Frustrated with the results he was getting for himself from the typical health club routine, Tom Skahill decided to take the entrepreneurial route and make fitness work for him.

He reasoned that the time was right for such a venture, given the aging of the Baby Boomers and the encouragement of prevention as a health measure to rein in spiraling health care premiums.

His firm’s name, BBHEalth and Fitness, fittingly comes from the “BB” in Baby Boomers, Skahill’s prime clients.

His mission, simply enough, was to help business owners decrease health care claims, decrease sick days and increase workplace productivity while adding to the general well-being and morale of their companies’ employees.

After 25 years in the corporate world as a vice president and general manager for the manufacturing industry, Skahill possessed an education in accounting and finance.

Believing that there had to be a better way to exercise and implement a life style change, Skahill began an education in fitness and is now a Certified Personal Trainer and PACE (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) instructor.

Basically, his company offers customized fitness and wellness programs for business.

“By focusing on the majority of the population, BBHF provides fitness and wellness programs for people who do not belong to fitness clubs, people who don’t have time for health clubs and people for whatever reason, do not like health clubs,” Skahill said.

“The program is designed to combine personal training with at-home exercise for the most effective and efficient workout.”

Skahill called his program a perfect one for the traveling business executive, not only because it’s easy to do but also because it’s tailored to an individual’s needs and fitness level.

“I wish I would have had a program like this when I was doing so much business traveling. It is a perfect exercise option for people who are on the road frequently and staying in hotels,” he said. “They don’t want to visit the hotel facility and still need a workout. The program that I design for people is very adaptable.”

BBHealth & Fitness is specific to an individual—Skahill will meet with a person for a 20-minute initial consultation at no charge.

During that time, he will explain the program, talk about the history of BBHealth & Fitness, discuss specific ailments that the client may have, and his or her personal objectives.

He then designs that individual’s program. Following that, Skahill meets with his client for a one-hour session and illustrates how to exercise at home, the number of reps for each exercise, and proper breathing. Typically, a daily workout takes about 10-15 minutes and requires no special equipment or special clothing.

Via e-mail, Skahill gets feedback on the program. He asks the client if it’s proving too hard or too easy. Off that input, to designs the next month’s program for the client.

If he’s at a company’s offices, working with a number of employees, he sets up shop in a conference room, where employees meet with him for one hour each.

The corporate program that Skahill offers has five key aspects and benefits to both employer and employee:

1) Only one employee from the department is gone at a time.

2) The employee does not have to leave the workplace; the routine can be performed in comfortable clothing and the individual does not perspire so there is no need for a shower.

3) A person’s current lifestyle is taken into account while designing an individual program

4) The once-a-month meeting provides adherence to and support for the program.

5) Confidentiality—an employee’s health issues are not discussed with the employer.

Additionally, the employer pays only for the participation of his employee; there is no monthly contract as in a typical health club environment.

Although Skahill’s clients range in age from 17 to 81, the majority are from 40-65. Regular exercise, through a program that is easy, tailor-made, and does not disrupt the daily schedule, helps counteract the changes that happen in one’s body during the natural aging process.

BBHealth & Fitness takes a different approach to exercise just as Skahill has taken a different kind of fitness plan to market to companies with a goal of keeping their employees fit.

“It is an easy program to implement with very little company resources required,” Skahill said. “Corporations can choose to fund it partially or fully and it requires only one monthly, on-site session for each participating employee, minimizing time away from work.”

For more information, e-mail bbhealthfitness@aol.com or call 708-354-4544.