CHILDCARE HOURS

Monday thru Friday 9am to 1pm and again from 5pm to 9pm Saturday 9am to 4pm ~Sunday 9am to 2pm

We are trying to "GO GREEN"

 
Please take notice that we have placed Recycling Bins throughout the gym to encourage recycling. Please place all mixed recycleables such as aluminum, glass and plastic in these bins.

Colosseum Gym...Fitness Empire
"Keeping Families Fit Since 1998"
 

The History of New Year's Resolutions

With the Holidays already here and the New Year approaching, this is generally the time that most people take a second to reflect on the year behind us and look ahead at the year to come. What can we do better in our lives to improve ourselves financially, spiritually, emotionally and PHYSICALLY? It is no secret that most people make January 1st the day to change "bad" habits and to begin "good" ones. What better habit can someone adopt than exercise? The benefits of exercise and weight loss are tremendous. That's why the #1 New Year's Resolution in America is and always will be to Lose Weight, Get Fit & Feel Great! Being that we are Colosseum Gym and our original motto was "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" I found the origin of the New Year's Resolution perfectly fitting and I'd love to share it with you.

The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. when Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar.

With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future thus becoming the ancient symbol for resolutions. Many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.

The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.

The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back so he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. This began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts.

In the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year's Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the Annunciation. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1.

The Julian and Gregorian calendars are solar calendars. Some cultures have lunar calendars, however. A year in a lunar calendar is less than 365 days because the months are based on the phases of the moon. The Chinese use a lunar calendar. Their new year begins at the time of the first full moon (over the Far East) after the sun enters Aquarius- sometime between January 19 and February 21.

Although the date for New Year's Day is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year.

-          Don't go to a party hungry: we often eat faster and more when we are hungry - therefore eat a wholesome breakfast and lunch on the day to avoid overeating at the party.

-          Watch your portions: treat yourself to a nice drink, dessert, chocolate or sweets without guilt, but always watch your portion.  Go for small portions. This way you can sample all the different foods. Moderation is always the key.

-          Make a conscious choice to limit high fat items: high fat food items can be found in fried food, cream-based soup, cheese-filled casseroles, pies, processed meats such as salami and sausages, some pastries and baked goods.

-          Try different versions of egg nog: traditional egg nog is usually made with egg yolk and thick cream. Google "low fat egg nog" and you will find lots of low fat egg nog recipes. If you buy commercial egg nog, you will be delighted to find low-fat or fat-free egg nog out there - we can even find soy nog!

-          Try other versions of alcohol: instead of beer, cider, Bailey's and Kahlua, try dry wine, Bloody Marys or spirits with diet mixers which have fewer calories. Remember: Calories from alcohol tend to be stored in the abdomen. People who are overweight actually gain weight more easily when they consume alcohol.

-          Drink plenty of water: alcohol and coffee can dehydrate your body.

-          Physical activity: take nice brisk walks with your loved ones and enjoy their company in the holiday season. 

Skinny 6-Layer Dip

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

2 15-ounce cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

2 teaspoons chili paste or your favorite hot sauce

1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded low-fat sharp cheddar cheese

2 ripe avocados, preferably Hass

Kosher salt

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

5 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced

3/4 cup fresh cilantro

1 jalapeno, stemmed and thinly sliced

1 1/2 cups plain nonfat yogurt, preferably Greek

2 cups finely shredded romaine lettuce

3 ripe medium tomatoes, diced

Directions

-Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, beans and chili paste and heat until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Using a potato masher or fork, mash the beans. Remove from the heat, add 2 tablespoons water and mash until somewhat smooth. Spread in a 2-quart glass casserole dish.

-Scatter the cheese over the beans. Halve and pit the avocados; scoop out the flesh into a bowl and mash with 1 teaspoon salt and the lemon juice. Spread the avocado over the cheese.

-Reserve some scallions, cilantro and jalapeno for garnish. Pulse the yogurt with the remaining scallions, cilantro and jalapeno in a blender or food processor. Spread over the avocado. Top with the lettuce. Season the tomatoes with another teaspoon salt and scatter over the lettuce. Top with the reserved scallions, cilantro and jalapeno.

Per serving: Calories 290; Fat 15 (Saturated 5); Cholesterol 18 mg; Sodium 702 mg; Carbohydrate 25 g; Fiber 10 g; Protein 18 g

Featured Product Review

  Muscle Milk 'n Oats is a quick, convenient and portable solution for a terrific tasting, satisfying and highly nutritious meal-on-the-go. When you need to take breakfast or a healthy snack to work, it only takes a minute to prepare. All you have to do is add hot water and Muscle Milk 'n Oats is good to go.