How to Check Exercise off the List
by Julia McAleer-Forte
"Eat your vegetables""Go outside and play!”
Mom was right, of course. We all know that to remain healthy we need to eat right and exercise. It sounds so simple, yet many of us falter during stressful times in our lives. Planning your wedding can be such a time.
The stress and hectic pace of planning a wedding can often put exercise in the “If I have time...” column of the day. There are vendors to meet, places to see, and gowns to try on. Finding that extra time throughout the day can be challenging for many of us.
Hiring a personal fitness trainer provides us with the guidance to physically take care of ourselves. It’s a partnership that can help us stay healthy and strong throughout the long haul.
Here are few more benefits of having a personal fitness trainer:
Focus: All fitness programs should be goal orientated. Whether your goal is to use exercise as an outlet to reduce pre-wedding stress, or to look your absolute best as you walk down the aisle, your program should be broken down into short-term and long-term goals. Goal sheets are created with your trainer in order to keep you on track. When the going gets tough, they also serve as handy reminders.
Safety: How many of us have seen an exercise or a diet in a magazine or on TV and wanted to try it out for kicks? It’s looks harmless, but how do you know it’s safe? Who wants to limp down the aisle or wince during the bouquet toss because she did something without the guidance of a professional? A personal trainer’s FIRST job is your safety. They ensure that all exercises are within your limits, and they stay focused on reaching your goals.
Cheerleader: In the occasional chaos of planning a wedding, there may be times when you’re so overwhelmed that you just want to throw in the towel. A personal trainer is focused on keeping it reasonable. Not up for running two miles today? No problem. Let’s walk/run for 10 minutes and see how you feel after that. Feel like you’re going to scream if the florist doesn’t call you back? Got it. Let’s stretch and do some yoga. You both know you’ll feel better and your mental outlook will improve after you exercise. Your trainer will supply the much-needed enthusiasm and problem solving to help you feel successful!
Doing the same thing over and over is boring.
Variety: Let’s face it. Doing the same thing over and over is boring. You wouldn’t eat the same exact meal every day for the rest of your life, so how could you stick to a fitness program that was exactly the same day in and day out? Even if you could, muscles adapt to doing the same training, so changing your routine keeps them working at the maximum. Variety can come in many different forms, from using a foam roll or a BOSU ball, to going outside and charging the hills! Not knowing what your trainer is going to pull out of his or her bag of tricks can keep it fresh and exciting!
Accountability: Paying in advance for a designated number of sessions holds you accountable to yourself to “make good” with the time and the commitment it takes to achieve your goals.
Timeout: Give in to an hour for yourself! This hour is yours, and it is completely about you. With fitness training you get a chance to physically challenge yourself, feel better inside and out and look your absolute best on the big day. Regardless of your motivation for working out, it’s ALL ABOUT YOU!
Have fun, and cross it off your list as “done!”
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