Stop the Insanity
By: Jeremy Koerber, ACSM Health Fitness Specialist
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the different results.”
Albert Einstein
On a daily basis I consult with people who have been longing to make differences in the way they look and feel, but are either unaware or unwilling to make a change in the way they do things. The Einstein quote from above is a perfect illustration of this paradigm. Still, many are perplexed that they cannot lose, or in some cases, continue to gain weight. So how does one succeed in achieving better health and fitness? By bucking the current trend and breaking the cycles that continue to drag them down. They have to stop the insanity!
The first step is to become aware of behaviors that have resulted in your current situation. Awareness can be simultaneously eye-opening and horrific, but once you have that enlightenment, developing a plan becomes easier. How do you become aware? Keep a food log for one week capturing not only what you eat, but when you eat, how much, and your mood or emotional state at that exact moment. You may find there are triggers either in the workplace or at home that compel you to use food for emotional support.
Second, you have to get active. This means different things for different people but the take home message is two fold.
1. Start moving
2. Be consistent
You could have the greatest workout in the world but if you only perform it one to two days per week, you will see little results. A moderate plan that promotes consistent, daily activity will allow you to burn a high enough volume of calories to see change.
Third, mix it up. Once you become consistent and comfortable with your exercise routine, shock your body by doing something different. This is a fantastic time to hire a qualified personal trainer to help you progress to the next level. Remember, once the body becomes used to your workout, it ceases to improve. You can also attempt new forms of exercise such as yoga or Zumba to add variety to your routines and keep your body guessing.
Fourth, if you are doing all of the above and still not seeing results, consider visiting with a registered dietitian to help you fine tune your nutrition. More than one person has beaten their head into a wall with frustration because they did not understand they were either consuming too few calories to lose weight or consuming the wrong foods at the wrong time of day.
Jeremy Koerber
ACSM Health Fitness Specialist
Integrated Wellness Concepts
IWCFitness.com
