Fitness
and Success are Connected
Personal
Trainer Brian Calkins writes an article in the DowntownerPlus, and his September
5, 2007 article rings true and should be shared.
It’s no mystery to successful people there is direct correlation between sound
health and fitness and success in their career and personal lives. Take a moment
to recall a successful person you know, and they likely show up at the health
club consistently, work with a personal trainer, or get up a few minutes early
for a heart-elevating jog. Successful people like to jumpstart their day with an
abundance of energy and the feel-good endorphins that exercise offers. Recent
studies identify the direct correlation between fitness and success.
Better ability to focus, improved confidence and enhanced ability to follow
through were directly attributed to improved fitness levels according to a 2007
University of Georgia study. Further, a leading executive search company
surveyed more than 1,300 executives who earn $100,000 or more annually. When
asked to describe their perceptions of weight and work, 75% said good physical
fitness is “critical for career success at the executive level.” Seventeen
percent, by contrast, said staying in shape is “a nice goal, but secondary to
fiscal fitness.”
The founder and CEO of that executive search firm said, “good physical fitness
is critical to success as an executive in today’s work world. The days of a
little extra padding being a sign of maturity and success are gone.” When
asked about obesity, 75% of the executives said that being overweight is a
“serious career impediment.”
Do these responses reflect our obsession with weight loss and mirror the
constant barrage of skinny images in popular culture? Probably not. Rather,
there is a very strong link between improved fitness and increased productivity,
enhanced ability to solve problems, superior stamina and energy, not to mention
reduced stress and fatigue, all leading to better job performance.
It goes well beyond looking good. Fit people tend to have better eating habits
and miss fewer days at work due to a higher resistance to illness. And with
competition continually increasing in every industry, companies are now
rewarding employees and managers who miss less work and produce more.
A study by Jim McKenna, a British researcher, showed that after exercising
participants returned to work more tolerant of themselves and more forgiving of
their colleagues. The study goes on to conclude that “work performance was
consistently higher, time management skills improved, as did mental
sharpness.”
All it takes is investing 3 to 4 sessions a week, 30 to 45 minutes each, to
experience these benefits. Combine strength training and cardiovascular exercise
with sound nutrition to rev up your mental sharpness, enhance your productivity,
elevate your mood, better manage stress and simply feel good. As your fitness
level increases, likely your position on the ladder of success will too.
You have read it all before, however Mr. Calkins adds a slightly different
slant. Exercise is not just for the heart any more, it can also help your
earning power. Benefits are near endless, and everyone can do it in some
fashion. Learn more about the benefits of aerobic exercise and make it a part of
you and your family’s lives. The quality of your life and the people you love
will benefit from the decision and dedication to being healthy.
February 9th, the Student-Athletes of VSU will be presenting a Relay
event. No race day registration will be allowed, so get entered today! There are
five (5) legs of the relay, and a team can be from 3 to 5 members to get the
full distance completed. The distance covered will be 10K or 6.2 miles, but each
leg will run approximately 1.2 miles. If there are less than 5 people on the
team, members will have to run multiple legs. There will be awards in team
categories, team names and team T-Shirts. This is a family event, keep that in
mind. Applications are available on VSU Blazer web site, at Get Active Running
and more or call and we will fax or email the application to you.
March 15th, the Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Recreation Department
present the annual Azalea Festival 5K on March 15th – make plans to
have the entire family participate in either the 5k or 1 mile events. This is a
Valdosta tradition and favorite.
There are weekly, FREE activities for the runners and cyclists in the area.
Runners can show up at Get Active Running and more on Saturday and Sunday
morning at 7AM for all-comer runs from 4 to 8 plus mile runs. For more
information on the runs, check out the web page www.getactivevaldosta.com
, call or send an email. Cyclists can meet for rides on Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday and Sunday. For more information on the cycling rides, check out the
web page at www.azaleacitycyclists.com.
Do you have results you want to share about yourself, a loved one or friend? Do
you want to share what motivates you to being active? Send an email to me at Get
Active Running and more.
If you have questions about your walking, running or other training, drop me an
email and I will do my level best to answer your questions. Check out www.getactivevaldosta.com
to get connected. Listen to the Get Active South Georgia radio show on Tuesday
evenings from 6 to 7PM on Talk 92.1 FM to receive additional information or to
ask questions.
Thank
you,
Todd
& Alice Smoot
GET
ACTIVE
Running
and more
GET
ACTIVE SOUTH GEORGIA
as
heard on
Talk
92.1 FM Tuesdays 6 to 7 PM
GET
ACTIVE SOUTH GEORGIA
as read weekly in the Sunday VDT - look for us
www.getactivevaldosta.com
3200-C
North Ashley Street
Valdosta,
GA 31602
229-219-0010
229-219-0012
(F)
In
the long run, one must have goals to succeed.
"To
give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift" Steve
Prefontaine