Back to the Real World, time to start a health routine again!

The Holidays are now truly over and it is back to the real world. Thank God! If I drink one more beer, eat one more chocolate or miss one more training session I will become the sloth full overweight Nathan that I hate.

With the return of the real world comes the old routine again. I am embracing my old routine because healthy habits are the key to a healthy lifestyle. It is much easier to train and eat consistently in a manner that reflects your goals when you are in a proper routine.

What I recommend is taking a look at your routine and improving it by making it more active and healthy. Here is an example of a typical North American weekly routine.

Monday-Friday
- Wake up after 5-6 hour sleep
- Skip breakfast, drive to work, coffee and donut or muffin on the way
- Sit at desk for 4 hours, pounding back more coffee
- Sit down to eat lunch, fast food or a crappy sandwich
- Sit at desk for another 4 hours
- Drive home
- Sit on couch, exhausted, wait for dinner or order dinner
- Sit at table and eat dinner
- Sit at desk and work on computer
- Sleep

Friday night
- Beer and wings?

Saturday and Sunday
- Wake up after 7-10 hour sleep
- Drive around to run errands
- Eat out a few times
- Snack way more often
- Watch TV and movies
- Drink with friends

As you can see this routine is pretty standard for the average person. And as you look at this, it is hard to imagine how all these people don't weight 400 lbs! I mean, when do these people stand? To get to the bathroom or the fridge, that is about it! All this sitting around is terrible for your metabolism and posture, not to mention energy levels. Most people are exhausted all the time, yet do nothing!!!

This routine is not going to get anyone in shape, even if you add in 1 hour of moderate exercise per day (of which only actually happens a few times a week). You can't spend 99% of your time on your ass and expect it to be small!

Here is the routine of an active person with the same desk job, note how they "sneak" in exercise.

Monday-Friday
- Wake up after an 7-10 hour sleep
- Eat a proper breakfast of proteins, fats and perhaps complex carbs
- Walk or bike to work
- Sit at desk for 4 hours working, getting up frequently to refill green tea and move around
- Snack on almonds and/or hard boiled eggs
- Walk/bike to home or gym and get a quick workout in
- Sit at desk for another 4 hours, getting up frequently to refill water and move around
- Snack on almonds and/or hard boiled eggs
- Walk/bike home fast enough to get a sweat going this time
- Eat another light, high protein, high fiber snack
- Workout hard for 1 hour
- Eat a high quality dinner of protein and veggies plus whatever fits your goals
- Get to bed early and sleep deeply, possibly supplement with zinc and magnesium

Friday night
- Workout then go out to dinner for a healthy meal

Saturday and Sunday
- Sleep in
- Have a massive breakfast of eggs and veggies
- Go exercise or go do an outdoor activity with friends or spouse

What a difference. The healthy routine is so much more active. Commuting to work under your own power has got to be the most important factor here, more so than training. Why? Consistency. If you bike to work, you have to go all the way there, and all the way back every day! You are burning all kinds of extra calories on a daily basis but it won't feel like a workout. Biking or walking to work doesn't take up your time, or coop you up in a gym. It is actually great for improving your mood and overall health. As for the quick workouts on your lunch break, this is a secret of champions. I always train at lunch because it breaks up your work day and allows you a solid 30 minutes to work on whatever your weakness is, be it body fat, mobility or strength. Exercising after work is a given, if you are serious about getting in shape you have to dedicate one hour per day to solid exercise. One the weekend, relax a bit and have fun doing outdoor activities with your loved ones.

The diet of this active person is much different. More calories early in the day, green tea instead of coffee and lot of water. The calories are coming from high protein and high fiber foods instead of processed crap. This person eats to have high energy levels in order to support their active lifestyle.

Is this "active person" mythical and impossible to sustain? Heck no! It is my routine! That's right, I bike or walk to work, I exercise at lunch and then TRAIN after work. I eat a high protein, high fiber and high fat diet, with some carbs coming from natural sources. This routine, or lifestyle really, is achievable for the everyone, you just have to make changes in your life to reflect your goals!

Now if you are one of those people who never have time to train, instead of calling you lazy, check this quick kettlebell workout out:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOyZxI2Zs5w