Spotlight on Functional Training

 

            Summer is the time of year when most of us typically engage in more physical activities. As the weather warms up, so we New Englanders begin to venture outside the cozy confines of our homes. After being cooped up inside throughout the winter months, activities such as gardening and landscaping will soon seem like pleasant work again. Softball, golf, and running will certainly occupy some of our hobby time. Summertime means many of us will push ourselves towards a leaner, sleeker physique deemed fit for those weekend beach excursions.

            With all of the various activities associated with the summer season comes a challenging array of physical demands and time commitments. We want to perform all of our activities well, look great and have fun, and reduce the potential of an unexpected injury. With these thoughts in mind, here are a few suggestions to put a spring in your step…..

 

If you are looking to get fit and lose weight for summer remember…

• Take a long term approach for better health.

Although you can train in the short term to improve your physical appearance, the functional approach to a better looking body is a long term endeavor. Life-style changes are the foundation for all fitness goals. Slow, steady, realistic changes to reach your goals are the best approach and keep you off the yo-yo, binge approach to dieting and last minute exercise.

• Understand the basics of how your body works.

For our bodies to function, we must bring nutrition into our body, circulate the nutrition to all of our cells, tissues and organs, and eliminate the waste by-products. All of these basic processes are influenced by the kinds of food and drink we consume, the level of physical activity in our training programs and lifestyle, and the way we think about and handle the stresses of life.

• Avoid the “John Wayne”  approach to training.

Our bodies are amazing organisms that operate with thousands of intricate processes designed to work interdependently. If our bodies are designed to function synergistically, why not train in the same manner? You’re chances of success improve substantially when you work together with other people to reach you’re goals. Seek out a friend or a motivated family member, join one of our classes, or get some help from a personal trainer, but by all means don’t go it alone. Training is a team approach.

Exercise safely and  stay on schedule!! We have a nice air conditioned space inside for you to get the job done and enjoy the outdoors.

Our Trainers are available for help when you need it. Lee, Amanda and Sandy have slots for training, just give us a call for a FREE consultation and schedule your time.

Yours in health!!
Sandy 

           

        

On July 1, we noted the 2 Year Birthday for New Life Health and Wellness. It went by quietly and with no fuss. I actually kept it to myself for the most part. (My daughter remembered which was pretty cool). On each of my own birthdays, I tend to look back on the year and reflect on if I am where I wanted to be last year. It was no different with the business. Reflecting on the last 2 years, I recall our Weigh to Wellness Programs which evolved into our Biggest Loser Programs and eventually led up to the Personal 90 Day Challenges. Each program brought new people into our business and new insights on how to best help those in need of becoming healthier. I am proud of the work we have done over these past 2 years. I am proud of the members who have stuck to their goals and really made it happen for themselves. I am grateful for the growing membership, based off of referrals, in spite of the economic downturn around us. I am grateful for the wonderful partnership with Mary Simone and her staff inside the Courtyard by Marriott.

Am I where I thought I'd be??? The answer is not quite. Just like a weight loss or lifestyle journey, you think it'll be easier than it actually is. You think that if your show up and do some of the work, it'll be like magic.  There are times when things are going along fine and you run on auto pilot or you just get tired. But like every birthday, there is a re-focused commitment and resolve to continue the journey and reach the ultimate goal, even if has changed over time.

So if any of you are on a Life Change Journey and have stalled out, consider this your Happy Birthday message and get started again!!

If you like what your reading, take a look at our club !! You'll see the difference!

        

I wish I had the answer to this question....... It is a question that I ask my personal training clients and gym members on a daily basis. Each time I ask "What is holding you back?",  no one can really seem to give me a good answer. It's usually time constraints, kids, spouse or guilt. The funny thing is no one ever talks about FEAR ( False Evidence Appearing Real.) Many of my weight loss clients have so much FEAR based on what they see around them. The FEAR of not being able to acheive their goals because those around them are either giving them False Evidence or they feel the task is too daunting. It is the same for my health conscience clients who want to train for a race that is beyond what they've done before.

FEAR is one of those things that holds us back. FEAR is a barrier, not something that keeps us safe. Overcoming FEAR is what moves us forward. There may be bumbles and stumbles along the way, but that is all part of the journey as well as the joy of success.

If you are looking to push through the FEAR and move to the next place in your wellness journey, YOU have to take control. You have to schedule it, You have to Do It. FEAR is not real. So sign up for that Gym Membership , 5K race, or Marathon..........

        

I was at a Corridor Nine Chamber event at the Willows in Westborough on Wednesday night and had a few interesting conversations with a variety of local business people. One particular conversation I had with Rick Roberge. He is someone I have a great deal of respect for as a person, as well as professionally. We were talking about my business and what my goals were for the next year. I told him what they were as far as numbers of members, etc and he said to me that my goals needed to be more personal. He asked me what I wanted to get out of my business.  Then it dawn on me, LIFESTYLE is what I am looking for. Spending time where I want to spend it and work when I want to work.

I sat on that conversation for a couple of days and this morning it struck me that growing a business and weight loss goals have a lot in common.

When I speak with New Members or new Personal Training Clients, I'll often ask what they are looking to accomplish in hiring my club or me as a trainer. Most often the answer I get is "I want to lose "x" amount of pounds." What I get people to think about is what that will do for them. Losing whatever amount of weight will allow a person to have more energy, feel better in their clothes, run a marathon, play on the floor with their grandchildren, live pain free, live with less medications and so forth.  Basically, weight is a just a symptom of what is making a person unhappy. People need to understand what results they need that will make their everyday lives better. So the next Monday you decide to "Start Your Diet". Remember, that the first 3 letters of DIET are "D I E". Maybe what you are really looking for is a new Lifestyle.

        

I love Halloween. To me, it starts of the busiest time of the year with some fun! It is a time you can become someone or something else for a day! It is a time to be silly and just let loose. My kids are still young, but no so young that Halloween is a headache. We are having a blast getting the costumes ready, deciding whose coming over to go out with us and how will we EVER eat that much candy!! Oh yeah, there's candy involved........... For some people, that can be a real stresser OR it can be the PERFECT excuse to go off your plan for the next 2 months.

Here's what happened to me last weekend and I'll add my advice to follow. Last weekend my husband and I were at our weekly  couples Bible Study group through our amazing church.
We rotate houses and food etc each week. This particular friend had out a large bowl of Candy Corns. Candy Corns are my absolute weakness. I LOVE THEM!! BUT, I CAN'T buy them because I can't (or won't) stop eating them. I'm sure you can guess what happened. I had so many, I couldn't sleep that night   I talked with my friend the next day and I said "Why didn't you stop me?" He said "Sandy, it was so much fun watching you eat that entire bowl, none of us wanted to." and he proceeded to laugh hysterically.

So what do you do on Halloween as well as the rest of the holidays? First, you want to allow yourself some variances in your program. Don't beat yourself up if you completely blow it. It happens, just move on. Second, get a reliable friend (not like mine , who can help to keep you on track when you are faced with those situations, Third, get a workout partner, commit to a class at your gym, or sign up for a Turkey Trott so you'll have to keep training. Lastly, Plan, Plan, Plan!!!!!  If you know that you go out to eat more during this time of year or will be attending lots of parties, get menus ahead of time and plan out what you'll enjoy without feeling too guilty or getting out of control.

The looming holidays can be daunting. Try to remember that they are not really about the food as it is about taking time to spend with your family and re-connect with friends. Enjoy this special time.

        

Do you have goals you are looking to achieve?  Do you have the guts to achieve them? I mean really......... do you really have the guts to achieve what you are setting out to do??  Everyone has goals, everyone wants to feel better, run faster, look better or have more energy. I hear it all the  time. But when I give honest advice, feedback or direction, I often hear "I can't do that!!!" "You want me to burn how many calories???" "You said I should eat how many times a day??"

Do a "gut check" on yourself. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of the hard work? The pain you may experience? The results you might get? Do you not think you can change?

In order to get the glory. (And when I say glory, I mean YOUR results, YOUR happiness, YOUR personal glory, not what you feel someone else's should be.), YOU have to work hard.  I have some really great members who are dedicated to getting their results. I see them come in daily early in the morning or late at night. They are tired, they have worked all day, they have taken care of their children, AND are NOW taking the time to take care of themselves. They are showing the guts because the goals are clear. Guess what? IT WORKS!!!

So many people find excuse after excuse and wonder why they "can't" get any results. I wonder have you've done your own "gut check" Are you working as hard as you really can. If you have the goals, and the guts to do the work, then you will achieve your own personal glory.

Join a great health club! Hire a trainer for a month to help you get over the hurdle, sign up for an exercise program dedicated to weight loss, get a workout buddy that is in better shape than you are (that is a HUGE motivator). Do it today before you have the holidays as another excuse to not get started!!

        

I hear that question a lot in my daily life. People will come in and take a tour of our fitness center and see someone who is "skinny" and ask why that person needs to work out. Or I'll hear that the reason they have not worked out is because they don't want to be embarrassed to be around the "skinny" people.

I look around our center and I see all kinds of shapes and sizes. I don't see "skinny" people, I see people who are working hard to stay in shape and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Many of the "skinny" people may have other issues, such as no strength or muscle tone, maybe their bodies don't allow them to gain weight (yes, that is a huge problem). At 31 years old, I was at my "skinniest".  I was 104 pounds. I was skinny, but man, was I unhealthy! My diet consisted of Pizza, Coca Cola, Gin (yes, the alcohol) in fairly large quantities and lots of Chinese Food. Was I skinny? ABSOLUTELY! Did I look great for having 3 kids? DEFINITELY! Did everyone think I was the life of the party? YOU BETCHA! Was I depressed? WORDS CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE!

What helped me was the gym. Getting into physical exercise that was good for my body, great for my mind, and enabled me to open up a dialogue with God to save me spiritually. My eating habits became healthier (not stellar), I became a better mother and advocate for my son, a better wife to my husband, and a better daughter to my mom.

Today, my entire life has changed into something 9 years ago, I could have ever dreamed. All because I was a "skinny"person going to the gym. So the next time you look at a "skinny" person at the gym, maybe strike up a conversation, you may have more in common than you think.....

Let me know your thoughts...............

        

We all hear that it is better to do things right away, than to put it off. Yes, the "to do" list is long and sometimes it seems overwhelming. Many of us just avoid getting started on those big projects, like painting a room, washing the dog, a big report for work.  All these things are not critical to our health and it is easy to procrastinate on those things.

How about your exercise plan? What does it cost you to procrastinate on yourself? Procrastination regarding a healthy lifestyle leads to weight gain which can lead to severe health issues, depression and an overall feeling of hopelessness about turning it around. When people come to us it is usually after a period of procrastination regarding taking care of their own bodies. I hear similar stories about family issues, work issues etc. But the common theme among people is that they knew they were neglecting themselves and just kept putting it off. Many people have woken up one day and have gained a significant amount of weight or are told by a doctor that they have severe health issues. This is not the starting point you are looking for.

If you procrastinate on your job or a house project etc, it may not matter in the long run. But your health and wellness should not wait until it is convenient for you to pay attention. I always tell people that if they wait any longer to get healthy, it's not about death (that's the easy way out), it's really about the burden of needing someone you love to take care of you after having a heart attack or stroke. Those are the realities of procrastination. Is it worth it?

Start today! Call a friend and make a date to take a walk or join a gym. Hire a Personal Trainer. Take a Group Fitness Class. Schedule time for you to exercise and keep it like an appointment you would keep for a very important meeting. You have one body and one life with your earthly family, don't waste time procrastinating. Make the commitment  to your fitness agenda and to your family. You'll be glad you did!!

        

I got to work today at 4:45am. I had a bit of breakfast on my way because I was planning to workout before my first client at 7:30. My routine to get the day started is to turn on the lights, unlock the closets, get the TV's on, turn on the music and turn on the computer. Well when I turned on the computer, the first thing I saw on the internet was that today was National Donut Day. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised and, quite frankly, disgusted that our country, with all of it's health care issues (i.e. Type 2 Diabetes etc), would be promoting one of the worst foods for your body. What about a "National Respect your Body Day" or a "National Exercise Day"?

Anyway, I decided to Bike my 12 miles, Run 4 miles, do some Weightlifting and Core work. After my 1 1/2 hour workout, I realized that just one donut would have erased all that energy. Glad I don't like donuts........... How about you???

        

We are hearing a lot about the state of our economy these days. How is it for your personally? How is it affecting your job? Your family? Your mood? How about your health? With many people cutting back on expenses, we are noticing that people are still joining our fitness center. That may seem strange to some of you reading this, but here's the thing, stressful times require an outlet. Your body craves an outlet. Many people have taken an inventory of their own personal health economy and have decided that instead of spending their hard earned money on food that won't make them feel better, or alcohol, which leaves you with a hangover, they will do something good for their bodies and improve their mindset. Exercise gives you a great feeling of accomplishment. Belonging to a place where people care about your situation helps you to know you are not alone. These are the key factors to what is going on in our fitness center today.

Take a Health inventory. Do you exercise 3-4 times a week? Are you on medication for cholesterol, High Blood Pressure etc? Has your health care professional told you to be more active or to lose weight? Do you eat 6 small meals a day? Do you drink enough water? Are you tired all the time? Can you play outside or dance around with your kids or grand kids for more than 5 minutes?

If you don't like your answers to these questions, your health economy may be in crisis. We'd love to be your bail out!