In a world of convenience, it is very easy to get caught up in the rat race of life and start making bad choices about nutrition. For example, to get to my neighborhood from off the freeway, I have to pass by nearly a mile-long stretch of strip malls with every type of convenient, preservative-laden, temptation available when it comes to food options.
In this country, many are dealing with a similar situation. Soon, before we realize it, our bodies will have paid the price, and I know mine did. Diabetes, heart problems, and even depression can plague anyone who allows food and a sedentary lifestyle to overcome them. As an athlete all my life, I grew up eating well and maintained a healthy lifestyle; that is until I became a real adult with bills, multiple jobs, and seemingly very little time. At 6’2″, and 245 pounds with a 41″ waist, I was as big as I’d ever been, by quite a large margin, and was headed down a destructive path.
I used the P90X program, coupled with good nutrition to get healthy once again, and now, I have maintained my 205 pound frame and 33″ waist ever since. How did I do it? It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. The best part is, it doesn’t even need to be P90X; it just needs to be something.
Here are the five key steps necessary in order to reach your fitness goals:
1. Make the decision
Yes, the decision. And no, I am not talking about the ill-fated one that LeBron James made in the summer of 2010. This is the decision that will change your life forever. It is the same decision I made when I told myself I would never be overweight again. It was the decision that my future children would always know their father to be fit and a great example of health & wellness. Finally, it was for myself and my own personal quality of life and pride. In my case, the initial decision involved ordering the workout program P90X, and anxiously awaiting its arrival.
2. Outline a plan in writing
The second aspect of the steps toward reaching your fitness goals is to define them in the first place. Want to run a marathon? Set a date. Do you have a goal weight? Write it down. I call these motivating factors, and they are absolutely critical in achieving your fitness goals. My goal was simple – to get to under 200 lbs before my next birthday, which I will without question accomplish. The interesting thing is how your goals and priorities will change, perhaps become even more difficult, as you improve your fitness levels. As human beings, we tend to limit ourselves by tempering our expectations to avoid failure. In fitness and in life, you cannot succeed without failing! Do not limit yourself under any circumstances.
3. Acquire the right tools
No program will be effective if you do not have the right tools. I use the following in my home gym:
A pull-up bar, the Iron Gym The PowerBlock Classic 50 adjustable dumbbell set A yoga mat A good pair of shoes A notebook to record your results
Find the tools you will need and invest in them. Spending the money (which will ultimately be extremely well-spent) will help to motivate you to stick with the outline you created.
4. Commit
Set aside time every day for your program, and more importantly, commit to it. Conventional wisdom says it takes roughly two weeks for a routine to become a habit, and I agree wholeheartedly. Two weeks in, I began to crave the workouts and felt lazy if I hadn’t completed them during the day. Make sure it matches up with your lifestyle. If you are a morning person, utilize the mornings to exercise. If you thrive at night, designate time in the evening.
5. Create an accountability system / network
This part is perhaps the most difficult. I am fortunate to have the good fortune of starting (and continuing) a fitness program with a perfect partner, my wife. Many times, we held each other accountable when the other was not up to task. Single? Don’t sweat it. If you are reading this you have access to the web, where forums exist solely for the purpose of helping you succeed in fitness. I recommend the forums at beachbody.com, but you can certainly find online support elsewhere.
In any case, reaching your fitness goals is one of the most rewarding things you can do for yourself and is completely worth every investment in time, resources, and money. As you exercise and take in proper nutrition, your body will respond so positively, that it will be hard to imagine ever living an unhealthy lifestyle again. For more details on how my fitness goals were achieved, read my P90X blog.
Michael C. Jones is a Yahoo! Featured Contributor in Sports and fitness enthusiast. As a golf professional, he works with students of all skill levels and helps train them to be the best golfer-athletes they can be.
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