No one ever said that it'd be easy to lose weight, but that doesn’t mean that the process has to be miserable, either! If you’re finally ready to make the commitment to a healthier lifestyle — and, in turn, a lower weight — these simple tips will help you to get started.

1. Jump-start your workout routine in the first week. Because your weight loss plan will involve a combination of diet and exercise, you’ll need to work out every day of the first week in order to get both your body and mind in the routine. This doesn’t mean that you have to go all out every single day, however; simply start out with a combination of light cardio and body weight workouts for 30 to 60 minutes each day.
2. Keep a food diary. Instead of hopping on the bandwagon of a fleeting fad diet, begin a healthier relationship with food by keeping a food diary of everything that you eat. This will hold you accountable for every indulgence, and it will help you to monitor the amount of fat and calories that you consume.
3. Be realistic. If you have a big event in the next two weeks, you won’t be able to force a full-body transformation by that time. Instead, focus on realistic weight loss goals that will produce results over time.

Men's Health [WebMD]
How to Lose Weight in 4 Weeks [Xfinity]
7 Weight Loss Steps for Men [About Health]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr rayarooo

Curling up with a good book can be a great way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon, and what better place to do so than at Round Rock Public Library? This local branch is cozy and well-maintained and offers thousands of books to choose from on its shelves, from spine-tingling mysteries and instructional manuals to self-help books and children's reads. What's more, books are available in both traditional hardback and digital formats.

Round Rock Public Library also offers plenty of community programming, including local orchestra concerts, teen-centered craft and science sessions, family film screenings, and storytime hours for kids. And don't forget that the librarians are happy to assist with open-ended homework and research questions in addition to helping you locate specific books.

Check out the Round Rock Facebook page to see what's happening at this bustling community resource!

Round Rock Public Library
216 East Main Avenue
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 218-7001

www.facebook.com/RoundRockPublicLibrary
www.roundrocktexas.gov/departments/library

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/National Assembly for Wales

If you ever admired the daring leaps and seemingly impossible catches of trapeze performers at the circus, Trapeze Austin gives you the chance to learn these incredible moves yourself. This wild new workout is not for the faint of heart, but the rush that you get from flying through the air on the trapeze is well worth the nerves.

Trapeze Austin is equipped with structural circus arts rigging systems that feature a sturdy safety net underneath to keep you protected in case of a fall. The facility offers one- and two-hour lessons that begin by teaching you the very basics of trapeze flying on the ground, and then expand to the air for the majority of the lesson. In the longer lessons, participants are even able to experience what it’s like to be caught in mid-air, just like professional trapeze performers.

If you’re looking for a unique place for a birthday party or family gathering, Trapeze Austin is great for private parties as well.

Trapeze Austin
9501 Manchaca Road
Austin, TX 78748
(512) 608-1071
www.trapezeaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/trapeze-austin-austin

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/pboyd04