Intimidation is the most significant hurdle to get over when we decide we want to improve our fitness or wellness.  Hollywood and fashion advertisements for decades has made an imprint on our collective psyche as to what the ideal physique is and that if we don’t have that we’re doing something wrong.  Next time you are watching television or surfing the net, notice the images presented by the Fitness Industry. 

For 2015-2016 the CDC reported that the prevalence of obesity was 39.8% and affected about 93.3 million of US adults.  Additionally, some of us have some weight we’d like to shed.  When I was a teacher, I had a few students tell me I was “squishy” and they were telling the truth—I have a few pounds or ten I’d like to give away to someone else.  Today, I work in sales and marketing for a fitness center and I blend right in with the membership.  My point dear reader? You and I are normal and what holds most of us back is this idea that everyone in a health club is sculpted.  My message? Drop that rock and come join normal!

There are eight dimension of wellness and those are:

• Physical
• Emotional 
• Intellectual
• Social
• Occupational
• Financial
• Spiritual
• Environmental

Studies prove that physical activity (exercise) positively impacts the emotional and social dimensions. So, look for a Fitness/Wellness Club that fosters social engagement through small group exercise classes, circuit classes, and small group ride classes.  If your health club has a juice bar or café that will only further add to socializing with friends you will make in your group exercise classes.