Author Archives: Mary Obana

Results are IN! The 2013 Koko 5 Million Point Challenge to Benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life

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Hello Koko Nation!

This weekend, for 24 hours, our members, FitCoaches, owners, staff, friends and families across Koko Nation came together for the second annual Koko 5 Million Point Cardio Challenge, to hike and climb our way towards a common mission – to support the people we know and love who are battling cancer, and help them win.

Our goal:  to earn 5 Million Koko Points and donate our “steps” to help the American Cancer Society raise money for its Relay For Life® efforts, while raising awareness about the importance of regular exercise in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

This year, we strengthened our partnership with ACS, and they are thrilled to make our cardio challenge a regular part of their annual Relay For Life efforts. We are proud to say that Koko Nation ROCKED it this year, earning a whopping 4,272,450 Koko Points during the 24-hour challenge…a major achievement! This is 180% more points than we earned in 2012, and means a $10,000 contribution to the American Cancer Society, which will be distributed across Relay For Life teams in local Koko FitClub communities.

We are so thankful and appreciative of everyone who participated…you truly amazed and inspired us all.

There are so many incredible stories that came out of this weekend’s event. Some members took their personal challenge to a whole new level by walking the equivalent of a marathon – 26.2 miles of Koko Cardio sessions – to show how Boston Strong they are. Seth Miller and Chris B. of Plainville…we’re talking about you.  We look forward to hearing more great stories and seeing your pictures, so please share them on facebook.com/kokofitclub.

There were orange tutus and orange full body stockings. There was music and fun. Kids and laughter. There was a palpable feeling of positive energy across Koko FitClubs everywhere, and we cannot wait for next year.

Each club has a list of the final points across Koko Nation, so be sure to check with your FitCoaches or on your club’s facebook page to learn how your club contributed to this powerful cause.

On behalf of all of us here on the Koko team – including those who have fought and continue to fight their battles against cancer, our wonderful partners at the American Cancer Society, and the amazing local Relay For Life teams that hit the track each year for their own challenge… THANK YOU.

We look forward to announcing details for the 2014 Koko 5 Million Point Challenge, and hope you’ll join us.We hope you’ll be inspired to check out your local Relay For Life events and participate with some of your local KokoNuts. These events happen year-round throughout the country, and are a great, family-friendly way to get involved with your community. Be sure to tell them you’re a KokoNut! Visit http://www.relayforlife.org/ to learn more.

Yours in good health,

Mary Obana and Mike Lannon
Co-Founders, Koko FitClub

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Happy 2013: Wishes for a Fit & Healthy New Year!

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Holiday Greetings, Koko Nation!

With the new year just around the corner, I wanted to take a moment to reflect back on the wonderful success stories you shared with us in 2012 and to tell all of you once again how much I appreciate that you have made Koko a part of your lives.  I’m constantly amazed to see this huge, supportive community Koko Nation has become. (More than 15,000 of us in 110 clubs around the country- wow!) Even more, I am humbled and inspired beyond measure when I hear from you that Koko is making a healthy, positive impact in your lives and the lives of your families.

Thank you!

We can’t get enough of your success stories, and love nothing more than to cheer you on. Please keep sharing them with us! You can post them here on the Koko FitClub Blog, on facebook or right to the Koko FitClub website.

Below, I’ve shared one of the latest we’ve received. I hope you find it just as inspiring as I do during this time of year when we make new year’s resolutions and ramp up our fitness goals. Shoot for the moon, Koko Nation, because Koko is going to make it even simpler for you to be fit and healthy in 2013. It’s going to be a great year!

From our family to yours, here’s to a happy and healthy New Year!

Mary Obana
President & Co-Founder
Koko FitClub

“When friends I haven’t seen for awhile tell me I look terrific, I have one word for them – Koko! There’s no other place like it. Koko truly is revolutionary. It’s hard to believe it but less than a year ago I was in such bad shape I thought nothing could help. My lower back was riddled with pain. I went to acupuncture and practically lived at the chiropractor. When my son dragged me into Koko for a free demonstration I could barely bend over. I was 53 but felt 80. But, my 17 year old wanted to join and I didn’t want to be a spoil-sport. Besides, I was a natural for the Koko Back Strengthening Program. That all seems so long ago and far away. Since then I’ve lost another 10 pounds, put on some real muscle and feel just terrific. The best thing for me is that Koko gets results – and it actually fits into my busy schedule. If someone had told me all this, frankly, I wouldn’t have believed them. But I am living proof that Koko works. It’s also been great to have something positive to do with my teenager. Statistics show that kids with disabilities tend to be obese. I was intrigued as to whether my son would get results and stick with it. Well, he just loves going to Koko. The fitness trainers are so friendly; he just can’t wait to get there. Now he comes home and tells me that he raises his arms at school and shows his friends his “guns.” I am so proud of what he’s accomplished. Bottom line: Koko rocks!” - Leesa K. Donner

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On Point for the Best Workout Possible

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Friends, I love earning Koko Points every time I exercise! They are instant feedback on how closely I followed my custom Smartraining workout. A pat on the back for a job well done. I know I’m not alone in this, but you may not know what’s actually at work behind the point system. (It’s really pretty amazing when you get down to it.) So, I’d like to broaden your understanding of why we award you Koko points every time you exercise and how they are calculated. I also want to encourage their use for positive motivation.

Remember: In the end it’s not about the points, it’s about getting the best workout possible.

Koko Points are calculated based on how well you keep to your prescribed Smartraining workout during a session. You must:

  • Stay on pace for each exercise (indicated by earning a 100% pace score)
  • Complete all sets and reps prescribed by the Smartrainer
  • Use the prescribed weights for each rep/set

Surprised? It’s a common misconception in Koko Nation that a 1000 point workout is earned simply by getting  a 100% pace score on every exercise.

The most important role of Koko points is to motivate and encourage the good strength training habits that make for the most effective workouts possible. How it motivates and encourages is different for each person, just like Koko workouts are different for each person.  We know that for some, Koko points light the fire of an already competitive nature and possibly an obsession with colored lanyards. (Just fine if you remember- It’s not about the points!) For others, my husband and Koko Co-founder Mike Lannon is a perfect example, the number is simply good feedback that lets him know how he’s doing each session and he doesn’t ever worry about a few points here and there. Different strokes for different folks.

I leave you with this final thought: Koko points are for good not evil. They are feedback meant to educate and encourage good exercise form. Never let them become a de-motivator and never, ever feel discouraged by a workout that doesn’t earn quadruple digits. That would be missing the point!

Mary Obana
President & Co-Founder
Koko FitClub

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The Power of Mindset to Reaching Your Fitness Goals

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At a gut-check level, isn’t it true that when you decide to do something – like exercising or eating better – the level of commitment you have at the outset pretty much determines that goal’s failure or success?

To set the stage, my husband/fellow Koko FitClub co-founder, Mike Lannon, believes that  with the right mindset, you can accomplish anything. He applies it to running this business, to working alongside our Koko owners and most importantly, the approach we take to give our members the best shot possible at successfully reaching their health and fitness goals.

Imagine how excited he was to come across this research to back up what he knew in his gut to be 100% true.

Making a long term commitment to health and fitness improves success

The research showed that simply making up your mind at the outset that you are committed for the long term versus the short term determined the level of success. Wow. Progress wasn’t correlated to any other measurable trait or aptitude.Simply this mindset.

Think about what this means for YOU and your goals to get healthier!

Koko FitClub is designed to make exercise time-efficient to fit into your life, to be simple so you to show up and get it done, and to be fun so you’re motivated along the way. Health is not a sprint, it’s a lifestyle choice. Adopt the mindset that you will exercise and make healthier choices from here on out. Koko FitClub is here to help.

Be patient, be consistent, decide that you’ll stick with it for the long haul. You will be successful!


o)< STAY STRONG

Mary Obana
President and Co-Founder
Koko FitClub

Koko FitClub Franchising

Strengthening the Mind / Body Fitness Connection at Koko

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Exercise the mind body connection at Koko FitClubEvery time I workout on the Smartrainer, my goal is 1000 points. Something about that goal is extremely motivating for me. I’m not the only one…but there are also equally dedicated Koko Nuts who aren’t as “focused” on earning 1000 points every time. That’s ok, because Koko points are just one part of a much bigger motivational environment. We want to do everything we can, through Smartraining technology, supportive FitCoaches and the serene training studios they inhabit, to engage your mind as well as your body. And how we accomplish that is going to be a bit different for every one of you.

Typical fitness scenes include armies of people lined up on treadmills, all zoned out to the television screens in front of them. On the weight floor, folks go through the motions at a such speed you know they just can’t wait to be finished. The whole purpose seems to be to distract from the unpleasantness at hand or get it over with ASAP because it’s boring. Working out like this helps you achieve your fitness goals no more than living like this helps you achieve your life goals. It’s very simple: engaging your mind in whatever you are doing translates to better results. In exercise, thinking about your form and the muscles you engage with each movement allows you to work them more efficiently and effectively.

Mindful exercise is essential for success.

Here are a few of the ways Koko encourages mindful exercise:

The Pace Bar- even I can’t explain exactly why, but the Koko pace bar is absolutely mesmerising and we all try very hard to follow it. No more racing through reps. No more daydreaming. Following the pace bar results in optimal time under tension for your muscles, making the most out of every rep.

Koko Points- They are little rewards at the end of each Smartraining session or ways we compete with ourselves and others to stay motivated. Bottom line is, the more engaged you are in your workout, the more points you’ll earn. Maybe even 1000!

Smartraining Form Tips- Available for every exercise, every workout, with a reminder about how important the right form is to your results.

Michael Wood, CSCS- The awesome Boston baritone of our Chief Fitness Officer has coached Koko Nation through hundreds of thousands of hours of Koko Cardio workouts, and we can’t help but pay attention! (Even our Louisiana contingent has grown fond of his “Yankee” accent, haven’t you?) Shoulders back? Arms pumping? Abs in? Always positive, Michael keeps us thinking and encouraged.

No TVs- No need for the distraction. We are too busy following the pace bar and listening to Michael.

Variety- Every workout is different so you never go on fitness autopilot, repeating the same exercises over an over without a second thought.

FitCoaches- They make sure you feel welcome, supported, and well oriented. Most importantly, they are your BIGGEST cheerleaders!

Spa-like Atmosphere- There really is nothing worse that trying to exercise in a giant warehouse full of equipment, noise and REALLY LOUD MUSIC. And let’s not even talk about the smell. Koko FitClubs are intimate, attractive, quiet an clean. Perfect for mindfully reflecting on you and your workout.

All this is designed to help YOU get and STAY STRONG! Is it working?

Mary Obana
President and Co-Founder
Koko FitClub

Koko FitClub Franchising