Staying Fit
This year, why not make what is typically a two-week health stint a real life change? “To most of us, a new year means it’s time to start all over and finally become that wonderful, productive, healthy, happy person we've always wanted to be. The trouble is, the enthusiasm to make changes, especially with exercise and diet, tends to fade once we realize we can't change everything overnight,” says Luke Kayyem, owner of CrossFit Scottsdale. While drastic transformations certainly do not occur overnight, adding small bits of activity to your daily life can make a big difference. Kayyem, whose CrossFit sessions are quick but intense, offers these tips on how to do just that:
• Make exercise a priority in your day. It’s easy to make excuses by the end of the day. Work, kids, dinner; if it’s an appointment in your calendar you’re more likely to not miss or make excuses.
• For every two hours spent at a desk take five minutes to stretch, walk or just get up and move around.
• During commercials or at halftime, do a 5-10 minute circuit of exercises in your living room. Try push ups, sit ups and squats.
• Get outside. Walk to lunch or dinner. Go to the park and play sports like tennis, basketball or volleyball and just have fun.
• Find a program that has lunch classes. At CrossFit Scottsdale, we teach a noon class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
While finding the extra time can be a challenge, staying mentally motivated to exercise is the other half of the equation. Kevin Shepard, a trainer at DC Ranch Village Health Club & Spa and owner of Shepard Strength Health and Weight Management, offers these suggestions:
• Ask yourself the question: “If I have time to sit and watch TV, why don’t I have time to exercise?”
• Get the most important people in your life to join you. This might be your wife, kids, other family members or whomever you choose.
• Create a negative image of being overweight and decide not to be one of the 73 percent of overweight Americans.
• Schedule an appointment with Shepard Strength Health and Weight Management, who specializes in helping people find motivation to exercise and make better food choices for life.
