“Be Consistent, start small, but do it every day. Sometimes it’s a 10 or 15 minute walk. That’s OK if you feel motivated to do it every day and then build on the foundation. Too many budding athletes charge into a vigorous workout routine, only to lose motivation and stop altogether,” -Tom Mueller, 52-year old ultra-runner

I’m PRO-weight training all the way baby!

—

Use Weights, Not Aerobics, To Ease Back Pain, Study Suggests

ScienceDaily (Dec. 16, 2008) — People who use weight training to ease their lower back pain are better off than those who choose other forms of exercise such as jogging, according to a University of Alberta study.

The study, done in conjunction with the University of Regina, showed a 60 per cent improvement in pain and function levels for people with chronic backache who took part in a 16-week exercise program of resistance training using dumbbells, barbells and other load-bearing exercise equipment.

In contrast, people who chose aerobic training such as jogging, walking on a treadmill or using an elliptical machine to ease their back pain only experienced a 12 per cent improvement, said Robert Kell, an assistant professor of exercise physiology at the University of Alberta, Augustana Campus.

The resistance-training group showed improvements in pain and function of about 60 per cent, while those who took aerobic training experienced only a 12 per cent improvement.

“Any activity that makes you feel better is something you should pursue, but the research indicates that we get better pain management results from resistance training.” The extra benefits stem from using the whole-body approach required in resistance training, Kell believes. “We tried to strengthen the entire body and by doing that, we decreased the fatigue people felt throughout the day. They were better able to perform their activities of daily living.” Aerobics training generally works just the lower body, he added.

Approximately 80 per cent of North Americans suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lifetimes, and for 85 per cent of them the pain is chronic.

Both types of training did provide other fitness benefits, such as lower body fat, the study showed.

The findings are to be published in early 2009 in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

haha! Look what I found! Finger weights

Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity.The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded. - Goethe

Fitness Motivation:
LIFE is very different in the eyes of a fit person versus and unfit person.

When you are unfit -

it effects your body esteem…

it effects your sense of happiness…

if effects MORE than you know.

I know personally..

that when I DON’T WORKOUT -

I hate it.

I feel less successful in my day.

I feel less confident in my body.

I feel less energetic.

Life is very different when you see through the eyes of an active person.

SO focus on that.

FOCUS on how you want to feel -

rather than how you want to look.

The sense of confidence, energy and happiness is priceless.

Have a great Tuesday Everyone!

Honestly - I don’t think so.

First off, I don’t think there’s a lot of marketing for it…

Secondly, I don’t think making the governor happy is motivating…

Lastly, I don’t think there’s a strong enough incentive to be fit.

Have a cash incentive? Get local grocery stores and restaurants involved.

Get all the gyms and fitness business’ together.

The government might also want a larger budget to organize a huge endeavor…

and not just make a public announcement and a bunch of fliers.

Check out Texas’ new program:

Texas Governor Launches National Walking

Challenge to Raise Obesity Awareness

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) has challenged his counterparts in other states to participate in a walking program designed to increase awareness of the nation’s burgeoning obesity epidemic, the Associated Press reports. Slated to begin January 1, 2009, the two-week Capitol Steps Challenge tasks participating governors with recruiting a team of 10 to 20 cabinet-level staff to compete head-to-head by tracking their daily activity, with the goal of achieving the highest per-team member average distance. Program sponsor Virgin HealthMiles, an employee health program developer, will provide participants pedometers and an online tool for recording each team’s walking distance during the challenge. After two weeks, the team logging the greatest average per-person activity will be declared the Most Active Governor’s Team and will receive a $50,000 donation from Virgin toward the winning state’s childhood obesity program. To date, Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin have signed on to participate in the challenge. Meanwhile, for the second phase of the program, teams of 250 individuals from state government offices will participate in a one-year challenge to boost their physical activity, with the winning team receiving up to $125,000 for their state childhood obesity program. Noting that rapidly increasing U.S. obesity rates provided the impetus for the program, Perry added that “as governors, we must set the example for our states and highlight ways we can address preventable health problems” (AP/KTUU, 12/10/08; Office of Governor Rick Perry release, 12/10/08; Virgin HealthMiles release, 12/10/08).

I used to LOVE this challenge as a child?
I wonder if it’s still a big thing?

“When a person trains once, nothing happens. When a person forces himself to do a thing a hundred or a thousand times, then he certainly has developed in more ways than physical. Is it raining? That doesn’t matter. Am I tired? That doesn’t matter, either. Then willpower will be no problem.” - Emil Zatopek

Fitness Motivation:
It hurts now.

Especially when you are just getting started…

Training hurts.

It just does.

But when you force yourself…

Push yourself…

Persevere and Endure -

YOU BUILD a formidable mindset…

that can conquer anything!

have a great Monday everyone.

KNOW that your weaknesses will be your power tomorrow.