Fitness is all around us.  There are lessons everywhere we look – if we are looking.  How much exercise is right vs. too much, what are the best exercises for fat loss, etc.

Saturday morning I was snuggling on the couch with my boys, Trevor and Andrew, during their usual wake up ritual of cuddling and watching TV.  I was thinking about my next fit tip, or fitness blog entry and my plan for my womens bootcamp at 10am.

We stopped channel surfing when the popular Bob the Builder animated program flashed acrossed the screen. 

Bob the builder was constructing one of those exercise trails.  You know – you run or walk for a bit followed by an exercise like pull ups, push ups, stretching etc.  I started to pay attention.

While Bob was hard at work one of the characters, Scrambler, was playing the role of Personal Trainer for Mr. Bentley (the Mayor of their little make pretend town).  I thought this was an obvious attempt to promote the importance of exercise to little kids.  I was right but to my surprise it went further than that!

As the story continued Scrambler essentially drove the poor Mayor into the ground.  His excitement in being the Personal Trainer for the Mayor clouded his judgement and he never gave the Mayor a break.  At one point as Scrambler takes off to find another steep hill for Mr. Bentley to run up, the exhausted Mayor takes it upon himself to take a little break under a tree – and falls asleep. 

To be brief, Bob the Builder comes to the rescue after Scrambler (and friends) cannot find Mr. Bentley.  Bob the Builder then explains the importance that rest plays in an exercise program and then makes sure he build a rest zone on the new exercise trail.

Two hours later at my women’s bootcamp I asked one of my campers if they have had a day off from exercise lately – she was clearly struggling.  She is involved in a “Biggest Loser” contest at a local gym.  The answer was no after 7 straight days of a long drawn out and ineffective cardio.  Her “legs were killing her”.  I asked how the rest of her team was doing and she told me some of the other women wanted to quit.  They were getting moderate results.  The very next day they would begin a 7 day weight lifting challenge.  14 days, that I know of, of straight workouts – most of which are high volume workouts.

This is more that professional athletes endure.

If Bob the Builder can get it right…why can’t the rest of us.  As a fitness professional this disgusts me.  As a human being I can’t help but feel for these women that have the best intentions.  IF they don’t get hurt they might actually achieve some results.  Then what?

Will they know what its like to fit exercise into their lives?

Will they take 3 months off after this challenge because they are burnt out?

Are they being set up for success…or failure?

I think you know the answer.

Exercise. Rest. Win.

Dave
www.homeofficeworkouts.com
“Fast, efficient, and effective”