ARIZONA Weight Loss Programs

In an area that boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year, it is easy to see why many Arizonans are active. Whether hiking, mountain biking, swimming or playing golf, Arizona offers many options to the active individual. However, health clubs are still very popular in the area, especially when temperatures hit over 100 degrees. In addition, many Arizonans are very concerned about how they look year-round.

Mainstream is Not the Main Approach

Weight loss programs have started to lean toward a holistic approach in the Phoenix area, concentrating on mind, fitness and nutrition rather than just pounding away endlessly on a treadmill. "I think what's happening in Phoenix is similar to what's happening in the rest of the nation," says Cindy Cook, who works for Arizona State University in their Student Recreation Complex. "Fitness professionals are trying to find a common ground between resistance training cardiovascular training and body training on a whole such as yoga or Pilates[R]."

Cook also explains that a person must be mentally ready to go on a weight loss program. "If they are not in a state of mind to lose weight, then they are not going to be successful. Realistic goal setting is extremely important," she says. Cook recommends taking baseline data with a tape measure instead of fat calipers or scales. Exercise cannot be the only component to weight loss; nutrition must also be considered. With 2,000 personal trainers nationwide, Bally Total Fitness focuses heavily on personal training programs. "A lot of people feel that personal training is for the elite," says Dr. Paul Kennedy, Assistant Vice President of Personal Training Services. "We are trying to make our members understand that it is for everybody." In 1995, Kennedy was the director of the southwest market, hired to expand the personal training program nationwide. His focus was to improve on quantity and quality. "We think we have the best company in providing a quality facility at a reasonable price," he says. Kennedy's facility in Arizona gets the biggest workout in the summer. However, it is possible to be active all 12 months. "I do think in Arizona there is a little more awareness," says Kennedy, who has nine clubs in the area.

Fitness Trends

Currently, there is a lot of variety in what people enjoy doing to work out. "The biggest trends are kickboxing and Spinning[R] classes," says Ali Waelchli, Fitness Center Technician at the Paradise Valley Community College Fitness Center. "People are still doing step classes and all other types of aerobics, too." Waelchli also adds that the body loses weight as a system, so it does not matter what type of exercise the client is doing as long as they are active and burning calories.

A new piece of equipment that is becoming popular is the elliptical striding system. "It's kind of a cross between a treadmill and a stair climber," says Waelchli. "You're standing up, but your legs take a circular motion." The intrigue continues to grow in the area. "They've become so popular that we had to have people sign up for them," says Kennedy.

Martial arts are also becoming popular. Bally Total Fitness offers a class called Kwando which is a mix between martial arts, kickboxing and aerobics. Kennedy says it is similar to Tae-Bo[R], but it is designed with safety more prominently in mind.

Suzi Havens, President of Creative Fitness L.L.C., says she starts with the foundations and educates her clients. "We work on all the basics," she says. "Support groups are another thing. That's probably the number one thing for success." What methods does she teach for weight loss? Behavior modification, support, going back to the basic food groups, satisfaction and education are all on the top of her list.

"Most of the research performed recently has been in the area of resistance training and how resistance training increases your metabolic rate," says Cook. According to Waelchli, as lean body mass increases, the metabolism changes. A pound of muscle requires a higher amount of calories to survive than fat. This allows a fit person to eat more than an unfit person--an incentive for anyone trying to lose weight.

The Supplement Question

Kennedy's clubs now offer supplements. "Phoenix and Arizona have the typical collection of diet and weight loss centers. The reason our supplement line and our nutritional line expanded so much was really the demand for our clientele," says, Kennedy. He explains that working out is more important than supplements, but diet, strength training and cardiovascular training are all part of a weight loss program. "It's all three that we want them to do," he says.

However, supplements are not perfect. "I do think one of the downfalls of diet drugs and appetite suppressants is that they still don't teach you how to eat. You still haven't learned anything," says Havens.

Cook agrees: "There's continual research done on supplements and there continues to be no supporting evidence for a large number of the supplements out there. A healthy weight for a lifetime is not going to be accomplished by a quick fix pill," she says.