The New Year often marks a time when people make resolutions to exercise more, only to lose track of their goals within the first few weeks. Here in Aroostook County, two local fitness experts recently shared with The County their advice on how people can stay fit and healthy throughout the entire year.
Keli Marston is the fitness and wellness coordinator at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Gentile Hall. She offers both group classes and personal training services that utilize Gentile Hall’s walking track, multi-purpose gym and fitness center. The most common New Year’s fitness mistake that people make, she said, is not setting specific goals such as losing weight, maintaining or improving muscular or cardiovascular strength, or simply making exercise part of their daily routine.
“Don’t set goals that you know you won’t become consistent with,” Marston recommended. “Whatever your plan is, it has to be long term. You can’t exercise regularly for three weeks, then stop and expect to see better results.”
Exercising with a friend or in group fitness classes are methods that Marston said could better motivate people to exercise weekly. At Gentile Hall she offers Fit Camp on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5 to 6 p.m. and Total Body Circuit Training on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:15 to 1 p.m. Her newest class, Fusion Training, combines a variety of exercises such as pilates, core training, balance and yoga and is offered on Monday and Thursday from 12 to 12:45 p.m. in UMPI’s Campus Center.
Regardless of their busy schedule, Marston said that as long as people maintain a healthy diet of whole grains, fruits, protein and vegetables and incorporate exercise into their daily routine, they’ll feel better and become more dedicated to their physical and emotional wellbeing.
“If you don’t have time to go to a gym, then even 20 to 30 minutes of moderate or intense exercise at home is better than nothing,” Marston said.
At County Physical Therapy in Presque Isle, Clinic Director and Physical Therapist Paul Marquis has often seen individuals exercise too hard too quickly and become tired and discouraged early on. He recommends that people build up their strength slowly and set reasonable goals.
“I don’t recommend people beginning with high intensity workout classes or videos because a lot of times they get hurt while trying to keep up,” Marquis said. “Do exercises that are most comfortable for you and then stick with them.”
The Presque Isle location is one of five CPT facilities in Aroostook County that includes Caribou, Houlton, Madawaska and Fort Kent. In addition to physical therapy, each facility offers monthly and yearly memberships and day passes to their fitness center. Marquis also films live videos on CPT’s official Facebook page every Thursday in which he shares advice related to health and wellness. When the weather is bad and people cannot make it to their local gym, he suggests that they invest in exercise equipment that most interests them and helps them with their specific goals.
No matter what peoples’ fitness goals are, Marquis said that staying committed to exercise and a healthy diet can have great long-term effects on an individual’s cardiovascular system and cognitive health and helps prevent diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
“I have a 96-year-old grandmother who exercises daily even when she doesn’t feel like it. She has arthritis but she always goes for a walk or does something to get herself active,” Marquis said. “The most important thing is to schedule an exercise routine just like you set a time to get up in the morning and go to work.”
Those who want to learn more about CPT and Gentile Hall’s fitness centers and services can go to their websites at http://www.countypt.com/ and http://www.umpi.edu/gentile-hall/ or Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/CountyPhysicalTherapy and https://www.facebook.com/GentileHall/.
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- Treadmills and spinning machines are some of the many workout options that are offered at County Physical Therapy in Presque Isle. Clinical Director and Physical Therapist Paul Marquis told The Star-Herald recently that starting an exercise plan slowly and building strength over time is one of the best ways that people can maintain their New Year’s resolution throughout the year. (Melissa Lizotte)
