitness and Fun Health Counselor Gail Lordy, CHC, AADP

An 8-week Program to Help You Achieve Your New Year’s Weight Loss Goals!

Sign-up now at the front desk! 

Important Dates:

Weigh-ins begin January 16-22

Mid-point weigh-ins February 13-19th

Challenge ends with a final weigh-ins March 5-11

How are the winners determined?

It will be based on weight, waist circumference, BMI & Body Fat Percentage.

How will you be monitored? 

A special events/classes will be held for the participants throughout the challenge. An event calendar will be given at the time of initial weigh-in.  Each participant will have to log into a tracking book reviewed by Barbara Matchett, Group Fitness Director & Personal Trainer and  ail Lordy, Certified Health Counselor.

Special events/classes to include:

Consultation with Gail, Certified Health Counselor, Juicing with Roberta, General Manager, "Ask Roberta” on the fitness floor, Bootcamp with Wayne, Cycling with Barbara and/or Nancy, Yoga with Doreen and so much more!

Registration Fee – JUST $29.99

Prizes

Individual Women & Men (one for each category)

1st Place – $200 CASH, 6 month membership (value$329), 30 minute massage (value $45) and 3 tanning sessions (value $36)

2nd Place – 6 month membership & 3 tanning sessions

3rd Place – 3 month membership (value $219) and 3 tanning sessions.

For more info:

Contact Barbara or Gail

Some of her distinguished guest teachers/mentors include Mehmet Oz MD, Andrew Weil MD, Deepok Chopra, and Neil Barnard MD.

Ms. Lordy's lifelong interest in the relationship of food and good health led her to the career of Health Counseling, where she feels she can help people live happier, more rewarding lives. In the new position at SFF, Lordy will offer individual health and nutrition counseling to men, women and children. The new six month program will help each client find balance within their life.

"We are so pleased to have Gail on our team" said General Manager Roberta Fordham. "In this fast food world, where obesity and heart disease are on the rise, SFF has taken on a challenge to help our community and members learn more about healthy nutritional choices. After all, we are what we eat."

Read more about our health and nutrition counseling program at Sports Fitness and Fun.

Sports, Fitness and Fun is a 41,000 sq ft facility, offering adult and youth programs including full service health club with classes, state of the art cardio and weight machines, the area's largest gymnastics training facility, martial arts instruction, kids camp programs, fencing, an on-site cafe, birthday parties and much more. SFF is located at 1743 State Route 17A, Florida, NY 10921. For more information call 845-651-1000 or online at www.sportsfitnessfun.com

Toy donation for children in need graciously be accepted. Collection box located at our front entrance.

Sign up at front desk or call now to reserve your spot!!
Questions: email Barbara Matchett

Instructors for Zumba—Jenn, Katherine & Bridget

Instructors for Dance — Jenese & Dana