|
What is your motivation to stay in shape? The past, the present, and the future are my three biggest motivators. The past, because until I was about 18 years old, I suffered from severe asthma which made any physical activity extremely difficult. It set me back physically and I really struggled with that, since my closest friends were so athletic. Now I feel like I’ve been given an opportunity to finally achieve that same level. It feels like a second chance. And that motivates me. The memory of being forced to stand on the sidelines motivates. me.
The present, because staying in shape helps me reduce stress, feel good about myself, and stay healthy.
And the future because this is the only body we get and I want mine to last as long as possible. I want to do everything I can to combat my family history of things like high cholesterol and blood pressure.
What is your greatest challenge to staying in shape? Food and motivation. Food for the obvious reasons, because who doesn’t love a great meal and a few great beverages with it? And why not dessert while we’re at it? And motivation because it can be so hard after a long day to find the motivation to get off the couch and go sweat.
What is the key to your success? I don’t think there’s just one magic bullet that allows you to achieve physical fitness. I think individual success happens by doing a lot of things like sticking with it, not getting easily discouraged, and really maintaining discipline after the workout when it comes to food (and beverages).
Personally, I’ve been most successful when I’ve found a way to make my workouts flow seamlessly as possible with the rest of my day. Whether it means taking a class you’re expected to attend or planning your daily commute so that you can swing by your gym, it’s important to remove potential barriers to your workout. Above all, I think it’s important to realize that the keys for one person, may not be the same for others, and it’s important to figure out what works and what doesn’t.
What did you like about the Outdoor Boot Camp and how did it affect your life? Tami did an amazing job. She’s firm but fair and truly cares about each person. [She] inspired me to take-on mountains. Literally! When I started seven weeks ago, I was out-of-shape and sluggish. I had no real drive to get fit. These classes have been amazing and I’m now committed to a lifestyle of fitness. I have more energy and drive. I don’t feel so sluggish everyday. I sleep better and have more desire to continue getting in shape. I also plan on working to improve my 1 mile and 3 mile times in the next three months and running in some competitive/fun run 5 k’s.
What advice do you give others about fitness? The workout can’t be “work,” you have to make it fun and enjoyable. You can’t ever let yourself get discouraged. You can’t set your sights so high that you’re disappointed if you don’t see immediate, drastic improvement. Fitness takes time and effort, (a lifetime’s worth, in fact), but even the slightest amount of physical activity is better than nothing. You can’t feel guilt for goofing up with your food choices or relaxing now and then and skipping a workout. I think most of all, you have to be comfortable with your workout. You should be comfortable where you are, who you’re with and the atmosphere around you. And if you have an instructor or trainer, you should be 100% comfortable with him or her. Exercise is hard enough without disliking the person training you and it’s one more hurdle to a regular workout.
Most of all I think it’s important to work out with other people in a supportive environment. That was one of my favorite aspects of Wildfire Fitness Outdoor BootCamp. I knew every class was going to be fun because of a great group of people I’d be with and the different activities we’d do. I knew my fellow bootcampers were in the same boat. I knew they cared about me and what I was trying to achieve and I knew my instructor was smart and caring enough to know when to push us and when to give us a break.
Finally, I think like anything in life, you can’t just wander in and expect to achieve results. You need clear, measurable goals, or at least a general sense of purpose. What do you expect to achieve? Why are you here? How will you define “success” in the end? These are all things you should think about before you start.
|
