| If you have ever been through hard times | | | | When Aunt Sally read the book, she knew that |
| (haven't we all), you were probably given | | | | the diet was very strict with types of food |
| advice by so many different people. For many | | | | and timing of meals. For her, it was great to |
| life situations, there often seems to be as | | | | have a structure to follow. It was all so |
| many opinions as people giving advice! | | | | organized, as she liked all things in her |
| | | | life. |
| We are all products of our experiences. | | | | |
| Emotions and judgments are really the result | | | | Elizabeth, on the other hand, tried to follow |
| of "where we were when". The values we were | | | | the diet exactly as recommended. Within a few |
| taught as kids, the life experiences that we | | | | days, she was very frustrated because she |
| have had as well as current situations all | | | | felt that dieting is just too difficult and |
| come together to form our perceptions of | | | | inflexible. She decided that dieting doesn't |
| reality. | | | | work and she just needs to "cut way back" on |
| | | | the amount of food she was eating. This is |
| Fitness and nutrition are no exceptions. Take | | | | good - except that most of the food she is |
| any cross section of people, say 100, and ask | | | | eating is nutritionally empty to begin with! |
| their opinion on a particular fitness idea, | | | | Now she's hungry and inadequately nourished. |
| and you will probably get 100 different | | | | |
| opinions. This is the dilemma I see often | | | | Elizabeth would be better served by learning |
| with clients. Many, before I see them, have | | | | about and following sound nutritional |
| spent a period of time "trying out" this diet | | | | principles rather than following a rigid diet |
| or that workout plan because it worked for | | | | plan. It's just not her style. |
| their friend or their sister gave it to them | | | | |
| and so on. | | | | Are you having trouble starting or sticking |
| | | | with your fitness plan? Here's an approach to |
| My favorite example of this is my last long | | | | get you thinking.... |
| term partner (spouse) used to be asked for | | | | |
| fitness advice because he was fit and married | | | | 1. Look inside. |
| to a fitness instructor! He had some good | | | | |
| ideas. He knew what worked.... for HIM. | | | | What drives you? What makes you happy? Why do |
| | | | you want to be fit? Why do you want to eat |
| What works for one person may not work for | | | | right? What activities do you enjoy doing |
| another. Why? Physiologically, the science is | | | | (both physical activities and other hobbies)? |
| pretty much the same. For optimum fitness and | | | | Are you a social person or do you prefer to |
| health, we all need a combination of | | | | be alone? What are the limiting factors in |
| resistance exercise (muscles and bones), | | | | your lifestyle? How much time do you want to |
| aerobic exercise (cardiovascular, lungs), | | | | devote to fitness? What type of job do you |
| stretching (joint health) good nutrition | | | | have? Do you like changing your activities |
| (fuel) and enough sleep (rebuild). The trick | | | | often or do you prefer a more predictable |
| of all this is the how to get these things | | | | routine? |
| and enjoy it....because enjoyment leads to | | | | |
| motivation. | | | | 2. Look outside. |
| | | | |
| Let's say that Aunt Sally walks with a group | | | | What resources are available? Do you have |
| 4miles, 3 times per week. She eats a healthy | | | | sports activities you might enjoy available? |
| diet of lean protein, veggies and fruit and | | | | Is there a gym close by? Is there a dance |
| goes to yoga class 2 times per week. She | | | | studio close by? Are there organized events |
| loves her "program" which works for her | | | | like fun runs you could train for? Can you |
| because she loves it. Aunt Sally gets a lot | | | | find books on the subject of fitness and |
| of social time from her workouts, which keeps | | | | nutrition? Do you know any fitness trainers |
| her going. The time she spends is more | | | | or coaches? |
| valuable to her than just fitness. She rarely | | | | |
| misses her sessions. | | | | 3. Put it together. |
| | | | |
| Aunt Sally eventually convinces her niece | | | | A good fitness plan includes the elements of: |
| Elizabeth, who thinks fitness is a necessary | | | | muscle strength, joint flexibility, aerobic |
| evil, to join her. Elizabeth begins with | | | | (heart, lungs) training, sound nutrition and |
| enthusiasm, but after a month she doesn't | | | | rest. So, pick out the activities available |
| feel like she is getting results and starts | | | | to you that you like and see if the |
| missing sessions. Why? | | | | combination gives you all the elements in |
| | | | this list. |
| If we asked Elizabeth, she would probably say | | | | |
| that fitness is "just not her thing and she | | | | Elizabeth, when she goes through this |
| doesn't enjoy it". But, maybe Elizabeth | | | | process, is surprised to figure out that |
| hasn't found the activities that give her | | | | there are some fitness activities available |
| what she really needs beyond fitness. In this | | | | she would enjoy. She knows she is social, |
| case, Aunt Sally meant well, but her | | | | wants to keep generally fit and healthy, has |
| "mentoring" was actually counterproductive to | | | | time after work, needs organized activities |
| Elizabeth's fitness success. Elizabeth has | | | | and likes variety (why Aunt Sally's program |
| now reinforced her feeling that she doesn't | | | | didn't appeal to her) |
| like physical activity. | | | | |
| | | | Elizabeth's program looks like this: 1 day |
| The same thing holds with "diets" (I | | | | per week, join a football (soccer) league |
| personally don't like the term). Let's bring | | | | (aerobic) 1 day per week, yoga class or Tai |
| up Aunt Sally again. One day Elizabeth who | | | | Chi (flexibility, muscle, mental focus) 1 day |
| now thinks that a diet is what she needs | | | | per week salsa dancing class (aerobic) 1 day |
| since exercise is out, asks Aunt Sally if she | | | | weight training (muscle) Some weeks: social |
| could help her lose weight with a diet. Aunt | | | | dancing on the weekends (aerobic, relaxation) |
| Sally gives her the diet book that got her | | | | |
| started on the road to healthy eating. | | | | She's got a good plan..... FOR HER! |
| | | | |