Tag 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!

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!

21-Day Koko Booster Exercise & Nutrition Challenge Update: Week 2

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Karin has taken the 21 day Koko Booster exercise and nutrition challenge

Karin of Koko FitClub Herndon and all her Koko lanyards!

Josie and Karin in Northern Virginia are into week two of their 21 day Koko Booster program and they have been fantastic in keeping up with the Booster workout schedule. They also have been successfully incorporating their Booster meal plans into their busy lives.

Just to recap, two of our Northern Virginia clubs, Koko FitClub Herndon and Koko FitClub Ashburn each challenged a member to do a 21-Day Koko Booster Program, and to share their experiences and results with all of us. The 21-Day Koko Boosters are new with the launch of Koko Fuel and include customized, fully integrated strength, cardio and nutrition plans.

Heading into week two, here’s where they stand:

Josie, our 44-year-old mobile DJ from Koko FitClub Ashburn, has lost four pounds, her “Q” score is up to 18 and she’s lowered her eBMI to 46.6. (Remember, the eBMI number aligns with the traditional BMI scale but, unlike BMI, takes into account the amount of lean muscle in your body, a key medical indicator of your health.) Way to go, Josie!

“The strength work outs have been tough, but I am loving the results and the way that I feel,” she said. “The Fuel plan has given me a better understanding of how to plan meals that incorporate more fruits, vegetables, lean meats and healthy grains.”

Josie currently has a lean muscle level of 168.5 pounds.  The more lean muscle you have, the more calories your body burns during exercise AND at rest.  Lean muscle determines your metabolism and energy levels and affects your strength, agility and even your ability to fight disease.  As she continues on her fitness path, Josie may see her lean muscle level drop along with her total weight, but that’s to be expected. It’s impossible to lose only body fat when your goal is to lose a significant amount of weight. What her Koko Smartraining strength program will do is minimize muscle loss. We will see her lean muscle level make up an increasing percentage of her total body weight, and that will be reflected as a lower eBMI number!

Karin, our 53-year-old school bus driver from Koko FitClub Herndon has kept her weight in check and slightly reduced her eBMI to 25.6.  Her goal is to get stronger and increase her lean muscle level, which is currently 102 pounds. Love your consistency, Karin!

“I have tried the Koko Fuel recipes and especially love the turkey chili and all of the quinoa options,” she said.  “My family and I have been really focusing on making more healthy choices and are experimenting with different Greek yogurts to find one we like.”

Check in weekly to watch Josie’s and Karin’s progress as they incorporate workouts and meal planning into their daily routines and cheer them on as they start seeing results!

Keep up the great work ladies. Koko Nation is rooting you on!

Michael Wood, CSCS
Chief Fitness Officer
Koko FitClub
Customized Exercise. Customized Nutrition. Amazing Results.

Try a complimentary Koko FitClub workout near you!

Change lives with us! Find out about becoming a Koko FitClub franchisee here!