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It’s never too late to start making attainable and measurable fitness goals. And we have some health and fitness tips to help you in the process! With the advice of some trusty personal trainers here in Warsaw/Winona Lake, and ���Ĵ�ý bachelor of exercise science graduates and faculty, you will be able to dust yourself off and start seeing progress in your fitness goals!

The health and fitness tip that has helped me the most is to add in healthy habits instead of taking away bad ones, like drinking a smoothie packed with greens every day or taking your dog for a walk every evening. Once you add in enough goodness you won’t have room for the bad.

Brooke Lengacher, ���Ĵ�ý Health and Wellness Director / PT

The biggest factor in reaching your fitness goals is nutrition. It covers about 70% importance compared to strength training and cardio. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up the foods you love and enjoy! It’s all about balance and moderation.

Gershom and Britt Tadesse, IG: @gritthealthfitness

If you are looking for help at the gym, do not hesitate to ask a professional like a personal trainer–that is our job! Also, seek out a workout buddy so that they can help keep you accountable, boost your confidence, and make the exercises more fun! I would also encourage people to take progress photos. Progress pictures can help keep people motivated when they see the changes in their bodies! Finally, stay consistent. Keep going, but make sure you are always listening to your body and taking care of it!

Faith Long, YMCA Wellness Coordinator / PT (Bachelor of exercise science, ���Ĵ�ý, 2015)

My best fitness tip is to take a baby step towards better health & fitness every day. If every day is better than the last, all of those small changes will soon add up!

Megan Keysor, Health and Fitness Coach, IG: @megmadewell  (Bachelor of exercise science, ���Ĵ�ý, 2016)

Most athletes are minimalists when it comes to their training. They take the time to master the fundamentals and work with them for years.   For us, that means concentrating on learning good mechanics–not just with the bar–but in bodyweight movements. Develop your core first and extremities second.  After this is accomplished, work hard and fast, constantly vary your functional movements and find a community of people that you find strength in.

Ryan Hill, Haymaker Crossfit

We all know nutrition matters when it comes to fitness, but nutrition is a lifestyle. Start improving your nutrition by playing the “exchange game.” When deciding what to eat, pick one food item that you can exchange for a healthier option. 

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Breakfast exchange: one apple instead of hashbrowns. 

Lunch exchange: carrots instead of potato chips 

Dinner exchange: sweet potato in place of rice.

Sometimes this is all it takes to get in the habit of healthy eating–opting for the better food choice. That is my health and fitness tip for you!

Christy Walters, M.S., L.A.T., F.M.S., ���Ĵ�ý Exercise Science Program Director & Assistant Professor

Make achievable goals. Too often, goals are too extreme and they are not reached. Know yourself and what you will realistically do. Then go from there. Take it one day at a time and lend yourself grace. It can be overwhelming to have a year ahead of you with big changes and goals. Daily habits lead to bigger changes. 

Jo Palladino, Personal Trainer (Bachelor of exercise science, ���Ĵ�ý, 2016)

Staying on track with your fitness goals can be difficult. There will always be little setbacks and life will try to get in the way. If you make a promise to yourself, make sure you do everything to stick with it.

Katie Fleshood, GetFit24, YMCA

The most common thing we hear is how afraid people are to walk in the door for the first time. Don’t be intimated! The best thing about Crossfit is the community; everyone is here to help and encourage. All movements are scalable to any skill level. We were all beginners at some point, and you can receive great health and fitness tips from those who were just in your shoes. 

Sarah Hill, Haymaker Crossfit

So with all of this golden advice from our fitness professionals, we expect to see a mad-dash to the Gordon Health and Wellness Center. And you better believe we will bet there too–see you there!

Is it your dream to have a bachelor of exercise science? Or are you asking yourself, “What is exercise science all about anyway?”

Discover ���Ĵ�ý’s Bachelor of Exercise Science program here, and we will help get you on your way to being the one giving the tips next year!