Along with all the talk about obesity and the nation wide drive to lose weight, there is an underlying message to become fit. Just losing weight is no longer acceptable; you also have to strive to be 'fit'. Exactly what does personal fitness mean to the average person?
Young people no longer 'exercise', they 'fitness train'. When watching TV or surfing the net, you are constantly met with pictures of slender women sweating and pushing themselves to 'the max' to achieve one hundred push ups, run ten miles, beating the boxing bag or lifting weights.
The average person makes a subconscious decision when presented with these pictures that typically fall into one of three categories.
- "There is NO way I'm doing that"
- "I'm starting this tomorrow"
- "Maybe I should start to exercise"
Lets examine the effect these decisions can have on the average person.
There is NO way I'm doing that
This person perceives exercise as what they are seeing. They either do not want to push themselves to that extreme, or they know that they are physically not able to do it, therefore they eliminate all thought of exercise from their brain.
I'm starting this tomorrow
This person is full of energy and ambition. When they wake up in the morning they grab their running shoes and a bottle of water and take off to run five miles, battle the boxing bag for one hour or try every exercise machine the gym owns. The result? This poor person will probably not be able to get out of bed the next morning! They hurt, and this brings with it another resolve; "This is for the birds".
Maybe I should start to exercise
This person actually has a fighting chance to become successful. They will usually follow one of two paths. 1) Forget about it, or 2) Start planning an exercise routine that sounds reasonable to them. Number two is obviously the clear winner.
Now you are aware of your thought patterns, but you are still wondering 'How do I achieve personal fitness?' The following is...
My Recommendation to Achieve Personal Fitness
If you have read any of my articles or my blog posts then you know that I am not an extremist. I do not believe in, nor recommend, trying to lose 40 pounds in a month, or starting a fitness program at the intermediate or advanced level.
Personal fitness is just what it implies; a program designed for you alone. Believe me, everyone starts a fitness routine at the beginning level and then they work their way up to more advanced levels.
Personal fitness is a reality when you feel good. You are either working on or have achieved your weight loss goal, you are physically able to do much more than when you started, and you feel energetic and look forward to the coming day.
I believe that achieving successful personal fitness is possible when following these two simple steps:
1. Start a sensible weight loss program that centers on healthy foods and healthy meals. Just by switching from fried meats to baked, broiled or BBQ, eliminating vegetables swimming in butter, cutting down or eliminating sodas (regular or diet), and replacing those cookies with healthy snacks will cause you to lose weight, without counting calories, carbs or anything else.
2. Depending on your physical capabilities, start slowly with exercise. Begin walking a short distance. Leave the house walking with a goal in mind of reaching the corner, around the block - whatever you feel that you can do. When you start to feel winded or tired turn around and head back home.
Walk to that same point for one week and then try to extend your distance following the same rules. Ride a bicycle using the same method as described for walking. Go swimming or exercise in water. Use an exercise ball, if only to sit on it.
By following these methodologies you will achieve personal fitness much more quickly that you thought possible.
Kathy Bryant hosts a weight loss site that also has focus on ways to make the dieter feel upbeat and proud of their accomplishments. Ways and methods to enjoy eating healthy and fitness routines. Weight loss and fitness products are reviewed honestly and good products are promoted. To find out more about personal fitness, visit http://www.fastweightlossbyk.com
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