As a trainer, I am often dismayed to see someone, whether or not a client of mine, “fall off the wagon”. That’s the training and nutrition wagon, of course. I try to keep my clients engaged in strength and/or cardio training as well as developing nutritional habits for at least six weeks. Why six weeks? Because behaviors don’t usually get shaped into habits until something has been consciously done for at least six weeks.
Read MoreSo, you’re beginning to (or thinking about) weight training. (AKA resistance training or strength training).… there are many reasons to do weight training. Benefits include: · Staving off chronic disease …
Read MoreWhen you set out to weight train, you should have one or more specific goals in mind. It could be weight loss, lean muscle building, or maybe just quality of life fitness. Those goals will be an important factor in shaping (pun intended) the design of your workout program. Will you be working toward increasing your strength, endurance, muscular form or, preferably, some combination thereof?
Read MoreWhen a Trainer initially evaluates a client, it should include evaluating mobility and flexibility. Mobility is your active range of motion. If I ask you to raise your arms above your head on your own, mobility is the degree to which you can raise them. Flexibility refers to how high I can raise your relaxed arm. Said another way, the more flexible you are, the more mobile you can be.
Read MoreI was recently meeting with a new client (I’ll call her Mary) to discuss her goals and objectives for our training program. Mary knew, at some level, she wanted to be “more fit.” “But” she said, “I’m at a normal weight for my height, so what will our training really accomplish?” Mary was, as it turned out, “skinny fat.” She looked thin, but her body fat percentage was higher than the normal range. She had a high fat mass and a low muscle mass. Metabolically, she had the same health risks as an overweight person might.
Read MoreAs a Fitness Trainer of a certain age, I’m always perplexed and annoyed by Ageism. What is Ageism? The Dictionary defines Ageism as “prejudice or discrimination based on a person’s age”, and it can be personal or institutional. In my experience it can be quite subtle and possibly well intentioned, as well.
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