I’ve struggled with maintaining an exercise routine. My thinking is that for only 30 to 45 minutes a day a few days per week, I get to maintain my weight loss, feel stronger physically, mentally and emotionally. Circumstances don’t hit me and make me feel like a victim of life just waiting. My weight loss has given me that! By exercising for a few minutes out of the 24 hours per day that you are given is a very small investment for the gigantic payoff of a happy life. If only the stock market and our economy would pay off in a big way for such a small investment!

To continue exercising, I need motivation. Through coaching, I was able to come to the realization that 30 to 45 minutes per day a few days a week gives me a happier, healthier life for the 23-1/2 hours in the rest of my day. Now, that’s a major payoff. That’s my motivation. Through coaching, you can find yours too.

Motivation is generated or dismissed in your head. So, here’s some ways to convince your head to get fit, stay fit, and invest in yourself through exercise:

1. Exercise out of the gym. All activity and movement equals exercise. Exercise is a mindset. Rather than drive around for 10 minutes looking for the closest parking space, park in the last row where there are virtually no other cars and walk to your store. You’ll get there quicker, burn less gas and burn more calories. While others are mindlessly standing on the escalator or wasting minutes waiting for the elevator, climb the stairs. Again, you’ll be there while the others are wasting their time and hanging on to calories they could have burned. Look for opportunities to be active. Exercise doesn’t count as exercise if it is within the walls of a gym. Think of exercise as all ways that you move your body.

2. Set an exercise goal. Decide that you’d like to participate in a walk/run event, train for a long distance walk, work with a personal trainer, increase your frequency or duration by a certain time. Give yourself rewards for reaching your exercise goals.

3. Ban boredom. Who wants to exercise if you are bored? Mix it up. One of the most popular television shows is celebrities that are learning ballroom dancing. Many of them have toned and lost impressive amounts of weight. Take dancing lessons to have fun and count as exercise. Other fun forms of exercise can include bowling, snowboarding, Zumba, swimming, water aerobics, walking your dog, or even laser tag. Rather than think of exercise, think about exercise combined with fun. Actual physical activity isn’t boring at all. How you do it though can be. Reframe exercise as exercise combined with fun.

4. Exercise Multi-Tasking. While you’re exercising, watch your favorite recorded television shows or dvd. Listen to audiobooks only while you’re exercising. Load up your iPod or MP3 player with your favorite motivational songs. Listen to those tunes only while you’re exercising. There are video games that you can dance to that definitely work up your heart rate as exercise. You’ll forget your movement counts as exercise because you’ll be having so much fun.

5. The more the merrier – bring a friend. Exercise with a friend, coach or personal trainer. Anyone to make it fun, share the companionship of exercising together plus the bonus of accountability.

6. Turn challenges into successes. Does your vacation give you an excuse to put your exercise routine on hold? Do projects at work derail your workout time? Does weather put the freeze on your regular activity? Deepen your commitment to yourself and exercise routine by looking for opportunities to move. Look for ways to incorporate activity into your vacation, set limits for your work projects, bring your exercise and activities indoors. You’ll strengthen your commitment and exercise muscle into a no-give dedication to your health.

7. Exercise Stars. After you’ve worked out and felt great, write it down. Start a journal or log with your thoughts after a work out. Use images of past successful exercise experiences to remind yourself how great you feel. When motivation is questionable, pull out your notes of past exercise sessions to remind you of those powerful positive feelings.

I can’t say that I’m in love with exercise. I’ve made friends with it and I like it. What I am in love with is my life following weight loss, maintaining my weight, feeling happier, stronger and healthier than ever before in my life. All of that for a mere 30-45 minutes per day? Now, that’s an investment and dividend payoff that gives and gives the other 23-1/2 hours in your day. Exercise is the investment that keeps on giving all through your day. An investment in yourself is the best one of all.

Prescription weight loss pills are treated like drugs. They require FDA approval and are closely regulated. Some examples of this type of weight loss pills are Xenical (Orlistat), Meridia (Sibutramine) and Phentermine/ Fentermine. To prove their effectiveness in weight reduction, these pills are subjected to a range of clinical tests typically for monitoring health risks and side effects.Non Prescription Pills

The Non-prescription weight loss pills are also called as weight loss supplements. These drugs can be purchased over the counter as they are subjected to minimal FDA regulation only. Some examples of this type of weight loss pills include pills from Metabolife™ and Herbalife™ as well as fat-burners, herbal weight loss pills, stackers, other sports or diet supplements.

The difference between prescription and non-prescription weight loss pills is becoming narrower. Since some types of non-prescription pills can be just as powerful or dangerous as weight loss drugs. Exception is that these types of weight loss supplements are not regulated similar to prescription weight loss pills. Hence they can be more dangerous if anything. The FDA has issued warnings recently about weight loss supplements that contain ephedra. Hence, many drug manufacturers are now declaring as ‘ephedra-free’ by removing ephedra from their weight loss pills.Who can benefit from Weight Loss Pills?

Prescription weight loss pills are designed specifically for the treatment of obesity rather than mere weight loss. Despite health risks and side effects, the use of weight loss pills is justified, as obesity is a serious condition associated with serious health risks. Weight loss supplements or Non-prescription weight loss pills should be viewed in similar light.Do these Weight Loss Pills work?

The answer is both Yes and No. With a proper exercise program and diet in conjunction with medical supervision, weight loss pills or weight loss supplements can be effective in the short term at least. However the benefits may quickly wear off as the body adjusts rather quickly to many weight loss pills.Weight Loss Trials of Pills clinically:

Clinical weight loss trials demonstrate that by using weight loss pills alone, long term weight control is not possible. A combination of improved diet and physical activity is to be maintained in the long term to maintain weight loss successfully.Consult your doctor before taking weight loss pills:

You should obtain information from your doctor about the possible dangers and side effects of weight loss pills before taking any weight loss pills.Side Effects of taking weight loss pills:

Weight loss pills become less effective as time progresses like most drugs and can lead to addiction. If you feel any of the following side effects, taking the pills should be stopped immediately.

Irritability

Anxiety or nervousness

High blood pressure

Insomnia

Heart palpitations and Heart attack

Tightness in the chest

Vomiting, constipation or constant stomach pain

Diarrhea, Fever and Head aches

Dry mouth

Dizziness

Profuse sweating

Blurred vision

Hair loss

Urinary tract problems

Disturbances in sex drive and menstrual cycle.

The long-term effects of these weight loss pills are not known and how they interact with other medications is also not clear.