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Mar. 25, 2006 Did you know that most people have given up on their New Year’s goals by this time in the year? Most of these goals are centered around losing weight and looking better. Unfortunately, only 5 percent of the population are successful in keeping their fat off in the long run. Just about the time everyone starts to give up on getting into trim shape, spring and summer arrive, and the body is more on display than ever. Why do people fail to become trim and lean? And what can be done to actually succeed? Fortunately there are some steps you can take to make your fat loss last, and to stay lean and mean all year. There are a few primary reasons why people fail in the war on fat. One is commitment – the war on fat is a war, not a battle or skirmish. You might win a battle against fat here and there, but if you don’t view the conflict as a long-term war, you will slid back into the point from whence you came. One of the major reasons this occurs is due to fads. There is always a fad in the fat loss arena. For instance, the low-carb diet of late was the most widespread fad, spanning tons of books such as the South Beach Diet and various programs such as the Atkins way. Manufacturers even went so far as to design their product lines and start touting low carbohydrate foods. And high carb food manufacturers, such as Krispy Kreme, saw income drop off like a rock. Some fast food lines even got fancy with their marketing – Kentucky Fried Chicken started advertising their food as “low carb.” Yes, low carb, but high fat, really. Carbs are a part of the issue, but not the whole story. Now we are on to the next fad. However, a fad will never cut if for permanently trimming the physique. That is because the fad diet or the fad training approach lacks the ability to be maintained constantly. A low carb diet, for instance, will work in dropping fat off the body. However, in the long term it is not really healthy for the body. Most fads are not sustainable. And in order for a diet to be successful in the long term, it must be sustainable. A sustainable program is vital. Another issue in the shaping up process is comprehensibility. If you want a program that succeeds, it must be comprehensive. That is, it must take into account all elements that have a bearing on the body. This translates into more than just diet. It includes exercise, attitude, lifestyle, and more. A healthy lifestyle is just that – a style for life, not a fad for a few weeks. The trend du jour is not going to give you something that you can hang your hat on for the long term. You need to integrate your diet and training into your daily living schedule in a manner that works for you. This may include some modifications, some experimentation – and some change in your own views, perhaps, to be successful. However, the payoff is big. Looking and feeling great is better than any taste a junk food can give you. Looking and feeling great will put a noticeable spring into your step that will propel you beyond summer and into the future. If you want to make noticeable and lasting change, consider targeting your waist. Why? Your waist is like a barometer of the health of your body. There is no such thing as spot reduction, but by bringing down your waist size, you also bring down the fat levels throughout your body. It is far better to pay attention to your waist measurement than it is to rely on the scale. The scale has no way of differentiating between fat loss and muscle gain. The waist, however, indicates your overall health levels. A trim, tight and muscular waist is a key indicator of super health and fitness. (If you would like to have a comprehensive waist training program, consider “Six Pack Abs” by Robert Kennedy and myself: http://shopmusclemag.com/product.asp?productid=284). And a lean waist and physique is worth the work to get it – and maintain it. Maintenance is another key issue for staying in shape through summer and beyond. Make sure your goal includes more than just getting into shape. Make your goal staying in shape as well. If you make maintenance the next step beyond attainment, you can stay fit and healthy for the long term. ------------ About the author: Dwayne Hines currently has 12 books selling in major bookstores and writes for major magazines such as Physical and FitnessRX. Email Dwayne Hines: dhines@cpu-net.net Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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