The very thought of having to be amongst "healthy" people puffing and sweating, staring at your own lumps and bumps bouncing about in the mirrors is enough to put a lot of people off even visiting a gym! And, you may know that I have great respect for some well motivated and enthusiastic fitness professionals and fabulous kit in the many gyms in our city but how many of us as gym members have experienced a lack of attention
shall we say, from the gym, especially the big impersonal ones, once you have paid your subscription and are tied into your 12 month contract.
Surely the focus should be on us as an individual with different wants and needs and different responses to an exercise programme and not so much about making money for the shareholders!
OK, of course there is a business to run, but doesn't it seem in many gyms that actually, if everyone turned up there would be real problems, so you are not encouraged to turn up. The highly motivated gym staff become cleaners and security staff and, increasingly disillusioned, retreat into their little office and look for other jobs during their shifts.
The same with diets; each time I have tried a diet and stuck to the instructions, it has worked and I have lost weight. Some more rapidly and easier than others, but up until recently in all cases that weight and more went back on again as I reverted to my old eating and drinking habits. This despite claims that weight loss will be permanent - no need to exercise like a lot of diets state. Again that is true, you can lose weight with no
need to exercise but you do need to achieve a balance of healthy eating and exercise to maintain good health and a healthy weight.
And as we all know, if you keep on doing the same things or resort to old habits, you get the same results.
So what is the difference between success and failure in weight loss and exercise programmes? I say it is inspiration, motivation and accountability. When a person is sufficiently uncomfortable in the place or state they are at "now" that person is ready for change and with the help of one or more people, little steps make lifestyle change a reality.
Exercise does not need to be confined to the gym, most of our time is spent at home so why not exercise from home and outside and while you are at it, look at how small changes to your diet can help you lose weight.
A successful exercise regime will take a while to build to get your body and mind used to a new routine, just like changes to the food types, quantities and times that that you eat will affect your weight gain or weight loss. It takes about 12 weeks on average to see real results but small steps, your mind-set and help with inspiration, motivation and accountability will see you through and make you feel so much
better!
That in essence is what Celebrate Health and Fitness is about. Those of us who are like- minded will work together to help people just like you, to achieve extra ordinary results and transform a slow but steady decline leading to infirmity and obesity, into a more active, healthy, independent and fun lifestyle. And even if one-to-one with your Personal Trainer is not for you, then come and have some fun with our happy little groups walking, jogging, running and cycling their way to "looking good, feeling great and living life better".