Every Fitness Journey Starts With a Simple Step

2008 has come to an end and 2009 begins. With the start of a new year, there are common resolutions, goals or changes you may plan to make in the new year. Is one of those to change your body composition through better eating choices and exercise? As long as I have been in the fitness industry, I see the generic fitness goal to do some type of exercise. This usually comes after an overindulgent holiday season. People join gyms or other forms of group exercise and usually stop after a few months. If you are paying a membership, you are wasting your money at that point. Change is not easy and you really have to make a commitment to yourself that you are starting a journey for the long haul. For example, if you need to lose 30 or more pounds, you have to remember that it probably did not appear in the last few months and it is going to take time, hard work and determination to lose. Unfortunately, those extra pounds appear much easier than disappear.
Start with small, realistic goals such as losing 2 pounds a week. This is more manageable than always thinking that you need to lose those 30 pounds. If it does not seem like it is disappearing quick enough, frustration sets in. With exercise, find what inspires or motivates you. Start with a simple walk and when it gets cold, head to your largest local mall. Walk the floor and take the stairs several times to increase your intensity. Do you like to dance? There are latin, ballroom, line and belly dancing classes. Whatever it is, make it consistent. When it comes to changing your eating habits, this is the HARDEST component of changing the body composition, but is the MOST important. Trying to go on a "diet" by changing everything you eat is not suggested because it usually does not create long lasting changes. Changing how you eat and what you eat should come in stages because it should be for the rest of your life. This too will take time, hard work and determination. What is one thing you can eliminate this week that adds unhealthy, empty calories? Is it those 2 bottles of soda a day or that bagel every morning? Start with gradual, small changes.
Ok, so maybe you have reached your weight loss goal and you have entered a maintenance stage. You have a new goal to gain more definition in your body so that when you wear a certain type of shirt, your arms are enviable. You have to start with simple steps here, as well. You want to gauge the intensity that works best so that it is manageable and you are motivated to stick with it to attain results. Every fitness journey starts with a simple step. Are you ready to take that step?