Ah, the holidays are FINALLY over.

The big man in the red suit slid down my chimney and filled my stocking with coal,
Stuffed his face with the cookies I left for him then took his fat ass back up to the North Pole.

The holiday shoppers are long gone and the streets are looking quite bare.
The number on the scale says I gained five pounds yet I’m not bothered, nor do I really care.

2016 brings a fresh new start, a chance for many to join the gym and make a fitness resolution.
Unfortunately for most of these people they would be better off checking into an institution.

Yes, working out can be hard and there’s going to be times when you will want to quit.
But just remember to be strong, push through and no matter what, it’s never a good idea to sign up for CrossFit. 

Bah Humbug…….

Okay, in all serious I actually do enjoy the holiday season however I for one am happy that they are officially over and here’s why:

Without a doubt, January is one of the busiest months of the year for most Personal Trainers. The gyms are packed with people who want to get fit, healthy and start the new year off right. Many of these people are completely new to the gym and the idea of training with weights is a completely foreign concept to them. These are the people who are in need of some help and assistance, along with a little bit of guidance and a WHOLE LOT of motivation so they usually enlist in the services of a fitness professional.

I’ve always believed that this is the smart and healthy approach to starting a brand new exercise regime. As a business owner who owns and operates his own fitness training company, I believe that it’s my duty and the duty of my fellow trainers to educate our clients on how they can achieve all of their health and fitness goals in a safe and effective timely manner. Our clients trust us to show and tell them what to do. After all, we are the professionals, so we need to make sure that we act the part and practice what we preach. And at Forever Fit, we do. We motivate, educate and quite simply, we produce results.

If your car breaks down and you don’t know anything about engines, would you try to fix it yourself? Or would you take it to a mechanic and have it professionally repaired? The answer to most of us seems quite simple however there are still quite a few people out there who prefer to learn the hard way and try to master the task of fixing something that they know absolutely nothing about on their own. In the case of a broken car, these are the people who are usually left with a much bigger problem then the one that they started off with. In the case of training in the gym, these are the people who usually injure themselves and are left again with a much bigger problem then the one that they started off with.

So why are there so many of these people that exist? As I look around the gym at the start of the new year I notice a common theme start to develop around me that disturbs me greatly: Terrible form and improper gym etiquette. Gym members arching or rounding their backs as they swing dumbbells up into the air. While others using momentum just so they can move the heaviest amount of weight possible without the slightest care in the world to just how sloppy or dangerous the movement they are doing may be. And range of motion? Have you heard about that? Well that seems to be a completely lost concept at most of the gyms that I visit from time to time.

Now I hate to be that annoying guy at the gym who tries to offer unsolicited advice and correct everyone’s’ form. Nor do I believe in singling out people by making videos or taking photos of them and posting them on social media platforms for others to critique and make fun of their terrible form. These people are not my clients and I am not a gym bully, so I usually keep to myself and mind my own business when working with clients or training on my own.

I will however say this – If you don’t know what you are doing in the gym, PLEASE ask for help. If you are unable to afford a Personal Trainer there are plenty of other cost-effective options that you can do to help further your results with your physique without risking injury. Our company for example offers small group fitness classes which are budget friendly and provide for a safe and motivating environment for clients to learn how to train properly and effectively with weights in the gym so that they continue to achieve their health and fitness goals and along with continuous results with their physiques.

Remember, it’s not just about avoiding injury. If you knew there was a way to take your physique up to the next level in a safer, faster and more effective manner, wouldn’t you do it? Then start today and book a consultation with a Personal Trainer or join a Group Fitness Class, you’ll be glad you did.

There is no quick fix to getting in shape. This is not a race. Incorporating fitness into your daily routine needs to become a lifestyle change and not a short term solution. You only get one body, so make sure you treat it right.

Keep it clean, train it hard and get fit!

Because getting injured and remaining unhealthy  and out of shape is not a game!

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove