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Getting in Shape… Finally?

Here we are again, the inner conflict of deciding whether this is the year your going to get in shape. Yes, you know your body is a temple… and it needs to be worshiped, blah, blah,blah!! Forget all that, but do wrap your head around this. Maintaining a physically fit body can add to your natural life expectancy by up to (I say at least) 10%!! Now I don’t know about you, but I have too much to do, too much to learn. Too much time to spend with all of my loved ones and too much life to experience. And why not actually feel good during the process? OK, so I know you want at least some the things I mentioned above, but the question of the year. How exactly am I going to do it?!

I will show you, step by step.

• Decide RIGHT NOW…. that keeping in shape is something you are going to make a part of your PERMANENT LIFESTYLE!

• Determine what vehicle you would like to use to keep in shape; such examples are yoga, gym membership, pilates, bike riding, swimming, jogging, martial arts, aerobics, weight training, calisthetics, get a personal trainer, whatever!! Do your research, and choose one! You may even want to choose more than one, but I recommend at least starting with one.

• Once you choose the vehicle, set a permanent schedule of when you will perform your exercises. NOTE: In order to make this a permanent part of your life you must commit UNINTERRUPTABLE time at least 3 times a week to do your exercises. NO IF’S, AND’S, OR BUT’S!! 3 TIMES A WEEK!! Think you don’t have time? Think again! Minus the 8 hours required sleep you get a day, I find it hard to believe you can’t find minimum of a half an hour to an hour, in the remaining 16 hours of the day!

• First day start slow, and get used to the routine. You must purposefully think to yourself, DON’T OVER DO IT!! DON’T OVER DO IT!! Just enough so that you feel good. Results take time, and time is something you have. Just get comfortable with the routine.

• Stick to your routine! If you truly set aside UNINTERRUPTABLE TIME for your exercises, you need to stick to it. If you by chance miss a day, try your best to make it up! How often do you forget to bathe, to brush your teeth, to eat breakfast lunch or dinner, or to sleep? Not very often! Neither should you forget about your exercises!

• In time start to see results and in time, feel more healthy, vibrant, and more energized than you have in a long time.

That’s it!! A WORD OF CAUTION THOUGH! If you make it to step 6, it is important that you do not mess with the momentum you have created for yourself!! Sometimes you may get bored of your routine, OK, so switch it up a little to keep it interesting, but don’t interrupt the momentum!! Keep this up for a good 6 months, and it will become a part of you. No longer something you have to curse yourself for not doing. What do you have to lose but to try, except more time. Remember the 10%!!

William Martinez
william@longislandexchange.com
February 21, 2006 12:35 PM Eastern

Advice Column