Well, well, well...so you have finally made the decision to make a change and get started with your fitness program. Believe it or not, this is one of the MOST important steps. During this process, you may pick up some habits. There a=is all kind of research that talks about forming habits. Most say that if you perform an action for 3 weeks or 21 days, that it ingrains itself.
Before you start, and go at it full tilt, assess your phyusical condition as it is now. It is always advisable to check with your doctor before you start a new regimin. Common sense tells us that you want to start slow. I remember a few years ago, while on a sports related trip, some friends of mine were reliving their old high school days and giving each other a hard time. They seemed to have a difference of opinion when it came to who was the faster athlete when they were in high school together. Needles to say, as one thing led to another, the race was on. So out into the parking lot we went. On your mark...get set...go! The race was hilarious, there was one winner, but two losers. How you say? Because they weren't in the same shape they were 30 years ago...and BenGay ointment had to come to the rescue. They were lucky it wasn't a pulled muscle, a sprained ankle, or a knee blown out in the "short winded" scamper.
But if you do it the right way, let's take a look at some of the habits you may develop:
• You may become extremely active
• You may be stepping out on long walks every day and night
• You will start watching what you eat
• You may get stronger with your workouts
• You may have more energy throughout the day
• You may lose weight
• You may lose unwanted inches
• You probably will cut out the extra late-night-snacking
• You probably will sleep better and more soundly at night
It is always to your benefit to replace an unwanted habit with a desired habit. There has to be some sort of trade-off. I don't mean the kind that people use to validate their not-so-good decisions, like: "I'll have the large chocolate candy bar and the large bag of chips...and oh yeah...I'll have a DIET drink, please." This trade-off doesn't get you anywhere except deeper into caloric debt.
Trust me, making better choices with the foods and serving sizes you eat along with increasing your physical activity
will help you make a positive change. You've made the decision to change...now stick to it!
Get Fit. Stay Fit.
Keith
