Showing posts with label weight loss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weight loss. Show all posts

IS IT TIME TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL? THE BENEFITS OF HIRING A PERSONAL TRAINER


Once upon a time working with a personal trainer was considered a luxury for the rich and famous. More and more, however, people from all walks of life are realizing the benefits of professional guidance towards lifestyle changes they would not likely make on their own.

Here are some things to consider when deciding whether hiring a fitness professional is right for you:


  1. Eliminate wasted time and money. No one likes the idea of throwing away their resources but that's exactly what too many people do. They spend months or even years doing the wrong workouts and exercises so they don't get the results they want. Or, they pay for gym memberships they don't use because they get bored or don't know what to do. A qualified fitness professional knows how the body works and how to effectively manipulate the variables to get the desired results in the shortest amount of time possible. And, they can develop numerous fun and creative ways to workout so you don't get bored.
  2. Increase efficiency and effectiveness. You don't have to spend forever in the gym just to get a healthy and toned body. You just need to know what to do and when to do it. A qualified fitness professional can design a program that gives you your best body possible, in the shortest amount of time required to achieve those results according to your situation.



  3. Better results. Most people have bad form. Period. But it's not their fault! They may have learned some exercises in P.E. at school or from a magazine or from some person working out next to them but when they do it they're unaware of their own body's weaknesses, imbalances and bad postural habits. As a result when they do it they end up doing it wrong. Many times, for instance, people who say that squats or lunges hurt their knees have poor form so that their hips and knees end up in the wrong place during the exercise, leading to pain or injury. As a qualified fitness professional, I can see the rounded back and shrugged shoulders during rows, the tucked hips and forward knee during lunges and the swayed back and dropped head during pushups. I understand how to address alignment and postural issues to teach individuals how to exercise correctly so that they can remain pain and injury free, while reaping maximum benefit from their exercise time.
  4. Personalized attention. Everyone is not created equal. What works for one person might not work for another person. Each person's body is a product of normal physiology, yes, but there are also environmental, genetic and daily habit influences that are unique for each person. Not only that, each person has their own likes, dislikes and motivators. A qualified fitness professional can help to create a program specific to each person's goals, circumstances and health needs, while helping to inspire them to achieve their dreams and aspirations.
  5. Motivation. One of the biggest reasons for poor success with training goals and weight management is a lack of motivation, especially if the goal is far off and requires some time to accomplish. Knowing that someone outside of yourself knows your goals, knows what you should be doing, increases your accountability and helps to motivate you to perform. Plus, there's someone who is passionate for you to reach your goals cheering you on and encouraging you when you need it whether it be with a high five or a virtual kick in the pants.

  6. More FUN! Let's face it. Boredom is definitely a killer of many people's enthusiasm when it comes to working out. If the fun factor is low, there's little chance that you're going to stick with your exercise program. These days there are more exercise methods and modalities than ever available to keep things interesting. As a qualified fitness professional I'm always learning and keeping up with the latest trends in fitness. I understand the importance of being creative in the way movement ideas are applied so that each workout is not only effective, it's also as fun as possible for each individual. And a healthy, well applied dose of laughter often helps the "medicine" go down as well!
  7. Safety. Correct form and proper use of equipment is a must! Otherwise, the risk of injury increases and the person will either stop exercising because they hurt themselves or their ability to perform will be compromised. All movement requires coordinating our body in ways that we don't typically tend to do and using tools that may be unusual to our everyday lives. Also, every exercise isn't appropriate for every person. People present with different life experiences, old injuries and body types. This means, for instance, that while a shoulder press might be great for the weekend warrior training for dodgeball, volleyball or roller derby games, it's likely not appropriate for the client who's post-rehab from whip lash in a car accident. Jump squats and bounding may be great for a healthy runner, but they're probably not the right moves for the new exerciser who's more than 50 pounds overweight.
Looking good is important, but working out with a fitness professional is also an investment in your overall health and well-being. We want you to reach your fitness goals and maximize your investment in yourself. Creating a healthy lifestyle is an important part of helping you feel great, while maintaining the energy you need to do the things you want to do, when you want to do it.

We're happy to offer you a complimentary consultation to discuss your personal fitness needs and your fitness desires to help you make the best decision for your needs. Give us a call or contact us today!

21 REASONS YOU SHOULD KEEP WORKING OUT AFTER THE WEDDING


The wedding and the honey moon are over but don't stop there! Here are 25 reasons why you should KEEP WORKING OUT AFTER THE WEDDING... 
  1. To help you to feel proud of yourself.
  2. Having a bad day? Exercise fights depression and can help you de-stress AND put you in a better mood.
  3. To help you sleep better at night.
  4. To boost your immune system.
  5. Exercise (and a healthy diet) will help you lose weight...duh!  
  6. Exercise can make clothing shopping soooo much more enjoyable.  
  7. To boost your confidence in your body.   
  8. You know those skinny jeans sitting in the back of your closet....working out (and a healthy diet) will help you fit into them.   
  9. Exercise will increase your love of mirrors and your desire to look at yourself in them.  
  10. Working out will encourage you to drink more water and eat healthier meals.
  11. Exercise will help you breathe easier.
  12. Working out will boost your metabolism.
  13. Working out can help prevent health risks like diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure.
  14. Work out for your health today so that you can continue to spend time with your loved ones tomorrow.
  15. To be a positive example for your friends, neighbors, loved ones, etc.    
  16. Exercise (and healthy diet) will get rid of that unwanted muffin top.  
  17. Working out today can help you wear cute spring and summer clothes tomorrow.  
  18. To look youthful. Exercise can help you look younger.
  19. Forget the coffee and energy drinks. Exercise gives you ENERGY.
  20. Exercise can enhance your... um... "love life" ;)
  21. Because you deserve to be healthy and to have a body you can feel confident and proud of!  


Come try a week of ATMOS FREE!  Email brittany@wildfirefitness.com to RSVP.

YOUR WEDDING DRESS: TIPS FOR THE PERFECT FIT

I got a text from one of our Bridal Boot Camp clients that her dress had arrived and it was fitting time. She was a little nervous, but I knew she was progressing nicely and waited for the results.

You see, as is often the case, she had a specific weight goal in mind when she first came in and had accordingly ordered the dress two sizes smaller than her current one. But, she also wanted to be a buff bride, not a waif bride.

With that in mind, I counseled her that her desired weight might not be reasonable, but that she would definitely look fabulous AND reach her measurements if she stuck with her program. Why? Because muscle weighs more than fat, and the goal is to burn away fat while building lean muscle. Since our client wanted to sculpt her body and gain more muscle mass and strength, there was no way that she would reach her target weight without either leaning out beyond what she had in mind OR sacrificing muscle fitness. So...

The best gauge of her progress towards fitting into her dress would be measurements and body fat percentage, NOT the scale alone.
"Trust me," I said.

Trust me she did, and here we are just a few weeks later. With plenty of time to spare, her dress fits perfectly! While she still wants to continue sculpting and getting stronger, she is adamant that she doesn't want to get any smaller. This is important to note because she is NOT at the weight she thought she wanted. She does, however, look fabulous, as reflected by her measurements and body fat percentage. We'll continue her program and closely monitor her progress to make sure she stays within acceptable ranges, while continuing to sculpt her shoulders, arms, and back for the "strapless dress" look.

DRESS FITTING TIPS:

1. Take your girth measurements and compare them to those of your desired dress size. Typically, the most important ones are the bust, waist, and hips. These measurements are what will allow you to fit into your dress, or not.

2. Have your body fat measured by a qualified health or fitness professional. Not only is a healthy body fat range important for your overall well-being, it will also give you an idea of how your fitness program is working.

3. Use the scale only as a loose measure of your progress. Weigh once per week, on the same day of the week, but don't obsess. Keep in mind that if you are resistance training, you may actually see a slight increase in the first week or two as your muscles become denser. Comparing your weight with your change in body fat percentage is thus VERY important!

4. Start your eating and exercise program early! Can't stress this enough. While the goal is to look good at your wedding, you also want to give your husband a healthy bride. Our Bridal Boot Camp client ordered her dress two sizes smaller, but she ALSO gave herself plenty of time to create the figure she wanted.

Contact us as soon as you have your wedding date and we'll help you figure out the best dress size goal for your situation and sculpt the body you desire to go in it!

Get a witness for your weight-ins


While it's not a good idea to weigh yourself everyday, weekly weigh-ins with a workout partner or personal trainer can help you reach your weight loss goals AND maintain your weight long term. Not only will it help you to stay focused, you'll also have a higher level of accountability and motivation to stick to your program.

A recent study published in the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association showed that bi-weekly weigh-ins along with regular phone calls optimized participants' consistency with exercise and diet, and that they were able to prevent subsequent weight regain.

Review summary from Exercise ETC -

"Weighing-In Enhances Weight Maintenance"

The biggest challenge for individuals who have lost a considerable amount of weight is often not the initial weight loss, but the maintenance of weight loss. Previous research has identified exercise to be the primary factor in whether or not someone regains weight. However, continued support is also recognized as important for successful weight maintenance. In a recent study published in the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association, researchers determined that a simply bi-weekly weigh-in along with regular phone calls is sufficient to optimize consistency with exercise and diet and prevent weight regain.

Two hundred women who had recently lost more than 5% of their original body weight were assigned to one of two groups. The first group received nutrition education and supervised exercise by nutritionists and exercise physiologists, while the second group received phone support from nurses along with a bi-weekly weigh-in. Some participants were educated in the use of high-carbohydrate eating, while others were encouraged to eat a diet high in mono-unsaturated fats.

Following the two-year intervention, it was determined that both groups had maintained an equivalent amount of weight. Interestingly, participants were more compliant for weigh-ins than for regular supervised exercise. Type of diet did not affect weight loss or regain.

Given the increased costs of the extensive intervention, the researchers concluded that less expensive monitoring and support could be as beneficial in weight maintenance. This could be essential for hospital and government-based programs that develop interventions for low-income populations. The practical lesson for exercise professionals is that people who lose weight may benefit from regular weigh-ins, and frequent contact may further facilitate successful long-term weight management and compliance.

Dale, K.S., et al (2009) Determining optimal approaches for weight maintenance: a randomized controlled trial. CMAJ.