Have you been thinking lately that you ought to do something to turn your life around? Are you unhappy with the numbers on the scale or with your fitness level? Knowing you need to make a change can be intimidating. If you have a long journey ahead of you, it can be particularly daunting. Change is easier than you might think. There are many ways to make small, manageable changes that will lead to huge results. We're going to discuss five of them here.

The first thing you'll want to do is keep a journal. Take the time to write down the things that you're doing right. Give this some serious thought and be honest with yourself. At the same time, list those areas of your life that need improvement. Be detailed and specific. Keep this information in a location where you can refer to it often and update it regularly.

The next important step to making a change is to know your personal numbers. Get an accurate reading on your weight and take your measurements. At the very least measure your chest, waist, hips, upper thighs, and upper arms. Visit your doctor and ask for lab work. Know your cholesterol, your blood pressure, your triglycerides, and your blood sugar. Keep this information in your journal as well. Having a starting point makes it easy to pinpoint change.

The third important step is to set goals, but not time limits. It's important when trying to make a change that you have specific goals in mind. Know exactly what it is you wish to accomplish. Write your goals in your journal. Understand the difference between short-term goals and long-term goals. Short-term goals are those that can be accomplished in a period of two to four weeks. These are the ones that will provide you with continuous motivation. Steer clear of setting time limits. Time limits tend to set you up for failure. Let things happen naturally once you start making changes to your lifestyle.

The fourth step to weight loss in your quest for change is to know the important weight loss guidelines. Become familiar with the food pyramid. There are several to choose from. The USDA Food Pyramid is the most common but there is one for vegetarians as well. In order to make a lasting change to your overall health, you will have to have a basic understanding of the various food groups and the recommended portions of each.

In order to lose weight and keep it off, you will have to learn how to accurately judge portion sizes. The more you eat in restaurants and the more you socialize, the more important it is to have this skill. It's easy to learn and will help you maintain your desired weight.

Another imperative weight loss guideline that you must learn is to read and understand nutrition fact labels. Almost all food products provide this information on the back of the package. Used correctly, this data can help you make wise food choices.

The fifth and final step that we will discuss is that you must find ways to become more active. If you enjoy exercising, then you have already mastered half the battle. If getting out the front door to walk or go to the gym is like torture for you, then look for ways in your day that you can be more active. Walk the dog, park further away from your destination, ignore the elevator and take the stairs, work in your yard, clean your house, make frequent trips to your second floor, get up to change the television channel, or do crunches and jumping jacks during commercials. Every little movement burns fuel and adds up to help you make permanent changes to your health.

These five basic steps will produce impressive changes in your life and overall health! You will have more energy and stamina for your busy day and you will find that you sleep better as well. Your confidence will improve and you will soon feel strong enough to make even more lifestyle changes. Amazing health benefits will be yours all because you made five little changes.