Determination..

Allison from Illinois wrote:

Sean

You talked alot about fitness and being healthy, but also do restaurant reviews. Do you find that contradictory? Also, how is the whole fitness thing going? I have an issue finding motivation myself. I've tried to lose weight several times (I am a bigger woman)and haven't found any luck. Any ideas why?

Allison

Allison,

There could be many factors as to why your weight loss hasn't been effective. Diet is a HUGE part of weight loss. Many people think that if they just work out more, they can eat anything they want and that just isn't true. Eating healthy is a very effective way to lose weight and it doesn't have to be bland and boring. There are healthy recipes all over the internet, just look and you'll find them. Try a few until you get one you like, then go from there. The other factor is the amount of exercise you're getting. Walking on the treadmill or outside for 20 minutes is a good start, but you'll need to build up from that to lose weight and keep it off. Building muscle density will also help your body burn fat when you're not exercising, so after the walking, move to a jog and light weight training (low weight and a high number of repetitions). Do this about 4 times a week.

Motivation do lose weight is also a mental hurdle. Often times, people use soreness as a reason to skip a workout. If you're going to get sore on a regular basis and then skip workouts, you're not doing yourself any good. Chances are, that if you have a gym membership, you got it for a reason. Use it. Plan your workouts and stick to it. If you have a varying schedule like I do, just make sure you set aside time to go to the gym or have a workout. I also supplement the workout with a protein shake to help alleviate soreness after a workout and aid in muscle recovery. Check with a dietitian or a health professional for more info on those, but GNC has some great ones available.

It's all a mind game. Find determination and challenge yourself to push harder. Keep your goals in mind, keep concentrating on being healthy, and follow the path you need to be healthy. If you give up, you're only letting yourself down...

And, to answer your final question, I don't think giving a restaurant review is unhealthy or contradictory because I manage to eat healthier items in most cases. True, I go for a nice burger at times, but I eat sushi and choose healthier options in 80% of the places I go. My review is to show people fun, interesting places to eat in the hopes that they try these places when thinking of a place to eat the next time they are out.