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Throughout America, the coming of the spring season brings new life and new opportunities all around us.  There are newborn buds sprouting on trees, tulips starting to peek from the ground, birds returning from a winter’s migration.  We spring clean the house, wash the car, look in the mirror and...

That’s where the country is split - and probably not evenly split.  Some will look into the mirror and say “I look great!”  Others will be realizing that their winter hibernation from proper eating and exercise has left room for a physical spring cleaning!

Good news!  Outdoor pools usually open over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.  That gives us ten solid weeks to get our bodies in motion.  It’s plenty of time to look and, more importantly, feel great about our bodies.

The first step is to commit to making a change.  As I say so many times - forget the vague long range New Year’s Resolutions.  Create a short-term attainable goal.  Challenge yourself, but choose a goal that can be accomplished in four weeks.  Use this initial month to learn a new exercise routine, increase your duration or intensity of an existing exercise program and commit to eating properly.  Focus on proper food and caloric intake, as recommended by the USDA’s food pyramid (www.mypyramid.gov).  I also suggest creating a food diary each day for a week to understand exactly what your ingesting on a daily basis.  Once you’ve achieved your four week goal, develop a new goal for the next four weeks.  Long term goals are fine, as long as they’re continuously supported by shorter term goals.

Next, develop a wellness program.  You may need the consultation of a personal trainer and/or registered dietician for this step.  In fact, unless you are confident in your ability to properly develop the exercise or nutritional program for yourself, you could do significantly more harm than good.  Physical injury due to improper form or malnutrition due to poor diet planning will significantly set back your efforts to achieve your goal.

Once a proper program has been developed, stick to it!  Motivate yourself by utilizing the methods that work best for you.  Tape a particularly unflattering photo of you to your bathroom mirror and take note of the quick transformation your body makes as a result of your efforts.  Or, do the opposite - tape a photo of a celebrity with a body you’d love to have as your own.  Be realistic!  Buy an outfit a size smaller than your current size.  Hang it in a place you’ll notice it each day in the closet, knowing you’ll be wearing it soon!

Stay focused on your goals.  Let them motivate your workouts and nutritional discipline.  With a new ‘spring’ in your step, you’ll quickly be looking and feeling great!