Want vs. need

What do you want from your fitness regimen? Not what you think you should want, but what do you really want?

Do you want to lose weight? Get a hot body or six-pack abs? Be able to pick up progressively heavier things? Walk up the stairs without getting winded? Run 10 miles? Be able to hike with your grandchild on your back? Or maybe even gain weight?

Every once in a while as a fitness business owner I go through a bit of a philosophical crisis, wondering what it is that people really want. I know what — at least according to the latest studies — people need (x amount of strength training, x minutes of cardio, x flexibility sessions). But that doesn’t mean that’s what they want.

So, what do you want?

I’ll go first.

Here’s what I want — I want my program to help me get a certain “look” so I can meet some competition goals. That means losing some fat, maintaining (and maybe gain, although good luck with that!) muscle, and building energy and stamina. I also want to feel athletically challenged and have some fun. For me, now, it’s not about being able to heft heavy weights. It’s about how I look and feel — and a lot of that programming includes the foods I eat and how much of those foods I eat.

What about you?

Wendy Watkins

About Wendy Watkins

Wendy Watkins is a Bangor-based personal trainer, fitness coach, studio owner, and writer/editor. She is the author of The Complete Idiots Guide to Losing 20 Pounds in 2 Months. Visit her website at thrivebangor.com.