It’s Never Too Late

I don’t care if you missed out on swimsuit season, it’s not too late! I don’t care if you meant to start a fitness program a month ago. A year ago. Ten years ago. It’s still not too late to start!

Look at it this way: Whatever shape you are in right now, you will be in better shape next week by starting now than if you don’t. So get started!

It doesn’t have to be much; in fact that is where I think a lot of people get discouraged. They decide it’s time to get into shape, so they design a hard-core workout regimen and stringent eating program. They stick with it for a few days, stumble a couple of times, get discouraged and give up.

Instead, try starting with a smaller, easily attainable goal. Then when you accomplish that, it will increase your confidence and motivate you to do more.

The key to lasting success is to make small changes over time. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with an ambitious workout program, but to go from nothing to a five-day-a-week, two-hour per day program is probably a bit unrealistic for most people. Remember, you're reversing years of poor eating and exercise habits.

Similarily, many people try to change a lifetime of poor eating habits overnight. They go from chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes one day to grilled chicken and brussel sprouts the next. Unless you are extremely disciplined and motivated, chances are you will quickly crave – and return to – the foods you’ve been accustomed to eating for so long.

Instead, try making a series of smaller changes over time. For example, if you’re used to drinking a large soft drink at dinner with a refill afterward, start by eliminating the refill. Then, when you have successfully accomplished this, order a medium-sized drink for dinner. These changes may sound insignificant, but when you begin adding them up you will be amazed at the difference they make.

When you boil it all down, weight loss is a matter of mathematics. Eat more calories than you burn and you will gain weight. Burn more calories than you eat and you will lose weight. When you look at it this way, you can see where every 200 or 300 calories you don’t consume begins to add up. Pretty soon you have eliminated the 3,500 calories that it takes to lose one pound.

I call this the Accumulation Factor, and you can read more about it here. Here is the condensed version. Most of our lives, the Accumulation Factor has worked against us. If you don’t believe it, take a look at your last credit card statement as an example. If you’re like most people, you are surprised at the grand total at the end of the month.

“How could I owe $500, I didn’t buy anything big. There must be a mistake”

Sound familiar?

But when you take a closer look at the bill, sure enough you didn’t make any major purchases. But you had a ton of $9, $12, and $7 purchases that all added up on you surprisingly fast.

Still, most people discount the importance of saving 50 or 100 calories here and there, not realizing how fast these “savings” can add up – in your favor. Try it, you will be surprised how quickly you can drop five pounds or so without making any major lifestyle changes.

So don't put it off – get started today. It's never too late!