UPDATE 7/22/10: Josh Graston will be one of the contestants on VH1’s new weight loss competition series, Money Hungry.
Today’s guest blogger is Josh Graston, a fitness enthusiast and triathlete from Sioux Falls, SD who remains active in a variety of sports while striving toward his goal weight.
Josh Graston at the finish line.
More than 70% of Americans report that they are active in trying to lose weight. When most people think of losing weight, they lean primarily toward nutrition. Nutrition is a vital part of healthy weight management, but a proper training regimen is also paramount to long-term success.
The fact is that regardless of your current fitness level or age, you can safely push yourself in the gym. One of my passions has always been doing things that people have said that I couldn’t. Just like in customer service you try to exceed your customer’s expectations, in fitness we try to exceed our own! For most people, the primary goal is going to be losing weight and inches. But having a secondary fitness goal is a great way to stay motivated when the scale stops budging.
The first step is to find what we call a ‘non-scale’ goal. For me, my first non-scale goal was to complete a triathlon. In the beginning even the WORD triathlon scared me. I had never actually completed a single lap of swimming, I hadn’t biked since middle school, and the word run was not in my vocabulary. However, I knew that if I put in the work, completing a triathlon could become a reality.
The next step is to find a plan that works with your current fitness level. Since I was not an endurance athlete, my training plan took a bit longer – 18 weeks instead of 8 or 12. But by using a gradual training plan, I was able to avoid injury, lose weight, and build my endurance before the event.
When race day came I was scared, but I was confident in how prepared I had become. Fast-forward the clock two hours later and I crossed the finishing line busting open my own previously-held physical and mental barriers. My mantra at the finish line was “Impossible is nothing!” and I stand by that to this day.
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Josh,
Excellent blog, I like especially how you pointed out that not only is training program necessary, but a HEALTHY realistic training program. Taking 18 weeks instead of 12 is a smart choice to avoid injury, stay motivated and not have to take an unintended break due to being laid up hurting. Nice job!
Kai
Great blog! I have been doing just walking lately because I was told I was too big of a girl to run, and now I’m considering trying to up the intensity a little. If Josh can do it so can I!
Josh’s mantra of “Impossible is nothing!” fits so well…. This is a great insight to reminding us all that nutrition is not all we need to look at for success. Race day can be 5 steps or 5K – we all need to start somewhere.
Thanks Josh for reminding me about not only eating right but working towards physical fitness as well.
I look forward to more of your blogs. 🙂
Josh I think this is great advice! Too many times people get lost on the food side of dieting even making unhealthy choices to loose the pounds really quickly only to find the minute they change the “diet” they gain it all back. The fitness part is essential to maintaining a healthy life style. 🙂
I absolutely agree with a ‘non-scale’ goal philosophy, it’s incredibly important to focus on aspects of your fitness that don’t necessarily manifest themselves through your weight, such as cardiovascular limits. Love the the focus of your blog!
I like how you make a point that no matter where you are at your fitness level even your age, you can still push yourself in the gym. Making goals and sticking with them you CAN exceed . . . “Impossible is nothing!” (I LIKE IT!)
Great blog Josh! I lost almost 100 pounds last year and it flips me out to even think about running anything!! That word scares me. But you get me to thinking………maybe I could do it! Thanks!
Great job Josh. I know you can do this and you will. Would love to read more of your blogs. Keep up the great work.
Josh you hit the nail right on the head. I couldn’t agree more. What a great blog. Thanks for sharing it 🙂
nutrition and proper training are definitely the most reasons to get succeed on losing weight. but sometimes when we have no commitment, it’s also difficult to handle right?
You are absolutely right!!!! I secdondary goal is a great idea!!! Thanks for the great advice!!!! The word triathlon scares me too but maybe, just maybe, I might set that as a goal for myself.
Very informative. Would love to read more!