San Francisco Chiropractor and Fitness Buff Comments:
When you look good...you feel good...and vise versa. And when you feel better about yourself you have more confidence in everything you do. Your earning potential is greater. Your health and resistance to illness is greater. And your life span is longer. These are pretty compelling reasons to exercise and watch what you eat.
I like working out and eating right because I have complete control over both. I decide what I put in my mouth...and I decide if and when I exercise...and so do you.
And the thing is...once you reach your ideal body-weight the right way (not starvation dieting), with the proper combination of exercise and nutrition, your body becomes very efficient at burning calories and fat. You will even find you can cheat every now and then...even 1-2x per week and still stay lean and mean.
And you don't need high-tech gym equipment either...low-tech is fine. Of course going to a gym gives you more options...and if you can afford a personal trainer, that's even better. But the most important thing is to just get it done.
When it comes to nutrition...I recommend The McDougall Program...it's a plant based diet, but it's not "All Or None". The more you do the more you gain. I recommend doing more to get to your ideal body-weight...then tweaking the program to maintain what you want.
I have been doing what I just described for 25 years and I weigh less than I did in high school and my body-weight only fluctuates about 5 lbs per year. If I cheat I will gain 1 or 2 lbs...then quickly go back to normal in few days.
There are lots of excuses not to exercise or eat right, here are the most common...not enough time, too expensive, my back hurts, too lazy, no matter what I do I can't lose weight, hormonal imbalance, hereditary weight gain, a plant based diet makes me sick, i need lots of meat for energy...and on and on.
I don't know...I think it's all about what's between the ears...making the decision to get it done and then following through with the plan.
If you want to follow a fitness expert that is very motivational, check out Joe Gigantino on Twitter or follow his blog (Joe Gigantino's Blog). Most of his routines are advanced...but the motivational stuff is universal.
Twitter is actually a great place to follow fitness and nutrition experts. You can follow me on Twitter also.
Anyway...I'm off to workout and do Joe's July 2nd, 2009 'Core Workout' for the second time (my abs are burning from the first workout)...great stuff.
Dr. Eben Davis is clinic director of Executive Express Chiropractic in the San Francisco Financial District.
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