First Steps to Getting in Shape

Do you find yourself unmotivated to get in shape? Do you always make a "New Year's Resolution" to lose weight? If you have ever tried to start living a healthier lifestyle, you most likely have had some sort of mental block at times. This is usually because when people think of living healthy and exercising, they think of diets and running. This doesn't have to be the case. You can make the steps toward living a healthier lifestyle starting today and best of all, it will be much easier than you thought possible.

The first step you should do in order to start living healthier is to consume less of the foods that are not good for you. This can be an easy step because you will still be able to eat what you want, when you want it. You just have to eat less. You don't have to go from eating an entire large pizza to just one slice, but you should gradually work your way down to a more manageable amount. If you can start cutting down your food consumption to a more normal level, this will help you from going even further down the wrong path.

When you start to exercise, you want to maintain a similar strategy with the food consumption step. Build up little by little doing an amount you feel comfortable with but that is still challenging. Getting out the door on a consistent basis is much easier when you know you will be doing a level of exercise that isn't too overwhelming for you. Start small and build up. This can be as easy as doing 10 minutes of walking or jogging the first day, 10 the next, 10 the next, and then when your body starts to get used to this level of exercise, increase that amount to 15. The important thing with exercise is consistency. It does no good to go out and try and run for 30 minutes one day, and then do absolutely nothing for the rest of the week. If you can run 10 minutes a day for 5 days, you will have put in a lot more time throughout the week.

Using these tips will help you have a better attitude toward losing weight and getting in shape. You don't have to look at it as though you have to go from doing nothing to running for an hour a day, or eating a lot to just eating a salad. Just take gradual steps and you will be surprised at how easy it will be. You will look forward to working out and eating right. You will be able to build on everything you have accomplished the day before. Then you will have the confidence to know you can go the extra mile because you have taken the correct steps to build up to where you are. Keep these things in mind when you are considering getting into shape. You will be more enthusiastic and ready to lose those pounds.