Today, I was sitting in Starbucks having a flashback of when I was in high school. Back then, I would stay up until crazy hours of the morning thinking about all the endless possibilities of life. I would imagine myself as the next Jerry Rice, Rickey Henderson or the next great artist. Yep…..making millions of dollars being a sports superstar was what occupied my mind back then. Now, I stay up thinking of ways to get people to value life and take responsibility for their health. Recently I was online, looking at photos of friends and family members and I ran across a photo that was very disheartening. I was looking at a picture of someone who is very dear to me. I knew he was battling with a weight issue and it didn’t look like he was winning.  He looked to have gained at least 40-50lbs from the time I last saw him, so I decided to reach out to him to offer my help…let’s hope he takes it.

Taking on obesity is a herculean task when you look at the statistics. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), obesity has increased dramatically in the last 20 years. The CDC reports that a third or more of the adults here in the U.S (35.7%) are obese. Then there’s about 17% or 12.5 million children and adolescents from age 2 -19 years old that are considered obese…….Wow!

Why is this important? Because with obesity comes serious diseases and sometimes death. Some of the diseases and conditions that are associated with obesity are:

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep Apnea
• Gout
• Gallbladder Diseases
• Cancer of the Colon, Rectum, Prostrate, Uterus, Gallbladder, Cervix, Ovary, and Breast

These are frightening diseases and health issues that can be a detriment to your quality of life.

I, just like many of you have family and friends that are part of the obese population. I don’t know about you, but  I don’t want to have to go to a funeral because someone didn’t take control of the food they put in their mouth and were too “unmotivated, busy or tired” to do at least 30 – 60 minutes of exercise four times a week. There are 7 days in a week…24 hours in a day…168 hours in a week. Looking at it from that perspective, is it really too much to ask yourself to use 2-4 hours of your 168 hour week, to help save your life?

This brings to mind a good quote from the Earl of Derby that says ”Those who do not find time for exercise, will have to find time for illness.”

In short, we all have a part to play in the fight against obesity, so I hope that you will consider what I have said and take responsibility for your own health and help others take responsibility for theirs.

1Is this trainer certified?

When dealing with a personal trainer, you want someone who has qualified themselves through some set of standardized best practices.

2Does this trainer have a track record of success?

A good trainer will be able to provide you client success stories where they have helped certain individuals obtain specific goals.  Whether the goal was weight loss or general health, a trainer’s real worth is in the results.

3How long has this individual been training?

There is no substitute for time.  Experience will ensure that this trainer has worked with multiple individuals at various fitness levels.

4What type of individuals does this trainer typically work with?

You want to ensure that the trainer you choose has experience working with individuals who have similar starting points and similar goals.

5What physical activities and fitness goals does this trainer have for his or herself?

You want to know if the trainer practices what they preach.  In order to preach fitness as a lifestyle, one must LIVE a fitness lifestyle.  Likewise, a variety of experience in physical activity gives the trainer a more well-rounded view of the movement of the body.

6What is this trainer’s specific training or coaching style?

You want to ensure that your trainer’s coaching style will work well with your personality.  Because everybody is different, a drill sergeant style may works for some, and others may respond better to lots of positive reinforcement.

7What does this trainer do to help keep his or her clients motivated?

Motivation is a crucial factor in reaching ones goals.  This is why you would want to know this trainer has a plan of action. This person should use several different things for motivation to keep you engaged. I find that games, short term goals, exercise variety, and plan old vanity works most of the time. However you want a trainer that will make sure you take responsibility for you own personal goals. As a Trainer I am here to support, encourage and teach you, but ultimately it is up to you, to find the motivation within yourself to be truly successful. Having the right trainer by your side, can be the key ingredient to reaching your fitness goals.

As an individual you have your own unique personality, lifestyle and goals. My goal is to get to know you and design a program to help you succeed on your fitness journey.

My approach to personal training is to empower you so that you will take responsibility for your own health and fitness. As your trainer, I will work with you to develop a plan of action to successfully reach your goals. Throughout this program we will set reasonable targets to track your progress. By setting realistic objectives this will build confidence and give you the strength to achieve your ultimate aim.

Fitness is a lifestyle; it is important for you to incorporate it on a day to day basis. I can only be with you for a limited amount of time, therefore it is important for me to help guide you on simple ways to integrate fitness into your everyday life.

Working together as a team we can bring your fitness dreams to life!