Why is it that us Jews typically don’t put as much time or invest as much effort into their health as other people? Is it the fact that exercise or ‘PE’ isn’t pushed in our schooling environment or is it that we have this overwhelming drive to prioritise career and making money more than anything else? The irony of the latter is that physical exercise has been shown by many to improve effectiveness and productivity in business; many big hitting, well known executives swear by physical exercise as the key to their daily success.

However, what is success and how do we define it? Success comes in many variables. Financial success is definitely one gauge and career is another. Sadly health, whether emotional or physical, is often forgotten about.

Has your health and family suffered at the expense of your career? That’s a serious question I want you to think about. If it’s an effort to play footy with your children in the park because you get breathless after two minutes, or you struggle to walk up a flight of stairs without letting your heart rate max out, then you really need to ask the question: ‘Am I prioritising what is really important in life?’. The answer is obviously no.

It’s ironic really. As Jews we are taught to choose and prioritise life over anything else so why don’t our actions reflect this? It starts with our mind-set. Often a goal just seems so unattainable with our health because we have let things go for too long.

Can this be changed? Absolutely. I’m going to give you a little tip for long lasting health and fitness success. Instead of being generic with your goal setting, for example I want to get fitter or I want to lose weight, try the following: Figure out your why. Why do you want to make the changes in your life?  Is it because you want to enjoy your retirement and be active? Is it because you want to be able to feel fit and not get breathless when you play with your kids. If you can establish your why in life then you are far more likely to stick to a routine and achieve success.

Once you have established “your why” the next step is implementing a routine. Another point that often lets Jews down is that we are time poor. We can’t dedicate or we think we can’t dedicate the time required to make a change. You have to look at this another way and ask yourself the questions: How can I be smart with my time? What type of exercise gives me the biggest bang for my buck?  A lot of people are now finding health clubs just too time consuming. What about being more productive with your time and doing workouts from home? There are plenty of options which people don’t even think about, whether it’s doing circuits or buying a punch bag and doing some boxing or investing in a piece of cardio equipment such as a treadmill or bike. The options are limitless!

As the owner of a premier mobile personal training company, I see the value and the time that home training saves. Firstly you cut out the procrastination of saying ‘I’ll go to the gym in 20minutes’. Secondly, if you’re starting out, a gym can be an intimidating place. Here you can feel comfortable in your own environment.

Now, two tips to get you started: Firstly, let your calendar become your best friend. Pencil your workouts into your diary like you would any other appointment. Plan the week and try and stick to your dedicated times. Secondly, tell people that you are embarking on a weight loss or fitness journey. Ask friends and family for support and accountability to keep you on track when you’re wavering with food or exercise. Having a tight bubble of people around you will lead to a greater chance of hitting your goal!

Just remember, it is never too late to make a change and turn things around. Try spending 5 minutes really understanding why you want to make a change. I guarantee you will have more clarity and you’re bound to take action straight away.

Good luck on your health and fitness journey. For more information on home personal training, or to book a FREE fitnes & nutrition consultation, contact us here or call 02082038657.

If you’d like to try some home circuits follow PGPT on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PGPTUK or view our videos on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2_xxn9JFKRJdWfCpLensQ