The 10 Commandments

          Welcome to afitnewyou!  As we strive to reach our fitness goals there are some basic things that we know we should be doing, and things that we shouldn't be doing in order to achieve them.  For example, we know that we should be exercising, and not sitting on the couch binge watching the latest episodes of our favorite series.  And we know that we should be making healthy food choices instead of overindulging on some decadent dessert.  In other words, we know that there are "right" things to do, and "wrong" things to do that will affect our level of health and fitness.  In most cases, these things are pretty fundamental and not overly complicated; they are elementary rules that will lead us in the right direction.  These simple rules to follow are like those outlined in the Ten Commandments, which provide the basic moral compass for Christians and Jews to follow.  No matter what religion you follow, you probably are aware of these as they provide the basic foundation for being "good"; things like "thou shall not kill" and "thou shall not steal."  The Ten Commandments are rudimentary and not some overly complicated section of a by-law that has some loophole that needs expert interpretation.  They are rather simplistic but utterly essential.  They are rules that simply must be followed day-in and day-out.  Sure there are many other lessons, guiding principles, and local and federal laws that need to be followed, but if one follows those 10 basic rules, they are probably going to do well in life.  In a similar way, you should have a set of basic guidelines, commandments if you will, that you follow to help you reach your fitness goals.  These rules need to be just as basic, but with the same absolutely have-to follow them importance.  So as you strive to reach a fitter new you, set up a list of a few to several all-important guidelines that you should not waver from.

          Without getting into a full theological lesson and for those who are unfamiliar with the Ten Commandments, the story basically goes that God himself gave Moses a list of 10 tenets, inscribed in stone, that He wanted His people to follow in order to live a worthy life.  Of course, other rules to follow come later, and also get more and more complicated.  But this short list, set in stone, provides the foundation.  They are uncomplicated, and the symbolism of them being set it stone suggests that the are resolute; and through following them, one would be considered spiritually "good."  Without interfering with anyone's spiritual and / or moral character I suggest that you make a similar set of Commandments, essential rules to follow, that will help you lead a fitter and healthier lifestyle.  Your Fitness Commandments can include things like "Thou shall stretch every morning,"  "Thou shall include a serving of vegetables with every meal," and "Thou shall exercise at least X number of times a week."  Make them simplistic enough that you can follow them.  Also, make them salient enough that you need to follow them.  And just as the religious Ten Commandments are believed to be inscribed in stone, put your Fitness Commandments down somewhere tangible to signify their importance.

          Although I suggest that you set up your Fitness Commandments so that you believe them to be absolutes, please do not become so fanatical about them that you feel the need to punish yourself if you break one.  Without imposing on your actual religious beliefs again, let me remind you that we are all human, and from time to time "sin."  I admittedly have used God's name in vain while driving in New York traffic.  The point is to use them as the foundation for what you do and don't do to reach your fitness goals.  These should be the basic, underlying principles to the decisions that you make throughout the day that affect your health and fitness.  For example, one of my personal Fitness Commandments is "Thou shall not use a fast food drive through."  I try my hardest not to frequent them, but occasionally, like while on vacation with my family, there is little other option.  

          Establishing a set of Fitness Commandments causes you to lay the framework for making healthy decisions.  It provides a basic structure to judge your choices against.  In a sense, it gives you a moral footing to base the decisions that affect your health against.  It puts a little more emphasis on why something like exercising regularly is "good" for us.  You don't need to be an extremist...just on the right track.  Setting up a set of Fitness Commandments is a fundamental way to reach a fit new you!