Get Fit In 2012!

We do it to ourselves every year.  Start off the New Year two steps behind, feeling guilty about all the wonderful, but not so healthy treats that we indulged in and our lack of physical activity during the holiday season.  Don't get yourself down about it! Here are some easy tips to get you out of that phase and into feeling better in 2012!

This is the time of year, walking into a gym and buying a membership sounds like a great idea: "I am doing it today! I’m signing up for the gym and am not only going to burn off those extra calories that I took in during the last few months, I'm going to get back into good shape so I feel good about myself come summer!" 

We have all had these thoughts but unfortunately, most do not follow through with them.  Getting fit is by no means easy or something that happens overnight (we do not get out of shape overnight, so we are not going to get back into shape overnight either).  Losing the extra pounds or toning muscles takes hard work and dedication both in and out of the gym, and most of the time takes MONTHS!  I tell my clients without sugar coating it at all. 

"If you do this and this, this is going to happen.", "If you do this, but then do that, this is going to happen." "If you don’t do this and don’t do that, you’re wasting both of our time!"

Being into fitness as long as I have and now working the industry, I have seen this happen time and time again.  One buys a membership to a local fitness center, goes a couple times a week, unsure of the correct exercises to get them the goals they desire, lacking complete motivation to be there and knowledge of the correct foods to speed the process  This is the perfect storm which will lead to failure in obtaining these goals.  High frustration levels after a couple of months of not seeing any results makes the motivation to exercise begin to dwindle down to nothing and eventually disappear. 

Although personal training is a great way to stay motivated and properly begin an exercise program, it is not completely essential.  Do some research on your own! Join a fitness center where you feel comfortable exercising and do it with a partner, or two, or three.  Having someone to call you and say, "I am picking you up after work. We have to try this new workout I just saw in my health magazine.”  As long as you are healthy enough to perform the exercises and you have consulted with a physician prior to starting a regular program, this will make it much easier to stay motivated and will also make exercise fun. 

Outside of the small fitness facility that I work in, I go to another local fitness facility and take note of the people I can predict will not be around the gym as long as they plan, or as long as I wish that they would.  Their reasons for being there are: “My spouse bought me the membership” or ”My kids are nagging me,” which are not the right reasons for being there.  I want people to actually want to exercise and give it a real try so they will be able to reap the many benefits.  January, February and sometimes into March, this gym is completely packed with both new and old members, but by mid March, it is unfortunately back to the regulars.  

My point is, and the reason for the title of this blog, is to try to start off this year’s fitness regimen in the right way.  If you do not have the money to get a personal trainer right now, recruit a friend or family member to be your "gym buddy."  This can be someone who already knows what they are doing, someone you have been talking to about getting back into shape with, or someone you care about that you would like to see in better shape.  The important part is, try and find someone that is motivated or can be motivated and work at achieving goals together.  As you can see, I am truly passionate about exercise and am a strong promoter of its importance at any age, fitness, or health level. 

Once again, please do not get discouraged and give up on your goals this year if you find yourself not gaining the results you desire within the first couple of months.  IT TAKES TIME!  It really upsets me to see how many people give up so quickly, especially when they did not give it their all but initially intended to. Either find the motivation in yourself or get it from an outside source like a trainer, friend or family member and succeed this year!

If you have any questions, concerns, or are in need of advice, please to not hesitate to ask.  I will be happy to help.  Happy New Year!

Be Well!

GEN4