THE MEANING OF STRONG

S is for strength training. An individual should engage in some form of resistance training 2-3 times per week. The benefits of resistance training are to strengthen bones and obviously builds muscle. The more muscle that a person carries on their frame, the more daily calories that they will burn, even when they are just sitting down.

T highlights total body fitness, created by exercising and increasing one's spiritual, physical and mental strength. Exercise highlights the spiritual aspect by the feel-good endorphins that are produced, Also, exercising in a group can create a feeling of "oneness" and community. The mental aspect comes into play when one has to overcome the mind saying, "Don't go to class today. You're too tired", "You're never going to get into shape", or "This is too hard." True greatness can only be achieved when one is willing to push past the barriers that are in place to hold them back.

R represents repair and recovery of the body. It is essential that an individual gets at least 6-8 hours of sleep a night. One must be able to listen to their body and maybe take a day or two off from exercising when the body feels extremely sore and fatigued. Rest is an important element of fitness because it is during rest that the body heals itself.

O is for Overload Principle, a bodybuilding term that basically means that in order to obtain optimal strength and fat burn, one must train to full capacity and intensity.

N stands for nutrition. Sound nutrition is not just based on what to eat, but the when and the how to eat as well. The body requires essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients even more so for those who are active. Those issues and much more are addressed through my weekly e-mails. 

G is an acronym for goals. One of the best ways to stay motivated and engaged in working out is to set goals for oneself. Goals give individuals something to work towards. The goals should be realistic and straightforward. A period of weeks, months should be used to reach the success point.