As published in A Peek at the Peak magazine, March 2012
By Marilyn Schletzer
It took Goldilocks a few tries to get settled into the three bears’ place, and it may take you a little time to find just the right balance in your fitness routine too. But don’t despair. If you’ll listen to your body — really LISTEN — it will tell you what it needs. For example, have you ever embarked on a new exercise regime with no holds barred, all systems firing, and a “do not get in my way!” attitude? Let me guess. You lasted about three weeks before you were either injured or so exhausted that you just couldn’t continue. And how many times have you started a new program “next Monday,” but when you didn’t see the results you wanted within two weeks, you tossed out the whole idea and sat back down on the sofa. In both cases, your body simply wasn’t able to adjust to what you had in mind.
When beginning a new fitness regimen, be sure to set goals — reasonable and achievable goals — and then give yourself a realistic amount of time in which to meet those goals. Trying to lose ten pounds? You’re probably going to need at least 8-12 weeks, and starting out harder and faster isn’t going to get you there any sooner. By the same token, if you come out of the starting gate too cautiously and slowly, you may very well get bored with the whole thing long before you begin to see results. Reevaluate your body and your exercise program every twelve weeks so you can set new goals. You’ll be ready for them and so will your body. If you don’t seem to be losing any weight, kick things up a notch. If your routine leaves you feeling like a puddle and unable to even lift your arms over your head for the rest of the day, you may be overdoing it. Reduce your exercise days by one per week, or walk a slightly shorter distance, or use smaller dumbbells for a while. Then listen to your body for the next couple of weeks to be sure you adjusted correctly.
It may take a little time to get it just right, but establishing and maintaining the right fitness program will enable you to make exercise a part of your lifestyle forever. And that’s . . . just right!
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