Cleveland Personal Training

The best form of cardio

From time to time doing personal training in Cleveland I am asked what is the best form of cardio.  There are hundreds of ways that a person can engage in activies that increase their heartrate, burn calories, and increase overall quality of life.  When I am asked this question, I usually respond with "whatever the person sticks with".  This is a very simplistic and straight forward answer, and I realize that.  The reason I make this statement is because I see so many people (especially around New Years) that have great intentions to get in shape, but quickly fizzle out after a few weeks, simply because they hate what they are doing.  If you have encountered this problem before, please continue reading as I will offer some suggestions that may help you.

Think back for a moment when you were younger...back to when you were in Junior High or High School.  What sports did you play?  What after school activities did you participate in?  Chances are that what you did required some form of physical activity whether it was football, golf, marching band, or even the drama club.  In addition to this you may have swam in your friends pool, played backyard tag, ran around the woods and played war with the neighbor kids, kicked around the soccer ball...the list goes on and on.  I have often thought about how sad it is that as we get older so many of us forget how to play and have fun.  In the movie "Hook" (One of my favorite movies), there is a moment in the movie where an older man (who used to be one of the children in Neverland) asks a police officer "Have you forgotten how to fly?"  The police officer replies, "One does".  I've always thought this was sadly indicative of how many of us forget how to play, or how to fly so to speak.  The reason I point out this sad reality is because when you were younger and in school, you probably did not say to yourself, "I better go and shoot some hoops because I need to get some exercise".  You probably didn't say "I'm going to go play ghosts in the graveyard because I need to get some exercise".  You did it because it was fun!  It's time to put the fun back into your workouts!  This is your task, and if you can do it successfully I can assure you your workouts are going to better.   

Now that we've discussed the fun factor, let's talk about what most people do for cardio.  For many people, cardio means getting on a treadmill, bike, or stationary machine.  If you do this and you enjoy it then absolutely keep doing it!  However, if doing so is little more than another chore for you; something you dread, then I would say that your long term prospects for success are low.  Consider thinking outside the box of conventional wisdom and think of fun forms of cardio that you can work into your routine.  Let's look at a few examples.  Do you like shopping?  One way you could increase your cardio routine would be to go to the mall and walk around.  Do you see a store you want to go into?  See something you like?  Well force yourself to do one lap around the mall before you will allow yourself to go in and look at the item.  You'll probalby notice you walk faster anyway!  Do you have kids?  Tell yourself your going to get down and wrestle with them a little bit a few times a week.  Do you like animals?  Get a dog and walk him/her every evening.  Get involved in a paintball club, a softball league, a kayaking club, learn to Salsa or take up a martial art.  The point is to do something fun, and for many people this will mean interacting with new people and learning or doing something new. 

It's a sad reality of your daily lives that we so busy.  For most of us, an eight hour work day is a light day.  Time is often limited.  The good thing about choosing some alternative forms of cardio such as I mentioned above is that you can often spend time with family or friends while doing these activies.  Consider it multitasking.  You get a good workout in and spend time with someone at the same time. 

To conclude, I want you to think about what you did as a child or what activities you did while in school.  Consider changing your cardio routine to one where fun is the focus.  If you can do that, you many notice greater success and consistancy than you had before.  Good luck and thank you as always for reading.  Please feel free to check out my main website at http://www.paulowens.org.  You may also contact me at paulspersonaltraining@gmail.com 

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.