"Just Do It"
It shouldn’t be this tough. All you want to do is drop 7-14lbs. That weight used to be your norm so why is it so difficult to get back to it? That was the time in your life where you were active though… regularly running, playing sport or attending gym classes after work. Times have changed these days. Now work and family commitments have increased and you just don’t have the time to focus on yourself. Sound familiar?
There will never be the perfect time to start exercising. How likely do you think it is that you wake up before your alarm goes off and you are full of energy? The weather is perfect (not too hot or too cold) and the kids are sleeping longer than they normally do. Besides this, you’re not that busy at work at the moment, you have an empty inbox and your boss is away. Unfortunately, if you’re waiting for it you’ll be waiting forever because it’s not going to happen! You have to make it happen and do it today… strike while the iron is hot!
So, you make the decision to get fit. Now the hard part is getting going. It is the easiest thing in the world to procrastinate. We often put off starting by researching gyms and reading a few articles on nutrition to decide which diet you’re going to go with, paleo or intermittent fasting. Don’t get me wrong, both of these things are great to do but don’t let these decisions paralyse you and steal 2 months of your time by not starting any sort of activity. Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman philosopher stated ‘more is lost by indecision than wrong decision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity’. The truth is that ANY activity, as long as it is performed safely with good technique, is going to help to improve your fitness. It is in the interest of the fitness and nutrition industries to make things sound more complex than they are. This is so we continue to buy shakes, powders, pills and potions all in the hope that this will be the magic ingredient to make us fit and healthy. Unfortunately fitness isn’t easy. You have to stick at it when it gets tough and you feel like giving up. However, if you manage to find something that you enjoy and you can stick with, it is possible to be any shape that you desire. It won’t happen overnight and the magic ingredient won’t come in a powder, but it can be done!
Here are 5 things which you can do today, starting now, which will improve your overall health and wellbeing:
Walk to the tap and fill up a glass with water. Your goal is to drink 8, 8oz glasses of water (or 2 litres) today. (Obviously, if you’re reading this email at 9 o’clock at night, have 1 glass and go for the 8 tomorrow!)
Do not drink any alcohol Monday through Thursday. If you can abstain at the weekend as well you’ll get even better results but if you enjoy a glass of wine you don’t need to take it out of your diet completely.
Open your diary and write in 3 times to go for a long walk, run or cycle over the next 7 days. Don’t decide later, do it now and commit to these times.
Have something protein based for breakfast. Replace your cereal and toast for 2 boiled eggs or an omelette. This will help you feel fuller for longer and you’ll be less likely to snack at around 11am.
Take out all processed meals for the next 7 days. Try to cook with raw ingredients. It may take a little longer but set this time aside.
If you make small changes like these you’ll make a real difference to your health, fitness and body shape and the best thing is, you can start NOW.