9 WEIGHT LOSS

Today 9weightloss is honored to hear from NYC-based personal trainer and PR guru Johanna Thomsen on that dreaded topic of…exercise. It’s something many of us find challenging, yet it’s also a crucial piece to the weight loss puzzle – and to healthy living in general.

If you’re in the NYC area and seek an intuitive, yet challenging personal trainer, hit her up at johanna.thomsen@gmail.com.

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When most people hear the word “exercise,” they think of gyms, treadmills, stairmasters, running, and machines.  These options appeal to some of us.  There are people who really value the role of their gym in their fitness routine, and for whom long runs clear the head and keep their bodies in peak physical form.

Then there are the rest of us.  Even as a fitness professional, I joke that I am a non-practicing member of my gym.  I pay monthly, but don’t attend, so I may even be a patron at this point.  I don’t enjoy the machine circuit, and although I know it to be true, I think that the “runner’s high” passed me by, and all I feel is the “runner’s why…am I doing this to myself.”  Maybe you, too, feel that the popular views of what it means to exercise either hurt your body, are not enjoyable to you, or are part of a routine that you find yourself unable to sustain.

Stephanie talks a lot about how your physical and emotional makeup factor in to how you eat and care for yourself.  Those same factors also determine how you exercise best. It may take some trial and error, and a lot of patience, but there is a form of motion and resistance out there that will feel great and bring with it enormous health benefits as a bonus!

Each of us is shaped differently, both inside and out.  We all carry different injuries – physical and emotional – that need to be honored in our search for the right fitness outlet.  

• If music makes you want to move, consider finding a dance class at a local studio.  If you want to really feel the ground and connect in with something inside of you that longs to shake and jump when you hear drums, try African Dance.  If you like structure and routine, building upon skills, and are looking to increase your flexibility, a beginner’s ballet class might be the ticket.  If you want to enjoy your curves, and learn to really isolate different muscle groups, I’d recommend belly dancing. 
• Do you just want to be outside whenever possible?  How about hiking or biking?  Both of these can be done at whatever level feels good to start, and then you can see where it takes you. 
• Are you a water person?  Is there a pool that you could join or a body of water nearby suitable for swimming? 
• Do you enjoy exercising as part of a group?  There are countless classes out there targeted towards group fitness.  Try spinning, strength & cardio, Zumba, or aerobics. 
• If you’re looking to clear your mind while you strengthen and tone, there are several different styles and schools of yoga.  Talk to some studios are hear what they have to offer, and then try out a few techniques to find the one that matches you best. 
• Do you want to do something in your home?  Start with a set of light hand weights and a jump rope.  With these simple and easy-to-store items, you can give yourself a challenging and rewarding workout. 
• And then there’s walking.  Just get outside, warm yourself up at a comfortable pace, and then pick up your stride as you take in the fresh air and everything around you.  The greatest thing about walking – you can do it anywhere!   

Baby and Johnny really liked exercising.

While my suggestions are based on very general guidelines, it is important that you speak with your healthcare professional before starting any new fitness routine, specifically if you have pre-existing health challenges.  Additionally, I highly urge each of you to really listen to your inner voice and your body, and to ease into whatever you try slowly, testing your limits gently and with great care.  If one thing doesn’t resonate but you think you could try again – try.  It may grow on you as you move through the initial frustration stage of trying something new.  If you know immediately that’s it’s not for you, that’s okay too.  There will be something else that you’ll come upon and you’ll know when it feels right.  The key is sustainability – finding out what you can keep as a steady practice without a sense of dread, or shame-based motivation.  Once you find that one thing – or a combination of things – that fits into your life and bring you joy and release, you have found what moves you.