Guy Talk by Josh
Posted on November 11, 2014
Staying active and healthy has always been an important part of my life. I have played sports for as long as I can remember and my mom would let me eat junk food as a treat, but I would have to earn it by eating a piece of fruit first so I always ate pretty healthy. I think the hope there was that the fruit would fill me up and I would not want my candy anymore. Little did she know I set a goal to get to the candy and I was going to get it no matter how many pieces of fruit or vegetables I had to eat first, so I guess her trick worked in the end. Setting goals was not only important to me in getting what I wanted, but it is the way I have always viewed fitness and nutrition.
I find the best way to meet your fitness goals is to make it fun for YOU and have a support system which can actually generate some friendly competition working towards similar goals. This could be a significant other, a workout partner at a similar fitness level, or something in a group/class context. I train at a local gym in Chicopee called Train For Life. The best thing about Train For Life? The community aspect. It is a safe, effective way to exercise for people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of fitness. The trainers truly care about your own personal fitness goals, remember not only your name but everything about you from the first day you join, and are always accessible to answer your own personal questions. They hold challenges for the members and support local wellness events and fundraisers regularly. It generates a sense of community among the members. It is great to see everyone from college athletes who are trying out for professional sports teams to people who are in retirement doing the same workouts and supporting each other while achieving their own personal goals. It is an alternative to your typical community gym and you actually get to meet local people and make friends in the process.
I recommend anyone who is interested starting a fitness commitment they can keep to find any kind of “community” or support system. This could be a walking group, a class such as yoga or Pilates, adult league sports, or a gym similar to what I have mentioned above. Friendly competition and community create accountability because others in the group will actually miss you when you are not there and ask where you were last week. Instead of viewing exercise as a task it becomes more of a social event that contributes to your overall good health. The most important piece is setting an achievable goal for yourself and working towards getting better every day. With a support system around you it only makes the process that much more enjoyable and it is much more fulfilling when you succeed.
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