How many of you have fitness "devices" gathering dust somewhere at your home? Want to get fit? Lose weight?

1. You have to want to so badly that it hurts.
2. You have to be very motivated and dedicated.
(This is a permanent lifestyle change.)
3. You must be prepared to continue through pain.
4. You must walk for an hour 6 days a week. No, not
a Sunday stroll.....a strong, brisk powerful walk.
5. You must work with weights every second day.
6. You must regulate your fat and sugar intake.
7. You have to make time.
8. You do not look for excuses not to exercise. You
are only letting yourself down, nobody else.

Notice that every one of the 8 points above starts with You? That's because it is all up to You. If You want it bad enough, just go and do it. Make it your resolution. Every day you delay is another day of being unfit.

I have to disagree with points 4 and 5. Vigorous cardio is great, but I think demanding 6 days a week is too much, and every other day for weight training is also a little often for many people.

I do 90 minutes of cardio 4 days a week and weight train two days.

At first your post annoyed me...I don't know why? I assumed cockiness---but then thought this is text you don't know this person. And I agree with you I think you are 100% right. You have to want it and be stict with yourself. I work out 7 days a week. I have light days and I have heavy days. I have 5-6 days of cardio and 7 days of a toning/pilates/weight training. I work really hard and I also have a thyroid problem so I fight with my weight. People don't realize how important exercise is, they neglect it but its like brushing your teeth. Just set aside the time and do it. If you didn't brush your teeth would fall out. That would suck!! If you keep putting it off because you are too busy eventually it will catch up to you and kill you. Okay thats pretty harsh but its the truth. You let your heart and muscles go what do you have?? Its your body take care of it like you would your prize posession. Okay did I just get annoying? Sorry if I did.

Gee, how did I know the first comment posted would be critical? But thanks Richard for helping me make my point. If you want it bad enough, you'll do the 6 days of walking and the weights every 2 days without complaint and avoid the "Ooohh, 6 days is WAY to much for me" or "weights? every 2 days? get outta here" Obviously the heart is not particularly leonine after all!

Thanks for your supportive comment Missy...I wrote the piece about 8 times trying NOT to sound cocky. I'm actually a fairly shy person. Just wanted to get the message across that fitness and good health comes at a cost....time, pain and effort and only the individual can make the required commitment which is dependent on their degree of motivation.

Actually my heart is more hyena'ish (lions aren't known for their big hearts). My lungs are pretty good too.

My resting heart rate averages 46. I may not win the boston marathon, but I do just fine, thank you very much.

How many flights of stairs can YOU run up without getting out of breath?


p.s. My comment wasn't critical, I merely disagreed with you.

"Obviously the heart is not particularly leonine after all!"

on the other hand, might very well be considered "critical".

[This message has been edited by richardthelionhearted (edited 01-02-2002).]

"How many stairs can YOU run up without getting out of breath?" Now there's a lion with his claws out! Cool it Richard, it was said in jest. RHR 46 huh? very good. Keep up the good work. Now help me to encourage others to get fit too!

Originally posted by Missy2:
At first your post annoyed me...I don't know why? I assumed cockiness---but then thought this is text you don't know this person. And I agree with you I think you are 100% right. You have to want it and be stict with yourself. I work out 7 days a week. I have light days and I have heavy days. I have 5-6 days of cardio and 7 days of a toning/pilates/weight training. I work really hard and I also have a thyroid problem so I fight with my weight. People don't realize how important exercise is, they neglect it but its like brushing your teeth. Just set aside the time and do it. If you didn't brush your teeth would fall out. That would suck!! If you keep putting it off because you are too busy eventually it will catch up to you and kill you. Okay thats pretty harsh but its the truth. You let your heart and muscles go what do you have?? Its your body take care of it like you would your prize posession. Okay did I just get annoying? Sorry if I did.

7 Days of lifting without rest, I'd be amazed if you saw any results. If you cut back to 2-4 session per weak you'd see better results (weight lifting wise and cardio) your body needs time to rest.

OK! Well, at the time of writing this I see that around 155 of you have jumped at the heading "How badly do you want to be fit?"

Now, how many of you have actually done something in accordance with the advice provided?

Guys, stop searching for the "Eat unlimited donuts and lose wight fast!" diet or the mythical machine that guarantees to "get you fit in 10 days and provide you with washboard abs" They don't exist.

So, get off your rear ends and do the hard stuff!

Just imagine, if this is your second read of my posting, in the time between your first read and this one, had you followed the advice you probably would have lost a couple of pounds!

Still, it's your life. Do whatever you want. Keep wearing your black or baggy clothes and oversized shirts. Just don't ever say "I tried" when you didn't.

Hello, I agree with every except the "no pain, no gain" concept. Feeling the burn and feeling pain are two different things. I read that pain is the body's signal to stop and that there is something wrong, which can lead to injury. (It's in "Fat Free, Flavor Full" by Dr. Gabe Mirkin.) I do have to admit that I am guilty of #8 since I had my son. I am now determined to get down to being fit to stay healthy. Do you realize how many people can't keep up a brisk walk for 1/4 mile at the age of 40, because they are so out of shape? I want to be healthy and not in pain like my 50 year old sister, who is definately out of shape.
My goal is to exercise 7 days/week at night and not just during break time at work. We walk 1/2 hour each day at work for break. I am planning to do weights 3 days/per week and aerobic activity every day. I want to get back up to 50 min. of exercise per night.
Right now, I only exercise 6 days per week. I walk 1/2 for 5 days a week. At night I lift weights 2-3 nights a week and only do 30 min. of aerobic activity 4-5 nights a week. I don't do aerobics when I lift. Of course there are those days that I make excuses for not exercising like...I've got a headach, I'm depressed, I'm too upset, I have other stuff that needs to be done, I need to rest, ect. You're right. I have to get tough with myself.

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Magpie

Hi Magpie, thanks for posting. I'm glad at least one person has received some motivation from my comments!

Re the "continue through pain" I'll clarify...of course people shouldn't continue to train with torn or badly strained muscles etc. What I was actually referring to was that those who begin a fitness regime are often discouraged by little things like sore joints, shin splints (easily remedied) and just general soreness from their exercise. It then gives them a way out i.e. "I couldn't continue, I was SO sore..." or "I can't do this, it hurts". As you will know, everybody who is new to exercise will have some soreness somewhere initially. The sore muscles, back, legs etc can usually be overcome by walking then stretching. My point was "Yes, there will be some pain, expect it and work through it. Don't give up."

Good luck with your program.

Aussie Tom

Howdy, I know someone like that. The least little bitty walking she does, she complains about being so sore. It gets kind of irritating, because I'm still ready to go. I think a lot of people don't know the benefits of getting into shape. We have an unofficial walking club at work and today's topic was "how much exercising has benefited you." One member feels that if he hadn't exercised so much, he wouldn't have been able to come back to work after a stroke. (He's in his mid-70s.) My sister says that she can out walk her daughter in the shopping malls. For me...exercise has increased the amount of walking I can do, strength in my hands for opening those pickle jars without asking for help, having an extrememly easy delivery when my son was born, being able to shovel all the snow in our driveway, feeling good, and looking great. I do have to admit that I need to print-out and post your post in a place that I will read it when I get lazy...like last night. I used organizing my files as an excuse!

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Magpie