The Family Fitness Center, located at 2804 Birch Street, Parkersburg, offers a variety of fitness activities; a qualified, professional staff; and a clean, comfortable environment. For more information, call 304-424-BFIT. More information: Click here to visit their new web site

Overcoming fitness plateaus
A fitness plateau seems to happen just about out of nowhere. Everything seems to be going well and then inexplicably all gains, or losses, stop. Even the most diligent “gym rats” will experience a plateau if their routines remain unchanged for long periods of time.

Look at the plateau as a good thing: it’s your body telling you to change your workout routine.

Of the many ways to overcome the plateau…more reps, heavier weights…perhaps none is more effective and more fun than adding a fitness class to your routine.

The Family Fitness Center offers a wide variety of classes that will not only shake up anyone’s fitness routine but provide an enjoyable and effective way to get fit.

Classes can shake up your routine, give you faster results and introduce you to an entirely new type of workout.
Among the most effective and most popular classes offered by the Family Fitness Center are:

Bicycle Spinning Classes
Spinning, or "bicycling aerobics," is the popular fitness program using stationary bicycles. Classes, which are held November through March, are led by trained spinning coaches who guide the class up and down hills on a simulated course at different speeds using different hand and body positions. Classes vary from riding "flat courses" for building endurance to "steep climbs" for building strength. Spinning builds muscles in the lower body and abdomen and improves aerobic fitness.

Aerobics
Classes are offered at varying times six days a week. All of the FFC aerobic instructors are certified and the classes center around benching and other routines. A variety of levels including beginner, intermediate, and advanced are offered focusing on step, low and high impact, weights, and floor work a specialized ab class is also offered.

Aquatic Classes
The FFC offers vigorous water aerobics and therapeutic arthritic water exercise classes. These classes are a great workout done in a low-impact environment - great for people who are tired of hurting after exercise, but want to be challenged.

Pilates
Pilates is one of the fastest growing forms of exercise in the world. Pilates is a safe, sensible exercise system using a floor mat or equipment, that will help you look and feel your very best. No matter what your age or condition, it will work for you. Pilates improves core strength, flexibility, agility and economy of motion. It can even help alleviate back pain and other chronic ailments.

In addition, the FFC’s highly trained fitness instructors can recommend a class to target your particular fitness goals or to tweak your current workout to help get past that pesky plateau.