Fit for Life - A No-Nonsense Look at Fitness

Copyright 2006 Brad Howard
Now, more than ever, becoming fit for life should be your mantra. Obesity is becoming more and more a problem. According to the F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America (2005) report, about 119 million Americans, or 64.5% of adult Americans are either overweight or obese. Consequently, a rise in obesity-related diseases such as type II diabetes, breast and colon cancer, gall bladder surgery and cardiovascular diseases has been seen. So do you really want to be come an obesity statistic or would you rather take that step now to be fit for life?
Fit for Life - It Starts with Small Steps
The simple truth is this - you are overweight because you consume more food /energy than you burn off. However, instead of thinking of how difficult it will be to lose ALL those pounds, start with small, realistic steps. You lose the first pound and the rest will follow.
• Do SOMETHING, ANYTHING, it will always be better than NOTHING. It would be great if you can find a fitness buddy but if not, fine; don't be afraid to go on your own. After all, it is your body that will stand to benefit anyway.
• If you started walking and started seeing the first pounds melt away, change your routine. Boredom has killed many a fitness enthusiast so although you may be elated at the first pounds lost, doing the same thing over and over again will kill your enthusiasm soon enough.
• Challenge yourself a little bit - for 3 days a week at 30 minutes a day, do some weight training exercises. Start light; just use a set of dumbbells (even filled up water bottles will do!)
• Now you are ready to cross-train! Mix and match your fitness routine. Walk, run, jog, skip, whatever keeps you going.
Of course, all this activity is for nothing if you come home panting and then start grabbing a bag of chips. Remember, being fit for life is also a lifetime commitment to opting to eat healthy food!
• Do not deprive yourself of anything. It is human nature folks. If you tell yourself you can never have chocolate cake again... yes, you'll end up wanting chocolate cake... NOW.
• Start taking a look at what you put on your food or what you are eating with it. Sure cauliflower and broccoli are healthy but you are dipping them in cheese sauce, you are just sabotaging your own diet. Start going back to basics. Think of it this way - nude food is good!
• You know what? You really are, what you eat. If you are too busy to cook and grab a bag of chips and chug it down with cola, don't ask other people why you feel 'heavy' and 'down'.
• Drink people, drink! It is said that by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Of course, don't gulp down soft drinks go for flavored water instead if 8 to 10 glasses of 'plain' water is too much for you.