One of my clients told me yesterday he doesn’t make “New Year’s Resolutions.” He makes “New Years Commitments.” Because he doesn’t flake on commitments. Resolutions are too easy to sweep under the rug, conveniently forgotten when life gets busy. I really liked that . So to start 2010, I thought I would re-post my blog “Don’t be a hamster!” As you make your own New Years Commitments, take a few moments to consider what you want for yourself in 2010 and what you need to do DIFFERENTLY to get there…
Have you ever watched a hamster run on a wheel? They run harder and harder, wearing themselves out but never really going anywhere. My point for this week? DON’T BE A HAMSTER! I can’t tell you how many times a week I talk with people who are frustrated because they aren’t losing weight. The conversation usually goes something like this:
“Erica, I am trying everything I can think of and I just can’t lose weight.”
I say,” Well, Sally how is your nutrition? Are you counting your calories?”
Sally says, “No.”
Then I say,” And how is your cardio? Are you getting cardio in 3 or so times a week?”
And Sally says, “No.”
And then I say,”Well, you can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results.”
So let me repeat this very important fact again, You can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results! Of course you aren’t losing weight if you aren’t tracking your calories or exercising! Most people vastly over estimate the amount of time they spend working out and vastly underestimate the number of calories they eat every day.
Nutrition is a huge component to losing weight. In fact, most health pros agree that it is the vital key that affects your weight loss, even more than exercise. So, if you have no idea how many calories you are taking in and no idea how many calories you are burning everyday how can you possibly know if you are eating the appropriate amount of food? And, if you aren’t doing cardio to burn extra calories how can you expect to burn more calories than you take in? You must do both: exercise and follow a smart nutrition plan. If you have no clue how to do, ask for help! You take your taxes to an accountant, right? When you are sick you visit a doctor. Why would you try to reach your health and fitness goals on your own? A Personal Trainer or Nutrition Specialist can help you lose weight and get fit safely and effectively.
And guess what, it’s hard work. When you read about people who have successfully lost weight and maintained that loss I can almost guarantee none of them said it was easy. And none of them accomplished it by sitting on the couch eating whatever they want, willing the pounds to melt off. But isn’t your health worth it? Isn’t your family worth it? Your friends? Your career? It may seem like a struggle and a sacrifice now, but I guarantee when you are a healthy and fit 80 year old you will thank me for all of those pushups and pullups I make you do.
So, DON’T BE A HAMSTER! Don’t keep spinning on your wheel expecting to go somewhere new. It just isn’t going to happen.. Jump off that wheel and decide to work just a little harder to reach your goals.
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About 5 years ago I took my first yoga class. I walked into a session at a local gym taught by “Deb,” a completely ripped 50-something year old mother who could bend, twist and rock pushups like no one I had ever seen before. All through the class I was astonished by how difficult it was. It was the hardest workout I had ever done, yet at the end of the class I was completely relaxed. And I was hooked. I have been an aspiring yogi ever since. I now regularly attend intermediate classes, during which I can successfully complete most poses. They may not be pretty, but I can usually do them. Well, last weekend I decided I needed to kick it up a notch by attending an advanced class. I knew I probably wouldn’t be able to do everything, but hey, I’m a personal trainer right? I can do most things! Well, the first 5 minutes of class I was totally drenched in sweat and questioning my decision as the instructor quickly explained that we were just going to “add a quick handstand in between each pose.” ADD A QUICK HANDSTAND!? I’ve done handstands before…against the wall. But these people were just popping up into them in the middle of the room like it was nothing, then adding a split or any number of other seemingly impossible body positions. If you want to see just one of the series we tried, click here, go to about minute 1:15 and you will see what I mean:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BADXKj-9eE
Over the next 120 minutes I was completely humbled as I tripped and fell out of pose after pose. I probably could do about 50% of what the instructor did. Now, I have to say, many people couldn’t do a lot of the poses. And no one looked close to the famous yogi pictured in the you tube video. But still, the experience knocked me off my yoga pedestal – now I know why they call yoga a “journey” and I can clearly see how much farther I have to go! However, I was also revitalized and re-motivated. My practice had become somewhat stale over the last several months and this presented just the challenge I needed. Granted, I was completely out of my comfort zone and totally over my head, but it was a challenge nonetheless. And I can’t wait to go back.
The moral of the story is: try something new. If you always run the same route change it up. Drive to the beach or the mountains and try a route there! If you always take the same cycling class, try a new instructor. Or try something completely different. There are loads of unique classes popping up in gyms around the country. Zumba is a dance-inspired fitness class out of Columbia – it’s a big hit and looks like tons of fun. Boxing gives you the chance to work out your aggressions in a serious way. There’s pole dancing for the more, um, uninhibited. Or, if you are really adventurous, try Jukari - a new class from Reebok Fitness and Cirque de Soleil that is based on trapeze! Not looking for something quite so off the wall? Then just bump up your current routine a notch – work with a group who is more advanced than what you are used to. It will challenge you and maybe even inspire you to improve and grow.
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Hi everyone,
We have some great stuff coming up in the next few weeks. Hope you can join me!
Down and Dirty Boot Camp
It’s time for the next installment of “Down and Dirty Boot Camp.” Adam and I are having a blast leading these so we hope you can come check it out! Remember: these are tough classes so be ready to work up a sweat!
Where: Salt Creek Beach (directions to follow)
When: Sunday, September 13th ~ 8:00am
Cost: $15 per person (or bring someone new and get two for $25)
RSVP to Erica at erica@drivenfitnessnow.com by September 9th
Indoor Rock Climbing Party
Whether new to climbing or a veteran, join me and test your skills on the wall!
When: Friday, September 18th ~ 6pm-8pm
Where: Rockreation ~ Costa Mesa
Cost: $20 per person
RSVP to Erica with # in party at erica@drivenfitnessnow.com by September 9th
Peters Canyon Hike
Join my Irvine gym Custom Bodies Fitness for this challenging hike up the notorious “Big Red” hill!
When: Saturday, September 19th
Where: Peters Canyon Trail, Irvine ~ 8:30 am
Cost: FREE
RSVP to Erica at erica@drivenfitnessnow.com by September 16th
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