Healthy Lifestyles Consulting July Newsletter

Dear Steve,

When I’ve worked with Greg Morris, who wrote the article below, what stands out to me most is his persistence. He began with a desire to get well, and as he regained his health, he gained momentum.

I’ve noticed people are sometimes more likely to give up when they are motivated primarily by wanting to look better or wear a smaller size. Intrinsic motivation like health, better relationships or
self-respect often leads to more consistent effort. However, any first step on the road to a healthier lifestyle is one step closer and has the potential to take you all the way.

Make the most of the rest of your summer!

Steve

I started working out with Steve in 2001 when I was having some serious health problems. At the time I was battling ulcerative colitis, so my main concern in the beginning was my health and improving my fitness. Once you get sick, you would spend every last dime trying to regain your health. My condition made me aware of how important it was to take care of my body. I was surprised how quickly I became addicted to the feeling of working out and the discipline of eating cleaner.

Now that I’ve recovered from colitis, I’m motivated by wanting to look good, feel good and stay healthy. I like the structure and exactitude of tracking calories day in and day out. I think eating cleaner helps keep you looking and feeling younger. I turned 30 this year, but most people guess my age as much younger. It helps that I don’t smoke and rarely drink and that I have good genetics. Being healthy is the most important part, and looking good is the icing on the cake.

My biggest struggle is keeping consistent when most of my peers don’t follow this type of lifestyle. A lot of people seem to be consistent with their training: cardio, bootcamps, weight training, etc. Diet is another story. To really maintain a healthy lifestyle, you need that component. I found it’s important to find healthy foods you enjoy and can eat every day. A wide variety of recipes that are easy to make and taste great is key. Over time I got used to eating cleaner, and it became a habit.

Steve asked me what I would consider my biggest achievement, and I would say it was probably being as consistent as I have from the beginning. I haven’t ever drifted far off. I’ve had a few “bulking phases” where I’ve gained more body fat than I would have liked. I am also gratified that I was able to get through a really strict 12 week program without ever having an unplanned cheat meal. I cheated twice: once on Memorial Day and once on my birthday. I always ate all the meals on my plan and kept the ratios of protein, carbs, and fats where they were supposed to be. It all goes back to consistency.

I decided to seek the assistance of a personal trainer because I knew I needed someone to show me proper training form so I would know what I was doing and not make a lot of mistakes that people often make. You can’t go wrong having someone who is academically qualified to design or modify an existing program so you know what you are doing is safe and healthy. This way you can get the maximum results your genetics will allow.

My advice to anyone who is new to fitness: There are so many different theories on diet and fitness — different body types, goals, etc. I think you have to find what works best for you and your body type so you can actually stick with it for the rest of your life.

I’d like to say thank you to Steve for helping me with my training program, to Dr. Joe Klemczewski for all his nutritional help and his vast knowledge of diet and physiology, and not least to Jeff Hoover for helping me with the photos.

One of the most exciting areas of research in psychology today involves the brain’s ability to remap itself with training and experience. Researchers have learned that the old saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” just isn’t true. Experience or practice deepens the groove and actually changes the brain at any age. Understanding that change is possible is powerful stuff. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when we think of all the things we would like to change about our lives.

That’s why it works to find a basic issue and work on it for several weeks. It may not even involve diet or fitness. Ask yourself, “What one thing could I do three times a week for the next month that would move me closer to the person I want to be?” Set strategies to make that one change happen. Keep it simple, schedule it, plan for it, and tell someone you’re doing it.

Greg Morris is an great example of how one change leads to another. I’ve seen the domino effect again and again and have experienced it myself. Chances are great that the first step will put you on a new track!