Approach Your Physical Fitness Like You Do Your Finances
By Kevin R. Scott, AOL Black Voices,
Posted: 2005-12-27 10:46:33
Missy Elliott, D'Angelo, and
Mary J. Blige have all been trained by fitness guru Mark Jenkins.
5 Steps to Physical Fitness:
- Customize & Personalize Your Fitness Regime: Whether you choose low impact aerobics, an at home workout, strength training, yoga or a combination of all of the above, customize your workout by balancing what you need to do (exercises you don’t like doing) with what you want to do (exercises that you like doing).
- Develop a Nutrition Plan and Not Just a Diet: Aside from eating nutritious meals, it’s important to realize that “cheating” happens- but should be monitored. Be careful about combining food and emotions.
- Do Your Research: Ask yourself, your trainer, and/or your physician as many questions as possible. It’s key to know your own body type and to realize that not every fitness trend and concept will work the same for everyone.
- Aim for long term success: It’s not always about the occasion. Proms, weddings, birthdays and other personal milestones should not dictate your fitness regime. They can serve as benchmarks for your progress however the overall goal is self-improvement.
- Actualize financial goals along with your fitness goals. The old adage says, “When you look good, you feel good.” Being physically and mentally fit affects everyone’s earning potential, not just athletes and performers. The boost in self esteem can be one of the biggest income generating tools you can ever acquire.
The motivation for getting in shape is often the example of the celebrities on television. The toned arms, tight abs and great skin have become requisites for most Hollywood and entertainment insiders and are not courtesy of their stylist. For the hard bodies that set them apart from the pack, many turn to celebrity trainers and fitness experts like Mark Jenkins who believe that fitness initiatives should be aligned with all other long term goals.
Mark is the author of
The Jump Off: 60 Days To A Hip Hop Hard Body and is personally responsible for the physical reinventions of celebrities like
Mary J. Blige,
Sean “Diddy” Combs,
Missy Elliott,
D’Angelo and
Brandy. He’s found that when you equate physical fitness with one’s personal financial bottom line, commitment becomes more realistic.
“The diet approach doesn’t really work with most of my high profile clients. You’ve got to show them how it’s a part of their economic plan. You make better decisions if you’re getting more nutrients, you’re gonna have more energy so you can work harder and make more money and have more longevity, and be more successful” says Mark.
Physical appearance is directly related to self esteem asserts Jenkins. “When I trained Johnny Cochran, he would say it makes a difference in the way people perceive him when he was wearing a suit and it’s fitting him a certain way.”
Understanding the links between physical fitness, self esteem, and wealth building are key components to any overall plan for self improvement.
2005-12-11 19:42:00
