Get Fit and Eat Healthy in 2020
Let’s all take a moment to pretend that we’ll keep our well-intended New Year resolutions. Okay, with that out of the way, getting fit and eating healthier in 2020 can actually be fun.
Try out a new restaurant where the plant-based brownies and bison burgers are getting rave reviews; up your core strength by channeling your inner Cirque du Soliel self; slip on your Fitbit for a 9916-step walking tour of Downtown Las Vegas; hike around 4000-year-old petroglyphs; join a sports league, or go all-in with the support of a welcoming cross fit community.
Fitness
The city’s only 24-hour CrossFit gym is located in Downtown Las Vegas at The Promenade at Juhl, a 344–residence, loft-style community. Owned by power couple Allison and Brendan Gilliam, CrossFit Las Vegas offers yoga, boot camp and weightlifting classes in addition to having a 24-hour open gym. Trainers and coaches are hand-selected to ensure each class is taught with maximum professionalism to provide the most effective workouts. This high-intensity training is adapted to everyone’s abilities, keeping members healthy and injury-free. Locals can try it out for a week for free. For Juhl residents, CrossFit is practically a “home-gym” on the ground floor while residents of One Las Vegas on South Las Vegas Blvd. workout with spectacular views from the top floor state-of-the-art fitness center.
In addition to large multi-location fitness clubs like 24-Hour Fitness and Life Time Athletics, Las Vegas offers a number of unique and fun exercise options for strengthening that core and upping your cardio activity. So, if you’ve ever dreamt of being a Cirque du Soliel performer, check out Shine Alternative Fitness for aerial acrobatics on silk and loops, antigravity yoga and pole fitness. Prefer to keep your feet and body on the ground and your yoga a little more tranquil? Then check out Downtown Yoga and Wellness Co-op. Or jump into the ring for boxing lessons at the world-famous Johnny Tocco’s Ringside Gym.
Get Outdoors
Outdoor enthusiasts can burn calories while enjoying spectacular scenic views and desert wildlife. At Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area you can get up close and personal with 4000-year-old ancient rock art while hiking the 3.7-mile Petroglyph Canyon Trail. And, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area has 26 different trails to accommodate hikers of all abilities – from novice to professional. The Lone Mountain Trail is a favorite among locals thanks to the gorgeous vistas of the valley it affords.
Biking devotees will appreciate the 34-mile River Mountains Loop Trail that connects the Lake Mead Recreational Area, Hoover Dam and the rest of the Las Vegas valley. It’s an exciting way to get some exercise while seeing both the residential and recreational side of the valley. Or, explore the multitude of urban trails including the 7-mile I-215 West Beltway Trail, the 9-mile Flamingo Arroyo Trail and the 14-mile Las Vegas Wash Trail. In addition, the Regional Transportation Commission’s very popular RTC Bike Share program currently has 21 stations throughout Downtown Las Vegas where riders can check out a bike, including e-bikes, from one station and return it to another near their final destination.
If slower-paced exercise is more your thing, you’re in luck. The walkable neighborhoods in Downtown Las Vegas are ideal for taking a leisurely stroll, power walk or picking up the pace with a run. There’s even a walking tour available that hits the historic spots, the arts district and the entertainment district. According to UnitedHealthcare.com, the average Downtown Las Vegas walk-about is 4.96 miles using 9916 steps.
Then there’s golf! Las Vegas boasts more than 70 golf courses. And, according to Golf Digest, it’s been estimated golfers walk between five to six miles during an 18-hole round. At an average stride of 2.5 feet, this easily gets you to the CDC recommended 10,000 steps a day goal. Just swinging a golf club engages over 22 muscles including the external abdominal obliques and gluteus maximus. So if you don’t have time for a round check out Topgolf’s high-tech driving range and swanky lounge.
Team Sports
You named the sport and Las Vegas has an adult or youth sports league to join and play. Check out MeetUp for information on volleyball, softball, hockey, kickball and more! Also, visit the Clark County website for county-sponsored leagues.
Eating Well
Greens and Proteins is a “healthy fast-food” spot at The Promenade at Juhl, next to CrossFit. Popular for breakfast and lunch with the downtown crowd, this family-friendly café gives your favorite foods a healthy twist including a bison burger boasting only 442 calories and 55 grams of protein. Indulge yourself with a Greek Pizza with 296 calories or grab a 386 calorie Vegan Buffalo Chick’n wrap to go. The juices are pulverized, instead of extracted, which keeps all the nutrients in the drink.
At Container Park’s Simply Pure, chef Stacey Dougan creates vegan dishes that even meat-eaters will enjoy. From lasagna and nachos to wraps and fresh-pressed juices, most recipes are gluten-free and many are allergy-friendly! VegeNation on Carson Street takes your favorite foods like burgers, brownies, ice cream and sushi and creates them from 100 percent plant-based recipes.
