How are your resolutions going?

It is only January 13 and many people will have already given up on their New Year's Resolutions.

Why is this so?

Is it a lack of will power? lack of desire, effort, bad timing?

I go with none of the above. Why?

If you were to ask people if they want to be healthy, what kind of answer would you expect? Of  course everyone wants to be healthy. If you change the question to what does it take to be healthy, you will receive so many different answers, that you will determine that there are many different ideas on what health is. That last sentence is too wordy, but I'm not going to change it.

IMO the reason most people don't stick to their resolutions is because of the confusion about what people need to be healthy. If you watch enough TV you will see too many commercials for what I call health and exercise gimmicks. Use the program and you will end up looking like us on TV.  
NO YOU WONT!

Look for the disclaimer on the screen. You will probably find one like "results not typical".
Have you ever asked: What are the typical results of following this program? YOU SHOULD.

IMO the biggest reason people don't get the results they want, is that they are looking for the wrong results. They are trying to put the cart before the horse. What do I mean by this? The KISS principle is something to keep in mind. You only need to work on a few basic movements in order to get into better condition. Think about squats, hip hinges, overhead presses, loaded carries. Most trainers try to make getting into shape a lot more complicated than it needs to be. KISS.

If you want to get healthy, you need to find out what kind condition you are in before beginning your exercise program. How mobile are you? What past injuries are you effected by? What has kept you from exercising in the past?

My favorite way to analyze a clients condition is to have them try squatting.  Why? Squatting is a movement our bodies are designed to perform. It is also a movement that is highly effected by how much time we spend in the seated position. In order to perform a good squat, lower body strength, balance and torso control are needed.


I am a big fan of overhead lifts and carries. Should everyone do them? NO. In order to perform overhead lifts and carries a certain amount of shoulder blade mobility and stability and thoracic spine extension is needed in order for these exercises to be safe. It might take months of this type of work (shoulder blade mobility and stability and thoracic extension) before a client is ready to start using overhead exercises.

See how he is lifting his hands in front of his ears. He needs to work on 
the thoracic extension of his spine.

If you have already given up on your resolutions this year, don't blame yourself. Change your goals and how you are going to attain them instead.