So what’s your favorite post workout shake?

Leave a comment below and tell us your favorite healthy post workout shake.

At Fitness Solutions we know that EVERYONE has individual health and fitness goals. Our goal is to educate and demonstrate to each client the principles needed to achieve that level of fitness. If you are interested in learning more about our services or would like to get started with 2 free private personal training sessions, please contact us for a free consultation.

Simple Goals

Are you still hanging on to a favorite pair of jeans that no longer fit, but are loath to give away because you have the vague idea that you’ll be able to wear them again someday? Why not make this your fitness goal? Your goals don’t have to be huge elaborate plans, but simple goals such as fitting in your favorite jeans or a dress you love that’s been hanging in the back of the closet for years.

Events

Sometimes, the invitation to a wedding or a high school reunion is all it takes to prompt us to get in better shape. The trick with setting an event as a fitness goal is to be realistic about how much you can improve your health in the time allotted. The best way to improve your health is through diet and exercise, so you’ll have to resist crash diets that promise to help you lose an unreasonable amount of weight in a short amount of time and focus your energies on your personal training in Carbondale. This is exactly why working with a personal trainer is so valuable, as he can help you make a realistic goal to looking your best in the amount of time given. Plus, once the event is over, who’s to say that you have to stop trying to reach your original goal?

Keeping up with the Kids

Young children have so much energy that it can be a challenge to just keep up with them everyday! A healthy diet and exercise routine can help increase your energy and be able to keep up with even the feistiest three-year-old. Plus, starting the good habits of healthy living while the children are still young is a great way to ensure that they will pick up your healthy habits as they grow.

Longer Life

While having the goal of living longer doesn’t necessarily have the same concrete goals as other kinds of motivation, it is still a powerful tool to keep in mind when starting personal training in Carbondale. A healthy exercise and diet routine can help prevent a host of diseases, from heart disease to osteoporosis, and people can start on this path at any age, as exercise not only helps prevent disease but can also help control and even slow it. Now that you are ready for personal training in Carbondale, contact us today!

At Fitness Solutions we know that EVERYONE has individual health and fitness goals. Our goal is to educate and demonstrate to each client the principles needed to achieve that level of fitness. If you are interested in learning more about our programs or would like to get started with 2 free private personal training sessions, please contact us for a free consultation.

The Pros And Cons Of Reality TV Weight Loss

Everything that you see on a reality TV weight loss show is not necessarily bad, but you have to be able to take the show for its entertainment value and know where reality ends. There are both good and bad lessons to be learned by watching reality TV weight loss shows, and before you apply what you see to your own weight loss goals, our personal trainers in Carbondale want you to consider the whole of the matter.

What’s Good About Reality TV Weight Loss Shows?

First off, reality TV weight loss can be very motivational. It is inspiring to watch a person who has struggled with weight and fitness all their lives become stronger and healthier. There is a certain confidence you get from watching others—whose lives may parallel your own—succeed. It is motivational to see that it is possible for the most unlikely of persons to push themselves past the point they thought possible to lose weight and achieve higher levels of health and fitness.

It is also beneficial to see the difference a real support system and weight loss/fitness plan can make. Often reality TV weight loss shows feature support systems, group therapies, and professional services for the participants. For many, it is the presence and support of these other individuals, and the education that they gain in regards to health and fitness, that help them make the jump to finally achieving weight loss goals. Our personal trainers in Carbondale know first hand that proper instruction and constant motivation can help you achieve your long term weight loss.

What’s The Downside To Reality TV Weight Loss Methods?

Like most reality TV series, reality TV weight loss shows present very unrealistic portrayals of weight loss for the average man or woman. These shows provide personal trainers and nutritional support, but they also take an extreme approach to weight loss in many instances, pushing diet extremes and day-long workouts rather than incremental, sustainable fitness and nutritional programs.

Our personal trainers in Carbondale want you to know that it is not realistic to try to lose weight just by watching snippets of weeks and weeks of people working to lose weight and then trying to recreate their weight loss ‘program’ on your own. What is often not shown is that these contestants are spending entire days in the gym and at times crash dieting for a monetary prize, which ends up being an unrealistic motivation once normal life resumes.

This also has the effect of promoting exercise programs that are not safe or healthy for individual viewers (and also not for the contestants sometimes). Safe and effective exercise is highly personal, and we would suggest contacting our personal trainers in Carbondale to help create a program customized for your needs. The physical health and abilities of the individual must be considered before a good exercise program can be devised.

The biggest problem with reality TV weight loss shows is that they are not personally tailored to you. It is not safe, healthy, or effective for you to simply adopt the program used by another—whether your neighbor or a contestant on TV. Our personal trainers in Carbondale create healthy fitness programs see to all aspects of the individual’s life and create a program that is healthy and workable—and sustainable—for a lifetime of health and fitness.

At Fitness Solutions we know that EVERYONE has individual health and fitness goals. Our goal is to educate and demonstrate to each client the principles needed to achieve that level of fitness. If you are interested in learning more about our programs or would like to get started with 2 free private personal training sessions, please contact us for a free consultation.

Certification

Thanks to the rise in popularity of personal trainers, more and more inexperienced fitness enthusiasts are seeking out certification from unlikely sources, such as the internet. Don’t be fooled by a fancy looking certificate or an impressive sounding certification body. There are a handful of accredited certification bodies that offer personal fitness certification and it is worth the time to learn about them before your search – not only because you’ll be able to separate the good from the bad, but because each certification has a different focus on fitness.

Any personal trainer in Aspen worth his salt will also be certified in first aid and CPR, so be sure to ask about these issues as well.

Comfort Level

Just as every personal trainer in Aspen is different, everyone seeking a personal trainer has different needs as well. The idea of a drill sergeant as personal trainer may be what you need to keep motivated, or it might ensure that you never show up for a session again. The purpose of hiring a personal trainer is that he or she will push you to work harder than you would by yourself, but the way they intend to push you will make all the difference in the world.

Even in the interview stage, don’t be afraid to ask the personal trainer in Aspen how he or she intends to encourage you to go on. Also, is this a person that you’ll feel comfortable asking questions to in the middle of a session? Don’t disregard your initial feelings on meeting a potential personal trainer, because if you don’t feel comfortable with him or her, the less likely you’ll be to continue showing up to work out.

How Does the Trainer Look?

Just like the old saying goes, you should never judge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest – don’t you want a personal trainer that practices what he preaches? While you may never know for sure that the trainer achieved a healthy looking body by following a healthy diet and exercise program, you’re more likely to respect and follow the training if he looks like he does. He doesn’t have to look like he just stepped out of last week’s fitness magazine, but wouldn’t you find it difficult to respect a personal trainer in Aspen if you looked better than he did?

At Fitness Solutions we know that EVERYONE has individual health and fitness goals. Our goal is to educate and demonstrate to each client the principles needed to achieve that level of fitness. If you are interested in learning more about our programs or would like to get started with 2 free private personal training sessions, please contact us for a free consultation.

Pencil it in

Any professional worth his salt has a calendar filled to the brim with meetings, appointments and deadlines. Why not pencil in time for exercise, too? If you’re really ready to make a commitment to improving your lifestyle, schedule exercise into your routine and treat it like an important business meeting. Once you’ve added it to your regular calendar, you’ll be surprised at how easily everything else falls into place. At the same time, don’t beat yourself up if something unavoidable comes up and you have to cancel. Just don’t use this as an excuse to cancel the rest of your exercise appointments for the week! Eric Bollock, an Aspen personal training expert, can help you stay on track by holding you accountable!

Exercise at Work

If you truly can’t get away during the day, there are plenty of ways to incorporate a little fitness into your daily routine. An Aspen personal training expert has a few suggestions! Obviously, try to always take the stairs. Instead of emailing a question to a colleague on another floor, take the time to go ask the question in person. Set an alarm on your computer to remind you get up once an hour to stretch your legs and your arms. Even a quick break can be refreshing. Clip a pedometer on your belt and try to achieve between 6000 and 10,000 steps a day.

If you have your own office, you can even incorporate exercise equipment into your routine. Try sitting on an exercise ball, which will strengthen your abs and back while you work, or lifting dumbbells while you’re on the phone. Even if you work in a cubicle and don’t want to be seen with your exercise equipment, keep a couple of bottles of water in a drawer and use them as dumbbells when you can.

Office Fitness Programs and More

Upper levels of management are quickly learning that when their employees are healthy, they tend to work more efficiently, so exercise can benefit everyone in the workplace. Some companies have taken the initiative to start fitness programs in the office with the help of a Aspen personal training expert.

Finally, if you live close enough to work that you can commute by foot or bicycle, consider making this change. Not only will you be doing something healthy for yourself, but it’s healthier for the environment as well!

Remember, you don’t have to make these fitness changes all by yourself. Seek out the advice of an Aspen personal training expert. Eric Bollock will take your busy schedule into account when setting out a fitness program for you, and help you come up with even more ideas on how to incorporate more exercise into your busy lifestyle.

At Fitness Solutions we know that EVERYONE has individual health and fitness goals. Our goal is to educate and demonstrate to each client the principles needed to achieve that level of fitness. If you are interested in learning more about our programs or would like to get started with 2 free private personal training sessions, please contact us for a free consultation.

Diabetes—The Stats

Aspen personal trainers agree – recent statistics concerning type 2 diabetes are alarming. If it seems like everyone you know knows one or more people with diabetes that is because it is very likely true. Statistics show that around seven percent of the U.S. population has diabetes…but not all of them know it. An even higher number of people have pre-diabetes, a precursor condition just steps away from full onset diabetes.

Some sobering statistics on diabetes and pre-diabetes:

• Close to 21 million people in America have diabetes
• 21 million is equivalent to 7% of the total population
• Of that 21 million, 14.6 million cases are confirmed and 6.2 remain undiagnosed—6.2 million people have diabetes and do not know it yet
• 54 million people have pre-diabetes
• People with pre-diabetes often develop diabetes within 10 years
• 1.5 million people were diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. in the year 2005 alone
• About 3% of the population between the ages of 20 and 29 have diabetes
• About 10% of people aged 40-59 have diabetes
• About 20% of people over 60 have diabetes

These numbers continue to rise as well. However, simple lifestyle changes can do a lot to prevent diabetes, even in those people who have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Aspen personal trainers can help you learn what kinds of changes will prevent diabetes, and for those with diabetes they can teach you how to make living with diabetes easier.

Diabetes—What A Difference A Lifestyle Makes

Poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle—two factors that have been more and more prevalent in society—are significant contributors to diabetes. By just improving diet and starting a regular exercise and fitness program, the likelihood of developing diabetes drops dramatically. Enlisting the help of Aspen personal trainers may make this easier for you. For many people, again even people with pre-diabetes, a good fitness program can prevent diabetes onset entirely.

Aspen personal trainers would like you to know some important things about diabetes prevention and exercise:

• One study showed that 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week cuts diabetes risk by 58% (just a half hour per day, five days per week)
• Metabolic syndrome, a syndrome consisting of a compilation of diabetes risk factors, was more effectively prevented by lifestyle changes (diet, exercise) than by the leading prescription medication used to fight it
• Diabetes risk is lowered with just a five to seven percent reduction in body weight (when lost through diet and exercise)
• Ten to 14 pound weight loss for an average person weighing 200 pounds translated into 60% reduction in diagnosis of pre-diabetics

Diabetes is a disease that can very often be prevented entirely by changing the way you eat and live. Better nutrition and even a moderate fitness routine can keep you from falling victim to one of the leading chronic diseases, a disease that causes numerous complications and results in death due to exacerbated heart and organ disease. Aspen personal trainers would like you to make changes for the good now, and live long without the burden of this growing disease.

At Eagle County Barbell we know that EVERYONE has individual health and fitness goals. Our goal is to educate and demonstrate to each client the principles needed to achieve that level of fitness. If you are interested in learning more about our programs or would like to get started with 3 free semi-private personal training sessions, please contact us for a free consultation.

In the beginning

You may start off your fitness program with plenty of enthusiasm, but many of us start finding excuses to miss an exercise session or two as early as two weeks in. You’re sore and tired and you’d rather just stay at home. Of course you’re sore! You’re using muscles that haven’t been used in quite a long time, it’s perfectly normal. Make sure your body gets plenty of rest, but don’t fall for this well worn excuse. If imagining how amazing you’ll look and feel when you reach your goal seems too far out of your grasp at this point, give yourself a short term goal.

For example, create a goal that says that after six weeks of constant exercise, you’ll finally treat yourself to that luxury item you’ve had your eye on. Once you reach the first six weeks, make a new goal and work towards that. The time it takes to reach your final goal will be different for everyone and doesn’t have a definitive date, so create a solid goal that you can reach in the short term. An Aspen personal trainer can help you stay on track so that you not only reach your short term goals, but your lifetime goal of being fit and healthy!

Pitfalls in the middle

The most common pitfall most of us will face on the path to our goal is a fitness plateau. All of a sudden, the numbers on the scale, the measurement of your thighs, or the amount of weight you can lift all stays magically the same, well before you’ve reached your goal. Does this mean that you’ve done as much as your body can handle? No way! Our bodies are incredible machines and will work hard to achieve their maximum capacity at whatever task we give them, but eventually the body will become so efficient that it no longer needs to use as much energy or burn as many calories to perform the task at hand.

This usually happens when you do the same exercises over and over again, so the solution may be as simple as changing the intensity of the exercise or the exercise itself. An Aspen personal trainer can help you make the necessary changes to push through the plateau and continue on your way.

Those last five pounds

It’s true; the less fat you have to lose, the harder it is to get rid of it. Those infamous last five pounds can be a killer to push through, but think of how excited you’ll be to know you pushed through and stuck to your commitment from the beginning until the very end. If you’re having trouble getting past those last five pounds, consider consulting an Aspen personal trainer, who is helpful during all stages of reaching your fitness goals. An Aspen personal trainer can help design a fitness plan for you from the beginning, give you ideas or pushing through your plateaus, and keep you motivated all the way to the end, when you’ve reached your goal.

At Fitness Solutions we know that EVERYONE has individual health and fitness goals. Our goal is to educate and demonstrate to each client the principles needed to achieve that level of fitness. If you are interested in learning more about our programs or would like to get started with 2 free private personal training sessions, please contact us for a free consultation.

What is obesity?

Obesity is the term we use to describe an excess of body fat. When a person’s weight is twenty percent or more above normal weight, he is considered to be obese, while those whose weight is fifty percent or higher are considered being morbidly obese. Obesity is most commonly measured using the BMI, or Body Mass Index, which can be calculated by multiplying the weight in pounds by 702 and dividing by the height in inches twice. A person is considered overweight if his BMI is between 25 and 29.9 and obese if it is over 30.

What causes obesity?

Obesity normally occurs when a person consumes more calories than he can consume. While for most of us, this is due to overeating and little exercise, but there are other factors that should be taken into consideration. As we get older, our metabolism slows, which is why some of us may note that we can no longer eat or do the same activities at 40 than we could at 20. Gender also plays a role, as men have a faster resting metabolic rate than women, whose metabolism slows down significantly after menopause.

Genetics can also play a role. If our parents were overweight, chances are higher that we will be too, but this doesn’t mean that obesity is inevitable, just that we need to work a little harder to stay in shape. Psychological factors can play a role in the form of emotional eating in response to stress, sadness or boredom. Finally, some medicines can cause significant weight can, including steroids and anti-depressants.

Negative effects of obesity

There are dozens of diseases, disorders and other health concerns that are directly linked to obesity. The extra weight puts undue pressure on the heart and can lead to heart disease, high levels of cholesterol and blood sugar can lead to Type II Diabetes, as well as other problems like osteoarthritis, gall bladder problems, respiratory problems, and hypertension. Obesity also negatively affects us emotionally.

While obesity is a growing problem in the United States, it is still very much discriminated against in school, work settings, looking for a job or even in social settings. Obese people are thought of as lazy or gluttonous and can find themselves feeling depressed and rejected. Personal training in Carbondale can help anyone get out of a rut, and get people on the road to a healthy lifestyle.

How to make a positive change with personal training in Carbondale

If you’re ready to make a healthy start, don’t be tempted to make a quick fix with crash diets or fad exercise equipment. Don’t go on a diet – make a healthy lifestyle change! The best way to get on the road to better health is to consult personal training in Carbondale. Not only can personal training in Carbondale make a full assessment of your present health and take note of any medical concerns, s/he can design a fitness program that tailored to you and your goals, and will be there every step of the way, to make sure that you’re working out safely and to encourage you to reach your goal. If you are interested finding out how personal training in Carbondale can help you, please contact us today!

At Eagle County Barbell we know that EVERYONE has individual health and fitness goals. Our goal is to educate and demonstrate to each client the principles needed to achieve that level of fitness. If you are interested in learning more about our programs or would like to get started with 3 free semi-private personal training sessions, please contact us for a free consultation.

Many Benefits Of Fitness For Diabetics

A 2005 study showed that people who had diabetes and who walked daily were healthier after two years. Their medical expenses were lower as well, indicating their overall health was better. In contrast, people with diabetes who did not exercise experienced a decline in health and increased health care costs.

Physical fitness is important to diabetes as a means of controlling blood sugar; it is also a highly effective means of maintaining heart health—a top threat to people with diabetes. Personal trainers in Carbondale have seen that diabetics who exercise benefit from:

• Improved circulation—preventing lesions and tissue damage throughout the body
• Prevention of heart problems
• Increased blood flow to the heart
• Decreased cholesterol (of ‘bad’ cholesterol levels)
• Increased levels of good cholesterols
• Decreased nerve damage
• Weight loss
• Lower risk of stroke
• Decrease in blood pressure

People with diabetes who exercise enjoy many of the same benefits of people exercising without diabetes—and more. For people with diabetes, though, exercise takes on an even greater importance as the extra boost is necessary to keep the heart, lungs, and body functioning at optimal capacity.

Exercise Considerations For People With Diabetes

Exercising with diabetes is similar to exercising without, but there are special considerations that need to be accounted for. Since exercise causes dramatic changes to blood glucose, it is important to talk to your doctor about how to manage blood sugar before, during, and after exercise.

It is also important to know what types of exercise are beneficial and will improve your condition and what types of exercise are safe given your specific symptoms/condition. For this it is important to ask personal trainers in Carbondale for advice.

For example,

• Aerobic exercise and sports are recommended, but care must be taken to monitor effects on blood glucose
• Strength training helps build muscle and improves metabolism, but when complications arise strength training may need to be modified or suspended
• Patients who have lived an inactive lifestyle need to gradually break into exercise and increase intensities as fitness improves
• Blood glucose levels dictate the safety of exercise—it is generally recommended that diabetics not exercise with blood glucose below 100mg/dL or above 300mg/dL

In addition, personal trainers in Carbondale require that all diabetics stay well hydrated during exercise (because dehydration impacts blood sugar) and should always check for injuries (particularly of feet) following exercise.

Getting Help To Exercise Safely

Developing a plan for safe and effective fitness can be daunting if you have diabetes. The help of qualified professionals—including the advice of your doctor and the knowledge of personal trainers in Carbondale—can help immensely. Your doctor will work with you to make sure that you are exercising in a way that is beneficial and safe, and a personal trainer will build upon your doctor’s recommendations to develop a fitness plan that is right for you.

As a diabetic, exercise is one of the best ways to remain healthy at your optimal level throughout life. Get the professional advice and assistance you need and commit to regular exercise so that you can live well for many years, despite your disease. Personal trainers in Carbondale can help you learn about how this is possible.

At Fitness Solutions we know that EVERYONE has individual health and fitness goals. Our goal is to educate and demonstrate to each client the principles needed to achieve that level of fitness. If you are interested in learning more about our programs or would like to get started with 2 free private personal training sessions, please contact us for a free consultation.

Why do we get sore?

If you’re exercising correctly, muscle soreness should be very minimal, but those that are just beginning or have recently intensified their work outs may experience muscle soreness the day after a work out. This phenomenon is called delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS, and generally occurs twelve to 36 hours after an intense work out. There are two factors that contribute to DOMS; a build up of waste products in the muscles and miniscule tears in the muscles. Not only are the muscles sore, but symptoms can also include feeling stiff, weak and tired. A personal trainer in Carbondale understands DOMS and will know how to safely and effectively get you passed it without injury or strains.

Avoiding soreness

Working out shouldn’t leave you feeling tired and sore, but energized! You can help your body better recover by taking care of your body before and after your work out. Make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep, as exercise will only exacerbate the tired feeling, and take an appropriate amount of rest between work outs, so your muscles have time to recover. A personal trainer in Carbondale suggests always warm up your body for at least ten minutes before any kind of intense work out, because exercising “cold muscles can lead to strains and injuries.

Stretching after a work out is just as important, as it encourages the blood flow to return to the organs and discourages lactic acid from building up in the muscles, which contributes to soreness. Finally, make sure you’re getting enough fuel for your body. Food give your body the energy it needs to work out efficiently, so consider adding a small snack an hour before your workout and eating a healthy meal afterwards, to help your muscles better recover.

Getting the help you need

If you’ve already tried some of these techniques and are still experiencing soreness after your work outs, chances are that you may have strained a muscle. A muscle is considered strained when it has worker harder than its capacity and it actually tears. If you don’t notice significant improvement over a period of a few days, you may need to seek medical advice.

It is, of course, very easy to avoid injury by making sure you’re using exercise equipment safely and not pushing yourself beyond your limits by consulting a personal trainer. Working out with a personal trainer in Carbondale has many benefits for you, including designing a fitness regime that’s right for you, encouraging you along the way, but most importantly, making sure you’re working out safely and efficiently. A personal trainer in Carbondale will be able to advise you about your muscle soreness, when you should seek medical advice, and how to avoid injury all together.