LIFESTYLE-related diseases can be prevented with the right combination of physical fitness and by incorporating a healthy diet, according to wellness guru and founder of HealthPro Solutions Sdn Bhd, Wong Yu Jin.

The 34-year-old, who is also the official wellness coach of Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 and the resident health expert for Esquire magazine as well as the Jam Break on Capital FM (at 6pm on Thursdays), is living proof that with the right mindset and guidance, one can adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Wong actually has a double degree in law and finance. He was propelled into setting up a corporate wellness business after experiencing taxing and late working hours, which did not give him any time for exercising.

�It all started about five years ago when I was in the law and banking sector. The lifestyle was not what I thought it would be. Being stuck in the office for long hours was bad for my health and it made me feel sick. I wanted a lifestyle change but I also wanted to change others to start living healthily. That was when I thought of going into corporate wellness,� said Wong.

He quit his job and spent the next two-and a-half-years becoming a qualified sports and fitness coach under the International Sports Science Association and obtained a degree in nutrition from the Global Institute for Alternative Medicine. Wong is also a certified hypnotherapist under the American Board of Hypnothera-pist, a certified neuro linguistic programming practitioner, a TLT consultant and a masterclass trainer.

The focus of HealthPro Solutions is corporate wellness and helping companies take care of the health of their staff.

�Healthy employees translate into higher productivity in an organisation. Corporate wellness is a relatively new concept in Malaysia.

�Prevention is key because medical inflation in Malaysia is increasing around 15% each year and is expected to double in years to come,� explained Wong.

Due to his background, he said he could easily relate to the problems of busy working people. �I know what it is like working until late at night, which is why I can structure a suitable fitness programme that can save time and improve health.�

The three major myths when it comes to health and fitness, according to Wong, are having no time to exercise, that it is too expensive and it is hard to eat healthily in Malaysia.

�Time constraint is the biggest excuse. I don�t tell people to join gyms but instead incorporate practical exercises into their daily schedule. When it comes to food, it�s about making the correct choices. I eat out most of the time and I can safely say you can make healthy options, even at the mamak eateries,� he said.

Healthier options for protein include tandoori chicken or fish tikka. �The meat is grilled and not fried. For carbohydrates, choose thosai or chappati instead of mee goreng or roti canai. One should eat less white rice, white bread and pasta. Vegetables, too, should not be drenched in oil nor cooked in coconut milk. I also tell my clients to avoid sugary and fizzy drinks as much as possible. Consume more fruits but try to avoid excessive consumption of jackfruit, langsat, durian and mangosteens as these have high sugar contents.� Food portioning and cooking style are also important.

�You get the same satiety when you eat a plate of mee goreng as a bowl of mee soup. The latter has less calories.�

With all the books on fitness and health available in the market, how does one know what sort of fitness regimens is suitable for them?

�Many of my clients get confused with the different regimens and they tend to change their workout techniques. I have a set system on how to do things. My advice is trust me, stick with it and you will see results.�

Wong said there were also specific training styles for women and men.

�The men more often want to achieve bulk and be muscular. For women, they prefer toning and definition. Some just want to be slim and do not care about definition.

�People need to know that the genetic make-up of men and women is different and this needs to be taken into account before embarking on a fitness plan,� he highlighted.

He said it was shocking when people do not realise the danger of being overweight.

�We always encourage companies to measure the body mass index (BMI) of their staff as it is a proven indicator of obesity. It is scary how people don�t see obesity as a threat,� he added.

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Corporate wellness guru

Five Points Fitness, in conjunction with MedaFit, is introducing a personal trainer-based, small group exercise program for people living with serious and chronic health conditions.

Corte Madera, CA (PRWEB) February 10, 2012

Beginning in March, Corte Madera fitness center, Five Points Fitness, in conjunction with MedaFit, will be offering a 12-week exercise program specially designed for people living with serious and chronic health conditions. The program is intended to link individuals and their medical team with an exercise routine specifically designed for people with certain medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, Parkinson's, MS, depression, and stroke.

The small group exercise program features personal and custom training with specially certified trainers, which includes resistance and aerobic training. The program will offer two classes each week with a rolling schedule option, so participants can start and finish depending on their schedule. Participants do not need to be a member of the gym to take part in the program. The program is offered at a discounted rate and participants receive full access to Five Points Fitness Center during the 12-week program.

“When I received a serious cancer diagnosis five years ago, it became clear there was little or no exercise support for people with serious and chronic health conditions,” Rick Davis said. “I set about forming MedaFit, the first non-profit in the country, to make it easier to take exercise from the doctor's office to the health club for all serious and chronic conditions. MedaFit is now thrilled to partner with Five Points Fitness to offer the first exercise class in the Bay Area designed for people living with serious and chronic conditions.”

For more information on Five Points Fitness, call 415-413-4154 or go online at http://www.fivepointsfitness.net. Five Points Fitness is located at 5651 Paradise Drive in Corte Madera.

About Five Points Fitness

Five Points Fitness in Corte Madera is a full service fitness center that offers highly affordable, customized programs geared to a variety of fitness goals like strength training, endurance training or weight training. The fabulous personal training program is the key to a successful, sustained and efficient training regimen. In addition to its roster of top notch, certified personal trainers, Five Points Fitness in Corte Madera also boasts a staff of specialists and instructors in various health and fitness disciplines who offer some of the best group exercise classes in Marin. These classes are free with a gym membership and designed to fit everyone’s health and fitness needs. Classes include In-Alignment, Yoga, Mat Pilates, Spinning, Boot Camp, and Zumba! Special health services include diet consultation with a certified nutritionist, physical therapy and massage.

# # #

Bryan LeFebure
Five Points Fitness
(415) 413-4154
Email Information

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Corte Madera Fitness Center, Five Points Fitness Introduces Exercise Program for People with Health Maladies

NutritionFreedom.com launched January 15 offering thousands of nutritional aids, health products and supplements at discount prices with fast shipping to all 50 states, including all military addresses. Interactive forums allow users to interact with one another, rate products and post and upload information.

(PRWEB) February 11, 2012

A brand new health, well-being and lifestyle resource center, http://www.nutritionfreedom.com, launched January 15. Featuring interactive message boards, adaptive search features and a comprehensive retail store offering over 4,000 products, Nutrition Freedom was founded with founded by fitness enthusiasts who understood the need to provide reliable, affordable and accessible nutritional and supplemental products.

Site users have the opportunity to rate and review products, create user profiles, and upload workout videos. In addition to offering low prices on thousands of products, Nutrition Freedom offers rapid shipping to all 50 states and military addresses. Most orders ship within 24 hours and arrive within one or two business days.

Nutrition Freedom is a strong believer in giving back to our community, our country, and to those who have fought so hard to protect our freedoms. That’s why Nutrition Freedom has made a pledge to donate 5% of the profits from each sale to the Wounded Warrior Project. The more you support Nutrition Freedom, the more we can support our veterans.

Visit http://www.nutritionfreedom.com today to learn more.

###

David Cornoyer
edcventures@gmail.com
877-482-5811
Email Information

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Nutrition Freedom - New Health, Fitness & Well-Being Site Now Open

To help people keep their New Year’s resolutions, Pacific Heights Health Club is holding the Stay In Motion Challenge, a 12-week fitness contest.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 10, 2012

Many people start the new year determined to lose weight, but tend to hit a wall and give up around week three. That’s why Pacific Heights Health Club (PHHC) is holding a 12-week fitness contest, the Stay In Motion Challenge, to help people keep their resolutions and become healthier. The contest begins on Monday, February 6 but the last day to sign up is Friday February 10! Winners will receive a gift basket and have the chance to get the grand prize, a treasure trove of giveaways from neighborhood merchants.

“We’re doing what we can to make sure members, especially the new ones, don’t drop off after February. The challenge participants love the support we’re providing and almost all of them have requested that we follow up with them if they don’t show up after a week,” explains Courtney Jackson, General Manager of PHHC.

The contest allows participants to choose specific tracks to follow, including: lose weight/body fat, build muscle, decrease stress, strengthen core, or improve overall fitness. The challenge includes a 30-minute consultation with a personal trainer and unlimited classes led by trainers. Participants will set goals for cardio and strength training and get the support they need to stick with it.

“I’m definitely doing the challenge again this year,” declares Christina Dreyer, CPA, one of the winners of the 2011 Stay In Motion Challenge. “When I did it last year, I consistently worked out at the club 3-4 times a week throughout the tax season and lost 10 pounds...and have kept it off. This year, it’s going to be all about balance and managing my stress level.”

Challenge winners will receive gift baskets from Pacific Heights Health Club and a chance to win the grand prize: a collection of gifts from nearby merchants including Athleta, Ayla Beauty, Flow Studios, Hlaska, Neal Pressman Bodywork, Out The Door and Vino.

“We want to build a strong sense of community while helping folks get healthy, happy and fit. The challenge has always been a great way for us to get to know our members and find out what matters most to them. This year, partnering with other merchants in the neighborhood to make this happen has helped us take it to the next level,” says Amy Lang, Owner of PHHC.

For more information about the Stay In Motion Challenge, visit http://phhcsf.com/stay-in-motion-challenge.htm, call (415) 563-6694, or stop by 2356 Pine Street (between Fillmore and Steiner).

About Pacific Heights Health Club (PHHC)

Pacific Heights Health Club is dedicated to creating healthy lifestyles one person at a time. Here, members can feel comfortable being themselves. They can connect with old friends and make new ones, and they'll see and feel the results of making healthy lifestyle choices. Best of all, they'll discover that fitness happens while they're laughing and having fun.

###

David Ashforth
David Ashforth
(866) 440-0075
Email Information

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Pacific Heights Health Club Announces 12-Week Fitness Contest

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/22a05e/health_and_fitness) has announced the addition of the "Health and Fitness Market Report - Focus on Clubs and Equipment - UK 2012-2016 Analysis" report to their offering.

The health and fitness industry has demonstrated a variable performance over the past 5 years or so. It is estimated that the UK market for health clubs including both the private and public sector was worth 3.8bn in 2011, while the fitness equipment market, covering both commercial and in-home applications, was worth an estimated 354m.

The health club market continued to grow strongly until 2009, buoyed by the local authority, corporate and wellbeing sectors, before demand was negatively affected by falling disposable incomes and rising unemployment. In addition, competition intensified with a number of new budget operators entering the market, pushing membership prices down and leading to a relatively high level of corporate activity. In 2010, the health and fitness club market experienced a first year of zero growth in more than a decade, although the market value is estimated to have returned to growth in 2011 - albeit at a low rate.

The fitness equipment market, on the other hand was affected early in 2008 by a fall in demand with health clubs postponing major refurbishment projects and the rate of new club openings falling substantially. This situation continued until 2009 leading to a fall in market value during the year. While the health and fitness club market remained flat, the commercial fitness equipment market saw a significant increase in revenues in 2010 as health clubs implemented refurbishment programmes in an attempt to attract more members.

The outlook for both of these related markets in the medium term is positive. These are mature markets, so growth rates will be limited; however, there is strong underlying demand for health and fitness facilities and, therefore, fitness equipment. It is estimated that by 2016, the market for health clubs will have reached a value of 4.4bn with the fitness equipment market forecast to be worth an estimated 403m.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. Summary and Future Prospects

3. Economic Environment

4. Fitness Equipment

5. Commercial Fitness Equipment Market

6. Home Fitness Equipment Market

7. Health and Fitness Clubs

Companies Mentioned:

Bannatyne Fitness BodyPower Sports Concept II Ltd Cybex International UK Ltd Dave Whelan Sports David Lloyd Leisure Group Decathlon DW Sports Store nergie Group Escalade Sports International Esporta Group Fitness First Fitness Options Gymworld Icon Health & Fitness UK JJB Sports Johnson Health Tech UK Jordan Leisure Systems Ladies Workout Express Life Fitness (UK) New Level UK Nuffield Health Powerhouse Fitness Precor Products Pulse Fitness RFE International Sports Direct Star Trac Europe Technogym UK The Club Company Topnotch Health & Fitness Clubs Total Fitness UK Fitness Supplies Versaclimber UK Virgin Active York Barbell UK.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/22a05e/health_and_fitness

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Research and Markets: Health and Fitness Market Report - Focus on Clubs and Equipment - Market Estimated to Reach 4 ...

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtFI-JmeGBo

10-02-2012 12:30 Feb. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Parents are borrowing record amounts to put their kids through college, jeopardizing their retirements. With the housing crisis, many families can no longer take out a second mortgage, one popular option for financing university studies. Janet Lorin reports on Bloomberg Television's "Surveillance Midday." (Source: Bloomberg)

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Parents Snared in College Debt Trap Risk Retirement - Video

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -02/10/12)- As the February 29th deadline approaches to make a contribution to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and as part of its ongoing commitment to improving financial literacy, BMO Financial Group will be providing daily retirement tips during the month of February from BMO Retirement Institute Head Tina Di Vito's new book 52 Ways To Wreck Your Retirement...And How To Rescue It.

Tip Number Nineteen:

Recognize the effects that inflation will have on retirement income

Understanding how inflation can impact your retirement lifestyle. Inflation is a measure of the rise in the price of goods and services over time. It is calculated by Statistics Canada based on the basket of approximately 600 goods and services called the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Although most recently inflation has been very low, it is important to understand that not all of the items in the basket of goods in the CPI go up by the same amount, and every individual is impacted differently by inflation based on what they buy within the basket of goods.

It is important to take inflation into consideration when planning for retirement as your nest egg may lose value over time - during your working years and in retirement - if not secured in an investment vehicle that ensures your savings are growing at a rate higher than inflation.

Tip Number Twenty:

Determine the size of your nest egg and how much is enough for you

To determine how much you will need to save for retirement, base it off of your current lifestyle, your desire to maintain or alter this during retirement and how much it will cost to sustain that standard of living. It is important to ask yourself the difficult questions regarding retirement. Be honest with yourself about how much you currently have saved, what you can expect from government and company pension plans, the number of years you plan to be in retirement, etc. Also be aware that there are a lot of unknowns that require contingency planning, such as life span, inflation, health care needs, market volatility and place of residence, that will impact how much is enough for you to sustain your desired lifestyle.

For more information on retirement: http://www.bmo.com/retirement

Get the latest BMO press releases via Twitter by following @BMOmedia.

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BMO Retirement Tips of the Day: Understand the Impact of Inflation and Determine How Much Is Enough

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Transamerica Retirement Services will host a webinar on February 21, 2012, at noon Eastern Standard Time, for third party administrators and financial advisors entitled “How Businesses Are Effectively Leveraging Social Media.” Social media expert D.J. Waldow will be the featured speaker of the webinar, which will highlight how businesses are using social media for marketing to and communicating with their targeted audiences.

During the webinar, Mr. Waldow will discuss real-life examples of how businesses are using social media to gain leads, increase brand awareness, communicate with customers, and promote products and services.

“We know that retirement plan professionals are seeking to better understand the role social media plays in the future of communication,” said Stig Nybo, president of Transamerica Retirement Services. “We look forward to hosting this webinar to share how and where social media is being effectively employed. Transamerica’s goal is quite simple – to help third party administrators and financial advisors better understand the world of social media.”

Mr. Waldow is a nationally recognized speaker on social media, and counsels professionals and companies on building social communities. He is the CEO of Waldow Social, a firm that specializes in the development, implementation and management of interactive programs to build leads, sales and online communities.

Third party administrators and financial advisors can register for the webinar by calling Transamerica at (888) 401-5826 and selecting option one, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

About Transamerica Retirement Services Corporation

Transamerica Retirement Services Corporation (“Transamerica” or “Transamerica Retirement Services”), which is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, designs customized retirement plan solutions to meet the unique needs of small- to mid-sized businesses. Transamerica and its affiliates have more than 15,5001 retirement plans totaling more than $19.5 billion1 in assets. For more information about Transamerica, please refer to http://www.TA-Retirement.com.

1As of December 31, 2010.

TRSC 6225-0212

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Transamerica Retirement Services to Host “Leveraging Social Media” Webinar on February 21

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -02/09/12)- As the February 29th deadline approaches to make a contribution to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and as part of its ongoing commitment to improving financial literacy, BMO Financial Group will be providing daily retirement tips during the month of February from BMO Retirement Institute Head Tina Di Vito's new book 52 Ways To Wreck Your Retirement...And How To Rescue It.

Tip Number Seventeen:

Be wary of using credit cards as a long-term loan solution

An easy way to wreck your retirement is to incur interest charges on credit card balances. To minimize interest costs and maximize savings, understand the rates and fees associated with your credit card, such as interest charges, annual fees, cash advance fees and foreign exchange charges, and effectively manage your purchases and payments. Also, take advantage of rewards programs offered in conjunction with your credit card.

Avoid charging items that you can't afford to pay off quickly as monthly interest charges can end up costing you a lot more than the original price of the item. Instead, save for the item beforehand and pay off the balance/charge by the due date to avoid additional charges.

Tip Number Eighteen:

Take advantage of employee benefits and save more money for retirement

Do not make the mistake of thinking you are alone in saving for retirement. Many employers offer registered pension plans such as a Defined Contribution pension plan (DC), Defined Benefit pension plan (DB) or a group RRSP, that match employee contributions. This is essentially free money that can easily double the amount of pension savings you accumulate.

Also, take full advantage of employee benefits such as insurance programs, dental and health care coverage, stock purchase plans, employee assistance programs and employee discounts. These are services that you do not have to pay for yourself and they will end up helping you save more money that you can allocate to your retirement or use to pay off debts.

For more information on retirement: http://www.bmo.com/retirement.

Get the latest BMO press releases via Twitter by following @BMOmedia.

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BMO Retirement Tips of the Day: Save More for Retirement by Paying Down Credit Card Debt and Taking Advantage of ...

There are many reasons I agreed to marry my husband, but one thing that clinched it for me was his answer to a question I asked early in our courtship.

“Where do you see yourself when you retire?” I wondered.

“I see myself in a rocking chair on a porch in a warm location watching our grandchildren playing in the backyard,” he said.

I swooned.

I’ve been looking forward to retiring with this man ever since. And in our 20 years together, we’ve had many conversations about our retirement plans.

Last year, Fidelity Investments conducted a survey to find out whether couples are talking with each other about how they see their retirement years. For the most part, the surveyed couples who were approaching retirement or already retired weren’t communicating well.

Less than half of couples were handling their retirement investment decisions and savings together. One-third said they either don’t agree or don’t know where they plan to retire. Nearly two-thirds of the couples approaching retirement didn’t agree on the age at which they would retire.

“Millions of American couples have worked very hard to save for retirement. However, far too many don’t take the time, or have the comfort level, to jointly discuss their plans for the future,” Kathleen A. Murphy, president of personal investing at Fidelity, said when the retirement survey was released.

Murphy said couples should sit down long before they retire to discuss not just financial issues but things such as what lifestyle they hope to enjoy.

Not sure how to get the conversation going or worried it will end in an argument? Then I have a book for you. In fact, this would be a great gift to give your spouse for Valentine’s Day. To me, the romance in a relationship is enhanced with better communication, especially regarding something as important as retirement.

So this month for the Color of Money Book Club, get “The Couple’s Retirement Puzzle: 10 Must-Have Conversations for Transitioning to the Second Half of Life,” by Roberta K. Taylor and Dorian Mintzer.

Taylor and Mintzer, who are relationship therapists and retirement coaches, offer advice that will help you map out a plan on how to live happily in retirement with your partner.

The two authors spend time addressing and then busting retirement myths. For example, you may think your retirement will be fine as long as you’re financially secure. That’s not necessarily so. What if your spouse wants to move Florida, but you hate the idea of living in a hot-weather area? What if you had planned on a leisurely retirement with a lot of traveling, but your spouse wants to stay put and keep working full-time or start a business or second career?

“There are major decisions to consider when planning your retirement transition, and you probably won’t see eye to eye on all of them,” the authors say. “Compromises often need to be negotiated, with offers and concessions going back and forth, until you meet somewhere in the middle.”

From the start, Taylor and Mintzer ask couples to take a 10-question quiz to see if they are in sync. Much like a therapy session, rather than tell people what to do, the authors use exercises and other people’s post- and pre-retirement stories to get couples to think ahead and anticipate areas where they might disagree.

“The structure may help you avoid arguments and have more positive conversations,” they write. “The goal is to clarify what is important to each of you in developing a shared vision for the next part of your life together.”

This book will help you create a long-term plan. Some of the must-have conversations include:

●At what age you want to retire.

●How you can talk about your retirement finances without fighting.

●Where you wish to live.

●How you want to spend your time in retirement.

Most important, when you have these conversations, have what the authors call a BLAST. Start with the “B” and don’t let blaming get in your way. Listen without interrupting your spouse. Agree to disagree if the conversation is getting heated. Set a safe space for your discussions. Take the time to talk without distractions.

I’ll be hosting a live online discussion about “The Couple’s Retirement Puzzle” at noon Eastern on Feb. 23 at washingtonpost.com/conversations . Taylor and Mintzer will be joining me to answer your questions.

Every month, I randomly select readers to receive a copy of the featured book, which is donated by the publisher. For a chance to win a copy of this month’s book club selection, send an
e-mail to with your name and address.

Readers can write to Michelle Singletary c/o The Washington Post, 1150 15th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20071. Or e-mail: . Personal responses may not be possible. Please also note that comments or questions may be used in a future column, with the writer’s name, unless a specific request to do otherwise is indicated.

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Talk with your spouse now about retirement plans