Many people want to be in great physical shape. But it’s a huge gap between wanting to get in shape, and actually getting there.
People want to get in shape, but don’t want to do the work
Sometimes they don’t want to do the work because they don’t know what to do. Other times, they simply don’t want to take the time and effort. Sometimes they don’t want to put the work in because they think it’s just wasted energy, that they won’t be able to get into better shape.
In my work as a personal development coach and fitness instructor, I have seen people who thought their best physical selves were behind them. They thought whatever they were 10 years ago, or 15 years ago was the best it could ever be for them. It’s never too late to get in shape. And you might even find that you reach a better level of fitness and health than you had years ago.
Getting into your best physical shape isn’t just about what you look like. It’s about how you feel, and how healthy you are. Many people may have been physically thinner when they were younger, but they weren’t as healthy as they thought. Their sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy food choices hadn’t shown on the outside, but were causing damage on the inside.
So how do you go about getting in your best physical shape?
Well, if you’ve had any health issues or have any concerns, especially if you’ve not exercised in a while, be sure to check with your doctor. But in general, what you’ll be looking for is simple math: You’ve got to burn more calories than you take in. That’s the key to weight loss. Weight loss is really just math. If you’re taking in more calories than you’re burning, then you’ll gain weight. Simple.
Getting in shape isn’t just about weight loss
Losing weight is what most people focus on, of course, but being fit is also about getting stronger. You’ll want to add weight training to your routine, and not just cardiovascular exercise. Weight bearing exercises help you improve your muscle tone. And don’t worry, you’re not getting ready to bulk up and start looking like a man, if you are a woman. I give this assurance because my clients who are women often worry about adding weight to their workouts.
Watch what you eat
In addition to cardiovascular exercises and resistance or weight training, you’ll also want to watch what you eat. Nutrition is an important component to health. After all, you can exercise every day of the week, but if you are eating fatty, sugary, salty junk every day, you won’t get the results you seek. Eating better helps you get better results.
You’ll have to examine your particular eating habits to see where you need to improve, as eating better means different things to different people. For some, it’s about managing portion sizes. For others, it’s about eating more produce. For others, it’s about stepping away from fast food. For still others, it’s about having a healthy balance of carbs and protein. For most, it’s about drinking more water, as many people are chronically dehydrated.
Adding more water to your daily consumption will help you flush toxins out of your body, give you more energy, and even help you feel better overall.
There are many things you can do to get into better physical shape, no matter your age.
If you want to get in shape, know that it’s possible. Put in the work. See better results. If you are looking for the most effective ways to get fit to lose weight, contact me.
