The Beginning of Your New Year

Is now a good time to make some positive changes in your life?

After all, it is a fresh start to a whole New Year. Let's say, for this New Year,  you have a  goal to be healthier and more active. You have twelve untouched months in front of you to fill with healthy activities and improved eating habits.  Your healthy choices are given a VIP pass into each and every one of your days from now on.  By the middle of this new year you will be stronger, leaner, healthier and more confident!  It's important to have balance in your life, you finally realize without taking care of yourself, and putting your health first, there is no balance and life is more difficult.

Follow these basic rules to help you achieve a healthier way of life:

1.      Consult with your physician to make sure you're good to go!

2.      Incorporate cardio exercise into most days.  At least 20 to 30 minutes of continuous or interval based cardio-respiratory training.  You can do any activity you enjoy as long as it gets your heart rate higher than it normally is.  You must get this done to burn those unwanted calories.

3.      Strength Train two or three times per week.  The very minimum of strength training includes 8 to 10 exercises that hit every major muscle group.  You need to use a weight that is somewhat challenging.  Strength training should include a push exercise, a pull, a squat, and/or lunge, vertical press and some core specific exercises.  This is where you build  your base strength.

4.      Healthy food choices.  This is a big one.  You must take the time to educate yourself on how to read food labels and be aware of the calories in the foods you eat.  You need to make good food choices and know which is your better option either in the grocery store or at a restaurant.  You need to take control of your eating habits.  A good place to start for useful information is www.ChooseMyPlate.gov. 

5.      Consistency.  No changes happen unless you're consistent.  This is a major key to your success!  In the world of fitness a constant routine is what matters (presuming you're being safe and reasonable in your training)!

So, here you have it.  The four keys to your success include: Cardio, Strength, Healthy Food, and Consistency. Simple. Reachable. Doable.

YOU make it happen.