It's All in Your Mind !!!

My personal and professional experience as a certified personal trainer has convinced me that becoming fit, and sustaining fitness, is more behavioral than physical.

How can this be?

We are constantly exposed to nutritional and exercise commercials promising great changes.
The fact is, obesity is still on the rise in America and spreading to our children, despite the use of magical nutritional programs, exercise videos, miracle pills, and supplements. The answer lies within people’s behaviors. I found this to be true in my consulting career with large businesses, and now I find the same patterns in my personal training clients.

Nearly everything that is associated with fitness is focused on the physical aspect of fitness development. Media focuses on exercise machines and exercise videos, as well as, nutritional programs that provide for every possible need.

Now, some of you reading this that have been successful with a weight loss program may ask the question: So, why did I make it through the program while others did not? They answer lies in mental attitude.

Believe me motivation comes in many forms, but rarely is it physical, e.g. I need to be healthier. It is nearly always attributed to a psychological need.

Work It Out With Your Kids

These days kids sit around way too much. Kids have it different than we adults did. We used to play outside most of the day. We wanted to get out of the house as it was too hot since most of us did not have air condition.

Nowadays kids are used to central air and the hot weather feels terrible to them. Kids want to sit inside and watch TV or play video games. This type of sedentary lifestyle is slowly killing our children. We need to get them back outside and exercising.
To get started, get outside with your children. Go for a bike ride to the park. Play on the equipment with your children. All of you will have a great time and you are moving around.
If you can afford it, get a family pass to a local gym. You can swim together and you can workout. If your children are older they can join as well.

Make plans for a family picnic at the beach. Pack healthy lunch foods and snacks. Bring plenty of ice cold drinking water. Swim and walk on the beach. Some areas also have hiking nearby and you can all take a hike after lunch if you choose.
Work out at home with your kids. Buy CD’s with workout routines on them.

You can even lead a workout routine at home with your kids in your family room or basement. Everyone get into comfortable clothing and tennis shoes. You can start out one of the workout routines with stretches. Stretch your neck by looking side to side 10 x’s, look up 10 x’s and look down 10 x’s. Stretch your arms and sides by reaching up and over to the side with each arm 10 x’s. You can even stretch your hands by flexing your fingers out and then make a fist. Repeat 10 x’s. Twist 10 x’s side to side. Sit on the floor and straighten both legs. Stretch down as far as you can 10 x’s without hurting yourself. Only go to the spot that you still feel a stretch and you are comfortable. Flex your feet up and down.

Now you can start one of the workout routines with your kids. You can choose to do 10 jumping jacks. Lie on the ground. Raise your legs up 10 x’s. Lie on one side and raise your leg up 10 x’s and do the other side. You can do 20 crunches on the floor. Once you are finished with these exercises head on out for a jog around the block with each other. If any of you are unable to jog, you can all walk as quick as possible.

The workout routines you do today will benefit your children into adulthood. You are setting a wonderful example as well and your children may continue to workout for the rest of their lives to stay healthy.

Walking Front Kicks

Childhood Obesity.. Why?

Child Obesity.

An issue that is not being taken as seriously as it should be. Children today are consummed with the latest technology so much that their health and active lifestyles are basically non-existent. Unfortunately it doesnt stop at just the physical. Childhood obesity can ignite a snowball of other issues like low self esteem, bullying, onset of early health conditions like diabetes and even puberty.

So how do we get our childrens lives back on track? We have numerous resources to provide our children with healthier eating habits and methods of exercise: extra curricular actvities at schools and local parks or recreation centers, fitness facilites, even regular outdoor play. Restaurants and fast food chains even offer some healthy alternatives (i.e apples slices instead of fries, baked sweet potato instead of a baked white potato).

So why are our children still overweight? Why are we not using these resources to help save our children? And why are we not setting the example?

Overweight or Overfat ??

Many people may actually be overfat but not overweight. Fat can also be hidden throughout the body. A person may be overfat without the appearance of being overweight. As we age, muscle tissue is replaced with fat. This occurs despite regular exercise. When the muscle's capacity to store fat is exceeded, excess fat is then stored outside the muscle, around body organs, and under the skin. The fat that is now being added to the body results in the person becoming overfat and overweight.

Many people are motivated to diet by wanting to be thin and attractive like the models we see everywhere--on TV and in magazines. What is far more important is that a leaner body reduces the risk for certain diseases. Studies show that a 20 percent increase in body weight increases the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Body composition describes the percentages of fat, muscle, and bone in your body. Many experts think men's bodies should be between 12 to 18 percent fat, while women's should be 18 to 22 percent fat. Knowing your body composition can help you design a fitness program to build more fat-burning muscle. BodiGlyphiX: Total Fitness & Health Enhancement can provide you a Body Assessment that will give you the information you need to change your body composition and not simply lose weight but improve your overall health. Contact us at info@BodiGlyphiX.com to set up your appointment.