10 Commonly Used Excuses to Avoid Exercise

1. Excuse: “I’m too busy at work during the day to find time to workout.”

Truth: Everyone is busy, and if it’s time on this earth you value, you should put your health first. If you don’t, what you're actually doing is letting time slip right through your fingers. Exercise improves your mood, your energy level, and promotes better sleep; making you more efficient at all those daily tasks that eat up your time. Make exercise a daily priority by scheduling it into your calendar or "to-do" list, like you would for any important meeting. Then, you will hold yourself accountable and exercise will feel like a natural part of your workday.

2. Excuse: “Health club memberships are too expensive.”

Truth: Memberships are available at a variety of price points, some as low as $19. In 2008, average monthly membership costs a little over $40. In 2010, $40 can get you a manicure/pedicure, a date night at the movies, or maybe a new sweater. When you evaluate where to allocate your $40, remember that those purchases, and most others, cannot improve your health or save you money, but exercise can, so plan your investments carefully.

3. Excuse: “Everyone at the gym is fit and in shape.”

Truth: People of all populations, ages, genders, weights, shapes, sizes, and skill levels workout at a club. Club staff, personal trainers, and other members will help ease you into the club environment. A trainer can show you the ropes, make you feel at home, and demonstrate proper exercise technique so you’ll feel like a pro on the fitness floor. Meeting a new workout buddy or bringing a friend can also provide the social support you need to get started and maintain your routine.


4. Excuse: “Why join a health club when I can exercise outside?”

Truth: Sunshine is beautiful, but exposes you to harmful UV rays. Every day is unpredictable - rain, shine, sleet, heat, cold, or snow, a health club provides a protective environment for working out; no matter what the weather is like outside.


5. Excuse: “I’m not overweight, so I don’t need to exercise.”

Truth: This is a big misconception. Exercise is not just a way to lose weight, but also a way to keep yourself healthy. People of any weight can have underlying health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis that can go undetected. Cardio and weight training help build a healthy heart, lungs, muscle mass, and strong bones; which are key to combat disease as you age and will help you live a long and healthy life. 7, 8


6. Excuse: “Dieting alone will yield the same results as exercising.”

Truth: Exercise is one of the most central components in maintaining your weight and improving long-term results. Ultimately, the most successful weight management plan is a combination of a healthy diet and daily exercise.


7. Excuse: “I can just workout at home on my own equipment or with fitness video games.”

Truth: Setting up a home gym means buying expensive equipment, taking up precious space, and spending time and money for equipment maintenance. A decent treadmill can cost about $1,000 (that’s the price of over two years of membership at a health club!). At home you’re on your own - you have no professional there to ensure proper technique and to help prevent injury. As far as video games go, a new study says Wii Fit provides insufficient stimulus for fitness changes and no major improvements in daily physical activity, muscular fitness, flexibility, balance or body composition. Leave the video games to Mario. Besides, it’s good for your mental health to get out of the house and go to the club for a change of scenery and to socialize, instead of being home alone. 9


8. Excuse: “There aren’t enough things to do at a health club.”

Truth: Boredom? Impossible! If it’s variety you want, health clubs have it: treadmills, ellipticals, weight machines, personal training, yoga, pilates, zumba, spinning, basketball, racquet sports, swimming, nutrition counseling, and spas. Not to mention a friendly staff of trained professionals.


9. Excuse: “Exercise isn’t all that important to my health.”

Truth: If exercise were a pill, it’d be the most potent and effective one ever made. Lucky for us, you don’t need to wait for a prescription; you just need to decide to get up and go. Regular exercise prevents chronic disease like diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease, increases productivity, improves your mood and your energy level, minimizes stress, promotes better sleep, and leads to decreased work absenteeism. Still need convincing? 1, 2, 4, 7


10. Excuse: “I can’t find a health club that fits my needs.”

Your already at our blog - might as well come to the club at least. With three convenient locations, great classes, personal training and memberships starting at just $19 a month - Boost Fitness might be just what you are looking for.

Keep the weight off for good...

With the New Year, comes new goals. Now is the time to lose some weight and get in shape. Unfortunately, for many of us - myself included - it is a revolving cirlce. How many times have you gone on a diet, only to gain back the weight, plus a little dividend? For many people, dieting is a vicious cycle full of ups and downs, and plenty of discouragement. If you want to keep your weight off permanently, you are going to need to implement a few techniques. For most of us, staying at a healthy weight requires a lot of dedication and hard work, but it will pay off in a longer life span, less sickness and simply feeling better. Let's look at a few of the ways that you can keep your weight off permanently.

1. Change your lifestyle -If you want to keep your weight off successfully, more times than not this means changing your entire lifestyle. It's not easy, but it is worth it. You don't have to become entirely preoccupied with your weight, that's not healthy. But you will need to keep focused on eating right, getting enough exercise and avoiding trigger foods that you know will put you back on that wrong path again. It's fine to cheat now and again, but you can't let it become a regular event. Allow yourself a nice dinner out every few weeks, but don't fall back into your old habits.

2. Replace bad foods with better foods -
There are some foods that you may never be able to enjoy in large quantities again. There are also other foods that simply may be too dangerous for you to eat ever again. These are known as trigger foods, like we mentioned above. These are the foods that start you on that downward spiral that can be nearly impossible to overcome. If you simply cannot eat one piece of chocolate cake, it's better to avoid eating it at all than risk falling back into your old habits.

Replace that cake with something that still satisfies your sweet tooth and chocolate craving but doesn't trigger that old behavior. This works for any food, not just cake, that you simply cannot control your reaction to. It's not easy and it's more than a little sad. But, you can look at this way. Which would you rather have - a few bites of cake or a longer life that you can enjoy? A little extreme yes, but sometimes you need to get tough with yourself.

3. Treat every day as a brand new challenge -If you've fallen off the wagon, don't let that cycle continue. Every day is a brand new day where you're going to have that chance to succeed at your healthy lifestyle. We all fall down every now again, but not all of us can get back up. Stop that cycle of falling and staying down, and start realizing that you are on a lifelong path towards getting healthy. It's ok to take a break for a few days, but don't let those days stretch into week, months and years. Get back in that saddle!

Looking for more tips - or help to jump start your weight loss? Join the BE A LOSER 6 week challenge starting January 18th at all Boost Fitness locations. Teams forming now.

Working out while Pregnant?

I am Pregnant - can I work out?

If you are pregnant you can still workout, in fact it can improve the baby's health, make the birth go easier and allow you to loose the unwanted pregnancy weight faster after birth. Even though you can workout you need to follow a different set of guidelines. Your workouts should be shorter, 20-30 minutes, and you can't go as strenuous as you normally could because the fetus can overheat. Also the fetus needs its fluids and oxygen so drinking plenty of water and focusing on steady breathing is important. After the first trimester exercises laying on the back need to be excluded as well as high impact exercises do to pressure on organs, joints and the fetus. Also when squats are still okay, you should not do them too low or with more then your body weight due to the changing of the pelvis. And as always a doctor should be consulted first because everyone and every pregnancy is different.

Top 10 Fitness Trends from 2009

“The non-profit American Council on Exercise (ACE) has announced the top ten fitness trends from 2009, based on its annual survey of personal trainers, group fitness experts, advanced health and fitness specialists and lifestyle and weight management consultants. The survey revealed that boot camp-style workouts, which were named the most popular workout in 2008, were also the most popular fitness trend in 2009. The following represents ACE's listing of the top trends for 2009: 1. Boot Camp-Style Workouts: 2. Budget-Friendly Workouts: 3. Specialty Classes: 4. Getting Back to Basics 5. Circuit Training 6. Kettlebells 7. Boomer Fitness 8. Technology-Based Fitness 9. Event or Sport-Specific Exercises 10. Mixing It Up.”

Boot Camp-Style Workouts: Boot camp workouts remain extremely popular because they provide a total-body workout that's varied, fun and challenging. Up to 600 calories can be burned during a boot camp session, which is obviously going to facilitate weight loss.

Specialty Classes: While yoga and Pilates will remain strong, dance-based classes were all the rage this year. Zumba, a fitness program inspired by Latin dance, combines South American rhythms with cardiovascular exercise. Bollywood, ballroom, Afro-Cuban and other exotic dance styles grew in popularity thanks to shows such as Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.

Getting Back to Basics: Despite the fact that many exercises and equipment are becoming more advanced and trendy, trainers continued to focus on basic movements and techniques with their clients.

Circuit Training: Studies have shown that interval training combining strength training and cardiovascular activity at different intensities provides a more time-efficient workout than participating in traditional aerobic and weight training sessions

Event or Sport-Specific Exercises: Despite the emergence of new and trendy workouts, sports or recreational activities remained a popular way to stay in shape.

Mixing It Up: Traditional programming has changed from what's called linear progression to undulating, as research shows similar if not better results. For example, mixing low-intensity cardio with intervals on different days, and mixing high-volume, low- intensity weight training with low-volume, high-intensity training on alternate days.

On ‘The Biggest Loser,’ Health Can Take Back Seat

LOS ANGELES — When more than 40 former contestants from “The Biggest Loser” gather Wednesday for a reunion television special, the winner of the program’s first season, Ryan C. Benson, who lost 122 of his 330-pound starting weight, will be absent. Mr. Benson is now back above 300 pounds but he thinks he has been shunned by the show because he publicly admitted that he dropped some of the weight by fasting and dehydrating himself to the point that he was urinating blood.

Now in its eighth season, “The Biggest Loser” is one of NBC’s most-watched prime-time programs besides football, drawing an estimated 10 million viewers each week, according to Nielsen. It has clearly tapped into the American obsession with losing weight, as more than 200,000 people a year submit audition videotapes or attend open casting calls for the program.

It also has spawned a licensed merchandise business that will generate an estimated $100 million this year.

The series also highlights the difference between the pursuit of engaging television and the sometimes frenzied efforts of contestants to win, perhaps at the risk of their own health. Doctors, nutritionists and physiologists not affiliated with “The Biggest Loser” express doubt about the program’s regimen of severe caloric restriction and up to six hours a day of strenuous exercise, which cause contestants to sometimes lose more than 15 pounds a week.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/business/media/25loser.html?_r=1&ref=health

Step away from the treadmill...

Have you ever seen the gym member who is constantly walking on the treadmill and getting nowhere? (Literally and figuratively)

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with good old fashioned walking but if you want results another approach might be in order. This is why I recommend interval training. Because of my short attention span, I discovered this type of training for myself years ago.

Interval Training is a system that alternates spurts of high intensity movement with lower intensity movement. Because of the different intensities, your body never adapts to it enabling you to get better results in less time.

There are many different approaches to this system of training One way to use it is for your cardio workout. Try alternating running or walking at different speeds in three or four minute intervals for 30 minutes. Because of the combination of aerobic and anaerobic training, you will be able to increase your cardio output. Another way to use it is for strength training. Try doing a set of squats followed by one minute of jumping jacks or pushups combined with mountain climbers. The options are endless. This type of workout uses all your muscles compared to the nautilus circuit which consists of mostly isolation exercises.

If you are new to fitness or if you have been working out for years, this system will yield results.
Most importantly, this type of workout is something you can stick with because it does not take much time and can be done anywhere.

Have fun and get creative ---here is a sample workout to try-

1. Run or walk fast (depends on your fitness level) 3 minutes
2. Squat with or without weights –one minute
3. Lunge in place alternating legs-one minute
4. Repeat 1-3
5. Pushups (as many as you can do)
6. Jumping jacks –one minute
7. Crunches /cross crunches 20-30 reps
8. Run or walk fast 3 minutes
9. Repeat 5 – 8

Cool down and stretch --- then enjoy the rest of your day!!!

Mix it up for the best results!

"If you do what you've always done, you get what you've always gotten"

This month Mix it up! Do something different than what you've always done for a workout. If you always walk the same pace for 2 miles- change it up and try adding some higher intensity intervals or try the elliptical or a Group Kick class. Our bodies get good at what we do and if you want to see changes you need to shake things up a bit and give your body a new challenge!

Exercise Is Best Medicine For Back Pain

Many people use back pain as an excuse for not exercising. Yet exercise is the best way to reduce or even eliminate back pain.

Exercise can also help you recover faster, prevent re-injury and reduce the risk of being disabled by back pain. As your muscles become stronger and more flexible, your posture should also improve.

Back pain is among the most common ailments, affecting 70 to 85 percent of all Americans at some point in their lives, according to the American Chiropractic Association, which adds that it is the leading cause of inactivity for people under age 45.

Ideally, everyone should take steps to avoid back pain in the first place. Whether or not you are already experiencing back pain, it is important to lift objects by squatting and using your legs, rather than bending over and using your back to lift. Pushing, rather than pulling, heavy objects is also recommended.

People who spend long hours sitting or driving also frequently suffer from back pain. Those who sit for long periods should take breaks to stretch their back regularly. Working flat shoes instead of heels can also help women avoid back problems.

The best defense against back pain, though, is regular exercise to strengthen “core” muscles, which include muscles of the back, abdomen and buttocks. These muscles work together to support the spine.

A Workout For Back Pain

What exercises should your workout include?
Start with a warm-up, taking at least five minutes on a treadmill or elliptical machine, or try walking or running in place if you don’t have access to the proper equipment. Follow your warm-up with stretching, then strengthening exercises.
Stretching. Stretching tight back and hamstring muscles can lengthen and loosen them, which will help relieve back pain. Stretching can also increase your mobility, helping to prevent further back injury.

One simple stretching exercise is the pelvic tilt, which stretches the lower back. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat. Tighten your buttocks and abdomen, flattening the small of your back against the floor, then hold it there for a count of five. As a second exercise, while in the same position, stretch your stomach muscles by grasping your left leg behind the knee or back of your thigh, then pull your knee toward your left shoulder.

To stretch your quadriceps, stand up with your back against the wall. Press the small of your back and the back of your neck toward the wall, then hold that position for 10 to 30 seconds.
It is especially important to stretch hamstring muscles. Here are two exercises that can help. First, while sitting on the floor, extend your right leg, and place your left foot against your right knee. Lean forward, keeping your back straight. Reach for your foot until you feel your hamstrings stretching. Hold the position for 10 to 20 seconds. Next, lying flat on your back, raise a leg up, grab it and pull it until you feel your hamstring stretching. Repeat each exercise at least five times, then switch sides.

Strengthening. Best results for strengthening your back can be achieved using weights or exercise machines. However, there are plenty of exercises that can help even if you don’t have access to equipment.

One common exercise for strengthening core muscles is “the bridge.” Lie flat on your back with knees bent and feet flat. Raise your buttocks off the floor, keeping your abs tight. Your shoulders and knees should be in straight line. Hold for a count of five, then slowly lower your buttocks.

“The plank,” a strengthening exercise for the back, abs and neck, is also useful. Lie on your stomach with your elbows and forearms on the floor. Balance on your toes and elbows, keeping your back and legs straight as a plank, and tighten your abs. Hold the position for 10 seconds, relax, then repeat.

A good exercise to strengthen your back, hips and quads is to stand with your back against a wall and to slide your back down until you are in a sitting position. Your back should be straight and your feet should be shoulder-width apart. Tighten your abs, count to five and slide back up the wall. As you build strength, add to the amount of time you remain in a sitting position.
All exercises should be done slowly, with attention paid to form and breathing. Hold your position for at least a count of five and repeat at least five times, but up to 15 times.
While a full body workout is recommended, some exercises should be avoided by those with back pain. Many exercises using weights, such as the military press or curls, put pressure on your back muscles. Leg lifts and some exercise machines should also be avoided; straight leg sit-ups can aggravate your back, but partial sit-ups can help it.

As with any exercise program, consult with your doctor before beginning your program. Consider stretching daily and doing strengthening exercises every other day. Most importantly, develop a routine and stick with it.

Mark Federico is the owner of Boost Fitness, which is located in Northboro, Hudson and Westford. He can be reached at mfederico@myboostfitness.com.