All FAA employees and contractors are welcome to visit the MMAC’s Aero-Fitness Health Center located in the basement of Building #29, also known as the Registry Building. The facility is comprised of 20,000 square feet and was remodeled over a year ago offering a new, fresh appearance.
The Aero-Fitness Center offers (40) cardio units to include treadmills, upright and recumbent bikes, Precor Ellipticals, Stairmasters, Concept 2 Rowers, Cybex ARC trainers, etc. There are over 45 Cybex and Precor resistance training units. Participants also have access to Icarian plate-loaded equipment, a dumb-bell area, (2) Smith Press Machines, and (2) racquet ball courts.
The facility also houses a steam room, dry sauna, locker rooms, and towel service. For those that prefer group exercise, there is a group exercise class schedule that includes Indoor Cycling, Cardio Kick-Boxing, Yoga-Fit, TRX classes and F.I.T. (a boot camp style class). The fee structure is the same for all FAA and Contractor personnel. There’s a one-time initiation fee of $40 and an annual ACWC, Inc. fee of $15 (ACWC is the Board that oversees the contract and reinvests these monies back into the wellness center). There is a $29.80 per month membership fee based on a month-to-month agreement. If you are interested in visiting or joining please call (405)954-8440.
Leptin is a hormone that was only discovered about 10 years ago and yet it is our most critical metabolism-regulating hormone. It can make or break weight loss. Leptin is a fat burning, master hormone that is needed to lose weight and also protects our bodies against starvation.
Leptin levels can drop as much as 50% after (7) days of dieting or restricted calorie intake which can cause leptin resistance. If you are on a restricted calorie diet you will love to know that you “need” to indulge in favorite and high calorie meals once per week.
Leptin resistance by definition means your body will not utilize this hormone effectively to use fat for energy and thereby you end up storing body fat even on a low calorie diet. The main strategy that you should be aware of to combat leptin resistance is overeating. Yep, you read that right! Periodic over-eating or what I will call “strategic” cheat meals like eating pizza and ice cream once per week will end. This will end leptin resistance. This concept is rooted in the fact that leptin levels are correlated with your calorie intake. So, going off of your regular healthy diet periodically and indulging in your favorite high calorie foods can bump up leptin levels. Go ahead, have a “cheat day” once a week by adding about 1,000 more calories than usual that day.
Other ways to improve leptin sensitivity include avoiding any and all fried foods, wheat-based foods (it is recommended to avoid grains and bread completely by current medical journals), and corn- and soy- based products and all genetically modified organisms (GMO) and processed foods. You now have permission to eat what you want, within some reason, at least one day per week! Yay! Note: This is only provided as information and not advice. We always recommend that you exact your own due diligence as you endeavor to educate yourself and improve your overall state of health and wellness.
Rich Burkholder, Director of Aero-Fitness Health Center, is committed to helping and challenging people to achieve their health and fitness goals.
