This time of year, cookies and cocktails seem to be waiting around every corner. It’s easy to let these temptations sabotage your fitness and wellness goals. We tapped personal trainer Josh Wagener of Minneapolis’s Calhoun Beach Club for his advice for staying on track this holiday season.
How do you approach personal-training sessions with clients?
Each client has different goals, which makes every session unique. Some clients need corrective work and strengthening, while others want to lose weight and tone up. I design tailored programs to help clients efficiently reach their individual goals.
What are the benefits of personal training?
If an individual has struggled in the past with his/her fitness or weight-loss goals, then a personal trainer is an excellent choice to help achieve success. The main benefit a personal trainer provides is knowledge. Successful trainers have a degree in a health-related discipline and at least one nationally recognized certification. Top trainers are well-versed in exercise theory and prescription, nutrition, and behavioral change. I provide my clients with motivation, correction on exercise techniques, and programming to increase their efficiency in the gym.
The holidays are such a busy time. What workouts yield maximum benefit with minimum time commitment?
The best workout with minimum commitment is high-intensity interval training. A lightweight or body weight–oriented routine keeps your heart rate elevated, which provides for a high/efficient calorie burn and allows you to reduce the amount of time spent in the gym.
How does one set a realistic New Year’s resolution and stay motivated to accomplish it?
It starts with setting an achievable goal. Most of us use excuses or take the path of least resistance when dealing with our goals. Therefore it is best to use the SMART principle: Make a goal Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Also, it’s very helpful to have a support system in place, such as family, friends and a personal trainer.
What tips do you have for staying on track this holiday season?
One way to approach the holiday season is to give yourself three hours a week at the gym; this translates to five 30-minute workouts or three one-hour workouts. Prioritize your workouts to ensure you achieve the targeted time each week. This might mean performing your workout first thing in the morning before your day gets away from you.
Also, there are so many parties and events during the holiday season. Try to control your portion size or better yet have just a forkful or a sample of a variety of items. Though this is difficult, limit sweets and alcoholic beverages. Try to drink one glass of water prior to each alcoholic beverage. If you slip up or gain an extra pound or two, don’t beat yourself up — after all, it is the holidays. Just do your best to autocorrect the next day.
What sets Calhoun Beach Club apart from other personal-training providers?
What sets us apart is our exemplary level of customer service. We have a country-club feel, we know all our members by name and they know all of us by name. Our manager and all of our trainers are career-oriented, and we offer a vast array of experience. We pride ourselves on being some of the best functional trainers, meaning we increase our members’ efficiency, giving them a very high return on their investment.
