A fitness regimen is essential to not only losing weight, but also increasing energy levels.

Local personal trainer Catherine Posey spoke to the Picayune Exchange Club during their meeting Wednesday about how staying fit is an ongoing process.

Posey said she began exercising on a regular basis after taking her child to the park one day. During the visit she noticed she didn’t have the energy to get up and play with her daughter.

That realization prompted her to join a gym the next day. Even though she was dedicated to working out, she discovered she wasn’t reaching her goal and discovered that spending hours on the treadmill and eating less wasn’t enough.

After observing the other people in her gym lifting weights, she gave it a try and found that weight lifting combined with cardio helped her reach her goal.

Even though she’s been able to lose the weight she set out to, her journey is ongoing.

“Losing the weight was easy, but keeping the weight off is an every day struggle,” Posey said.

If just joining the gym is not providing the desired results, Posey suggests enlisting the help of a trainer. A trainer can help people stay focused and reach their fitness goals faster, and also help prevent injury by showing them how to exercise properly.

However, motivated people don’t have to join a gym to reach their target weight. Posey said there are plenty of exercises that can be conducted at home or in the office. Some of those include stretching, stationary lunges and the burpee. For those who are unsure of how to do a certain exercise, the Internet offers a number of instructional videos.

Other small changes to daily routines can help burn some extra calories, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away from the front door of work and walking to speak to people in the office instead of sending an email. Lunch breaks can be a good time to go for a walk.

Another tip Posey provided was to keep a written record of the food eaten every day. By writing the foods and amounts down, people can see how many calories were consumed. 

Enlisting the help of a workout partner can help keep people motivated when they don’t feel like working out that day. 

Fast food is known to be a less than healthy way to procure a meal, so Posey suggests preparing meals in advance. She prepares her lunches on Sundays. By having healthy meals prepared in advance she knows her lunch and dinner is ready, and it prevents her from having to stop at a fast food restaurant at the last minute.

Being active can also mean taking up a hobby such as gardening.

“You have to make some time for yourself, no matter what it is,” Posey said. “Anything that gets you out and gets you moving.”

She also offered a word of caution against becoming too obsessed with appearances; finding a balance will ensure there is time for friends and family.

“You still have to live life,” Posey said.