When Fitness is a Lifestyle

The focus of my last newsletters has been about nutrition. This month I would like to emphasize the importance of a wellness assessment.

Regular Tune-up

Imagine if you will, that you have a beautiful car that you have not taken great care of. It’s getting up there in miles, the tires are getting a little bald (like me) and the engine is not running as efficient as it once did. There is hope for this car, because you cannot trade it in for a new one. You will own this car your entire life.

You take your car into the shop for a tune-up. Since you are a trusting person, you tell the mechanic to just work on whatever, but not to do any diagnostic work. You tell the mechanic you want him to guess what needs work, and then fix it like new. Because every car is the same, you can buy a magazine or book and they will tell you how to fix every car the same way, right? This is where an assessment is so important. How can any magazine, book or trainer know what to do with your workout without evaluating where you are at?

Assessment Components

An assessment gives you and I a baseline of where are we starting at. After we have worked together, you will have proof that all your hard work is paying off. Without it, you are left to wonder. I know nobody wants a workout or a trainer, they want results. Right? So, in order for you to reach your goals more efficiently, we need to look at what are your strengths and what needs attention. The assessment has 8 components that are important.

Medical History

We look at your health and medical history as well as family history to see if you may be at risk for heart disease and/or diabetes (if you are, we can catch it early). This is a MUST, anyone that does not require this basic information cannot call themselves a professional.

Goal Setting

I look at what you have done in the past, and we map out where you will take yourself next. Think of the saying “fail to plan, plan to fail”.

Body Composition

The scale is not a good indicator of progress. When you lose body fat and gain muscle, the scale will not reflect those changes. I do a 7-site skin fold test, and with that information we know how many pounds of muscle and how many pounds fat you have.

Cardiovascular Health

The way your body utilizes oxygen is a good indicator of cardiovascular fitness. In my office, you will take a test on a bike that helps determine how efficient your heart and lungs are performing based on your size.

Muscular Endurance

How many times a muscle can contract without fatigue is defined as muscular endurance. We do a modified stomach crunch test to gain these specific results.

Muscular Strength

The maximum amount of power one time is defined as muscular strength. No, you will not do a maximum bench press test. Just a simple hand grip test will suffice.

Flexibility

The range of motion that a joint has is defined as flexibility. A simple sit and reach test is performed to gage your flexibility. This test is designed for your lower back and hamstrings.

Body Circumference

Measurements are important. Most people do not understand that body fat will disappear from many different areas, not just one or two areas of the body.

Custom Programs for Custom Bodies

So, whether you are 18 or 80, you need to get the baseline information done. Just as a mechanic cannot fix your car without first diagnosing what needs to be done. I do not feel that one exercise program fits all. I could make more money just photocopying exercise programs for people without doing a comprehensive assessment first. However, that is not why I am in this business, nor is it the kind of person I am.

You will work smarter not harder. Sure, my way of doing things may not be the easiest at first. You can ask any of the hundreds of people that I have helped and they will say, “Brian does not do things that he does not believe in”.

I have always offered a 100% money back guarantee. By doing things right the first time, you will not fail. You may have tried cookie cutter exercise programs, gimmick exercise products, and countless diets and supplements.

I have asked people if they were to obtain a million dollar race horse how they would treat it. Almost everyone says they would feed it only the finest grains and make sure the horse gets plenty of exercise. When I ask how they are taking care of themselves the answer is “well not that good”. When you are ready for a permanent healthy change in your life, let me be the vehicle to help get you there.