Getting in shape - the first steps.

In the more recent Posts in this growing Blog I have discussed Personal Training to get you started with expert advice, guidance and tailoring an exercise programme to your specific needs, and, we have raised some insight into the importance of diet, the right nutrition, calories out versus calories in as well as a bunch of other great handy hints, tips and tricks along the way. I found this article in 'articlesbase' written by Nadia Ellis (who has over 17 years of experience as a personal fitness trainer and she is the founder, director and program developer of Rhythms Personal Training Center, located just outside of New York City. Nadia is also the owner and president of Professional Fitness & Coaching also). This article was sourced at : http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/getting-in-shape-the-first-step-294229.html and it contains some key messages on why you need to do this and the benefits to be gained. Read on, to help you focus with your eyes on the prize!


Getting In Shape: The FIRST Steps!

The single most important element of any fitness program is "commitment". The best equipment along with an awesome routine doesn't do much for you if you're not motivated to exercise on a regular basis. The vast majority of people who join health clubs are not using them one year later. They've got the equipment but they lost the "commitment".

The first step in creating a successful workout program is convincing yourself that exercising your body is going to be a good thing. I know that everyone realises there are great benefits to exercise, yet “knowing” and “believing” are really two different things. Start by making a list of all the benefits you’ll receive by beginning a regular fitness program; take time to convince yourself of its benefits. I have given you just some of the general benefits below – see how many more you can add to the list that will help you personally. It takes a big commitment to actually stick with your long-term fitness goals. Without the belief of its benefits you’ll find it much more difficult to stay motivated in the long run. Spend some time thinking about and writing down the benefits to you!

There are great benefits to working out that we can tend to overlook until we are called into a doctor’s office with something that could have been prevented with a simple lifestyle change.

If you are already working out but see little or no results, you need to change up your routine more often. Maybe make it more intense, do different exercises, mix it up anyway you can to puzzle your body and get it to respond to your new routine. Just like your mind, your body gets bored with the same old routine. It gets “used” to it and after awhile will fail to respond to the same old thing. The more you can confuse your body and its muscles the more it will have to work to adjust to the new and different level of exercise. Your body continues to adjust and as it does you will need to periodically change your routines.

Here are just a few reasons why you should consider working out for health. Yes, I know you’ve heard these a million times – we all KNOW it, but not many of us are actually DOING it. As you get a bit older, it becomes more important then ever to start your routine. Read through the list, add some ideas of your own and lets get started getting in better shape together!

1. Exercise Improves Your Mood
Need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk walk can help you de-stress.

2. Exercise Fights Chronic Diseases
Heart disease? Osteoporosis? Regular exercise can help prevent these diseases and more.

3. Exercise Helps You Manage Your Weight
Want to drop those excess pounds? Make small changes by taking the furthest parking spot or walking the stairs instead of taking the escalator.

4. Exercise Strengthens Your Heart and Lungs
Winded by your daily chores? Don’t give up. Regular exercise can boost your level of energy and enhance your breathing.

5. Exercise Promotes Better Sleep
Having trouble sleeping? Regular exercise leads to a better sleeping pattern.

6. Exercise can help Put Back the Spark In Your Sex Life
Are you too tired to have sex? Or... feeling too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Exercise can improve muscle tone to increase sexual gratification.

7. Exercise can be Fun!
Looking for something fun for the family to do this weekend? Get physical with an outdoor activity.

Another important step to achieving both happiness and contentment in fitness as well as in life is to believe in yourself. If you have that on your side, you are one step closer to your goal. Believe that you can overcome any obstacle that you are faced with and that you can achieve anything that you want out of life. Believe that you can take on this new challenge to re-shape your body and get fit. I am a firm believer that if you want something bad enough in life, you can go out and get it. Set goals that make you happy! Make it personal. Never change who you truly are for the sake of pleasing others.

So, how do you stay motivated? Try this: After setting your fitness goals, laying out a plan of action and making your commitment, begin to ask yourself a hundred times a day, "Is what I am doing or about to do, moving me toward my objectives?" That one single question asked often enough will help remind you everyday of your commitments.

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

What to expect from your first PT session?

Having been through the previous Posts and the advice and guidance offered in searching for and sourcing the right PT for you, the next step is get stuck in and begin changing a few things in your life. Making this step shows commitment and determination - well done, and congratulations! So what can you expect from your first PT session with your new best friend, mentor, coach and instructor? Well, for the investment you make - quite a lot actually! I sourced this great article that whilst a little lengthy,  gives you a clear indication of what you can expect from your very first inaugural session with your PT. Written by J. Nadeau (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._Nadeau) and sourced through ezinearticles (Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8245955)


1. Arrival Promptness. 
Your first meeting will set the tone for the rest of your sessions. Have you heard the saying, "early is on time, being on time is late and if you're late don't bother"? This should be your motto when you meet your trainer for the first time. Part of the reason that most clients hire personal trainers, yoga teachers and Pilate's teachers is so that it helps them stay on track. If the person who is supposed to be keeping you on track shows up late, what does that say about how the rest of your experience will go? Fitness professionals should be 5-10 minutes early and prepared to begin on time as scheduled. This saves you time and money. There is nothing worse than a client showing up before the trainer and the client using part of their paid session while the trainer gets ready to begin. Make sure to address how important your time is and how you expect promptness for your sessions. If you live in a region where you can expect weather restrictions at certain times of the year or traffic issues at certain times of the day, make sure to discuss back up plans for if these issues should arise. Such as if there is a snow storm, hurricane, extensive backed up traffic at rush hour etc. Make sure you have exchanged contact information so that you or the trainer can contact each other to let the other know that you may run a couple minutes behind schedule due to extensive circumstances.

2. Responsiveness to Emails/Calls. 
We recommend that trainers respond to client inquiries, questions, issues, concerns and scheduling ASAP. Meaning we recommend as little time as immediately to no more than 24 hours. Trainers should respond to emails, calls, texts etc. within a 24 hour period at max. Your time is IMPORTANT! Trainers should fully understand that clients have busy lives which are typically why they hire a trainer in the first place. Don't be afraid to speak up if your trainer is taking longer than 24 hours to respond to your requests as you are paying for their service and your time is valuable.

3. Social media.
Ask your fitness professional if they utilize social media to stay connected and get important information out. This is a great method to stay up to date with the latest fitness plans, programs and workouts as well as be notified of weather cancellations etc. Many trainers utilize this to deliver helpful information to clients to help them stay motivated such as workout videos, daily fitness motivation and more. Make sure to ask if they have twitter, pinterest, Facebook, wordpress, blog or instagram and connect with them before you begin services.

You can also use this to vet for the quality of service that they offer by looking at their comments, feed, friends, followers and posts. For example, if you go to their Facebook page and you see them smoking and eating a cheeseburger you can imagine this doesn't really say "motivate me". They should take their profession seriously as this will mean they take your time, money, results, their job and your well being seriously.

4. Communication. 
Remember that all great relationships are built on communication and trust. This should be your marker for great service. You should be able to discuss with your fitness professional if you do not like a specific exercise, feel uncomfortable, have physical limitations, medical limitations, scheduling needs, an issue with your service, customer service issue, lack of results or any additional concern. Personal trainers, yoga teachers and Pilates teachers understand that it is a "personal" business that they need to deliver quality service in order for customers to be happy and they should place great significance on your opinions. Many will even ask your feedback, offer surveys, questionnaires and your opinion to make sure they are delivering the best service and meet your needs.

5. Schedule.
Trainers who offer little flexibility in their schedule should be a no go! As you would think wow this trainer has so many clients that they are booked solid this should be a red flag. You will want to make sure that trainers have availability for multiple time slots should your schedule change in the future. Ask if they work nights, weekends, early mornings, holidays etc. Make sure you check in advance before signing up as life does happen and there is nothing worse than having signed up and not being able to book a session with your chosen trainer. Most trainers understand that clients typically are hiring them because they have limited time and a tight schedule so they are flexible to work around you as your schedule should change.

6. Equipment. 
Ask what equipment will be used during your sessions. Some gym trainers focus on machines which others free weights, some boot camp instructors offer body weight exercises and others bring small apparatus to mix it up. Ask what equipment is to be used as well as ask for demonstrations and to try it out during your first session. You want to make sure you enjoy the style of the trainer and use of their selected equipment before you chose a program. Each session should be catered to each individual clients specific needs and not a predetermined generic program.

7. Personality. 
The most common question we get about trainers is "How do I know if I will like them?" Do you have an idea of what type of personality motivates you? Don't be afraid to speak your mind. If you know you want a trainer to yell at you, or if you want a workout buddy, or if you like a compassionate personality, or if you need lots of positive encouragement there are many personalities to suit any training need. The trick is to have an idea of who is best suited to motivate you. Take a look at who your friends and co-workers are and reflect on what will be the best fit to make sure you will be motivated. Every client has unique needs for who motivates them and that is okay since no two people are the same. We want to make sure clients get the most out of their services and enjoy their sessions since your time and money is valuable. We are here to help you design the best fitness program for your goals.

8. Client Testimonials, Reviews and References. 
Get real time feedback from current and old clients about their experience with your chosen fitness professional. Ask for phone numbers, written reviews or testimonials and online reviews so that you have all the information you need for making a decision. Don't be afraid to ask their customers questions about their experience, their success, any issues that may have arisen, if they are currently training, how often they train, and how long they have been with a specific instructor. Remember these are opinions so you can always make your own decision about the professional but it is usually a good guide for any major red flags.

9. Fun. 
Remember your first session with your fitness professional should be a measured on the same scale that you would gauge a meeting with a coworker or business contact. You should feel that you are able to vocalize your opinions, be able to express yourself and get the most out of your meeting. Don't forget one of the most important factors is that you should HAVE FUN! Fitness doesn't have to be stagnant and neither should your workout! You should be able to develop a professional relationship and have fun while you get results.

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-