There are so many words that are conjured up when we think of fitness. Healthy, in shape and lifestyle come to mind immediately. There is another word that needs to be there as well: Habit. Fitness and healthy living are not something that you decide to do for a weekend. They are something you do for life.

Some folks are lucky in that from the time they were very young, they lived a life of fitness and healthy choices. Being healthy for them as an adult comes naturally because it is something that they have done their whole lives. For the rest of us, choosing fitness as a lifestyle is a conscious decision that has required a lot of thought and effort on our part. Some of us will struggle with how to accomplish this healthy lifestyle for nearly our whole lives.

A lifestyle change requires a lot of effort. Consider the word, lifestyle. The style of your life. Generally it’s not something that you can just change overnight. It’s going to take some effort on your part. You will be making a lot of decisions about what to eat, what kinds of exercises to do, which health club to join and what your daily routine will include. When your goal is fitness, healthy lifestyle choices will need become habits.

A habit seems to be a double edged sword. For things that are not necessarily good for us, habits seem to come easy. Stopping by the coffee shop for that latte every morning required seemingly no effort at all. Smoking became a habit in a snap. Healthy choices can become a habit too, it’s just a matter of choice and motivation. Read the rest of this entry »