WEDDED BLISS IS NO EXCUSE FOR LETTING YOURSELF GO!
The last couple of weeks have been something. First, I finally tied the knot. After 39 years of filling out my taxes as "single" I'm now hitched to the love of my life and truly my best friend. Within a week of being tied to the old "ball and chain," my back went out. This led me to be pretty sedentary for a few days. Way more than I am comfortable with. But in that time, as I felt myself slowly creep out of shape, I was forced to reflect at how all too common of a situation this is starting to look like.
When I took my vows "for sickness and in health," I certainly did so with hopes of there being more laughs than sniffles. But truth be told, when it comes to physical fitness, many couples live in sickness rather than in health.
Sadly, there is more than enough research showing that married people exercise much less than their single counterparts. The most recent one done by the Brit's Department of Health. And even though this particular research was carried out in England, we certainly see the same patterns in the United States....and certainly right here in Connecticut. Just look around.
In fact, several of those previous studies that I mentioned were conducted here in America. Another worth noting is one from University of North Carolina showing that married couples are twice as likely to become obese due to their inactivity.
The question is why married individuals are less physically active than single people. One of the common reasons cited by these studies is that, for some people, getting married and settling down means they can let themselves "go." Being in great shape may not seem as important to them anymore.
Another reason, researchers say, is that married people lead busy lives focused on work and family obligations. When leisure time is limited, physical fitness often becomes less important. So although your spouse may have all the intentions in the world of working out after work, it often takes a back seat.
However, no matter how hectic our lives are and how many responsibilities we juggle every day, we can still find time to fit in some exercise into our schedule. Too often people fall into the trap of thinking that just because they are busy, they have no time to exercise. But all it takes is motivation, creativity, and planning.
Now that I am married, I certainly don't want to fall into this trap. Here is my 5 point plan of attack to keep us moving and shaking. I suggest you follow my advice:
1. Make fitness a priority: Being married is no excuse for slacking off. Just because we are in a committed relationship doesn't mean we shouldn't look and feel great. Not only do we want to look and feel great about ourselves, but we want to look and feel great for each other. Making our workouts a priority is key.
2. Plan Your Workouts: I am pretty slammed with appointments through the week. And my wife is known to work 60 plus hour weeks. It is imperative that we schedule our workout sessions ahead of time, just as we would any other important appointment. As the saying goes, "failing to plan is planning to fail."
3. Include Your Spouse In Your Active Lifestyle: If you complain about the lack of quality time with your significant other, go on "fitness dates." It's not all that rare that on a Wednesday night, my wife and I plan a little workout together. And, yes, it does feel like a date. There is a great motivational aspect to exercising as a team. If unsure how to go about this, you may want to ask a trainer to show you some exercises that you can do together as a couple.
4. Be Exercise "Efficient": You don't just want to do anything. You want the most bang for your buck! Heck, if you are going to put in the time, you might as well reap the maximum rewards! If your time is limited, ask a fitness instructor to demonstrate the most time-efficient, structured total-body workouts that includes essentials such as strength training, cardio work, and flexibility enhancement.
5. This goes without saying...Have Fun!: Don't look at exercise as a chore or a burden on your time, but as a positive, bonding experience with your partner. You will get healthier and fitter without sacrificing quality "couple" time.
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Are you married? Hopefully you haven't let yourself go. But even if you have, it's not too late to get that body back. Whether you want to get back into pre-marriage shape or keep yourself from ever falling victim to the post-wedding sedentary lifestyle, I can help you! If you're not already a Cutting Edge Client, you live close by, and you are serious about taking control of your health and physique, then make sure you take advantage of your FREE Fitness Consultation (an $89 value).
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James Cipriani
Cutting Edge Personal Training
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