Planning Fitness Resolutions

17 November 2010 77 views No Comment

New year, new you!

BY: Chris Penrose

When January 1st rolls around, many of us yet again resolve to get fit for the New Year. However, failed past attempts at this annual goal seem to foreshadow another year of disappointment.

Well here’s a resolution: 2011 will be different!

Sway sat down with Rohan Francis, a personal trainer and the reigning Mr. Caribbean Canada, to discuss healthy living, exercise and how to be real with your New Year’s resolutions.

“The first thing is to have realistic expectations,” says Francis, as he prepares for a workout with a high-profile client. “The people who fail at this are consistent for, say, a month, then life gets a little bit hectic and they stop exercising, and they stop eating well. From there, they don’t feel good about themselves and they give up.”

Francis, who works with some of Toronto’s busiest executives, points out that the determination to continue with a healthy lifestyle is what separates failure from success.

“The biggest thing with people who do succeed is consistency,” he says. “They are consistent in being physically active and they are consistent in eating reasonably well in spite of whatever is going on in their lives.”

And what is the key to being consistent? Francis suggests creating a plan that works with the demands on your time and lifestyle.

“When you have too much on your plate, and getting in physical activity and healthy eating becomes stressful, those are often the things that get cut first from your schedule. What I believe is that every single person can be fit and look better as long as they are willing to do the work that is required.”

For those who have been unsuccessful in past attempts to lose weight, Francis suggests a change of perspective.

“Remember, looking good and feeling better is a marathon, not a sprint. Find an approach that matches your circumstance so that it is something that you can maintain over the long term.”

Rohan Francis is the principal trainer at Quest Personal Training. Visit: questfitness.ca or email [email protected]

Mr. Carribean Canada’s tips to achieving a new you

SELF KNOWLEDGE IS THE ONLY KNOWLEDGE: “Know your resources and get professional help (personal trainer, nutritionist, etc). If you could do it on your own, you already would have.”

KEEP IT REAL: “Set realistic goals that are written down. Underline the words ‘written down.’”

KNOW WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR: “Get a picture of what you want to look like. A picture yields motivation because it gives you something tangible to aspire to.”