January 14, 2011
There is a lot of talk about working out to fit into your "skinny jeans" or "catch someone's eye" this time of the year, as articles and news stories on fitness resolutions saturate the media. I want to give you another, more important reason to fit in your fitness this year: because you CAN!
Every day soldiers come home permanently injured from war. Just head out your door and you are bound to see someone in a wheelchair, sight impaired or otherwise challenged. I try to be thankful daily that I can walk, talk and yes, work out each day.
This has become even more important to me recently. The emergency C section surgery during the birth of my first baby in last year left me with an infected incision, and a still lingering numb foot from the epidural. I think of the days when I took working out for granted, and this time last year, I wished I could do 15 jumping jacks or run a mile. I had undergone daily tests, exams and painful shock therapy to name just a few and no one could tell me when the feeling would come back to my leg.
This was nothing compared to the physical and mental anguish and challenges that injured soldiers, athletes, accident victims and otherwise impaired people go through. It ultimately took 3 months and lots of physical therapy. I resolved to never take working out for granted, never ditch a run because of rain, never complain about teaching a cardio-sculpt class when I would rather be at a movie…
I challenge you to think that way as we enter the new year as well. I read a great quote in a recent Prevention Magazine article by Michael Segell. It said "take care of yourself, because life is a gift that can be rescinded at any time… to live irresponsibly is to dishonor that gift."
So instead of eating poorly, complaining about the gym or skipping that workout video because you are "tired," instead live responsibly, honor your gift of health, work out because you can, and for those who wish they could!
Fitness- Fit it in.
Nikki
NikkiFitness, Nicole Glor, is an AFAA certified NYC personal trainer, group fitness instructor at Crunch in Manhattan and fitness columnist for Military.com. Her workouts focus on multitasking toning and cardio intervals to cut workout time in half and boost metabolism. She has 7 DVDs and downloads on Amazon including the new Hard Core Abs DVD, Fit Travel Workout DVD, Booty Camp, Red Carpet Runway Workout, Military Wife Workout, Baby Bootie Camp, and the Beach Bride Destination Wedding Workout. Nikki's workouts have been featured in over 60 national media outlets including Fox and Friends, CNBC, Shape Magazine, Women's Health, Fitness, Girls Life, First, Woman's Day, Martha Stewart Radio, Health Magazine, NEw York 1 TV News, WABC TV, Pilates Style Magazine, Oxygen, Ladies' Home Journal, Parents TV, The New York Daily News, US Air Magazine, The Knot.com, The Washington Post, Military Spouse Magazine, Get Married TV, Destinations Wedding Magazine, and many more. Get her newsletters, music playlists, video demos and DVDs at
www.nikkifitness.com.