If you are stressed, you get fat...

Here are 10 things that you can do to keep yourself on a track when you start work out first time in a long time.
  1. Check with your doctor
    Many people ignore this when they start workout. We think that we know our body best, but most of us do not realize that something is not quite right until someone tells us. For example, if you are over weight, you have a higher possibility that you have knee and lower back problems, since you are imposing the extra stress on your joints. You do not realize, however, the weight is the cause of the joint problem until a doctor (or someone) tells you. It means that you may want to start from a stationary bike workout or walking instead of jogging. A doctor can tell you whether you can do certain workout or not, especially if he is specialized for sports medicine.
  2. Hire a personal trainer and/or a nutritionist
    Again, many people start work out based on magazine articles or fitness books. This is quite dangerous! You do not need to work out with a personal trainer every time, but, at least, you should work out with a trainer once a month so that the trainer can modify your work out accordingly. The trainer also can correct your posture and some exercise your are not doing quite right. Same for a nutritionist. If you are going to do a weight loss diet, consult with a nutritionist (who is also willing to work with your doctor). A nutritionist usually disappoints you, since she/he wonft recommend any fancy herbal supplements, but the recipe that he/she recommends is usually safer, more effective, and cheaper.
  3. Work with a coach
    A main problem of some people who cannot continue work out is actually due to lack of mental preparation. Work with coach for a few months so that you can develop a new way of thinking about your body, mind, and attitude toward your life. If you once make a big shift in thinking, you will not stop working out and stay healthy.
  4. Ask help for your family and friends
    Especially among men, this is the hardest thing to do. Asking help to family members and friends! You need to realize, however, your family and close friends could be the worst enemies, if you do not ask the help. They unknowingly drag you back to the old life style, if you do not tell them. If you ask them explicitly what you want, they will be the best support for your life style change. So ASK!
  5. Be friend with fitness buffs
    If you want to be a fitness buff, be with them. It is the easiest way to motivate yourself. You are with your role models, and they love to help you (or show off their knowledge and physique). Just tell them how truly admire their accomplishment and ask for help. One caution; they may not know or forgot about how beginners work out; so watch out if they try to push you too much.
  6. Continuously feed your mind with fitness information
    This is another way to keep motivating yourself. Read fitness magazines and books, watch work out videos, and go to a workshop. Then tell your friends the new information that you just got. Impress yourself and your friends with fitness information constantly, then you will be a fitness buff yourself really quick.
  7. Gradually increase work out load
    Although a human body has a capacity to take a big change, it is recommended to go slow. It is better to be slow and long development than quick and short development which dies away in 2 weeks. It also prevents you from get serious injuries. If you once get injured, a probability that you come back to work out is quite small.
  8. Give yourself a break
    Your body and mind need a break. At least once a week, give you non-workout day. You can be officially a couch potato. If you do diet, at least one day a week, eat whatever you want to eat.
  9. Give yourself reward
    Set some goals, and decide what kinds of rewards you want to give yourself once get there. It could be a chocolate cake, or a nice massage. We are still Pavorovian creatures; if you once connect a good reward with work out, just by thinking about the reward, you can keep motivating to work out.
  10. Find work out you enjoy
    This is a quite important point. If you do not like a run, why do you do? Donft do it, unless your ultimate goal to be a Boston marathon runner. There is always something that you could enjoy physically. Do you like a window shopping? Then go to a mall, and walk around the mall for an hour. You get work out.
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