Do you feel like you are fighting a loosing battle when it comes to burning fat and getting into shape? Maybe you purchased a few books, videos or workout equipment claiming to be the magic bullet to make you look thin “in 30 days”. Well I think that you are not alone and many of us have been down this road. One suggestion I have is that if you want all these things to work you should be direct with yourself. Being blunt with your self is a powerful thing. I believe it helps people have a change of heart. Having a change of heart is key when it comes to fat loss and maintaining your health because you have to let go of the bad habits and acquire healthy habits. Everything starts from within and you are ultimately responsible for executing your nutrition and exercise plan. Here are a few things to look at to help you take responsibility for your self. Accept that it takes hard work and persistence to reach your fitness goals. Don’t look for instant gratification. It’s not in your best interest to think that eating right and working out is a temporary action. Think about trying a different routine. The one you are doing now is not working for you, so try something different for the next month. You may find a routine you enjoy more. Stop making excuses for every little thing that keeps you from exercising and eating right. The excuses we allow ourselves to not be healthy should be entirely unacceptable to you. If you feel you do not have enough time to take care of your self, think of this: Everyone that works or has responsibilities is pressed for time. Yet some people rise above their daily grind and make fitness a part of their life. Ultimately they stay healthy. If they can do it, you can do it. Another thing I would like to discuss is that you should accept the fact that there are things in our society that we cannot control. One example is the food industry. We live in a world surrounded by large portions and greasy food. These foods will stay on the market because people will buy them. Think about how to work around these things and how to make healthier choices when eating. Don’t give in if you want to follow a healthy lifestyle. Finally, the trends of today demand us to take the time to take care of ourselves. One trend I know of is that more people have sedentary jobs now as opposed to the past, when we had more jobs available that required physical exertion. Also, with all these new drugs that have been launched in the recent years, it seems like we depend on modern medicine to keep us healthy and alive. While modern medicine is great and has made some advances to make our lives longer, we still need to allow ourselves to take responsibility for our health. Even though you feel like you are fighting a loosing battle to stay healthy and lean. There are many diet and nutrition programs out there to help you achieve your goals. However, you must accept the responsibility to find the path that is right for you and execute. Or these things will not help you achieve your best health.