A Guide to Getting Un-Stuck
A Guide to Getting Un-Stuck
Most of us have a movement practice, whether it’s running, Pilates, group fitness, or a mix of things. And for years that might have been enough to keep us at our desired level of health and fitness. But as we age, what worked in our 20’s and 30’s no longer has the same effect. Between the ages of 40 and 59, most of us will gain more body fat than at any other point in our lives. When we reach 40 years old, production of sex hormones begins to decrease by up to 3% per year, so even if we are active and show up to the gym, we will face changing hormone levels that will affect our body composition, mood, energy, and overall health. When we reach middle age, we can no longer just check the box when it comes to fitness and wellness. We need a new set of tools that will support impactful and sustainable change.
The truth is, as we get older we need different things from our fitness practice. And in order to understand those needs, we need to understand the art and science behind exercise.
Many people who show up at our studio have tried everything–they’ve checked all the boxes. They’ve tried what worked for their friend or neighbor or celebrity spokesperson, but it didn’t work for them. They trained with the guy who promised weight lifting or HIIT or yoga was the answer. They embraced the latest fad diet and exercise craze. They wanted to lose 10 lbs or get faster or set a new personal record or be leaner, but they’re stuck. They’re stuck because no one taught them how to take a shot at solving their own health and fitness problems. No one explained how to set up a training week based on their specific body type, age, gender, goals, emotions, injuries, and fitness level. (Yes, all of these things come into play.)
Take Peter, who showed up at our studio about ten years ago. Peter referred to himself as “the most in-shape fat guy” you’d ever meet. At the time, Peter was in his mid 40’s and had a fitness routine that looked solid on paper. Monday- run the lakes, Tuesday- Pilates, Wednesday- Strength training, Thursday- Yoga Sculpt, Friday- Peloton.
Peter loved his weekly routine and stuck to it week in and week out. But when he was in his early 40s he began to notice that his weight and body fat were going up. By the time he got to me, he was 20 lbs heavier than he had been five years earlier.
Peter was missing some key elements in his weekly routine. Helping Peter understand where the holes were, how to begin the process of filling those holes, and giving him the ability to make adjustments as he went along was what allowed Peter to lose his 20 lbs and then another 10 lbs and get into the best shape of his life.
My goal as a performance coach, personal trainer and teacher has always been to help my athletes understand the things they need to know in order to make themselves better and get themself unstuck. I want them to be critical thinkers about their own fitness. I have helped hundreds of professional athletes competing at the highest level understand how to eat, how to sleep, how to train, and how to recover year after year in order to be at their best. And I use the same principles of science to help my clients in the studio be in the best shape of their lives.
It is every person’s right to be educated about how to use exercise not just to be healthy, but to chase fitness as far as they want. Chasing fitness applies to everyone and simply means that you are identifying what is important to you, looking ahead to what’s next for your health and fitness, and following a fitness and wellness progression that makes the most sense for you in this specific moment. It will be different for everyone, but with the right tools and an understanding of how to apply those tools, you can reach your wellness goals.
New Programs to help you figure out your wellness coming soon! Online and in Studio options.
See you in the gym,
Aaron Leventhal CSCS, PN1