Even the fittest people started somewhere and at the beginning it was a struggle or even scary at times to take the first step. We all start at a different place when we being down our journey of a healthy and better life. For some it starts because of a health scare, for others it's just a desire for a more energetic and happy life. 

The most important part of striving for a better and healthier life is that you don't compare your starting point to someone else who might be 5 years into their journey. There will always be someone fitter or more advanced and that's okay as long as we are making progress and continually learning. Each of us will have different goals and come from a different place in life. 

Ive worked with professional fighters and pro athletes that have started getting into fitness. Now these athletes might just be starting their "fitness" journey  but they have years of experience performing at a very high level , eating clean and taking care of their bodies. One the complete opposite end of the spectrum Ive worked with CEO's of large corporations that were obese and in the worst shape of their lives. After working with one of these CEO's and helping him make massive changes in his daily life he now has lost 145lbs and owns a thriving personal training business. 

The greatest thing about getting into shape and improving our lives is that it will open up new opportunities, give us a new perspective on what we can accomplish and even create a new love for active hobbies that might not have been an option before. 

Here are a few things to think about if your just getting started.

Proximity : we truly become just like the people we hang out with the most. If you're hanging out with those who want to live an unhealthy life then it will be nearly impossible for you to make the changes that you will need to make. 

Complexity: we often listen to too many Gurus that contradict each other making it so hard to know what to eat or what not to eat. We live in a time where an abundance of information is at our fingertips but we can't let it confuse us. So after 30 years of working in the fitness industry here are some basic laws I live by. 

1) I eat for FUEL which means I DO NOT count calories I eat the most nutrient dense foods I can find. The foods that make my body and performance thrive. I listen to my body and eat when Im hungry and according to the activity level of the day. I also drink a ton of water with minerals. I read a study years ago talking about main causes of dehydration and the fact that most of the time we think we are hungry we are actually thirsty. 

2)I stay active every day from a hard workout to a simple walk after a meal. I only weight train hard 4-5 days per week but on days that I don't Im hiking, biking, walking or playing sports with my kids. I make it a point to take a walk after my meals and especially after dinner. 

3) Listen more to your body then to the trainers and gurus out there. You know when you're hungry, you know when you need a rest day, you know what foods don't sit well with you. Stay in tune with your body and the more you learn about how you perform better the more progress you will make. Even after 30 years of working with the top professionals in the industry Im still experimenting on foods, training and recovery protocols that might be better then what I'm currently doing. Be teachable and in a constant state of progress. 

Learn to love a little struggle! It will only make you better and give your the knowledge that might help someone else along the way.