Thighs a little jiggly after too many Christmas cookies? Tummy shaking when you walk after nearly a month of over indulging? Ours too.

A brand new year is about to start and it’s a great time to think about your goals for 2018. Are you determined to be more active? It’s a solid intention to have as exercise can make you feel happier, reduce your risk of disease, boost your energy, and improve your strength, stability, sleep, self-confidence, and even your memory! There is no shortage of reasons to get your blood flowing and your heart pumping. Here’s what some EAPCers do to keep their exercise goals on track.

Alan Dostert: “Get your ass out of bed if you don’t want to die.”

This is what EAPC’s President, Alan Dostert, tells himself each morning. Alan, one of the firm’s wellness and recreation design experts, works out because cardiovascular disease runs in his family and it also makes him feel good. Recently while enduring a bout of sickness, Alan lost four consecutive days at the gym and noted feeling more tired and sluggish. Exercise also helps him achieve a sense of balance as he struggles to make healthy eating choices due to his busy travel schedule. Alan’s secret to success is his routine. He wakes up at 4:30, leaves the house at 5, is at the gym by 5:30, works out for an hour or so, then sits in the sauna for 15 to 20 minutes and arrives at work by 7 or 7:30. The gym is also a great place to do business. Alan enjoys frequently bumping into clients at the gym and having a chance to connect with them.

Alan Dostert
Jim Tyler: “I need it for my mental health.”

EAPC Partner, Jim Tyler is a marathon runner and a regular at the Family Wellness Center in Mandan, ND. His secret to making sure he gets his workout in is to do it in the morning before the day begins. If he plans to exercise after work, he doesn’t have as much motivation and if a meeting runs late… then he really doesn’t! Jim says, “I feel more in control when I get my workout in.”

Jim Tyler
Melanie Schmidt: “Keep things interesting with new fitness challenges and fresh music!”

Melanie is an Administrative and Marketing Assistant at EAPC as well as an avid long-distance runner and fitness class instructor. For her, exercise is a great stress reliever and an instant mood lifter. She makes time to workout by planning her weekly routine in advance and keeping a gym bag packed so she’s always prepared. Melanie likes to reward herself with new workout clothes and is always changing up her routine and downloading new music to keep her motivated!

Melanie Schmidt
Greg Soleim: “Yoga strengthens my back so I can continue to workout.”

Greg is EAPC’s CFO. He’s had a bad back since he can remember. Greg says, “I do yoga for back health. What’s happened in my past is, I’ll get motivated to work out, really get into it, and then my back goes out and I’m done. It’s debilitating and I can’t and don’t want to do anything when it happens. So I’m hoping the yoga strengthens my back and it stays healthy so I can continue with the workouts.” Greg says busy, hectic workdays make him eager to get to it. Greg is lucky to have a gym in his basement so he doesn’t have to bare the cold to get his workout in. His favorite routine includes 24-minutes of yoga followed by either 35-40 minutes on the treadmill or an hour full-body workout. He also tries to eat less fast food and drink more water. He admits though, “I don’t really consider my diet other than generally excluding the fast food you think of being unhealthy (but delicious). But I’d eat McD’s right now if someone gave it to me.”

Greg Soleim
Where do you start?

It’s hard to make time for exercise in our busy lives and it can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there to better your health. Try joining a local gym, check out a group fitness class, sign up for a 5k, invite a friend to workout with you, or take a break from work and just get outside and walk. Buy a fitness watch to track your progress and download some new music to get you excited about working out. There are plenty of ways to challenge yourself; change up your workout and keep it fun. To get the best results, combine strength training with cardio. Your core is the powerhouse of your body so don’t forget to strengthen it! Planning regular exercise is especially important when sitting long hours at a desk. Pair this philosophy with a healthy diet of whole, natural foods, drinking plenty of water, and staying away from processed junk food. It’s okay to splurge every now and then, but try to get an extra workout in when you know you are going to overindulge.

Looking for a great place to kick off your fitness plans?

EAPCers are not only passionate about their own health, they’re also passionate about exuberating a direct positive impact on the users of the facilities they design. EAPC has designed five highly successful wellness and recreation facilities in the past ten years with a sixth currently nearing construction completion. These facilities are visually stunning inside and out, creating an environment you will want to be in! Check out some of the amenities available in your area.

Choice Health & Fitness, Grand Forks, ND

Family Wellness, Mandan, ND

“It’s really nice that the Family Wellness Center has an indoor track with big windows that surround it. You have great views without the elements to deal with.” — Jim Tyler, EAPC Bismarck

Parks & Rec Wellness Center, Beulah, ND

Coming Spring 2018!

Minot State University Wellness Center, Minot, ND

South Dakota State University Student Health Center

You never know what you are capable of unless you try! The sense of accomplishment you will feel after achieving your fitness goals and doing something that you never thought you could do is the best feeling in the world!