What Happened to the Spa?

Circumstances beyond our control can impact our lives in powerful ways.  This guest post by personal trainer and writer, Julie Lombardo, highlights the real passion and dedication that many fitness professionals bring to the profession...

Tonight I need to communicate important news to all of you. 

A few nights ago, the owners of The Spa Center (not the actual name) announced they would close the facility indefinitely.  At 10:30 p.m. that night, the seven of us who were still there hugged each other, promised to stay in touch, and write letters of recommendation. My boss hugged us and thanked us for the years of hard work.

The details were sketchy, at best. With 40+ employees and mounting costs to repair and maintain the facility, the financial strain on the owners was simply too great. Employee paychecks were bouncing,

Don't look now but, you're soaking in it!

“Is there anything I can do for you?” I asked my younger brother, sympathetically, as he lie on the couch; his back “out” again.  “Yes,” he said, “can you pick me up a big bag of Epsom salts?”   

I was impressed that my normally non-compliant brother, who I’ve had to practically beg to do the exercises I taught him-that would help rehabilitate his back, would make the effort to run a bath.  But, I guess pain can be a powerful motivator. 

Top Ten Reasons You’re Not Seeing a Change in Your Body (that have nothing to do with exercise) -Part II

When it comes to not getting the results we expect from exercise, sometimes we mistake our “reasons” (not recognizing them for what they are) for excuses.  Then we blame everyone around us for things not working out as we’d planned.  Excuse it seems, has no better friend than exercise.

Just because you put on your shorts and tennis shoes, drive to the gym, park and walk through the door, doesn’t mean the muscle will start growing or the fat will melt off automagically.  Are you really giving it all you got?  You’re not trying to be an Olympic athlete or anything-so what’s it going to take…killing yourself, you ask?  But, is that really what’s going on?  Are you really making the most of your time in the gym?  Are you being honest with yourself when it comes to how you’ve been eating?  Ah ha!  Self-deception rears its ugly head…it’s O.K., it’s easy to do.
 

Last issue, in Part I, we discussed The Top Ten Reasons You're Not Seeing a Change in Your Body (that have nothing to do with exercise.) Below are the next five on the countdown (Part II)...Get past all ten excuses and see your results soar! 

5.  I don’t really know what I’m doing and I can’t afford to work with a personal trainer- If you believe this, 

Top Ten Reasons You’re Not Seeing a Change in Your Body (that have nothing to do with exercise) -Part I

Yesterday, while driving home from a seminar in an unfamiliar area, I noticed a commercial building with a huge sign that said No Excuses Fitness along the side of it.  Great name for a gym!

When it comes to not getting the results we expect from exercise, sometimes we mistake our “reasons” (not recognizing them for what they are), for excuses.  Then we blame everyone around us for things not working out as we’d planned.  Excuse it seems, has no better friend than exercise.

Just because you put on your shorts and tennis shoes,