Leave the Circus to Britney Spears

I am pushing sixty. That is enough exercise for me. Mark Twain

Alisa Daglio Body Makeover Expert

Many people in the gym push weights around use body parts that never should apply to the exercise they are attempting to perform. I applaud every effort made in the gym but wince when I see people wasting their time. If I had a dime for every man I saw working his shoulders on a chest press I could probably purchase an oceanfront estate in Costa Rica.  Even more disheartening is when people mistakenly believe that fitness training alone will provide them with their dream body.  These are the people who exercise constantly (spinning, hiking, swimming, aerobics etc.) and are devastated when they do not lose weight. Although they may get stronger, most of these individuals will not be successful in reshaping their physique.  There will be a genetically gifted few who can look amazing no matter what they do, but the truth is, this is not most of us.

 Fitness (having good health or physical condition) does not necessarily equate to looking the way that you would like to look.  Conversely, achieving your desired physical aesthetic can be very different from being fit.  Can you have both?  The answer is yes! You do not have to give up your favorite fitness sport, but you do need to make time for weight training, proper nutrition, and fat burning cardio.  Never count on a trainer for your weight loss.  The most important key component in changing your body is consuming a proper diet.  Your trainer can help teach you the exercises that you need in order to successfully reshape your physique but proper nutrition and cardio are 85% of looking good.

When I was training myself for the WPFL (Women's Professional Football League) I threw aesthetics out the window and went straight to explosive power moves that caused my legs to grow.  I knew that merely weight training would result in a body that was all show and no go on the field.  Ultimately my pants didn't fit but I attained the power I was looking for.  When I competed in the Miss Pacific Beach Pageant, I realized that my body had to be tight, long, and lean.  I trained myself with light weights and high repetitions coupled with a clean diet and fat burning treadmill work.  Each time my life called for a change, I altered my training style to suit my goal.  The same principle should apply to you.

When approaching any exercise, ask yourself if that exercise is congruent with your objective.  Use common sense and be realistic about it.  Are you balancing on top of a ball and hoping for a better body?  Leave the circus to Britney Spears.  If you really think about it, you already know that this big top act will not leave you looking like a supermodel.  The training methods that you select should be in alignment with your goals.  It is always fun to try out the latest fad in exercise but do not be disappointed when it does not yield the body results you are seeking.  Ask yourself what your first priority is.  Is it having more energy, looking great, excelling in a certain sport, or something else? Once you decide, you can expedite your results by spending more time on exercises and lifestyle changes that work for you and less on ones that don't.  Aspire to have a specific purpose in mind, be selective with your activities, and make the move forward to a better you!