Change Your Life Without Breaking the Bank

 

Weightloss is a goal many of us aspire to.  The easiest way to do that is to actually get up and do something physical.  Nutrition and a careful diet will play a large part, but without the physical you can only lose and not shape.  The optimum way to build the body you want is a balance of diet & nutrition and working out.

There are many ways to craft or improve a workout regimen; weights, cardio, or a balanced mix of the two.  Carefully crafted workouts have been compiled for the best possible results.  P90X, Insanity, and CrossFit come to mind as successful programs that can change our fitness level.  They are also very intensively involved.

For those of us who aren’t able to commit the time and energy to such intense workouts (with intensely visible results, mind you), there are many levels of balanced workouts and dietary routines.

Diets do not always mean “I am going to live on celery for the next week so I can fit into that dress or look good with my shirt off on our Hawaiian vacation.”  A diet is simply monitoring what we are putting into our bodies.

• Reducing – On any diet there is the reduction.  This doesn’t always mean elimination, but controlling what we put in our bodies is essential.  Less fat, less carbs, less empty calories; this is the way to be healthier.  I am not implying completely cutting things out.  Remember the body needs a certain amount of fat and carbs to function properly.  Just make sure they are the right kind and in the right amount.
• Volume – When working on portion control I have used a normal sized cereal bowl.  For each meal I live by the motto, “If it doesn’t fit in the bowl I don’t need to eat it.”  As Americans, everything seems to be super-sized and bottom line, our bodies don’t need that much.  All things in moderation.
• Increasing – There are some good things out there that we should be putting in our bodies on a regular basis; especially if we are combining diet with exercise.  Eat healthier dishes like salmon and plenty of veggies, like carrots and spinach.  Make sure you are getting plenty of protein to help build the new muscles you are sculpting through your workout.

For those of us who don’t have the time or energy to complete one of the above mentioned workouts, there are plenty of other options.  Maybe you don’t have the energy or the drive to complete an intense routine; or maybe you just don’t feel like cracking everyone’s pistachios with your abs or making fresh OJ by squeezing oranges with your newly sculpted biceps.  Here are some oldies, but goodies for the rest of us.

• Running – Now is the time to get out and run.  There are still a few weeks left to see the trees change and smell the cool crisp air of autumn.  As always, start at a level that you can handle.  Running is probably the easiest way to get fit.  All you need are some shoes.
• Biking – Similar to running, but a little easier on the joints; biking is a great cardio workout.  Push yourself and have fun.  Maybe try to find a race or maybe even take up cross country mountain biking.  Any way you can get yourself outside and moving is a success.
• Swimming – This is the best exercise out there.  Almost zero stress on the joints and intense cardio as you work on aerobic and anaerobic all in the same workout.  The only downside is you need a pool.

Bottom line the trick is to get out and be conscious of both your body and what you are doing to protect your own future.  Eating healthy and exercise are the two best ways to accomplish those goals.  Get out there and change yourself!