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Out Fitness for executives |
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by Christine Pesout As an executive, you have a certain image to maintain. People shape their perception of you based on actions,words, and, like it or not, physique. Spring has arrived and with it comes shorter sleeves, lighter fabrics and weekends spent in the sun — all things that conspire to reveal the toll the previous months’ hibernation may have taken on your body. If you are inspired to start a fitness program, or even re-energize your current routine, consider some of the advice local experts offer for staying healthy while keeping up with your busy schedule. Besides the visual benefits, you should feel more relaxed and productive as a result of your efforts. Sarah Fuehne, physical therapist and owner of Ultimate Potential Fitness, a fitness consulting firm, advises making exercise a part of your day. “Schedule it in, as you would a meeting,” she advises. “Make it mandatory.” Many clubs today have a wide range of availability as far as workout times are concerned, eliminating one excuse for putting off exercising. From those who stop at the gym before that 7 a.m. meeting to those who take an extended lunch, gyms can accommodate the busy executive’s schedule. The type of activity one undertakes while at the gym depends on fitness goals. “The most important advice I can give is to set regular appointments to work with a qualified individual,” says Mike Jaudes, president of The Fitness Edge. “When you work with someone who is attuned specifically on your goals and abilities, you take the guesswork out.” “Every individual has a different metabolism, different fitness level, different limitations,” Jaudes continues. “That’s why a rubber-stamp approach may not work. Everyone needs something unique.” He notes that if you are dabbling in your home gym or are otherwise on your own, you may not make progress. If instead, you work out with someone who is focused on you, Jaudes believes you will maximize the time you dedicate to fitness. Ryan Manczuk, co-owner of Magna Fitness, agrees. “Executives place priority on time management,” he says, “so it’s imperative that they are doing the correct cardio and strength training exercises to get their workout completed in a timely and efficient manner.” Noting that executives also tend to be goal-oriented, Manczuk feels that completing assessments prior to starting a program is particularly important. “You want to set measurable goals along the way to avoid frustration.” If you often find yourself out of town and feel a membership at a local gym may not be for you, you aren’t off the fitness hook. For the business traveler, Fuehne recommends making it a point to stay at hotels with fitness centers. “But you also have to use them,” she notes. HammerBodies Custom Fitness goes a step further with its Exec-U-Fit program. The overall program is designed to meet the unique nutrition and fitness needs of corporate executives by customizing each individual’s program based on their experience, career goals, health, schedule and job demands. While the Exec-U-Fit program is available at the HammerBodies private clinic, an individual’s corporate fitness facility or at an executive’s home, many of its executive clients travel. Exec-U-Fit provides “a detailed, but very attainable plan to follow while on the road,” explains Jaime Rothermich, director of nutrition services. Coach Hammer adds, “A unique and integral part of the program is on-the-road access to the HammerBodies staff while traveling, via e-mail or phone, should a question arise about a particular food, restaurant or training issue.” It is important for executives to recognize that not only do they need to pay attention to their own health, but to that of their employees. “Working out improves productivity and reduces stress,” says Jaudes. He cites the phrase, “use it or lose it,” referring to the sedentary nature of many jobs, and the increased need for exercise. According to Hammer- Bodies, work-related challenges also include long hours, poor diet and mental stamina to make key decisions. If your workplace does not offer employees an on-site fitness center, consider a contract with a local gym for discounted rates. “We have programs that can accommodate individuals or groups of various sizes,” says Jaudes. Packages cover a range of benefits, including discounts and personal training services. Manczuk says Magna Fitness offers corporate memberships that give employers the option of paying a lump sum for employees’ use of the facility or providing individual discounts to workers. While going to the gym is key to fitness, overall wellness while at work is also an important factor in a healthy lifestyle. Stock your drawer with healthy snack choices. Convince a friend at work to walk with you at lunch — Fuehne finds external motivation tends to increase a person’s compliance to a workout regimen. Keep a record of your physical activity; Fuehne says this also helps you to maintain a plan.You can even go as far as forming an office wellness committee at work, providing small incentives for co-workers who attain agreed-upon goals, from five minutes of stretching at the desk to walking around the block three times a day. Fuehne says a recent finding published by the American Heart Association states that 30 minutes of accumulating physical activity is enough to decrease a variety of risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle: heart disease, stroke and more. That means that the little things, like taking the stairs, parking at the furthest spot from the building or taking a 10- minute walk at lunch may all add up to better health. While this does not improve overall physical fitness, it may move a person from what is qualified as a sedentary lifestyle to an active one, and reduce the risks associated with the former. Regardless of what type of program you choose to undertake, these professionals agree that physical assessment is a good idea before starting any fitness regimen. In addition to Fuehne’s suggestion to involve a friend and write down your goals, Manczuk says convenience is key to goal achievement. “Set yourself up for success by choosing somewhere you can get to and get in and out in a timely manner,” he says. Jaudes also advises finding a place you feel is a non-intimidating, comfortable workout environment in order to be most effective. Keep these recommendations in mind, and maybe this year you’ll stick to your fitness plan the whole year through. |
“Executives place priority on time management, so it’s imperative that they are doing the correct cardio and strength training exercises to get their workout completed in a timely and efficient manner.” Ryan Manczuk, co-owner, Magna Fitness
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