Fitness Guru Josh Golder

Helps Busy People Shape Up

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

NEWTON - This week, it was revealed that one in three Americans is obese, and two of three clinically overweight. The distressing stats are increasing, most alarmingly among children, along with incidence of largely if not entirely preventable Diabetes II and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

According to the American Heart Association, CVD is the number one killer in America, accounting for 39 percent of all deaths. It claimed 934,110 lives in 2000, easily besting cancer (number two at 551,833), lung disease (number 3 at 123,550), accidents (number four at 93,592), diabetes (number five at 68,662) and pneumonia and influenza (number six at 67,024). Yes, CVD, also largely preventable, killed more people than the next five categories combined.

Not only is excess poundage bad for your health, it’s bad for the economy as well. According to Rand Corp. economist Roland Sturn, obesity increases health care costs 36 percent, and medication costs 77 percent (by comparison, smoking increases those costs 21 percent and 30 percent, respectively). Further, obesity’s contribution to quality of life decline is nearly four times that of smoking or alcohol abuse.

Let’s face it: our traditional diet is among the worst. We don’t live in shtetls or tundras anymore, and don’t need all the fat and salt. How about, for the good of personal wellness, the health care system, the economy and most important, friends and family, a Rosh Hashanah resolution to shed the latkes, corned beef, the cream cheese and kugels, the salty and fatty prepared entrees and take charge with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, water, low fat desserts, beans, fish, lean meats and dairy foods?

Then there’s the matter of moving the bod. The government recently advised an hour per day of exercise, to the collective chagrin of superbusy America.

Fitness guru Josh Golder may, however, have one way to fit it in. Golder, president of Cutting Edge Fitness Inc. of Newton Centre, is the only licensed Superslow® instructor in Massachusetts. The one-to-one workout of only 30 minutes a week, utilized by Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer and Calvin Klein and offered by Golder by appointment only, is said to help reduce body fat, build lean muscle, increase cardiovascular health (HDL cholesterol) and bone density, relieve lower back and neck pain, and boost energy and strength.

“Even if in an ideal world, where clients had unlimited time and money, this half hour of exercise per week would still be advisable, because it produces the best results of any method I’ve experienced,” said Golder. “In fact, it’s been designed to stand on its own.”

Golder's studio, with no mirrors or music, facilitates both concentration and efficiency. “The equipment,” he said, “is carefully calibrated to enable you to do the extremely slow SuperSlow® exercises. There's an advanced pulldown machine, neck extension/flexion machine, and other equipment modified to fit the protocol.” He cited studies reflecting that beginners using SuperSlow® gained 50% more strength than those who used a standard Nautilus program. Newsweek, Business Week, Vogue and Ladies Home Journal have mentioned the uniquely time-saving and beneficial program.

Golder, who at age 18 was the youngest personal trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise, grew up in Falmouth, where he was bar mitzvahed. Two years ago, he was down to 100 pounds at 5'9" and diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Today, since adopting the method, he is a solid 172 pounds and in superb physical shape. While walking, biking and running may still be the standard, SuperSlow® could be worth a try.

For more information, contact Golder at 617-965-7120.