LosingIrene  

So now what? How do you get started? This post is going to explain the step-by-step details of starting on this journey, with a variety of helpful tips.

1. Go to the doctor

This is the one step that is the most important, yet so many, including myself, skip it. The purpose of visiting your general practitioner is two-fold: to find out where you are now and to figure out where you should be.

When you walk into the physician’s office, tell him that you have decided to become healthy by eating right and exercising. At that point he will (if he is any sort of good doctor) schedule you for a host of tests, including thyroid, urine and blood work. You will want to know your cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and a host of other things. Try to get a print-out of this information to take home.

If you are on medication, you will want to know how they will affect you once you change your eating habits and exercise regularly, and vice versa. Some meds will make you retain a lot of water. Some will make you sleepy or take away your energy. And those that work with your hormone levels, particularly birth control pills, can do a load of things to your body. These are all important things to know.

Also, your doctor will tell you what to expect from your body for your size and age range. This will help you create reasonable expectations for yourself. You may think you can get to 120 pounds, but your physician may tell you that 135 pounds is safer. Listen to your doctor. He/She knows what’s best.

Now that you have this information, you know what work you have ahead of you. But before you leave, make sure you make another appointment for 3 months later. You will want to get regular check ups every 90 days to make sure you are doing the right things.

Now go!

2. Set Goals

With your doctor’s info in had, it is now time to sit down, being very honest, and create a list of goals for yourself. What you do want to accomplish in a week, month, 3 months, year, 3 years, and 5 years down the line?

For example:

• · By December 2008: Lose 50 pounds, Lose 20 inches off my body, Be able to walk up 3 flights of stairs without wanting to faint, Run a 5K, Have enough energy to play with my child/children for several hours, Learn how to cook healthy family meals
• · In 2009: Lose another 50 pounds, Get off xxx medication, Run a 10K, Learn to Swim, Go hiking with family
• · In 2010: Hike the Grand Canyon, Run three 10K races, Etc.
• 
  

By writing down these goals you get to see what you are working towards. Your goals can be HUGE or tiny. It all depends on what your desires and needs are. The important thing is to make these goals reasonable and achievable for your health level.

One thing I must say about goals…do not allow yourself to be hung up on them if you find that you are not reaching them in the time frame you expected to. Everyone is different so you may find that just because your best friend is reaching her goals, your body and mind work differently. Rework your goals to fit your past successes and you will do well.

3. Create a Health Plan

Now, here is where things can go in a lot of different directions. If you decide to join a gym, there will hopefully be people there who can help you create an exercise routine that’s right for you. If you cannot get to a gym, buy a few inexpensive workout DVD’s and books that can get you started.

Remember, you don’t have to buy a gym membership to be healthy. There is a big world out there full of ways to get in exercise. It just takes innovation and determination.

If you plan on using a weight loss program, like Weight Watchers, the experts there will help you create a food program that is right for you.

If you don’t have admittance to programs such as these, there are a lot of online resources to help you. My personal favorite is SparkPeople.Com. This is a fully interactive healthy lifestyle website. It helps with eating right, weight loss, and fitness. There are loads of articles, advice from experts, and a great community of supportive people like you. And the best part, it’s absolutely FREE.

It is important that when becoming a healthier person, that you work on your body and mind. This is a good time to seek out a counseling group. You may not know it, but you may find that your past life experiences may contribute to your previously unhealthy lifestyle. A group may help you to discover if there are any issues keeping you from becoming your best self.

4. Learn, learn, and learn

This is the easiest part of becoming healthy. Go to your local library and read up on everything – nutrition, fitness, and living an active lifestyle. The more you know, they more you can help yourself.

5. Work Hard and Don’t Give Up

Changing your lifestyle is not an easy thing to do. It takes patience and consistency. There will be setbacks, but those will be temporary. Remember, these are life-long changes you are making and it will come at a price. Surround yourself with supportive people. Ignore the naysayers.

6. Have Fun!

Nothing matters if you don’t enjoy yourself. Get out there and live healthy!