Time for Exercise

When you want to lose weight, you may feel like you’re willing to try anything to succeed. Diet after diet, exercise equipment “as seen on TV….” But what really works?

There is no one perfect answer. The right answer for you depends on what you are willing to do for exercise and what you are willing to do for your diet.

There are some definite wrong answers out there, however.

If you eat too little, so that you feel hungry all the time, you are probably depriving your body of the calories it needs to operate at it’s best.

If you exercise every day until you ache all over, you’re probably overdoing it.

If you deny yourself even the slightest taste of your favorite treats, you’re setting yourself up to feel like a failure if you do eat even a little of something not on your diet.

When you’re considering diet plans, think about what you are willing to give up. Low carb diets are quite popular, but if you truly love your carbs, such as potatoes, pasta and bread, I would suggest trying something else first.

I have no problem with setting up rewards for doing well on a diet. Try giving yourself a very small piece of your favorite treat if you leave yourself enough calories at the end of the day that it fits in. Allow yourself some leeway on holidays. And if you go off your diet completely for a day or so, don’t think of it as a failure. Just get right back on your diet.

Planning your fitness routine is similar. If you hate to run, jogging probably isn’t for you. If you love the outdoors, finding a place to take a hike near your home can be exercise and reward all in one.

Find a way to motivate yourself to spend time at the gym. Go with a friend or agree to compare results. Many people find just a light touch of competition very helpful when trying to build the exercise habit.

If events keep you from going to the gym for a few days, once again, do not consider your routine a failure. Just start back up. You only fail if you quit.