Training 101 - Welcome to NOW Training Tips
Since the mid-1980s, forward technology and automation have become an increasingly larger part of our daily lives in the United States. Recent statistics show the effects this has had on public health as today roughly 33% of our adult population is obese (35% body fat) and an alarming 16% of teenagers are considered overweight (25% body fat).
On top of that, our activity levels continue to decline as free time is spent on things like television and the Internet rather than outdoor physical activities. With budgets tightening, after-school sports and physical education programs continuing to be cut from schools, physical activity has decreased in our youth as well. Additionally non sports-related injuries (ACL tears are in the 80-100,000 per year range), lower back pain and chronic disease (cardiovascular disease, arthritis & diabetes) have all been on the rise.
Our "pill for every ill" mentality has increasing amounts of our population taking medications for conditions that can be alleviated by exercise. It has been proven that the risk of disorders and chronic diseases such as obesity, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and stroke can all be reduced by physical activity. It is no wonder we are in the state we're in when 54% of US adults do not get the recommended weekly minimum exercise (30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days).
We have all heard the phrase "think outside the box," yet consider how much of our lives are spent in one. We travel to work in a box (car), work in a box (office or cube), focus on a box (computer), eat out of a box (fast food), return home in a box (car), sit in front of a box (TV) and finally sleep in our box (house or apartment)! So in terms of your health, "getting outside of the box" can be a challenge.
The two biggest goals new clients come to me with are:
- I want to lose weight (decrease body fat).
- I want to be more fit.
My first two responses are always the same:
- What have you been putting into your body?
- What type of activity have you been doing?
After an assessment, I explain the changes needed to make to achieve their goals yet so many are resistant and don't want to change what they have been doing.
Albert Einstein once said, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."
So how do you enact the change that you want without being willing to change the things that got you to where you are in the first place? You can't.
Whether you are an adventurer, athlete, or simply want to be healthier, you have to want to be the change that you hope to achieve. Thinking you can somehow transform yourself without changing your routine and habits are akin to expecting to get fit by watching someone else exercise. It's not going to happen.
To make a change you first need to identify what that change is - your goal. Once you have your goal the next step is to build a plan to get you from here to there. The most important thing to remember is that it all starts with you. The best-laid plan will only be successful if you are willing to follow it. But following it takes a commitment to change.
It sounds so simple, huh. Interested? Well just stick with me and I'll show you how.
Enjoy The Ride!
About Derin Stockton
Born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, Derin grew up riding bicycles and racing competitively. At the age of 20 Derin went pro and was offered a spot on the Dutch professional cycling team TVM/Rango. Competing successfully both abroad and stateside, Derin progressed from road cycling to downhill BMX where he continued making a mark with his cycling career. After 19 straight seasons of racing Derin left the competition world to pursue designing and development of mountain bike tires and to help other athletes achieve their goals as a motocross and personal trainer.