Your Starter Kit

I am so excited to hear that a lot of you are going to start your own journey now after reading my blog! Wow! This makes me so happy. I wanted to share with you a few ideas to get you started. I wish I would have done this, the first time (after my first child was born in 2010) I did this.

• Get your body Fat Percentage Measured by a professional. Get pinched, don't use the hand held tool or an online calculator. Remember you don't have to show this to anyone. It is for your own personal use. This will give you a real idea of the changes you are making.
• Get measured. I think it is cool to get your waste measured. You can measure other parts of the body too depending on your goals. But, sometimes you will get to a point where you aren't losing any more weight and you get frustrated. If you see that you are losing inches this can keep you motivated.
• Take your picture. Again, you don't have to show this to any one. After all this journey is about YOU, not anyone else. Get a before and after pic to show true results
• Get a workout/eating buddy. It helps if you have a friend to hold one another accountable. Example, it is Sunday and you want to eat chili hot dogs instead of your eat clean taco salad. No one will every know right??!! Well if you have to tell your "buddy" you probably will make the right decision so you don't have to tell her that you ate terrible. I have used a system where my buddy and I email each other daily with our workouts and meals to share and stay pumped. Also, sending texts throughout the day can keep you motivated too. Email me at ejfackler@gmail.com if you want me to be your buddy. :) You can share with  me on facebook too.
• Set goals! If you don't have a goal, what are you working for? Example goals, I am getting married in April, I want to lose 3% body fat by April 1st! Or I want to lose 3 inches of my waste by January 1, 2013. Set weekly goals, monthly goals and long term goals. Example, My biweekly goal since I started this was to not drink any diet sodas at all! I think drinking one a day isn't that bad if it is a must in your life (after all we need to enjoy life). But I wanted to start off on the right foot so I am not drinking any diet mountain dew (tear) for 2 weeks.
• Make a commitment. This is serious stuff. Don't let this be another fab diet or something you say you are going to do. Really stay committed to yourself. Let others know of your commitment so they can support you.
• Start a Journal: this is very important. I found that if I had a food journal I would avoid sneaking those mini pack of M&M's in during the day. In your journal you must write down every SINGLE thing you put into your mouth (that's what she said-save it perverts!) You are at work and you keep getting a few tootsie rolls out of the candy jar at your neighbors desk here and there, write it down. Those add up! Nothing is free here. Don't cheat yourself. Another part of your journal can be your feelings and your workouts. Plus maybe you can start your own blog or share your workouts with me. I would love to hear them!
• Do what you like to do. Guess what? I HATE running. So, I am not going to run a lot for my workout. Do you hate going to the gym? Well find something you like to do. Try yoga, spin, zumba, weights (my favorite), tabata, workout classes. Don't set yourself up for failure.
• Be honest with yourself. If you are honest with yourself, workout buddy and journal and making the right choices, there will be no excuses for meeting your goals.

Good Luck! Comment on this post with any getting started tips that you may have. I would love to hear them!