You are not happy with the way your body is shaped at this moment and you want to do something about it. Maybe it's your weight or literally the shape of your body. There are so many methods available that it's hard to know which one is for you. We will look at your specific goals, then see what options will best accomplish those goals.
First thing you have to do is evaluate your body structure. Do you only need some minor tweaking or a major overhaul. Check your strengths and weakness. What are you willing to sacrifice to accomplish your goals.
Food can be a dirty word to some people. List the foods that are your biggest downfall. Do you feel deprived, hungry and angry when you try to diet? You need a program that will allow you to eat often throughout the day. You need to feel good about your plan of action in order to be successful. Feeling deprived, hungry and angry will only add more stress, thus setting yourself up for failure.
If food is only a minor problem, you can choose to count calories, count carbs or pick one of many nutritious plans. You could simply start by cutting out the junk food and pop. Then go from there.
Exercise is not a dirty word. Exercise is your bodies biggest friend. Let's say you don't like to exercise. You hate getting all hot and sweaty. Then you need to choose a low impact exercise like walking. Walking is an excellent choice for an over all body booster while also being low impact. Weight lifting is another one. Hang on, I hear you, "What are you crazy. Weight lifting for low impact." As a matter of fact it's true. A program with light weights, 15 minutes a day, 3 to 4 times a week will strengthen muscles and increase your energy level.
If you like to exercise, get hot and sweaty, the choices are immense. Look for an exercise program that looks challenging and go for it. Have fun while you are sculpting your new body.
You need to make a plan of action. Make short term and long term goals. Be sure these goals are realistic. Don't put unrealistic pressure on yourself. You want to succeed. You can always update your goals as you make progress. Whatever road you choose, please, please promise yourself to stick to it for one month. I guarantee you will feel so much better about yourself that you will continue on for another month, then another until it becomes a way of life. That's the ultimate goal. You want your best health plan to become a way of life. Something you don't even think about anymore.
This is going to be hard work. Take it a day at a time. If you slip up, it's not the end of the world. Get back with the plan the next day. If you slip up for several days, don't beat yourself up. Stop, take a deep breath and regroup. Continue with your plan. The only failures are those who give up. It might take you longer to reach your goals, but you are doing it. You are taking control of your body.
If you start to feel too discouraged, you probably need to change your plan. Look to see what is giving you a problem and find a plan that better matches your needs.
Now, the one big hard fact about our bodies, is, the amount of fuel you take in has to be used up or the fuel becomes fat produces weak muscles. You must combine a food plan and an exercise plan in order to take control of your body. You want to live a long and healthy life, TAKE CONTROL NOW. It doesn't matter what your age, it's never too late to start taking control.
All rights reserved. Articles may be reprinted as long as the content remains intact, unchanged and links remain active.
P.S. A few years ago I heard a speaker talk about changing behaviors. She made the statement that we need to tell children what it is we do want and not what we don't. Example: You don't want the children to run in the classroom. Instead of saying, "stop running" or "don't run" you say "use walking feet". She said you want the image of correct behavior in their mind. Then she went on to use this example. You are on a diet, and you say to yourself, I can't have chocolate, I can't have chocolate, I can't have chocolate, over and over. What is it you are going to want? Chocolate. Because that's all your thinking about. Instead you would say, "I'm hungry for some carrots", "I like carrots", "I need some cool crunchy carrots". These are not exact quotes, but you get the meaning. We want the positive image in our head. That has really stuck with me. I hope you find this a useful and helpful tool.