Operating at Peak Performance, Part 2

Another vital part of living your life in balance is to have a consistent exercise program. Consistent exercise is not defined as exercising for two months before the beach only to exercise at the same time again the following year. As soon as I mention the word exercise, somebody invariably tells me that they don't have time. While it would be beneficial to join a gym (to prevent you from loosing up to 40% of your muscle mass by age 65), you don't have to buy weight-lifting gloves and practice the Olympic 'clean and jerk' to have a consistent workout program. It's all in your perspective regarding the activities you choose. Many times you will need to 'push' yourself to exercise. Exercise isn't for the lazy, it doesn't have a remote control and you can't do it while lying on the couch.

A great way to start exercising is by walking a half-mile each day. You'll need to push yourself to get out of your chair and walk out the front door though. Simple walking can burn an additional 14,000 calories each year, which is the equivalent of losing four extra pounds! However, don't associate working out with one location or make it getting there too far away, because you just won't make it consistently. This is exactly why you need to change your perspective about where you will exercise. On one vacation, my wife and I rented an apartment in Florence, Italy on the top floor of a four-story building. When we arrived we realized there was no elevator in the building. We couldn't find a nearby gym, so we turned all 99 steps each way into our manual 'stair machine.' We had three convenient workouts that week regardless of what the neighbors thought.

Recently one of my professional speaking customers complained that he didn't have time to exercise. He felt that he was losing his focus while his stress level was increasing. The long hours my customer needed to put into his job combined with his terrible commute had put a strain on his exercise routine. I thought to myself that 'strain' was too politically correct. This man had an absolute exercise collapse! He had amassed 40 extra pounds in under a year. Later he told me that he had to do something about his physical inactivity, because he was out of breath walking up one flight of stairs. He knew that he had to 'push' himself if he was going to get in shape, but he wasn't sure where he would find the time. He was looking for help from his employer. Employers need to be more involved in pushing employees to exercise.

I discovered one such employer who encourages their employees to exercise headquartered in Baltimore, MD. 180's, an innovative maker of outdoor products, is ranked the number one fastest growing inner city-based company in the country. They have great benefits including wellness days and free gym membership. They go on to state, "we make an investment in the people that we bring on board and our people are our greatest asset." They also have a philosophy of 'pushing' themselves to find new ideas by challenging conventional thinking. In a study by the Institute for Brain Aging, "Healthy elderly volunteers who participated in aerobic exercise did better on cognitive tasks than non-exercisers." Smart companies like 180's have realized the benefits of exercise, their employee's are in much better physical shape, continue to generate new ideas for record growth, and have lower stress levels.

When we are stressed, our bodies produce cortisol and adrenaline when the flight or fight response is triggered. According to Men's Fitness Magazine these stress hormones, "play havoc on muscle tension and mental concentration, increase the rate of aging, and can even cause fat deposits." The best way to get this hormone out of your body is to exercise, because continued stress "can worsen a variety of conditions including depression, headaches, musculoskeletal problems, anxiety, skin disorders, poor concentration, digestive troubles, infertility and diminished sex drive," according to the medical staff at Canyon Ranch Health Resorts. Excess stress is exactly what companies don't need because it will interfere with peak performance. Why would an employer demand consistent work without exercise knowing that this behavior will be detrimental to its best asset in the long-term?

Actor turned California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger exercises every morning for improved concentration and mental clarity. He knows that he won't be as effective on the job without 'pumping iron.' When I workout the day becomes clearer and I'm more energized. Besides, I need strong muscles to carry my pack laden with lenses to the places where I can take the best photographs. One such place where I took some great photographs was the country of Bhutan tucked high in the Himalayas. I hiked for over 81 miles in 9 days to capture many photographs including one of a woman's face deeply lined with age and sun damage and lips turned red from a stimulant called Beetlenut. A large part of taking great pictures or operating at peak performance is to be at the right moment. I would never get to that moment if I didn't 'push' myself.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

Mark Sincevich works with individuals and organizations to increase their communication power so that they gain a fresh perspective, generate new ideas, sharpen the focus and create more business. He uses a unique photography angle in his creative keynotes, meeting facilitation and powerful presentation skills programs. Mark is the Founder and Chief Perspective Officer of Staash Press, a member of the National Speakers Association and the Executive Director of the Digital Photography Institute. In between assignments, Mark can be found spending time with his family or writing in cafés with character. He can be contacted at 301-654-3010 or www.staashpress.com

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated