What does it take to become truly fit and reshape your body?   In order to make a marked increase in your health and fitness levels, you need to train vigorously in an aerobic activity for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes, three times a week.  In addition, you need to strength train at least twice a week.  Anything less and the results will be disappointing.  If you have been half-heartedly snoozing through a routine workout, why not bump things up a bit for some encouraging results? 

Monotony is said to be the main reason for failure in the workout world.  Getting on a piece of workout equipment and enduring a never-changing time limit is a good way to become bored enough to quit. Why not change it up?  Listen to your favorite music.  If you belong to a gym, switch from one type of fitness equipment to another every few minutes.  If you work out at home, alternate whatever equipment you have with a vigorous walk, a jump rope session, or low-impact aerobic dance moves. A heart rate monitor can be a very motivating workout buddy.

Heavy weight lifting is not required to achieve good results from a strength training program.  You can reshape and tone your body by isolating individual muscles and lifting lighter weights.  As you improve, increase the number of repetitions.  Just losing the groan factor improves the strength training experience.

Poor dietary choices can cancel out your best fitness efforts.  Although theories abound, diet basics have stood the test of time. Try to keep your fat intake under 25% of your daily diet.  Carbohydrates should be around 65% and protein should be about 15%.   With all the effort it takes to get the cardiovascular and the strength training side of fitness accomplished, isn’t it a good idea to follow up with improved eating habits?  That way the results you desire will develop much faster.  There’s nothing better than visible improvement to inspire a regular fitness program. 

-Pam Brooks