Tracy’s Body Werks: 5 Rules for Clients
RULE #1 NO SECRETS
Your physical health is the most important part of any training program. It is not only your responsibility to obtain approval for your exercise and nutrition programs from your doctor, but also keep them informed of any changes in your overall health. Medications prescribed for you should never be started or stopped or dosages altered without your physician’s approval and supervision. Should you experience difficulty with any portion of your fitness program, or should your doctor modify approval for exercise or identify limitations, notify your trainer immediately. Bottom line? When it comes to your overall health, everything else is secondary.
RULE #2 KEEP IT REAL
Another primary rule of any workout program is the expectations of the participant. It is very important that the expectations you have for your new fitness program are reasonable and achievable. Results don’t happen overnight, nor will any of us become Miss Olympia (or Mr. Olympia) by Christmas. Fitness goals need to be discussed with your trainer, and all of the variables such as diet, age, workout frequency, physical limitations and many others, fully accounted for. An easy way to become discouraged is to set the bar too high for yourself with goals which have very little chance of being met in the timeline established. Remember that small steps and small victories build the pathway to your fitness goals.
Bottom line? More often than not, slow and steady wins the race.
RULE #3 THERE ARE NO MAGIC BULLETS
The advertising media exposes us to a constant barrage of new magic pills and effortless programs which will transform your body from an overweight recliner resident to a shredded physical specimen overnight. The difficulty here, as you may have found in your experience, is the magic programs are a waste of time and money, and simply don’t work. It is, however, very understandable that we would all like to find a shortcut to attaining results. Unfortunately, there is absolutely no substitute for the hard work and discipline you are going to need to put forth to achieve your fitness goals. As it has often been said, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is, and with fitness and diet gimmicks that’s good to keep in mind. On the other hand, it has also been said that anything worth having is worth working for. Tracy’s Rules for Clients suggest you remember both. Bottom line? If you want magic, go see David Copperfield.
RULE #4 DON’T GET CARRIED AWAY
As we exercise, the body releases endorphins that allow us to feel good about what we’re doing and reward the brain for the hard physical work. It can be easy when we discover and enjoy the workout “high” to get into a “more is better” mode and seek that energy and positive feedback more often. Resist the urge to allow yourself to fall into the counterproductive practice of overtraining. In this instance more is not better, more can be destructive both physically and mentally. Real progress toward your goals is a BALANCE of training days, recovery days, nutrition, family, and other interests. Your exercise program was carefully crafted for you, don’t deviate from it without consulting your trainer. Bottom line? Moderation in everything and obsession in nothing.
Please note: A physician’s medical clearance is a requirement for any training program. The trainer reserves the sole right to determine or suspect that the health factors under which the physician granted the permission have changed, suspend any training, and require a reissue of medical clearance before training can resume.
RULE #5 LOSE THE BATHROOM SCALE
After a while, I will have you put your bathroom scale in the garage, the basement, or better yet give it away. Don’t fall into the trap that numbers on a scale are going to dictate either your fitness success or your happiness. As you progress with your exercise and nutritional programs, your body will begin to change its composition. During this process, your weight may fluctuate, and you may quite possibly gain, at least temporarily, some overall weight. It is to be expected . You wouldn’t take a cross-country trip in your car and spend the entire time staring at the speedometer, you’d miss the real enjoyment of the journey, don’t do the equivalent in your workout regimen. Weight is nothing more than a reference and should be checked no more than once a week, if at all. (Or only in the company of your trainer.)
If you want to track your progress, look in the mirror. Do you like what you see? Is what you see better than what you saw last week? If your answer is “yes” then THAT is real progress, not what a scale tells you. A great way is to start with some “before” pictures (we can help with this too) and then weekly at the same time with the same poses and clothing. It is a much more accurate measurement of real progress. Bottom line? The only real measure of success and happiness is the one you set for yourself!
