http://www.infobarrel.com/Feel_Better,_Sleep_Better,_Look_Better
published January 14, 2009
Getting in shape is one thing. Staying in shape is another. However, even if you have a solid goal to be fit, without the consistent motivation, it will still be quite a feat. Look at Ophra Winfrey.
While fitness guru Bob Greene helped Oprah slim down to a svelte 160 pounds when she appeared on the cover of O, The Oprah Magazine, in January 2005, life and a thyroid problem intervened, and she got back up to the dreaded 200-pound mark.
But Greene and Oprah are not yet ready to give up. In fact, this January, they are back to work, determined to stay motivated and drop the weight once and for all.
Greene is in top shape. He always makes sure he finds time for his regular workouts despite training high-profile clients, writing for Oprah's magazine and web site, and having a busy family life. He's woven dozens of no-fail tips into his life. Here are some ways to stay motivated with weight loss and fitness goals:
Typically, many people have the tendency to go overboard with their diet as if expecting an overnight miracle with weight loss. Greene does not support such a radical approach in changing diet. Instead, he believes that gradual is better. Incorporate healthier foods in your diet a little at a time.
“Don't give up all your comfort foods at once, and don't look at snacks as foods that get you into trouble,” said Greene. Eating right can and should include snacks as effective weight loss tools. “They bridge hunger and help you not to overdo it at a meal, Greene added.
Most people can't wait to see the pounds drop off quickly. And sometimes, they get discourage by the figures. The scale actually gives a somewhat inaccccurate idea of the whole picture.
Skip the scale for the first 6 weeks. Instead, focus on how your clothes fit.
Do not just be concerned with diet calorie counts. Instead, focus on activity levels which burn calories. Greene said it's the bigger of the two. Exercise such as weight training also builds lean muscle, boosting your metabolism long-term. According to Greene, it offers a short-term and long-term advantage to meeting your fitness goals and your weight loss goals.
Listening to great music when you walk or jog or watch a show you enjoy when you are on a treadmill.
It's simply finding an exercise that takes your mind off the exercise, such as being in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Greene shared that he has a business partner who built a desk on his treadmill, taking phone calls and working while he works out. Greene adapted the idea himself. “I was training for a cross country ride, and had the phone by my indoor bike,” he said.
While these may seem extremes, it can get you thinking about weaving exercise in when you have even a few spare minutes throughout the day. The more you do that, the more you can expect to meet your fitness goals.
Look forward on how you will feel when you're done with your workout. Exercise makes you feel better, sleep better, and look better.