seemingly little effort? Do you wonder why it's so easy for them and such a struggle for you? One simple reason? Time. The longer a person follows a healthy lifestyle, the easier it becomes. That time and diligence offers a new, positive perspective on exercise while you may still see it as a struggle. After all, doesn't exercise mean getting up early and huffing and puffing through a killer workout? Doesn't weight loss mean giving up pizza and burgers for twigs and berries? It may look that way in the beginning but, if you stick with it, you can become one of those annoyingly healthy people and even go on to annoy others.
The Party Isn't Over
What does a healthy lifestyle look like? For some people, it looks like a lifestyle without any kind of fun. You have to slog through boring workouts. You have to start cooking your meals and you can't go out to eat anymore...what fun is that? At first, it may look like you have to give up everything in order to lose weight and get healthy. The reality is, what you gain from these changes is much more meaningful and satisfying. Not only will your body change, but your mind will change as well.
As you stay on your healthy path, you'll start to appreciate why healthy eating can be enjoyable and feel good. Why? Because of how your body responds to healthy food. That Big Mac might taste great, but imagine how it would feel to choose the healthier meal instead without feeling as though you've missed out on something. It can happen, but only if you never give up.
Here's a taste of what happens when you maintain a healthy diet:
The way your body feels after a healthy meal will become more important to you than the instant pleasure of having something loaded with fat or sugar. Healthy foods make your body happy...soon, you'll want to make your body happy more than you'll want that instant gratification.
You'll start to enjoy healthy food. Take it from the Junk Food Queen I used to be...you CAN live without chips, Cokes and Taco Bell...and you will gladly give those things up once you experience how your body feels after healthier meals.
You'll realize you can still enjoy your favorite foods. The only difference is the frequency. Now, instead of having it several times a week, you might indulge once or twice a month. Many times, you may even turn that burger down because you know it will make you feel tired rather than energized.
You will enjoy your favorite foods without guilt. The best part is this: by not indulging every time you want a treat, when you do eat it, you'll savor every single bite.
You'll start to see food as a tool for your body, rather than something that controls your life. If you exercise, you'll learn very quickly how food affects your workouts. Eating a heavy, fatty meal may make you tired and, as a result, your workouts will suffer. Soon, you'll want better workouts and you'll be more motivated to eat healthy foods.
You'll become more adventurous with food. Eating healthy often opens the door to more options than you usually give yourself. You'll try new vegetables and grains, experiment with herbs and flavors you've never tried. You'll begin to realize there are an amazing number of choices out there for healthy, tasty foods.
Your family will benefit. Even if you're the only one in your family eating healthy, those habits rub off on others. Being a good role model for your kids is one way to teach them how to live healthy when they become adults. Part of that is teaching them the right way to eat.
Your friends and co-workers will benefit. Many healthy eaters bring lunch to work. This often leads other co-workers, those who eat out, to look at their own habits. Don't be surprised if they come to you for advice on how you do it.
You'll be able to avoid temptation. Healthy eaters are much better at avoiding the usual pitfalls like party foods or overloaded buffets. Why? They learn, by practice, the different tools to staying healthy--eating regular meals so they're not starving, filling up on healthy foods first to eat less of the bad stuff, and choosing just a few quality treats to enjoy instead of everything in front of them.
These changes come over time...sometimes weeks, months or years of slowly working on your habits, choices, lifestyle and beliefs. Allowing yourself this time is crucial for permanently changing how you look at food and healthy eating.
The positive changes don't just end there...your feelings and perspective on exercise will change as well. Here's how it works.
What could possibly be good about exercise? Like healthy eating, if you keep up with your exercise program, you'll find it not only becomes easier but you'll actually have times you look forward to it. Really! As you exercise over time:
You'll start to appreciate your body. It doesn't take much time to see improvements in strength and endurance when you start exercising. As you feel that strength grow, you may get excited about your workouts...wondering how much you'll lift next time or how fast you'll walk or run.
Everything in your life will get a little easier. Carrying groceries, taking care of kids, going up and down stairs...many daily activities will get easier. You may even find you play more with your kids with your newfound energy.
Your confidence levels will grow. The more you work your body, the more your body can do and following through on your exercise goals lets you know you can trust yourself. That self-trust is a key ingredient to a healthy life.
You'll try things you never imagined. I've seen my clients go through this and it always amazes me. I had one client in her 50's who could barely lift 5-lb dumbbells. Within a few months, she was running in a 5k and toying with the idea of a triathlon. Another very shy client ended up taking a bellydancing class--something she would never would've tried before she got fit. The stronger you get, the more confidence you'll have to branch out.
You'll be inspired to change other areas of your life. This is exemplified by another client who was in his 40's and owned a barber shop. When I met him, he worked up to 16 hours a day. As he began taking the time to exercise and successfully changed those bad habits, he started looking at his other bad habits--one of them, being a workaholic. He cut his hours, hired more people and started to enjoy his family and his life.
Your health will improve. You already know exercise can help with diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol, as well as help protect you from other illnesses and conditions.
Your sex life will improve...oo la la!
Your children will have a better chance at being healthy. As with healthy eating, being a good role model when it comes to being active gives your kids the know-how to be active themselves. Exercise with them and you get the bonus of quality time.
You will be more alert, more energetic and an annoyance to all those people in the office who are dragging towards the end of the day.
What's in store for you, if you keep trying your best, is a better life. It may not seem that way in the beginning, which is one reason many people quit before they experience these changes. Any new lifestyle change can seem overwhelming at first, but there is a secret to staying on track: take it one day at a time, one healthy choice at a time. Stay with it and you'll finally see the bright side of exercise.
By Paige Waehner, About.com
The Party Isn't Over
What does a healthy lifestyle look like? For some people, it looks like a lifestyle without any kind of fun. You have to slog through boring workouts. You have to start cooking your meals and you can't go out to eat anymore...what fun is that? At first, it may look like you have to give up everything in order to lose weight and get healthy. The reality is, what you gain from these changes is much more meaningful and satisfying. Not only will your body change, but your mind will change as well.
As you stay on your healthy path, you'll start to appreciate why healthy eating can be enjoyable and feel good. Why? Because of how your body responds to healthy food. That Big Mac might taste great, but imagine how it would feel to choose the healthier meal instead without feeling as though you've missed out on something. It can happen, but only if you never give up.
Here's a taste of what happens when you maintain a healthy diet:
The way your body feels after a healthy meal will become more important to you than the instant pleasure of having something loaded with fat or sugar. Healthy foods make your body happy...soon, you'll want to make your body happy more than you'll want that instant gratification.
You'll start to enjoy healthy food. Take it from the Junk Food Queen I used to be...you CAN live without chips, Cokes and Taco Bell...and you will gladly give those things up once you experience how your body feels after healthier meals.
You'll realize you can still enjoy your favorite foods. The only difference is the frequency. Now, instead of having it several times a week, you might indulge once or twice a month. Many times, you may even turn that burger down because you know it will make you feel tired rather than energized.
You will enjoy your favorite foods without guilt. The best part is this: by not indulging every time you want a treat, when you do eat it, you'll savor every single bite.
You'll start to see food as a tool for your body, rather than something that controls your life. If you exercise, you'll learn very quickly how food affects your workouts. Eating a heavy, fatty meal may make you tired and, as a result, your workouts will suffer. Soon, you'll want better workouts and you'll be more motivated to eat healthy foods.
You'll become more adventurous with food. Eating healthy often opens the door to more options than you usually give yourself. You'll try new vegetables and grains, experiment with herbs and flavors you've never tried. You'll begin to realize there are an amazing number of choices out there for healthy, tasty foods.
Your family will benefit. Even if you're the only one in your family eating healthy, those habits rub off on others. Being a good role model for your kids is one way to teach them how to live healthy when they become adults. Part of that is teaching them the right way to eat.
Your friends and co-workers will benefit. Many healthy eaters bring lunch to work. This often leads other co-workers, those who eat out, to look at their own habits. Don't be surprised if they come to you for advice on how you do it.
You'll be able to avoid temptation. Healthy eaters are much better at avoiding the usual pitfalls like party foods or overloaded buffets. Why? They learn, by practice, the different tools to staying healthy--eating regular meals so they're not starving, filling up on healthy foods first to eat less of the bad stuff, and choosing just a few quality treats to enjoy instead of everything in front of them.
These changes come over time...sometimes weeks, months or years of slowly working on your habits, choices, lifestyle and beliefs. Allowing yourself this time is crucial for permanently changing how you look at food and healthy eating.
The positive changes don't just end there...your feelings and perspective on exercise will change as well. Here's how it works.
What could possibly be good about exercise? Like healthy eating, if you keep up with your exercise program, you'll find it not only becomes easier but you'll actually have times you look forward to it. Really! As you exercise over time:
You'll start to appreciate your body. It doesn't take much time to see improvements in strength and endurance when you start exercising. As you feel that strength grow, you may get excited about your workouts...wondering how much you'll lift next time or how fast you'll walk or run.
Everything in your life will get a little easier. Carrying groceries, taking care of kids, going up and down stairs...many daily activities will get easier. You may even find you play more with your kids with your newfound energy.
Your confidence levels will grow. The more you work your body, the more your body can do and following through on your exercise goals lets you know you can trust yourself. That self-trust is a key ingredient to a healthy life.
You'll try things you never imagined. I've seen my clients go through this and it always amazes me. I had one client in her 50's who could barely lift 5-lb dumbbells. Within a few months, she was running in a 5k and toying with the idea of a triathlon. Another very shy client ended up taking a bellydancing class--something she would never would've tried before she got fit. The stronger you get, the more confidence you'll have to branch out.
You'll be inspired to change other areas of your life. This is exemplified by another client who was in his 40's and owned a barber shop. When I met him, he worked up to 16 hours a day. As he began taking the time to exercise and successfully changed those bad habits, he started looking at his other bad habits--one of them, being a workaholic. He cut his hours, hired more people and started to enjoy his family and his life.
Your health will improve. You already know exercise can help with diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol, as well as help protect you from other illnesses and conditions.
Your sex life will improve...oo la la!
Your children will have a better chance at being healthy. As with healthy eating, being a good role model when it comes to being active gives your kids the know-how to be active themselves. Exercise with them and you get the bonus of quality time.
You will be more alert, more energetic and an annoyance to all those people in the office who are dragging towards the end of the day.
What's in store for you, if you keep trying your best, is a better life. It may not seem that way in the beginning, which is one reason many people quit before they experience these changes. Any new lifestyle change can seem overwhelming at first, but there is a secret to staying on track: take it one day at a time, one healthy choice at a time. Stay with it and you'll finally see the bright side of exercise.
By Paige Waehner, About.com
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