FIVEQUESTIONS Article from Daily News
■ Name: Laura Holmes
■ Residence: Richfield
■ Occupation: Personal trainer, Pleasant Valley Tennis and Fitness Club
■ Family: Husband, Al; adult children, Corey and Shauna
■ Pet: One kitten, Seth Laura Holmes has been a personal trainer for 17 years. She knows about what she teaches; Holmes lost 75 pounds through diet, exercise and lifestyle change 18 years ago and – unlike most of us – has managed to keep it off.
Since this is the time when many of us are struggling to keep are recently made New Year's resolutions, so Holmes answered Five Questions for Daily News correspondent Jill Badzinski.
New Year's resolutions make for busy gyms.
■ Name: Laura Holmes
■ Residence: Richfield
■ Occupation: Personal trainer, Pleasant Valley Tennis and Fitness Club
■ Family: Husband, Al; adult children, Corey and Shauna
■ Pet: One kitten, Seth Laura Holmes has been a personal trainer for 17 years. She knows about what she teaches; Holmes lost 75 pounds through diet, exercise and lifestyle change 18 years ago and – unlike most of us – has managed to keep it off.
Since this is the time when many of us are struggling to keep are recently made New Year's resolutions, so Holmes answered Five Questions for Daily News correspondent Jill Badzinski.
New Year's resolutions make for busy gyms.
What is your best advice for helping readers of the Daily News keep their resolutions of getting into better condition?
Laura Holmes: It can't be a New Year’s resolution.
That right there sets you up to fail just because of its reputation. Call it a “lifestyle resolution.”
Whatever your resolution, having a master plan is a good thing, but then it needs to get broken down in bit-size pieces and then even micro pieces. For example, you want to lose 20 pounds. Break it down to 5 pounds at time. Then work on your daily choices: Do I pack my lunch or hit the drive-through today? Do I hit the snooze button or get up and get moving?
Every day you have hundreds of choices that affect your well being; make the right ones.
You can probably spot us right away in early January with our new sneakers and work-out gear. Do gym regulars like to see us coming and think, oh, no, here we go again?
LH: We see you coming. It's interesting to watch the population of the club change over a year. New Year’s is by far the busiest.
it dies down around February or March when it steadies off until summer.
Summer is slow at the club.
Nice weather, people want to be outside – I get it. But be sure you are staying active, making those healthy choices and get into the club a few times per week to get your strength training in and stay in the habit. Fall picks back up again.
What is the advantage of going to a gym versus buying a piece of equipment for my home?
LH: Going to the gym can be a very social thing. You meet new people, hook up with friends, the staff is here to help you. Then there is the accountability.
People miss you when you don't show up for class. At home there are too many distractions – phone calls, kids, laundry, the dust bunny in the corner calling your name. I tell people, “Just get yourself to the club.” The rest comes fairly easily. Let's be honest, there is a little effort and commitment that comes with being healthy and well. I like to say that the only workout you'll ever regret is the one you did not do.
Wisconsin winters can be brutal. It's easy to be sedentary. How do I overcome that?
LH: Get up and get moving Making healthy choices is a mind set. It's a habit that needs to be established. It takes time, commitment, consistency and effort.
Those are not bad words, just reality! You'll come to the point when you are more apt to get to the club than not. Health, fitness and a good sense of well being is a journey, and any journey is going to have its ups and downs. Press on, keep moving forward. You are worth it. Your body is the only place you have to live so take care of it!
What is your new year's resolution?
LH: Keep your eyes on the goal and your feet will get you there.
Personal trainer Laura Holmes’ first client was herself. She lost 75 pounds 18 years ago and has kept it off. She is fitness director at Pleasant Valley Tennis and Fitness Club in the town of Polk.
Jill Badzinski/For the Daily News
Laura Holmes: It can't be a New Year’s resolution.
That right there sets you up to fail just because of its reputation. Call it a “lifestyle resolution.”
Whatever your resolution, having a master plan is a good thing, but then it needs to get broken down in bit-size pieces and then even micro pieces. For example, you want to lose 20 pounds. Break it down to 5 pounds at time. Then work on your daily choices: Do I pack my lunch or hit the drive-through today? Do I hit the snooze button or get up and get moving?
Every day you have hundreds of choices that affect your well being; make the right ones.
You can probably spot us right away in early January with our new sneakers and work-out gear. Do gym regulars like to see us coming and think, oh, no, here we go again?
LH: We see you coming. It's interesting to watch the population of the club change over a year. New Year’s is by far the busiest.
it dies down around February or March when it steadies off until summer.
Summer is slow at the club.
Nice weather, people want to be outside – I get it. But be sure you are staying active, making those healthy choices and get into the club a few times per week to get your strength training in and stay in the habit. Fall picks back up again.
What is the advantage of going to a gym versus buying a piece of equipment for my home?
LH: Going to the gym can be a very social thing. You meet new people, hook up with friends, the staff is here to help you. Then there is the accountability.
People miss you when you don't show up for class. At home there are too many distractions – phone calls, kids, laundry, the dust bunny in the corner calling your name. I tell people, “Just get yourself to the club.” The rest comes fairly easily. Let's be honest, there is a little effort and commitment that comes with being healthy and well. I like to say that the only workout you'll ever regret is the one you did not do.
Wisconsin winters can be brutal. It's easy to be sedentary. How do I overcome that?
LH: Get up and get moving Making healthy choices is a mind set. It's a habit that needs to be established. It takes time, commitment, consistency and effort.
Those are not bad words, just reality! You'll come to the point when you are more apt to get to the club than not. Health, fitness and a good sense of well being is a journey, and any journey is going to have its ups and downs. Press on, keep moving forward. You are worth it. Your body is the only place you have to live so take care of it!
What is your new year's resolution?
LH: Keep your eyes on the goal and your feet will get you there.
Personal trainer Laura Holmes’ first client was herself. She lost 75 pounds 18 years ago and has kept it off. She is fitness director at Pleasant Valley Tennis and Fitness Club in the town of Polk.
Jill Badzinski/For the Daily News
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