Weight loss, health, and fitness by changing your lifestyle habits

Many diet an exercise programs today are marketed with a definitive beginning and end in mind. They are named such things as "Better body in 12 weeks", or the "2 week soup diet" or any number of different names that imply that you will be a different person upon completion of the exercise program or diet.

These books and courses contain much useful information but I feel they can mislead a potential customer. The simple truth is that upon completion of these diets or exercise programs - if you resume your old lifestyle habits - you will get the same results as before. In order to have long term, lasting, health and weight loss you simply must change your lifestyle forever.

This is where most people jump ship. Please don't! I have been working on changing my lifestyle habits for years and I have learned some things that I think will help you change yours. It does not have to be an arduous task where you eat things you don't like and perform exercises that make you miserable. Changing your lifestyle habits will open you up to new experiences in food and activity that you will find deeply rewarding and satisfying.

Let's start with your eating habits. By tackling a bad habit food or two per month you will start to develop healthy eating habits while developing a taste for more wholesome foods. You will also start to lose your taste for nutritiously void, over processed foods. An example would be: For the next 30 days - have a small side salad or a yogurt instead of fries with your lunch. Replace your cola or tea with pure water.

These are small steps that you should find relatively easy to accomplish for the next 30 days. 30 Days is a magic number in that it takes about that long to establish a habit. You could potentially replace 24 bad eating habits with healthy habits over the next 12 months. Imagine what that could do for your health!

You will also experience a change in your tastes and a change in what your body craves. Nowadays, I cringe at the thought of a French fry squirting grease as I bite into it. On the other hand, I love eating a Banana and some almonds before my workout.

Education will motivate you. When you learn how destructive certain foods can be to your weight and health it motivates you to change. If you are not sure which choices are healthy or if you need to learn more so that you can make better food substitutions – Visit our top weight loss site for many articles on nutrition and eating.

Next let's deal with movement. The body was designed to move but our hectic lifestyles leave us little time or energy to work in a cardiovascular workout. We have to tackle exercise the same way we are tackling our bad eating habits.

For the next 30 days park as far away from your office as you can. For the next 30 days take the stairs instead of the elevator. Are you starting to get the point? You will develop a good exercise habit per month that will lead to life long, permanent change.

Let's have a quick recap:

1. For 30 days substitute an unhealthy food choice with a healthy food choice.
2. Try 2 food choices per month and then add two more the next month.
3. Continue to educate yourself in nutrition and learn to read labels. Know that there is more to food than fat grams and carbs. You may be eating things you think are healthy that are nothing more than nutritiously void stomach fillers.
4. Start adding extra movement to your day in 30 day segments.
5. Realize that every little bit counts. Don't discount something because it only adds 50 steps to your day. Those 50 steps will add up as you add extra movements every 30 days.
6. When you feel ready, consider joining a gym or exercise class

I have used these techniques to slowly change my eating habits and exercise habits over the years. One year from now you could be eating healthier, incorporating exercise into your day and feeling great.

For more ideas on how to eat right, lose weight, and exercise more please visit www.weightloss-articles.com

Wishing you the best of health,
Bill Herren