Staying Focused
The next step is to focus. Allow your focus to immerse you into the fitness world. Get music to work out with on your iPod, go to the library and read some of the many books or magazines about fitness or nutrition. Go to the Falmouth Sports Center and check out all we have to offer including our Health Club, our biking and kayaking group (which I run), group exercise classes, our motivational program, tennis, racquetball and more. Talk with one of our expert trainers about developing your exercise routine.And if you need physical therapy before you start a fitness routine Sports Center Physical Therapy will get you moving again. Buy some nice workout clothes for yourself. Talk to people – your family, friends or co-workers – and share your excitement with them. Share recipes, exercise options and anything else fitness related. Find a buddy to workout with or take regular walks with. Stay focused to do what it takes to keep you moving forward and feeling great. In time you won’t have to be quite as hardcore as you do now at your start because your fitness life will be second nature and you will automatically think and do things that are in-line with your healthy lifestyle.
A Fitness Plan To Stay Motivated
Staying motivated is key. A fitness plan will help you stay on track with what you want to do for fitness. In your plan should be things like goals on what kind of exercises you will do and how much each week, such as will you walk daily during your lunch break, workout at the Falmouth Sports Center four times a week and will you go for a bike ride weekly? I recommend all of these as part of a good weekly fitness routine. You can also include nutritional and other fitness-related goals in your plan such as how many small, healthy meals you will eat each day; how many glasses of healthy fluids a day; even how many hours of sleep you want. Your plan should include any area related to fitness that you are going to work on improving. Write it all down on a goals sheet or find a smartphone app so you can check-off each item you accomplish every day. A goal sheet or app (such as My Fitness Pal) will help you stick to your fitness plan, keep yourself accountable and allow you to start seeing your progress right away. However, don’t overwhelm yourself….
One of the trainers at the Sports Center, Jeff Mackilligan, suggests not taking on too much at first; meaning to ease into a fitness routine so you don’t overwhelm yourself and get frustrated that you may not be able to do everything you want. Instead give yourself some time to take a step at a time. Each week or so you can take on a new task such as week one you start coming into the gym; week two start hydrating properly by sipping healthy fluids throughout the day; week three start adding a supplemental weekend activity such as kayaking to your routine. And when you take these steps master them and stick with them so they will become habit and soon be second-nature for you.
Craig D’Amario, a personal trainer and tennis pro at the Sports Center offers, “Many people for example may set out a goal to lose 50 pounds in two months. The fact is that it probably didn’t take 2 months to put on 50 pounds. So a short term goal of perhaps 10-15 pounds in two months would be a more successful approach.” He also added, “To help you reach your short and long term realistic goals, fitness has to be part of your day or routine. Only working out as hard and long as you can on weekends is just inviting injuries and frustration, when results are not seen or achieved. An hour a day will get you well on your way with your goals. Unfortunately there is no magic pill or workout to make up for hard work and consistency.”
I run a program called Motivations at the Sports Center that will keep you excited about achieving your fitness goals. I will help you determine your goals and come up with a fitness plan that works for you. I will then keep you motivated to stick to your plan by using whatever motivators work for you. From setting you up with a customized monthly goal sheet where you check off your progress, to getting you going with activities that you enjoy, to connecting you with someone to workout with or a group of people who will walk with you and/or offer you support. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that your fitness plan works just right for you, providing encouragement, daily check-ins or a kick in the butt if that is what it takes! We can even involve your family if you would like. Plus I will help to adjust your fitness plan as changes happen in your life. A great fitness plan adapts to your life, to the seasons as well as your changing interests. With Motivations you won’t ever be bored or uninspired with fitness. And you will never feel that you are alone on your fitness journey. I will keep you moving forward so that you will enjoy your journey and achieve your goals in record time. So give me a call or stop in and let’s get you on a customized plan that will get the results you want.
A Wise Investment
I remember hearing a quote that is on the negative side but its message is something to consider… “If you don’t have the time or money to invest in your health then plan on spending even more time and money on illness.” Yes there is a considerable material investment to make with fitness, through club memberships, equipment, clothing, and accessories. If you are financially able I suggest you approach it in a way that allows you to immerse yourself in a healthy lifestyle without feeling guilty. If you want results it is going to cost money. If you want to find what is going to work best for you that is going to cost money as well. If you can give yourself some financial flexibility to try different activities and programs, as opposed to rationalizing every fitness related cost, then you are putting yourself on a track for success. If you have kids you have to find that balance of giving yourself some time on top of all the time you give your kids and family. Finding this balance will allow your health to flourish so that you can be there for your kids for a long time to come. And you may be able to include your kids in your fitness plan. With fitness you are not buying something tangible such as a car but rather you are buying quality of life, happiness, and good health, all of which are priceless. Your health is the best investment you can make for yourself, your kids and your family, for without your health nothing else matters.
Your kids can be part of your fitness plan…even if they are less than excited at first.
Enjoying Your Fitness Journey
And lastly, enjoy your journey. Have fun by doing what you like to do to move, trying new activities, meeting new people and opening yourself up to a world of possibilities. Enjoy getting into the fitness lifestyle. Sign up for our biking group so you will be around friendly and healthy people while allowing Falmouth’s beautiful places to touch your soul. And notice how much better you feel…how good your body feels, how happy you are with the new energy you have…how you feel so alive! All of this and more will make your fitness efforts worthwhile. Because fitness is the one thing that can change our life in so many ways, making us all that we are capable of being for ourselves, our family and our community. So have a good week, stay positive, stay focused and enjoy preparing for your fitness success!
Please leave your questions and comments or come visit me at the Sports Center and say hi. I’m happy to answer any questions and be of any assistance that I can.
Todd Souza
508-662-7036
Tags: exercise, Falmouth, fitness, fitness plan, goals, health, motivation, moving, nutrition, routine, Sports Center, weight loss, wellness
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The views and opinions in the Enterprise blogs are those of the author and are not neccessarily shared by Falmouth Publishing.
If you are interested in Group Fitness classes held by 241 FITNESS at the Falmouth Sports Center check out the website at http://www.241fitness.com
Ally and Wendy of 241 Fitness are the best! They make their classes fun and upbeat. Not only do you get a great workout with them but you are a valued part of a group class, which will surely help you to feel good about moving forward with your fitness goals.
I do believe all of the concepts you’ve offered on your post. They’re very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very short for novices. May you please extend them a little from subsequent time? Thanks for the post.