Simple can be effective

I've been involved in this crazy fitness game for a number of years, so believe me when I tell you that I've almost seen it all. From the Thomas Edison types; the guys and gals who pretty much invent their own exercises, to the people who look more like they're training for the circus than working out, I've seen the types of exercisers run the gamut. But if there's one thing that I've learned over the years, it's that fitness doesn't have to be tricky or complicated in order to be effective. To that end, here are two very simple ways to start making some change.

The first is to add 2,000 steps (approx. 1 mile) to to your day. This is probably easier to achieve that it may first seem. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Perhaps walk to your car in the off-site parking lot instead of hopping in the shuttle (besides, you don't really want to ride in the "Loser Cruiser," do you?). Or maybe you could even take a leisurely walk around your neighborhood. Whatever method you choose, just try to be consistent with doing it every day.

The second is to cut a mere 100 calories from your diet, which is the equivalent of a tablespoon of butter. Now, I realize that you probably don't actually woof down a tablespoon of butter a day But, you likely get this many calories from a myriad of other possible sources. These days, just about everything has over 100 calories in it, so just pick one of your regular treats and eliminate it from your diet. Cutting 100 calories may not seem like a lot, but over a year's time, this will result in the loss of a decent amount of weight.