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The New Year's Resolution Trap |
New Year's day...it never fails to evoke feelings
of hope and renewal, but is it really a trap?
You've been handed a "clean slate" - another chance to shrug off your bad
habits and reach for your dreams. In an attempt to bottle that New Year's
vigor, you'll probably make a few New Year's Resolutions. But before you put
pen to paper, you ought to know this:
It has been reported that 92 % of all New Year's Resolutions end in failure.
That means that less than 1 out of every 10 people will successful accomplish
their resolutions in 2010.
Ouch - those statistics are brutal. Who in their right mind would take the time
to make resolutions when failure is that imminent?
From my years of experience in the fitness industry, I'd like to give you some
advice to help you though this sticky situation. Yes, it's true most
people fail to achieve their New Year's Resolutions, but I am going to clue you
in on what the 92% do wrong and teach you what the 8% who succeed do right.
First, lets look at the 92% who failed. These well meaning people shared a
common mistake that put the nail in their coffin before they'd even begun:
They simply bit off more than they could chew.
In all the excitement of becoming a better person and changing their life in
the New Year, they made the crucial mistake of committing to do too much. But
reality set in, a few weeks or even days into their reformed life, and they
gave up.
The 92% gave themselves an easy way out. They approached their resolution with
an "all or nothing" attitude. Once the "all" became too tough they opted for
"nothing". And just like that, another resolution ended in failure - end of
story.
Now let's examine the 8% who succeed with their resolutions year after year.
The key to their success is quite simple (you may have even guessed it by now),
they set realistic goals.
I'll repeat that... they set REALISTIC goals.
- Instead of resolving to lose 50 pounds by May, they commit to exercise 3-4
times each week.
- Instead of resolving to give up all carbs, they commit to bring healthy snacks
to work instead eating from the vending machine.
- Instead of resolving to drop 3 sizes in 3 months, they commit to losing 1 pound
each week until they reach their desired size.
- Instead of resolving to try the latest fad diet, they commit to eating
healthier and watching portion sizes.
Do you see the difference?
If you want your resolution to stick then think of something simple and
realistic. Sure, it certainly won't sound as exciting or dramatic as the
resolutions that the 92% make - but they aren't going to keep theirs anyway.
Remember that the whole point of making a New Year's Resolution is to become a
healthier, happier and more successful person. Small changes done consistently
will make a big difference.
If your New Year's Resolution has to do with losing weight and getting into
great shape (and whose isn't?) then guarantee your success by working with an
expert personal trainer at Fitness Together who can guide you to success.
Together, we will transform your body in 2010! |
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A Little New Year's Humor |
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T'was the month after
Christmas, and all through the house,
nothing would fit me, not even a blouse;
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I had to taste
at the holiday parties had gone to my waist;
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber),
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared,
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared;
The wine and the rum balls; the bread and the cheese,
and the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt,
and prepared once again to do battle with dirt,
I said to myself, as only I can,
"You can't spend the winter disguised as a man!"
So, away with the last of the sour cream dip.
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,
'til all the additional pounds have vanished.
I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore,
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet! |
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Fitness Faux Pas; What NOT To Do |
Article by Holly Rigsby
Just like the popular fashion show " What NOT to Wear'",
you are about to get a large dose of "What NOT to Do" if
your goal is to boost your metabolism, shed fat and achieve results in
the shortest time possible.
Get ready, because I am about to call you out on the Top 3 Mistakes
you are making that can destroy your metabolism, zap your
energy and keep your body soft and flabby.
Hours of Cardio?
Cardio is not the end-all be-all solution to fat loss. Working longer
and harder will not help you lose fat - in fact it can make you store
more fat! We have gotten hung up on the notion of "calories burned".
This causes us to obsessively look for ways to increase calorie burn
in the hopes that we are also burning more fat. Unfortunately you are
only risking the loss of muscle and receive little to no increase in
your metabolism once you stop.
Besides, why would you want to torture yourself with the unnerving
thoughts of minutes needed to burn fat. What if you miss a day or eat
too much? I refer to this punishment as the "Cardio Confessional".
We've all done it, but what results has this habit rendered?
It's not how many calories you can burn per exercise, but how many
calories you burn 24-7. You already possess the most powerful fat
burner - your muscle! So why punish yourself and risk the loss of your
fat burning potential? Toss the notion of long bouts of cardio out the
window. INTENSITY is the KEY to getting the most out of your cardio in
the least amount of time. So revamp your cardio program with new,
energizing short burst intervals!
Target the Trouble Spots?
Jennifer Garner's toned arms and Fergie's fab abs are not created by
some "magic:" exercise that mysteriously melts fat off a particular
area of the body. It is time to banish the "Spot Reduction Myth" once
and for all.
There simply is no "one" exercise that acts like a "magic eraser" to
rid your body parts of unsightly fat. That's not how the body works.
If you want to loose fat, you instead need to challenge all of the
muscles in your body to boost your metabolism, so you lose fat all
over.
When it comes to fat loss, isolated shaping exercises are a waste of
your time. Just because you "feel the burn" does not mean you ARE
burning the fat. One of the most effective ways in which to maximize
your fat-burning potential is through full body, short burst
resistance training. By working several muscle groups at once, short
burst resistance training saves time, skyrockets your energy levels
and incinerates fat and calories.
Resistant to Resistance Training?
"I don't want to bulk up, I just want to get toned"
Let's think about what you are saying here. Toned, simply means you
have shed the fat that once covered your muscles - so we can see your
muscle definition. Muscle gives your body a lean, tight shape.
No ladies, you will not bulk up like a man. Women simply do not have enough
testosterone to get "bulky" nor, typically do they spend enough time
with weights to look anything other than lean, toned and firm. The
only reason some women feel like they look bulky is because they have
excess body fat while building muscle, but are not eating in a way
that supports fat loss.
Plus, muscle takes up less space than fat. The quickest way to drop a
jean size is to incorporate short burst resistance training into your
fitness routine.
If muscle makes you cringe, then you need to get used to a thin, soft,
flabby body. Lean, toned, fit bodies have low body fat and a lot
of lean muscle.
Instead of working hours on end month after month for little if any
results, try eliminating these fitness faux pas from your program and
start letting your body work for you to achieve your fat loss goals. |
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Recipe of the Month |
While the red and green speckles
give this homemade hummus a jolly look, it's the taste that makes it
unforgettable. This dip makes the perfect party take-along. Serve it up with
whole grain pita bread or fresh cut veggie sticks.
Makes 12 servings
Here's what you need:
- 1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans
- 1 Tablespoons tahini
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 2 garlic cloves, mashed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 4 sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/4 cup basil leaves
Throw all the ingredients into a food processor and combine until smooth.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 55 calories, 2g fat, 6g carbohydrate,
2g fiber, and 2g protein.
Spread the word. Forward this newsletter to your friends, family and coworkers
by using the 'refer a friend' link below. They'll thank you for it.
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FREE Personal Training Session and Consultation |
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Fitness Together 951-302-2995 |
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Ed FerrellAs owner, manager and head trainer of Fitness Together - Temecula,
I have found that there is nothing more rewarding than helping my clients reach
their personal fitness goals. It goes far beyond helping them to lose weight and
feel better about themselves. I have seen lives completely changed when clients
learn and apply proper nutrition and exercise to their lifestyles.
No one I know has ever regretted losing weight and getting in better shape. The
improvements and enjoyment that clients experience in their daily lives as a
result of their personal training is why I do this. I may work with each client
less than an hour a day, but I known they are enjoying the benefits of their
improved energy, health and fitness all day long -- and that's what its all
about. Without your health, nothing else matters.
Contact Us
Fitness Together
31045 Temecula Parkway #103
Temecula, CA 92592
951-302-2995
www.fttemecula.com
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Links
Fitness Together
Work-at-Home Moms
Nutritional Supplements
Golf Fitness
Holidays
Jan 1
- New Year's Day
Jan 21 - MLK Jr. Day
Quote of the Month
Success is nothing more that a few simple disciplines
practiced every day, while failure is simply a few errors in judgment repeated
every day.
Health Trivia
When people start exercising as a result of a New
Year's Resolution, 60% have quit by Valentine's Day.
Healthy Humor
Exercise wouldn't be a problem for me if I had
a different body to do it with.
Health Tip
Washing your hands is the single most important thing you can do to prevent
the transmission of infectious organisms.
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