Experts: Fitness options exist in area

HUNTINGTON -- If people want to combat the Tri-State's recent notoriety as one of America's unhealthiest regions, one weapon they can employ is fairly simple.

And that's to exercise more.

Fitness and nutrition experts say plenty of exercise options exist in the Huntington area. While some people choose to run outside or hike up one of the area's scenic trails, others like to stay warm by bicycling on a machine or swimming indoors.

Fitness experts agree that no matter the activity, exercising in any form contributes greatly to a healthier lifestyle.

Leah Frye, a sales representative from Huntington, is a firm believer.

She said she began working out "obsessively" because she was worried her family's history of diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis would catch up to her. Her regular weekly routine includes weight and cardio training six days a week.

Exercising, no matter the intensity, has benefits that can be achieved by anyone, Frye said.

"Even if I don't feel that good going into the gym, I always feel good when I leave the gym," she said.

The benefits of daily exercise, whether it's just walking or something else, include better sleep habits, increased energy and patience, lowered blood pressure and the prevention of certain types of cancer, said Elizabeth Ayers, public health educator for the Cabell-Huntington Health Department.

The best activity is whatever makes you happy and keeps you active, the experts say. Fortunately, they add, Cabell County has plenty of exercise options, both free and otherwise, to help residents burn off calories and keep fit.

More people in the region no doubt need to be more active for their own benefit, local health officials say.

The Huntington-Ashland metropolitan area was mentioned in a Nov. 17 Associated Press article distributed across the country as the nation's "unhealthiest," based on data compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While some local experts disputed some of the findings that lead to that designation by The Associated Press, they concede that the region has its share of health-related shortcomings.

The statistics were for about 284,000 people in Cabell and Wayne counties in West Virginia, Lawrence County in Ohio and Boyd and Greenup counties in Kentucky.

The data put the Huntington metropolitan area at or among the top in poor health statistics, including the percentage of obese people and those with heart disease (22 percent) and diabetes (13 percent).

When it comes to exercise, for example, 31 percent of people in the area don't exercise regularly if at all. That's a far higher percentage than the national average of 22.6 percent.

With a number of alternatives in the Tri-State, experts say that such excuses as exercising costs too much, takes too much time and isn't worth the effort are not valid for most people.

Ayers said cost should never be used as an excuse for not exercising. There are a number of fitness activities that have little or no costs associated with them.

"You don't need a gym membership to go out for a walk," Ayers said.

The WalkItUp! program was created by the Cabell-Huntington and Kanawha-Charleston health departments to raise awareness of the surgeon general's recommendation to walk at least 30 minutes on most days. Walking, unlike a number of other strenuous activities, can be done by almost anyone, she said.

"Some people can't get on an elliptical machine for 30 minutes, so instead they can walk 10 minutes here and there," Ayers said. "It's an easy exercise that's not bad on the back or knees."

Frye, who exercises almost daily, said she trains hard "to inspire my friends and people around me to take control of their health."

Frye, who recently competed in a fitness and figure competition, said the culture of the community has to change from people rewarding themselves with food to rewarding themselves with a hiking trip or other exercise option. There are enough options for people to become fit, but people must first make the decision to become healthy, Frye said.

To get ready for her recent competition, Frye said she walked around her neighborhood before breakfast.

If walking on flat courses such as Ritter Park in Huntington is too easy, Ayers suggested people take hikes on more challenging courses.

The Huntington Museum of Art in Huntington and Barboursville City Park and Beech Fork State Park near Barboursville offer trails that accommodate all skill and fitness levels. Hikes at Beech Fork vary from flat, mile-long paths to tougher 5-mile hikes that can take several hours to complete.

No matter the exercise, Ayers said it's crucial to continue updating the distance or length of exercise time for individuals to keep making progress. Over time through consistent exercise, Ayers said routines should become increasingly difficult or rigorous.

If exercising outdoors isn't appealing, Huntington has several facilities that can be used to become fit. One popular option is the Huntington YMCA.

Huntington YMCA executive director George Smailes said the Y offers their members a variety of programs to shed weight or to promote healthy living. Memberships for the YMCA's May Building at 10th Avenue and 9th Street vary depending on age but a yearly membership for an adult is about $593.

Many times, local companies and employers offer their employees discounted rates for the Y.

The membership includes the use of a fitness center, free-weight room, pools, walking/jogging track and spinning studios. Additional activities such as steam and sauna rooms, tanning beds and message departments are also available for members.

Smailes said the YMCA also offers a reduced membership cost for people who qualify. The YMCA also gives away 400 free memberships to underprivileged youth and an additional 150 to senior citizens. Cost, Smailes said, is never an issue.

"We don't want cost to be the reason people say they can't work out," Smailes said. "We try to take away all barriers so people can be healthy."

Aside from the large fitness center, Samiles encouraged people who are attempting to lose weight to join one of the facility's programs. Several programs such as yoga, cardio kickboxing, water fitness and step classes are included in membership costs.

Another program aimed at helping people lose weight is the "Lighten-Up" program offered by the High Intensity Training Center on 5th Avenue in Huntington. HIT Center Director Amy Hanshaw said the center uses exercise physiology and science to determine the best route for weight loss.

While the center often prepares college football players for the NFL combine, Hanshaw said 90 percent of its business is based around fitness and weight loss for adults. Hanshaw said their scientific approach to losing weight gives accurate determinations about the abilities of an adult and dietary needs.

"There is a scientific reason for everything we do here," Hanshaw said.

Included in the program is a number of tests that determine oxygen consumption and resting metabolic rate, which allow the staff to personalize workout routines and diet recommendations. Following the testing, Hanshaw said, clients meet to discuss nutrition and what food can be consumed to lower caloric intake but still satisfy them.

After all the prep work is done, Hanshaw said clients have 15, hour-long personal training sessions at the facility. As the name suggests, the workouts are done with high intensity, she said.

"When people hear 'high intensity training,' they think we're going to beat them into the ground," Hanshaw said. "But what we're doing is taking what takes other people an hour-and-a-half to do, to do it in an hour workout."

Hanshaw said the success of the program depends entirely on the effort of the client involved. While some clients have lost more than 100 pounds on the program, clients have to continue with what they learn at the program and put in the effort to lose the weight, Hanshaw said.

The HIT weight-loss program costs $735 and the center gives clients an opportunity to extend the program. Some clients, Hanshaw said, have been with the center since it was opened eight years ago by Marshall professor Dr. Terry Shepherd.

Since its inception, 12 additional HIT Centers have been opened all over the county.

For people who can't afford the specialized weight-loss program, Cabell and Wayne Counties have a number other options to get healthy. For an annual $125 membership fee for adults, the Ceredo-Kenova Community Center offers aerobic classes, a fitness center with free weights, sports leagues for all ages and walking and exercise programs for seniors.

Serving ages 13 and up, high school students are eligible for a reduced fee of $120 a year and couples can join for $225 a year.

The Cecil H. Underwood Senior Center on 9th Avenue in Huntington offers free exercise equipment, nutritious meals and fitness programs for any senior in Cabell County. All a senior has to do is sign in at the front desk.

A YMCA program called "Weight Loss to Wellness," Smailes said, has an additional cost but is a complete plan for weight loss. For an additional $150 for members or $300 for non-members, participants go through a 12-week personalized program. It includes a meal plan prepared by a dietitian, weekly supervision and evaluation by an exercise physiologist and dietitian, group meetings to provide support and educational information and individualized exercise routines.

Smailes said the YMCA also has begun working with Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine's "Lets Get Moving" program to promote healthy living among Huntington youth at the YMCA's Kennedy Center Outdoor Recreation facility on Route 2.

In the summer, Smailes said the organization will make bikes available for families at the Kennedy Center so they can work out and have fun together.

"You have to make exercising a fun recreation for kids to enjoy it," Smailes said. "The challenge is getting kids to exercise without really knowing it."