Who Is On Your Left Fitness?

On Your Left Fitness provides a certified instructor to help you reach your fitness goals, whether that is to lose weight, improve your fitness level, or attempt your first race. In addition, On Your Left Fitness hosts entry-level races that offer individuals an opportunity to hone their new fitness skills or to set a goal.

Why Should I Exercise?

There is a difference between being physically active and physically fit. In order to meet the The American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for physical fitness, a person should:

• Do moderately intense cardio 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or
• Do vigorously intense cardio 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week, and
• Do eight to 10 strength-training exercises, eight to 12 repetitions of each exercise twice a week. A basic exercise program consists of aerobic exercise (physical activity), weight training, and stretching.

Why aerobics (physical activity):  Moderate-intensity physical activity means working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat, yet still being able to carry on a conversation. It should be noted that to lose weight or maintain weight loss, 60 to 90 minutes of physical activity may be necessary. The 30-minute recommendation is for the average healthy adult to maintain health and reduce the risk for chronic disease. An untrained person may over do it, transitioning into the high-intensity workout that does not promote weight loss.

Why weight training:  According to the American College of Sports Medicine, your lean muscle mass may decrease by nearly 50% between the ages of 20 and 90. Weight training can reverse the decline in strength, bone density and muscle mass. This is particularly important to women, as they are known to lose bone density during the “change of life.”

Why stretching:  Stretching should be done in conjunction with your daily exercise routine. The benefits of stretching include increased flexibility, better range of motion, better posture, and improved circulation.

Starting an exercise program can sound like a daunting task, but just remember that your main goal is to boost your health by meeting the basic physical activity recommendations. Choose activities you enjoy, such as swimming, biking, or playing basketball with friends to get your daily physical activity. If you need variety of activities to stay motivated, combine a few that appeal to you.

Why Do I Need On Your Left Fitness?

Yes, we all have the “power to change,” and On Your Left Fitness helps facilitate the “change” by taking the guesswork out of exercising. Studies show that when you have a workout buddy you are more likely to stick to the workout schedule. On Your Left Fitness will become your new BFF! We use Training Peaks to send you reminders, to provide you with the workouts you have done in our gym, and to instruct you on what workouts to do on your own.