From Start to Fitness
Where the mind goes, the body will follow
By ANDREA RENEE WYATT,

Have you made a commitment to use this year to get in the best shape of your life? Have you bought the books and videos, cut out fitness routines and nutrition plans from magazines, and now are ready to begin?

Well before you perform your first crunch, make sure you are truly ready to complete the program you have envisioned. No exercise, nutritional program or fitness routine can grant you success if you are not emotionally prepared for the time, unforeseen challenges and commitment needed to see it through.

There are many factors that can influence the success of becoming "fit." Often we believe that if we only had more time, a home gym, personal trainer or even a cook, that this fitness thing would be easy. The truth is, no matter what resources you may have, success will not come until you are mentally and emotionally ready to begin, and no one can tell you when that time is but you.

YOU are the one who has to make the food choices and complete the cardio and resistance training, and YOU are the one who has to overcome challenges. Look at your fitness program as a lifestyle-enhancement program, as the steps you will take will not only get you fit, but improve your life.

Evaluate what has and has not been successful in the past. Look at the circumstances. Was your life less or more hectic? Did you have less or more responsibilities? Were you happy, stressed, sad? Becoming aware of your emotions around the times you have begun previous programs can help you identify what it will take for you to be successful now.

Look at all of the factors in your life and understand that you might only be able to handle one lifestyle change at a time - and that is OK. If walking is all you can do for now, that's a great start. If drinking water in place of soda is a realistic goal for you, go for it. Find what works for you. Don't allow anyone else's fitness journey to place overwhelming pressure on you to build Rome in a day.

Fitness should not be synonymous with words like guilt, disappointment and discouragement. Just because a friend started a program and is seeing success does not mean you should do the same thing. Maybe part of that program would work for you, or maybe not, but YOU have to decide what will work within your life. Congratulate your friend and begin to find a creative program that suits you. Becoming stressed-out over beginning, continuing or completing a fitness program is the complete opposite of what fitness is intended to be.

Now don't get me wrong, I would love to see everyone healthy and fit, but it is all right to not be ready to start a lifestyle-enhancement program right now. Work on finding what is keeping you from making the commitment, and start there. Once you have made that first step you will know for sure that when you are ready to begin this time, you will succeed.

Fitness is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself for the finish.

Always consult a physician before beginning an exercise program. Andrea Renee Wyatt, M.S.S., C.S.C.S., is a certified personal trainer with an extensive background in strength and conditioning as well as therapeutic recreation. If you have a fitness or training question, email Andrea at letters.kfws@hearstsc.com or write her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475.

(c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.