An Article to help motivate us all...'The Rewards of Exercis

Earn The Rewards of Exercise, Oregonian Newspaper column by Sherri & Alex McMillan

---

One of our trainers shared this quote with his clients to help inspire them: From all-time great runner Emil Zatopek: "When a person trains once, nothing happens. When a person forces himself to do a thing a hundred or a thousand times, then he certainly has developed in more ways than physical. Is it raining? That doesn't matter. Am I tired? That doesn't matter, either. Then willpower will be no problem."

So as you outline your health and fitness plan, what will you do to challenge yourself?

Consider how much descipline it takes to work out three to five days a week. Think about how hard it is to keep stretching beyond comfort zones and how challenging it is to exercise at high intensities. Consider the self-resolve required to eat healthy foods and drink lots of water when temptations surround us everywhere we go.

But if you have the courage to respect your body - the temple that houses your mind and spirit - achieving your goals will not be far away.

It says a lot about who you are when you invest the time to take care of yourself. It says you respect and love yourself enough to do the things necessary to be at your personal best.

Each time you get into the gym for a workout on a day when you just don't feel like exercising, you grow a little stronger as a human being. Each time you go for a run or walk on a cold winter's day when you just feel like staying under the warm, cozy covers, you strengthen your character. When you endure a tough workout, it enables you to persevere through other challenges in your life.

Working on improving your physical conditioning will not only enrich your life and make you a better person, you'll also become a better parent, a better spouse, a better and more productive worker, and a better friend.

Exercising regularly, eating well and taking the time to relax and nourish your body will make you feel happier. It will provide you with more energy than you have ever known. It will give you greater stamina, mental toughness and make you a clearer, stronger thinking. It will make you more patient and loving.

There are 168 hours in a week. Surely each and every one of us regardless of our hectic schedules can care out four or five of them ito care for our bodies and work on mastering our physical state.

And remember that a missed workout is much more than a missed workout.

When you miss a workout, you don't just stay at the same level you were at -- you actually take a few steps back. Every time you miss a workout, you have done something to strengthen the habit of NOT working out.

Remember results are not guaranteed, they are earned.

- Sherri & Alex McMillan, The Oregonian Newspaper