LPN Newsletter - Winter 2010

FEATURED ARTICLE - Knowledge & Expertise from LPN

The New Year's Fitness Trap. Will You Get Caught Again?

By Moira "Mo" Lanier, CPT-NSCA,
LPN New England

Happy 2010. Time for New Year's resolutions. Here's the conversation in your head. "I'm fat and out of shape. I feel so tired all the time. Gotta' do something. I'm gonna' join a gym, and this time, I am soooo ready."

The ads in the paper encourage you with promises of quick results. Lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks - guaranteed! You are psyched, pumped up, ready to go - certain that you will succeed this time. Nothing can stop you now.

Guess what? The fitness clubs love you! Absolutely love you! They are betting on you - booking on the fact that you will come in, buy a membership, stay around for a month or so, get discouraged and give it up. In the meantime, they have your money in their pocket while they say that they really wish you had stayed around. The regular members at the fitness club all know this, too. "Oh, just have to wait for a month and the gym will be back to normal. Soon, all these new folks will be gone."

So, here we go again. Same old, same old.

Here's the scary reality:

• Our society is more sedentary, fatter and more de-conditioned than ever before.
• Over half of all people who decide to "get in shape" end up getting injured.

The truth is that many of today's medical problems are intensified, if not caused by, obesity and de-conditioning. So, your New Year's resolution to get in shape is really, really, really good. Unfortunately, many of the programs at gyms that are designed to pull in the crowds are based on models like tv's "The Biggest Loser" contributing to unrealistic goals, expectations and, at the same time, escalating risk for injury. They make you think that you've got to sweat, groan and feel pain otherwise you are wasting your time.

Not so!

Here are some important things to remember:

• Your Goal: to be fit and feel good for the long run
• At the beginning of a fitness/weight loss program, less is more!
• If you overdo it, chance of injury and discouragement are high
• If you are injured and discouraged, you get knocked out of the game
• If you get knocked out of the game, you fail to meet your goal

Here's the plan:

1. Set realistic expectations
2. Assume a slow, sure and steady pace
3. Remember that pain is not allowed
4. Get advice and guidance from a "qualified" fitness professional

You can get in shape this year by being safe and sensible. Remember, life is a marathon, not a sprint. Be in the game for the long run and beat the usual New Year's fitness trap this year. You can do it and feel great!

See you at the gym,
Moira "Mo" Lanier, CPT-NSCA

Moira Lanier is a Master Trainer at the West Suburban YMCA, Newton, Massachusetts. She specializes in Health and Functional Fitness for Baby Boomers and Older Adults. As well, she is involved with the Life Planning Network (LPN) as Editor of the LPN Newsletter, Chair of the Communications Committee and board member. Mo can be reached at boomerplushealthandfitness@gmail.com.