http://www.precisionnutrition.com/minimal-exercise


This is a good article.  You may wonder why as a fitness coach I would promote minimal exercise.  I don't.  I think you should 4-6 sessions per week.  However I don't view exercise as a weight loss tool only.  It's more than that and if you want it to be sustainable, then use exercise for all the other great benefits (more energy, stronger body, more confidence).

If you want to lose weight, address nutrition first.

A groovy way to get people to walk up the stairs

I was just reading something and it made me ponder a question:

Does everything we eat need to be enjoyable?  Does most of when we eat need to be entertaining?

This is something new to us, the thought of enjoyment and entertaining.  Sure its great to do, but somehow it is now a must do, not a nice thing to do.

Food was for survival.  Simply a fuel to keep you going.

Now we eat for the short term, previously we ate for the long term.

Perhaps if we chose to eat more foods that will fuel our bodies, (but are still edible and tasteful) and less foods that provide short term enjoyment, we will be able to achieve the 3 objectives of :

1) Perform better

2) Look better

3) Feel better.

I came across 2 articles in The Economist which I think you will find interesting.

The first discusses the level of self reported well being at different stages of our lives.  Apparently we bottom out around 50 and peak as we get older, hitting an all time high in our 80s. 

All I can add to this is.........hang in there !!

The U-bend of life
http://www.economist.com/node/17722567?story_id=17722567

This second article look at the impact of posture on how people viewed themselves.  In short, stand up straight, pin your shoulders back and stand proud.  You will then feel better about yourself.  Give it a go !!

The Power of Posture
http://www.economist.com/node/17899714

This video goes for 18 minutes and is interesting viewing.  He discusses the  power of social networks and whether they are making you overweight and unhappy or not.

Have you ever struggled to get in shape, increase performance or attempt a healthier way of living?  Most people have and I know I have.  It's easy to think "Oh I would like to lose 10kg" or "I want to do an ironman".  Thinking about it is the first step, but it alone wont get you far.

The next step is to weigh up what's involved.  Maybe it's as simple as doing some more exercise and eating the right foods.  Then you think "yes I have tried that and it doesn't work".  Are you sure?

To get started, maybe sit down and think, "What if this does work?".  What if it is that simple and uncomplicated?  Imagine it works........

Then go out and live it 100%.  Not 95%.  Not for 2 weeks.  Not for 20 weeks.  But every day for the rest of your life.

Most people know what to do, they just refuse to do it.  It's up to you what you do, but if you are going to have a go, do it properly, learn as much as you can and really believe in the process.  After all, it does work.