HAVE an exercise buddy. http://IMAGES.AGORAMEDIA.COM
Your motivation to shed pounds is higher now because swimsuit season is fast approaching. You might have achieved some fantastic results from your efforts right after the holiday season, but you can still aim to look your best in the next four to six weeks.
One of the easiest ways to get started is to maximize what your fitness community offers so that your goal is doable and funbetter than exerting too much effort to follow programs that dont really suit your needs and schedule.
Here are some ideas you can try in your family or community setting. Studies show that working out together is more effective than if you work out alone.
Buddy system
According to Martina Cartwright in the article How Friends Influence Weight, published in the IDEA Fitness Journal (March 2012), our close companions play a significant role in molding fitness habits through social modeling.
She writes the results of the global Edelman Health Barometer survey (2011): 43 percent of those surveyed said friends and family have the most impact on personal health lifestyle, 36 percent admitted that close social ties have the most impact on personal nutrition, and about two-thirds said they tried to modify negative health behavior, but half failed partly because of lack of social support. So, exercising with a group of friends or a buddy this summer can be an effective strategy.
Set a date when you and your buddy can start a summer fitness program. You can be his/her fitness buddy/coach during the program and even after. You report your eating and exercise schedule every time you see each other, then give each other feedback and suggestions on how to improve.
Set realistic goals by avoiding drastic weight loss, crash diets and over-exercising. If you lose four to eight pounds of fat in the next four to six weeks, thats good enough.
Aside from weight loss, think of healthy habits to develop in the few weeks, like avoiding fastfood, replacing sodas with water, eliminating high-sodium seasonings and burning additional calories by walking 30 minutes every day, aside from the regular exercise program.
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How to meet your team weight-loss challenge–in the office, especially
