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