www.DesertHealthNews.com September/October 2025 Fitness The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 20 www.strongrepublicpersonaltraining.com PERSONAL TRAINING FOR ADULTS 45+ PALM SPRINGS • PALM DESERT • LA QUINTA Small Group Personal Training Stretch Therapy • Fitness Training Studio strongrepublicpersonaltraining.com Scan code to view offer Experience our judgement-free zone and feel like family 14-DAY JUMP START Up to 6 Personal Training Sessions $199 Limited Time Offer! REPUBLIC PERSONAL TRAINING You’re putting in the work, sweating it out and staying committed to your routine at the gym, but these common slip-ups could be blocking your results. If any of these thoughts and actions sound familiar, you could be sabotaging your own progress, and that’s a major bummer. Let’s dive in and course-correct now: Don’t compare yourself to others. Nothing derails your mindset faster than the comparison trap. It’s easy to glance over at the person lifting more or moving better and think, “I’ll never be there.” But here’s the truth: their journey has absolutely nothing to do with yours. You don’t know how long they’ve been training, what their goals are or what their struggles look like. When you compare, you rob yourself of the pride in your own growth. Every rep you complete, every drop of sweat adds up and plays a part in your progress. The only person you should aim to beat is yesterday’s YOU. Focus on consistency, your effort and celebrating how far you’ve come. Remember, the gym isn’t a competition; it’s your personal journey. Let’s celebrate wins! So many people overlook celebrating successes, and it’s a huge mistake. Progress isn’t just about six-pack abs or lifting heavy. It’s also about showing up when you didn’t feel like it. It’s about choosing protein over junk food. It’s that extra 10 minutes on the treadmill when you felt like quitting earlier. Whether you hit a new personal best or simply stuck to your routine for the week, it deserves celebration. Acknowledging your small wins builds confidence and motivation; it reminds you that the process is working. Don’t wait for a dramatic transformation to feel proud. Start recognizing your daily victories now, and take a moment to be proud of yourself and how far you have come. Expecting too much, too soon? We live in an instant-results world, but fitness doesn’t work that way. Expecting quick changes can lead to frustration, burnout and even quitting. You didn’t get out of shape overnight, and you won’t get into peak shape overnight either. Real, sustainable progress takes time. It’s built through countless workouts, smart nutrition, good sleep and recovery. If you expect overnight results, you’ll constantly feel like you’re failing even when you’re making progress. Set realistic goals, track your journey and be patient. Trust the grind and give your body the time it needs to adapt and grow. Bottom line: Stop sabotaging your success. Change your mindset, celebrate every win and keep showing up with patience. You’ve already taken the hardest step by getting started and that’s an amazing achievement. Progress is coming… just don’t block it with the wrong mindset. Gerry Washack is the owner of Strong Republic Personal Training with locations in Palm Desert, La Quinta and Palm Springs. Visit www.strongrepublicpersonaltraining.com for more information. Meet Beth, a 72-year-old pickleball enthusiast who walks five miles every day. She considers herself healthy, since her only medication is for high cholesterol. But when she tripped while playing pickleball, she broke her left shoulder and wrist. Meet George, a 59-year-old grandfather to one-year-old twins. Although he’s been overweight for years, his doctor always told him that his numbers look good; until today, when his doctor diagnosed him with pre-diabetes and prescribed medication. Beth and George believed they were doing enough to stay safe and healthy, but insufficient muscle tissue left them injured and ill. Building muscle is for everyone, not just young men. It’s for all of us who want to increase our health span—the years of good health in our lives—regardless of age or experience. Studies on older adults found that just 8-12 weeks of training significantly improved strength, power and muscle mass. Muscle is truly the means to a longer, healthier, more independent life. Here are just some of the ways that ample muscle tissue benefits your health: • Enhances glucose uptake, lowering blood sugar, improving insulin response and leading to less chronic inflammation and lower risk of all-cause mortality • Improves balance and coordination, reducing your risk of falls and injuries • Cushions and stabilizes joints, lowering risk of osteoporosis, joint pain and fractures • Improves circulation and strengthens the cardiovascular system, lowering risk of heart disease • Releases hormones that support brain health, improving memory, focus and mental sharpness while lowering dementia risk • Helps regulate inflammation and support immune responses, reducing risk of certain diseases. The best way to build muscle is with strength training, exercises that make your muscles work against resistance. This includes weights, gym machines, resistance bands or even your own bodyweight with simple exercises like chair squats, wall push-ups and standing calf raises. You can create a beginner plan with AI, follow an online video or join a local class. Tips for success: Gradually increase the weight you use as you grow stronger; consistency matters—aim for at least two workouts per week; building muscle requires adequate nutrition—plenty of protein, sufficient carbs and healthy fats, ideally from minimally processed foods. Nine months later… Beth has recovered from her injuries, started lifting weights regularly and is now strong enough to carry her granddaughter. George saw his new diagnosis as a wake-up call and hired his neighbor’s son to teach him how to strength train. He no longer requires medication. Your turn: Take one small step today toward building muscle, whether signing up for a gym or group class, enlisting a friend as a workout buddy, having AI create a workout for you or looking into hiring a coach. Dr. Rachel Felber is a physician in Coachella Valley and owner of Health Yourself, a company that provides one-on-one health and strength coaching and consulting to women of all ages. Rachel@HealthYourselfToday.com. The Best Medicine By Rachel Felber, MD Motivation to Move Forward
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