Losing weight requires exercise and a healthy diet. Duh. But, the actual first step in weight loss and health is taking responsibility for your own actions. Remind yourself that you are in control of everything you do, including:
- What you eat
- Whether you exercise or not
- How healthy you are (within genetic limits, of course)
- Your quality of life
Yourself as a Resource
There are thousands of experts out there eager to tell you what to do to lose weight. But, those experts have an agenda: they want to make money by selling you their book, their ab gadget, their crap. Who has your best interests at heart? Not these guys! No one is going to work harder for you than YOU and, with that in mind, shouldn't you be the first source of information? You're smart enough to figure out the basics, right? Think about what you already know:
- Vegetables and fruits, lean meat, whole grains, unsaturated fat and water are all good.
- Processed foods (like Twinkies), saturated fat, skipping meals and drinking too much soda are all bad.
- You should do cardio exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
- If you can't do 30 minutes, it's better to do as much as you can than not do anything
- Weight training is important for building muscle and bones and for losing weight
- If you don't know how to lift weights, you can hire a personal trainer at a club or online
- Stretching is important for both flexibility and relaxation
You know the basics and there's no reason you can't get started right now by taking a walk, doing some squats or even drinking a big glass of water. When confronted with a Big Mac or a grilled chicken sandwich, you know which is the better choice (and remember, it's always a choice). If you can make one good choice every day, you're on your way to better health and, yes, weight loss. And if you make one good choice now, you can make two good choices tomorrow. You don't need an expert to tell you that, right? Don't let the temptations out there control you, you're in charge!
One note, the more unhealthy food you eat, the more unhealthy food you crave. So, slowly cutting fatty and sugary foods from your diet will eventually help you lose those powerful cravings that seem impossible to ignore.
No More Excuses
To take control of your health and fitness is to take full responsibility for what you're doing or not doing. It's no one else's fault if you don't exercise. It's no one else's fault if you've crammed your schedule so tight you don't have time to take care of your body. Blaming everyone else for your health is a sure way to stay right where you are, hating every minute of it. Take control of your health by admitting that no one else cares as much about your body as you!
