Transform your body. Part I: Building the right foundation

Id have to say working out, being active & living a healthy lifestyle is one of the top priorities in my life even though I don't post much about it. So I've decided to dedicate a series on this topic. I'm not claiming to be an expert in this area but I want to share with you tips that are personally working for me. It's not just about looking good, its about feeling good from the inside out. I'm sure we can all agree on that. So let's start with a few basics...

Define your purpose & set your intention. This will help you stay motivated.
Is it to lose weight, feel better in your body, feel more sexxxy =P, to be healthy? Everyone has their own reasons. For me I wanted to lose weight and look good but as time went on my initial reason for exercising turned into something totally different. I started to understand how great it feels to be active...how great it feels to put good food in my body and I found it interesting to learn about how the body works.

Be realistic about your fitness goals. Telling yourself that you want to lose 10 pounds by the end of Feb is possible but is it a realistic goal for you? If losing weight & keeping it off is what you're after then the secret is not in dieting. It has to be a lifestyle change. One step a a time, one decision at a time. Gradually work your way up. If you jump in head first and tell yourself that you will work out 5 times a week you'll end up disappointed in yourself when you dont meet that goal. Even worse you'll lose confidence in yourself and your ability to follow thru. Instead tell yourself: today I will work out for an hour. or today i will walk up the flight of stairs to work instead of taking the elevator. Its the small actions that add up to the big ones.

Work with your interests & be creative. There are tons of ways you can be active. Pick one that works for you. Im the worst when it comes to cardio machines. I get restless and bored but when I have no choice i bring a book or a favorite magazine to flip thru. Other ways I try to incorporate cardio in my routine it taking cardio classes. It's more exciting. I take cardio kick boxing, hip hop dancing, Zumba and on occasion Step classes(the choreography is a bit more tricky for me tho =P). My tip for you is to keep it interesting. Working out doesnt have to be a chore.



Check out this article from CityGeisha on losing fat rather than losing weight. She explains it so much better than I can. =) She has a few other well written articles on fitness that I think you should read as well.

EDIT: Treasure your health. It seems that in life we are always striving to attain something....more wealth, knowledge, skill, happiness but with health most of us are blessed to be born with it. Dont you find it tragically funny how we take that for granted? Its a process but pls find ways to cherish your mind and body. Its a gift that was given to us.

Find music that pumps you up. Start a workout playlist on ur cute lil ipod & bring it along with you on your next workout and update them and add to them frequently. Keeps things exciting. What songs motivate you? Do you have any favorites. Feel free to share =) Here are a few songs that are on my playlist.