Taking your Olympic aspirations off the couch
Photo
Rachel Trainor and Julie Clark, radiology employees at Mercy Hospital in Janesville, go for a walk near the front entrance. Taking advantage of a break at work is one way to ensure you get some exercise.
Photo
June and Leonard Loertscher of Janesville have been married for 60 years and find time to ride the bike trail near Palmer Park every day. Fitting exercise into your daily routine is important to good health.
JANESVILLE — It’s too hot.
You don’t have time.
You don’t have the money.
When it comes to exercising, finding an excuse can be easy.
But maybe you’ve found inspiration from record-setting performances by Olympic athletes over the past few days. Take that and run with it.
The Olympics have been shown on three of the TVs at the Evansville Health Club. Owner Justin Schott said it’s been the topic of conversation as members say how impressed they are with how athletes push themselves to overcome seemingly impossible odds.
“It absolutely is a motivating factor,” he said.
So maybe you’re not after a world record or a gold medal. But area personal trainers say the key to exercising is setting a goal, scheduling it into your routine and finding the motivation that works for you. Here’s how:
-- Know your goals.
Someone just starting out should try exercising two to three days a week, said Lyla Fell, personal trainer at Riverfront Athletic Club.
Don’t overdo it. Start with 20 minutes of cardio on a treadmill, bicycle or elliptical machine. Don’t forget strength training, which is important as we age and lose muscle.
“Then of course, find something (you) would enjoy,” Fell said.
Schott always tells members “the best workout is the one that you will do.”
-- Schedule time.
“You’ve just got to make a schedule,” Fell said.
Mark it on the calendar just like you would for a doctor’s appointment.
“If you don’t schedule it in, you’re not going to do it,” she said.
For Fell, early morning is the best.
“Get it done, out of the way, so you don’t have to keep thinking about it,” she said.
With today’s busy lifestyles, the biggest excuse often is no time, Fell and Schott said.
Latest studies show it’s important to get the exercise in whenever you can—whether it’s 10-minute segments three times a day or 30 minutes altogether, Fell said.
“It’s just getting it,” she said.
Take tennis shoes to work for a walk over lunch. Or go for a jog around the baseball diamond while at your child’s game.
Whatever you do, make the best use of your time, Schott said. If you have only 20 minutes, make it intense so you get the absolute most benefit, he said.
-- Get out the door.
“Sitting around thinking about it—everybody talks themselves out of it,” Fell said.
Nike has the best slogan, she said: “Just do it.”
Aug 22, 2008 at 6:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
They steer clear of the Milwaukee st. area and bike around Palmer park so they can cross with lights. Great job June & Leonard!
Aug 22, 2008 at 6:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
I hope I'm on a bike at the age of 80! That's awesome. I'm surprised they lived this long, growing up with no tunnels and such...How'd they do it??????
Aug 22, 2008 at 5:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weig...
Aug 22, 2008 at 2:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
hannah, they may have dedicated their golden years to reading all the Great Books, very time consuming.
Aug 22, 2008 at 2:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
i am talking about the comment "finding time" that seemed funny for the two not that theyre 80 and it would be difficult
Aug 22, 2008 at 1:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
Sage advice, biggirl. I'm lucky to be a born ectomorph but I exercise regularly for cardio-vascular fitness. The main thing: no matter what your weight and body type -GET MOVIN'!!!
Aug 22, 2008 at 12:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
hannah - When you reach 80, let me know how much energy you have for riding a bike! I'm sure June and Leonard worked harder in their prime of life than most of us will in our prime.
Aug 22, 2008 at 12:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
The point isn't how the article is worded - whether they have to find time or have an abundance of it they are doing something good for themselves. And working 60 hours a week doesn't mean finding time to exercise is difficult - it's finding the motivation that is the hard part!
Aug 22, 2008 at 11:50 a.m.
Suggest removal
june and leonard"find time" thats is funny like they dont have the time. I bet theyre retired who doent have time tthen!!! do they work 60 hours a week at age 80. I doubt it.
Aug 22, 2008 at 11:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
To happycamper: Recent studies, many of them covered by the NYT, demonstrate that thin does not equal healthy, nor does fat equal unhealthy. Although many people mean well, one of the biggest impediments to exercise and healthy eating is the false belief that only weight loss matters. It leads to ostracization of fat, to no exercise programs for the fat, to people putting off exercise until that elusive day they will lose weight. People should get moving now, no matter what their weight, and they should believe that exercise is good in and of itself. Then, no matter what their weight, they will continue to exercise. Advertisements like those for the Janesville Athletic Club that talk about extraordinary weight loss only encourage people to stay inert and to believe that it isn't worth it until they live up to the biggest loser. Of course, studies have also shown that a daily constitutional -- a one mile walk -- is very good for your health. My grandparents did this, and not only were healthy, but had time in which they could talk to themselves with no distractions.
Aug 22, 2008 at 10:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
http://www.monkeybargym.com/, to begin follow the "weight loss" plan, proceed from there. Good luck.
Aug 22, 2008 at 9:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
A fitness plan starts with a singl step. Use the Ice Age trail but, look both ways before crossing Milwaukee street, or your goals could be run over by a speeding vehicle.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.