How to Start a Diet and Exercise Program
Your health is very easy to let slip. Perhaps you aren’t walking as much or paying attention to the calories in that innocently small looking candy bar. It’s only when you find you are winded from going up the stairs or step on the scale and discover 10 extra pounds that you realize your diet and exercise program needs help. Starting a health regimen can be difficult but the results are worth the effort.
- Talk with your doctor first. It is always a good idea to check with your physician that you are healthy enough to make significant changes to your diet and begin exercising.
- Evaluate your current diet and exercise habits. Making too many radical changes at once can be hard on you both mentally and physically. It is best to figure out what your baseline is, and then go from there. Keeping a food journal may be helpful for you to analyze your diet and discover where changes need to be made.
- Create a menu for yourself to follow. Having safe meals and snacks to rely on can help you make healthy choices. Online calorie counting programs or apps are also extremely helpful for planning out meals.
- Design a workout plan. Choose activities that you enjoy doing as you will be more likely to stick to your workout program. Schedule blocks of time for you to exercise during the week so it will be harder for you to make excuses. As you gain physical stamina, try different workouts and upping the length and intensity.
- Go slowly and don’t expect results overnight. You should aim to lose only about two pounds per week unless your doctor tells you that you can lose weight at a faster rate. You didn’t gain 10 pounds overnight, so don't expect it to come off overnight either. Set reasonable goals and reward yourself along the way.