Welcome to PAC Fitness!

By Rodney Hays, Editor, Prosper Press.

Many Americans spent Jan. 1 putting together a list of goals for 2011. At the top of many of those lists is weight loss.

With plenty of parties and good food available, the average adult gains between seven and 11 pounds from Thanksgiving to early January. Early January is also about the same time many people get disillusioned and abandon their weight loss goals.

John Hickey from PAC Fitness in Prosper said many people fail because they focus on the wrong thing.

“If the same “weight loss resolutioners” would focus on body fat percent decrease, then they will more than likely stick with it,” Hickey said. “Focusing on body fat percent will allow the adult to eat more calories, but less than they burn. It allows them to start resistance training that builds lean muscle, which speeds up the metabolism.

“Focusing on achieving their optimal body fat percent will allow them to experience success, without the extreme sacrifices.”

Hickey said when a person reaches the optimal body fat percentage they are at the right weight.

It also helps to set short-term as well as long-term goals.

“By setting both types of goals, they will experience success along the way to hitting their long term goal,” he said. “The worst thing people can do is set huge long term goals, because they take too long to accomplish them. They get demotivated and quit.”

For example, Hickey said, if someone wants to lose 50 pounds in 2011, they should set that as the long term goal. Along the way they should set a six-week goal of 10 pounds lost and a twelve-week goal of 20 pounds lost.

“Getting back in shape is easy and realistic, as long as you have a plan. A plan is not a quick fix, but rather a new way of life,” Hickey said.

Hickey said the plan should include:

Set obtainable goals.

Educate yourself on how to accomplish the goal.

Make exercise convenient and fun.

Measure results every couple of weeks not every day.

Do not have a caloric deficit larger than 500 calories a day if you want to stick with your Resolution.

“What people don’t realize is that exercise is as important as shelter, food and water. Exercising is not an option or a luxury, but rather a necessity. It is proven that A person that exercises will experience a better and longer life,” Hickey said.

Hickey said he has his own goals for PAC Fitness in 2011. In 2010, he estimates that his clients lost more than 5,000 pounds. “Our goal is 10,000 pounds for 2011,” he said. “It’s all about changing and saving lives.”

Reprinted with permission of the Prosper Press.