Mixing it with Marty

Health & Fitness... Fake or Fiction

The mystery of Health and Fitness has me at a loss sometimes. Depending on who you talk to at any given time, the information you receive varies from sand to snow. Now I am sure that each individual totally believes in what they are saying and they are not being misleading at all. But my question is that maybe the source of the data they receive may not not be as genuine.
Eat more, Eat less. Workout more, Workout less. Run more, Run less. Get a personal trainer and they will cater to all your needs. These are all valid points which brings to a conclusion, that I, and only I have acquired is that only YOUR BODY can really tell you want it is that it needs.
This is not to say don't listen to others, because of course you have to, to ascertain the information that is going to be right for your body. You need to absorb all the advice that comes your way and pick at it like you would a chicken carcass to get all the best bits.
I have recently joined a gym and started a new exercise regime, and fortunately for me I have a lot of friends who are offering fantastic advice, but from one person to another there are many contradictions. Then there are the so professionals who add to the fray and medical practitioners who I frankly have no time for in this day and age, as they all seem to be scared they are going to say the wrong thing.

So this is my advice for you:

1. Educate yourself before you start on the various diets that are available to you. Put them all in front of you and when your mind and body says; "Yes! I think I can do that one" Then choose that one and don't second guess yourself.

2. When starting out with any exercise, only push yourself to the limit of where your body is starting to tell you hurts. If an instructor says to do 10-12 reps, and you can only do 8. Then only do 8. Professional athletes push the boundaries of pain only because they wish to become elite in their chosen field. If your choice is to become an elite physical being, then so be it. But don't hurt yourself because someone else says it's a good, because obviously your body is telling you otherwise.

3. If you go to a gym, NEVER be ashamed of who you and what you look like. When I was younger, I had a body of an Adonis. I may have looked good, but in all honesty, may have been a very judgemental young man. Now I look in the mirror and see a pork barrel sitting on the weights bench. But at least I know now that I treat everyone I meet with the same dignity I  give myself. There are some people who have the athletic body, then there are the real people who have bared three children, or worked every day of their life and enjoyed a few beers. Regardless of how long it takes, or how many times you fall off the wagon. If you are trying to improve yourself and your lifestyle, you don't have to achieve the "perfect body" because you are already in it.

4. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!!!
This is so important. If you feel you need to take a break or have a day off.. DO IT!
There is a saying "No Pain, No Gain" and metaphorically this is true. But physically, especially with the older generations of 30+, if you hurt yourself, it will take longer to heal. It's a fact of life unfortunately.

5. ENJOY WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!
If you find that you feel you have to force yourself to certain things, then don't do it.
If your routines become boring, then mix it up.
Find a process that resonates with your mind as well as your body, because honestly, I hate doing sit ups, and I hate running (bad knees), so I have searched various ways to get the same outcome for my legs and waist that I enjoy doing. It may take a little longer to get the same result.

So I hope I have shed some insight into my views of Health and Fitness, and I hope you get enjoyment in your journey to wherever or whatever it is you wish to achieve.

Now I am calling my blog "Mixing it with Marty" because I am actually inviting you to make comment and create discussion. This is an avenue for all of us to learn. I will respond to all sane references, but will just ignore the dumb stuff. So please join in.