One on One with Fitness Expert Steve Jordan

Finding the time to exercise and eat well

Recently I interviewed Los Angeles fitness expert Steve Jordan of Steve Jordan Acceleration on this topic.

About Steve

Steve Jordan has 10 years in the fitness and wellness industry. He received his BS in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland. Steve trained individuials from our nation’s government at the White House Athletic Center during the term of President Bill Clinton. He has been an educator lecturing around the country for the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Steve has worked with top-level Olympic professional athletes, top level executives, celebrities and other individials alike. He has been seen on NBC, The Oxygen Network, and E! He has also been seen in Self, Shape, Fitness, Men’s Fitness, Glamor, The Core, The Daily News, and The Washington Post. Visit his site at www.stevejordan.com.

Natasha: What do you have to say to the excuse of being too busy to workout?

Steve: There has to be a priority to exercise. If someone doesn’t want to exercise you can’t make them. If their excuses are “I don’t have the time”, or “I have too many priorities” such as  family, I’d say that person isn’t necessarily ready to workout. There has to be a commitment and I think that there’s no better time than now with New Year’s where there’s always this underlying initiative to change bad patterns and create new and better patterns. So I think timing is also important to show that there is going to be more commitment and motivation. Once you find the right timing then you will be able to find the time on a day to day basis somewhere. Whether it’s 10 minutes a day for 7x a week, 20 mins 5x a week, or 30 min 4x a week or 1 hour 3x a week. You can break it into intervals like that. Also, goal setting is really important. When you start to prioritize and set lists or an outline for your day on a day to day basis, weekly or monthly basis you have a calendar of events of things that you are doing. And you prioritize and make sure that exercise becomes an A list priority. Where other things that might be a B priority or C priority take the backseat to exercise. Once you incorporate it into your lifestyle you start to feel the results. Results don’t always have to be physical changes. They could be mental clarity, better sleep, more energy, flexibility, being able to get up and down the stairs more easily, reduced pain, and increased circulation. There’s a myriad of different results. You have to be honed in on that to be more motivated. Once someone starts to feel that then they are going to see that the actually do have the time. Now as opposed to 20 minutes they will feel that they can actually do 30 minutes. Progressing in that nature is important. People set too unrealistic goals and that is the reason why people fall off of the wagon at the end of January.

Natasha: For one who lives far from the gym what can he/she do near or around their home?

Steve: Walking and running are two of the most primitive things to do. You can engage in a walking routine to help kick start your momentum and gradually build up into a walk/run cycle then into a running cycle from that point on. Everything needs to be progressive. Where there’s a will there’s a way. Even just doing sit ups and stretching in your living room, spending more time outside, or researching some parks and recreational areas, where you might find other exercise enthusiasts to help you become more motivated work. Find a buddy, a wife, spouse, brother, sister, and recuit them into this new venture so that you will have some kind of external responsibility.

Natasha: Are there simple exercise movements one can do at his/her desk?

Steve: You can simply stretch at your desk. Most people when working end up getting real tense and tight from being in a position for a long period of time. Tension can be released by stretching. Movements such as turning and stretching your neck in certain areas, reaching your arms up to the ceiling, and bending to the left, right and backwards can help loosen up the back. Even standing up at your desk rather than sitting down while on the phone. Try to stand everytime you are on the phone. You will see a difference in delivery on the phone. Especially if it is an important conversation. You might be more astute, consistant and assertive. Your body language dictates how everything comes off. Also, at your desk you can march in place or even do 10 jumping jacks intermittently during your day. Set a goal of 50 for the day and do 10 jumping jacks 5x a day.

Natasha: How can a “busy” person eat right?

Steve: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Being busy is no excuse not to eat right. Eating is something we do everyday. It’s a choice. And again you have to have a goal. If that goal is important enough to you and there’s more value to that goal then making the right choices when you’re busy is gonna be important. Pack a lunch. Prepare simple snacks from almond butter on crackers to apple with almond butter. Bring fruit. Cut up fresh vegetables with hummus. Bring a packed lunch that you can easily microwave. It takes preparation and commitment.

Natasha: Do you suggest workout DVDs at home?

Steve: Absolutely. I suggest anything that’s gonna be motivating for you. Also, anything that will increase your consistency. Whether it’s a video, a book, or an exercise from a magazine, I’m all for it. You know what will work best for you. It could be hiring a personal trainer or working out at a gym. What works for me is to workout at a gym other than my own studio. Although I own a fitness/wellness center in Los Angeles with state of the art equipment, it is work to me.

Steve leaves us with this

Steve: Busy is a state of mind. When you evaluate your life you will find that you are not as busy as you think. Get that dialogue out of your mind and you’ll start to be able to make the changes in your schedule and open things up in areas that you never thought you could. Just make exercise a priority.

Thanks Steve!!

Stay tuned for more One on Ones…

Natasha Linton

NYC Personal Trainer

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