The Final Piece of the Puzzle (Part 2)



    

          Last post I laid the ground work for this series "The Final Piece of the Puzzle"; now I would like to start digging a little deeper. I mentioned that the word "exercising" is a turn off for many people. They hear that word and think running, treadmill, weights, and traditional methods that have been used for many years.  I am not knocking the traditional methods by no means ( I do a lot of them), but there are many ways that can assist in helping you keep fit or get in fit that perhaps you never thought of.  From my viewpoint there are three things to consider when fulfilling that final piece of the puzzle:

• Enjoy It!
• Be Consistent!
• Be Realistic!

           First let's talk "enjoy it".  Are you really going to be committed to do something that you do not enjoy? Your mindset needs to change from it being a chore to something you enjoy and look forward to. The easiest way to change the mindset is to find something that you enjoy doing that would help increase your metabolism. There are so many options and opportunities out there that I believe there is something for everyone. It does not have to be formal or even organized. No ...sitting on the couch watching television does not work! No....twelve ounce curls do not work either! Remember, the key is that it needs to be an activity that would increase your heart rate which increases your metabolism.           

          Next on the block "be consistent".  Whether you are in shape or out of shape, odds are you did not get that way overnight. Please do not expect to see change overnight either.  Just like the term "dieting" is fading away and being replaced with the term "lifestyle change", getting fit should also be a lifestyle change. In fact my entire blog is really geared to a lifestyle change.  That is why it is important for you to enjoy the journey on getting fit (or staying fit). One of the most common downfalls I see are people who start off ambitious but end up quitting because they do not see immediate results. Worse yet, people may see some immediate results but then plateau. They get discouraged and quit. I will most likely address this plateau issue at a later time. For now, just remember be consistent no matter what!

     Lastly "be realistic"! Your expectations and your goals need to be achievable. Don't set that bar too high or for sure you will want to quit. Build your confidence first by setting small goals that you know you will achieve. As your confidence grows, perhaps challenge yourself a little more. Not only be realistic in your goal setting, but be realistic with your schedule. Whatever activity you choose, you do not have to do it for two hours straight. In today's era, we are a society always on the go and seldom have much time to ourselves. That is a problem in itself and a topic for another day. More important than the length of time you spend, is how consistent you are.  Just for an example, 30 minutes four to five times a week is better than 90 minutes twice a week. We all have different schedules, so only you can decide how to be realistic with your schedule.

           So there you have it, enjoy it, be consistent, and be realistic. If you can accomplish all three, then you are on your way to reaching your full potential. See ya next post!

The Final Piece of the Puzzle

          For those of you who have been following my blog from the beginning, I have a few questions for you. Are you mentally ready? Are you giving your body the right energy? Are you ready for the final piece of the puzzle to reaching your full potential? For those of you who have not been following me, I would encourage you to check out my archive posts. My next series of posts, although important, are not as important as my first two series of posts. The subject of this series will be maximized by having a proper mindset and giving your body the proper nutrition. Have you guessed what the final piece of the puzzle is?

          Ladies and gentlemen, coming in third place and making the podium is KEEPING FIT! Wait ….don’t go anywhere! Notice how I did not say exercising? The word “exercising” is a turn off in many people’s eyes. Although I personally like the word and use it often; I like to approach this from a different angle. The truth of the matter is that keeping fit and exercising is synonymous. Thank God for spell check because I just hacked that word all up J  In keeping fit you physically allow yourself to do the things on this earth that are important to you. Your odds of reaching your full potential and fulfilling your purpose are much better than if you are not fit. I have heard of too many people that have not been able to reach their dreams or do some things they have always wanted to do because their body just will not allow it. You can only abuse your body for so long before you start feeling the effects from not taking care of it. Let me start by saying IT IS NOT TOO LATE! No matter how young or old you are, make today the first day of the rest of your life and embrace change.

            So what is keeping fit? Keeping fit in its simplest definition is nothing more than increasing your metabolism allowing your body to burn off those calories that have been building up. I told you it was a simple definition (my definition).  At my job I often hear the phrase “keep it simple”. I agree with that phrase. Life is not as complicated as we make it out to be. This is why I gave you a simple definition of keeping fit.  The more you understand and less intimidating it appears, the more achievable it seems. You have now just entered into the “World According to Dan”, keep it simple ….keep in fit.



Really! Time to go already! Good thing this is just the beginning of this series because I have a lot to talk about. More importantly, what do you have to share? Remember, we are all in this together and can learn from one another.