by A.J. Harmon

Created on: March 11, 2009

The pursuit of physical fitness can be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience for anyone who chooses to attempt it. Routine exercise is the key to looking great, feeling great, and can provide a wonderful environment for relieving stress. However, being truly fit does not stop at just taking the stairs at work or doing a few jumping jacks before bed. While these kinds of choices are always positive, one may not see the results they desire without some form of organization and discipline present in their fitness routine.

Before one can begin to form and practice a successful fitness plan, there are a few things that must be taken into consideration. The first question to be asked should be "what are my goals?" Having well defined goals provides a strong foundation upon which one can build their routine and increase their chances for success tenfold. Some common goals in the gym may range anywhere from losing body fat, building lean muscle, or increasing physical stamina. These goals are all accomplished via various methods and one should seriously consider results that fit best their lifestyle and needs.

Understanding the dynamics of the human body greatly increases the chances of forming a successful fitness routine. In the most basic terms, losing weight is the result of burning more calories than you consume. Calories are a unit that measure energy that the body receives from food. Throughout our daily activities, our body naturally burns calories. This is true whether we are walking, running, standing, sitting, or sleeping. Even eating is burning a few calories! When the body is tasked with strenuous activity, it must process more calories in order to provide muscles and organs with the necessary vigor to maintain an elevated level of movement. Thus, the harder your body works the more calories you lose. Calorie deficits, when your caloric intake is less than that of your output, results in loss of pre-stored energy in the form of fat and muscle tissue. A roughly equal input and output ratio of calories results in maintaining your current bodyweight and a surplus of calories results in weight gain.

Once a set of long-term and short-term goals have been compiled and one understands the workings of the caloric battle they're fighting, it is time to hit the gym. There are several different forms of exercise to choose from including cardiovascular training like running and cycling and strength training in the form of weight lifting. What activities one chooses

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