The Lab's got the Formula for Fitness Success

Mention Bucks County PA, and people near and far are likely to conjure up images of art galleries and historic sites, charming bed and breakfast inns, and stately stone homes. But in the past, Bucks wasn't necessarily top-of-mind for advances in physical fitness, wellness and conditioning. That may soon change, because Doylestown Hospital has reinvented its signature fitness complex at The Health and Wellness Center in Warrington, and this January launched The Lab Fitness and Spa, an exciting new concept in fitness and total body care.

While the center's outward appearance won't initially change, the "science" of exercise will take center stage as Lab staff and trainers guide members through a dynamic new approach to achieving their fitness and wellness goals. Or as The Lab's executive director Amber Natale puts it, "It's not about the routine, it's about the attitude!"

Understanding the basics

To appreciate the impact regular exercise and physical fitness have on the body, it's important to understand the physiological basics. We're all made of varying amounts of fat, water, muscle and lean tissue, supported by a structure of bones and minerals. And though we can't do much to substantially change our water content, we can dramatically alter the amount of fat and muscle we carry around, says Natale. That's why the fitter we are, the higher our lean tissue percentage and the lower our fat percentage. If we're sedentary, however, our fat percentage creeps up at the expense of muscle. It's a key concept to remember as we age, because increasing muscle while reducing fat supports lifelong health.

An increasingly popular field called "exercise science" is uncovering new techniques for turning bodies into leaner, more efficient machines. By using professional expertise and the latest in workout technology, area exercise scientists can translate and apply the latest concepts to our exercise regimes, often with very welcome results.

Increasing muscle mass helps decrease fat tissue

Muscle is a metabolically active tissue that requires more calories to sustain itself than fatty tissue does. The more muscle we have, the more calories we burn just by existing, which helps maintain a lean frame. "Think of muscle as the engine in your car," says Jamie Tellner, Fitness Director. "The larger the engine, the more gas you burn to use it."

Research shows that muscle mass starts to decrease when people reach their mid-twenties, unless they are involved in an activity such as strength training that preserves and increases muscle mass. If we do nothing to maintain muscle, we lose tone, our metabolic rate drops, and we use calories less efficiently. The dialed down metabolism may escape notice initially, because weight and body profile may not change quickly or noticeably. But unless we compensate for decreased calorie burning abilities by lowering caloric intake - something most of us find hard to do - we pack on fat to replace the lost muscle. This is why many people tend to gain weight as they age.

Electronic system tracks workouts

"Get up and get moving" is too simple a prescription to help most of us stop and reverse this sneaky process. Happily, professional help is close at hand. The new Lab Fitness and Spa (formerly known as The Fitness Center at the Health and Wellness Center) has a multitude of tools to help almost anyone - from exercise newbies who want to taper down, to hard-core athletes gearing up for a strenuous event.

Fitlinxx, available exclusively in our area at The Lab, is one of the trainers' favorite tools for applying exercise science to individual member workouts. Accessible through computer consoles in the workout area, Fitlinxx is a virtual coach that tracks all vital aspects of a member's program, including strength training and cardiovascular workouts. The system records number of weightlifting sets, repetitions, range of motion, cadence, and progress during last workouts and aerobic activities.

"Since the system is electronic, it automatically calculates your entire fitness regime with the assistance of our Fitness Professors, shows your progress and plans future workouts," says Natale. "It's a web-based system as well, so you can access and add to the reporting remotely if you travel." Fitlinxx also helps exercisers replicate workouts from one session to the next, which enhances fitness progress for anybody, but is particularly critical for serious athletes.

Exercise professionals guide fitness regimes

The Lab has a new look and moniker. But most exciting is the dedication members will experience from the professional staff. "Since many entering the gym are unsure how to get started or stay motivated, we assign a trainer to introduce, teach and motivate each member from the very first day to many months along in their membership - as long as each member needs the boost," Natale notes.

Ready for action? Since exercise science points to activity as a golden key to longevity, we're better off shaking that leg even if we're reluctant to get up off the duff. With professional fitness staff like those at The Lab, shedding couch potato status becomes a team task.