As a personal trainer in Maynooth I wanted to just clear up some confusion.
First exercise is what it is. A superb way to provide you with longevity, health, vitality and energy. If you do it right you may even lose a bit of weight when combined with a sensible eating plan.
However, if you want results that you have defined with a clear goal whether it be ‘get rid of the tummy’ or ‘shift the tyre’ or ‘tone these legs’ then you will have to step it up and stop sugar coating what is needed for you to achieve this.
Yes, you will have to break sweat. No, you can’t drink yourself silly. Yes, you will have to make sacrifices with your time. No, you can’t eat that and think it wont effect your results and yes you may have to spend some money.
When you chase something hard enough you will have to TRAIN for it.
Sure exercise will be beneficial but actually stepping up the intensity and taking yourself out of the comfort zone is the ONLY way to get the body you deserve.
To bring change you must change.
Don’t let the media water this down for you. Personal Trainers get a bad cop by bringing this change out of you by probing where they need to go. Unflinching and determined levels of motivation to make change are driven by your emotions. Not fads. You may detest what you look like in the mirror. You may be sick of the comments that are flown your way.
In my years of experience personal and group training and coaching individuals to reach their health and fitness goals I can firmly say that the tendency to sugar coat what they deem as exercise is still going strong.
Even our safe haven of the health and fitness world the gym is laden with Machines geared towards sitting on for the ride and providing about as much exercise as lying down.
So, no, reading a magazine whilst cranking out a set of leg presses is not a good idea.
Step out of your comfort zone and find the reasons why this is important to you. One or two reasons such as ‘I want to look great’ or ‘I want to fit into my jeans’ is not going to cut it and drive you to reach unparallel heights.
Look deep within and do a bit of soul searching. Shed a few tears if necessary. Whatever it takes, find those reasons. You will need them.
We are designed to move and function like our hunter gatherer ancestors. Indeed according to Dr. Loren Cordain, an expert on Paleo (Caveman) Nutrition our genetic make-up is still 99.9% the same.
In ancient times we ran, sprinted, carried and lifted heavy carcasses. Our movements were determined by the need to build, hunt, scavenge, and catch. This is not to say we should sport our finest leopard skin briefs and pop down to the local supermarket, spear in hand, to hunt for wild boar. It was tough living back then!
But being honest in our efforts to build up a bit of a sweat on most days of the week is crucial to achieving your health and fitness goals.
And it goes back to our attitude –the quick fix, sugar coated mentality.
The mentality that drives us mad if the lift doors don’t close quick enough. The mentality that drives us crazy crossing the road.
I bet you press the button to make it go faster?
Why does everything have to be so easy? It is tough reaching your goals. It is hard work training and eating right. It is hard sacrificing sweet foods for veggies and lean protein. It is hard cutting back on the booze.
But that is where the reward lies. If climbing Everest was easy we would all be booking our seats at the Table Top Restaurant to admire the view.
The truth is there is no table top restaurant because only the strongest, most determined and most prepared climbers ever make the summit.
I get tired of trying to make exercise out to be ‘easy’ and ‘fun’ with all the smiles and pearly whites seen on a Jane Fonda or the latest pathetic ‘before and after’ videos from our celebrities.
The truth is it isn’t.
I train people who want results and want them pretty fast. This comes at a price. You have to put the work in. There is no easy way round it. There is no sugar coating the gardening and dressing it up as exercise.
Now rant over – cup of green tea anyone?
Visit John Lark’s web site www.john-lark.com and pick up a free copy of the ‘Fundamentals of Fat Loss’ including a sample workout and menu plan
