Earlier this year I said I wanted to do more posts about fitness because let’s face it America is so unhealthy. It doesn’t matter which nationality you are obesity is killing Americans in general, it just so happens that African-Americans are being affected by it the most. When it comes to heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes we are plagued by these conditions the most.

This feature will deal with healthy living, whether it is a fat burning workout tip or healthy eating suggestions, we have to do better as a nation. I spend a lot of time talking about the apparel aspect of fashion, but none of our clothes will fit properly if we are not in shape. Notice I did not say skinny, I said in shape. So my goal with these segments is to improve the health and wellness of my readers and also myself. Of course there will be an element of fashion included because that’s just what I do. So check out today’s workout tips focusing on just getting started because that seems to be the hardest part.

Workout Tips of the Week

Tip #1 Make the Commitment- this seems to be the hardest, but first you must commit to living a healthier lifestyle

Tip #2 Assess your fitness level- most of the time we want to do the most intense workouts to get quick results but we can be doing damage to our bodies. Find out what your body can handle. Here are 4 fitness tests you can do in the comfort of your own home via Spark People (Click Here)

Tip #3 Set  Specific and Measurable Goals– do not set a goal that is too difficult because you will get discouraged. Examples of goals are: workout 5-minutes per day, work out 2-days per week, etc. Specific goals would be to do 20 squats 3-days per week. Here you can also determine the style of workout that you do. Currently I go to bootcamp at work (once every 2 weeks), take a dance class on Saturdays, and I’m working yoga in to my schedule.

Tip #4 Create a workout log- this will help you see your progress or track your progress. There are tons of apps now that you can download to your phone or your tablet. Here is a website that has a list of great fitness apps Click Here

Tip #5 Be Consistent– this is probably the most important tip. Many people start off strong, me being one of them, then after a few weeks we are back to our old habits. Let’s set smart and attainable goals in order to make sure we are successful.

Now that we know how to get started, let’s look good doing it, because you don’t have to look frumpy when working out. Here are some awesome options to be on your way to looking good and feeling great!

*If you have medical issues, please consult with your doctor before conducting any of the workout routines or following any of the health and wellness tips posted on this blog.*