The East Orlando Sun

Staying fit is not always easy, but with a new year upon us, East Orlando offers many ways to serve the communities’ fitness needs.

Waterford Lakes Trail--an amenity open only to Waterford Lakes residents--attracts a steady stream of people every day, and especially after the recent renovation by the Waterford Lakes Association.

“I think it helps build on the community and keeps it strong,” Waterford Lakes Community Association General Manager Ken Zook said.

People use the 8/10 of a mile trail to walk, run, ride their bikes, skateboard and walk their dogs. Trail improvements include more than 200 new palm trees, new asphalt, a new gazebo with benches and matching trash cans, and improvements to the landscaping and the stationary exercise equipment.

“This community has a very simple theme… work on the things that people see every day,” Zook said.

Waterford Runners and Riders use the trail every first and third Wednesday. Organizer John Tenney said this group is a good place for everyone to start out.

“If you don’t think you can run, this is the place to come,” he said. “The goal is to have a stress-free place to exercise.”

Small goals

UCF Fitness Coordinator Ashley Hathcock said the best way to get healthy is to start small.

“Don't start with huge goals; start small, even with something as simple as avoiding meat on Mondays. Break your big goal into smaller, more manageable goals. Take things one step at a time,” she said.

Another key to starting a healthly regimen is to set goals, think about why you chose those goals in order to find the drive behind them and then plan out how to achieve them.

“Schedule in your workouts, and take the time to plan exactly what you are planning to eat for the week. Being prepared is the key to success, especially with your diet,” Hathcock said.

YMCA membership director Rebekah Ball agreed. She said 97 percent of Americans struggle to complete regular exercise each week, even though they know how important it is for their health and well-being.

“Consistency is the key,” Ball said. “It’s about finding out what you enjoy.”

Perhaps one of the most important things to remember is not to let setbacks sideline a new-founded health regimen.

“If you do happen to fall off track, it's not the end of the world. Get right back on course,” Hathcock said.

East Orlando health offers

Parks: 18 percent of all available land in East Orlando is set aside strictly for recreational use.

-Arcadia Acres Park -- Located on Goldenrod Road in Azalea Park, the 10-acre neighborhood park offers a playground, basketball court and access to the Little Econ Greenway trail.

-Bithlo Community Park – Home to 38 acres, the park is a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, and features Little League baseball fields, a covered basketball court, community center, fishing pond and skate park.

-Blanchard Park – Located in the heart of the East Orlando community, just one mile north of Highway 50 and east of Alafaya Trail, Blanchard Park is 84 acres equipped with picnic areas, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, trails, baseball fields, multipurpose fields, playgrounds and soccer fields. It also parallels the Little Econlockhatchee River, which gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy canoeing, kayaking and fishing. The Little Econ Greenway Trail runs through the park, and the Blanchard Park YMCA Family Center is located within the boundaries of the park.

-Cady Way Trail – This 3.5 mile paved trail extends from Herndon Avenue, near Baldwin Park, north through Winter Park to the Goldenrod area before it connects to the Cross Seminole trail, and is good for jogging, riding and skating.

-Downey Park – East Orlando’s off-leash dog park is home to a variety of other recreational opportunities. Located at the intersection of Dean Road and Highway 50, the park includes a baseball and softball complex, sand volleyball, picnic areas, a playground and sand beach on the shores of Lake Downey.

-Engelwood Park – Located at 6050 Lake Underhill Road is comprised of 6.8 acres surrounded by the Engelwood neighborhood on the east side of Orlando, and features playground and picnic facilities.

-Fort Christmas Park – Located in Christmas, just off State Road 50, features 25 acres of picnic areas, a rental pavilion, playgrounds, basketball, tennis courts, sand volleyball and several multipurpose fields.

-Goldenrod Park – Located on Goldenrod Road near Aloma, the park is home to a playground, small pavilion and basketball, tennis and volleyball courts.

-Hal Scott Preserve – Over 9,000 acres of preserved land and wildlife waiting to be explored on miles of hiking trails that travel along the Econlockhatchee River.

-Little Econ Greenway – This 7.9-mile paved trail runs parallel to the Little Econ River and stretches from Forsyth Road to Alafaya Trail. The trail will eventually extend 10 miles linking the University of Central Florida and the Cross Seminole Trail System.

-Moss Park – This 1,551-acre park in Southeast Orlando off Narcoossee Road, features picnicking, camping, boating, hiking and volleyball. There is a park entrance fee of $1 per person.

-Orlando Wetlands Park – The 1, 650-acre park is home to more than 20 miles of scenic trails in Christmas. The park is closed from October 1 to February 1 each year.

-Split Oak Forest – This 1,800-acre forest in Southeast Orlando is only accessible by a hiking trail located within Moss Park and offers exceptional wildlife views.

-Tosohatchee State Reserve – 28,000 acres of the reserve border 19 miles of the St. Johns River in Christmas. The park offers horseback riding, primitive camping, hiking, biking and swimming.

-Wedgefield Park – Featuring volleyball, baseball and softball facilities, this park is also home to a playground and picnic area.

-Waterford Lakes Trail – an 8/10 of a mile trail located across from Waterford Lakes Recreation Center with a gazebo and fitness equipment. This is not open to the general public but is regularly used by Waterford Lakes residents.

For more information on parks in the area visit www.cityoforlando.net.

Fitness programs and gyms: There are also many fitness programs for all ages, from children to seniors.

-Orange County Orlando Magic Rec Centers — Fitness center memberships are available for $100 a year for ages 18 to 54 and $75 a year for ages 55+ and active military at the Orange County Orlando Magic Rec Centers at Goldenrod Park, South Econ Community Park, which includes use various equipment, including cardio equipment and weights, basketball courts and lockers and showers. Fitness classes such as zumba, belly dancing, karate, spinning, boxing, yoga, boot camp and more are also open to the public at an additional fee. For more information visit www.OrlandoMagicOCFLgyms.net or call 407-836-6200.

-Anytime Fitness — Anytime Fitness, 2504 S. Alafaya Trail, Orlando, sets itself apart with access to any of its 1,800 locations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It also offers tanning, personal training and online tools. For more information, call 407-736-9893 or visit www.anytimefitness.com

-LA Fitness — LA Fitness is located in the Waterford Lakes Town Center at 815 Alafaya Trail, Orlando. It offers tons of amenities including, personal training, racquetball courts, basketball courts, a pool, group fitness classes, a spa, a sauna, a kids club and a juice bar. For more information, call 407-380-1526 or visit www.lafitness.com

-Yoga East — Yoga East, 3734 E Avalon Park Blvd., Orlando, offers classes including, power yoga, hot yoga and basic yoga, but it also caters to families by offering yoga for expecting mothers, Baby Moma Yoga for moms with newborn to toddlers and Kids Play yoga for ages 4-9. For more information, visit www.yogaeastorlando.com or call 407-730-3257.

-Everything Zen Yoga -- Everything Zen Yoga, located at 801 Woodbury Road, Orlando, offers a variety of traditional classes including Ashtanga, Hatha, Power, Slow Burn, Vinyasa and Yin. For more information, call 407-760-7930 or visit www.everythingzenyoga.com

Fitness groups:

-Waterford Runners and Riders meets the first and thrid Wednesday of the month to run, ride or walk for fun and heath, at the Waterford Lakes Walking Track at 6:30 p.m. in the summer, 6 p.m. in the fall and spring and 5:30 p.m. in the Winter. For more information on Waterford Runners and Riders visit www.WaterfordRunners.org

-Running Club and Triathlon Club at the Blanchard Park and Avalon Park YMCAs is for individuals of any fitness level – from beginners to advanced. Most of their members are relatively inexperienced in at least one discipline when they join the club, but experience is not required in any of the three sports. Tri Club will help you reach your personal fitness goals and race goals with weekly swim, bike and run workouts. YMCA has a membership plan for everyone. Join before Jan. 31 and pay $12. For more information, call 407-381-8000.

-East Side Cycling is a cycling club that is divided into four groups based on riding speeds. The club’s primary ride is at 7:30 a.m. Saturdays at the Avalon Park YMCA, 12001 Avalon Lake Drive, Orlando. Membership cost is $25 and the benefit includes rides, development and support, social functions, club meetings with cycling specific guest speakers and online social networking. For more information, visit www.eastsidecyclingclub.org or email info@eastsidecyclingclub.org