Often times we think we want to change and we really try. For a few weeks we’ll go all out! But then we get back to our old familiar routine whether it’s from catching up with old friends or enjoying our favorite pastimes, like a baseball game. Our new healthy lifestyle is one that takes a lot of maintenance, and gradual change. If it were easy we would have done it a long time ago. But it isn’t easy. Our environment very much dictates the way we live, what we eat, and how we feel. It is very important to surround ourselves with good supportive people and positive things, to remind ourselves the course we want our lives to take.  If the company we keep doesn’t support us in our change for a better life, should we really want to keep that company?

Don’t eat the piece of wedding cake just because you had a hard workout. Peer pressure is just in our teens, be sensible, do you want to spend your workout making up for the cake, or do you want to use the workout to push farther and burn the piece of cake that’s still there from last wedding season? Sharing that tid bit with your friends will really help the badgering. This spring, spring forward!

As we approach spring, this wonderful time of renewal and freshness we must also remember all the work we have put into our bodies and to our good health and build upon that and move forward. When the weather is nice, make sure to enjoy. Lace up your sneakers and enjoy a nice jog along the lakefront. Renew your love of Chicago and Lake Michigan and yourself! While you’re at the baseball game make sure you take in the fresh air not just the ballpark food. This spring go back to the simple things in life. Enjoy the great friends and times that we share!  Take in the beautiful parks on a picnic or a walk with a friend. I know I can’t wait for spring!

Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers. You can also drop by in our GH Fitness Facilities

I helped a women touch her toes for the first time maybe ever. After weeks of struggle and persistence, she finally did it! This was the most rewarding day this month. Working in this field, I am so fortunate to help people achieve small goals, and gain competency in their daily routine and an awareness and connection with their body they never thought possible. I love it!

I have always known that I would be helping people, I have tried many ways, but it always came back to health and fitness. At an early age, I realized that prevention was a very important concept. In high school, it really hit home. My family health history is like that of most families here in the Midwest. Diabetes (Type II) and Heart Disease have made an appearance in my family. The two leading causes of death AND are both extremely preventable.

8 of the 10 leading causes of death ARE preventable. Prevention is something most doctors don’t talk about very often to their patients. My grandparents are very active, but never took their doctors advice. I always remember them saying ‘so the dr said that I need to be doing this and that’ but I never saw them follow through fully.

I found my calling from my family. I do this for them. I want more than anything for them to call and ask me for advice or help. But I will never seek them out. They know what I do, and if they want help I hope they know that I am here for them. In the meantime, I help everyone I can! I can’t help it! I just think of all the family members I am helping, everyone I’m helping is a brother, sister, mom or dad to someone. I wish someone had looked out for my family, just like I’m looking out for their families.

The woman that finally reached her toes, a small accomplishment but she will go on with her day pushing herself just a little bit further. She will keep coming back seeing this small success that I told her would be achievable if she kept up her hard work, will have more faith in my words, and know they are not just words but love and care and honesty and she will pass on that extra helping because I told her to work forward this weekend quit catching up!

Sometimes focusing on the little things will all add up to the bigger things. When you have much to accomplish, you don’t have to see the top of the stairs, just the first step. It may not seem to be completely correlated, but it will all make sense in the end. Keep working forward, progress in a positive direction and everything around you will seem more achievable!