OK…I’ve tried countless programs. I’ve dieted for years. I’ve tried all of the TV programs. I have a library of videos and DVDs. So let’s just forget all of that, and “Gimme
my magic weight loss pill.” There are
claims out there on social media sites and on various media outlets that will
tell you that “they have it!” Some may say that they “have finally created the
magic pill that will cause you to lose weight and feel great!” And some programs will tell you that you can
do it in only 14 minutes a day, or in just one week.
Well here’s the down and dirty…IT IS A PILL, but
it’s going to be a hard one for most folks to swallow (figuratively). It takes some effort and some perseverance. To make sustainable changes, you have to eat
right, do some type of aerobic exercise and do some type of resistance
exercises. An integrated approach is
best. Look at all of the major
transformation programs and the experts that write and created them…most are a
12-Week program. The successful trainers
that have videos for sale, don’t just sell you a one-week set…they sell you a
series that may last 8-12 weeks.
If you are out of shape and have a few extra pounds
on you…you didn’t get that way or gain all of that weight in a week, so
logically, it may take you longer than a week or two to do a 180 degree turn.
Here are some things to think about:
What
was/is my frustration level? What is it that has driven me to the point to
have to get up off the couch and make a change? I have found that the more
personal the reason, the more intense the desire to improve.
What
is my purpose in getting in better shape? I want to be as healthy as I can, for as long
as I can, and be so that I can take care of and do for myself. I want to be able to enjoy my children and
grandchildren. I want them to remember
that I was a fun-loving person that cared for them and took care of them,
instead of them having to take care of me.
Can
I take on and sustain a lifestyle from the particular program I am using? The program you adopt has to be one that you
can live with from now on…a long-term deal.
Ask yourself: Can I do this, eat
this way, and exercise like this (in moderation as you get older, of course)
for the rest of my life. If so, go for
it. If not, find one that you can live
with and make it happen.
Can
you be accountable?
Find a friend or family member that will help you stay on track. The hardest part of commitment is “Honoring
Self-Promises.” Everybody else doesn’t
know that you promised yourself that you were going to get up an hour earlier
and walk for 30 minutes before you got ready for work or school. Only YOU know that. And once you break one, then two and even
three…it’s easy to slip and fall off the wagon.
What’s Your Focus?
You focus has to be YOUR FOCUS…not anybody else’s. Each of us is different and because of that,
your actual weight loss may not “kick in” and have you dropping weight until
maybe the 3rd, 4th or 5th week even. Be patient.
I think about the story of the man who went to the well pump to draw a
bucket of water. He didn’t prime the
pump (to get it ready) yet, he wanted water to flow on his first couple of
handle-pumps. Since he didn’t prepare it
correctly, and only pumped the well for about 15-20 strokes without water, the
man gave up and went on his way…unbeknownst to him, that the 21st or
22nd pump on the handle would have done it. Sometimes our results are just below the surface,
out of sight. Be patient and stay with
it!
Get Fit. Stay Fit.
Keith
Get Fit. Stay Fit.
Keith
