Guest guest Posted December 11, 2001 Report Share Posted December 11, 2001 Sadly, there's nothing new here. Estimates of the number of Americans who exercise often enough to achieve physiological benefits range from 15 to 20 percent. The percentage who get no exercise at all is thought to be around 30 percent, and everyone else gets some exercise but not enough to achieve improvements in strength or cardiovascular fitness. I sort of agree with Dr. about how the structure of exercise is so unappealing to so many. I've often joked that the ideal exercise class for men is structured like a football practice--you do some calisthenics, some agility drills, run some pass patterns. The idea is that you move in all planes at all speeds, but barely notice that you're exercising because you're having fun. I saw a study a few years ago on adherence among two groups of middle-aged women. (Sorry, I don't have the reference.) One group did traditional, structured gym exercise, and the other played basketball. The basketball group stuck with it longer and got better results in whatever areas the researchers measured. I think people like us are part of the problem, in that we tend to look so hard for the quantifiable benefits of exercise that we make it seem too codified--if someone isn't doing it exactly this way (sets, reps, heart rate, duration), they aren't doing it right. On the other hand, we're part of the solution when we show people who are trying but failing how to get the results they want. I work at a magazine, so I get to hear from these people on a regular basis. That's gratifying, but I sure wish we could have a few million more success stories to revel in. Obesity is the great ticking time bomb in the American health-care system. With the percentage of the population considered obese now at about 22 percent, it's just a matter of time before we're faced with a cascade of new cases of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. It's already started (in the 1990s, diabetes increased 70 percent among people in their 30s), but articles I've read suggest that what we've seen so far is nothing compared to what we will see. It seems to me we can help the ones who are willing to try exercise. But I can't for the life of me see what we can do for the people who aren't even willing to try, other than help pay their medical bills. Lou Schuler town, PA, USA Fitness Drop-Outs All to often do we focus on the science of strength or endurance training, the 'secrets' of the gurus and the Russians, the " best " ways of training, the superiority of " functional " training and so forth, but the bottom line is spelled out by the realities painted by stories such as the one below. These stories concern the fact that most people find it easier to quite than exercise, to rely more on training toys and fads than real science or elite training methods, to become more sedentary than regularly active, to offer more excuses than reasons. Read the following article and offer your suggestions on how to improve the current fitness situation. Why is the vast majority of Western folk so lacking in long-term commitment to lifestyle goals? Why do they need so many toys, fads, training myths and fitness cults to last even a brief fitness interlude of a year at the most? Is this yet another symptom of lack of discipline, commitment and motivation in all walks of life? ------------------------------- Study: Exercise Is Hard to Stick With By IRA DREYFUSS Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - For most new exercisers, it's easier to quit than to get fit. Keeping the will to stick with a program can be the hardest exercise. " Most people who adopt exercise will quit within a short time - 50 percent within 6 to 8 weeks, another 25 percent by the end of the year,'' said sports psychologist F. of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. " We must be doing something wrong,'' said. How to set things right vexes researchers as well as workers in the exercise training field. Their responses include changing the nature of exercise, changing its structure and changing the way exercisers think about what they want to do. focuses on changing the nature. The current approach - health clubs, weight training, running and the like - doesn't motivate people because it's artificial, he said. " The reason for the dropouts in these programs is that exercisers have been employing nonpurposeful physical activity - riding bicycles to nowhere, running treadmills to nowhere,'' said. What people need is not exercise programs but physical activity that is part of their daily lives and has purpose, said. ``If you want to buy an exercise machine, go to the local dog pound and adopt a dog,'' he said. " That's one of the best exercise machines you can find. They have to go on their daily walk.'' Similarly, people who walk so they can go to work will get their healthful activity even though they may not think of it as exercise, said. Some people can stick with conventional exercise programs, but they have managed to make the workouts an important part of their personal identity, said. " A daily jog might become ritualized to where it has deep meaning for you as an individual - but most people quit long before that,'' he said. Conventional exercise also can be purposeful, said researcher Rod K. Dishman of the University of Georgia. Exercising to lose weight, avoid weakening of the bones or add a bit to a person's lifespan can impart lots of personal meaning, he said. The problem is to overcome the initial tedium and discomfort, to get to the point where the benefits kick in, and a good way to do this is to minimize discomfort and accentuate enjoyment of the activity, Dishman said. He advises people to find an activity they like, do it with a person they like, and keep doing it regularly until it becomes a habit. Getting support from the community can provide the personal meaning that translates to motivation, said Dr. Jon L. Schriner, who is trying to build such support in Flint, Mich. Schriner is medical director of the Crim Festival of Races, a series of events that range from a one-mile fun walk to an internationally competitive 10-mile race. The Crim tries to make even beginners see themselves as members of a group that runs, Schriner said. " Training for the Crim goes on all year long,'' he said. ``We have classes. We bring in a sports psychologist. We talk to them about buying shoes, equipment, how they should be running. And we socialize.'' Beginning exercisers will be less likely to drop out if they think they will lose standing in their group, Schriner said. " The group method has worked for us much more strongly than the individual method,'' he said. " If you take an individual, and he is going to motivate himself, he has to have a lot of goals - and most of the time, they are pie-in-the-sky ideas,'' Schriner said. Personal trainers make their livings from those individuals, so they look for ways to keep beginners motivated. Fitness consultant Ball wrote about it in the November-December issue of IDEA Personal trainer, a publication of IDEA Health and Fitness Assocation, a fitness professionals group. Trainers must help exercisers keep their goals positive and in line with reality, Ball advised. Instead of " I'm never going to lose weight,'' the exerciser should be encouraged to think, " I will eventually lose weight, it just may take more time and work,'' he said. Trainers also must help exercisers to build confidence, by targeting small but achievable increases and discouraging lofty goals that will be tough to achieve, Ball wrote. Exercisers also can talk themselves into success if they are guided away from focusing on their failures, the article said. ----------------------- Dr Mel C Siff Denver, USA Supertraining/ Modify or cancel your subscription here: mygroups Don't forget to sign all letters with full name and city of residence if you wish them to be published! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2001 Report Share Posted December 11, 2001 Dear Lou and Mel - I wonder if that drop out rate applies to those attending aerobics classes - or more the solo weight trainer? I found when I was training for changing my health, before becoming a powerlifter, that I was the rare person who went to the gym regularly by myself, with only an every other month check in with a person to change up my program - I went that way for a year and a half by myself, then shifted to powerlifting and found a coach to start the sport. yet my massage clients tell me that part of the basic problem is getting to the gym....motivation. Perhaps the basketball GROUP in the study used the social aspects to succeed - did the weight training people train TOGETHER - same time, same routines, at the same time, giving each other encouragement? or were they given the same routine, but told to perform it by themselves? Is the drop out rate less among those who establish a routine of attending X spinning class, or X aerobics class? is it the solo nature, that sole reliance, when you have no training partner to meet up with, of weight training, that causes the drop out rate? Lou's ideal male workout of a football workout sounds like it's based on the group activity...not the solo self reliant way of those who weight train. Perhaps it's based in group psych? Support of the group around you, the pressure to make an appearance regardless of personal obstacles, rather than being your own resource for encouragement? Perhaps that is a good reason for hiring a personal trainer, if you are not having success in sticking wiht a program? I agree that for most people, fitness can be incorporated into daily activities, dog walking or pushing kids around, biking, etc. But I also think that for correction of " fatness " there is also an unfortunate tendency to want it " today " and from a bottle, not from exertion - the perception that people get fit QUICKLY and then are disappointed when it doesn't happen to them....the unreal expectations advertised by many clubs of fitness - washboard abs, for example... I don't think the average person has that type of dedication and willpower to achieve what is promised, by the advertising. There's the rush at new year's to make resolutions, and they generally don't make it beyond the 2nd week of february, based on my watching of the influx of eager new people with their new shoes and their shiny new hopes....they happen every year, and quit, most of them, every year. I also think gyms COUNT on people joining, and then not using the membership...it is the turnover rate I'm told that pays for those of us who DO stay and use the facility.... Anyway, those are my comments on the subject. I think people fail to set good goals, find support/resources that fit their needs and personality, motivation from within or other sources, and a reasonable expectation at the outset that this is for LIFE, not just for a bikini or midriff baring episode just a short 3 weeks away..... The Phantom aka Schaefer, CMT, CSCS, competing powerlifter Denver, Colorado, USA Fitness Drop-Outs > > >All to often do we focus on the science of strength or endurance training, >the 'secrets' of the gurus and the Russians, the " best " ways of training, >the >superiority of " functional " training and so forth, but the bottom line is >spelled out by the realities painted by stories such as the one below. >These >stories concern the fact that most people find it easier to quite than >exercise, to rely more on training toys and fads than real science or elite >training methods, to become more sedentary than regularly active, to offer >more excuses than reasons. > >Read the following article and offer your suggestions on how to improve the >current fitness situation. Why is the vast majority of Western folk so >lacking in long-term commitment to lifestyle goals? Why do they need so >many >toys, fads, training myths and fitness cults to last even a brief fitness >interlude of a year at the most? Is this yet another symptom of lack of >discipline, commitment and motivation in all walks of life? > >------------------------------- > >Study: Exercise Is Hard to Stick With > >By IRA DREYFUSS >Associated Press > > >WASHINGTON (AP) - For most new exercisers, it's easier to quit than to get >fit. Keeping the will to stick with a program can be the hardest exercise. > > " Most people who adopt exercise will quit within a short time - 50 percent >within 6 to 8 weeks, another 25 percent by the end of the year,'' said >sports >psychologist F. of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. > > " We must be doing something wrong,'' said. > >How to set things right vexes researchers as well as workers in the exercise > >training field. Their responses include changing the nature of exercise, >changing its structure and changing the way exercisers think about what they > >want to do. > > focuses on changing the nature. The current approach - health clubs, >weight training, running and the like - doesn't motivate people because it's > >artificial, he said. > > " The reason for the dropouts in these programs is that exercisers have been >employing nonpurposeful physical activity - riding bicycles to nowhere, >running treadmills to nowhere,'' said. > >What people need is not exercise programs but physical activity that is part > >of their daily lives and has purpose, said. ``If you want to buy an >exercise machine, go to the local dog pound and adopt a dog,'' he said. > " That's one of the best exercise machines you can find. They have to go on >their daily walk.'' > >Similarly, people who walk so they can go to work will get their healthful >activity even though they may not think of it as exercise, said. > >Some people can stick with conventional exercise programs, but they have >managed to make the workouts an important part of their personal identity, > said. " A daily jog might become ritualized to where it has deep >meaning for you as an individual - but most people quit long before that,'' >he said. > >Conventional exercise also can be purposeful, said researcher Rod K. Dishman > >of the University of Georgia. Exercising to lose weight, avoid weakening of >the bones or add a bit to a person's lifespan can impart lots of personal >meaning, he said. > >The problem is to overcome the initial tedium and discomfort, to get to the >point where the benefits kick in, and a good way to do this is to minimize >discomfort and accentuate enjoyment of the activity, Dishman said. He >advises >people to find an activity they like, do it with a person they like, and >keep >doing it regularly until it becomes a habit. > >Getting support from the community can provide the personal meaning that >translates to motivation, said Dr. Jon L. Schriner, who is trying to build >such support in Flint, Mich. > >Schriner is medical director of the Crim Festival of Races, a series of >events > that range from a one-mile fun walk to an internationally competitive >10-mile > race. > >The Crim tries to make even beginners see themselves as members of a group >that runs, Schriner said. > > " Training for the Crim goes on all year long,'' he said. ``We have classes. >We bring in a sports psychologist. We talk to them about buying shoes, >equipment, how they should be running. And we socialize.'' > >Beginning exercisers will be less likely to drop out if they think they will > >lose standing in their group, Schriner said. " The group method has worked >for >us much more strongly than the individual method,'' he said. > > " If you take an individual, and he is going to motivate himself, he has to >have a lot of goals - and most of the time, they are pie-in-the-sky ideas,'' > >Schriner said. > >Personal trainers make their livings from those individuals, so they look >for >ways to keep beginners motivated. Fitness consultant Ball wrote about > >it in the November-December issue of IDEA Personal trainer, a publication of > >IDEA Health and Fitness Assocation, a fitness professionals group. > >Trainers must help exercisers keep their goals positive and in line with >reality, Ball advised. Instead of " I'm never going to lose weight,'' the >exerciser should be encouraged to think, " I will eventually lose weight, it >just may take more time and work,'' he said. > >Trainers also must help exercisers to build confidence, by targeting small >but achievable increases and discouraging lofty goals that will be tough to >achieve, Ball wrote. Exercisers also can talk themselves into success if >they >are guided away from focusing on their failures, the article said. > >----------------------- > >Dr Mel C Siff >Denver, USA >Supertraining/ > > > >Modify or cancel your subscription here: > >mygroups > >Don't forget to sign all letters with full name and city of residence if you > >wish them to be published! > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2001 Report Share Posted December 11, 2001 > > Dear Lou and Mel - > > I wonder if that drop out rate applies to those attending aerobics classes - > or more the solo weight trainer? I would guess both. > I found when I was training for changing my health, before becoming a > powerlifter, that I was the rare person who went to the gym regularly by > myself, with only an every other month check in with a person to change up > my program - I went that way for a year and a half by myself, then shifted > to powerlifting and found a coach to start the sport. yet my massage > clients tell me that part of the basic problem is getting to the > gym....motivation. > > Perhaps the basketball GROUP in the study used the social aspects to > succeed - did the weight training people train TOGETHER - same time, same > routines, at the same time, giving each other encouragement? or were they > given the same routine, but told to perform it by themselves? Is the drop > out rate less among those who establish a routine of attending X spinning > class, or X aerobics class? is it the solo nature, that sole reliance, when > you have no training partner to meet up with, of weight training, that > causes the drop out rate? > > Lou's ideal male workout of a football workout sounds like it's based on the > group activity...not the solo self reliant way of those who weight train. > Perhaps it's based in group psych? Support of the group around you, the > pressure to make an appearance regardless of personal obstacles, rather than > being your own resource for encouragement? Perhaps that is a good reason > for hiring a personal trainer, if you are not having success in sticking > wiht a program? > > I agree that for most people, fitness can be incorporated into daily > activities, dog walking or pushing kids around, biking, etc. But I also > think that for correction of " fatness " there is also an unfortunate tendency > to want it " today " and from a bottle, not from exertion - the perception > that people get fit QUICKLY and then are disappointed when it doesn't happen > to them....the unreal expectations advertised by many clubs of fitness - > washboard abs, for example... I don't think the average person has that type > of dedication and willpower to achieve what is promised, by the advertising. > > There's the rush at new year's to make resolutions, and they generally don't > make it beyond the 2nd week of february, based on my watching of the influx > of eager new people with their new shoes and their shiny new hopes....they > happen every year, and quit, most of them, every year. I also think gyms > COUNT on people joining, and then not using the membership...it is the > turnover rate I'm told that pays for those of us who DO stay and use the > facility.... > > Anyway, those are my comments on the subject. I think people fail to set > good goals, find support/resources that fit their needs and personality, > motivation from within or other sources, and a reasonable expectation at the > outset that this is for LIFE, not just for a bikini or midriff baring > episode just a short 3 weeks away..... And that is why the Body for LIFE approach works well...it gives a plan, offers support groups, and a 12 week " challenge " to achieve noticeable changes. (the creaters of BFL, bodybuilders, recognized that it takes longer than a couple weeks at the gym and the resulting soreness) I do believe the wise personal trainer would recognize the BFL approach as a springboard rather than competition or an obstacle. No, it's not the only way, and the principles are nothing new, but it is an effective program that the average soccer mom and couch-potato dad can do, and it gets people into a state of better fitness. This is exactly what has happened to my wife, who knows better, as a BSRN, but didn't have the " plan " to do it, but did have the desire to do " something " . A smart trainer would see the BFL (or similar) program as a good springboard to a long term " cash cow " if you will. They could endorse it, recommend it even, for newbies, show them how to properly execute the exercises and hit 10s. As time went by, sessions could continue or be more random, just to check progress. The trainer's expertise could come into play every 4 weeks to change the exercises around, to optimize muscle growth and stimulation/recovery. Every 12 weeks the program could be tweaked if needed. As the trainee progressed through a few 13 week cycles and possibly plateaued, the trainer could recommend other ways to change things around, different training methods and eating methods. At this point, the trainer has a satisfied, long term customer that may not need daily or even weekly sessions, but perhaps biweekly or monthly " checkups " . Or a daily, satisfied customer. Along with that, and your comments, from my observations of the January crowd and February drop-off over the last 18 years that I've been working out, I think people also make it too hard. They pick an activity that is " artificial " or a gym that is across town, and just isn't going to fit in with the reality of their life, vs the guys in my neighborhood who have their weekly weds night basketball game over at the church gym, or even the guys I work out with (meaning they usually show up at the same time I show up). I love the example of the football camp for guys, what a great approach. Another thing is what are realistic and legitimate fitness goals? Weekly basketball games wouldn't meet my personal fitness goals, but they are better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Work intrudes... Brett Draper, UT > > The Phantom > aka Schaefer, CMT, CSCS, competing powerlifter > Denver, Colorado, USA > Fitness Drop-Outs > > > > > >All to often do we focus on the science of strength or endurance training, > >the 'secrets' of the gurus and the Russians, the " best " ways of training, > >the > >superiority of " functional " training and so forth, but the bottom line is > >spelled out by the realities painted by stories such as the one below. > >These > >stories concern the fact that most people find it easier to quite than > >exercise, to rely more on training toys and fads than real science or elite > >training methods, to become more sedentary than regularly active, to offer > >more excuses than reasons. > > > >Read the following article and offer your suggestions on how to improve the > >current fitness situation. Why is the vast majority of Western folk so > >lacking in long-term commitment to lifestyle goals? Why do they need so > >many > >toys, fads, training myths and fitness cults to last even a brief fitness > >interlude of a year at the most? Is this yet another symptom of lack of > >discipline, commitment and motivation in all walks of life? > > > >------------------------------- > > > >Study: Exercise Is Hard to Stick With > > > >By IRA DREYFUSS > >Associated Press > > > > > >WASHINGTON (AP) - For most new exercisers, it's easier to quit than to get > >fit. Keeping the will to stick with a program can be the hardest exercise. > > > > " Most people who adopt exercise will quit within a short time - 50 percent > >within 6 to 8 weeks, another 25 percent by the end of the year,'' said > >sports > >psychologist F. of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. > > > > " We must be doing something wrong,'' said. > > > >How to set things right vexes researchers as well as workers in the > exercise > > > >training field. Their responses include changing the nature of exercise, > >changing its structure and changing the way exercisers think about what > they > > > >want to do. > > > > focuses on changing the nature. The current approach - health clubs, > >weight training, running and the like - doesn't motivate people because > it's > > > >artificial, he said. > > > > " The reason for the dropouts in these programs is that exercisers have been > >employing nonpurposeful physical activity - riding bicycles to nowhere, > >running treadmills to nowhere,'' said. > > > >What people need is not exercise programs but physical activity that is > part > > > >of their daily lives and has purpose, said. ``If you want to buy an > >exercise machine, go to the local dog pound and adopt a dog,'' he said. > > " That's one of the best exercise machines you can find. They have to go on > >their daily walk.'' > > > >Similarly, people who walk so they can go to work will get their healthful > >activity even though they may not think of it as exercise, said. > > > >Some people can stick with conventional exercise programs, but they have > >managed to make the workouts an important part of their personal identity, > > said. " A daily jog might become ritualized to where it has deep > >meaning for you as an individual - but most people quit long before that,'' > >he said. > > > >Conventional exercise also can be purposeful, said researcher Rod K. > Dishman > > > >of the University of Georgia. Exercising to lose weight, avoid weakening of > >the bones or add a bit to a person's lifespan can impart lots of personal > >meaning, he said. > > > >The problem is to overcome the initial tedium and discomfort, to get to the > >point where the benefits kick in, and a good way to do this is to minimize > >discomfort and accentuate enjoyment of the activity, Dishman said. He > >advises > >people to find an activity they like, do it with a person they like, and > >keep > >doing it regularly until it becomes a habit. > > > >Getting support from the community can provide the personal meaning that > >translates to motivation, said Dr. Jon L. Schriner, who is trying to build > >such support in Flint, Mich. > > > >Schriner is medical director of the Crim Festival of Races, a series of > >events > > that range from a one-mile fun walk to an internationally competitive > >10-mile > > race. > > > >The Crim tries to make even beginners see themselves as members of a group > >that runs, Schriner said. > > > > " Training for the Crim goes on all year long,'' he said. ``We have classes. > >We bring in a sports psychologist. We talk to them about buying shoes, > >equipment, how they should be running. And we socialize.'' > > > >Beginning exercisers will be less likely to drop out if they think they > will > > > >lose standing in their group, Schriner said. " The group method has worked > >for > >us much more strongly than the individual method,'' he said. > > > > " If you take an individual, and he is going to motivate himself, he has to > >have a lot of goals - and most of the time, they are pie-in-the-sky > ideas,'' > > > >Schriner said. > > > >Personal trainers make their livings from those individuals, so they look > >for > >ways to keep beginners motivated. Fitness consultant Ball wrote > about > > > >it in the November-December issue of IDEA Personal trainer, a publication > of > > > >IDEA Health and Fitness Assocation, a fitness professionals group. > > > >Trainers must help exercisers keep their goals positive and in line with > >reality, Ball advised. Instead of " I'm never going to lose weight,'' the > >exerciser should be encouraged to think, " I will eventually lose weight, it > >just may take more time and work,'' he said. > > > >Trainers also must help exercisers to build confidence, by targeting small > >but achievable increases and discouraging lofty goals that will be tough to > >achieve, Ball wrote. Exercisers also can talk themselves into success if > >they > >are guided away from focusing on their failures, the article said. > > > >----------------------- > > > >Dr Mel C Siff > >Denver, USA > >Supertraining/ > > > > > > > >Modify or cancel your subscription here: > > > >mygroups > > > >Don't forget to sign all letters with full name and city of residence if > you > > > >wish them to be published! > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2001 Report Share Posted December 12, 2001 ----- Original Message ----- From: <excel8888@...> > > In my opinion, it is time for fitness programs to address skills for > lifestyle change: behavior modification, imagery, effective goal-setting, > enhancing self-efficacy and self-discipline to name a few. We cannot expect > the " typical American " to adopt a healthy lifestyle without providing them a > new skill set for change. Exercise psychology is going to be important in > the next decade, now more than ever. It has to be. > In my opinion, it is also time to advocate for structurally based solutions which enable us to choose fitness activities. Urban/suburban environments are constructed with a decentralized design, making it difficult to engage in " productive " exercise such as walking to the store. Suburbs are built without sidewalks. Roads are built without bike lanes. To me as an urban cyclist, bike lanes are an absolute godsend, and a large part of my choice to cycle to various destinations (the other would be the Canadian weather ). Lots of people I know say that they would love to cycle downtown instead of driving or taking transit, but the prospect terrifies them. In Amsterdam, bicycles and pedestrians rule the city. Bike lanes even have their own little curbs which effectively prevent cars from encroaching. Adding 12 inches of extra pavement demarcated with a white line would be a small modification to include in municipal planning, but would make a lot of difference to many people's activity choices. Another example of a structural solution is advocating in communities for some kind of localized fitness centre: a community centre, a local school which offers fitness classes in the evening, etc. Individual choices are certainly important, but perhaps there are small structural improvements which we could be active in making in our own locales. Many people have the best intentions but are simply too obstructed by the environment around them. By the time they drive long hours to and from work, drive to perform errands and chauffeur the kids to wherever, they don't feel like driving more to the gym, or doing anything that seems like extra work. Krista -Dixon Toronto, ON Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2001 Report Share Posted December 14, 2001 Krista, Structured environment is something we fortunately have here in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We have paved bike paths, walking/running trails with exercise circuit stations along the way, and a community fitness center, as well as community colleges that offer fitness programs and drop-in access to university fitness facilities. There really is no excuse for the 70+ % of the population that lacks any regular fitness program. Yet, it is hard to believe that stats say that rate is that high; and so many drop out within the first month. More has to be said about convenience and affordability as keys to adherence.... internal determination, lack of discipline, etc. has to account for much of our society's lack of motivation. I am devising ways through my new position as a Corporate Wellness Director to see if employers can make it convenient and affordable for their employees. Creating a corporate culture can make a positive impact. As for those at high-risk for lifestyle related diseases, that is where hte challenge begins. Happy Holidays, Debbie Kiefiuk, M.Ed., C.S.C.S. Ann Arbor, MI USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2001 Report Share Posted December 14, 2001 Debbie Kiefiuk <excel8888@...> wrote: > I am devising ways through my new position as a Corporate Wellness Director > to see if employers can make it convenient and affordable for their > employees. Creating a corporate culture can make a positive impact. As for > those at high-risk for lifestyle related diseases, that is where the challenge begins. Best of luck. I agree that sometimes even when things are in place, people choose not to take part. I train two clients at a company gym. This gym is *down the hall* from the office, perhaps twenty metres away. It has two treadmills, a recumbent bike, a stairmaster, a small collection of dumbbells, a barbell and some plates, a high-low cable station, a bench press rack and two benches, and a machine (recently the bar has been staying in the high position since I've introduced the folks there to pullups and a small informal competition has developed). It has stretching mats, two little changerooms complete with showers, a water cooler, nice big windows with a good view, a TV, a radio, specially ventilated air conditioning, and even towel service. And guess what? Almost nobody uses it. Only about 20% of the people in the company even bother to walk down the hall to the gym on a regular basis. <sigh> Krista -Dixon Toronto, ON Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2001 Report Share Posted December 14, 2001 My company has a gym that's similarly equipped to the one you describe, but I don't " bother to walk down the hall to the gym " . Why? Because I go to another gym, which offers me far more equipment (squat racks, bumper plates, etc.) plus serious coaching in Olympic lifting and powerlifting. Many of my colleagues also belong to other gyms and many others do other fitness-related activities (hiking, skiing, rowing, team sports, etc.). I don't think the 20% can be considered an indicator of how many people in the company are interested in fitness. (Of course, there are many people who are not doing anything of the sort, but I don't think failure to use the company gym places someone amongst them.) BTW, though it's nothing to do with my reason for not using the company gym - a fair number of people I know simply don't like working out with their business colleagues -- appearing in sweaty spandex in front of their boss and such. Braun Haymarket, VA ------------------------ Debbie Kiefiuk <excel8888@...> wrote: > I am devising ways through my new position as a Corporate Wellness Director > to see if employers can make it convenient and affordable for their > employees. Creating a corporate culture can make a positive impact. As for > those at high-risk for lifestyle related diseases, that is where the challenge begins. Best of luck. I agree that sometimes even when things are in place, people choose not to take part. I train two clients at a company gym. This gym is *down the hall* from the office, perhaps twenty metres away. It has two treadmills, a recumbent bike, a stairmaster, a small collection of dumbbells, a barbell and some plates, a high-low cable station, a bench press rack and two benches, and a machine (recently the bar has been staying in the high position since I've introduced the folks there to pullups and a small informal competition has developed). It has stretching mats, two little changerooms complete with showers, a water cooler, nice big windows with a good view, a TV, a radio, specially ventilated air conditioning, and even towel service. And guess what? Almost nobody uses it. Only about 20% of the people in the company even bother to walk down the hall to the gym on a regular basis. <sigh> Krista -Dixon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2001 Report Share Posted December 15, 2001 Krista, It sounds like you're doing some interesting work,especially when you talk about fitness and empowerment. It sounds like you're a personal trainer and more. Anyway, I'd be interested in hearing more about your work and your approach. If you don't mind, can you elaborate on your work either here on this group or you can e-mail me. Robles Altadena, CA yaotlcoatl@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2001 Report Share Posted December 15, 2001 Sounds like there is a great need for education and exposing the lies behind such things as miracle diets and infomercial gadgets. What I also see is the need for community, even in a seemingly individualistic endeavor such as fitness. I first heard of Westside a few years ago but didn't look into it until I read an article on T- Mag by Dave Tate. Anyway, there is one thing that keeps coming up in articles written by Dave, Louie and others. They often talk about how they support each other and push each other to reach higher. Here are some of the strongest athletes in the world and they still need each other's support. Robles Altadena, CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2001 Report Share Posted December 15, 2001 ----- Original Message ----- From: " Braun " <braun_chris@...> > My company has a gym that's similarly equipped to the one you describe, but I don't " bother > to walk down the hall to the gym " . Why? Because I go to another gym, which offers me far more > equipment (squat racks, bumper plates, etc.) plus serious coaching in Olympic lifting and > powerlifting. Many of my colleagues also belong to other gyms and many others do other > fitness-related activities (hiking, skiing, rowing, team sports, etc.). I don't think the 20% > can be considered an indicator of how many people in the company are interested in fitness. > (Of course, there are many people who are not doing anything of the sort, but I don't think > failure to use the company gym places someone amongst them.) , of course you are correct. However, informal discussions with several of the employees tells me that sadly, they are not pursuing outside Olympic lifting interests or eco-challenge training. I have been curious about this and so I have been asking people about their fitness habits. These are investment brokers who would rather work stressful 16 hour days, chain smoke, and feel like crud, but make ridiculous amounts of money, then spend months recovering from heart attacks. They may play golf, but only as a business-related pursuit. The ones that do go to the gym regularly tend to be quite committed. Somewhat ironically, guess what the strongest catalyst has been for getting a particular non-exerciser at this gym into a regular fitness program? Not fancy equipment or anything. It was getting a new puppy that needed to be walked. > > BTW, though it's nothing to do with my reason for not using the company gym - a fair number > of people I know simply don't like working out with their business colleagues -- appearing > in sweaty spandex in front of their boss and such. I would just be thrilled to get my boss to the gym. But yes, your point is well taken. Krista -Dixon Toronto, ON ------------------------- www.stumptuous.com/weights.html mistresskrista at rogers dot com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2001 Report Share Posted December 15, 2001 Krista wrote: >These are investment brokers who would rather work stressful 16 hour days, >chain smoke, and feel like crud, but make ridiculous amounts of money, then >spend months recovering from heart attacks. Ah -- my colleagues are mainly engineers, maybe a more athletic population. They work long days when it's necessary, but slack off when it's not. And hardly anyone smokes. Braun Haymarket, VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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