On the outside

If you read last month’s column on cardiovascular fitness, you’re now familiar with the benefits of exercise as they relate to the heart, lungs and vascular health.  As important and worthy as those reasons are, they’re not the number one incentive for training.  Admittedly, most people begin exercise and nutrition regimens based on concerns about what’s happening on the outside. 

Your body is constantly creating energy through metabolism, which is determined by several factors including activity level.  However, the majority of the calories you metabolize each day come as a result of the amount of lean muscle mass on your body.  Ever notice how “fit” people can eat anything they want?  Chances are, they’ve invested in a great deal of lean muscle mass, requiring higher energy demands.  The extra energy demand creates more calorie burn and makes the lean individual less likely to store calories as fat.

So, what can YOU do to make your body a lean, fat-burning machine?  To begin with, start a resistance training program, which consists of anything from bodyweight exercises like squats and pushups to functional movement with tubes, pulleys and free weights.  Your goal is to challenge your muscle by training around your top strength; thereby breaking down the muscle tissue and allowing it grow back stronger.  Please know this is not about building bulky muscle.  This strategy is simply about creating lean (toned) muscle tissue where there isn’t any or replacing where there is fat.  The results are exponential.  The greater you invest in your body’s muscle, the more efficient your body’s metabolism and the leaner body you will own. 

Jeff Howerton is a trainer and owner of LEAN personal training, where he and his trainers work with clients to lose fat, develop lean muscle and implement strategies for healthier living.  He can be reached at LEAN (615) 279-1900 or via email at jeff@leannashville.com.

LEAN’s 4 WEEK FITNESS 
This program consists of TWO (or THREE) Fast and Fit sessions per week at $30 per session.  Each session includes 15 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of resistance training with a LEAN personal trainer.  The program lasts one month, but clients who take advantage of this are welcome to continue at the same rate if they wish to do so. In addition to helping develop an exercise routine, a LEAN trainer will offer some basic nutritional guidelines that will help meet personal goals, as well as offer testing on flexibility and strength.

The 4 WEEK FITNESS can begin any day.  In order to learn more or schedule a session, please contact Jeff at (615) 279-1900 or Jeff@leannashville.com.

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

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by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

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Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

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