When will Wisconsin get on the fitness band wagon?

I hope that this finds you doing well and enjoying your workouts.

Normally, when writing a blog or an article, you tend to gear what you have to say towards the people who will read it. I am going to go against this "rule" today to vent a bit and hopefully inspire.

If you are reading this, than more than likely, you are working out on a regular basis and hopefully seeing great results. So this entry is not at all directed towards you. But if it makes you think of someone, then please, forward it on to them.

I moved to Wisconsin just over 7 years ago and fell in love with the Milwaukee area. It was here that my unknown passion rose to the surface bubbling up with such power that I completely changed my career to follow it. I haven't looked back yet and I get to honestly say "I am doing what I love and loving what I do!!!" (That's right, TRIPLE exclamation point!)

It has been a long standing statement about the fitness and health level of the general population of Wisconsin being on the "thicker" side of the spectrum. The land of beer and cheese, where we hibernate with beer in the winter and celebrate the outdoors with festivals (and beer) in the summer. Fish Fry's, Kringle, Anything-on-a-stick (deep fried of course), and the ever present beer has helped Wisconsin get to the thicker side of things. Oh, and don't forget the tailgating!

Most people use these as excuses as to why they don't workout or aren't is shape. My question is this: Why not use these as motivators to workout?

Like I said before, I fell in love with this area. I live where I can be in a big city in 20 mins or out in the woods in 15. I can get to Chicago in less than 2 hours, or I can be out on a remote lake in the same amount of time. The festivals are top of the nation, you can't go a weekend without being able to find one. The people are super nice. And I am one of the few that love the snow and cold as well as the warm-hot summers. And I do enjoy a great tasting beer now and then.

So I am not asking anyone to change anything about what makes Wisconsin, Wisconsin.

If you truly want a healthy lifestyle and be as fit and healthy as you possibly can, then a lot of these things will have to be reduced dramatically if not removed all together. (My apologies to the Fried Snickers on a stick people, you may be out of business soon!) But even if you want to be able to enjoy all that the Wisconsin lifestyle has to offer, why wouldn't you still want to be as healthy as possible!

This is why I don't understand why Wisconsin hasn't jumped on the fitness band wagon. If I wanted to be able to spend more money on anything I wanted, but didn't want to reduce my savings and an opportunity came along that would allow me more cash flow without much time involved... YOU BET I WOULD JUMP ON THAT!

I want to be careful when I state this next point. So read carefully!

First I will repeat what I said before... If you truly want a healthy lifestyle and be as fit and healthy as you possibly can, then a lot of these things will have to be reduced dramatically if not removed all together. But if you want to give your body a fighting chance from developing things like diabetes, plaque build up in the arteries, heart attacks, cancer... etc... etc... Then you need to get on a workout program. This (and here is the important part) does not mean that once you start working out, you can then eat more of the fried food or drink more beer.

Here is what you will find happening when you start to workout:
-Your clothes will fit better
-You will have more energy
-You will sleep better
-Your cravings will fade away
-Your focus will improve
-You will want to do more and you will be able to do more
-This might cause you to get more done at work creating an opportunity for a raise
-Your personal life will improve
-Your sex drive will improve
-You will have more moments of happy thoughts than of negative ones
-You will feel better about yourself, inside and out!
-There are numerous other benefits as well.

AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN ADDRESSED THE BENEFIT OF EATING CLEAN!

So Wisconsin, when will you stop using our lifestyle as a crutch for not working out and start creating your healthy lifestyle that you want?

I have a client who gave up bowling so she could have personal training. Her goals were set and one helped her get closer to her goals, and one didn't. She made the right choice.

Make it a great day!

Rob Crenshaw,
The Fitness Buff