I don't do diets.

I state now: I am not a diet person. Again, I am not a diet person - but I love to workout. However, you can't have one without the other. You can't be at your top health without have a good workout and good healthy eating habits (not a diet).

This morning I woke more sore than I have been in a long, long time. Yesterday I started the quickstart program with a great place that I have known for years now, Performance QSA. They offer workouts and nutritional guidance. I just love it there. Boy was I excited before the workout. I get see old faces, get a good work out and really feel like I did something. Afterwards? Well, those feelings were met but some other feelings came up also...like "why in the world would I..." and "oh I am going to feel that in the morning!"

Now, it wasn't a gut wrenching, puking workout just yet, but it was close. It was though enough for me to rethink my new motivation. Do I really want to bust my butt? Do I really need to give up sweet tea? ("Yes, yes I do! It will be worth it!"-saying it out loud) Ugh, we all get these feelings when we start out, especially since we are a up-and-down society about working out and eating right. You do one thing this week, then try the next big thing after that and so on. What I have known and should have continuously followed is a healthy lifestyle. I've known from the beginning in high school that you have to make these things a lifestyle commitment, not just some diet or some workout.

Yes, I know what you are thinking, "I have tried it ALL." Well, obviously you haven't if nothing has created a healthy lifestyle. I know - harsh - but its reality.

Now you don't have to have some expensive trainer and some high profile nutritionists that charges an arm and a leg. You can find it affordable or do-it-yourself(+ accoundability).

Performance QSA is a great place to get started. They train some of the best athletes in the country by creating healthy active lifestyles and that is how they train you, like the athlete you are. Don't let that turn you away. You don't have to be a star in sports to be an athlete or athletic. Their mission is to motivate, educate and inspire people to reach optimal levels of performance and balance in life. They want to take each person to their best, whether that be sports or health. I have been on the sports side and now I am on the other side and honestly I feel like I am just jumping back in. Now, I know, you are expecting a high price tag with that. Don't worry, if this is something you want to do their programs start as low as $99/month. If you are unsure, try their Quickstart program for $197 for one month and at the very least you get guidance and accountability for a month in order to get on the right track to a healthy lifestyle. Trust me though, once you start, you are not going to want to go back.

Are you on an even tighter budget? There are some other places that have programs and gyms to workout at with great reputations as well. Those include, The YMCA of Taylors, Pivitol Fitness of Greenville and AnyTime Fitness, to name a few. All of those come highly recommended, especially if you like to change it up and maybe play some ball or swim a few laps. All of these come at great prices, some as low as $35/month a month so it is definitely worth checking out.

A few of those places I mentioned though do not provide trainers so there are few things you need to do along with those. These are a few things I personaly recommend from my experience that you need along with a membership.

1. Find an accoutability partner. Don't go it alone. You are not a good motivator on your own. It is a lot easier to give up when someone isn't keeping up with you.
2. Research a proper workout plan. Find something that doesn't allow for a plateau.
3. Find a nutritionist. Whether you make just one visit, or once a month. This kind of guidance can't be supplemented.
4. Educate yourself. Last but not least start educating yourself on the sciences of your body and how it works. Find out yourself, beyond the fad diets and workouts, what is needed for a healthy lifestyle.

So, what are you waiting for? Get going! I did and as sore as I am now, I do not regret it!

No, seriously, go! Don't make me pull out our country's obesity statistics on you! I am not afraid, I will do it!