Fitness and Weight Loss and Leading the Horse to the Water

They say you can lead the horse to the water, but you cant make him drink, and in Fitness and Weight Loss, that is true than ever.

Just look around at the majority of people over 30 everywhere. A true level of fitness is gone. Athleticism is gone. Muscle mass gone. Flexibility, history. Cardiovascular endurance, left to the drudgery of treadmill running. The Big box gym mentality is absolutely destroying fitness on virtually every level, and there are lots of people like us all over the world who are fighting this battle head on-But even when the horse is thirsty, you can’t make him drink. He may need Fitness and Weight Loss, but we can't make him take it.

America is a country of convenience. Most people will do it, if it’s easy, or if they think it will be quick.  Or, if it makes a social statement. The appeal of wandering into a gym (on average a gym goer might burn 300 calories in an entire workout) to sit on flashy machines or watch TV while walking has crumbled the foundation of human fitness. They work out in the gym, but are physically unable to do ANYTHING. Without functional training (movement based) they are left without the means to do much, other than sit on the machine.

As far as weight loss goes, it gets worse. "Judgement Free" gyms are even including things such as free pizza or bagels to members...An absolute opposite of fitness if you have a client trying to lose weight. Counting calories and keeping you diet in chack is hard enough, without throwing in free pizza at 300-400 calories per slice to make weight loss impossible.

With these gyms, it's a numbers game-Get as many as you can to join at the lowest possible price will equal big money for gym owner, little results and frustration for gym member.

Fitness and Weight Loss the Right Way

Back to the right way of training. American has been taught that the best way to exercise is to stay stationary or to sit down. Please read that 3x and tell me if it is even logical! It is turning us into slow, non-functional bodies that are lack strength, mobility, balance and stamina.

One of my clients, 63 year old Russell has no trouble bailing hay all day. One of our 53 year old members drove an 8 foot grounding rod into the ground with his hands and a sledgehammer. Our 53 year old Black Belt regularly climbs into the ring with 20 year olds, a place they do not want to be. The fittest woman at Fitness One? Quite possibly a fit, strong 53 year old who does Krav Maga, boxing and about everything else we offer. At Fitness One, it isnt easy. It is called a WORK out for a reason.

We are also a country of excuses. My favorite, “I don’t have time to make it to the gym.” Roughly translated, I’m lazy, and refuse to make time.  We will just let anyone who thinks they don’t have time work that one out for themselves.

I can be honest with myself. Sometimes, my body says it would be better to just walk a little or take another day off. Sometimes it says not today, it won’t hurt, your schedule is tight, you can’t fit it in. This is my body being lazy. I can admit it. I know how to make time. And I do.

I have a mental resolve to stay at it. To not quit. I don’t want it to be easy. That is not my way. Leave that to those who are not really interested in investing a little time into making themselves better, for whatever excuse they can create. It is a free country after all, and you do get to make the decision to get up when you are down.

No quick fix for Fitness or Weight Loss

We are also a people after a “quick fix.” I had a person say, “I started running last month and lost 12 pounds.” That is fantastic! It truly is. But if running has become your workout, what happens when your knees or ankles or low back give out from the repetition of constant running and impact hits your body-and you can no longer run? Then what? your body is used to a certain intensity level and now it is gone. Hello weight gain. We are fond of running-Especially short duration sprints-But we also believe you should be fit to run, not run to get fit.  For Fitness and Weight Loss, a structured system will always work best.

Last month We had a person circuit train for 4 weeks, train the entire body head to toe, build lean muscle and lose 17 pounds just taking Fitness Classes. No stress on any particular muscle or joint. There is a reason we train with a system-What we do is not random.  The body needs balance. Structure. Stability. Never do we want to over use one joint that can cause big issues later down the road.


Ours is not the only way. But, it is a way that utilizes all modules of Fitness for a balanced program that trains you equally from head to toe. We want people who will drink when led to the water. We cannot help anyone who refuses. Our hope  is that everyone can find a way that will work for them, and that means much more that just numbers on a scale. It means lean muscle, cardio health, balance, flexibility, strength, stamina and longevity. These are not things you can find on an exercise machine.

Get mentally tough. Go for it. Stick to your goals. Don’t let your fitness level fall by the wayside while you make excuses.

Strive not to lose weight, or inches, but to be better. Better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today. Strive to be great. When you do, you will not need to look at a scale to see how you look and feel.

You will know.

Allen Branch

For more information contact fitness one at 336-655-4558.
 

Allen Branch has 23 years experience in the field of Fitness and sports conditioning. He is a certified Performance Enhancement Specialist with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, A Sports Conditioning Specialist, a Certified Personal Trainer, A Sports Nutrition Specialist, a Kickboxing Master Instructor and has been certified in Resistance training biomechanics at the Cooper Institute in Dallas. He has also served as a member of an elite advisory board for the American Public University Sports and Health Sciences and Sports Management program. He is also a Certified Sports Nutritionist and is affiliated with The NASM, AFTA, IFTA, Cooper, IFA and JLFS.

Allen serves as Instructor, Instructor trainer and innovator of many different fitness disciplines over the last 15 years serving as a full time fitness trainer. He has been featured on WBFJ radio as the Personal Trainer for the Triad,  FOX 8 News, WXII and has been in numerous articles and publications in print. He can be reached at 336-655-4558 or emailed at trainer@myfitnessone.com