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David Beckham is taking on Mark Wahlbergbut not on the soccer pitch.

The soccer icon is suing F45 Training, a fitness company co-owned by the actor, claiming it owes him millions of dollars for an endorsement deal.

According to court filings, Beckham entered a five-year agreement in 2020 to be a brand ambassador for F45. The company said it would pay Beckham $1.5 million per year, the filings said, in addition to shares of the company six months and 12 months after it went public.

In court filings, Beckhams management business said F45 did not pay him the promised substantial cash and equity compensation for his endorsement, even after its IPO in July 2021. It claims F45 failed to make good on the following promises: to transfer nearly 1 million shares to Beckham within the time period outlined, and to issue $5 million worth of additional shares.

Beckham claimed he received the initial shares eight months later than promisedby then, F45s stock had declined, costing him $9.3 million, he said. The Inter Miami co-owner sued the fitness chain in May 2023, claiming he is entitled to more than $14 million in damages.

F45 initially sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, but a judge denied the motion in September 2023, according to Fox Business. Lawyers for F45 denied Beckhams allegations in court filings. The company said the former soccer player did not fulfill his contractual obligations and had unclean hands.

On F45s social media accounts, its business as usual. The company is currently promoting Wahlberg Week, a free-trial week of workouts created exclusively with the Ted star.

F45 first launched in Australia in 2011, and has since expanded internationally to more than 60 countries, according to its website. F45which stands for functional exercise for 45 minutescombines elements of HIIT, circuit training, and functional training.

Wahlberg acquired a 36% stake in F45 in 2019 through his investment group, according to Beckhams lawsuit, and joined the companys board the same year. The actor was named F45s chief brand officer in 2023, and regularly appears as the face of the brand in promotional materials.

But F45s valuation tumbled just as quickly: It went public on the New York Stock Exchange in July 2021 with a $1.4 billion valuation, but then a series of issues, which Beckham calls fiscal mismanagement and macroeconomic pressures, followedand the company later revealed that it lost a combined $372 million in 2021 and 2022.

F45 delisted from the stock exchange in August 2023, after it failed to file its 2022 financials with the Securities and Exchange Commission in time, thereby not complying with NYSE rules. F45s share price declined by more than 90% in 2023.

Beckham is not the only former brand ambassador to accuse F45 of not following through on payments.

Beckham initially sued F45 in October 2022 alongside former world No. 1 golfer Greg Norman, alleging breach of contract. They were later ordered by a judge to bring their cases separately, and Norman did not pursue another lawsuit.

In 2017, prior to Wahlbergs involvement with F45, former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens was the first pro athlete to bring a lawsuit against the fitness company, claiming it owed him $700,000.

Owenss lawsuit claims he agreed to appear in a promotional video for $15,000and received the payment. But Owens also claimed that F45 promised to pay him an additional $25,000 per gym for the first 25 gyms opened, and an additional $5,000 for every opening that followed.

F45 publicly denied the claims and said it would countersue Owens, but as of April 2024, it is unclear what became of Owenss lawsuit.

Were not a company that doesnt pay our bills, F45s co-CEO told TMZ at the time.

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Why David Beckham is suing Mark Wahlberg's fitness company - Fortune

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Fitness franchises should be operating as if they want to expand globally from the jump, even if they cant right away, argues Jarron Aizen, CEO of software platform Hapana

As the fitness franchise space heats up, many brands have their eyes set on expansion. Choosing the right software provider is an essential but often overlooked piece of the franchising puzzle.

Technology hasnt changed much to adapt with ongoing requirements of fitness franchising, said Jarron Aizen, CEO and Founder of Hapana, a software provider for ambitious health and wellness businesses. There is a lack of innovation across the board. This is where we feel Hapana has an advantage.

Think Globally From the Start

Aizen argues that fitness franchise brands should be operating as if they want to expand globally from the jump, even if they cant right away.

Franchises, particularly those founded in Asia-Pacific, are starting to think like a global brand from day one. This is out of necessity, Aizen said. The individual APAC markets are smaller than the U.S., so in order to grow quickly, good franchisors must be found relatively early in the journey. We think this is happening almost everywhere except for the United States.

Going global can be daunting, but Hapana removes the barriers, Aizen added. We offer a comprehensive solution designed specifically for international expansion.

Hapanas platform integrates multiple payment providers so theres no need to fret over regional preferences. It can also onboard new locations to accept payments online even in hard-to-reach countries at a speed most competitors cannot keep up with.

Pre-built shell templates make a difference for brands launching new locations in new areas as well. This saves time and resources. Hapanas multi-language member app also fosters a welcoming environment for international audiences. The platform also consolidates reporting to provide a holistic view of an entire networks global performance.

This keeps HQ in the drivers seat, Aizen said. The ability to drill down location-wide analytics based on the master franchisor, region, state, or owner is crucial to managing.

Data Reigns Supreme

At the end of the day, accurate and plentiful data is the main foundation any successful fitness brand interested in franchising needs to acquire. Brands are recognizing this, demanding it, and Hapanas stepping up to serve them.

Data is the new battleground in fitness, Aizen said. Optimizing your business and growth through data is at the forefront of most franchisees and head offices minds. They are all hungry for insights that help them optimize marketing, staffing, and member engagement. Having all data and reporting presented in a user-friendly, easily consumable way is vital to a quick-paced industry like fitness too.

Hapana accomplishes this by tracking metrics such as member attendance to build retention and engagement insights, smarter location analysis to support resource allocation, an always-on feedback loop to curate personalized marketing campaigns and more.

New features like custom data fields make a difference as well, such as the ability to determine who is actually a gym member, gauging things like whether or not an individual has booked a class before or is just paying a recurring membership fee.

Hapanas ability to operate on multiple levels helps its franchise partners to the damel. The software provider ensures efficient and smooth distribution of its data and services across multiple channels at once. Scalability is a strong secondary benefit alongside cutting-edge data.

Scalability is ingrained in our system, ensuring smooth integration with new locations and maintaining brand consistency across the franchise network, Aizen said. But the real key is data. Our robust reporting tools provide actionable insights for data-driven decision-making.

New Innovations Make a Difference

As gamification becomes more and more popular in fitness, Hapana also just launched a Challenges feature within its app. This program sets up group tasks for individuals at participating studios or gyms. Operators select goals or levels for members to try and reach, tracking their progress along the way to spur retention. Users are also encouraged to share their achievements on social media to drive engagement as well.

The Challenges feature assists franchise brands and individual unit owners alike.

Franchisors love the challenge features flexibility to create network-wide events or targeted studio challenges, with the ability to generate new revenue with paid entry options, Aizen said. These also provide considerable marketing opportunities that generate more revenue.

For franchisees, its also a competitive edge, setting their brand apart with unique challenges that boost member engagement and social interaction, all while keeping members motivated and coming back for more, Aizen added. Its a win-win for everyone involved.

Hapana is committed to dishing out more win-win opportunities in the future. The brand is currently updating its membership software to allow franchise HQs more control and access to detailed data.

Once released we believe this will be industry-leading and incredibly sought after by franchises, Aizen said.

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How Fitness Franchise Brands Can Win the Global Expansion Game - Athletech News

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has initiated a fitness and health programme starting this month to ensure that all its personnel on duty maintain a normal body weight and body mass index (BMI).

Kuala Lumpur JBPM deputy director, Rozihan Anwar Mamat said that based on screenings conducted last January, about seven per cent of its 923 personnel were found to be overweight, with BMI readings exceeding 30.

He explained that although these figures are relatively low compared to personnel in other states, they will not remain complacent and aim for all on-duty personnel to meet the prescribed weight and BMI standards.

He stressed that this is to ensure that all personnel are capable of performing rescue and firefighting duties effectively without endangering themselves.

This programme has been planned since last January and has been attended by 100 personnel, with cooperation from the Cheras District Health Office and Dietmonsta Sdn Bhd, a health food supplier company.

This programme aims to ensure that personnel with BMI readings exceeding the set standards can effectively and regularly reduce their weight without compromising their health, he told Bernama at the event here today.

Commenting further, Rozihan Anwar said that the BMI readings set for all JBPM personnel on duty range from 19 to 26.

Moreover, a recent permanent directive from the director-general for the year 2024 has been issued, stipulating that any personnel who fails to meet the prescribed BMI level will face disciplinary action and will not be considered for promotion or awards, he added.

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KL JBPM holds fitness, health programme for overweight personnel - theSun

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Life on tour is grueling (or so Ive heard), but Taylor Swift couldve fooled us with her seemingly effortless stamina throughout her 3-hour The Eras Tour show (complete with seamless outfit changes on stage, might I add). It got me wondering how she performs her way through 44 hits from her 10 studio albums without so much as breaking a sweat or popping one of the sequins off her red-and-sequined-snaked Reputation look. So naturally, I scoured the internet for every tidbit I could find about her wellness routine.

How does she sweat it out? What does she eat in a day? Is she just like us when it comes to self-care? Thanks to various sources including Swifts interview as TIMEs 2023 Person of the Year and her trainers April 2024 interview with Vogue, we have some insight into how she prepped for the demands of her tour. Read on for a breakdown of T-Swifts health and wellness standbys. Alexa, play The Tortured Poets Department.

Confessing that she used to tour like a frat guy when she was younger, Swift didnt mess around this time. I knew this tour was harder than anything Id ever done before by a long shot,she admitted to Time. I finally, for the very first time, physically prepared correctly. Her trainer Kirk Myers, who prepared her for The Eras Tour, told Vogue that they approached her training with the mindset of a professional athlete where she has off-season and on-season. (Perhaps she got some inspo from Travis Kelce?)

When shes not on tour (or her off-season), Swift works out up to six days a week for sometimes two hours a day to prepare for the grueling tour. Six months before the first show, Swift hit the ground (or the treadmill) running. Every day I would run on the treadmill, singing the entire set list out loud, she shared with Time. Fast for fast songs, and a jog or a fast walk for slow songs.So basically she was doing her own version of the Taylor Swift treadmill workout.

In addition to training her body for the tour, she also had to train her dance moves. For that, she enlisted the help of choreographer Mandy Moore and trained for three months before the first show. I had three months of dance training because I wanted to get it in my bones, Swift said. I wanted to be so over-rehearsed that I could be silly with the fans, and not lose my train of thought. When shes on tour (or her in-season), each show was a three-hour grueling workout in itself, so she limited additional workouts to two times a week with a focus on conditioning. Taylor trained during the entire tour, Meyers said. In-season training was more about maintenance, and so it was more likestability, mobility, biomechanics.

I wanted to be so over-rehearsed that I could be silly with the fans, and not lose my train of thought.

Non-stop, back-to-back shows call for some major R&R, and Swift does it right. In between tour legs, she spends 24 hours resting and recharging. I do not leave my bed except to get food and take it back to my bed and eat it there, she explained to Time. Its a dream scenario. I can barely speak because Ive been singing for three shows straight. Swift knows the importance of carving out time to do nothing. Shes got millions of Swifties depending on her, after all. I know Im going on that stage whether Im sick, injured, heartbroken, uncomfortable, or stressed, she expressed. Although we may not take the stage and have adoring fans, we all deserve respite, whether from workouts or the daily grind. Take a breatherbe it a day in bed like Taylor, a walk around the block, or DIY-ing a lymphatic massage.

Show biz is not without its fad diets, cleanses, and quick fixes, but dont count Swift as part of that crowd. She takes a balanced approach to her diet. The only info my extensive research found on her diet was from 2010 (thats Fearless era, yall), but I think its still good advice:I try to keep it lighter, but its nothing too regimented or crazy, Swift told WebMD in 2010. I dont like to create too many rules where I dont need them. We know whats good for us, thanks to common sense. If youre a Swiftie, you already know she has a sweet tooth. I bake pumpkin bread for everyone I know and make ginger molasses cookies and hot chocolate and chai, she told Bon Apptit in 2012 (more importantly known as the Red era). As for her go-to drinks? Skinny vanilla lattes on weekdays and PSLs on weekends. The point is Im never cutting out what I love, Swift informed WebMD.

One exception to her balance-first and no-restriction mentality: Swift cut out alcohol in preparation for The Eras Tour. I was really disciplined about drinking, she told Time. I stopped drinking for a couple of months before the show except for on Grammy night. Doing that show with a hangoverI dont want to know that world. (P.S. If you dont want to cut alcohol completely like Swift, try these simple alternatives).

From interviews in 2010 to her most recent in 2023, it seems Swift has always turned to writing and creating art as key mental health practices. From a young age, any time I would feel pain I would think, Its OK, I can write about this after school,' Swift said in 2010. As a young kid, I learned to process my emotions by writing. Swift was onto something; putting pen to paper has benefits like reducing stress, creating space from negative thoughts, and deepening self-discovery.

Swift takes to her songwriting and music to process her feels: Anytime something hurts, like rejection or sadness or loneliness, or I feel joy or I fall in love, I ask myself, Can I write a song about this so I know how I feel?' she continued in 2010. Even if your journal entries about your feelings dont become a platinum hit, journaling can help process emotions. Think of it like a therapy session with yourself. There is one thing Ive learned: My response to anything that happens, good or bad, is to keep making things. Keep making art, she conveyed to Time in 2023.

Another key mental health practice is to set boundaries, not stress about things that are out of control, and prioritize joy. Over the years, Ive learned I dont have the time or bandwidth to get pressed about things that dont matter, Swift voiced. Yes, if I go out to dinner, theres going to be a whole chaotic situation outside the restaurant. But I still want to go to dinner with my friends. The moral of her story? Life is short. Have adventures. Enough said.

Yes, if I go out to dinner, theres going to be a whole chaotic situation outside the restaurant. But I still want to go to dinner with my friends. Life is short. Have adventures.

In her 2010 interview with WebMD, Swift didnt sugarcoat life on tour: riding hours on a bus, giving it her all on stage, and getting less sleep can feel draining. Her key to staying balanced through it all is following a comforting routine and packing certain travel essentials. Her first order of business when settling into her hotel room is unpacking. I do it everywhere I go, Swift said. I really like the way it feels to have my clothes put away in drawers and my shoes in the closet. Swift also shared she brings candles to every destination. Even though she shared this routine back in 2010 when we were all blasting Forever & Always (not Taylors version) from our iPods, Swift is a self-care queen through and through, and we like to think shes putting in the same effort to take care of herself during her The Eras Tour today.

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The Wellness Routine Taylor Swift Swears By - The Everygirl

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Taylor Swiftreally is the manwhen it comes to working out.

In fact, her personal trainerKirk Myers believes that "some people would probably throw up or have to lay down on the floor if they trained like her."

"It's tailored," he told Vogue in an interview published April 19. "We approached her training for the Eras Tour with the mindset like a professional athlete. There was an 'off-season' when she wasn't touring and 'in-season' when she was."

And Taylor doesn't slack off just because there's a blank space on her tour calendar. According to Kirk, the "Fortnight" singer is in the gym "up to six days a week for sometimes two hours a day" during her downtime.

"Taylor is the most resilient person I have ever met," he said. "It's super-inspiring to see her consistently overcome obstacles and become better and stronger in the end. This also translates into her training and throughout her workouts."

The Dogpound gym founder continued, "I give her a difficult exercise or challenging workout, not only is she able to complete and push through itbut she also perseveres, moving forward into the next exercise. This ultimately makes her stronger, better and faster."

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Taylor Swift's Personal Trainer Shares Her Fitness Secrets to Working Out Like "Professional Athlete" - E! Online - E! NEWS

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A Fitbit can help you meet those all-important fitness goals. Graphic: Brittany Vincent

Looking for a way to track your activity so you can stay on top of all your fitness goals? A Fitbit is a fantastic device to help you with all that and then some. Nows the best time to buy one, as you can save up to $50 on select Fitbit trackers at Best Buy, including the Fitbit Sense 2, Fitbit Versa 4, and Fitbit Charge 6. You can save $50 on both the Sense 2 and Versa 4, while the Charge 6 will be $20 off, all of which are on sale through May 12. Theres no special promo code or any discount you need to automatically apply the savings will be taken off when you check out.

Fitbit Sense 2 | $200 | Best Buy Fitbit Versa 4 | $150 | Best Buy Fitbit Charge 6 | $130 | Best Buy

The Fitbit Sense 2 is the most advanced out of the pack thats on sale here, as it can help you manage and track your stress levels in addition to your sleep, sleep stages, and your heart rate. It also has a built-in GPS and over 40 exercise modes to properly track your movements and activity. If youre planning on snagging a Fitbit, thats the one wed recommend but the other two are excellent options as well if youd prefer not to break the bank. Either way, all three will save you some cash, so be sure to snag the one you want the most before May 12, when the sale ends.

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Save up to $50 on Select Fitbit Models at Best Buy and Meet Your Fitness Goals - The Inventory

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Doha, Qatar: The Emergency Department at Hamad General Hospital has improved the average waiting time for patients to be seen by a doctor, according to a senior official.

Prof. Aftab Mohammad Umar, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) speaking to The Peninsula yesterday, said efforts made to improve the level of care provided to patients at the Emergency Department have contributed to reducing the median waiting time for patients to be seen by a doctor to between 15 to 25 minutes from arrival.

The time is considered very good compared to emergency departments in the region, according to Prof. Aftab.

We have implemented new changes in operations and in the flow of patients, said Prof. Aftab, explaining about the reasons for the improvement in waiting time.

The Emergency Department at Hamad General Hospital treated more than 1,700 cases during the first three days of Eid Al Fitr holidays.

About 50% of the cases were with minor problems and the most common complaints were related to gastrointestinal system.

Prof. Aftab explained that HMC follows the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) which allows prioritising patients based on their medical condition.

Critical cases receive immediate attention upon arrival at the Emergency Department, they have zero waiting time, he said.

Low priority cases will be seen by a doctor at an average of 15 to 20 minutes, said Prof. Aftab, adding that the waiting time is subject to change depending on the condition and number of patients visiting the Emergency Department at a given time.

According to Prof. Aftab, almost 50% of the cases at the Emergency Department present with conditions which are at low acuity. CTAS is considered the most predominantly accepted method for grouping patients according to the severity of their condition. Patient acuity refers to the severity of an illness or medical condition. It is often used to designate which patients should be seen first. A high-acuity patient is one who is severely ill and should receive care before others.

Prof. Aftab also noted that all emergency departments across HMC operate around the clock, seven days a week, with a medical team consisting of consultant physicians and specialists. They are scheduled according to patient volumes throughout the day.

We have medical teams ready around the clock to handle all cases, he said. The Ambulance Service, trauma and emergency departments across HMC hospitals and paediatric emergency centres provide care to patients with the most critical, life-threatening conditions.

Some 11 Urgent Care Units operated by the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) provide urgent care services to patients with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions. Among the units, five offer services to adults and paediatrics. HMC and PHCC also operate Urgent Consultation Service helplines.

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Patient waiting time at HGH Emergency Department improves significantly - The Peninsula

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2023 was the year ofThe Moose Mitchell Hooper, and 2024 appears to be on a similar path for the 28-year-old Strongman.Hooper defended his title at the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic, won the 2024 Arnold Strongman UK, and is set to compete next at the 2024 Worlds Strongest Man (WSM) his first WSM title defense attempt.

As the first Canadian to hold the WSM title in nearly 50 years, he will surely bring his best. During his prep, Hooper is still building upon the boom of his online presence and recently took to his YouTube channel to dispel 10 fitness myths. Check them out below:

[Related: Hafthor Bjrnsson Shares His 2024 Competition Schedule]

A seemingly newer fitness trend is the notion that long, complexwarm-upsare crucial before training.You will never prevent every possible injury, says Hooper. Dont overcomplicate your warm-up.

Instead, Hooper advises using the same exercise for warm-ups and working sets. For example, when performing squats, start with three to four light sets of squats, then gradually increase the weight.

Those with 45 minutes or more for an in-depth mobility routine can do yoga. Hooper reminded viewers that you can get away with shorter warm-up times in summer months (or in warmer climates).

Hooper doesnt buy into faddietsthat severely restrict, eliminate, or disproportionately prioritize specific foods and macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fat).

In a Western world, we just need to focus on eating a general variety of foods, meaning mostly balanced diets of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, etc.

[Related: Luke Stoltman Wins 2024 Europes Strongest Man]

Hooper isnt calling exercise a myth but referring to increased hunger pangs from exercise, leading to overeating.For example, cardio or resistance training as a means of energy expenditure to achieve a calorie deficit can be undone by consuming too many calories.

Rather than trying to burn an unsustainable number of calories to achieve an energy (read: calorie) deficit, Hooper recommends making the adjustment in the kitchen.

The only way youre going to lose is by dieting.

Weekly exercise and daily movement are valuable for health, so to put it bluntly, discipline is needed to lose weight.

[Related:Does Running Burn Fat? The Science Behind This Cardio Myth]

If youre an early to mid-Gen Zer, you may remember when gym bros comparedcreatineto steroids.Hooper was admittedly just as naive.

I saw a guy throw a track shot put. He was shredded, Hooper recounts. I told my girlfriend at the time, I just need you to know that if I took creatine too, I would look exactly like that. But Im just not because thats not who I am.

While Hooper knew little about creatine then, he now understands how beneficial the natural amino acid is for gains.

I believe [creatine] is an absolute must for anyone who resistance trains to any extent.

Studied for decades andproven safe, creatine is the most effective ergogenic performance and muscle-building supplement in existence. Some literature even showsbenefits for the brain.(1)

Creatine has a phosphate molecule attached, phosphate cracks off, becomes ATP, that is then used for energy and movement, explained Hooper, who recommends sticking with creatine monohydrate since its the most studied form.

There are no secret meetings or hyperbolic time chambers for elite athletes. Many train at the training facilities similar to routine gym-goers. The basis of what theyre doing is working hard and being very consistent, explains Hooper.

Hooper noted that elite athletes at the top of any sport have some genetic advantage lending to their success. If youre struggling to deadlift 100 kilograms (220.4 pounds) and youre an adult male, give up your dream of winning Worlds Strongest Man and just focus on becoming the strongest version of yourself.

Regarding how genetics correlate with performance, Hooper deadlifted over 400 pounds (181.4 kilograms) before he started seriously training for pro strongman. Most people can only achieve this after years of training.

Hoopers go-to exercise to train forrotationalsports is squats. You get your power (To rotate) from the ground, the kinesiologist shared with his viewers.

Carbs areincredibly delicious, and they make me very happy, Hooper said. Two, they are the energy source for exercise that lasts shorter than three minutes. [Carbs] are theprimary energy source for any moderate to high-intensity aerobic work.

If youre a high-performance athlete, quality carbohydrates are your best friend before, during, and after workouts, and youd be hard-pressed to find any equalketoalternatives.

Neither good nor bad fats will make you gain weight, but eating too many calories will. To maintain health and bodily functions, we need healthy fats from foods like fish, grass-fed meats, pasture-raised eggs, nuts, quality dairy products, etc.

Two popular eating strategies, intermittent fasting and, more commonly, keto diets, effectively rely on dietary (and our own fat stores) as the primary energy source when glucose is in short supply. Somescientific literaturesuggests ketones are a more efficient energy source than glucose for the brain. (2)

Theres no evil when it comes to food.

[Related: Learn How to Make a Homemade Electrolyte Drink from a Certified Nutrition Coach]

Similar to myth five, there arent hacks to build muscle, per se.I believe the thing that has made me a champion time and time again is that I dont miss a day at the gym, expressed Hooper. I dont miss a rep, I dont miss a set, I dont miss attempting anything for a decade.

Although elite athletes may have more training and performance insights from access to trainers and competitive environments, consistency is what matters most.

Its fairly common to associate those who look overweight as unhealthier than their thinner counterparts, but thats not always the case. Hooper gave two examples of this misconception:

Never judge a physique (including your own) by its appearance because aesthetics dont tell the whole story.

Last but not least. Most people drop out early in their fitness journeys due to boredom, lack of passion for their goals, or exercise not being a part of their job.

In the end, you have to just do things you enjoy, said Hooper. Youre going to be consistent over the long run, and you wont hate your life for it.

Hooper is scheduled to defend his crown at the2024 WSM contestfrom May 1-5, 2024, in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Featured image: @mitchellhooper on Instagram

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Mitchell Hooper Dispels 10 of the Biggest Fitness Myths - BarBend

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Craig Benson to Remain on Planet Fitness Board of Directors

HAMPTON, N.H., April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: PLNT) (the "Company"), today announced that it has appointed Colleen Keating as the Company's Chief Executive Officer, effective June 10, 2024. At that time, Craig Benson will resign as Interim CEO but will continue to serve as a member of the Company's Board of Directors.

Ms. Keating is a proven executive that brings to Planet Fitness over three decades of experience across hospitality, real estate, operations and franchise management, with expertise in brand management and leading customer-facing organizations. Since 2020, she has served as CEO of FirstKey Homes LLC, currently the fourth largest single-family rental home property management company in the United States. As CEO, Ms. Keating led the strategic direction of the business, increasing operational efficiency and driving scalable growth. She also implemented significant brand-aligned digital strategies and helped drive platform cost reduction while improving the overall resident experience. Prior to joining FirstKey, Ms. Keating served in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), including Chief Operating Officer, Americas, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

"On behalf of the entire Board, we are thrilled to welcome Colleen as the next CEO of Planet Fitness," said Stephen Spinelli, Jr. (Ph.D), Chairman of the Board. "Colleen's appointment is the culmination of an extensive search process conducted by the Board of Directors. Colleen's deep operational knowledge, strategic mindset and understanding of large-scale franchise operations and consumer-facing brands made her stand out among the candidates considered. She also has a proven track record of building results-oriented teams and instilling cultures that put a premium on operational excellence and rigor, which we believe will be additive to Planet Fitness. We are confident that Colleen is an exceptional leader with the desired skills, experience and culture-first mindset necessary to accelerate Planet Fitness's next phase of growth. I would also like to thank Craig for stepping in as Interim CEO. His leadership at this important time in the Company's history has been critical to our ongoing success, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside him as a member of our Board."

"As Interim CEO, I have gained a greater appreciation for the Planet Fitness brand, our franchisees and our team, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve in this role," said Mr. Benson. "As we usher in this new chapter in the Company's journey, I am confident that Colleen is an excellent choice as Planet Fitness's next CEO, and I look forward to working with her as a member of the Board."

"As the next CEO of Planet Fitness, I am eager to begin working alongside the management team and hit the ground running as we position the business for sustainable growth and value creation," said Ms. Keating. "I have long admired the Planet Fitness brand and could not be more excited to dig in and help the Company reach its fullest potential."

The Company will discuss Ms. Keating's appointment along with its first quarter financial results on its earnings call on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 8:00 am ET.

About Colleen Keating

Colleen Keating brings over 30 years of experience spanning operations management, revenue growth and efficiency enhancement. Ms. Keating most recently served as CEO of FirstKey Homes LLC, a single-family rental home property management company, where she led the strategic direction of the business through continuous operations improvement, increasing scale, optimizing costs and resident experience. Prior to joiningFirstKey in 2020, Ms. Keating served as the Chief Operating Officer, Americas of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) (2018 2020), where she oversaw the operations of more than 4,000 IHG hotels across the Americas region, ensuring franchisee performance support and company-managed hotel operations. Earlier in her career, Ms. Keating spent 16 years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., serving in a variety of leadership positions of increasing responsibility, most recently as Senior Vice President of Franchise Operations and Compliance, North America (2014 2016) and Senior Vice President of Operations, North Region (2012 2014).

About Planet Fitness

Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the world by number of members and locations. As of December 31, 2023, Planet Fitness had approximately 18.7 million members and 2,575 stores in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone. More than 90% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the Company's statements with respect to the Company's growth and other statements that do not relate solely to historical facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "envision," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "goal," "plan," "prospect," "predict," "project," "target," "potential," "will," "would," "could," "should," "continue," "ongoing," "contemplate," "future," "strategy" and similar references to future periods, although not all forward-looking statements include these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are not assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company's control. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially include competition in the fitness industry, the Company's and franchisees' ability to attract and retain members, the Company's and franchisees' ability to identify and secure suitable sites for new franchise stores, changes in consumer demand, changes in equipment costs, the Company's ability to expand into new markets domestically and internationally, operating costs for the Company and franchisees generally, availability and cost of capital for franchisees, acquisition activity, developments and changes in laws and regulations, our substantial increased indebtedness as a result of our refinancing and securitization transactions and our ability to incur additional indebtedness or refinance that indebtedness in the future, our future financial performance and our ability to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness, our corporate structure and tax receivable agreements, failures, interruptions or security breaches of the Company's information systems or technology, general economic conditions and the other factors described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's views only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates or representatives undertake any obligation to provide additional information or to correct or update any information set forth in this release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

SOURCE Planet Fitness, Inc.

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The best tennis players even competing on their favourite surface generally have at least one humiliation theyd prefer to forget.

For Roger Federer, eight times a Wimbledon champion, it was losing in the second round at SW19 to the then-world No 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky in 2013. Eleven years earlier, seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras went out at the same stage to lucky loser George Bastl, the world No 145. Novak Djokovics worst moment also came at his best tournament, losing to the world No 117 Denis Istomin in 2017 at the Australian Open the event he has won 10 times.

The exception to this rule is Rafael Nadal.

At the French Open, where he is a 14-time champion, Nadal has only been beaten by two players. One is Djokovic, statistically the best male player of all time. The other is Robin Soderling. The Soderling defeat is the closest Nadal has had to his Bastl moment at Roland Garros, but it was still a last-16 match and the opponent was not a nobody. Soderling was the 23rd seed, and he would ultimately become a top-four player and two-time French Open finalist.

This was a different kind of upset, and overall Nadals near-unblemished, 112-3 record in Paris feels sacred, one he doesnt want desecrated with an unedifying defeat to an unfancied player.

All of this must factor into Nadals thinking, as he conducts a knife-edge will-he-wont-he dance before the 2024 tournament.

Monday, April 15 he confirmed that the ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona would mark his return from the hip and abdominal injuries that have kept him out since January, in Brisbane, in what was his first event for almost a year. His first match, on Tuesday, April 16 against Italian and world No 62 Flavio Cobolli, ended in a relatively comfortable 6-2, 6-3, composed of a few flashes of the Nadal that lost won a match on clay nearly 2 years ago, at the 2022 French Open and a barrage of nervous unforced errors from his opponent.

Speaking in a press conference prior to the event, he was cautiously upbeat. I decided to come here at the last minute, but the week has been positive.

The question is, can I or cant I? Im coming off two difficult years my body hasnt let me keep up with the calendar.

I dont know what may happen in the future, but I am treating this as my last appearance in el God (the Barcelona Open.) I dont want to stop being competitive. There have been very hard days, physically and mentally, but the good days are making up for it, he said.

Nadal is desperate to get fit again, having appealed to his fans that you have no idea how hard this is for me to not be able to play these events after pulling out of Monte Carlo. He needs matches, not just for fitness but for momentum as well, to build up the muscle memory and match practice that even veterans of his talent need come Grand Slam time.

There is a but. Matches mean risking injury and risking injury means risking Roland Garros.

He does not want to do any of this without feeling confident that he will not be exposed to the kind of humiliating defeat mentioned above. As Nadals near-contemporary Andy Murray has said, its about competing, not just playing. Murray, too, has spent much of the year making difficult decisions about how much more punishment he can take physically and mentally, as injuries recur and defeats against players he remembers sweeping aside mount.

GO DEEPER

Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and the hunt for a graceful and glorious exit

In this context, its understandable that Nadal is putting an enormous amount of thought into every decision he takes during a clay season where he remains the main talking point without even playing. His statements have the air of someone saying they might come to the party youre asking them about, but they cant commit yet.

The build-up to this Barcelona decision was carefully managed.

First training I am excited to be here for a few days before the start of the tournament, Nadal said upon arriving in the city. Im here to see how it goes, with the desire to try to play. Ill let you know. Its important to say that I dont want to confirm Ill be playing, but I hope so. Well see.

On Friday, April 12, he added in another post: Barcelona, today, Thursday. Training #2. Step by step. In another, simply the word Barcelona with a smiling face, accompanied by him sitting on a bench.

Open training sessions have been stage-managed, with Nadal smacking away groundstrokes under the watchful eye of supporters and media, but not serving or moving laterally in the explosive way for which he is renowned the areas of his game said to be most affected by his injury. Toni Nadal last week told Spanish newspaper Marca that he has pain when serving, but no other problem. A 6-1 practice set defeat of world No 6 Andrey Rublev on Saturday, April 13 was the most encouraging sign in his game since his last competitive appearance on court in Brisbane in January; an abbreviated serve motion, designed to reduce stress on his lower body, less so.

When he took to the court on Tuesday, all eyes were on his form and it held, even though his serve at times looked stunted, with speeds frequently down in the low 100s for miles-per-hour on his first.

Nadal is not being precious. He has suffered many big upsets over his career theyve just never happened on clay.

For a time, humiliating defeats at Wimbledon were a near-annual occurrence.

World No 100 Lukas Rosol in 2012. World No 135 Steve Darcis in 2013. World No 144 and 19-year-old Nick Kyrgios in 2014. World No 102 Dustin Brown in 2015.

These were all extremely painful losses for Nadal to take, chipping away at his aura of invincibility and ultimately led to the worst two seasons of his career, in 2015 and 2016. Similar defeats in the next few weeks wouldnt have that knock-on effect. This is expected to be Nadals last year on tour, whether he plays at Roland Garros or not.

The timing still matters because, in recent years, Nadal has seen his peers suffer at a similar point in their careers to the one he arrives at now.

Serena Williams penultimate Wimbledon appearance saw her forced to pull out with injury six games into her first-round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich in 2021. That same tournament saw Federer play the final singles match of his career, one that took in the only set he has ever lost to love at Wimbledon. He later said of the 6-3, 7-6, 6-0 quarter-final defeat to Hubert Hurkacz: The end of that match was one of the worst moments of my career because I really felt awful. It was over, the knee was gone.

The following year saw the seven-time Wimbledon champion Williams play her final match at the tournament losing in the first round to world No 115 Harmony Tan. Samprass defeat to Bastl meanwhile was his last match at Wimbledon an indignity suffered in the boondocks of Court No 2.

Nadal shares the inevitability of time and decline with his fellow greats. What sets him apart is that for someone as dominant as he has been on clay, any defeat on the surface at all will feel like a personal affront, a reminder of whats been lost.

Those absurd 14 titles at Roland Garros are not an outlier on the ground-up brick he has 12 at the Barcelona Open, 11 in Monte Carlo, and 10 at the Italian Open. Hes so synonymous with the Barcelona event that the main court there is named after him. Ranking points, 500s and 1000s aside, the pressure of returning on the surface youve made your own, at a tournament youve routinely won, on a court that literally bears your name, and suffering a sobering defeat is almost too ludicrous to comprehend.

Its a risk he has chosen to take.

The reality is that Nadal could lose in the first round at Roland Garros without winning a game and it would scarcely tarnish his unrivalled legacy at the tournament. But try telling that to the most ferocious competitor that tennis, arguably any sport, has ever seen. A defeat at the 2024 French Open would take his loss percentage at the tournament from 2.6 per cent to 3.4 per cent, over 19 campaigns.

It is an infinitesimal blemish, barely a single ball mark on a court of sheer triumph.

For Nadal, even more than the watching world, it remains almost unthinkable.

(Photo: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

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Rafael Nadals clay-court tennis swansong is a dance between fitness and pride - The Athletic

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