Thursday, February 17, 2011

COPING WITH FITNESS SEASONS

Do you have the winter blahs?

Fitness, like most things in life, has its seasons. There are seasons where you can aggressively pursue fitness. And you love it. You're in the honeymoon stage, spring.

There's the summer season, when you realize it's hot. In other words, it's not always easy or comfortable to fit in fitness, but you do it anyway because it's still fun and always worth it. You definitely see progress.

But then there are our fall seasons... Sometimes we have less time to devote to our workout and we see our progress slow.

And sometimes, just sometimes, it all stops. Is there any beauty in a fitness winter?

As a personal trainer, even I struggle with fitness winters. I accept this season as a part of the cycle. Sometimes it's an injury and a vacation, a plateau or a lack of drive.

How about you? Have you ever experienced a fitness winter?

Now, this is not a post for the couch potato. This is a post for those who have been working out regularly. This is for those who've experienced recently a fitness spring and summer, wondering why they've lost their drive or how they can wait out an injury.

Many get down on themselves in a fitness winter. And many give up. Those people get stuck in a perpetual fitness winter. Just as seasonal affect disorder (SAD) takes its toll during a dark, cold winter, a fitness winter that lasts too long will take its toll too.

Here's a thought. Instead of feeling guilty about a fitness winter, take the time to enjoy the break. Take inventory of what's going on inside of you, physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually... Maybe you need to sit and rest for a while. Surround yourself with thoughts of a fitness spring, but enjoy the moment. Have a good attitude about rest and recover and winter passes quickly. You'll start to hear the birds singing and a new season springs forth. Regression is reversed.

Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) and Exercise

SAD is a sympathetic response to our environment, says Rich Maloof for MSN Health & Fitness. In fact, he goes on to say that we experience mood and physiological changes each season--spring fever, summer insomnia... It makes sense.

But what's one way to keep centered during the fluctuations of seasons? You guessed it--EXERCISE!

So, if all this gray weather and dirty snow is getting you down, get out, go in--wherever--and exercise.

Not all of us can afford a trip to sunny Hawaii, but we can take a brisk walk, turn on the tunes and jump around. You can lunge around the kitchen table--all these things are free. Exercise will boost your energy, shed some stress and bring back that vitality we love about spring and summer. TRY IT!

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Looking for group fitness opportunities? Come join me, Boualem Aggoune, CPT (W.I.T.S) and many other fitness enthusiasts. We have tons of fun in our fitness classes.

BODY SCULPTING KICKBOXING classes are held Monday through Saturday at Muskegon Height's Karate Academy, 32 E. Broadway.

MORNINGS
Mon/Wed/Fri at 10:30 to 11:30 am
Tues/Thurs at 9:00 to 10:00 am
Sat at 9:00 am

AFTERNOONS
Mon through Thurs at 4:30 to 5:30 pm

Want a dose of fresh air, Vitamin D and some good old-fashioned exercise?

OUTDOOR FITNESS CLASSES are held every Saturday at Lake Harbor Park, Norton Shores.

Saturday at 10:30 to 11:30 am

*For more information on rates, send me a message on Facebook (Boualem Aggoune), e-mail us or call us at (231) 773-8926.