BALANCE YOUR BUDGET & YOUR BODY

These days so many of us are feeling tighter in both our pocketbooks and pockets.  So instead of bemoaning what we have too little of in the way of funds, and too much of in the way of flab, let's begin by balancing both our budgets and our bodies.


The infamous Body Mass Index will help you determine just how much you should consume or expend in the way of calories in order to meet our 10-pound / one size challenge loss goal: BMI calculator
Here is the BMR calculator itself which will figure your breakeven/stay-the-same number of daily calories: BMR calculator


Given that there are 3500 calories in a pound we are going to go for a reduction of 1000 calories a day 6 days a week, with one day off at your breakeven rate.  


These calories will be ousted either by:
1. reducing your caloric intake, or 
2. increasing activity ie exercise.  


If 1000 calories is too aggressive, play with the numbers to see how much you would like to lose and/or how many calories you would like to cut back on in a day until you find a workable balance.  If the math becomes annoying, just leave a comment on this blog and we'll come to your arithmetic rescue :)


Once you have decided how much overall weight and daily calories to which you would like to bid au revoir, it will be time to choose the foods and activities that will fit into the scheme.  We will get into that in greater detail when our challenge regimen begins.  Your primary objective prior to the challenge is to institute both a path and plan that work for YOU. 


As for balancing the budget, the good news is that YOU are not 13 trillion in the hole.... so take a deep breath with the knowledge that there are weight loss solutions for every pay grade.  Whether you choose a proven program such as Jenny Craig or NutriSystem, decide to buy Lean Cuisine meals on sale, observe Weight Watchers directives while dining out, or cook healthy at home, the point is there is a plan that is right for your lifestyle and tastes.

Same goes for your physical activity regimen. If a private club membership or Pilates / yoga studio class proves fiscally undesirable, you can always join a super gym at a doable membership rate, or purchase Fitness DVDs in your genre of choice. Better yet, and infinitely more fun, why not enroll in [insert shameless plug here] *online Joy of Dance Workouts and dance your way healthy and happy.  With about a dozen dance genres, there is a style for every body.  Whatever your druthers, do find your fitness groove and then go with it.


* 50% off 6-week online Dance Workout session for Love Yourself Lovely Shapeover Challenge Participants - either LIVE with fellow participants via Skype or On-Demand for later viewing at your leisure.  


next step/blog: assess to progress