Got a fitness question? Ask our online personal trainers!
Now is the perfect time to get in shape, set fitness goals, train for a Get Your Rear in Gear 5K, or just get outside and get moving with the family. But sometimes, the best laid plans don’t yield the results you expect. What seems simple in a fitness magazine can get a little bit more complicated when you get to the gym or head out the door. This is your opportunity to clear up the confusion and get those fitness questions answered. GetYourRearinGear.com has gathered a panel of three fitness experts to answer your questions about preparing for your first 5K, training as you age, or general fitness concerns.
Submit a question!
Our fitness experts include:
Chris Freytag: Chris is a nationally known fitness expert on NBC-TV, the fitness expert for Prevention magazine, and author of 3 books. Chris holds a BA in Journalism and is a certified Group Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer and Lifestyle and Weight Management consultant. She is a Yoga and Pilates instructor as well. Over the years, Chris has written numerous articles on health and fitness. She is a national fitness presenter, motivational speaker and has over a dozen fitness DVD’s in the marketplace. Check out her newest book, The 2 Week Total Body Turnaround available at bookstores now, or get more information about Chris’ classes and programs at her website ChrisFreytag.com.
Kris Wayne: Kris is the Generations Fitness Specialist for the Metropolitan Minneapolis YMCA. As part of this program she develops fitness programming for baby boomers and senior populations in the areas of Pilates, Group Fitness and Personal Training. Her program, “Functional Fitness” concentrates on undoing what occurs during the aging process and daily life. Kris is a certified presenter and fitness instructor through the American Council on Exercise and is a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer.
Matt Haugen: Matt is a full-time coach who has trained thousands of athletes since 1980. On the community, high school, collegiate, national, and Olympic levels, he has guided athletes to podium finishes and personal best accomplishments. Since 1972, Matt has also continued to train and race in a wide range of sports and race distances. His blend of education, elite level performance experience, and coaching history provide athletes the guidance that they need to attain finish line goals. Matt holds a B.A. in Psychology, and M.S. Exercise Science/Sport Psychology from Penn State, and Ph.D. studies (A.B.D.) in Kinesiology/Sport Psychology from the U of Minnesota. He currently trains athletes of all levels through Performance Power (P2) based in St. Paul Minnesota.
After you submit your question, check back to find the answer in future blog posts.
I have been a walker for many years and just started alternating walking/jogging. I jogged my first 5K at the Breast Cancer Walk last weekend and it was awesome.
My question is this: I am 54 years old and wonder if I am too old to begin a running program. My knees are achy since the race on Sunday and I am wondering how to treat this? I also have plantar fasciitis in one foot, which actually seems to hurt less with jogging. I want to lose 30 pounds and was hoping by starting a jogging/running program that this would help achieve my goal. I am currently following The Mayo Clinic Diet Program.
Hi Mary,
You question has been submitted to Kris Wayne. She is our fitness expert who works in the area of exercise and aging. We’ll have an answer for you soon! Thanks for reading the blog.
Hi Mary! Your question was answered! Check the 5/21 blog post and thanks for visiting getyourrearingear.com!
Hey there,
I am 21 years old and about 115 pounds. I like to exercise and I have a great tummy and legs, but when I tone I tend to loose my chest. It has begun to bother me because my sternum is beginning to show between my breasts and it makes me really self conscious. Im lucky to always have been a petite female, but I really stress about looking too thin. Do you have any suggestions as to what i could do to fill in?
I am a 46 year old male and new to running in 2010. I have run three 5k’s since the beginning of the New Year, one which I completed and two others I walked for about 20 seconds more than halfway through two of the runs, then ran the remainder to finish. What is the best way to get my endurance level up so I can complete the run without walking? Also, how can I train to get my time down to 22:00 from 27:00. I am 5’8″ tall and about 170lbs with 11 percent body fat. Thanks.
Hi Martay! I’ve submitted your question to our Ask the Trainer panel. Check back for a response in the next couple of weeks!
Hi John,
Great question! It looks like you are doing a great job, especially for a new runner. To answer your question, read How to Run a Faster 5K, in which our Ask the Trainer running expert Matt Haugen answers this question and gives a complete workout plan for improving your 5K pace. To improve your endurance, you could also use the Beginning 5K Plan, which begins as a run/walk program, then gradually eliminates the walk so that you run the entire 5K distance. Good luck with your training!
how can i do excersice for all the parts of my body, but to get bigger someones like my legs but without muscles, and to get smal just my stomach and not get fit all my body ?