I often hear from people who workout harder than a freight train and eat less than a gnat yet  are having difficulties losing weight. Today I saw a post on the internet from a person asking for advice while having a similar situation, and she flat out asked if she should just stop eating carbs yet she has several medical issues going on.  That just terrifies me! I know that someone will post and tell her  sure, go ahead! This wasn’t even on a weight loss or health board, yet she was seeking health advice from just any old person out there not qualified.

On the Internet you are going to get a thousand different replies, but none of them will come from someone who really knows you and your history. You will hear about everything from Weight Watchers to the Snickers Diet (okay, I made that one up), and you may get lucky and have an actual professional answer you. The problem is only your doctor can determine what is best for you. You have to invest in yourself, and that means going to a doctor, hiring a personal trainer and or a nutritionist, and purchasing the right equipment or memberships upon their recommendations.

This is what I tell people because I would rather you find the correct path to true health. A good personal trainer will ask you all kinds of important health information and should be willing to work in conjunction with your other health professionals. Don’t compromise your health in your quest to be thin.

Total Fitness-Getting Started

Author: Jeff Murad

Thinking about adding physical activity to your life, but not sure how to get started? Sometimes taking the first step is the hardest part. If you have not been active in some time, start at a comfortable level and add a little more activity as you go along. Some people find that getting active with a friend makes it easier to get started.

Is something holding you back?

Think about reasons why you have not been physically active. Then try to come up with some ways to get past what is keeping you from getting active.

- If you have not been active in a very long time, choose something you like to do. Many people find walking helps them get started. Before you know it, you will be doing more each day.

- If you feel you do not have the time, start with 10-minute chunks of time a couple of days a week. Walk during a break. Dance in the living room to your favorite music. It all adds up.

If you think it costs too much, there are more than enough FREE ways to get fit. You do not have to join a health club or buy fancy equipment to be active. Play tag with your kids. Walk briskly with your dog or jump rope for 10 minutes or more.

What can physical activity do for you?

There is so much benefit you will gain from regular physical activity:

-Be healthier

-Increase chances of living longer

-Feel better about yourself

-Have less chance of becoming depressed

-Sleep better at night -Helps you look good

-Be in shape

-Get around better

-Have stronger muscles and bones

-Help you maintain or get to a healthy weight

-Be with friends or meet new people

-Enjoy yourself and have fun

Did you know? When you are NOT physically active, you are more likely to:

-Get heart disease

-Get type 2 diabetes

-Have high blood pressure

-Have high blood cholesterol

-Have a stroke

Start by doing what you can, and then look for ways to do more. If you have not been active for a while, start out slowly. After several weeks or months, build up your activities—do them longer and more often.

Walking is one way to add physical activity to your life. When you first start, walk 10 minutes a day on a few days during the first couple of weeks. Add more time and days. Walk a little longer. Try 15 minutes instead of 10 minutes. Then walk on more days a week. Pick up the pace. Once this is easy to do, try walking faster. Keep up your brisk walking for a couple of months.You might want to add biking on the weekends for variety.

How much physical activity do you need each week?

Aerobic exercises: Adults should get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes each week of aerobic physical activity that requires moderate effort. You need to do this type of activity for at least 10 minutes at a time.

Strengthening exercises: Adults should also do strengthening activities at least 2 days a week. Strengthening activities include push-ups, sit-ups and lifting weights

Do it your way:

-Pick an activity you like and one that fits into your life.

-Find the time that works best for you.

-Be active with friends and family.

Having a support network can help you keep up with your program. There are many ways to build the right amount of activity into your life. Every little bit adds up and doing something is better than doing nothing.

Moderate-level activities (Choose one you will try):

Biking slowly

Canoeing

Dancing

General gardening (raking, trimming shrubs)

Tennis (doubles)

Walking briskly

Swimming

This should give you a good start on your journey toward your total health.

Remember – You just need to get started!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/total-fitnessgetting-started-1709644.html

About the Author:

Looking for tips and resources on a totally healthy lifestyle? Visit Totally Healthy You for a complete lifestyle makeover. The author is a 20 healthcare veteran in the field of Cardiology and healthcare education

I have been away from the gym now for nearly two weeks, and I am going stir crazy.  The week before the surgery, I strained my back doing lever squats by being too ambitious with the weight. For the past week, I have been recovering from mouth surgery which has had a longer lasting effect than I originally anticipated. The dentist said no workouts for 3 – 4 days; my body says maybe this weekend.

I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to discuss injuries and recovery, especially since I am one of the worst offenders. Let’s start with my back. I hadn’t been lifting regularly all summer, so logically I should not have thrown 145# on the machine. Knowing that I am capable of heavy squatting my ego won. I loaded up the machine, did one full set, then on my second squat in the second set I felt it. TWANG!!!!!! In the left lumbar region I experienced a little twinge that by the time I made it back to the office had become a major pain.  Several friends reminded me that this was my 3rd back injury from squats, and one wonderful friend in particular extracted a promise from me to drop them from my routine. 

A few days later I had my mouth surgery on Thursday. The dentist had said I could return to work the next day, so I did. By 10:00 I couldn’t take it anymore and had to leave.  Saturday I hosted a Tupperware party and spent the rest of the afternoon shopping for a trumpet. Sunday I rested, then started all the madness again on Monday. I still have a little pain, and I’ve finally been sleeping again. Next year, when the insurance re-starts, I have to do this again on the left side, so I now know that I will have to take some time off from everything in order to recover better and faster. I did way too much too fast, and I believe it has had a detrimental effect on my recovery.

The lessons learned are just common sense. Slow it down. Listen  to your body and the doctor. Don’t let your ego overrun your brain. Because of the surgery I was forced to stay out of the gym much less do any activities. At first I was so mad, then after talking with a fellow personal trainer was convinced it’s ok to take the time. What if I had gone right back to the gym while on medication that makes me drowsy? What if I had gone back right after hurting my back? The consequences far outweigh the temporary inconvenience of missing your workouts. A back injury is for life, and I could have hurt it so bad that I couldn’t work. Passing out while under the iron could literally kill me. All this I learned because of my teeth that I neglected too long and now am having to endure this horrible ordeal of bone replacement. So, don’t neglect or ignore your health. It literally could be your life.  Please take a look at the links below for more information.

Squat Safety

Resistance Training & Injury Prevention

Life is about many things, most of all enjoying the time we are given. The best way to be able to enjoy that time is by keeping our bodies and minds in great condition. Health is about the whole person, not just separate pieces that exist in exclusion of one another. No, life is about making it all come together by understanding how all areas of our lives are connected and the synergy between them.

I lived my life too long in ignorance of this, and I am now dedicated to educating myself and teaching others the keys to a healthy, sexy and strong life.  Happiness comes from within ourselves. We can build our esteem through pushing our bodies and minds to the limits, making them stretch for growth. There is nothing like setting a goal and making that accomplishment even if you might think it small. Passing on a chocolate dessert is a major accomplishment for me, so don’t think your goals must be some earth shattering achievement. If it makes you proud and makes you smile, you have done well.

There’s a saying that says if you shoot for the moon and miss, at least you’ll land among the stars. I believe this is so true, because sometimes we don’t get exactly what we set out for, but we always get what we need. Maybe you want to start a fitness program to look good naked, but a year down the road you developed great new healthy living habits, or vise verse.  I can promise you that whatever reason you begin your health and fitness journey, many wonderful things are in store for you.  I will do my best to provide you with information that will help you survive attacks of the regrets, laziness and defeat. I will provide you tools to get through your days in a smarter, healthier, happier way. Promise yourself time and patience, and devote time just for yourself each day. We can do this together.