SOX FAN'S DORM ROOM

Whether it’s in the pages of your favorite health and fitness magazine, a popular day-time talk show program, or some ubiquitous advertising campaign that has been running straight for five years, fitness success stories are plastered everywhere. You admire the remarkable physical improvement they accomplished and wish you could do the same. So how do you become a fitness success story? Unfortunately, there isn’t one clear cut answer to that question because every individual has their own unique way of conquering their goal. On the flip side, just by gaining the know-how, you’re already halfway to achieving the physique you desire.

Change It Up
If you want to continue to make strides in your quest to becoming physically fit, then you need to keep your workouts fresh. Nobody ever became a fitness success story by mindlessly plundering through the same workout like a drone. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to lose a couple inches around your waist or add that extra ten pounds of muscle, you need to constantly switch things up.
The changes don’t need to be drastic. It can be something as simple as using an exercise bike in place of the treadmill or performing incline bench presses instead of flat bench presses. Don’t even try to use the excuse that you’ve already tried everything. There’s an endless array of possibilities when it comes to training. For example, if you normally lift weights, mix in some cardio. If you’re a gym dweller, buy some weights and try working out at home. You might find it more comfortable and convenient than trekking to the gym several days a week. Like sports? You can find plenty of variety there.

Know Your Nutrition
Most people know the importance of healthy eating, but how many people actually practice it? Not that many. Part of the reason is desire. We crave unhealthy foods because they appeal to our senses. They taste good, smell delicious, and look very appetizing. To complicate matters, these foods are thrust into our paths on every street corner and every commercial break seven days a week.
The other part of the reason that we don’t eat as healthy as we should is because we don’t know how. Let’s face it – the majority of the American population is uneducated when it comes to nutrition. It seems that we’re starting to get a better idea of what healthy eating habits are, but there’s still room for improvement.
By taking one simple step you can become more “food savvy” right off the bat. Read the Nutrition Facts panels. From macronutrient content to ingredient information, everything you need to know about a food can be found with this useful tool. Now, thanks to new regulations, we have access to even more data such as trans fat levels and allergen information. Not sure what you should be looking for on the Nutrition Facts panel? Here are a few things to check out.

Fat: If you’re trimming down then you want to keep fat to a minimum, but even if you’re on the strictest of diets, you still need some fat to absorb the other vital nutrients that you’re eating. Don’t completely eliminate fat from your eating plan.

Saturated Fat: An abundance of saturated fat can increase your risk of developing heart disease and certain types of cancer; therefore everyone needs to be conscious of their saturated fat intake. If you’re trying to put on some weight, then you can probably get away with more than normal. Just don’t make it a permanent part of your diet.

Sugars: Generally speaking, high-sugar foods should be limited, but they can be helpful when consumed in moderation before and after workouts to reload your glycogen stores (the body’s main source of energy for long duration activity).

Protein: Our bodies need protein to build and maintain lean muscle mass. To maximize muscle growth and aid in recovery, shoot for 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight each day split over 5-7 meals.

Ingredients: If you spot any hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils within the first few ingredients, you’ll be better off without that food. Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils are also known as trans fats – one of the main culprits in the rising obesity rate.

Supplement Your Life
If you’ve taken a supplement in the past or are currently taking one, then you already know how convenient they can be. Are you new to the supplement game? Then, you should consider implementing one or more into your physical fitness plan. Dietary supplements can give you energy when you’re dragging, an easy-to-prepare meal when you’re pressed for time, and can eliminate a lot of the guesswork associated with whole food meals. There are stimulant and non-stimulant weight loss products for dieters, calorie-dense shakes for hard-gainers, joint support formulas for those pesky aches and pains, protein powders, bars, and other snacks. And that’s just grazing the surface. Whatever you’re shooting for, there’s a supplement out there carefully designed to help you meet those goals. Many fitness success stories integrated dietary supplements into their programs. Is it just coincidence? Probably not.

Find Your Motivation
Motivation is key in every aspect of life. It takes motivation to be successful in your career, education, family life, etc. Getting in shape is no different. You need to be motivated. Motivation can be found in a variety of forms. For some it’s music. For others it’s words of encouragement from a family member or close friend. Or perhaps it’s just the desire to be your very best. Whatever your motivation is, you need to find it and use the motivator as fuel for the fire. For example, when it’s cold outside and it would be much easier to curl up on the couch and watch TV, put on that song that gets your blood flowing and next thing you know the gym will sound more appealing than the couch. Not sure what your motivation is yet? Try these two.
The scale. You may have heard that when engaging in a weight loss plan, you shouldn’t weigh yourself because it will only discourage you. Don’t listen to that advice. In fact, do the exact opposite and weigh yourself as often as possible. After you drop that first pound and you can see the proof on the scale, you’ll be addicted and it will become much easier for you to get moving. So make the scale your friend.
Get a workout partner. If you’re looking for a real friend besides the piece of metal sitting on your bathroom floor, then get a workout partner. A workout partner can help you crank out those last couple reps, keep you running for that extra minute, and provide some words of motivation when you need it. Plus, if you have a partner waiting for you at the gym it will be more difficult for you not to ditch out.

Even if you follow this advice to a T, you won’t become a fitness success story overnight. You have to be in it for the long haul. No one can lose twenty pounds in a week. And, keep in mind that even a couple pounds is a success. Your before-and-after pics may not be strewn across the magazines, but it’s still a big stride in the right direction.