YFB March Issue- Health n' Fitness- Commitment & Patience {Dre J}

In today's fast paced world, many things can be accessed at the touch of a button; unfortunately this is not the case when it comes to weight loss, toning or muscle building. Many persons don't give themselves a chance to see improvement; they expect to drastic changes in a very short space of time. When one has unrealistic expectations that haven't been met they become discouraged and are setting themselves up for disappointment.

This is why commitment, patience and the setting of realistic goals is of the utmost importance in every aspect of life, not just exercising. In addition to setting realistic goals, person must be honest with themselves when doing their workouts; it doesn't matter how long you spend in the gym, if you spend it sauntering on the treadmill, which minimizes the effectiveness. You are forever staying in your comfort zone and not pushing yourself from the plateau you reached a month ago, fooling yourself into believing you are working out harder than you truly are.

Worst than this, is tricking your mind that you are consuming less calories than you really are. The extra dessert here and upsize of fries and drinks there, adds up over a period of time without you noticing. So be patient and committed to your workout regimen, while always being honest with yourself especially with your diet.

YFB February Issue- Style- Health n Fitness {Dre J}

If the extent of your daily exercise regimen is to search for the remote control for the television or going to the refrigerator for a midnight snack, then unfortunately you living a sedentary lifestyle which places you at risk for the many health complications which go hand in hand with being a ‘couch potato’. Being active doesn’t mean you have to be a fitness fanatic, but an increase in your daily activity can start with a 30 minute walk.

FACT: A lack of physical activity is one of the leading PREVENTABLE causes of death worldwide.

FACT: A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to or be a risk factor for:

•Anxiety
•Cardiovascular disease
•Depression
•Diabetes
•High blood pressure
•Obesity
•Osteoporosis

Another risk is muscle atrophy - the shrinking and weakening of muscles which subsequently makes them more susceptible to physical injury, so it’s like they say if you don't use it you lose it. This is usually associated with persons in their senescence, but can also be found in younger generations. It should be noted that there is a direct link between physical activity and the human immune system, less activity equates to a weaker immune system.

Sedentary lifestyles carry with it the same risks as SMOKING, and we all know smoking kills. Physical activity at any level can: make the heart stronger; reduce blood pressure; help control stress levels and help maintain or lose weight.

Some exercise is better than none, so let's get out there and get active.