Get Fit and Healthy, Lose Weight with Teamwork -
Create a Fitness Support Team
Surround yourself with supportive friends and family and trained pros
Fat to Fit
When I finally realized I was caught in a behavioral whirlpool, it occurred to me that I needed some help. That’s when I reached out and created two fitness teams — a team of health care professionals and a team of supporters. The first person I put on my health care team was my physician, followed by a physical therapist, who helped me figure out what exercises I could safely perform with an injury I had at the time (torn hamstring). I also consulted with my cardiologist to check about the implications of significant weight loss on my medication regimen (hey, I was serious this time!). Rounding out my health care team was the coordinator for the local hospital wellness center, who helped address questions about nutrition, what kinds of exercises I should undertake and the psychological impact of making such dramatic lifestyle changes. Getty Images Supportive friends and family are integral to achieving your fitness goals. On the cheerleading team, I first recruited my husband, Dick. I added my best friend, Dale, who shared an interest in and . From there, I added my children and a neighbor with whom I am very close. Before long, I had surrounded myself with people who cheered me on and were also committed to becoming more fit themselves. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the outcome of this effort was different from what my prior attempts had yielded. In retrospect, I realized that I was finally smart enough to use, in my pursuit of fitness, the skills that had helped me in my career. I created a company called Fit Carole. As the CEO, I defined my mission — to , become fit and adopt permanent, healthy lifestyle habits. Of course, I relied on myself to set priorities and measure results. But as important as my tasks were, I couldn’t have succeeded without the support of my team. That’s why I urge you to create your own fitness team. You may be one of those exceptional people who can achieve their goals and dreams on their own; the rest of us mortals, however, need each other. United we succeed. Go, team, go! You may also like: Related
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