Jen Ator - The Women´s Health Fitness Fix

This book is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. The information given here is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment that may have been prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, we urge you to seek competent medical help.

The information in this book is meant to supplement, not replace, proper exercise training. All forms of exercise pose some inherent risks. The editors and publisher advise readers to take full responsibility for their safety and know their limits. Before practicing the exercises in this book, be sure that your equipment is well-maintained, and do not take risks beyond your level of experience, aptitude, training, and fitness. The exercise and dietary programs in this book are not intended as a substitute for any exercise routine or dietary regimen that may have been prescribed by your doctor. As with all exercise and dietary programs, you should get your doctors approval before beginning.

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In my 8-plus years as the fitness director at Womens Health, Ive spoken to thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of people about dieting and working out. The topic comes up in nearly every conversation I have. From hot new fitness trends or the latest diet craze to my own diet and exercise routineyou name it and Ive been asked about it. And Im constantly amazed by how many people still believe the answer is out there: the one workout that will finally flatten their belly, that one diet that will shed those last 10 pounds. They just havent found it.

To these hopefuls, I say this: Healthy living really isnt as difficult, complicated, or time-consuming as its always seemed. Youd never know it, thanks to the revolving door of new diet and fitness crazes (each claiming to hold the key to the best-kept secret), but there is no magic pill that will cure all of your fitness woes. Its not the latest popular DVD, hot new guru, or celeb-loved juice cleanse. What most people dont realizeor maybe cant acceptis its not necessarily their workout program or diet thats broken: Its their mentality. Weve largely become a society that views being healthy like it has an on-off switch. Even the most valid diet program or workout plan is just a band-aid, a temporary solution. Sure, it can get you results, but in most cases its not designed to help you maintain those results forever. Why? Because its not designed to change your lifestyleor your outlook.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Naveen Jain once said: Dont follow the routines of people who are successful, follow their thought patterns, and that quote has always resonated with me. He was likely talking about business, but his words apply so perfectly to fitness and dieting. Lots of diets can work. Lots of fitness programs can work. Thats not to say the methods dont matterthey absolutely do. Which is why inside these pages youll find all the pieces you need for successful and lasting weight loss. These strategies are practiced by the countrys leading fitness experts, tested by the worlds top researchers, and proven by everyday women like you and me. But like Naveen said, its more than just following a set of actions: To be truly successful, its about looking at the why behind their approach, understanding the reasoning and the perspective behind the choices they make and the behaviors they practice.

In , well focus on the things that need changing. Well look at some of the top reasons diets fail, along with the secrets that successful dieters (aka people who manage to maintain their health, weight, and fitness levels year after year, decade after decade) have in common. Ill give you a hint right now: Theyre far more straightforward and manageable than you may believe.

In , well drill down on the actionable steps you can take to become one of those forever-fit people. Unlike some diet and fitness books, you wont find one organized workout or meal plan to follow. Instead, youll get a menu of efficient and effective ideas you can tweak and tailor to your schedule, your personal preferences, and your goals. Because this book is more than just getting you great results once: This book is about helping you establish a new mentality and flexible exercise and diet plans that will allow you to get great resultsand keep them up forever.

is all about how to keep it going. One of the biggest reasons diets fail is pretty obvious: They werent built to last. Theres no protocol for what to do after you finish those first perfectly planned-out days. This section is about thinking long term and managing different obstacles that come your way as you maintain a healthy, active lifestylefrom hectic schedules and injuries to workout motivation and goal setting.

This isnt a diet book.

It wont get you dramatic results in 30 days or less.

It isnt the magic pill.

But my hope is that it will help you see fitness and healthy eating through a different lensone that actually feels manageable and maintainable.

Lets get something straight: Im not here to challenge your time-crunched scheduleand Im certainly not going to make you feel guilty for putting off a workout from time to time. Fitness is in my job title, and even Im not immune to daily time-management (and motivation) struggles. I spend long hours behind a desk, I work late, and I hardly ever get a full 8 hours of sleep. I actually enjoy and look forward to working out, yet even Im guilty of letting weeks pass without going to the gym. I get where youre coming frombecause Im right there with you.