Quick Training Tips for 2008

By Ryan on January 3rd, 2008

Exercise Tips·                     Same as your eating, aim for “Quality, not quantity”.·                     Treat every training session as if it was your last, work to your potential ·                     It’s advisable to weight train 2 + times per/week to avoid metabolic rate reduction.  Muscle is a very active tissue, research suggest that the average adult losses 2- 5% reduction in metabolic rate every decade of life.  On the other hand a 1.4 kg gain of muscle tissue through weight training increases your resting metabolism by 7% and your daily calorie requirements by 15%.·                     Don’t perform weights of the same muscle group on consecutive days·                     Always give yourself a day off from training to aid recovery ·                     For effective cardiovascular training have a balance between both interval and long distance training ·                     Train to your reps – if you can perform two or more reps over the written rep range you need to increase the weights

Possible float of a major gym chain

By Ryan on November 6th, 2007

Sir Richard Branson’s gyms business, Virgin Active, is being groomed for a stock market float that could value the company at about £1bn.

Many of Britain’s major gym chains, Fitness First, LA Fitness and Cannons just to name a few are now owned by private equity groups. Private equity has been attracted to gym companies because they have traditionally had strong asset backing, such as freehold properties, and there has been the potential to consolidate the industry further. (thebusiness.co.uk)

Virgin is all speculation at present, time will tell as the gym market becomes increasingly competitive and big movers continue to flex their muscles. 

Another Gym chain to hit Australian shores

By Ryan on October 28th, 2007

Virgin Active are on the way to Brisbane Australia from as early as 2008.  Their health clubs are already a huge success in Britain, South Africa, Spain and Italy.

Virgin Active first hit Britain and Spain in 2005, when it took over 13 Esporta health clubs. Last year, Virgin Active became Britain’s second biggest fitness chain after a $1.5 billion takeover of the Holmes Place health club brand secured an additional 47 clubs.  The chain now has 165 clubs in Britain and Europe. 

Andrew McShea, Queensland spokesman for gym chain Goodlife, said he wasn’t afraid of competition.  “We know Virgin Active is looking to come to Australia, but it’s not something Goodlife is concerned about,” he said.  “We’ve got a strong foothold in Queensland and a bit of competition will help keep us on our toes.

“It’s also good for the industry and gets more people into health and fitness.”

LivingWell bosses said they were also confident in their brand strength.
A Virgin spokeswoman said that the Australian Virgin Active launch had yet to be finalised.  “It is one of the areas we are looking at setting up here because it is a very successful chain overseas,” she said.   (couriermail.com.au)

The plus of more gyms means more benefits for the consumer/members service is king in the fitness industry.  Price isn’t the consideration anymore.  People want to join a club that offers programming, specific guidance through personal training and many other related services such as; health and wellness seminars.  Tell us what you think???????  Service or facilities?

Ten Golden Tax Deduction Secrets

By Ryan on October 8th, 2007

Posted by Editor Choice    
Sunday, 07 October 2007 

 One of the key secrets to tilting the tax laws in your favor is to own your own business and shift the taxing structure to your advantage. In this article, we are going to cover just a small fraction of the 300 deductions that are available to you as a business owner.

But first, I’d like to start with a question: At any point in your life, did your accountant make it a point to do a comprehensive review of the tax deductions that you can put to work for you? If you are like most people, the answer is probably not. I don’t mean that as a slam against accountants. It’s simply a wake up call to the fact that most accountants and C.P.A.’s are simply income tax preparers, not income tax planners. They may do a fine job of preparing tax returns but the information that you are now learning is simply outside the scope of their services.

With that as a background, let’s take some time to highlight a few of the more powerful, yet lesser-known deductions that are available. When I speak at seminars, I often teach people about my Top-Ten favorites or what I sometimes call “The Golden Tax Secrets”. In no particular order, they are:

1. Achievement Awards:  Each year, your company can give away to its employees three separate awards. Each of these awards is worth up to $1,600 per year in kind.  That means that you can’t write the employee a check for $1,600, but rather, you can present him or her a tax deductible gift (in kind). Examples include ski equipment, a plasma TV, golf clubs, cookware, etc.  You get the idea.  The gift can really be anything other than cash.

      The first gift is for longevity. This is reserved to companies in existence for five years or more.  You can present the gift to your longest standing employee and if you are the ONLY employee of the company, then this would definitely be YOU.

      The second is gift is for safety.  This gift is typically reserved for companies in a risky business like construction or a factory.  I suppose rehabbing real estate would qualify.

      The third gift is for sales excellence.  You can award your best salesperson this award based on their outstanding performance during the previous year.

2. Your Annual Corporate meeting:  The law requires you to update your formal corporate documents each year.  This includes keeping accurate financial records, corporate resolutions and minutes, etc. So, as the owner of your business, you can combine your annual meeting with a vacation, kill two birds with one stone and make the entire trip tax deductible!  And you can bring your family, too.
  
3. Your Corporate Gym:  Unfortunately, the IRS won’t let you directly deduct the cost of your gym membership.  However, under section 132 (h) of the tax code, you can deduct the cost of the Gym equipment.  So that Nautilus set, your Bow Flex machine, even the Gazelle Trainer that you’ve seen on television – not to mention free weights, a work out bench, etc – are all tax deductible through your company.
  
4. Business Gifts:  Your company can give gifts to individuals of up to $25.00 per year. Often, these gifts are given as year –end or holiday bonuses. But a little known nuance is that your company’s gifts to other companies are unlimited. So I suppose your company could give a corporate gym membership away to your friend’s company.  I I can’t see any reason for your friend’s company to provide a corporate gym membership to your company in return.
  
5. Meals and Lodging:  Under section 119, your company can cover the costs of meals and hotel expenses required for overnight stays.  These trips might involve researching new products, better sources of supplies, new real estate deals, etc.
  
6. Put Your Kids on the Payroll:  Instead of paying your kids an allowance, hire your kids and put them to work. They’ll learn first hand, the importance of having their own business, and their salary is fully tax deductible.
  
7. Seminars:  Your company can pay for the cost of educational seminars- even if they have nothing to do with your current business.  So, for example, if you want to learn how to invest in foreclosures, your comapy can pay the freight. What about things like golf lessons, ski lessons, dance lessons or scuba diving?  These can all be included!
  
8. Dependant Care Plan:  The tax code allows you to deduct up to $5,250 for the costs associated with caring for dependants  This includes young children and our adult parents who, nowadays often have to turn to us for help.
  
9. Moving Expenses:  Your company can pay the cost of an executive move – whether it is across town or across the country.
 
10. Your Retirement Plan.  Your company can establish its own retirement plan.  It can include you, your spouse and even your kids.  There are MANY different types of retirement plans to choose from, and a retirement specialist can help you choose the best types of plans for you and your family. Imagine hiring your child, grandchild, or niece/nephew to work for your business and paying them a tax deductible salary which they place into a tax deductible retirement fund from the time they are age 7. You might also want to self-direct that plan into your favorite investments.  Just imagine the financial head start that would give them.

And those are just ten of my favorites. There are many more available to help you save on taxes. By applying these tax deductions, along with the other 300 deductions available to business owners, you can save yourself thousands of dollars each year on your tax bill. Take some time to see what deductions are available to you, and be sure you aren’t overpaying your taxes like millions of other Americans!

I have spent years studying the tax code looking for ways to help people lower their tax bill and keep more of what they earn. I have uncovered several tax deduction strategies that can be used by anyone to slash their tax bill and save thousands of dollars each and every year. I also focus on helping people protect themselves from the potential financial ruin of lawsuits.

Drew Miles
Find out more and get three powerful tax saving tools at: http://www.TaxSlashing.com/?kw=article
Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

Curves contributing to a great Cause

By Ryan on October 7th, 2007

Curves gyms are teaming up with the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraiser in October, which is breast cancer awareness month.

Between Oct. 8-20, if women bring in a minimum $25 donation to the American Cancer Society or proof of a current mammogram, they can join Curves for a special service fee of $25. Current members who donate a minimum of $5 will be eligible for weekly prize drawings all month.

source: www.dhonline.combreastcancer.txt

UK- Cheaper life insurance etc.. Choose to look after your health

By Ryan on September 27th, 2007

This was recently displayed on channel4.com A new type of life insurance policy has been launched that rewards customers who have healthy lifestyles with lower premiums.  PruProtect, which is a joint venture between insurance giant Prudential and South African insurer Discovery, will offer life cover, income protection and serious illness cover.
 
It will work along the same lines as PruHealth, which rewards customers’ healthy lifestyles with so-called vitality points, which can then be offset against the cost of annual premiums.
 
This is a fantastic move giving those who choose to live a healthier lifestyle non-smokers, exercise regularly and generally those who are proactive in the way they live their life a reward (or discounts) on the cost of their life cover, income protection and serious illness cover.  Wouldn’t it be great if this movement carried onto health cover in Australia.  Even better changes like this accompanied with tax subsidies for those who choose to look after their health. 

Financial Assistance to Lose Weight

By Ryan on September 13th, 2007

 A recent article released on ABC News ABC ARTICLE brings up the topic of providing financial assistance for people wishing to lose weight.  A doctors group has introduced the concept of providing a $170 subsidy for those attending an accreditted weight loss course.  

Participants of the course will set goals, be provided with assistance  as well as having measurements taken.  The Australian Medicial Association (AMA) has described the proposal as a ‘flash in the pan initiative’ with Federal President Dr Roseanna Capolingua labelling it as only a short-term solution.

I believe maybe a short-term solution that may have long term gain for some participants.  This initial course may just be the beginning.  From the Doctors perspective the group may introduce maintenence programs etc….    Why not trial a pilot program starting with just 100 people?   What do we have to lose?  A lot I think.  With 60% of the population overweight something has to be done other then just some ad campaigns. 

Tax deductions for fitness??????

By Ryan on August 29th, 2007

Recently, I read this article on the DallasMorningViews titled the the “Obesity strategy”, made by Michael Landauer.  He states that enough is enough; there’s been endless editorials regarding America’s and the world’s obesity epidemic and there’s been no significant changes.   There has been constant pointing of the finger but no real direction by the governments.  If our governments acted on smoking 30 years ago, the problem would be well under control by now.  Now it is time to make a stand on the obesity issue - no more side stepping the issue or worrying about offending people.  The government should be offering tax deductions to those that exercise on a regular basis and measured with yearly fitness evaluations.  Gym memberships should be entirely tax deductible as should 1 pair of exercise shoes. Hang on a second, maybe we should start turning our attention to the private health funds that like to provide a lesser service and a greater premium charged on a yearly basis (but the governments don’t want to know about that either). 
Interested in getting anyone’s views on this issue good or bad……

Virtual Personal Trainers….. What the???

By Ryan on August 24th, 2007

You’ve heard all the fuss about Wii systems and how there getting people off their butts and exercising.  Now there’s the new way to justify your purchase of a PS2 or Xbox as well.  With exercise assistnace provided to you buy your own virtual personal trainer.   The personal training program http://www.yourselffitness.com/ provides a variety of exercises by enlisting your new best friend Maya (your virtual trainer).  Maya takes you through fitness tests etc. 

I guess all you have to do now is ensure you’re motivated enough to put the program on, look at the plus side you can always turn the program off when Maya’s voice becomes just too annoying.

A recent fitness industry article about transfermymembership.com in the United Kingdom.

By Ryan on August 23rd, 2007

 Workout Magazine July 2007 The UK’s No1 fitness industry magazine

Written by Mary Ferguson
Mary contacted me at the end of May asking if I would like to have some input to her review about my site www.transfermymembership.com.  I’m happy to report that Mary produced a nonbiased review of my site and how I believe it will positively affect the fitness industry. 

Mary Wrote:
Ryan, a personal trainer who has worked in membership sales, believes trading memberships can benefit a gym in a number of ways.   He said:  ” I know how difficult it can be to sell yearly memberships to patrons who are concerned about being locked into an annual contract, so services like this can be used to reduce consumers’ uncertainty, clinching the deal. 

My input:
I believe, in today’s service based industry, gyms have to become more flexible to the consumer realising a persons situation may change.  In actual fact it can assist gyms in retaining a gym membership that would have been cancelled once the contract is completed. 

Mary Wrote:
“Gyms are under constant pressure to offer month to month contracts instead of 12 month tie-ins but from a business perspective six and twelve month memberships are essential to shield gyms from seasonal fluctuations in membership sales”.  
“Transferring memberships allows gyms to introduce a greater flexibility to the marketplace as well as enhancing the length of each membership deal”. 

My input:
I couldn’t have said it better myself.  The introduction of our site to the market place was to fill a need for both the consumer and the gyms.  Consumers or members may become disgruntled if they feel they have to continue paying for a membership they aren’t utilising.  On the flip side, gyms have to make money to keep their doors open.   It would be almost an impossibility for a gym to survive financially if they had to offer month to month memberships.  Making it finacially difficult in winter periods and the festive season.   The bottom line is, if gyms “don’t make money” service slips and so does the standard of equipment and facilities.