Experts: Make fitness a priority

By Lisa Ryckman, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 29, 2008 at 6 p.m.

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Rudy McClinon Jr. of R-U-A Pro Fitness recommends making sure your fitness goals are realistic.

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Resolved: This is absolutely the last time I'm going to spell out something with the first letters of anything:

Get up and go, go, go. Move more!

Eat less.

Take naps.

Forgive - the people around you, and especially yourself.

Imbibe more water and less caffeine/alcohol.

Try something - anything - new.

Enough of that.

You might well think New Year's resolutions are a bunch of hooey, especially if, like me, you've been making and then ignoring the same ones for the last 30 years or so. But research actually points to resolution success.

A 2002 study found that nearly half of people make New Year's resolutions, and nearly half of those actually do what they say they're going to do. That compares with 4 percent follow-through by folks who really, really wanted to make changes, darn it all, but couldn't commit beyond telling their dog.

With that in mind, I turned to some local health and fitness experts - our personal trainers from past Rocky Fitness Challenges - for some no-cost (or low-cost) bright ideas for 2009. These are people who make their living trying to motivate other people to do stuff they hate for their own good, so they have lots of thoughts on the subject.

In these uncertain times, it's comforting and empowering to focus on things within your control. So try these or come up with your own - but definitely resolve to resolve. You might actually get 'er done.

Rudy McClinon Jr.

R-U-A Pro Fitness

* For you: Make sure your fitness goals are realistic, attainable, done in moderation and for yourself. If it is not for you, it won't be accomplished.

* For himself: Continue to work toward making sure that my mind, body and spirit are in harmony.

* More info: 720-323-2239 or ruaprofitness.com

Chad Brenzikofer

Muscle Management Therapies

* For you: Climb a fourteener a month. Many of them are technically easy but present great challenges to fitness, both physical and mental. And with the exception of some ice-cold beer after the descent, they're free!

* For himself: I do at least one 100-mile bike ride each month from May to September. Last year, I did two of them in less than six hours, so my goal is to do all of them in less than six hours.

* More info: mmtherapies.com or 303-778-7246

Denise Tryner

Denise Tryner Fitness Consulting

* For you: Rather than the same old resolution of "I will lose weight," change that to "I will run/jog/walk a 5K in 2009." If you know that you aren't ready to run a 5K, then pick a race that will be held in the summer, sign up for it and start training. You will feel amazing when you cross the finish line.

* For herself: Improve my personal record in racing.

* More info: denisetryner.com or 720-319-3055

Neil Cestra

Essential Fitness

* For you: Be inspired to keep going and tackle more of the persistent health issues that might have been bothering you for years. Try your hardest to round out your wellness and "body maintenance" and reap the benefits. Even if you have a bad day, week or month, tomorrow is a fresh day to recommit and get going again.

* For himself: Bounce back from knee surgery and train for triathlons this season. I think it's important for our members to know that, even for trainers, it's a challenge to keep a steady fitness routine. Keeping fit is a lifetime personal commitment that has its ups and downs.

* More info: essentialfitdenver.com or 303-394-9000

Lauren Condell

Body Shop

* For you: Have clear intentions - why you want to lose the weight, or put on the muscle, or how long it will take, or how you will treat yourself in the process. It's a much gentler way of signing a mental contract with yourself that you can and will succeed this time. An intention can set the right kind of energy in motion.

* For herself: Give back, even if it's just of myself and my time. I would like to donate my time and work with victims of domestic violence. Exercise and becoming physically fit is an amazing start to rebuilding self-confidence and rebuilding a life.

* More info: bodyshopfit.com or 303-653-4255

Brian Barkley

Functional Conditioning

* For you: Sign up for your first 5k or ride the MS 150 bike ride in June with Functional Conditioning.

* For himself: Reach more people who, because of disease or disability, never thought they could work with a personal trainer.

* More info: 303-467-7954 or functionalconditioning.com

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