Welcome to 2012 and the New Improved You!

This is the best time of the year to set weight loss goals for the year.   You have 51 weeks left of this year, which could mean a lot of weight can be lost, especially if you aim to lose 2 pounds a week.  Using this logic you can lose 100 pounds this year.

But I am sure that you actually want to lose less weight than that, so can you see that you are able to achieve that this year?  It's not going to be easy, but it doesn't have to be really hard either.
For the best results, you will have to change your thinking and your eating habits.


Where to start?
Let's start at step 1.

1. Start drinking more water,  drink 4 x 16oz glasses of water,
2. Get some good sleep
3. Move more than you did yesterday. (exercise)
4. Eat more fruit and vegetables

The reason most weight loss programs fail (and believe me I know about this first hand) is because you change too much too soon.  It becomes too difficult to continue and you feel restricted and as soon as life gets you down the first thing to suffer is your new weight loss diet.

Simply put, a diet does not mean it is so restricted that all you eat is carrots and apples.  What you are eating now is also called a diet, however it wouldn't be called a weight loss diet!

So don't worry about the word diet so much, you can still eat the foods you love, just eat less of them and do more exercise.  

If you are not comfortable going outside to exercise or join a gym, do yourself a favor and make a small investment in something like a simple walking dvd to start your exercise regime at home.
Now walking is not hard, but finding the time to do it is- so make sure you allocate time to do this new exercise, plan a date with yourself.  Can you get up 30 minutes earlier? Or do it as soon as the kids are in bed? or can you do it as soon as you get home?  Work out what is best for you and just do it.
I will be choosing to continue my walking regime as soon as I come home from work- this is hard, because as soon as i walk in everyone wants something whether it's the cats, dogs or the children.  But, it is only for 30 minutes so everyone will get used to it, however if you leave it to do after you have done everything else it will be either too late or you will be too tired.


To your success!

How do I start exercise? What exercise is for me?

Don't make it too difficult for yourself choose an exercise - it doesn't have to be something too hard to do.  Just choose something that you enjoy and do it more.  


Like everything else everyone is different and likes very different things.  So whilst someone might enjoy the latest "zumba" craze or run around the neighborhood another will be just as happy, walking. 


Try one or more of these ideas:

• Start by walking everyday- around the house, park the car far away from the mall door and walk all around the mall, walk to pick your kids up from school. 
• use the stairs not the lifts, 
• Start skipping, 
• try walking up and down the stairs a few times at your house, 
• get off the couch and get what you want - don't ask other people to get things for you. 
• Walk the dog or get a dog and then walk them,
• try a local gym,
• try zumba, 
• pilates, 
• yoga, 
• walk at lunch at work.  
• Don't phone or email people at work- go and find them and speak to them face to face.  
• Try jogging, 
• play with your children
• join a running group, 
• walk your new baby to the park
• wash the car

You get the idea - get up and move! 

Even if you haven't exercised for years and are stuck in a bigger body than what you want.  Invest in a pedometer then you can check your own progress.  Eventually aim for 5,000 to 7,000 steps everyday.

Just start today, right now...every step you take adds to the next one.  
The important thing with exercise is move more than you did yesterday, move everyday.