Getting In Shape Just Takes a Little Discipline

September 25, 2012

Everyone who’s ever gone on that epic weight loss journey has found some aspect of it difficult. Maybe, it’s like pulling teeth to find the time to cook. Maybe, your willpower is lacking. Maybe, the smallest workout winds you. Maybe, chocolate chip cookies are your weakness. Living a healthy lifestyle isn’t the easy choice to make after all. It’s the right one though! I’m convinced of that. In July, I decided to join Jillian Michaels’ weight loss program, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s really changed the way I think about diet and exercise. I’ve also lost 15 pounds and 4 inches. The plan works...I’m telling you! The premise is simple; burn more calories than you consume.

There are calculators on the site that help you determine your ideal goal weight, your daily calorie needs, and even the speed of your metabolism. The exercise program focuses on circuit training: doing a certain number of repetitions of exercises within a given circuit and then doing them a couple more times before moving on to the next circuit. Circuit training is hard, but it builds lean muscle and raises your metabolism. It’s the quickest way to lose weight!

When you combine it with staying within your recommended calorie limit, you’ll be surprised at how quickly the weight will fall off. There will be hurdles of course. The greatest obstacle though will be you. Bad habits will always threaten your progress. You can overcome them though. Perseverance and a great support system go a long way.

We can reprogram ourselves with a little effort. Success isn’t just about getting rid of bad habits. It’s about replacing them with good ones. My own personal struggle right now is diet soda. I crave it on occasion, and I force myself to choose tea or juice (or good old-fashioned water) instead. It may not have the calories and sugar of regular soda, but it’s flavored with artificial sweeteners that have been linked to a whole slew of health disorders.

This getting into better health thing isn’t all struggle and no reward though. I just made a batch of blueberry banana muffins the other day. A few substitutions go a long way. Try some out sometime. Learn to love skim milk. Keep a bit of honey and olive oil around the house. These are just a few of the staples that will make indulgence a little less guilty.

Above all, remember this: Any time you devote to improving your health is worth it! You’ll be awed at how strong you can become physically AND emotionally if you give yourself a chance.

Amanda W.
North Independence Branch