Why Short Term Fitness Challenges are a Thing of the Past!
Short Term Challenges = Short Term Results
We’ve all been fooled by the coach who has sworn by their “8-Week Fitness Bootcamp” campaign or the DVDs that offer 1 month of repeated daily workouts & strict nutrition that will get you back on track. And don’t get me started on those 3-day detoxes of little real food that “reset” your body. Although these types of fitness & nutrition challenges can establish short-term results, once the plan is done, most of us are left wondering, “Now what?”
Unless you are an athlete who needs to be in peak shape for competition, periodization training is a no go. Most of us have some combination of jobs, children, daily responsibilities, and unpredictable life moments despite our best laid plans. We want to be healthy and fit, but we also want to go on vacations, celebrate birthdays, and prioritize special events without feeling guilty about missing a day. Believe me, I’ve been there!
For someone who is Type-A by nature, short term challenges can be downright dangerous. They can create obsessive and unhealthy behaviors around dieting and exercise, as well as offer huge disappointment and eventual weight gain when the drastic results of that 8-Week plan you grudgingly forced yourself through wears off after weeks 10-12. Not to mention, it can put your body under unnecessary stress. If you want to make fitness a healthy and sustainable habit in your life, it’s crucial to work with a coach who understands reaching goals does not always happen on a predisposed timeline.
Plan For Goals Not Timelines
When searching for the right coach, it’s important to ask about credentials as well as training style. Have they worked with injuries? What is their plan to help you reach your goals? Do they have testimonials from clients? Why should you pick them? If they tell you they will get you to all of your goals in 8 weeks, thank them for their time, and walk out the door.
Work with a coach that helps you understand that building attainable and steady routines are more important than timelines. Plus, fitness is not an all or nothing type of entity, like so many short term plans would have you believe. A good coach will help you start by creating smaller goals that build on each other. They will help you understand the reason for your fitness goals, and will help you build a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.
Never been able to hold a plank on your toes but want a stronger core? Make your goal to build up the strength in your shoulders, back, and core to plank on your toes!
Looking to alleviate pain in your joints? Work with a coach who understands low-impact and celebrates when you let them know that you are having less pain since you began working with them. (like on the Core (LP) Megaformer =P)
If finding a time to workout is challenging, start with at least two days a week to work with your coach and celebrate when you shift to three.
These are just a few of the hundreds of goals you could set for yourself or work with your coach to achieve at a sustainable pace. The world is your oyster!
Fitness is a Long-Play
As humans, we typically look for the quickest solution to a problem. Fitness isn’t quick. Like the name Core (LP) suggests, fitness is a long-play. It’s a merry-go-round that sometimes we are riding high, and other times we fall off. Fitness is not here to punish us or make us feel guilty for the days we missed or the food we ate. It’s here to make us healthier, happier people. It’s here to build confidence and boost your mood. It’s here to make you feel long, powerful, and strong.