maintenance

This is the time after you have reached your fitness goals. Although goals change and are adjusted continuously in a lifestyle change, most or all of the weight you set out to lose is complete. It is officially maintenance. This is a tricky time. For first timers, this is another step into the unknown, just like the initial goal to lose weight. For veterans, athletes, or those returning to the game, there is an existing schematic for what the time after the the time looks like. When you know better you do better. Essentially the expectation should be to stay in game with or without the motivation to lose, but to maintain a healthy weight and nutrition program.

If in fact you felt like a dieter throughout your weight loss plan, you are without a doubt in 'maintenance' if you choose to keep the weight off and not rebound. The maintenance program is nothing like the weight loss program. This program is adjusted whenever necessary, but for the most part it still includes regular exercise and an optimum nutrition. It does not mean you can totally slack off and throw away everything you did and all of the hard work it took to reach your success.

Remember what the first time felt like. Although you may take days, even weeks off, you will learn through trial and error what you can and cannot do to maintain a healthy weight and fitness.

I am in maintenance. I expect my maintenance program to evolve. Currently I am focusing on increasing my raw food supply, increasing: strength, flexibility, and endurance. In short, that doesn't look much different than my initial goals...right?

Right!

Weight loss was never a goal for me. My focus was always increasing: strength, flexibility, and endurance along with whole food/clean eating. Weight loss is a gift or result of exercise and optimum nutrition.

My body is continuously changing-getting leaner and stronger. My workouts have and will always adjust over time. So what is maintenance for a 'lifer'? Maintenance is simply homeostasis: the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes.

In essence, my body will know when it needs to lose or gain. I will continually work towards optimum health and nutrition. My body will self-adjust accordingly.

happy new year...happy birthday to me

Hopefully, another year wiser! The new year always inspires us to create new goals and resolutions...losing weight is always the number one 'change' on the list of 'things to do'. Here's a better way to look at your health. Try changing bad habits and merging in better ones. Start with eating a breakfast rich in whole grains, fruit, and protein. Many skip this important meal, and wind up binging all day.

Next, try 30 minutes of walking every day before dinner. Then challenge yourself by raising the speed, and raising the incline. Consider anything you put into your body as fuel to gas you through your day and exercise. That means, if it doesn't promote health, it's bad for you. Get rid of it!

Commit to this change for 30 days. Then set another goal for the next 30, and so on. Take your challenge 30 days at time. Don't rush it. The last thing you want to do is drop five pounds for the spring, fall off the fitness trail, gain it back, and sing the same resolution song next year,, this time.

Think of a reward to give yourself as you reach each monthly milestone. Some of my past rewards were: a day at the spa, pedicure, new fitness outfit, new tennis shoes, and even a dinner date with a movie just for me!

Set your plan, work your plan. Without a plan, you've planned to fail. Get ready, get set, go!