The Exercise Principles

She who has health, has hope. She who has hope, has everything.

Sharon thought all of her problems were over when she got the big promotion at work. She had worked so hard for it, staying late at the office and taking work home. {+}It wasn’t uncommon for her to come in on weekends, just to finish a project on time.

Her hard work was finally paying off. But this was not time to relax. She worked in a competitive place, a little bit cutthroat at times but very invigorating.

So exciting in fact, that Sharon sometimes had heart palpitations over approaching deadlines. She could feel her heart start to flutter when a new project came in. It wasn’t painful so she didn’t let it worry her too much.

Sharon wasn’t very active. She wasn’t overweight either, because she ate very little during the day. The fact was, she drank coffee and snacked on popcorn, but rarely ate a full meal.

When she looked at girls in the office who were in good physical shape, she felt a twinge of resentment. Her competitive nature steered her to seek out their source of achievement. Learning their secret was exercise; she knew she had to find time to work out!

Every time she thought she would go to the gym, a new project would come in or a client would call. Sharon’s gym bag was getting dusty sitting by her desk. Her increasing workload was causing her heart to flutter more frequently. She decided to make an appointment to see her doctor.

After a couple of tests and questions, Dr. Feelbetter explained that Sharon was developing hypertension, probably due in part to the stress of her new position at work. The physician asked if she was exercising regularly and prescribed some daily activity to relieve the stress and to build her strength.

The doctor explained some of the benefits that daily exercise would provide.

• Cardiovascular strength
• Improved flexibility
• Boosts energy
• Increased stamina
• Better coordination
• Improves sleep

She also told Sharon to cut back on the caffeine and begin eating a balanced diet. She said, “Without your health, Sharon, you have nothing. Health provides hope and with hope you can do anything.”

It’s true, you know. As long as we have our health, we can do anything. As long as we have hope we have everything. It is with hope that all things are possible. It’s what keeps us striving and looking towards the future. It’s the foundation that our principles are built upon.

You know, most of us live by certain principles. Our hopes and beliefs help to shape the rules that we follow in our day-to-day lives. This code of honor helps to define who we are, what we will accept and what we will strive to protect.

In my family, my husband and I have laid down rules that we expect our boys to adhere to. The standards that we were brought up with, we have passed on to our sons.

Maintaining your fitness requires discipline and a positive attitude. It necessitates a certain way of thinking in order to become part of your lifestyle.

I believe a successful program starts with a set of standards about what exercise can and will do for you. Positive principles, designed to give you optimum results are the foundation of a winning fitness program.

As a personal trainer, I have found that the following ten basic exercise principles are the keys to a fitness program that works. These are the principles that my 30 Minutes to a New You exercise program are built on. It is my hope that you will find these beliefs to be a foundation of your fitness plan, too.

The 30 Minutes to a New You Exercise Principles

1. Daily activity is the key to overall health.

2. 30 minutes a day is all it takes to improve or maintain your physical health.

3. Think it, believe it, achieve it.

4. Resistance training will help your body work for you, instead of against you.

5. Aerobic activity is fun and essential.

6. Stretching keeps you flexible and safe from injury.

7. Your core is the center of your strength.

8. Sleep, rest and rejuvenation are crucial.

9. Look in the mirror, not at the scale… muscle weighs more than fat.

10. Exercise empowers the beauty in you.

For complete explanations of each of these principles, be sure to read my posts Explaining the Exercise Principles, Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Remember to protect your health in order to protect your dreams. Don’t neglect yourself, treat your body as the true gift that it is. Do something good for you today. Let this be day one of your journey to health, hope and happiness. 30 Minutes to a New You. It can start today.

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