HEALTHY LIVING | REGIONAL
at worst, downright dangerous. Listen to your body, ask questions, and seek out expert advice when you need it! “The teen years are a great time to work on fitness and to lay the foundation for a healthy body and future,” added Coach Walls. “The more you know about what it takes, the less you are looking for an overnight fix. Getting fit, whether you are a teen or a senior citizen, takes time, patience, and dedication. But it’s worth it!”
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Train to be successful Going to the gym to work on your “abs” and “beach muscles” is usually done with endless sit-ups and biceps curls, but you can get the same effect by training to be more athletic and faster, and by building the confidence to reach your goals. With this kind of work you make your entire body stronger and you train yourself for success. You can work with a personal trainer to put together a routine that meets these needs and with goals that are tailored specifically for you.
get a big bench press or increase your vertical jump by several inches. Both are worthy pursuits, but both also take time and dedication. Learn to love the small changes and watch how they lead to reaching big goals.
Strength & Performance Training, Inc. (SAPT) Located in Fairfax, Virginia, Strength & Performance Training, Inc. (SAPT) is a high-performance training club that specializes in helping to develop athletes of all ages. They offer athletic training programs for youth, college students, and amateurs. The company was founded in 2007 by Sarah Walls, a professional strength and conditioning coach and personal trainer.
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Go into “Do Not Disturb” mode A big part of mental fitness is the ability to step away from constant phone calls, texts, Instagram feeds, and the like. Your mind will keep you feeling better when you steer clear of those distractions more often. Take some time to go for a walk or spend time playing with your dog, as these kinds of things are good for your body and your mind.
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Appreciate that nothing happens overnight When embarking on a fitness routine, it helps to celebrate the little victories that come with even the smallest daily improvements. Yes, you may want to
Sarah Walls has over 15 years experience in coaching and personal training. Owner of Strength & Performance Training, Inc. (SAPT), founded in 2007, she offers coaching to develop athletes, adult programs, team training, online coaching, and more. She is also the strength and conditioning coach for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, and has over eight years of experience working as a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 strength and conditioning coach and personal trainer. To learn more, visit the site: www.saptstrength. com.
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Beware of the changes Fitness has changed a lot in 20 years, so be careful whose advice you take. There are plenty of well-meaning coaches and parents who dole out advice that is, at best, antiquated and,
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health and academic achievement. https://www.cdc.gov/ healthyyouth/health_and_academics/ pdf/health-academic-achievement.pdf 2018 - FEBRUARY
MD Monthly
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