keene36fitness…fitness 4 all
Lance W. Keene, NASM-CPT, BodyBugg-Practitioner, Apex Fitness-Fitness ProfessionalArchive for July, 2008
Keep truckin’ towards those goals!!!!
keeping Visual images around can be powerful tool in helping you reach your goals. There are a lot of creative ways to use this motivational technique, such as posting an image of your goal where you’ll see it most, in your car visor, on a bathroom mirror, or on the refrigerator, hanging your new favorite outfit in-front of your face when going in to your closet. Visual images can also help you reach your fat loss goals. Create a chart to measure your success, display before and after pictures, or get a brochure of the vacation destination you’ll visit after you reach your goal. These are all good ways to constantly remind yourself of the commitment you’ve made.
Start with a Long-Term Goal. Picture the feeling you will have, how your life will be different, what you would be able to do differently. Think of the strategy you’ll use and who can help you. This is your blueprint. Before you do anything else, write that goal down. Memory studies indicate that the brain forgets 80% of detail within 24 hours and 99% within two weeks. Writing it down keeps the goal fresh and clear in your mind.
Next, create a timeline. This begins with a target date, which you’ve probably already set. Now you have Point A and Point B; what are the steps along the way that’ll take you from one to the other? Think of a series of Medium-Term Milestones you can use to keep momentum high and the path straight. Milestones can also be achievements that have nothing to do with the scale. Maybe sign up for a bootcamp that you wouldn’t have been able to do last year.
Finally, plan out the Short-Term Actions that will get you to your first Milestones. These are your daily and weekly nutrition and fitness goals. This is how doing just a little bit every day can help you reach even your biggest goal. By doing these Actions, you stay on track and a permanent, healthier lifestyle is just a matter of time.
Realistic: Start off with a goal that isn’t too ambitious, so you can sooner experience the thrills of success. Build toward grander goals to keep your motivation high.
Specific: Make sure it can be measured and tracked.
Clear Thought: Find a photo depicting or symbolizing what you want. The clearer the point of the whole thing is, the easier it is to stay focused.
Valuable: Remind yourself why you want to succeed in the first place.
Timely: What do you wish for? This is the goal that will hold your attention the most. There’s no reason our wishes can’t become our goals.
Reward: Every little bit of positive reinforcement helps.
Keep Your Kids Moving!!!
A recent study conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) investigated the link between physical activity in children and academic performance in school. Initially, researchers predicted that kids who took physical education (PE) during the school day would do better academically, since it helps reduce boredom and helps kids stay focused.
The study, reported in ACSM’s official journal, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, examined 214 children of middle school age. All students were randomly assigned to a PE class in either the first or second semester of the school year. Researchers collected information on each student’s activity level in and outside of the PE class, and compared their level of activity to their grades in the subjects of math, science, world studies and English.
Surprisingly, researchers found that being enrolled in PE (moderate activity for 30 minutes, 5 days per week) did not influence the children’s grades. The government’s Healthy People 2010 guidelines recommend vigorous activity for 20 minutes, at least 3 days per week. This study showed that the more active children were, such as participating in a sport or other vigorous activity, the better they did in school. Most of the children who did exercise “vigorously” did so outside of school, by playing sports like soccer, basketball, football, baseball and softball.
These ACSM researchers recommend that physical education classes include more vigorous activities for kids. Other research also shows that active children do better in school, are better able to concentrate, and even exhibit fewer behavior problems. If your child’s school isn’t requiring enough physical activity, encourage your child to participate in a school or club sport that she enjoys. Team sports teach kids more than fitness—they improve motor skills, increase self-esteem, and foster cooperation and teamwork. Even non-athletic children can meet physical activity recommendations with non-competitive activities such as biking, swimming and jogging and by dancing or playing games like tag.
Just by keeping your kids active and staying involved with after school programs and activities leads to endless social behaviors that are favorable to our society. If your lucky enough to live by a Life Time Fitness you should check out thier kids programs and Camps!!! Visit www.lifetimefitness.com
