Fitness is a journey, not a destination. Start your journey today. Tomorrow is just an excuse. This is a quick overview of the basic things one needs to realize/do in order to start on the path to a healthier life. Consider it your new credo, straight from a Everyday Normal Guy/Girl just like you - with a touch of humor. :)
- There is no such thing as a "diet". You cannot expect to eat better for a few months and lose weight and keep it off. Nope. Sorry. It simply won't happen. Deciding to lose weight is a LIFE CHANGE. Deal with it, or stay miserable. It's really your choice. However, I can promise you that you will love the new you if you take the leap. You will still be able to eat treats here and there - but your daily bag of corn chips has to go.
- You MUST drink enough water each and every day. I can almost hear you right now. "I know I have to drink water Miller - geez..." You know what my question is? Then why aren't you doing it. I know you KNOW you need drink water - but I am telling you that you HAVE to. See, your body needs water to survive. When you don't get enough, your body retains it. Also, your brain does not really fully understand whether you are hungry or thirsty. Most people are actually in need of hydration, but turn to snacking instead. Don't do that. Learn to love clean, cold water - it will be your best adversary in your journey to a new you.
- You CANNOT starve yourself to lose weight! I hear people talking to each other all the time about how they cut down on their meals or skipped breakfast/lunch/dinner or whatever in hopes of losing some weight. Wrong! If you starve yourself by not eating, your body will cling to every carb and fat you put in your face, and you will actually GAIN weight. This is a great segway to #4...
- You must count your calories. You will not be successful in your battle unless you know how to fight. What I mean is, your body needs a certain amount of calories to function properly - and you need to strive to meet that goal each and every day. You don't want to eat too little or too much - and counting calories is the BEST way to be sure you are optimizing your weight loss. More on this topic soon. If you have a smartphone, go do yourself a favor and download Lose It! right now. It's free, and I could not have done it without using this app each and every day.
- You must keep track of the calories you burn. Did you think we were gonna keep track or our calories consumed and not do any snazzy math with them? Ha! This part is easy. You need to make sure you are keeping track of each calorie burned when working out too. Most exercise equipment can keep track of this for you, but they aren't always the most accurate of devices, so I recommend getting a decent heart rate monitor with a chest strap. You can use this to keep track of your calories burned and also optimize your workout by staying in your target heart rate.
- Steady as she goes. Results take time. Yeah - it stinks I know. Within the first month, depending on how overweight you are, you could lose 10 to 15 pounds. After that, however, things take time when doing things right. Expect to lose about 1 to 2 pounds a week if all is going correctly. This might seem like a slow process, but losing weight too fast is NOT a good thing. It will come back just as fast. You will be building up your metabolism over time to burn calories more efficiently. You are re-training your body - BE PATIENT!
- Stay positive. Don't be discouraged if you gain a pound or two back here and there. Stay focused on your larger goal to better yourself. You are doing this for YOU. You are doing this in order to have a longer, healthier life. You are doing this so you can crawl around with your children or grandchildren, and so you can enjoy all that nature and life has to offer. Be positive and love your life.
These few tips just scratch the surface. I hope they left you inspired and ready to start working toward the new you. Stay tuned to the blog for more!
