One year ago this month, I realized that my pants were getting tight, my back hurt and my overall fitness level was basically shot. I’d always seen myself as a relatively fit person. After all, six years earlier I’d run two marathons, so at some level I think I was resting on my laurels. But last February I finally looked in the mirror and realized that I’d gotten soft. Before, I’d just kind of chalked it up to aging and figured it was inevitable. But on that day last February, something in me woke up. I was ready to make some changes. Now, just one year later, so much has changed – I wonder why I didn’t start sooner, but I also wonder where I would be if I hadn’t taken those first steps.
I decided it was time to lose weight, and around the same time I bought my first home fitness program – Insanity. Billed as the toughest workout program on DVD, I figured it was just the thing (when I tackle something, I tend to go big). But it was hard – the workouts were tough, and I had to dedicate 40-60 minutes out of my schedule, six days a week.
Looking back, I think there were two main factors which drove me to continue, and ultimately led me to start my own fitness groups. First, soon after I started Insanity, I joined an on-line message board, where people posted their workouts and basically helped each other out. I started to understand that, even though I was exercising alone at my house, I could be part of a virtual community that expected to hear from me every day, where people cared whether or not I was actually pushing play. Accountability can be a powerful tool, even among strangers.
Second, some of my friends started doing the workouts with me. I was the only one doing all the workouts on the schedule, but 3-4 times a week, at least one of my friends would join in. We were able to help each other improve our fitness and keep each other motivated. I also took some pride in the fact that I’d introduced my friends to some amazing workouts.
Over the past year, I’ve become a big believer in home fitness programs, and I lost the extra weight that I’d been slowly gathering over the past decade. I had lousy core strength when I started – every time I went running my back would hurt - but over time my abdominal and back muscles gained strength, and now I can run pain-free. I badly injured my knee many years ago, and when I first started these workouts I had to invest in a serious knee brace. Now the brace is in my closet – the muscles supporting my knee joint got stronger, my flexibility improved, and I’m far less likely to have mobility problems as I age. My nutrition has improved too – I buy healthier foods so the whole family is eating better. I’ve discovered the joys of kale and quinoa. Instead of a multivitamin, I have a nice nutritional shake in the afternoon as a snack – a good pick-me-up that keeps me from snacking my way to dinner.
Lots of people have other methods of staying fit - they’re serious runners, cyclists or swimmers, or they’re absolutely committed to working out at the gym. But too many people either hit the gym once or twice a week, maybe do some walking – and aren’t able to maintain an optimal fitness level. Our bodies tend to lose muscle mass as we age, leading to a slower metabolism and weight gain. Daily workouts that incorporate cardio, resistance and strength training can slow down and even reverse this process. I firmly believe that by dedicating one half hour to home fitness, 5 or 6 times a week, most people can achieve remarkable gains in fitness that can make a real difference in their daily lives.
