The hardest part of getting fit involves taking the first step. While most people think exercising is hard and getting a routine together is difficult, the simple reality is that neither of these things are true. Working out doesn’t have to be tough, boring or impossible. Don’t let fear stand in the way and a path to improved fitness will easily open up.

So, how can fear be conquered? Here are several tips for taking that first step and making it a whole lot easier:

Start Out Small

Exercise doesn’t have to involve two hours at the gym five days a week to produce results. While the fact is a gym membership can be very useful, it’s not the only way to go. If necessary, take baby steps to get on the road to fitness. Do such things as:

• Start walking to neighbors or a nearby store instead of driving;
• Take the stairs instead of using the elevator;
• Play more vigorously with the kids;
• Swim;
• Garden;
• Go dancing.

Getting active for even a few minutes a day can be the start of something great when it comes to fitness.

Pick Activities that are Fun

Working out isn’t solely defined as lifting weights and running. Find an activity or activities that are personally fun and dive in with both feet. When you do that, “exercise” won’t seem like work – it will be more like play.

Consult a Trainer

Coming up with good ideas to maximize workout time for the greatest results can be a little tough. The trainer at your local gym, however, might have some great ideas on how to help you get started. Even if you’re not sure you want to join a gym, go in for a tour and a consultation. The ideas offered might very well help uncover the perfect activities for personal fitness.

Set a Schedule

Exercising should be built into the routine, but remember it doesn’t have to take up a huge chunk of time to be effective. If spare moments are at a minimum, consider scheduling three 30-minute blocks of time to exercise every week. Stick to the routine.

Stay Motivated

One of the biggest roadblocks people face when trying to get into shape is motivation. To help stay on track do such things as:

• Set realistic goals
• Track those goals
• Recognize milestones with special rewards
• Workout with a friend or family member
• Work with a trainer.

Getting started on a fitness plan might not be “easy,” but it’s far from impossible. Just get up, get moving and remember to take it a day at a time. Get past that first day and the rest will come naturally.

Most people know they need to eat more fruit in their regular diet. Knowing and doing, however, are two very different things. Fortunately there are some very easy ways to work more fruit into your daily routine. The trick lies in making this healthy and tasty snack more available.

If it’s time to add better foods into the diet to promote improved health and weight loss, here are some great ways to make sure several servings of fruit are worked in:

Shop Smart

Fresh fruit can be a costly purchase, but it doesn’t have to be. Consider buying fruit from a local produce stand for what will typically be the best prices around. Make sure to pick a variety of different fruits and don’t overload too much. Remember the shelf life of fruit isn’t too terribly long, so it’s best to buy what will be consumed within a few days.

Best Bets

Grabbing any fruit instead of a processed sugar laden or fried snack is always the better choice. That said, when picking up fruit to work into the regular routine, consider fruits that are:

• Easy to carry – Bananas, apples, pears, peaches and other similar fruits are easy to toss into a bag to consume later.
• Rich in vitamins – Just about any fruit fits this order, but some choices are better than others. Citrus fruits, berries and bananas are always excellent choices here.
• Sweet – When fruits will replace “normal,” unhealthy snacks, chances are they’ll be used to combat cravings for sweets. With that in mind, oranges, tangerines, strawberries and other sweeter fruits are great choices to beat back a sugar craving.

Slipping Fruit into the Routine

It’s really not as difficult to work fruit into the regular diet as it might seem. Here are some tips for making sure good, healthy choices are made each and every day:

• Stock up on fruit before leaving the house – Toss a few pieces of fruit into a lunch sack or purse before heading out for the day. It’s easy to peel a banana, for example, to snack on in the office. An apple is also a great choice here. If it’s easy to carry along a knife for peeling, citrus fruits work well, too. Berries carried in a baggie can also satisfy after-lunch cravings for something sweet.
• Add fruit slices to regular meals – Cut up a banana and add it to the morning cereal. Toss berries into a yogurt cup to get an extra burst of nutrition. Use orange slices and pineapple to enhance a salad. Apple slices also go great with balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

Making sure to get several servings of fruit a day doesn’t have to be a chore. Just pick up a few pieces of fruit on the way out the door to make sure snack time provides the body with the fuel and nutrition it needs to get through the day.

Getting into shape, losing weight and developing a healthy, happy self-image is a journey that will not happen overnight. It takes time and dedication to reach goals and make sure the efforts made result in lasting change.

So, how can you sustain yourself for the long-haul and keep your attitude positive to ensure success? There is a secret trio of ingredients that go into any successful weight-loss plan. When a balance is struck between these three things, weight loss success will happen and the pounds lost will likely stay off for good.

What are the secrets to success? Make sure to strike the right balance between:

• Food – What you eat is one of the keys to enjoying weight loss success. Rather than starve yourself or go on a fad plan that won’t produce lasting results, learn to adopt sustainable, healthy eating habits. It’s best to eat a balanced diet that includes whole – not processed – foods. Be sure to include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat, whole grains, legumes, low-fat dairy and other smart options. It is also wise to consider eating less at a sitting, but increasing the frequency of “meals.” Three small meals a day combined with well-spaced-out snacks can keep your body primed for fat burning.
• Activity – Exercise is simply critical for weight loss success. The best plan includes about five days a week of activity that extends for 30 to 60 minutes each time. Make sure to blend in both cardiovascular and strength training for the best results. Cardio exercise can build endurance and burn fat, while strength training helps develop lean muscle mass. The more lean muscle mass you happen to have, the more calories your body will burn naturally.
• Attitude – This is the real secret ingredient necessary to enjoy healthy, happy and successful weight loss. It does take time, dedication and a willingness to achieve to make weight loss goals happen. When you develop the right positive attitude, you can sustain yourself even during the roughest of days. Set realistic weight loss goals, strive to achieve them and focus on mini-successes along the way. When you’re positive about the things you are doing, you will see the results you’re after.

When you strike a balance between eating, exercising and attitude, obstacles will not stand in your way. You’ll have the inner strength to power past weight-loss plateaus and you’ll gain the fortitude necessary to carry you throughout your entire journey. If you’re having trouble with any of these key ingredients or want some insight on setting realistic goals, talk with your personal trainer at Fitness Together. They can help you tailor a plan that will work best for you!

You stand on the scale and just can’t deny the fact any longer: It’s time to lose weight and get into shape. The problem is finding the best diet plan to help you reach your goals. With so many options on the table, selecting just the right diet plan can be very difficult.

The simple truth is there is no diet plan that is the best. Go on a strict diet plan to drop weight fast and you will soon find your weight bouncing up and down. The problem is most diet plans aren’t realistic for long-term use. While you might lose weight while you’re on them, that weight is likely to come back as soon as you start eating normally again. Plus, many so-called diet plans neglect proper nutrition. They cut out entire food groups for the sake of fast losses in weight.

So, what can you do to eat yourself to a healthier weight without going on a diet plan? Just use good common sense and consider these things:

• Eat whole foods – It is best to buy your groceries and make your meals starting with fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat and other healthy products. While processed foods might be easier, they often contain chemicals, sweeteners, artificial colors and who knows what else! Freshly prepared meals that start with healthy ingredients are better for weight loss and they’re better for fueling the body.
• Read labels – It’s not always possible to eat whole foods at every single meal. When this is the case, select processed or pre-packaged products with care. Read the labels and look for items that are as close to natural as you can find.  Also look at the serving size compared to the amount of calories in a single serving.
• Go for balance – Make sure meals contain foods that truly nourish and fuel your body. Strike a balance with fruits and veggies, legumes, lean meat, low-fat dairy and other necessary foods.
• Eat less, but more often – Smaller, more frequent meals can help greatly with weight loss.  Shoot for smaller portions, but try to eat three meals a day and at least two, possibly three healthy snacks. It’s important not to skip meals – especially breakfast – because doing so can foster weight gain rather than loss.
• Avoid temptations – Uncover your unhealthy habits and take steps to overcome them. If you can’t steer clear of ice cream after dinner, try finding a healthier, lower-calorie option. It’s okay to keep “treats” in your diet when you’re losing weight, but make sure they really are treats. No one really needs ice cream seven nights a week.

Losing weight and keeping it off is a journey. Fad diet plans just aren’t sustainable. To get the results you want, learn to make wiser choices every day. For more ideas on creating your own “diet plan,” talk with the fitness pros at your gym or your personal trainer. Chances are they have some great tips and tricks that can help you develop your own diet that’s tasty, healthy and fulfilling.

If you’re ready to get into shape and really change your life, the first place to start is within your own mind. Leading a healthy, active lifestyle often calls for taking a mind-over-matter approach. Working out, eating right and making good choices calls for positive thinking to reinforce the actions you know you need to take. When you explore your own thought processes and your “mind chatter,” you will likely find the key to unlock the positive lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of leading has always been there.

The truth is that success is often born from a positive and healthy outlook to everything in life. When you examine your thoughts and the chatter that you “speak” to yourself on a daily basis, you are likely to find you are your own worst enemy. Open your eyes and your mind to the thoughts and really hear what you tell yourself. Learn to eliminate the negative inner-speak. Stop telling yourself you can’t and start saying you can. When you do, some amazing things are going to happen.

While this sounds all well and good, you’re probably wondering how to get from Point A to Point B. There are a few tricks and tips that can help you change your mind and your life. Try:

• Spending a few days truly listening to yourself – Grab a notebook and a pen. Jot down the negative thoughts you have. Listen to what you say to yourself in your mind. Explore what you are saying and consider what triggers your own negative responses.
• Learn to speak kinder to yourself – Positive affirmations aren’t just New Age mumbo jumbo. They can actually work. Learn to program your mind to believe in yourself. Set realistic goals and keep telling yourself you can attain them. Take that same notebook you used to record your thoughts and write down the positives about yourself. Focus on these positives that you know to be true and use them to build up your life in other aspects.
• Enlist help – When you’re trying to change your mind so you can change your life, positive influences can go a very long way. Join a group exercise class, get with a personal trainer, ask family and friends to assist. Let them know your goals, what you are doing to reach them and how they can lend a hand by offering moral support. Having a cheering section rooting for you can build your self-esteem and it can give you the motivation you need to keep going even when the road ahead is tough.

When it’s time to effect positive changes in your life, the place to start is within. Look into your mind and learn to reinforce the positives and throw out the negatives. You can do it!

You know you need to exercise, but you just can’t stand the idea of getting into a boring, grueling routine. If you’re really ready to get into shape, you can make it happen by taking a different approach to working out. The simple truth is you don’t need to slave away on a treadmill to enjoy results. Exercise is often what you make it. Be creative and you can even learn to love it!

So, how can you get the results you want without chaining yourself to a treadmill or doing 200 sit-ups a day?
The first thing you need to do is change your thinking about working out. Working out doesn’t have to be a dirty verb in your vocabulary. Consider this term to mean simply being active. A “workout” can technically involve any activity that gets you up and moving around. You can even “workout” and have fun, too. Really!
Here’s how!

Ask yourself these things:

• What do you like doing? – Are there physical activities that you actually enjoy? Perhaps you love to play ball with your kids. Maybe swimming is a favorite pastime? It might be that you really enjoy taking brisk walks with your dog. Whatever it is, build your “workout” routine around that activity.

• What are your goals? – Set very realistic, attainable goals to lead yourself down the path to weight loss and exercise success. Reaching even the smallest of goals can boost your esteem and encourage you to go even farther.

• Do I have 30 minutes a few days a week? – Exercising effectively doesn’t call for setting aside hours a day, every day in a week to make real changes happen. All you really need is about 30 minutes, five days a week to put yourself on the right path. If you’re having fun playing ball, swimming or doing something else enjoyable, you will stick with the program.

A good “workout” doesn’t have to be an exercise in frustration. The fact of the matter is there are many different activities that can help you get into shape and lose weight, too. Getting the best and most consistent results often calls for thinking out of the box and finding activities that you truly enjoy. Remember, you can even mix things up and still get results. You might, for example, play ball on a Monday, go swimming on Wednesday, take part in a kick boxing class at a local gym on Friday and so on.

If it’s time to change the way you think about exercise, explore the real possibilities. They are not as boring as you’ve been led to believe! Check with your trainer or the professionals at your local gym for some ideas and even classes that fit your need to get active while satisfying your appetite for fun.

Are Workout Gadgets Worth It?

You’ve been exploring the latest releases on the workout gadget market and you have to admit you’re impressed. Some of these items have every bell and whistle imaginable. While they are neat and trendy, you can’t help but wonder if they are worth the expense.

So, are they?

Generally speaking, the answer is no. While there are some workout machines, for example, that can be well worth the investment, they simply are not necessary to see the results you want. In fact, most workout gadgets don’t focus on a full body workout. This is truly what you need to get into shape and stay that way. There really are better – and cheaper – ways to enhance your exercise time than investing in a costly gadget.

Unless you really want to spend money on something with bells and whistles, keep your cash and consider doing these things instead:

• Stick with the basics – In most cases, you’ll get as good or even better results from sticking with exercise basics rather than spending money on gadgets. Run, walk, swim, bike, go lift weights, do something, anything that’s physical. If you blend those cardio activities with good old fashion strength training, you will see results for a whole lot less.

• Join a gym – Rather than purchase your own fitness gadgets, use a gym or fitness center’s collection. This way you can take advantage of a lot of machines and gadgets without having to buy them all.

• Get a personal trainer – Instead of spending your money on a gadget that may or may not work, hire a trainer to develop a program you enjoy and can follow to attain weight loss success. Personal trainers can help you develop a program that’s tailored just for you and they can motivate you to reach your goals.

• Eat right – There is no gadget out there that can replace this key weight loss component. If you want to enjoy real success, you’ll need to learn to eat healthier. A well-balanced, calorie conscious diet can take you where you want to go – especially if it’s combined with a smart exercise routine.

Workout gadgets are fun and they can add some excitement to a routine. They aren’t, however, necessary to reach your goals. Rather than spend your money on a product that won’t help you enjoy a true whole body workout, stick with the basics, rely on some input from the pros and learn to eat better to make the changes you’re striving for.