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What motivates you?
Creating long-term Lifestyle Changes
By Jonathan Roche,
Founder and CEO, Breakthrough Health & Fitness
(creator of the Momentum Fitness & Weight Loss System™)
What motivates you to work out? What inspires you to go for a walk, hit
the gym, or take a hike? Maybe you are trying to fit into that swimsuit
or bikini or look svelte for your 20-year class reunion, or perhaps you
just want to get into those skinny pants from college. These all sound
like reasonable goals for getting into shape – but will these
motivations last?
As a Certified Personal Trainer, I've heard every
reason on earth for why people want to lose weight and get fit. But let
me tell you a secret – the desire to look good on your vacation, or to
buy a smaller pants size is short-lived. Not only do these goals not
last long, they also don't work very well.
According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission
(FTC), at any given time, almost 70 million Americans are trying to
lose weight or prevent weight gain. But many of these people find
themselves faced with a choice between responsible weight loss programs
and the many “miracle” weight loss products on the market. The
attraction of so-called miracle products is that they offer huge weight
loss results with everything from creams to pills – and zero effort.
Says the FTC, “In the end, these quick fixes do nothing to address the
nation’s or the individual’s weight problem, and if anything, may
contribute to an already serious health crisis.”
Most experts agree that the key to sustained weight
management is long-term lifestyle changes that include common sense
nutrition and regular physical exercise. But, we have all tried a
“quick fix” or a “quick training” technique to lose weight or get in
shape. I have. I admit it. In preparation for my first Boston Marathon,
the longest distance I ran was 16 miles and all of those workouts were
on the treadmill. I thought I would be able to feed off the energy of
the crowd and the other runners during the race to keep me going.
Taking this shortcut was not a wise decision. My quads really paid for
my shortsightedness and it was a really tough race. Through that
experience I learned that, whether I am training for a race or just
working to increase my endurance, I have to do the work! Since then,
I've completed 10 consecutive Boston Marathons and eight Ironman™
Triathlons, all with the proper time and effort put into my training.
My biggest lesson? Think long-term!
This is exactly why I help my personal training
clients and my company’s customers to focus on long-term fitness goals
outside of the skinny pants syndrome. I teach them to concentrate on
what really counts – improving their overall health so they can live a
long and happy life. For example, did you know studies show that being
overweight or obese raises the risk for Type 2 diabetes, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol levels, coronary heart disease, congestive
heart failure, sleep apnea, and a long list of other major health
problems? These are important issues because besides having an impact
on how you look they will determine how you feel.
What if your start thinking about weight loss in
terms of fitness, and add some real motivators? Here are some great
ways to combine fun with fitness:
- Play ball with the kids – instead of watching from the sidelines!
- Inspire your loved ones through personal example to get active!
- Hike the trails, ski the slopes, and make it a point to keep up with those around you!
- Plan a weekly date with other Moxie Moms to do at least one hour of movement – with or without the kids!
Plan your exercise program from a long-term health perspective
and you’ll find it easier to skip the smorgasbord and crank out one
more repetition on the weight machines or get outside for a Sunday
morning run. With this commitment, there are many ways to find a
program that will fit your lifestyle. Be sure to look for a
whole-health approach; the key to real change is combining a
high-quality fitness plan with smart nutritional choices. Watch out for
rapid weight loss claims that require no diet or exercise (depending on
your fitness level, healthy weight loss means one to two pounds per
week). In general, if a fitness program sounds too good to be true, it
is.
There is nothing more inspirational (and fun) than
seeing and feeling results from your hard work! Great abs and hard
biceps are cool, but so is reducing stress, maintaining agility, and
lowering blood pressure. Remember why your good health matters – some
of the best reasons for staying fit have to do with how you live life
itself: be active. Play basketball late into the night with your
kids, run a 5K with your son or daughter, and plan on sticking around
long enough to bounce your grandchildren on your knee.
To take your first step toward lifelong motivation,
try this: On a large piece of paper, jot down the top three
things in life that motivate you. You might title your list: "Top 3
Motivators For My Health". Post your list in your day scheduler, on the
refrigerator, or at the office. Keep this list as a constant reminder
of why you want to keep fit. Do your workouts in association with a
whole-health fitness program that includes exercise and nutrition and
you’ll find that you gain true rewards from your time and effort.
Remember: keep it fun and simple!
Jonathan Roche, founder and CEO of Breakthrough Health & Fitness, developed the Momentum Fitness & Weight Loss System
after helping hundreds of his personal training clients lose weight and
reach their fitness goals using Interval Training techniques. "Interval
Training alternates short bursts of energy with periodic rests, making
your workouts more efficient so you train smarter, not harder,"
explains Roche. “It's a training secret elite athletes have used for
years. Now Momentum brings super efficient Interval Workouts to busy
moms.”
Users can get
fit in as little as three, 30-minute workouts per week. “Our Interval
Workouts burn up to 30 percent more calories and help moms lose three
times more fat than steady-state workouts,” says Jonathan. “Momentum is
the ideal get-in-shape tool for moms, The System energizes mom’s
favorite activity, exercise, or sport. Whether pushing the kids in a
stroller, walking the dog, running, swimming, or hiking, Momentum
transforms ordinary activities into extraordinary rewards.”
Moxie Moms members receive $20 off the Momentum Fitness & Weight Loss System (regularly priced at $99.90). Visit the Momentum System web site at www.MomentumFS.com and enter Discount Code JS0022 at checkout!
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