Basically, your body is just a machine. Sure, it has some pretty complicated hardware but if you can figure out how it works and take proper care of it, you can learn to make it run smoothly. Here are some tips to reduce the confusion and treat your body as it was designed.
Your Body = Hardware
If your body is the hardware that your machine runs on, you better treat it well. Hardware replacements are no fun for computers and even worse on you. Make sure that your hardware is well maintained and running smoothly. Do this by exercising regularly and avoid eating too much.
Thoughts = Software
With computers, software makes all the difference in how well a machine runs. I’ve seen ancient machines running great software smoothly and I’ve seen terrific machines being bogged down with terrible code. Software programs are the “thought processes” of the machine. Likewise with people, your thoughts, choices and will determine what and how you do something. Run bad software (like laziness, lack of determination, etc) and your machine will perform badly. However, good software (like confidence, determination, and belief in yourself) will make your machine perform the way it should.
Fat = Spam, Bloatware
Any computer user has experienced their share of spam emails and other forms of bloatware (software that installs itself on your machine and slows its performance down). Similarly every person has likely experienced their share of extra weight that they carry as fat. (Yes, I’m aware that my comparison is falling apart but bare with me) The key to running a streamlined machine is to remove the excess that bogs you down. This can be done first and foremost by prevention. By having good eating habits and restricting what comes into your machine the easier it will be to protect and manage yourself.
Food (calories) = Fuel
Allow me to change metaphors for a moment to talk about another aspect of fitness. Food is the fuel that you put into your machine. If your car runs on premium then regular unleaded just won’t provide you with the same mileage. It also may damage the engine if your machine wasn’t built for it. As with your car, your body also needs the right fuel. Foods with a low glycemic index for example are digested slower and provide you with continuing energy throughout the day. Compare that to high calorie, high sugar foods that burn fast and leave you on “E”.
Exercise = Burning Fuel
To get where you want to go, your car will have to burn fuel. This is no different from you or me (however, it is unlikely that unused fuel will result in any unwanted weight gain on your Honda). We need to burn calories to do just about anything. Exercise aside you and I need about 2,000 calories just to make it through a normal day. When you add exercise to the equation you can easily burn way more calories than you consume. This will create a calorie deficit that will bring about weight loss.
I probably stretched these metaphors a little far in an attempt to make this post, but the principles should be clear enough. Your body is basically a machine (computer, car, or other) that is designed to run a certain way. When you don’t operate it the way it was intended (good diet, plenty of exercise) then your body may begin sputtering or throwing unexpected errors. Often times when I get frustrated in my fitness attempts it helps to remember that there is nothing mystical about weight loss. Burn more than you consume and your machine will take care of the rest.
