Take a good look at yourself. If you’re happy with what you see – GREAT! If you think you’re body’s seen better days and wonder about getting back to those days – I have two words of advice – Start Now.
I’ve stated a zillion times that I am no fitness guru nor am I some ripped, 50 year old stud. I’m just 50 years old. And although I did study nuclear physics many, many, many…many years ago, no rocket scientist I am, as the little green guy might say.
But I know this. The best time – and the only time – to start is now. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, not later – BUT now.
The rocket scientist comment comes in because getting in shape is not rocket science. On the other hand, it is “almost” like rocket science in that the critical challenge is in getting the rocket to break earth’s gravity.
Your critical challenge is in breaking your inertia and getting started. Beyond that, it’s back to it not being rocket science.
It ain’t complicated, dude…and dudettes
And it also ain’t easy…
But if it were, then we’d all be looking like Brad Pitt or Gerard Butler. Or Linda Hamilton…
Or any number of great looking guys and gals.
So, it’s not easy but the only way you will get there is by starting. Which means…
You just got to get started…TODAY!
So, how to do you get started?
The workout
If you are absolutely starting from scratch, then do not – I repeat – do not head to your nearest store to buy a fitness gimmick or exercising machine. Instead, invest in a great pair of running shoes. Your initial workouts should revolve around jogging/fast walking and bodyweight exercises.
The only equipment that you might look into is a pull-up bar, but not really necessary, if you live within a mile of a park. Most parks have a fitness pit or a playground set for kids.
Jog/fast walk to the park. Do a set of push-ups, pull-ups, knee bends, and reverse crunches. And then jog/fast walk back home. It’s a great way to get back in shape. After a couple of weeks, you can start resistance training to strengthen and build your muscles.
You can navigate along the top menu to my workout pages to get an idea of how to structure your training. Or you can try Rusty’s Visual Impact Muscle Building program. Of all the ones that I have seen, I like this one best. If you are inclined, you can read my thought process regarding Rusty’s program by going here. My suggestions are free and his cost 47 bucks. But worth the investment, when you get to that point.
The Food
I said the food and not diet. Diet gets a bad rap sometimes and sometimes it deserves it. I know my limitations and one of those limitations is that I am not a fitness/diet guru. So, instead of giving you a list of dubious tips, this article, The Get Ripped Diet “Cheat Sheet” 10 Simple Steps to Ultimate Leanness by Tom Venuto, really lays out some good tips for getting in shape, nutrition-wise. Head over, read it, then come back.
Eating healthy is not complicated (sound familiar) and is not boring and is not “die”ting and is not starvation and is not a lot of other things.
Eating healthy is fun, tasty, good for you, good for you loved ones and easy to do. How’s that!
- Do you really need to drink soda…really?
- Do you really need to eat all that processed food…really?
- Do you really need to eat until you have to loosen your belt by a notch…really?
- Do you really need that donut, that Big Mac, that strudel, that shake, that Nestles Crunch, that…you get the picture…really?
What if you ate…
- Oranges, apples, bananas, grapes, raisins, peaches…with water instead of fruit juices and soda?
- 3 smaller meals with 3 large snacks instead?
- foods you cooked, seasoned to your taste (cookings easy and fun)?
- And so on…
The motivation
You must have a “want-to” You must want to get in shape. You must have a compelling reason or you will stop eventually for an endless list of reasons. Look at your life, your loved ones, your hopes and dreams…can being physically fit and healthy help you live a better life?
If not, stop reading and go look at the pictures of these gals and just fantasize…(don’t worry it’s not porn, it’s T-Nations’ gallery of figure athletes – a term I use loosely)
But if it can…
Take a picture of yourself, weigh yourself, measure yourself. Get a notebook and keep daily track of your weight. Keep weekly track of your body measurements. Take a picture monthly. Use the business mentality, “inspect what you expect, and expect what you inspect.”
Ultimately, it comes down to this story…
Chicken and pig were walking down the street when they passed a church bulletin board. Chicken says to the pig, “hey, look they’re looking for breakfast donations. Let’s donate some eggs and bacon.” The pig turns to the chicken and responds, “Now wait a minute, I’m not saying no, but look it, it might be a donation for you, but for me…it’s a total commitment.”
Be the pig and commit…totally.
Good Luck,
Hyo
