Do you want to lead a healthier, and less stressfull lifestyle?

     Would you like more energy?

     How about a flat stomach?

     Bigger muscles?

     Or maybe you'd just like to drop a few pounds. Think about your health and fitness desires. What would you most like to accomplish - in terms of better health and fitness?

    Set some goals for your health and fitness. Visualize your success. Picture yourself in a smaller size. See yourself at the beach with a flat stomach and toned muscles!

    Write down your long term goal(s).

    Then, put in writing some smaller steps you can take right now - in the short term.

    Take action!

    Start working on those short term steps which will lead to successfully completing your longer term goal! Carry out those short term goals. Like walking every day. Or working out with weights every other day. Many fitness buffs agree that variety in your workouts helps you achieve a better overall level of fitness. Enjoy a variety of exercises!

    A specific short-term goal may be to start strength training. This goal is easily measurable: Indeed, this is an attainable goal, and this goal is certainly relevant to living a long, healthy life. Your goal should be time-based: buy the equipment you need, and set your exercise schedule within the next 5 days. Start your new exercise program within the following 2 to 3 days.

    Be sure to write these goals down! And then, follow up!

    The goals and time frame are entirely up to you. You may want to focus your long-term goals on improving a specific health condition, such as losing weight, getting rid of that belly fat, or toning your body and building more muscle to help with balance or weight control. Or your goals may be simply to bowl better, or play tennis, or walk 5 miles! The choices are yours to make!

    Your success depends on setting goals that are truly important to you—and possessing a strong desire to achieve them. Believing in yourself—believing that you can leap barriers and achieve your goals—is the ticket to success.

    One of the most powerful tools for building self-confidence and reaching your goals  is visualization. Olympic Gold Medalists have used visualization as a key part of their development and preparation!  Tiger Woods does it. This easy technique involves imagining the accomplishment of the changes or goals you're working to achieve. It is a process of "training" purely within the mind.

    By visualizing in detail your successful execution of each step in a given activity, you create, modify, or strengthen brain pathways that are important in coordinating your muscles for the visualized activity. This prepares you to perform the activity itself.

    The technique is useful in many areas of life—from avoiding anxiety during a stressful situation, to performing well during competition. You may find it a powerful tool in achieving your fitness goals.

Here's how:

 * Identify the goal you want to visualize—for example, walking all eighteen holes of your favorite golf course.

 * Find a comfortable place to sit and relax.

 * Eliminate all distractions—turn off the phone and the television.

 * Close your eyes and focus on feeling relaxed. Free your mind of intruding thoughts.

 * Now, imagine yourself on the golf course. Create a picture in your mind of the place—the sights, sounds, and smells. Imagine a perfect day, warm and sunny, with a gentle breeze. Picture yourself with your favorite golfing friends, talking and laughing.  

 * Visualize yourself starting on your way, passing the golf carts, and setting off to walk the whole course.

 * Take a moment to feel the pleasure and excitement of achieving this goal.

 * Then imagine yourself walking from hole to hole, enjoying the sunshine, the views, the fresh air, the good company and excellent play.

 * See yourself finishing the course and feeling great, both physically and emotionally! See yourself reaching your goal. And remember to enjoy the journey!