Author Archives: Koko FitClub

Koko Sponsors Minnesota Man’s Attempt at World Record 45-Day Transnational Run

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Steve Knowlton with team Koko FitClub Dublin

The team from Koko FitClub Dublin gives Steve Knowlton a warm send-off on May 18, 2013

This week, Marathon runner Steve Knowlton, 47, of Prior Lake, Minn., started his attempt to set a Guinness World Record by running 3,100 miles from San Francisco to New York in just 45 days. The team from Koko FitClub Dublin, CA was there to give Steve a send-off and many other Koko FitClub teams from across the country plan to cheer him along the way.

He hopes his run, which started on May 18, will raise awareness for autism and Asperger’s syndrome, and has partnered with ANSWER, Asperger’s Network Support, GreenSneakers and Koko FitClub to raise money for those affected.

Throughout the 45-day run, Koko FitClub locations across the nation will collect used sneakers for GreenSneakers, which provides shoes that would otherwise end up in a landfill as affordable footwear to impoverished communities around the world. GreenSneakers, in turn, will give ANSWER 50 cents per pound for all sneakers donated as part of Knowlton’s effort.

“I want this run to be bigger than me – I want it to bring awareness to autism and Asperger’s, which has affected someone very dear to me, and to draw attention to GreenSneakers, whose mission helps give shoes to the neediest people in the world,” said Knowlton. “As a runner, I am acutely aware of the environment and our need as a country to protect our resources by recycling and reusing what we can.”

Knowlton, who has been strength training for his run at the Savage, Minn. Koko FitClub, inspired the chain to become involved nationally. The state-of-the-art workout centers, known for the patented Smartraining automated personal training system, will accept donations from members and non-members and send them to GreenSneakers. (Find your nearest Koko FitClub location here.)

“We are humbled that Steve is using this incredible feat to shine the light on autism and Asperger’s syndrome and help us strengthen communities through understanding, inclusion and support for those affected,“ said ANSWER Director Theresa Namie. “We are also grateful to GreenSneakers and Koko FitClub for their partnership in helping us get our message out nationally.”

Follow the run:

http://aspergersmn.org
http://www.stevesrun.com
https://www.facebook.com/SteveKnowltonRuns
http://www.facebook.com/answerMN

Support the cause:

http://www.razoo.com/story/Steve-Knowlton-S-World-Record-Run-1-In-88-In-Every-State

About Steve Knowlton
Steve Knowlton lives and grew up in Prior Lake, MN, where he was inspired as an eighth-grader by Peter Jenkins’ “Walk Across America.” His mother nurtured his spiritual strength, and at 13 his father encouraged him to run Grandma’s Marathon with him in Duluth.  Steve was the youngest runner to finish the race.  In 2010 he ran from Seattle to Key Largo, 3,717 miles in 100 days.  For more information, go to www.steveknowlton.com.

About ANSWER
ANSWER’s mission is to create a network that advocates for community awareness, furthering research, bettering education and support of individuals and families living with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.  The 501c3 nonprofit organization serves as an informational channel where ideas and resources are shared utilizing public relations, the internet and parenting networking.  ANSWER supports training for educators in the areas of social skills, daily living skills, relaxation, and transitional skills.  ANSWER offers a holistic approach – from diagnosis to independent living – by making resources available and advocating for affordable intervention and support programs.  For more information, go to www.aspergersmn.org, or www.facebook.com/answerMN.

About Koko FitClub
Koko FitClub first opened in Boston in 2008 as an efficient, lean-muscle-building alternative to traditional gyms and today has more than 120 company-owned and franchise FitClubs in 30 states. Its name, Koko, inspired by the Japanese word for individual, refers to Koko FitClub’s fully customized fitness and nutrition programs that make up the patented Koko Smartraining System. The Smartraining System is automated personal strength and cardio training, offering the benefits of a 90-minute workout in just 30 minutes, combined with Koko Fuel, the program’s integrated nutritional component. In 2012, the company received a Franchise Business Review Franchisee Satisfaction Award and this year was named to the 2013 Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500. For more information, go to www.KokoFitClub.com, www.youtube.com/user/KokoFitClubChannel or www.facebook.com/KokoFitClub.

About GreenSneakers
GreenSneakers is a nonprofit organization committed to serving the needs of other nonprofit organizations as they work to offset the costs associated with various organizational development needs. By collecting used tennis shoes for GreenSneakers, nonprofits can raise funds to put toward fulfilling their mission and vision. The program provides organizations with a uniquely effective and environmentally friendly fundraising opportunity that has local and global impacts. With a collection of sneakers for reuse, nonprofits help provide affordable footwear to people in need around the world. This activity greatly improves economic conditions in developing nations, as well, and provides sustainable job opportunities where they otherwise would not exist. In cases of humanitarian need, collected sneakers are distributed through reputable relief agencies that have the appropriate mechanisms in place to effectively engage in this type of aide. For more information, go to www.GreenSneakers.org.

A Letter to Koko Nation from the American Cancer Society

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Relay For Life Koko FitClub 5 Million Point Challenge

Dear Koko,

We are excited about our partnership opportunity with Koko FitClub in the fight against cancer! Being active for just minutes a day can add years to your life. Research has proven that we all benefit from being active, regardless of age. People who are active are less stressed, live healthier lives, and have lower medical costs. As you earn Koko Points at your clubs on Saturday, May 4th, know that every minute of your cardio workout is a step towards a healthier life.

We want to extend our sincere thanks to the Koko FitClub family for taking on this 5 Million Point Cardio Challenge to support the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life! Koko FitClub is a leader in the effort to creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Sincerely,
Cara Bauer & Wendy Casey (Koko FitClub Member)
American Cancer Society Staff

cancer.org | 1.800.227.2345

Koko Nation, we are so proud of all you do and we can’t wait to see the Koko Point totals start rolling in tomorrow morning…IT’S GO TIME!

Visit a Koko FitClub near you!
Change lives with us! Find out about becoming a Koko FitClub franchisee today!

Fighting Back Against Cancer with Fitness: Koko FitClub Member Spotlight

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Terry and the team at Koko FitClub Coral Springs

We are getting closer to May 4th and the kickoff to the Koko 5 Million Point Challenge to benefit Relay For Life®.  If you have ever “Relayed” you know that the whole inspiring experience is about honoring and celebrating those who have fought, and continue to fight  cancer. So, this week’s blog post is one great big celebration of a Florida KokoNut named Terry Best who, in the face of a tough cancer diagnosis, is empowered to fight back with Koko FitClub Coral Springs as his battleground.

Research has shown that for people fighting cancer, exercise can mean a longer life free from cancer. Besides enhancing overall health, mood and outlook, evidence suggests that exercise actually improves your immune system’s “cancer surveillance,” protecting you against future cancer recurrence. Terry’s story is bound to get you moving, and inspire you to sign up for The Koko 5 Milllion Point Challenge on May 4th benefiting Relay For Life®. (Which just happens to be the day after Terry’s birthday…) Read on!

By Special Guest Blogger, Terry Best

May 3rd, the day before the Koko 5 Million Point Challenge, will be my 65th birthday.  My wife and I have signed up for 12 and 10 cardio sessions, respectively, for this Relay For Life® event.  Before I retired, I always encouraged my employees to participate in the various Relay For Life® activities that were being held in the area.  I never thought it would mean as much to me as it does now.  I never thought I’d be the one fighting cancer.

Sixteen weeks ago I went to my primary doctor to see why I was so tired all of the time.  I joked with my wife that I probably needed my oil changed maybe had to have some of my fluids topped off.  After all, I am someone who takes good care of himself. (I’m 64 years old; 5’9”; 165 lbs; athletic; never smoked or experimented with drugs; having a drink means a glass of wine; and did I mention handsome? OK, OK, maybe I’m getting a little carried away.)  How could there be anything really wrong with me?  My blood tests were always fine, including my cholesterol that, for years, has been “in range” due to the pill that I take each night.  No cancer (EVER) on either side of my family, so that wasn’t even a consideration.  However, I was tired most of the time – unusually tired.  Well, that was sixteen weeks ago.

One look at my doctor’s face after he performed the always popular DRE exam to check my prostate said it all. I was in a state of shock.  There was no cancer in my family and absolutely no (none, nada, zilch) symptoms. During the next few weeks, it seems that all I did was schedule tests, spend endless hours in waiting rooms, take tests, wait for test results, schedule appointments to discuss test results with the appropriate doctors and then, start all over again. Life certainly had changed.

So, after ultrasounds,MRIs, PET Scans, bone scans and, my favorite, a prostate gland biopsy, the verdict was in:  I have a very aggressive case of prostate cancer.  It has spread from my prostate and is also now in my bones. That is labeled as “Stage 4” cancer. Lucky me – my cancer had no patience for Stage 2 or Stage 3 – it decided that Stage 4 is a much better place to be.  After all, with Stage 4 prostate cancer, it’s too late to operate. So, those smart, insidious cancer cells knew that they would be safe from the surgeon’s knife.

The protocol for my situation is hormone therapy, which deprives the cancer cells of testosterone. Without that fuel source, they die.  Unfortunately, at some time in the future, they will figure another way to thrive and we’ll have to go to Plan B.  Fortunately, with prostate cancer, (words that I never thought I’d use together) there are many other arrows in the quiver to use against it. The key for me, and all other prostate cancer patients, is to stay ahead of the curve and be in the right place at the right time when these new medications are available.

So, what does all of this have to do with Koko FitClub?  As it turns out, more than you’d expect.  When my oncologist told me that the depletion of testosterone will deprive the cancer cells of fuel, he also told me that it will cause me to lose muscle tone, gain weight and make me lethargic.  None of these side effects appealed to me, so I decided to do something about it.  While I’ve always been in decent shape, I’ve never liked the gym scene.  My wife and I used to belong to a health club, but I would head directly to the treadmills and spend all my time sweating and staring at a TV that was tuned to some channel that I would have never, ever chosen myself. (The treadmill must have worked at least a little, as I can proudly say that I was able to complete the Disney Marathon a few years ago.) I had no idea how to use any of the strength equipment and, even if I did, I had no idea what the correct weights, repetitions, sequences, etc. made sense for me.  But, as unappealing as going back into this situation was, when you find out that you have cancer, you tend to put things in perspective. I was going to work out.

As many of us do, I went to the internet to find a solution.  The amount of gyms and health clubs in my area is overwhelming, but they are all basically the same.  Pay your dues and figure out the rest.  They had pools and saunas and juice bars and basketball courts and racquet ball courts and spinning and twirling and preening and flirting and . . . well, you get the idea.  What they didn’t have was something for me.  They didn’t have something for a guy who didn’t need to lose weight, didn’t want to have bulging muscles and didn’t have a clue how to use the machines.  I needed a place that would provide both the roadmap to achieve my goals as well as the equipment/atmosphere that would make me feel comfortable doing so.  Then, I found Koko FitClub.

I met with the owner, Rob, and explained my situation to him.  Having cancer was still new to me and he was one of very few people who I had told about it.  I guess I wasn’t expecting his heartfelt compassion and, more importantly, his sincere desire to help me.  Rob showed me how Koko had various customized programs for a wide range of people with different goals, including (amazingly) mine.  Being able to do my entire strength workout  on one machine with a computer screen actually showing me how to do the exercises and adjust to my range of motion and strength variations was a revelation.  Could it be that there actually was a place that met every one of my needs?  And, to top it off, the owner, his staff and the other members of the club had the same mind set as me?  Sign me up!

So, what’s happened in the last sixteen weeks since that “you have a cancer” conversation in the doctor’s office?  Well, my testosterone level is now 0.00.  My PSA level went from more than 22 (2.5 to 4.0 is the target range) to 0.2.  And, my doctors are now using the word “remission.” As I’ve been told my cancer is “treatable but not curable,” “remission” is a wonderful word to hear.

What about the loss of muscle tone and “turning into a dumpling?” When my doctor asked me if I was experiencing any of the side effects that he warned me about – loss of muscle, lethargy, weight gain, etc. – rather than tell him about it, I handed him results I printed from my Koko webpage.  While I had to explain “Q Score” to him, the numbers and graphs of the other results spoke for themselves.

My first Koko workout was on February 4th.  My lean muscle was measured at 137 lbs. (I weighed approximately 167 lbs.) and my eBMI was approximately 17.  My “Q Score” was 58, which was very good for my age group. My lean muscle has INCREASED (remember, I had hoped to just maintain what I had) to 144 lbs. My eBMI remains in the ideal target range at 18.  My strength has INCREASED by 48 percent.  My Q Score is now 88, which is better than the average of any male age group, including those cool young guys in their 20’s and 30’s.  I’ve walked almost 100 miles and have lifted 500,000 lbs. I’ve accomplished all of this without any testosterone and, remarkably, actually enjoyed myself.

My doctor’s reaction was priceless.  Sixteen weeks ago, in this same room, he told me that I had aggressive prostate cancer and, obviously, it was a very serious conversation.  Now, he used the word “remission” and he was smiling from ear to ear (me too!) Having the ability to print out my progress and hand it to my doctor(s) is something that I never thought about when I joined Koko FitClub.  It has turned out to be a terrific way to show them how I’m fighting back.  

Fighting back. My treatment - receiving monthly shots in my hip and stomach and taking some pills each day – is relatively passive on my part. It’s up to my body chemistry to react to them.  However, by working out, I feel that I am actually attacking the cancer cells.  Each step, each completed rep, each scoreboard result on the Koko Smartrainer screen is evidence that I’m fighting back.  Koko uses the phrase “Stay Strong.”  That was the perfect reason for me to join.  I would have settled for “Stay Strong.” However, to my surprise, “Get Stronger” is much more applicable to what I’ve been able to achieve.

Terry Best

Sign up today for The Koko 5 Milllion Point Challenge on May 4th benefiting Relay For Life®.

www.KokoFitClub.com

Prevent Cancer Causing Chemicals in Your Grilled Food

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Sign up for the Koko FitClub Relay For Life Event

One third of all cancer deaths are related to poor diet and lack of exercise. The American Cancer Society calls on all of us to change that statistic. “Community efforts are needed to create an environment that makes it easier for us to make healthy choices when it comes to diet and physical activity.” We agree. Koko FitClub’s mission is to make it simple for people to get, and stay, healthy. In that spirit, enjoy this week’s blog post chock full of easy ways to avoid cancer risk by making better choices about what you eat! And then, sign up for The Koko 5 Milllion Point Challenge on May 4th benefiting Relay For Life®!

By  Debra Wein, MS, RD, CSSD, NSCA-CPT, CWPD

It’s almost barbecue season (fingers crossed!) and you might be thinking about pulling out the grill as the weather gets nicer. Before you start preparing those marinades, research shows that there are two potential carcinogens that you may be exposed to.  Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are found in the smoke created when fat drips from meat or fish onto a heat source, like the coals of your grill. The PAH-smoke coats the food, which we then ingest. The second type of carcinogen is called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) which form when meat is cooked over very high heat.  The HCAs are the caused by a chemical reaction that takes place, under extremely high  temperatures,  between the naturally occurring amino acids in the food and creatine present in muscle tissue.

I’m happy to say it’s easy to take a few precautions and stay on the healthy side of the grill.

  1. Do not eat charred pieces of meat or fish.  At the very least, eat them sparingly.
  2. Trim the visible fat to cut down on drippings.
  3. Switch to fish, which tends to have much less fat and will reduce the cooking time (and risk!)
  4. Oil your grill to prevent charred bits from getting stuck on your food.
  5. Use aluminum foil on top of the grill by making little holes and placing the meat or fish on top.  This will allow the barbecue flavor to still reach your food and will prevent any carcinogens from forming.
  6. Clean your grill regularly.
  7. Leave sugar-laden marinades until the end, after the food is cooked. Sugar caramelizes and potentially burns when exposed to high heat.

Some of the same choices you can make to avoid the formation of carcinogenic compounds when grilling can also help you boost your immune system and combat cancer-causing agents. First, choose lean proteins such as fish or poultry in place of red meat. Second, up your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, peppers and tomatoes are all rich in antioxidants.  Fresh fruits to choose from are papaya, kiwis and strawberries.  Fruits and vegetables are delicious and nutritious when grilled if you take the proper precautions as stated above.

Happy Grilling!

Today’s blog post comes courtesy of Debra Wein, MS, RD, CSSD, NSCA-CPT, CWPD Besides being the brains behind the innovative new Koko Fuel,  Debra is a nationally recognized expert on health and wellness and has designed award winning programs for both individuals and corporations across the country. She is president and founder of Wellness Workdays, a leading provider of work-site wellness programs, and has nearly 20 years of experience working in the health and wellness industry. Debra’s interests include bringing the latest developments in nutrition, fitness and wellness to her clients and to anyone who will listen. Her goal is to inspire individuals to make simple and positive changes in their lives that improve their health.

Step Up! The Koko FitClub 5 Million Point Challenge to fight CANCER.

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For 24 hours starting Saturday, May 4 at 8am, Koko FitClub will host our second annual Koko 5 Million Point Challenge in partnership with the American Cancer Society Relay For Life©.

We’re challenging our members, friends and neighbors in the community to come in to Koko FitClub during this 24 hour period and do just one 15-minute Koko Cardio session on your choice of the treadmill or elliptical.

DO YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES TO FIGHT CANCER IN OUR COMMUNITY?

All are welcome! We’re not looking for monetary donations – we just want your Koko POINTS!  Each 15-minute Koko Cardio treadmill or elliptical session completed during those 24 hours earns 500 points towards our goal of 5 Million Points nationwide.  If we meet our goal, Koko FitClub will donate $20,000 to Relay For Life© so they can fund support services for cancer survivors and their families right in our own communities.

DON’T DELAY!

Members: call, email or visit your Koko FitClub today and reserve your Relay time slot. Sign up for one 15-minute Koko Cardio session during the weekend of May 4. Want to do more? Sign up for TWO sessions!

Not a Koko FitClub Member? That’s ok! You can sign up for the challenge here: http://kokofitclub.com/Relay-For-Life.html Your local Koko FitClub will reach out to you so you can reserve your Relay time slot and they can set you up with a FREE 15-day Koko Membership.

Yup! That’s what I said:
FIGHT CANCER FOR 15 MINUTES…WE’LL GIVE YOU 15 DAYS OF KOKO FREE!

So, share this post with your friends, family, spouse, kids – anyone who is interested in giving 15 minutes of exercise to fight cancer. And, as a thank you to our guests, we’ll give them 15 DAYS of Koko for free.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: TELL US, WHO WILL YOU “STEP UP” TO FIGHT CANCER FOR ON MAY 4?

We all care for people who have fought this battle. This is an event to CELEBRATE their strength and honor their spirits. An important part of this celebration is the opportunity for you to designate your efforts in honor of the bravest fighters you know. More details to come.

So what are you waiting for?  Get your walking shoes spruced up and your team rallied!  Let’s ALL STEP UP to fight cancer TOGETHER!