By Michael Walton

With the New Year and everyone’s subsequent resolutions fresh in mind I want to address some common misconceptions about what it means to be physically fit and the work that will be involved in reaching ones fitness goals for the year.  There are certain misconceptions across the board but I will focus on women for this segment and return with something for men next week. 

Most of the time people develop misconceptions for lacking of knowing any better or having had first hand experience.  Through this segment I seek to give you first hand knowledge of fitness matters from either personal experience or from an expert on the matter.  I could very well address this subject myself based upon my own experiences in working with women but I’d like, in this instance, for the women to hear it from one of their own.  So to address the subject I sought the advice of Alisha Washington, a top notch personal trainer with over 10 years of experience training females in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area with outstanding results.  Here were some common misconceptions that were addressed in my conversation with her.

• Common misconceptions women have about what is required to be physically fit are that it is something that they can do until they reach their desired weight or goal; that it should not hurt; or it should not be an extreme amount of work.  We must realize that we must fight the “fat battle” forever.  A woman’s body is consistently in baby-making mode until menopause and beyond that there is not enough estrogen to keep that girlish figure in place.  If you don’t workout consistently everything goes tipsy tirvy.

• After pregnancy it is definitely possible to regain shape.  I recommend exercising before, during and after pregnancy.  This is so the body does not recognize exercise as something foreign after or during you pregnancy, muscles have great memory.  Once your muscles recognize an activity as having done it before it does not take them long to get back into the swing of things.  Sometimes they just have to be pushed into jumping back on the saddle but once up there they know exactly how to ride.  For some women it takes a few months for others a couple years but with all it takes consistency.  For young women or older women alike.    

I agree there is no more important element than consistency.  I’d like to thank Alisha for her contribution.  Gentlemen, next week I’ll have something specifically for you.

I wish everyone a Happy New Year. With the New Year comes the release of my 2008 Wall Calendar with 12 months of brand new photos courtesy of Heather Drake Photography.  Please visit www.MikeWaltonUSA.com for more information on that and upcoming appearances.   

See you soon.  Until then, stay focused.  I have my eye on you! 

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