Taking Inventory
First, examine yourself from the front and
side, in front of a full-length mirror, ‘au naturel’. This takes some courage, I
know. But sometimes that’s what it takes to move you into action. Use the
Inventory sheet to rate yourself. A ‘before’ photo
is a great tool to chart your progress.
Game Plan For Fitness
Now that you’ve taken an honest look
in the mirror, make a list of the specific changes you’d like to make. Put your goals down
on paper. The more specific, the better because it will help motivate you by giving you a visual
image of what you’re working for. What remains is coming up with a Fitness Program that includes
3 days of aerobics and 2 days of strength training. There are great resources at the library and on
the internet right at your finder tips to get you started. That’s where I got this information
for YOU!
Weight Tracking
Evaluating yourself on the basis of weight
alone is a mistake. You may see no reduction and in fact, you could see slight weight gain as
your workouts begin to trade fat for muscle. A better way to monitor your progress is to keep
track of how your clothes fit, take measurements of key areas such as thighs, hips and waist and
take a look at those ‘before’ photos. These benchmarks should improve whether or not
you lose weight.
Posture Is Important Too
Posture is rarely emphasized, but how you
carry yourself plays an important role in not only how you look but also how you feel. Slouching
for example, not only detracts from a well-developed chest and pushes the abdomen forward but, in
doing so, also puts great pressure on the spinal disks and nerves, causing back pain. Few people
realize poor posture contributes to fatigue. When you slouch as you walk, or slump in your chair,
your muscles have to work harder to support your body. And the increased stress on your joints
increases tension.
Visualization, The Best Tool
Scientifically, using the mind to aid the body
is known as visualization. Once you’ve decided on your goals, it would help to keep them in
mind, literally, as you begin to do the exercises that are going to bring about improvement.
See your waist and thighs getting smaller, and your biceps and triceps toning up and you do your
work. The more you can bring your mind into play in your Fitness efforts, regardless of which part
of the body you are working on, the more success you’re likely to have.
Reference: Body Shaping, by Yessis and Shimer
An excellent book with great information.
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