What Are My Options In Fitness And Weight Loss?

     When Did I Get Fat?

Nobody sets out in life to be unhealthy, overweight, or unhappy. Many of us get caught up in the everyday hustle of our lives, trying to keep up with family and work obligations, and unknowingly allow our level of health and fitness to slip away from us. It seems like we just wake up one day and realize that we are not in our best of health.

Making the decision that something needs to be done about it is one thing, but deciding what that something is can be a difficult task. According to government studies, close to 63 percent of the American population is overweight or obese. In response, companies from around the world have been flooding the market with a wide variety of weight loss products.

What Can I Do?

From diet pills and metabolism boosters to complete prepared meal plans delivered straight to your door, nutrition options alone can be overwhelming. Exercise options can be equally intimidating. There are big name fitness clubs putting up new gyms all across the country, locally owned gyms, the YMCA, home video workouts, and thousands of gadgets and gismos that promise to shape your body and improve your health.

Choosing what is right for you can be a daunting task, but as you explore your options there are considerations that you need to keep in mind. The key to any quality nutrition and exercise plan is sticking with it. That said, it is very important that you select from options that include programs that you can realistically see yourself participating in, long into the future.

Can I Do It?

Jumping into a fitness program that is too difficult for you at your current level of fitness can lead to frustration, or even injury. This could in turn, lead to failure in reaching your goals. Setting your expectations too high can also lead to frustration, which makes it difficult to stay committed to your program. It is important to remember that it took you months, if not years to reach your current level of health and fitness, and it cannot be reversed overnight. You need a program that you can progress with over the long-term.

A Miracle Pill?

You may find some diet pills on the market that have strong claims about effective, natural weight loss, but keep in mind that in reality there is little to be considered natural about popping pills. It is however; very important that with your selected program, you support it with proper nutrition, even if this means having to take a good vitamin and mineral supplement.

Most doctors and researchers will agree that the best choice for improving your health and fitness will be through a change to a healthier lifestyle, which includes better food choices and daily exercise. Exercise should include aerobic conditioning, and strength training too.

How About A Gym?

Most fitness centers or gyms offer great selections of strength training equipment, aerobic classes, and cardio machines. Unfortunately, they also often require long and expensive payment contracts, and your exercise must be completed on a schedule that matches theirs. For some, a gym membership simply will not work because it does not allow privacy. Some may be embarrassed by their current fitness level, or are uncomfortable in a crowded setting.

Home DVD exercise programs are abundant, and can be found in nearly every discount store that offers videos, and they can be found in most online market places as well. If you are looking for just a workout and any workout will do, a good number of these will suffice, however, few will offer complete programs to include dietary help, support, and workouts that allow you to progress with your fitness level. Look carefully at the program and compare it to your short and long-term needs before you make a purchase. A less expensive program may be more costly in the long run if you just have to replace it because it is ineffective, not challenging, or you simply get bored with it.

Home Fitness Preferences

Some of the more popular programs that you often see on television infomercials early on a Saturday or Sunday morning like P90X, Insanity, Brazil Butt Lift, Rev Abs, or Slim in 6 are offered through a group called Team Beachbody, and they offer a number of programs that you do not see on the infomercials. Many of the programs they offer will include nutrition and meal advice, and will offer progressive training options to help guide you as your fitness level progresses. For these, it is almost like having a personal trainer in your home with every workout.

Team Beachbody takes what they offer to the next level by offering a free membership level to an online club that is quite simply, designed to keep you engaged in your program. It is optional to use, but makes for a good support structure to help you along the way. You are also assigned a coach when you sign up, for no extra charge. The coach is there to answer your questions, provide guidance, and help keep you motivated.

Copyright (c) 2013 Jim Ford

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