Be Patient and Toss the MP3 Player!

One of the biggest problems I come across in working with clients is not having enough patience. If you have not been exercising in months or even years then you simply should not expert a miracle in a few weeks. This is why informercials fitness products sell like crazy. They target your patience and promise results in 10 days or your money back!

I remember consulting with a women who was crazed about starting her fitness program as a New Years Resolution. How original that was. My first advice was to scrap that resolution and to wait a few weeks until the craziness of the holidays slowed down. The holidays are without questions the worst time to start a fitness program. If you are already doing something that is different but to start cold it’s another.

Now this women did not take my advice and she went full bore into a fitness routine after not having exercised in a few months. Worst yet is she walks on a treadmill while watching TV and talking on her cell phone. To make a long story short she injured her foot and can’t continue her treadmill routine.

I explained that this injury just means to slow down. The body is master at telling you when it’s time to slow down or speed up. And most people run before they can even crawl when it comes to fitness.

Instead I adviced her to take a walk outside, get some the rest (The holidays are very exhausting!) or try some meditative exercises that will help you relax.

I know it’s hard for people to comprehend this but it is so true.

Remember that there is a time and place for everything. If you haven’t been exercising in a while make sure to start off slowly and make sure to listen to your body.

This is one reason why I don’t like it when people exercise while they read the paper, watch TV, talk on a phone or use an listening device. These devices take the focus off you and keep you from listening to your body.

That is one reason why I prefer to do the real deal exercises if I can. Because the real deal automatically takes the paper and TV out the equation and forces you to get in tune with your body and your surroundings.

People still use their cell phones when outside and I’m against that as well because you are not focused and that is what you need to be.

The last is the walk man or MP3 player and to be honest I can live with this one but I’d prefer if you didn’t all the time because again you can’t totally focus on what you are doing.

Remember one thing: Exercise is very important. No, exercise is extremely important. Shouldn’t you be totally focused when you do something that is extremely important to you? If you are not focused then maybe exercise is not really important to you.

And that is something you have to ask yourself.

I mean would you walk into an important meeting with your boss with an MP3 player strapped to your arm.

Obviously not for two reasons: He’d think you’re an idiot and know that you are not serious about what you do.

And of course if you don’t have access to the real deal like real stairs, a park, or a hill by all means use the treadmill, or stair machine or what ever you like.

But if I had a choice then I’d go with the real deal because it will always give you more bang for your buc.

Virgil Aponte