‘Exercise is for Life not just after Christmas’

Whilst Christmas seems long forgotten by now, that post Christmas bulge may not be…...testament to this are the thousands of newcomers to Gyms, Group Fitness Classes, Personal Trainers and Slimming Clubs across the Country. During the few `months post Christmas, we are bombarded by TV advertisements for the latest ‘butt busting’ equipment, or the latest celebrity DVD which promises a new body for a New Year, all claiming results in faster time than ever before – and not just fast but fun too! So with all this help (or hype), coupled with our apparently firm New Year resolve, why is it that by March, and that is being generous, many have fallen off the proverbial ‘fitness wagon’ and out of love with their gym memberships?  Does it strike a cord with you or anyone you know? Over the following series of 3 articles we will be looking at what it takes to keep our fitness and diet resolve firm, what it truly means to be fit and what’s new in the fitness arena to help you stay on track. 

There are so many reasons why exercise and diet regimes fail - almost as many as there are excuses for not going to your class or gym on a cold, wet and rainy evening after a hard day at the office…..but whatever your barriers are, when you cut it down to its bare bones, the reason lies with us as individuals, and the solution can only be found by examining what exactly ‘motivated’ us to get fit and/or loose weight in the first place, and consider why our best laid intentions failed….again! 

Like most changes we want to make, the mind must be ‘programmed’ first before the body and will power follows. Our motivation for anything in life experiences highs and lows, we are human after all and live in the real world where the stresses and strains of a time pressured life can take its toll. The critical factor for success is that we need to be master of our thoughts and minds to prepare for any new change.

We all have to deal with days when will power is in short supply……and indeed to deal with this we must first question  if our desire to reach our end goal is strong enough to even want to overcome the ‘lows’ or ‘obstacles’ you will face.  So when confronted with that wet rainy night on your way to a fitness class……what is more important to you…..a night in on the sofa or your drive for fitness or weight loss………..to get into those jeans or to eat that next piece of cake? How much does your goal really….really mean to you in the reality of day to day life?? The more obstacles you can list in your path, the stronger your desire needs to be. Try making a list of the all the positive effects of reaching your goal, and the not so great ones of failing. Have you really sold yourself on your goal….or is it a passing whim or fad? Maybe you never really thought long or hard enough about all the benefits of being fitter or being your ideal weight?

Of course this is simplifying the point, but to truly replace old bad habits with new and better ones – a lot of ‘mind’ work has to happen first, literally you’re going to need to pre-programme your mind how it’s going to think and react when faced with those times when will power all but disappears!! Programme it so that positive reasons for hitting your goal rise to the forefront of your mind automatically. When you’ve mastered how you’re going to stand up to ‘fitness or diet’ demons (visualising yourself in a particular scenario is a great way to do this)  –  you are then in better position to resist whatever it is luring you away from your goal. It becomes so that thoughts about not going to the gym or eating something you know you shouldn’t, happen much less frequently. This is one way to your GOAL. 

Goals are vital to any new programme of change, whether it be to run a mile or a marathon, to loose a pound or a stone! But they have to specific and measurable, and the journey to your goal needs to be well planned.

Set yourself small and achievable targets on the way to your goal….a little like setting out on your travels……your need a road map, landmarks to signal you’re on the right path along the way, and a firm mark of achievement to know you’ve reached your destination! Focus on one step at time, and of course it helps to have a little fun in the process of getting there! 

The fun factor can never be underestimated – to adhere to a new exercise or diet programme something which is emotionally ‘positive’ or ‘fun’ to you is a strong motivating factor…would you go out to a party if you knew it was full of boring people, yet you’d happily go to the same place with people you knew you’d have a great time with!! We are not robots which is why the fun and ‘social’ factor is way up there on your list of priorities. You have to find something you enjoy or a social network to help support in reaching your target.

Making or breaking new habits – essential steps

1. Clearly write down your goal – splitting it up into mini goals along the way (make it measureable and set a time span if necessary)
2. List the reasons ‘for’ and ‘against’ the change (persuade yourself it IS the right thing). Decide how important the change is – you’ve got to believe in it first and believe in yourself!
3. List the pitfalls or challenges you might face. VISUALISE yourself overcoming these or write down how you’re going to overcome these  - you are preparing for those days when ‘will-power’ is strained or stress takes over!
4. List the situations you know are likely to make you stray from your goal so you can either prepare for them (point 3) or avoid them!
5. Set ‘mini’ goals along the way to make your goal more achievable!  Rome wasn’t built in a day!
6. Make the journey fun – allow yourself specific rewards along the way in return for reaching each ‘mini goal’ on your path to success!
7. Regularly visualise yourself reaching your target – how does it feel – visualise as much detail as possible to make it feel real!
8. Set yourself up a mini network of support, tell a few close friends what you want to do; friends you can count on for support when needed or will even join you!

Starting a new fitness regime is always a challenge in the winter months, and having a network of social support around you helps. But if you find it hard to convince your friends to join you, we wondered what was new this year to help support you in your fitness goals….specifically what’s new in the fitness industry this year that seeks to bring the ‘fun’ factor back into fitness?? One of the last revolutionary pieces of fitness kit, that everyone knows about is ‘THE STEP’ , it made its debut in the 1980’s, and for such a basic piece of equipment took the fitness industry by storm…so simple yet so versatile! Whether used in the gym, for classes, for complex choreography or pure STEPPING it had something for everyone. Nothing has revolutionised general fitness classes so much….well until now! Roll over the ‘STEP’ to literally make room for the ‘T-BOW’ – a step with a CURVE that can be used on both sides. It’s almost a cross between a STEP, stability ball and bosu {picture}

The T-BOW has fun written all over it, yet behind it’s curvaceous disguise lies a serious bit of fitness equipment to help bring real results  whatever your fitness goals or sport may be! The T-BOW is the result of many years of research and development by top Swiss Aerobic Champion and physiotherapist and University of Sports Lecturer, Sandra Bonacina. It’s a unique tool – yet so simple by design. Right side ‘up’ it can be used as a STEP, only the curved surface adds challenge by varying foot placements to engage core and other stabilising muscles. When used upside down ‘like a rocking horse’, it can be used to improve Balance and Core strength! This as they say is only the tip of the ice-berg! The addition of specially developed resistance bands or ‘T-Bands’, enables multi-level strengthening exercises to be incorporated too………..did we mention it’s great for yoga and Pilates too!

Excited?? You should be! Our next article will look at this innovative new product and compare it to other similar equipment on the market, in terms of both functionality and fun factor! Exercise is for life………….and can be……not just for that post Christmas lull!