Happy March! May the Luck of the STRONG be with you always!
In January I published an article called “Leap Into the New Year with 12 Simple Steps to Fitness.” If you missed it, make sure you check it out so you know exactly how this little 12-Step program has been designed.
January’s Step 1 is simple. No worries if you want to hop on board now–all you have to do is read about the first step to fitness and add step one to February’s “Step 2” and then this month’s “Step 3.” No big deal, just start with three steps instead of one. And if this is too intimidating, start with step one now and next month add step two. There’s no wrong or right way to start creating a better YOU.
When you CLICK HERE, you’ll find the page titled “12 Steps to Fitness” and just scroll until you see “Step 3 / March.” Step 3 is also listed directly below!
Good luck and happy stepping!
If you have any questions on weight loss, nutrition, exercise, etc., now is a GREAT time to ask! Please utilize the comment section below, the CONTACT US page for more private info (it’s just a direct way to contact me via email), or you could go into our “We Figure” forum and post a question and get some good conversation started. I’ve learned some of my best tips and have gotten excellent advice in forums, so PLEASE utilize this feature–it’s designed just for YOU!
March: STEP 3: Start Moving!
Beginning an exercise routine is scary for everyone. I remember when I joined Gold’s Gym about seven years ago–I was given a free week guest pass and was BEGGED by a friend to go with her. The only way she got me there was by promising me that I could read a book on the elliptical while I worked out. I’m pretty positive that’s when I read Dan Brown’s The Divinci Code. My point is, the gym can be scary–if you let it. It can also be a place to meet new people, find support, and share recipe ideas, and enhance your fitness education. Lord knows I’ve learned at least half of my fitness and nutrition information just from getting advice from people in my gym.
And we all know that going to a gym is not the only way to add exercise to our daily routine. With P90x, Insanity, thousands of instructional DVDs, fitness on demand TV, buying your own equipment, or just going for a jog or talking your dog for a walk–there are more ways to get fit at home than I can begin to describe. You can even get fit just by following the workout advice of helpful websites! 😉
My advice is to try to add 30 minutes of movement into your schedule daily. Whether you join a gym, walk the dog, buy a yoga DVD, or simply start taking the stairs, we want you to move more. Need more ideas?
- Jump ropes are extremely cheap. They are also excellent for producing crazy good weight loss results.
- Perform body weight exercises like squats, lunges, pushups, and burpees throughout the day. Set realistic goals for yourself: 10 burpees when getting out of bed. 15 squats before lunch, 15 lunges after, and 10 pushups before bed at night. There aren’t any rules–just your commitment to do better than yesterday.
- Pick up a new (or an old) hobby! Love tennis? If you have a friend who can play with you, both of you can work on your fitness–and have fun–together! What about bike riding? You can ride solo or with groups. You’d be amazed at how many local bike clubs are probably surrounding you.
- Take a class at the local gym. Most gyms give out free passes–whether it’s for a week, a one-class trial, etc., you can most certainly find a class that appeals to your level of fitness (and your idea of fun) and try it out! No commitment required–just a try. My favorite class at my Gold’s happens to burn up to (and in some cases more) 800 calories per class.
- Buy a Kettlebell! The kettlebell is the ONE piece of equipment that you can use ANYWHERE and it improves your cardio conditioning, builds strength, and burns fat. In other words, one piece of equipment builds a HOT physique, and it’s very simple to learn the basic moves. I’m also very excited to announce that I’m working on a kettlebell eBook as we speak–that’s how much I love this bell. Definitely look into it!
- What about rock climbing? Zumba? Bikram yoga? Your choices are endless and who says you can’t try them all? Conduct your own experiment…what will motivate you the most and keep you coming back for more?
- Speaking of extreme motivation, CrossFit motivates me to get out of bed every morning at 5am. Most people are intimidated of it because of what they see on TV. Yes, those people really do exist, but in small, rare quantities. And they also had to get a start somewhere–just like you. Check out some reasons why CrossFit may be YOUR best fit–especially if you want a faster boost into your weight loss goals.
Didn’t see anything you like listed above? That’s ok–it’s what I’m here for. I love helping people out and I believe it’s my job to motivate you. I don’t just ask you to contact me because it’s the nice thing to write, I’m really asking you to contact me for help. Whether you need help finding the right gym to suit your needs, the best exercises for your goals, or the best piece of equipment so that you can start exercising at home, it’s MY JOB to assist you. PLEASE CONTACT ME so that I can better do my job.
