Do You Need to Lose Weight?

Fascination with Fat

If you want to lose weight, you first need to assess whether you need to actually lose weight or are simply a fashion victim. Unfortunately this society is fascinated with fat - who has it and who doesn't. As we are persuaded by so many images in media that persuade us to believe that you can never be too thin, many of us are bad judges of our actual body weight.

If you are under age of eighteen and reading this book, first thing you need to do is consult with your parent about your plans to lose weight. Have her make an appointment with a physician so that he can indicate to you whether or not you are a candidate for weight loss.

If you are an adult, it is possible that you may not be overweight and are just trying to be, as Bridget Jones put it in Bridget Jones Diary "a stick insect with eyelashes." It is also very possible that you know you need to lose weight but have no idea where to start.

If you are obese and you know it, then you have to check with a physician first to see how your health is before you embark on any exercise program or plan. The same is also true if you have any kind of medical condition but especially a thyroid condition or heart condition. Some physicians may not recommend a weight loss program for those who are over 40 as due to genetics and hormonal changes some people naturally just round out or gain weight in a way that simply cannot be changed. If your doctor tells you your spreading hips are due to menopause or genetics, believe him! It is not clever to fool with Mother Nature.

Go Large. Go to a large gym and try out various pieces of exercise equipment, including cardio machines, weight machines, and free weights. Just a piece of advice, don't do this all of this testing activity in just one day. Trust me. Keep weights very light - you just want to get a 'feel' for each piece of exercise equipment so you can figure out which ones you like best. Make a list of your top 5 pieces.

What's in Store. If there's a local fitness equipment store in your neighborhood, by all means, do visit that store. Ever clicked on your remote control and crossed upon a channel selling things from Abflex to miraculous necklaces? This might be one of best time to finally get something from your drooling over those ladies doing workouts. See what exercise equipment they are offering to obtain those washboard abs and tight tushies, if that's what you're planning to morph your into. Oops, don't forget to compare prices.

Financial Fitness. After all that trust-earning fuss, note-taking, drooling and renovations you actually succumbed to, it's time to check on your dough. Can you afford those exercise equipment? If not, Yoga or Pilates tapes could come in handy.

I told you this could get really tricky. Exercise equipments stuck on your basement is a lot better than having nothing to turn to if you finally felt like exercising with an equipment, right?

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