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Getting Healthy In The New Year

The New Year is an opportunity to start over or set a course for meeting a goal or life aspiration. For many of us, it means getting healthier and we’re considering working out or joining a gym. Women often want to get healthier, lose weight, or tone their bodies while men want to get a six pack, gain mass, or increase strength. While we have different reasons for going to the gym, the bottom line is that we all want results.

We spoke to Amanda Haas and Ted Quinn, personal trainers at Globe Gym, to ask them about myths and truths of working out, getting healthy, and working with a trainer.

“Exercise is one of the best medicines for everything,” says Haas, “We all need movement. Having a personal trainer helps you progress in a way that is healthy for your body. We teach you the why and how of working out and empower you to work out on your own.”

Quinn adds, “Exercise is increases mobility, energy levels, and core strength. You instill a feeling of confidence in your body. You can stand up from a sitting position; you don’t want to age and not be able to move anymore.”

Fighting the American epidemic of obesity is Quinn’s passion and, through Globe Gym, he offers programs for children and a weight loss camp for adults.

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Gina (left) has been working with Amanda (right) for several months now. Here they work on strength training.

Haas is passionate about helping women, “I love seeing them empowered and the confidence they get. I love when they can come into the gym and do a workout on their own.”

Women often think working out will cause them to bulk up rather than tone their muscle. The truth, according to Haas is that as women we often think we can eat whatever we want if we are working out.

“When you’re eating whatever you want and working out, you’re actually creating fat on top of muscle, whether you’re a man or a woman, and not bulk,” says Haas.

If we change the way we eat, we can change our body composition. A healthy balance of fat, carbohydrates, and protein, and a consistent workout plan are keys to meeting your personal health goals.

While that is true that you will lose weight while sticking to a rigid diet, that plan doesn’t allow for real-life situations like dining out or parties with friends and family.

The key is to allow yourself a cheat day. Quinn suggests focusing on your workout and meal plan for two weeks and then allowing yourself to celebrate with a cheat day. He warns that the less healthy food could cause you to feel sick, making it even more enticing to go back to your healthy ways.

“It’s a mindset shift. We’re all going to cheat on our diets but we don’t have to feel guilty. I want the ladies I train to be good to themselves and make healthy choices. I don’t want them to be stuck in the cycle of dieting, cheating, and feeling guilty,” says Haas.

Eating healthy also doesn’t mean giving up your favorite meals. While you can allow for cheat meals, you can also alter your dishes to accommodate your new healthy lifestyle. Hormone-free meat and chicken, lean cuts of meat, brown rice, and dark leafy vegetables are healthy alternatives.

“It’s not about making pretty people. It’s about making healthy people,” says Quinn.

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Writer, Anne McAuley and trainer, Ted Quinn at Vida E Cafe where they talked about starting the year out healthy.

He suggests planning your meals a week in advance to avoid fast or processed food choices when you’re hungry and on the go.

We’re all busy with work and family obligations. The biggest gift you can give yourself is to get healthy. Make and stick to your commitment to yourself – and if you choose to hire a trainer, the commitment you made to your trainer. Haas works three part-time jobs and says that if she has time to work out, anyone does.

Use a calendar to schedule time for workouts whether it’s a yoga DVD at home, a workout class, or a session with a trainer. Once you’re in the habit of working out, it becomes easier.

“Consistency is key. If you’re not consistent, you won’t see changes. I like to weigh, measure, and take pictures so my clients can see the changes in their bodies over time. And sometimes those changes are in inches or clothing size and not on the scale,” says Haas.

Often we think hiring a personal trainer is expensive but it’s not as expensive as you might think.

“You don’t have to be a member to take classes at Globe Gym. You can take your first class for free. It costs nothing to walk the track,” says Quinn, “There are no more excuses. The internet provides workout videos and guides that complement what I teach you in a few sessions at the gym.”

Quinn and Haas agree that three meals a day, snacks, and consistent exercise are key to a healthy lifestyle, no matter your goals.

The most important meal of the day is breakfast. It sets your metabolism and if you’re skipping breakfast, your body goes into starvation mode and stores fat. It thinks you aren’t going to feed it again and calories are stored rather than burnt. Quinn says oatmeal and protein like protein powder or eggs makes for a healthy start to any day.

Whether you’re working with a trainer or not, it’s helpful to have an accountability partner, someone who will support you in your efforts. Ideally they are eating healthy and working out right alongside you and you’re both on a path to a healthier life.

The choice to get healthy is up to you. No one can force you to go to the gym or make healthier food choices. You have to be ready. And remember, if you fall of the wagon, you can always climb right back on. It’s up to you.

If you’re ready to get started creating a healthier you in 2015, Ted Quinn, Amanda Haas, and the rest of the team at Globe Gym are ready to help you!

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About Anne McAuley

Anne McAuley is a Mesa based freelance writer and owner of McAuley Freelance Writing where she is a copywriter and blogger for businesses. She believes that words matter. What you say and how you say it is the difference between landing a deal and losing a customer. When she’s not crafting content for her clients, Anne is spending time with friends and family. She can be reached at anne@mcauleyfreelancewriting.com or via her website www.annemcauley.com.

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