Do
you have more trouble choosing a workout program or starting the one
you just bought? Are you an early morning exerciser or do you Push Play
whenever you can grab a few minutes of uninterrupted time? See which of
the six fitness personality types best describes you—then find out what
you can do to ensure that you get your best results.
The Program Collector
You saw a Slim in 6® infomercial and eagerly ordered the product, only to stick it on a shelf unopened once you got it. Same with Power 90®. Ditto with Turbo Jam®. Your intentions were good at the time, but now you studiously avoid even looking at the DVD covers, let alone taking the discs out. It's a lot easier to keep watching TV and let time go drifting by.

Most common fitness lament: "I just don't feel like it."
Pitfall: No motivation. Or is it intimidation? Fear? You've never exercised regularly or, you're so out of practice, you're overwhelmed by the amount of work you think it will take. You may not have much confidence in your ability to pull it off.
Start with . . . Taking it one day at a time. Break down your overall goal of losing 35, 50, or 100 pounds into smaller, more easily attainable goals; work out for 10 minutes a day, then 15, 20, or whatever you can manage. Start slow and gradually build up to getting through a whole workout. It may take a couple of weeks. Watch Success Stories in the meantime, or check out the Photo Galleries on the Message Boards to get inspired all over again. If they can do it, so can you. Join a WOWY® Workout Group, find some Success Buddies, and set up a support system on the Message Boards. You're not in this alone.
Proof:
Koko T.
"One night, bloated, tired, and I'd say overweight, I saw an
infomercial for Power 90 . . . I taped the infomercial so I could watch
it again. Knowing myself, and knowing I was a lazy person with limited
energy, I forgot about it and tried not to think about exercise and all
that nutrition stuff. [Much later] I dug up the Power 90 infomercial,
and went to the Beachbody site. I read the stories, saw the products,
and wanted this to happen FAST. I ordered Slim in 6 because it was only
a 42-day program, but sadly, when it arrived it just sat there for
close to a year. Did I mention how lazy and unmotivated I can be? I
hadn't even opened the package! . . . One day . . . I did the programs,
I stayed with it, [and] I followed the nutrition guidelines and logged
on to the Message Boards every chance I got. It wasn't magic. I am now
the 'after' photo I always dreamed of [being]."
The Constant Staller
You
can't piece together a regular exercise schedule no matter how hard you
try. You're forever starting and restarting programs; the chaos of
daily life inevitably intervenes and knocks you off track. It seems
like every day someone's birthday celebration, a special event, a
personal or work obligation, or a family emergency derails your most
sincere fitness intentions. You're constantly postponing or
rescheduling workouts, which means you're rarely ever working out at
all.
Most common fitness lament: "I just don't have time!"
Pitfall: Distractions. You haven't made fitness a priority in your life, so anything and everything takes precedence over your workout.
Start with . . . Easing into a regular workout schedule. Early mornings might make the most sense for you, since once the day starts unfolding, your chances of escaping the rising momentum of responsibilities are nil. Getting your exercise out of the way first thing means you don't have to suffer the self-loathing associated with a missed workout. You can sail through the rest of the day guilt free. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to radically change your daily routine immediately, though. Start with just two or three workouts a week, and then add more as you get used to waking up early to exercise. Once you notice how much more energized you feel on those days, you'll be on your way to establishing a regular workout schedule.
Proof: Charline B.
"To those of you who say, 'I just can't find the time to do this,' I am
here to tell you that if you want this badly enough, you will do
whatever it takes. I had to change my schedule and faithfully log in to
WOWY (another GREAT Beachbody tool!) at 4:30 AM six days a week to get
in my workouts. Trust me, I am NOT a morning person, but this way I
KNOW I'll get in my workout. No excuses. The changes in my life have
made it worth whatever it takes."
The Valiant Struggler
You
exercise four to six times a week but hardly ever at the same time of
day. You grab 20 minutes here, 40 minutes there, fitting in a workout
whenever you can. Or maybe you've got a regular workout time, but your
fitness "regimen" is all over the place—no rhyme or reason as to why
you choose a sculpting or cardio routine. You do whatever workout fits
your time frame or suits your daily mood—or spills out of the DVD
cabinet.
Most common fitness lament: "I'm not seeing results!"
Pitfall: No game plan. Or no intensity.
Start with . . . A specific goal. Do you want to lose a certain number of pounds? Get your waist down to a certain number of inches? Fit into a specific dress or suit size? To sneak a little order into your routine while preserving your need for flexibility, try programs like Power Half Hour® and Slim Series®—they provide different kinds of workouts that you can customize to your needs, as well as recommended weekly plans, allowing you to add more cardio or targeted sculpting workouts depending on your goal. To ramp up the intensity, you can try working out with a progress tool like a heart rate monitor.
Proof: Anna Eriksson, Beachbody Product Development Director. "It wasn't until I strapped on my first heart rate monitor that I realized I'd been babying myself for quite a while. Later, I was asked to try a couple of workouts using a particular resistance band, a heavier band than I normally use. And what do you know? When I stopped, my arms felt . . . not sore . . . but worked—just by Pushing Play and ramping up the intensity."
The Intellectual Benchwarmer
You
know all about the benefits of exercise and the hazards of obesity. You
read fitness columns every day, subscribe to health magazines, and may
even spend hours online chatting with other like-minded folks,
soliciting advice and tips about fitness and nutrition. You spend so
much time thinking or reading about working out that you hardly have
the time or desire to actually do it.
Most common fitness lament: "I need more information!" or "I don't know how to do it right!"
Pitfall: You think too much.
Start with . . . Just doing it, to paraphrase the Nike slogan. Stop worrying and studying and start Pushing Play. Because intellectualizing exercise is your forte, it'll probably be easy for you to maintain an exercise journal. Try to keep it simple, and use it as a tool to track your progress over time. Make sure you give yourself a chance to experience the process before you rush to analyze every ache and pain and then talk yourself out of doing your program every day. It's great to be interested in fitness and to be aware of all its benefits—so long as you get away from your computer or put down the magazines long enough to actually work up a good sweat.
Proof: Ronald M.
"As a registered nurse, I'm fully aware of the negative health
consequences of obesity and inactivity. Yet, I still did not exercise
and my waistline continued to get larger year by year. My eating habits
were atrocious; I would eat whatever, whenever (many times after
midnight), and as much as I could eat. Every summer for the past 7
years I've told myself, 'This is the year I'm getting in shape!' Power
90 works because Beachbody has laid everything out for you. Follow the
workouts and the diet guidelines and you will succeed. After 90 days, I
lost a total of 25 lbs."
The Socializer
Besides
Pushing Play, you're chatting with a program trainer a few times a week
and setting up workout times with your WOWY Buddies. You may be a
Beachbody Coach or a regular at Tony Horton's Fitness Camps. You share
advice and maintain connections on the Message Boards. You post your
progress photos every few weeks and have a solid support network. After
all, it's easier to stay committed if you're accountable to people. And
it's worth even more if your experience can make a positive difference
in someone's life.
Most common fitness lament: "My Internet connection is too slow!"
Pitfall: There really isn't a downside to this one—unless your fitness routine is solely dependent on others.
Start with . . . Making sure you're self-accountable. It's wonderful that you're sharing your fitness success or offering support to others—we wish there were lots more like you! You probably have what it takes to motivate yourself and Keep Pushing Play, but just in case you found yourself stranded somewhere indefinitely without an Internet connection . . . you'd know what to do, right?
Proof: Tony B.
"I have renewed vitality and vigor combined with a whole new outlook on
diet and life [after completing Power 90]. Never in my life have I been
in this good of shape, not even when I was in boot camp . . . I would
like to thank the fitness advisors for their prompt answers to
questions and to all the people I have talked to on the Message Boards.
[ . . . ] I would like to share my experience with as many people as
are willing to listen. Because of my cardiac limitations, I feel I can
help people who are feeling timid about not being able to keep up or
that might have to adjust and modify certain exercises to suit their
specific needs."
The Autopilot
You've
established the habit of exercising almost every day, at the same time
each day. You follow workout programs to a T. Exercise is a priority
and you schedule your day around it. You're self-motivated and you
manage your time extremely well.
Most common fitness lament: "I'm bored," or "I'm not seeing results anymore."
Pitfall: Plateaus or even injuries. Working out the same muscle groups week after week in the same way may create imbalances or weaknesses in opposing muscle groups that could lead to injuries.
Start with . . . Mixing it up. When you get bored with the same old thing, or you're stuck at a certain weight, or you stop seeing results, you know it's time to make some changes, either in your workout intensity, your diet, or both. Try incorporating new fitness gear into your usual routine—a balance ball, a sculpting band, a heart rate monitor, weights, or weighted gloves—or else change fitness programs altogether. Switch to a more advanced workout series, try a different trainer, or alternate workouts from different programs. Or turn to others who've been through the same thing to infuse you with inspiration or jump-start your motivation.
Proof: Jimmy F.
"Meeting Tony in Hawaii was a really motivating experience. I also met
Beachbody's Mike Karpenko, who gave me some awesome tips on the P90X
Nutrition Plan and how to make it really work for me this time around.
I met Dale C., who got totally fantastic results from Power 90 and
P90X, and talking to him really lit a fire under me. So I came back
from that trip ready to commit and really BRING IT for a full 90
days!!!! The workouts were new to me all over again."
Tags: workouts, fitness, working out, beachbody, fitness coach, work from home, diet, turbo jam, p90x
I could actually be considered the program collector too..lol. I have several ones that just sit there...untouched. I have a taebo dvd but, I really didn't like it (I did try it) So, I haven't even looked at it since the first time I tried it. I don't know what all I have except for that and the pilates 10min. solutions. I do use the pilates, just not as much as I should. So, I"m kinda a mixture of the choices you gave! LOL
I am definitely an "Autopilot" (this seems to apply to every area of my life, not just working out!). I get very much into my routines and have a difficult time wanting to try anything new, other than increasing the length or intensity of the same stuff I'm already doing. It doesn't help that it takes me forever to learn a new routine-that really discourages me from wanting to try. I feel like I get a more intense workout if I stick with what I know so I'm not fumbling around the whole time, trying to keep up. On the other hand, I know I should branch out, expand my fitness horizons, lol. One step at a time.
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Heehee..at the time I'm on auto pilot. I'm pretty much doing the same thing over and over. I checked my measurements the other day (I do this on a monthly basis) and there was MAYBE one change...AHHHH!! It ddrives me crazy b/c I feel like I"m doing everything right but, in reality, I'm not changing things up. So, I'll stay at one weight for weeks without seeing any changes. This can be VERY discouraging. So, I've finally made my mind up that I'm going to order some of the Turbo Jam dvd's!!! YAY ME!!
maurel80 Aug. 7, 2008 at 11:22 AM