Cleveland Personal Training

The rising cost of health care

By Paul Owens CPT-NCSF

Thanks for visiting.  Today I want to write about a topic that is on many people's minds...the rising cost of health care.  If you are like most Americans you have probably noticed the increasing strain of health care costs on your wallet.  Health care costs continue to go up every year disproportionately to the increase in the average Americans wages.  Outside of political activism there is little that the average person can do to combat these increasing costs.  If you are self employed, you no doubt realize how difficult it is to obtain affordable health insurance.  If you work for a major corporation, you have probably noticed over the years that while your benefits stay the same or even go down, you seem to pay the same or likely even more each year in premiums.  It is easy to feel helpless and frustrated in this predicament, but we do have some means of improving our situation; namely diet and exercise. 

There are numerous reasons to work out and eat well, but one of the most significant reasons for any person should be increased quality and quantity of life.  Sound diet and exercise have been shown to deter or prevent numerous health problems.  Working out releases chemicals in your brain which literally make you feel better.  Combine this with improved self image and self esteem and it's easy to see how this could eventually help a person make the move to get off of antidepressant medication with of course their doctor's approval.  Working out and wise eating habits can also prevent life threatening events such as heart attacks and help people who have diabetes get the disease more under their control.  If those are not good enough reasons, consider for a moment that I have seen many of my clients get off of medications that they have in some cases been on for years.  Some of the medications I have seen people get off of (with their doctor's approval) are pain medications, cholesterol lowering medications, antidepressants, and sleeping medications.  Again, if the idea alone of getting off of a medication does not entice you, consider for a moment how much these medications will cost you over your life in terms of dollars alone.      

Consider for a moment that when it comes to working out, an ounce of prevention may be worth a ton of cure.  You alone have the ability to put in that ounce of prevention.  Working out just a half hour a day may be the very thing that helps you prevent a future heart attack, help fight depression, boost your immune system, give you more energy to have fun with your family and friends, and extend the length and quality of your life.  All this, while ultimately improving your health and therefore lowering your overall lifelong medical expenses.   

Some people are concerned with the costs of gym memberships and/or personal training.  It is understandable that some people are simply trying to get by day to day.  I am a firm believer however that each dollar spent on health and fitness will have many times a return over the course of a persons life.  Some company's and health insurance providers now even reimburse their employees and clients for fitness club memberships and personal training sessions.  These organizations have figured out that if a person works out and engages in a healthy lifestyle now, that will save on health care costs and result in happier employees all around.  If these organizations are willing to put their money on this, you can bet there is strong evidence to support that this is true.

In closing, I want to make the point that in today's world, we unfortunately are limited in what we can do to lower the rising cost of health care.  But remember, you can control many aspects of your health through diet and exercise and thereby lower your health care costs throughout your life.  Always consult your physician prior to going off of any medications and prior to engaging in any physical fitness program.  If you would ever like to get in touch with me for training, you can always reach me at http://www.paulowens.org.   You can also get in touch with me at paulspersonaltraining@gmail.com.  Thanks and happy training.       

The truth about weight loss (Part 1): Mindset

As a certified personal trainer in Cleveland, I have worked with many clients whose goal it was to lose weight.  I have worked with some clients whose goal it was to lose five or ten pounds, and others whose goal it was to lose fifty, seventy five, or even one hundred pounds.  Regardless of the number that a person comes to me with in terms of their desired weight loss, it is imperative that their mindset be in the right place before we even think about beginning a workout program.  Remember the old saying; "the only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary". 

It's time for a blunt realty check.  If a person is excessively overweight, this is more than just a condition. This is a mindset, a lifestyle, a way of living that the person has engaged in for what is likely years or even decades.  Changing this mindset or lifestyle will likely not be easy.  It is going to take a complete change in the person's thinking and belief system about him or herself for the change to take place.  The individual must not only come to believe that proper diet and exercise is imperative in their life, they must also learn to prioritize exercise in their schedule.  Prioritizing exercise goes back to the person's belief system about him or herself.  Does the individual truly believe that proper diet and exercise is crucial for a happy healthy life?  Does that person enjoy working out?  Does that person understand the long term consequences of not working out and eating properly.  If the answers to these questions are no, then the probability of long term success goes down to nearly zero.

I have been greatly blessed to be a personal trainer in Cleveland to some really incredible people.  Between their ability to realize the importance of exercise, and my commitment to give them everything I have as a trainer, I have witnessed amazing results.  I have seen clients who have suffered strokes regain a great deal of use from arms and legs that once barely functioned.  I have worked with clients who have gone off of medications that gave them troubling side effects.  I have helped individuals go through grueling workouts to prepare for the rigors of basic training and I have helped people add both life to their years and years to their life.  The most important thing for these people is that they made a decision in their mind.  I always say, "once the decision is made, the rest will follow". 

This is only one part in a series that I will be writing on this topic.  Keep checking back for new updates to this site.  If you would like to find out more about the services I offer as a personal trainer in Cleveland, you may visit my website at http://www.paulowens.org.  You may also contact me at paulspersonaltraining@gmail.com.      

The decision to utilize a personal trainer

By Paul Owens-CPT/NCSF

Why employ the services of a personal trainer?  As a personal trainer in Cleveland, I have found that many people today understand the numerous health benefits associated with good diet and exercise.  We are bombarded daily in the news about the benefits of working out, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  Many of the most common causes of mortality can be prevented or delayed through consistent exercise and a healthy diet.  We all know this, and yet many people struggle to make working out and sound nutritional decisions a part of their daily routine. 

Personal training to a large extent is about providing expertise, accountability, motivation, and nutritional guidance.  I have worked with clients who work very long hours; sometimes as much as sixteen hours a day.  I have often marveled at the commitment that these clients have, but I have noticed one thing that makes them successful.  These people, no matter how busy they get, set an appointment with me, and stick to it.  They treat their appointment with me like any other business appointment that must be met.  This is one of the great benefits of personal training...accountability.  When you know someone is waiting at the gym for you to show up, it has a very different impact on your thinking than if you were to just take on the mentality that you will work out when you get done with work.  Far too often, when you get done with work, you begin to think "man, what a long day, I am so tired, I'll just do it tomorrow".  Unfortunately, tomorrow often turns into the next day, and the next day, and the next day.  Pretty soon those great goals that you came up with are just a fading dream. 

When you employ the services of a great personal trainer, you get someone who is as committed to your goals as you are, and has the knowledge and expertise to make sure you reach those goals.  If you can get a certified personal trainer, set a schedule, and treat your appointments as any other obligation that you have throughout the day, you are well on the road to success.  Now you have two minds committed to your success, not just one. 

If you are in the Cleveland area and are looking for an experienced certified personal trainer, you can visit my website at http://www.paulowens.org, or contact me at paulspersonaltraining@gmail.com.  Thanks and happy training.