Get Fit

At the beginning of every year, countless Arkansans make resolutions to lose weight, and a few succeed… initially. All too often, those trying to drop a few pounds take on excessively restrictive diets to achieve their desired weight. Slowly though, the constant feeling of deprivation begins to be too much, and old habits creep back in. As a result, nearly 65% of those who lose weight regain all they lost within three years.

Nothing is worse than stepping on the scale after another week of eating healthy and exercising only to see the same number as the week before. This may last for days or weeks and your weight may not budge, which can make all your hard work seem like a waste of time. This is known as a weight-loss plateau.

Have you ever thought about how some people achieve greatness? Growing up, I loved the Chicago Bulls, especially Michael Jordan. Even though I am not a huge basketball fan, Michael Jordan’s incredible leaping ability and defensive play made it exciting. Michael Jordan is listed on the NBA website as the greatest basketball player of all time, but did you know that Michael Jordan did not make his high school varsity basketball team the first time he tried out? Rather than giving up or devoting his efforts to another sport, he was motivated to prove his worth. 

When I was on the cross-country team in college, there was one workout the whole team dreaded – “hill work”. Our coach would find the largest hill in the city (We were convinced it was the largest hill in the world!) and have us trudge up and race down repeatedly. I remember the climb was arduous. I was tempted many times to stop and walk, but my stubborn pride kept my legs moving. My team members who did stop (usually after the fifth or sixth repetition) had a look of defeat on their face. They were disappointed in themselves and, of course, the coach was disappointed too, as evidenced by much yelling.

There’s no such thing as a wasted workout.  Any amount or type of exercise is a step forward.  The question becomes, is your level of exercise matching up with your goals?  If your goal is simply health improvement and to help prevent chronic diseases, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends adults 18-64 exercise…