Friendly Advice for Healthier Living

I put this together to help some friends who are on the path of wanting to eat right and get on a workout routine. It's going to be work, but if you stay dedicated to it, then all your hard work will pay off.

It's up to you to get the job done and to love yourself enough to really make it happen. Be a positive role model for others to follow, and work together to help one another. Even without that support, you still need to keep yourself on track. If you miss a day or two, that's fine — get back on track, and make falling off track happen less and less often. The same goes for eating: have something bad here and there, but make it less and less often. This is all up to you, and there are plenty of resources out there.

If you want, I'll help and guide you as a friend — not as a professional dietitian or personal trainer, just a guide pointing you in the right direction toward your goals. Everything is at your own risk and it's up to you to do your research. I know you can do it if you want to. Needing help is normal and expected. Your family, friends, and I are here to keep you going and help you over the bumps in the road of fitness.

Before you work out, think and be smart about how you're going to approach things. If you haven't worked out before, or it's been a long time, then it will take longer to get back into shape. Take your time and don't set yourself up for failure. Plan your days so you can fit in your workout, eating right, mental time to relax, and staying positive about your goal of becoming a healthier person.

If you're going to start working out, be true and honest with yourself. It will take time and it's hard, but it's very doable. The things in life that are worthwhile usually are hard and take effort — and your health, along with that of your family and friends, is well worth it. I say family and friends because you'd be the leader, leading by example. Hopefully others will follow your lead and start living a healthier lifestyle.