Elite Training on Worrying

You worry about your weight; your diet.  You worry that you’re not exercising enough or that you’re working out too much.  You worry that you’re doing the exercises wrong.  You wonder if you’re working yourself too hard or wimping out.  You wonder if it’s all a waste of time.  All this can leave you paralyzed and doing nothing.  And doing nothing is worse than doing something—anything—to change your lifestyle and improve your health.  Elite Training is here to help you.

Diet:  Slowly add new, more nutritious food to your diet.  Gradually weed out the fatty, salty, sugary foods.  This doesn’t mean you have to go cold turkey on your favorite treats.  You can still have them.  Just not all the time.  Pick a day during the week to let your hair down and enjoy a favorite snack.  Eating that hot fudge sundae will not totally blow your progress.  As long as you get back to your healthy eating the rest of the week, you’re good.  Moderation is key. 

And what if you have gotten into the habit of eating pizza, fries, high calorie deserts and the like again?  You can decide right now to cut back on them and eat a healthier diet again.  Just because you falter for a time doesn’t mean you’re “finished.”  It’s never too late to get back on track and commit to eating healthfully.

Weight Training:  Start slow, increasing your intensity, reps, sets and so on, over time as you get stronger.  Generally, if you can do three sets of 15 reps quite easily, it’s time to up the weight.  You can also try increasing the reps at the same weight.  Or experiment with circuits and supersets.  Using resistance bands and kettle balls can recharge your workout as well.  Change up your workout every four to six weeks to keep challenging your body.  Exercises have variations that target specific areas of the major muscle groups, as well as others that allow for physical limitations and special needs.  There are many ways to change up a workout to keep it interesting, fun and challenging. 

Cardio:  Same thing.  Start slow and work your way up to a more challenging routine.  There are a variety of machines available to provide a great cardio workout at the gym, include the stepper, treadmill and elliptical trainer.  Or you can play racquetball, take an aerobics class or hop on a recumbent bike.  On your off days from the gym, you can go for a walk or run just about anywhere.  Household chores, yard work, and playing with the kids count as cardio too. 

You don’t have to have fancy equipment, spend a fortune at the health food store, or know lots of technical stuff to lose weight and improve your health.  Make simple changes to your diet and make a point to get moving in some fashion, and you’ll begin to notice positive differences in the way your clothes fit, how you look and the way you feel. 

Sure, there is a science to working out and eating right to maximize your desired results, and our Elite personal trainers can help you figure it all out—and make it fun too. Let us help you kick start your new exercise and nutrition programs and take the mystery—and the worry—out of living a healthy lifestyle.