[excerpt] It's equally hard for us to maintain balance while pursing fitness. All of one and none of the other can be easier to attain than disciplining ourselves to consistently be balanced in our activity and food choices.
Never allowing chocolate cake drives you to a chocolate cake binge. Excessive exercise can easily result in burn-out or even an injury. So even though it will require effort, work instead toward a balanced, middle ground by:
Frequently shifting modes
Shift through varying degrees of physical activity by performing structured cardio workouts four to five times a week and resistance exercises twice a week, being fundamentally active -- i.e., taking the stairs instead of the elevator -- every day of the week and taking at least one day of each week to rest.
Being moderate
In all your fitness efforts, exercise moderation. As a wise man once said, "The race is not always given to the swift, but rather to he who endures until the end." In other words, pace yourself and work with longevity and consistency as your over-riding goals.
Banking calories
A concept discussed in James Ferguson's "Habits Not Diets" suggests if you plan to and decide ahead of time to calorie splurge, make up for it in advance. You can do so by saving a few calories here and there so that a three-day average doesn't exceed your total calorie needs.
Even a trip to Cold Stone Creamery doesn't have to shoot your fitness goals in the foot when it is balanced with regular exercise and overall sound eating habits.
Forgiving but not forgetting
When you recognize that you're making poor choices, stop yourself in your tracks! Figure out how and where you've gone wrong, forgive yourself -- without forgetting how you went wrong -- and get back to what's right.
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