It's within your reach

I do my best to avoid the majority of the “reality” show garbage on TV these days. My disdain for the Kardashian family is a source of domestic strife in my household and I moan every time I’m subjected The Bachelor. That said, I do have a soft spot for The Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. Unlike most reality TV, the shows chronicle attempts at improvement and achieving something positive. They can also inspire viewers who may be struggling with their own nutrition and fitness issues.

Despite the positive message, I’ve seen these shows also complicate things and make fitness seem out of reach for the average person. I see why people may believe they have to abandon their family and move to a secluded ranch (Biggest Loser) or have a personal trainer move in with them (Extreme Makeover) to transform their body and life. While these intense methods make great TV, they can also make change seem impossible for the average person. When it seems like the only way to get fit is to be cast on a TV show, it’s really easy to make excuses for inaction.

The empowering reality is that it's all within our reach. In fact, many of the training techniques used in the latest season of Biggest Loser are suspect at the very least (e.g. running backward on a treadmill?!). Instead, make use of the numerous health and fitness resources available online or at your local bookstore, set some realistic goals, surround yourself with a supportive atmosphere and begin to get better. If you can afford a personal trainer, go for it. If not, check out the thousands of YouTube videos on how to perform exercises with correct form. The amount of available free information on how to improve your fitness and nutrition is dumbfounding. In fact, I think there is way too much information out there, but I’ll touch on that another time.

About a decade ago I was more likely to make excuses for why I was out of shape than put down the Big Gulp and go for a walk. That was until I picked up a book called Body for Life by Bill Phillips. The book spelled out a 12-week body transformation plan that involved healthy eating and a solid cardio and strength training program. It sounds cheesy, but my decision to follow the plan laid out in that book changed my life. I learned about nutrition, the value of exercise, and self discipline, and I did actually transform. The change wasn’t easy at the outset, but I stuck with it for 12 weeks. Ten years later I still follow many of the principles laid out in that book. I didn’t have to move, share a bunk with a trainer or take fancy supplements. I made a commitment to to change and I never looked back. 

You don’t need a television intervention to make positive change. Make a commitment to yourself and begin to get better.