The three most important things…
Michael Bronco
In my twenty three years as a fitness professional, I have seen, and in many cases tried, just about every exercise fad that has come and gone. And quite frankly most of them bore me. I’m really not interested in ego based programs or quick fix schemes.
What I am interested in, is helping you.
So, here is my offer. I will share with you what I believe are the three most important principles to health and fitness and you will agree to give them a shot. I have a one hundred percent success rate with clients who have adopted these practices, so the odds are in your favor.
First: Never do anything that you don’t want to do. That’s right; never sweat through another spin class again unless you love it. Don’t go for a run, a bike ride or lift a weight unless you truly enjoy it.
Now, I suggest that you give things a chance first before you decide that you don’t like it. I used to loathe the idea of doing Yoga – now I love it! I’m not the world’s most flexible guy so I am not inclined to do anything that challenges my stretching ability. Once I gave it a shot however, I was hooked. Besides, it helps my surfing!
Following the latest fitness trend that promises to give you the body you dream of won’t work unless you really look forward to it.
Second: Be creative. Don’t be afraid to get up and change your mind about what you are going to do that day. Keeping your workout time is important, but what you do with it can be spontaneous and creative. Exercise shouldn’t be a chore.
Unfortunately, many coaches and trainers have the “My way or a highway approach,” which simply doesn’t work. Especially if changing one’s attitude about exercise is an issue. Unless you are training for a specific athletic event, it isn’t necessary to stick to a specific program. Even then, I like to be creative.
When I was competing as a pro triathlete I changed things up frequently to avoid getting bored and stale. On days when doing a set of 10x 800 yard repeats wasn’t appealing, I would play an hour of one on one full court basketball with one of my fittest clients. Now, that's a workout!
If you don’t have fun it won’t last. And if it doesn’t last it won’t work.
Third: Be consistent. If you adopt the first two principles, then this one usually takes care of itself. If you really enjoy your exercise or sport, you’ll want to do it. You’ll stop making excuses and you’ll eliminate distractions that used to be convenient little tricks to avoid exercising.
Relying on a trainer or the fact that beach season is right around the corner are examples of short term motivators that don’t work. Don’t underestimate the power of your mind. Studies show that people are more consistent when they understand and enjoy their exercise. Not when they force themselves to do it.
Willpower only works in small doses. If you rely on it too much you’ll burn out and ultimately fail.
Doing a little each day is much more effective than trying to do it all in one giant workout a couple of times a week. You can't burn off last nights pizza with a spin class! Unfortunately, this is what most people try to do. If you find that you are one of them - stop! It really won't work.
I have seen people achieve incredible results on just fifteen to twenty minutes of exercise at a time. The key is to do it everyday; and for the right reasons. Remember, enjoying and being creative with your exercise is what will keep you consistent. The results will follow.
In our next issue, I will share my secrets to finding the activities that will inspire you. Lack of motivation is the main reason people fail at fitness. Learn how to turn this around...