Wanting to get into shape can be simultaneously exciting, confusing, and frustrating. There are so many marketing sharks out there looking to prey upon people trying to lose weight that it can be genuinely difficult to decide what is healthy and what isn’t; what you need to get in shape fast and what is just another piece of garbage fitness gimmick.

So amongst all the white noise, how does one get in shape fast, cheap, and relatively easy?

Workouts to get into shape
“You’ll never regret a workout”. Exercising is absolutely essential to getting into shape fast. It also keeps you youthful, healthy, attractive, and mentally sharp.

You don’t need the luxury of a gym membership to get fit, but you do need a well rounded routine consisting of these three aspects of fitness:


Cardio
Cardio workouts are one of the best ways to create a caloric deficit and ultimately end up dropping off extra pounds. It encourages heart health, proper blood circulation, and a lean body. Everyone should aim for at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity, most days of the week in order to keep heart disease and extra bodyweight at bay, but if you are looking to get lean, you will see results faster if you bump that daily tally up to a full hour. Again, you don’t need a gym for this aspect of fitness; walking and jogging outdoors, mowing the lawn, and gardening are all examples of things that “count”.

Strength Training
Strength training is an aspect of health that you can’t afford to neglect, no matter if your fitness goal is to lose weight, slim down, build muscle or gain strength. Adding strength training workouts to your routine 3-4 days a week will increase your metabolism, strength, and bone density, and help you lean out or gain mass, depending on the weight and reps that you use.

You don’t need a gym for strength training, either. Bodyweight exercises are sometimes even more challenging than those using machines or dumbbells. What you do need is a strength training routine that works muscles in a way that will help you avoid injury while you develop proportionate, lean muscles. Fitness Blender Workout Videos are an excellent example of routines that you can do at home without any equipment.

Flexibility
Flexibility is an essential part of what allows you to stay active throughout your entire life, which is in turn essential to maintaining a high quality of life…and a healthy body weight. If stretching is not exciting enough for you, put it into a context that is easier to stick to; yoga or Pilates, for example.



Eating well to get into shape; tricks and tips to drop pounds faster

When it comes to getting fit, eating healthily is just as important as working out.

Cut out refined foods and fast foods
Aside from the fact that most refined foods are horrid for your health, they aren’t going to do you any favors when it comes to getting back into shape, either. As often as you possibly can, opt for fresh foods over boxed or packaged ones, and whenever time allows, cook your meals from scratch. Make this change and you will likely notice an immediate drop in bodyweight, if not just from a reduction in overall salt intake; packaged foods tend to be loaded with sodium.

Eat multiple, small, preplanned meals
Ditch the 3 large meals a day and/or any plans of fasting in exchange for smaller, more frequent meals. When you eat small meals every few hours, you keep your metabolism high and a frenzied hunger at bay. Preplanning meals helps you make smart diet decisions and avoid situations where you find yourself either munching all the way through making dinner or pulling into the nearest fast food drive-thru.

Balance carbs, proteins and fats
There are many diet plans out there that have vilified one or more of these critical diet pillars but all of them are necessary in order for your body to function. Stick to the recommended 60% carbohydrates, 20% proteins, and 20% fats.

Track calories in order to create a snapshot of your consumption
Using a food log is a good way to get an idea of whether or not you are creating a caloric deficit and whether or not you are eating a balanced diet conducive to getting into shape. For even further insight into the calories consumed, calories burned equation, consider investing in a calorie counting weight management device to help you stay motivated towards your goals.

Aim for sustainable diet changes
Whatever you do, stay away from fad diets. You may lose weight in the short term but you are far more likely to gain once you’re finished with any drastic fad diet plans. “Diets” don’t work; healthy lifestyle changes are what are going to get you into shape and keep you there.

Eat to nourish the body
Think of food as fuel. Take care of your body. Make dietary choices that nourish your body and make you feel good. Listening to your body makes it easier to get in shape, too; eat when you’re hungry, and stop when you feel full



There is a constant stream of new fitness tools, weight loss pills, and fad diets, but the truth is that the only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you take in. If you’re looking to lose weight or get fit, don’t let yourself be fooled by any program that delivers anything else outside of a balanced nutrition plan and regular exercise routine. In other words; don’t take weight loss supplements of any kind, don’t fear carbohydrates, and don’t let anyone convince you that exercise does nothing for weight loss.

If you buy into anything at all, buy into a healthy lifestyle that you can sustain. Keep this in mind; if you cannot maintain whatever it is that is helping you drop weight, you will not be able to maintain your weight loss or your fitness progress.