Partnering to Your Weight Loss Success

Personal training is not just for the rich and famous. With a growing realization that exercise helps to prevent a variety of diseases, many folks who have never before exercised are starting fitness programs later in life.

If you find that private training is not affordable, you may want to team up with a friend and train with a professional fitness instructor to get you on the right path.

Is lack of motivation keeping you from being fit? Added motivation to exercise comes from knowing that someone else's routine is hinged to yours. Have you ever had a time where you didn't feel like leaving the house, but because of a commitment you had to?

Treat your exercise sessions like important dates or appointments. Buddying up with a friend for exercise training sessions can get you in gear and out the door to jump start your day. Tracy Cole, of Florissant and Kym Hunter of O’Fallon, MO have been training together for over one year and have found out that working out together makes the both of them accountable for each other. Cole, who has lost over 50 pounds, says “working out with Kym is very enjoyable, the time seems to go by faster and we can push each other to the next level.” Hunter who ran in the 2006 St. Louis Marathon adds that “Tracy motivated me a lot during my marathon training, she was even there when I crossed the finish line to hand me my medal.”

Whether you are an athlete training for an event or a housewife (or both), training sessions can put you on the path to permanent success. Choose a trainer with whom you are compatible and who understands your goals. You want a program that is realistic for your lifestyle and skill levels.

If you have a trainer who appears to be in poor health or poor shape, that may not be such a good sign. If they don't personally practice exercise, they may not relate to your exercise program.

What if your buddy bails out on you? Find a backup plan by taking a class or walking alone. Channel your disappointment into positive energy and make it work. Make sure you tell your friend how invigorated you felt after exercising and what a good time you had. Keep each other inspired.

Taking Action is the Key to Your Weight Loss Program

From a biblical standpoint, nothing is going to happen to your body if you do not take positive action. It doesn’t do you any good to have heard all of that information on how to build a good solid physical body if you don’t take action. You want to take care of your body. You want to live longer and you want to be a more active and powerful in your living.

You want to have more energy, more drive and more endurance. Why? Because you don’t want be a couch potato with no vision or no purpose in your life. There is a purpose in building up your body and there’s a purpose in building up your spiritual body. That reason is to live a blessed life. Not only should you want to look good and live a healthy and prosperous life, but also you should want to please God by being faithful and obedient.

There is no doubt about it that David was a man of action. But how can you apply David's example in your everyday life? One thing about action is there are different types of action. Action is a verb, it is a word that is explosive, and it means that you are doing something. Your actions could be positive or negative. For example, you can take positive action by going to the gym and exercising for one hour or you can take negative action by going to happy hour with some of your colleagues after work.

When the nine-foot tall Goliath came out and dared anyone to challenge him in battle, David recognized that something needed to be done other than what was being done. He took a giant step to face Goliath. He decided that his actions were going to be different than the actions which others had taken, which included fear, doubt and uncertainty. This was here he began to look at his belief system, his confidence in God, and the vision that God had gave him.

You, as a believer, must employ the same power and force for your giant weight loss goals. God is calling you into action.

The 3 Common Reasons for Not Taking Action:

1. Confusion and not knowing where to get started - you may have a great vision, but sometimes no plan on how to really do it.
2. Procrastination - you won’t even try! You create excuses to put off your vision.
3. You! - ask yourself: "What is really stopping me from achieving my vision?"

Look at the weight loss vision God has set for you, the vision you haven't followed. The one you have let go. Then ask yourself: "What is really stopping me from achieving this vision?"

Sinbad Visits MVP

Recently, comedian Sinbad paid a surprise visit to the MVP Fitness Studio.

The funny thing about his visit was that he interrupted a personal training session with MVP Jenny Riley and Jenny carried on a humorous three minute conversation about boxing a couple of rounds with Sinbad even before she realized who he really was.

Sinbad was in St. Louis to perform at the Ameristar Casino and as usual, his stand up routine was hilarious.

Recreational Sports: Have Fun and Build Lasting Relationships at the Same Time

A recreational sport is any sport activity that you play in during your leisure time for , entertainment and fun.

There are many recreational sports that you can participate in from team sports such as softball and basketball to individual sports such as bowling, tennis and golf.

I played recreational sports for years and have had many unforgettable experiences; I have also met many of my lifelong friends playing sports.

Respect for the game - Display good sportsmanship by playing your favorite sport clean and to the best of your ability. Handle both victory and defeat with grace, style, and dignity. You can’t play being mad. I go out there and have fun. It’s a game, and that’s how you should treat it.
Work Habits – Good work habits will set you apart. For example, golfers work on driving, chipping and putting. Sloppy work habits seem to show up always during the pressure moments. If you work hard you will become a Champ.

Aggressiveness – Be competitive and make an all-out effort to win and succeed, but if you don’t win, it is not the end of the world. Remember to take a loss like a Champ.

Composure – Have a cool head, be calm and in control when an official makes a bad call. Remember that the official is human too, he will make a mistake. Don’t fly off the handle and get angry, it will take the fun out of the sport.

Hustle – Play hard, aggressive and with lots of energy.
You should be honored to have the talent to play your favorite sport. Show respect and be very appreciative to the Lord by showing Him the glory.

Remember, the best part of sports is the opportunity to play.