Let’s talk about one of the biggest problems people face when trying to follow a healthy lifestyle: failure. We’ve all been there. You’re doing so well on a diet, working out almost every day, and you start to think, “Yeah, I can do this for the rest of my life.”

Then, bam, something happens--and you stop…and you don’t restart. You can’t seem to get back into it.

Then, after a while, you give up. You count it as a loss, another failure in a long line of unsuccessful attempts at getting healthier.

Eventually, you try again, but you know from experience that it probably won’t work. A defeated attitude sets in.

You don’t have to live like this. Never start over again!

Attitude Adjustment

The biggest problem we face when trying to improve ourselves is…ourselves. It may sound cliché, but it’s true.

The mind-body connection is so important to our overall fitness. We forget about how important our mindset is as we get swept up in all the rules and steps of weight-loss programs and diets.

The best way to stay on-target is to make sure that you have clear, achievable goals. For me, it helps to think of my efforts as “getting healthier” instead of “losing weight.”

Yes, eating better and exercising WILL help you lose weight. But, if you shift your focus to improving your health, you’re coming at it from a more sustainable angle.

You’re NOT on a Diet

Don’t call it a diet.

Don’t think of it as a diet.

Don’t tell people you’re on a diet.

Diets always end. It comes with the territory. They’re temporary fixes that we use to make temporary changes. If you never want to have to start over with a diet again, the changes you make need to be permanent.

Don’t Beat Yourself Up

So, you screwed up. You didn’t exercise for a week and you had McDonald’s twice. It happens.

The important thing is WHAT YOU DO NEXT. Do you throw in the towel? Give up and accept being fat forever? Or do you move forward?

Don’t give up on yourself. You can do this. Just because you messed up doesn’t mean you didn’t make progress.

THINK OF IT AS A PROCESS. When you fall down, pick yourself right back up again and keep going.

Do the Work

Ok, now enough of that soft stuff. A positive attitude won’t do anything unless you actually make a change. Attitude can help you keep at it—but you have to start in the first place! The only way to get fit and lose flab is to do the work.

Losing weight is simple—MOVE MORE AND EAT BETTER.

If you want to lose weight and have the body of your dreams, you can! Getting healthy and fit comes naturally to us, if we are willing to do what our bodies need.

Find Shortcuts…and Use Them!

Working out smarter will save you tons of time and energy. If you can find ways to make your workouts count for more, you will see instant results.

In order to find shortcuts that will make the most of your time and effort, think smart about your body. Consider your personal strengths and weaknesses and find ways to adjust your workouts to them.

Get that heart rate up fast and keep it up. You’ll be on the road to a hot body in no time.

Make Every Moment Count

Lying right underneath that fat and flab that’s holding you back is a fit, hot body. You just need to get rid of the extra bulk.

To do that, you don’t have to be superhuman. Everyone can do it, even you!

Find the time to give yourself the gift of good health. With high-intensity workouts, you can get on the road to fitness in only a few minutes a day.

And, by thinking smart about what you eat and planning ahead, you can make important changes in your diet without much time or effort.

Make Small Changes

Losing weight takes effort, but it doesn’t have to be hard. With only small changes, you can take your body to the next level.

Small changes are easier to keep up with than huge ones. So, make reasonable goals you can really stick to. You’ll see the weight fall off before you know it!

See the Big Picture

If you want to stop starting over, you have to look at the big picture. Losing weight and keeping it off is totally possible with a great perspective.

Don’t just focus on each step; have a vision in your mind of the total journey. You have to know where you’re going if you ever want to get there.

You’re in this for the long term. You’re going to be a healthier person for life!

Follow these few simple rules and you’ll be on the path to a better body and a better you!