Fitness Networking For Newbies
By Chris Shakoor
If you are new to the world of fitness you may sometimes feel lost with the tons of products and programs available for getting into shape. Developing a sound network of friends, acquaintances, and professionals can help provide you with quality insight in this industry. Listed below are a few guidelines and suggestions for building one's personal 'fitness network':
1. Your Primary Care Physician. Do not neglect this. First of all your doctor will be happy to see that you are motivated enough to take steps to improve your health. It is highly recommended that before you engage in any exercise regime or start taking any supplement that you talk things over with your doctor and have them perform a physical to make sure you are healthy enough to take your fitness to the next level.
2. If you join a gym or fitness center I strongly recommend that you do some sessions with a personal trainer for several reasons. First, most personal trainers are people who are very passionate about what they do and truly enjoy helping others. Your personal trainer will show you proper exercise technique and demonstrate how to use the equipment within the facility to prevent injury. Some personal trainers are also very knowledgeable with supplements and can make diet recommendations to assist you with your workouts.
3. Health Food/ Wellness Store Associates. Sometimes I go to GNC or the Vitamin Shoppe and I may not spend a thing. I sometimes just go in to pick the brains of the employees. Some of the associates at theses type of stores are also very passionate about health and fitness. Some are even personal trainers or fitness instructors. Believe it or not some of them are not just there to make a sale. Some have tried the products and will give you there honest opinion on the effectiveness of certain products. I learn a lot by just listening to them and then doing my own research.
4. Online. Yes the Internet. As you can see you are reading this. With the Internet there is a vast amount of information at our finger tips. Join some fitness forums or communities like Team Beachbody, or BodyBuilding.com which are setup where you can have buddies and join discussions. Lots of good info on the many fitness community sites. Also, just about everybody I know is familiar with Facebook, Linkedin, or Twitter. All of these social networking sites have groups focused on health and fitness. Find a few and join as they are are great source of information.
5. If you know somebody at work, in your neighborhood, or meet someone at the gym who shares your interest in health and fitness, do not hesitate to mingle with them. Talk to each other get each others email addresses and if you see a good health tip pass it on. Or if you see a good fitness challenge that you think they might be interested in let them know. This is a goo way to motivate each other.
That should be enough to get you started on building a sound fitness network.
