Fitness

New Year, New You: How Healthy Savannah helps people make meaningful lifestyle changes

Published

9 months ago

January 23, 2025

New Year, New You: How Healthy Savannah helps people make meaningful lifestyle changes

It’s never too late to start to change your life. That’s why, every year, as the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, people across the country resolve to a “new year, new me.” Sixty percent of Americans intend to focus on health, fitness and exercise in 2025, as found in a nationwide survey of 159 million adults by the Health & Fitness Association.

If you’re one of the 96 million adults looking to prioritize those things this year, the new director of Healthy Savannah Armand Turner wants to help Savannahians do just that this year―and beyond.

Healthy Savannah, formed in 2007, leads and supports a culture of health in the area by creating an environment that makes a healthy choice, the easy choice.

Turner has been with Healthy Savannah since 2019, serving as the organization’s first Physical Activity Program Manager and most recently as the first deputy director of Healthy Savannah. He takes over the helm from Paula Kreissler, who is retiring after serving the organization for the past 17 years.

New year, new you

Turner said that when people think about getting into shape, the gym is the first thing they think of. Being physically active is important, but those looking to get fit don’t have to buy a gym membership, he said—we’re lucky enough to be living in Savannah.

“Even on the coldest day, it’s usually better than a lot of America,” Turner said. “So, we really do have to take advantage of that. I always say, it’s the small things like parking in the back of a grocery store parking lot and taking the extra time to walk, or walking with groups in your community.”

Healthy Savannah hosts a walking group every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m., featuring locations throughout Chatham County. He said they want to plant the seed in peoples’ minds that there are places accessible to them where they can walk. The organization’s website features an interactive map that lists every single location of the health walks, alongside other details, such as if it is ADA accessible, if there are sidewalks, parking lots and more.

“We also have to remember that it starts in the kitchen, with what we eat and what we put into our bodies,” Turner said. “We believe that there’s a ton of options that we have access to that are a lot healthier than what we usually eat. We just have to change the way we look at those foods and these products. There are healthy versions of those that we can be digesting instead.”

Like many other cities across America, especially in the South, Savannahians are faced with obstacles like high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease and so forth. Turner said that a lot of that goes back to what food we eat, and what we have access to, and those problems are even more potent in African American populations.

“These are issues that boil down to not just us not wanting to eat healthy or us not wanting to be physically active; it’s an equity issue,” Turner said. “Are communities built for us to walk and bike and be physically active, or have access to healthy fresh produce and fruit? In many such cases, it’s not.”

Healthy Savannah is continuously focusing on policy, systems, and environmental change to ease access. A big deal for the organization has been the involvement in the Tide to Town 30-mile walking trail to connect communities that lack sidewalks and have been underserved. The Savannah-Chatham Food Policy Council, part of Healthy Savannah, is working on identifying policies to ensure communities across the county have equitable access to affordable, nutritious, locally and sustainably grown food, starting the year with a focus on community gardens.

“Some organizations may look at addressing physical activity as working out, going to the gym, or addressing nutrition issues as providing free food,” Turner said. “Those things are needed, but what can we do on the other end of that to address some of the long-term issues that are facing the community? It’s really about looking at the long-term solutions to the health issues that we’re seeing.”

Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for the Savannah Morning News, covering the municipalities, and community and cultural programs. You can reach her at DAmbus@gannett.com

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Fitness

Should you drink espresso before exercise? What a doctor says

Published

13 hours ago

October 26, 2025

Press Room

Should you drink espresso before exercise? What a doctor says

We all need a little boost of energy to get us amped up to crush our workouts, but can espresso serve as a pre-workout drink? As a regular coffee drinker with a pretty high tolerance, I find myself brewing espresso shots before heading to the gym at least a few times of week (especially for those late-afternoon workouts where the 3 p.m. slump hits hard). At about 64 milligrams of caffeine per shot of espresso, espresso has enough caffeine to provide a bit of a pick-me-up before exercising.

Should you drink espresso before exercise? Below, Dr. Gail Clifford, M.D., a physician for over 30 years, shares her thoughts on drinking espresso before working out.

What happens when you drink espresso before a workout

“Drinking espresso before a workout can give you a quick boost of caffeine that can increase your alertness and energy levels and can help you feel more ready for your workout,” says Dr. Clifford. Overall, the caffeine in espresso can make your workouts feel easier and more energized, especially if you’re exercising early in the day, as caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and raises your adrenaline levels to promote the release of fatty acids for fuel.

“Caffeine also increases heart rate and blood flow to help increase the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to working muscles,” she says. Many use caffeine in espresso to help sharpen focus during workouts, too, making it easier to continue endurance exercises for longer with less perceived strain.

“Drinking espresso before a workout can also increase calorie burn since caffeine can boost fat oxidation and metabolic rate. This means that espresso can help your body burn slightly more fat and calories during activity,” she says. “While the effect is mild when used once or every so often, it can add up when used frequently during training.”

How and when to drink espresso before a workout

If you’d like to use espresso as a pre-workout boost, Dr. Clifford says timing is key. “Caffeine from espresso starts working within about 15 to 30 minutes after drinking and peaks around 45 to 60 minutes. Its effects can last anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, depending on your metabolism, if you’ve eaten, and how hydrated you are.”

For most people, she recommends consuming one to two shots of espresso about 3o to 60 minutes before starting a workout session (around 60 to 120 mg of caffeine).

At the same time, she cautions espresso drinkers to be mindful of the potential downsides of having too much caffeine, such as jitters, anxiety, increased heart rate, or restlessness — which ultimately can impact your workout negatively. Those who are sensitive to stimulants or who work out on an empty stomach should be mindful of having too much caffeine before exercise. Staying hydrated and moderating how much caffeine you have can help reduce unwanted effects.

“In excess, caffeine can negatively affect hydration and recovery following your workout since too much caffeine can have a mild diuretic effect,” she warns.

Should you drink espresso before exercise?

Overall, Dr. Clifford says espresso can be a good pre-workout drink, since it provides fast, natural, and low-calorie energy that can boost performance and motivation without added sugars or synthetic ingredients:

“When compared to traditional pre-workout supplements, espresso offers similar stimulant benefits such as focus, alertness, and endurance, but is natural and does not contain any artificial additives or high doses of stimulants that can cause crashes or side effects. When timed and dosed properly, using espresso as a pre-workout drink can help improve performance and focus.”

Fitness

Best Expert-Tested Workout Apps and Services for 2025

Published

1 day ago

October 25, 2025

Press Room

Best Expert-Tested Workout Apps and Services for 2025

Finding your favorite workout app may require a bit of trial and error since you’ll want to see if you’re looking for a personalized experience or are comfortable with a cookie cutter plan.

Where will you be using the app? Think about where you’ll mainly be using the app. Do you work out at home, at the gym, outside or a mix of all three? If you like to run outdoors, for example, you’d likely want an app that offers location tracking. Similarly, when looking into a specific app, figure out whether its classes require you to have certain equipment on-hand, like dumbbells or a yoga mat.

Your goals: You should also think about your goals for using the app. Do you just want to get moving more often, or are there specific fitness goals (like running a certain speed or lifting a certain weight) that you want to achieve? Some apps allow you to personalize your goals or even connect with a personal trainer to help you meet them.

Budget: Lastly, know that there are workout apps for every budget — including free. Some require a monthly subscription to access, so take advantage of the free trials to determine if it’s worth the cost to you.

Fitness

Daxko Acquires Exercise.com, Expanding Its Boutique Fitness Tech

Published

3 days ago

October 24, 2025

Press Room

Daxko Acquires Exercise.com, Expanding Its Boutique Fitness Tech

The deal comes amid a year of consolidation across the fitness software and payments space

Daxko, a software and payments provider, has added another piece to its growing fitness tech portfolio with the acquisition of Exercise.com, a gym management software company that focuses on boutique fitness studios.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition builds on Daxko’s recent expansion streak. In September, the company acquired Vision, a longtime software partner of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, extending its footprint to nearly 30% of Clubs nationwide. The deal was designed to reduce administrative burdens for club leaders while expanding access to Daxko’s member management and engagement tools. That move followed Daxko’s purchase of ARC, a platform supporting Jewish Community Centers.

“This acquisition reinforces our commitment to serving fitness businesses of every size and model, from independent studios to multi-location clubs,” Daxko CEO Jeff VanDixhorn said. “Exercise.com’s proven platform and team align perfectly with our strategy to help fitness organizations thrive while improving the lives of the people and communities they serve.”

Exercise.com will continue operating under its existing platform and team, with Daxko’s backing expected to speed innovation and scale. The companies said the goal is to more tightly link coaching, operations and payments in one data-driven system designed to help fitness businesses grow.