Back to fitness.

It is funny how old routines stick with us.

In my experience, August is vacation time. This is whether you are actually going on a vacation or not. No one can maintain a consistent level of effort all year and with at least 12 years of making summer vacation a habit, we tend to stick to that pattern. In fact, I believe that the longer it has been since your last real (no working) vacation. The less motivated you are by the time August rolls around to stick to your routine.

The weather is good, the hint of fall is in the air, and taking some time off, being less focused, enjoying your time outside seems like more fun. There are fewer people at the gym and more people on the patios.

Good. You should have a break from the regular routine. Less structure, more relaxation and time to think.

What you would like to change about your fitness?

How you would like to look and feel? What are you motivated to do? Regardless of what your goals are, here are some tips to help you reach them and keep them.

1. Be accountable. To yourself, to another person or with a group, but have some way of reminding yourself of what you want to do.
2. Be consistent. Ask anyone, I say this every day. The key to getting fit is to be consistent. Not too much, not too little, just the right amount of effort, daily, adds up to success. It doesn’t sound as cool as 6 pack abs in 6 weeks, but unless you almost have a 6 pack now you aren’t going to get them in 6 weeks. Sorry if you thought that was possible before now, it is not.
3.  Track your progress. This is important for a few reasons. First, because you can see your success which is motivating. Second, because it helps your coach see your progress and be able to make changes to improve your fitness. Third, when you fall off the wagon it is a good reminder of how much you have done and this can make getting back into action easier.

Do you have a fitness plan?

What would you like to achieve, this year, or in this lifetime?

I have one goal. I want to be more than just fit after fifty… but really fit. I have about 20 weeks to make a plan and act on it. I’ll be posting my progress on my website, which takes care of being accountable, consistent and tracking my progress. Stay tuned.

I want to be able to keep up, some of the fittest people in this town are older than me and it is inspiring and motivating. People like Andres Ambuehl, Ernst Salzgeber, are local inspirations, but equally is  Kay Glynn, or Daphne Belt, the British athlete who celebrated her 75th birthday by doing 75 triathlons in the 75 days leading up to her birthday. Did I mention that at 50 Daphne was overweight and out of shape? 

What about you? This week I want to know, what would you like to change about your fitness?

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla