TITLE: "Break the Rules - AND STAY FIT AND WELL!”

Dear David and Trish,

I am SO frustrated! Let me explain…

For most of my life, I didn’t pay much attention to my fitness level. And I only paid attention to my health when I was sick or something went wrong. Well, I am proud to say that all that changed about two years ago, and I finally took real responsibility for my life. I have a family (two young children) and a lovely wife. They depend on me… so I realized that I owe them a sacred obligation… to live long and stay well!

I feel that I deprive myself sufficiently of many of the foods that I really enjoyed in the past. I go to the gym and work out at least three times a week, following the routine that I developed by reading books and getting help from a personal trainer.

My problem is this. Although I have certainly gotten healthier by changing my diet and maintaining an exercise program without interruption, I seem to be stuck… at some kind of plateau or something. I have no idea what I am doing wrong. Please HELP!!!

-Stuck in Severna Park

Dear Stuck,

First, a quick story (Trish is teasing me that I have NEVER told a “quick” story. OK. “Minha Culpa”!)

A couple of years ago, when I was managing a gym, I got in BIG trouble! Not that I did anything wrong concerning my job, or with our members. No. The problem was that there were a number of complaints about my blatant disregard for righteous self-deprivation. It appears that a few members “caught” me having a Dairy Queen ice cream in the middle of the afternoon. MORE THAN ONCE! Naturally, they felt that I was being insensitive… flaunting this sin in front of them. Callously tempting them.

Well, two changes were made as a result of these events. First, I was directed to “sneak” my treats into the gym… or better yet devour them elsewhere. The second was that I met with the members who complained to offer them some suggestions on how THEY could eat ice cream (or whatever else they chose), and STILL stay fit, trim, and healthy. Their entire approach to fitness changed, for the better!

The moral of this SHORT story: “Don’t focus on rules, focus on PRINCIPLES of fitness”!

In our column, Trish and I have given much advice concerning nutrition. We have explained about metabolism, and how it is the amount of calories that the body burns that is as important as the amount of calories that are consumed. And there are variables in regard to timing, combining certain food groups, exercising and eating at various periods of the day, the effect of fiber on digestion and fat storage, and much more. We have NEVER suggested that there is any single food that must be eliminated from your diet in order for you to lose weight, build muscle, increase endurance, and stay healthy. Because there isn’t!

In a word (or two), the principles of good nutrition are balance and diversity. If you have what we call “passion foods”, respect that. Make sure you treat yourself periodically. Deprivation doesn’t work!

Well, pilgrims, this one will be easy. Because the principles of good nutrition are the same as the principles of effective exercise: balance and diversity.

Balance in that you must combine aerobic (cardio-respiratory) and anaerobic (strength and endurance training) in such a way as to enhance, and NOT diminish, each other. Balance in that over-training is actually counter-productive, and sufficient rest periods are mandatory for proper recovery and consistent benefits.

Diversity in that sequences, modalities, movements, and duration must be constantly altered to avoid systemic and muscular adaptation. In other words, as we like to say: “If it Works, Change It!”.

“Stuck” (our courageous reader) and many others search constantly for a formula that will guarantee la slimmer waistline, increased strength and endurance, and overall enhanced fitness. The bookstores and magazines are ripe with the “do it this way” or “do it that way” programs that make fitness seem simple. Fortunately, fitness is NOT simple, or else it would just be boring.

Fitness Longevity requires creativity, experimentation, open-mindedness, courage, commitment, and even playfulness. Trish and I have found it imperative that we at least attempt to make our workouts, and even our eating, an experience of joy and playfulness. There IS joy in feeling your body move. There is great satisfaction in sensing increased energy and vitality through creative exercise. There is a great sense of accomplishment in accepting responsibility for your body, and knowing how to make it better and better.

And, there is also great pleasure and joy in the many great foods and activities available to us. Before you restrict your life, and diminish your experience, learn how to have whatever you want… in the right way, and the right time.

Health and fitness is NOT a burden, but a gift earned by celebrating life, intelligently.

END