Bodies by Design: Small changes will lead to big results
It happens to everyone. That moment when you realize that it's time to do something about your weight. It may happen when you're looking in the mirror or standing on the scale.Your first thought is to go on a diet, but as quickly as that enters your mind the ghosts of a hundred diets past return ... along with all the frustration. Then you wonder, why bother? The weight will come back, as it always has. Then you'll be back in front of the mirror as discouraged as ever. The answer is not to go on another diet. The answer is to change the philosophy of your lifestyle.
You've heard this before, and it makes sense, right? So why haven't you done it? It is your lifestyle obstacles. Most people resist changing their lifestyle for three reasons.
1. Change is scary. Whether you realize it or not, your life is in a constant state of change. Though you cling to the familiar, it's a futile struggle. Change always wins. The most consistent thing in life is change. Since you'll never escape it, you might as well channel it. It's time to make the change in your life purposeful and positive.
2. Change does not come fast enough. This is the hardest thing that society deals with today. We live in a microwave, fast food, email, text culture and we want instant result now, not in six months or in a year. We must learn to plant the seed, cultivate and harvest. Be patient and keep taking it one step at a time. The result will follow.
3. Lifestyle misconception. How many times have you heard the term "healthy lifestyle" only to picture a health nut with celery sticks in one hand and tofu in the other? The truth is that most people think that changing their lifestyle will be an extreme and unpleasant experience—and that's not true. Improving your lifestyle does not mean swearing off chocolate or living in the gym. You don't have to eat wheat germ for lunch, and you can still enjoy a nice plate of pasta. The key is moderation.
Making the change
It's time to lose your "all or nothing" mentality. Embrace simple, small changes that will add up to big improvements in your lifestyle. These are your main venues for change:
What you eat. Let's face it, most of the foods you eat aren't the healthiest. Some are downright terrible (the burger and fries you had last week). While others are simply excessive (the snacks you eat while watching TV). The solution to cleaning up your daily diet is not to go back on a diet. In fact, I never want you to go on a diet again. Instead, I want you to make permanent healthy changes to your eating habits. Here are some practical examples:
Choose salad over chips or fries
Don't add butter to your food
Eat fresh produce with every meal
Purchase fat free dairy products
Limit desserts to one or two per week
Cut out mindless snacking
Drink water, not soda
I don't expect you to eat a perfect diet every day of the week – that'd be ludicrous. You should, however, make more healthy choices every day than unhealthy ones.
What You Do. Exercise is a huge component to a healthy lifestyle, and quite frankly you're not getting enough of it. How often does an entire week go by without you ever lacing up your tennis shoes? Don't disregard the importance and power of a good workout.Your new healthy lifestyle means exercising on most days of the week. This may seem tough, but I have the perfect solution – my training programs were created for busy people just like you who only have so much time to dedicate to exercise. I understand how hard it is to find the motivation to stay consistent and to push yourself. Make exercise a no-brainer — contact me to get started on a lifestyle enhancing program today.Here are simple ways to move more:
Watch less TV
Stretch stiff muscles every day
Play at the park with the kids
Go for a jog
Do some pushups every morning
While none of the above are meant as substitutes for a solid exercise routine, they are great ways to become more active and to improve your lifestyle. Your lifestyle is the balance of all the choices that you make regarding your body. Swing the balance in your favor —make a majority of your choices health conscious. So the next time you're in front of the mirror, you won't worry about your weight.You'll relish it.
Fred Sassani is the founder of Bodies by Design in Pflugerville, a nationally certified personal trainer and nutrition specialist with 21 years of experience. For more information about Bodies by Design, visit: bbdforlife.com.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Bodies by Design: Small changes will lead to big results
