Every evening I walk our dogs. Not that I have a choice in the matter, being Greyhounds they are experts at “hounding” me by getting under, around and over my feet as I move around the house until I take them for their walk. They are also excellent watch dogs as they watch me like hawks and know when it’s exactly 5.30pm because that’s walkies time. I am accountable to my furkids, they know it, I know it, and so we go walkies!
So leads are attached to prancing hounds, and always, yes ALWAYS four doggy doo bags – 2 for each dog – just in case – go into my pocket. Now I am a total dog lover, any shape, size, type, and yet every night I am annoyed and disgusted by the amount of doggy doos that are left lying around by lazy, unprepared dog owners. Surely they know that the chances of a doggy “present pile” happening on a walk is 153.7% so why don’t they take doo bags with them? And why don’t these owners feel accountable for these piles? Probably because no one knows it is them that leave them behind.
But what does my disgust with unprepared dog owners have to do with being a Personal Trainer? Well, weird as it is, having enough doggy doo bags is really just the same as having a plan to stay fit and healthy. If you aren’t prepared, well then poo happens.
I can’t imagine being dressed in my motorbike leathers, gloves and helmet then grabbing my dogs and taking them for a walk without leads and doo bags, it would be uncomfortable and frustrating. I wouldn’t be ready or able to walk them properly, it certainly wouldn’t be fun and it would be embarrassing so I wouldn’t do it again.
Yet this is how some people decide to “get fit”. Suddenly something happens, usually it’s the discovery that their clothes are mysteriously shrinking, and it’s now time to lose weight and get fitter.
But they don’t plan how, when or where to start. Off they go for a walk without water, in an old pair of shoes, along a path or beach, for “a while” while stopping to take pictures of the view. They do this once because that was a day they had spare time. The next day their legs are a bit achy so they skip the next four weeks till their legs “recover” then they leave it for another month because it’s been too long since last time and they don’t want achy legs again. Weirdly, even after all this effort, their clothes keep shrinking.
They haven’t put aside times each week to walk. They haven’t made sure that their shoes are right for walking so their knees are put under stress and they don’t know what distance is the right starting place for them. They feel frustrated, uncomfortable and glad they didn’t tell anyone because it would be embarrassing not doing what they said they would.
Having a fitness plan ensures you succeed in getting the results you want. Having locked in times for your fitness plan is the number one thing you must do to succeed. If you try and “find time this week” it’s never going to happen. You will always find something else that will seem more important and before you know it another month has past and your clothes have mysteriously shrunken even more.
The reason our clients book into our circuit classes is so they know they are expected in that class. If they aren’t here on time we phone them to see where they are, to keep them accountable and also check they are okay. Being accountable is number two on the “must do” list of things to make your fitness plan work. If no one knows you are attending a class or going for a walk then no one knows if you didn’t do it either. So you won’t feel embarrassed by not doing what you said you would.
Knowing where to start and what you can safely do, especially if you have health issues is number three on the must do list. Always check with your health professional if you do have issues that you are concerned about. Remember Personal Trainers are not trained to flog you till you drop!!! We are trained to work with your bodies to ensure that you become fitter and healthier safely.
In the end it’s you that decides if your health, independence, happiness and strength are important enough to ensure you have planned YOU time every week or not. Of course those who do take the time to look after their health and fitness, know that when life randomly gives them poo, they will have a body that is as prepared to handle it as someone with a pocket full of bags.
So leads are attached to prancing hounds, and always, yes ALWAYS four doggy doo bags – 2 for each dog – just in case – go into my pocket. Now I am a total dog lover, any shape, size, type, and yet every night I am annoyed and disgusted by the amount of doggy doos that are left lying around by lazy, unprepared dog owners. Surely they know that the chances of a doggy “present pile” happening on a walk is 153.7% so why don’t they take doo bags with them? And why don’t these owners feel accountable for these piles? Probably because no one knows it is them that leave them behind.
But what does my disgust with unprepared dog owners have to do with being a Personal Trainer? Well, weird as it is, having enough doggy doo bags is really just the same as having a plan to stay fit and healthy. If you aren’t prepared, well then poo happens.
I can’t imagine being dressed in my motorbike leathers, gloves and helmet then grabbing my dogs and taking them for a walk without leads and doo bags, it would be uncomfortable and frustrating. I wouldn’t be ready or able to walk them properly, it certainly wouldn’t be fun and it would be embarrassing so I wouldn’t do it again.
Yet this is how some people decide to “get fit”. Suddenly something happens, usually it’s the discovery that their clothes are mysteriously shrinking, and it’s now time to lose weight and get fitter.
But they don’t plan how, when or where to start. Off they go for a walk without water, in an old pair of shoes, along a path or beach, for “a while” while stopping to take pictures of the view. They do this once because that was a day they had spare time. The next day their legs are a bit achy so they skip the next four weeks till their legs “recover” then they leave it for another month because it’s been too long since last time and they don’t want achy legs again. Weirdly, even after all this effort, their clothes keep shrinking.
They haven’t put aside times each week to walk. They haven’t made sure that their shoes are right for walking so their knees are put under stress and they don’t know what distance is the right starting place for them. They feel frustrated, uncomfortable and glad they didn’t tell anyone because it would be embarrassing not doing what they said they would.
Having a fitness plan ensures you succeed in getting the results you want. Having locked in times for your fitness plan is the number one thing you must do to succeed. If you try and “find time this week” it’s never going to happen. You will always find something else that will seem more important and before you know it another month has past and your clothes have mysteriously shrunken even more.
The reason our clients book into our circuit classes is so they know they are expected in that class. If they aren’t here on time we phone them to see where they are, to keep them accountable and also check they are okay. Being accountable is number two on the “must do” list of things to make your fitness plan work. If no one knows you are attending a class or going for a walk then no one knows if you didn’t do it either. So you won’t feel embarrassed by not doing what you said you would.
Knowing where to start and what you can safely do, especially if you have health issues is number three on the must do list. Always check with your health professional if you do have issues that you are concerned about. Remember Personal Trainers are not trained to flog you till you drop!!! We are trained to work with your bodies to ensure that you become fitter and healthier safely.
In the end it’s you that decides if your health, independence, happiness and strength are important enough to ensure you have planned YOU time every week or not. Of course those who do take the time to look after their health and fitness, know that when life randomly gives them poo, they will have a body that is as prepared to handle it as someone with a pocket full of bags.
Recent Comments