For example, if you are trying to lose weight, it is vital to know where you are now. What do you weigh? What is your body fat percentage? How much muscle do you have'It is the muscle that burns up the calories while you are at the gym exercising. And it is also the muscle that burns up calories throughout the day, while you are at work, at home resting and even while you are sleeping. It is the muscle that does this.

You can do this with a few simple tools. A bathroom scale or the scale at the gym will tell you how much you weigh. You can figure out the fat percentage with a simple, inexpensive caliper.

00. It will tell you what your body fat percentage is.

Second, you need to know what you are doing each workout. If you are walking, you should keep track of how far you walk and how long it takes you. That way you can tell if you are doing better as time goes on. If you are not improving your times or your distance you might not be making the progress you should.

Your program should be written out beforehand, and include the exercises and the number of repetitions that you are going to do. Then all you have to do is keep a log book (a simple spiral notebook works well) and make a quick note as you do each set of exercises.

If you do these two things, have a long term plan in mind and keep records of your progress, you can have maximum benefit from minimum effort. And you really can lose that extra weight and at last have the body that you have always wanted.