<
Back >
Fitness
Made Simple
5 Keys to
Shaping-Up in the Millennium
Well,
it’s that time of year again. The festive and decadent holiday
season has passed like a whirling tornado leaving in its wake the
physical devastation of expanded waistlines, bloated stomachs, and
seam-splitting weight gains. To combat the effects of culinary overindulgences
many people routinely resolve to get fit in the new year, only to
lose this determination a week or two later. It’s a futile
cycle that’s often repeated year after year and the demoralizing
effects of it were made crystal clear to me by a poignant letter.
I’ve actually received dozens of letters from readers asking
for help in sticking to their new years resolutions but this particular
one from a lady named Ronnie, who just ordered the Fitness Made
Simple video I host, really hit me.
To make a long story short, Ronnie recently started watching what
she was eating and had plans of joining a neighborhood gym. Then
Thanksgiving and multiple holiday parties led to an unwanted eight
pounds and subsequent feelings of frustration and failure. Unfortunately,
this scenario is very familiar to Ronnie and she was reaching out
for help in making this year different. Since I was in this same
predicament about two years ago I can relate very well to what Ronnie
and so many other well-intentioned resolutionists are going through.
Here are five keys I found vital to keeping my resolve strong and
opening up the door to a fit physique. Hopefully they’ll be
of equal benefit to you in achieving your shape-up goals in the
new millennium.
#1. MAKE FITNESS A PRIORITY AND RE-ADJUST YOUR MINDSET - With todays
busy lifestyles just about everybody complains about time limitations.
How many times do you hear someone (or yourself) justify not working
out or eating healthy by saying “I don’t have time?”
If this is the case then you have to make the time. It’s not
that hard to do. First of all, think of fitness as something that
must be fit in...like going to work and paying bills. Then, take
a moment to list all the things you’re doing now that you
make time for and ask yourself how important they are to your happiness.
Are they more important than creating the body you want? When I
did this simple technique I couldn’t believe how many ridiculous
habitual things I was unknowingly filling my days with and putting
ahead of my fitness pursuits. To further solidify my commitment
to improving my body I also found it helpful to write down my short
term and long term goals as well as what I planned to do to accomplish
them. Remember, failing to plan is the same as planning to fail.
#2. GIVE YOURSELF SOMETHING TANGIBLE TO FOCUS ON - Ronnie’s
ordering the Fitness Made Simple video, for example, is a great
start to her fitness routine from both a mental and physical standpoint.
Mentally, this video is something she can see, feel, touch, and
hear, and it represents her commitment to putting ideas into practice.
Most of us have amazing thoughts everyday but only a select few
ever act on them. You’ll notice those few are usually the
most successful. Physically, Fitness Made Simple provides the exact
time-conserving workout routine and nutritional mealplan hundreds
of women and men, including myself, have used to attain their fat-burning
and lean muscle-building goals. I’ve been told it’s
like having a personal trainer on hand 24 hours a day providing
you with the complete blueprint for creating a toned, defined physique.
In just 8 weeks of following this program it helped me develop the
tight sixpack of abs I’d always wanted but never was able
to see before...despite years of trying. Another tangible manifestation
of your resolution could involve joining a gym or purchasing some
inexpensive home exercise equipment, like free weights and a bench.
#3. TAKE PHOTOS - No matter how out of shape you think you are,
take a “before” photo prior to beginning your workout
regimen and schedule to take additional snapshots every two weeks
until you reach your goal. This practice can be nerve-racking but
nothing beats it when it comes to keeping your mind on your goal.
It provides a starting point and bi-weekly reminders of your progress.
I find it difficult to notice improvements on a day to day basis,
which wreaks havoc on my motivation. When I compare periodic photos
and notice the benefits of my efforts, however, I feel much more
satisfied and strengthen my resolve.
#4. GET LEFTOVERS & BINGE FOODS OUT OF THE HOUSE - The new year
is a perfect time for a little pantry cleaning - out with the old
and in with the new. If you have lots of hi-carb and hi-fat holiday
goodies still lingering around, carry a little Christmas generosity
into the new year and donate them to the needy. Knowing these treats
are at arms reach can make late night refrigerator raids too tempting.
If you have a craving for something that’s not part of your
new fitness program I still recommend you satisfy it and get it
over with...just make sure to go out for it. Life’s too short
for deprivation and if I constantly deny myself , my preoccupation
with food cravings can lead to an even worse binge later down the
road. Knowing I have to do my “cheat” eating outside
of the house stops me from acting on impulse; instead, it gives
me that necessary moment to think and make a conscious decision
as to whether or not it’s worth the trip. Also keep in mind
that as long as you make good eating the rule and cheating the exception,
one day of indulgence should have little to no visible negative
effect on many good days.
#5. TRY A SUPPLEMENT - Unless you already have the basic building
blocks of an effective workout and mealplan in place I really don’t
recommend jumping on the heavily advertised supplement bandwagon.
Keep in mind that supplements are just that - “supplements”
- and not “substitutes” for a proper training and nutrition
program. Think of building your body like building a house. Your
workout and nutritition programs are your “foundation”
and “walls.” Supplements represent your “accessories,”
furniture, paintings, etc. You can’t hang a painting before
you erect a wall. Remember that analogy. It’s one thing I
came up with that really keeps my focus in the right place. If you’ve
been following a bodybuilding/fitness lifestlye for a while now
and have reached a plateau in your current routine, however, the
addition of a fat-burning and/or muscle-building supplement may
renew your enthusiasm and help maximize the results of your gym
and kitchen efforts.
John
Basedow is an internationally recognized fitness personality and
host of the best-selling videos Fitness Made Simple, Awesome Hour
Upper Body Home Workout, Six Pack Abs, AM/PM Workouts, 45Min Fat
Burning Workout, & Better Body Basics. These programs
offer time conserving workouts and fat burning nutritional meal
plans which thousands of people are using to build lean, healthy,
and muscular physiques. To order call 1-800-283-4230 or visit www.FitnessMadeSimple.com.
<
Back > |
