A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Eating Healthy & Losing Weight- Exercise!

The "E" word. No one likes to say it and if the truth be told we really don't "like" to do it! But it is so necessary to a healthy body that we need to take a baby step in that direction.
Now I know some of you live where it makes it hard to walk outside or get to a gym because of weather, BUT you're not off the hook. There are so many things you can do right at home. The Cooking Light website has a great section on firming and toning your body. The site is very easy to navigate and I've taken the liberty of providing that link for you so you don't have the excuse that you can't "find" it lol. So click here to check that out. I personally go to a gym. The one I found is only $20.00 a month and has awesome equipment, cardio machines and classes. Plus it's an all woman's gym. I find that I "need" to leave the house or I will get distracted from my goal. BUT if I had no choice I would find a way to do it, so again NO excuses! Just start with 30 mins. a day. Don't try to over do it as you will give up before you start. Muscle training is VERY important as muscle burns fat. Try to start by doing some weight training twice a week and then work up to 3 times a week, every other day. It's good to give your muscles a break in between workouts. Dumbbells are very inexpensive. Start small with maybe 3 lb. weights and before you know it you'll be working up to 5 and 8lbers. Slow and steady is what we are doing here. Cardio should be done at least 30mins. everyday. Cardio is maintaining a certain heart rate for a prolonged length of time. For those of you stuck indoors this can be challenging. Unless you have a treadmill or stationary bike this can be hard. But here are a few things you could try, jump roping, jumping jacks (personally after 3 kids I'd have to wear a depends to do that! LOL. Who's with me?), walking in place, an exercise video. Remember this is only till you can get outside again and breath in the fresh air and scenery that will keep you motivated. You can do this. Aim for just 30 mins. a day and then build up to 45 and then an hour a day! If any of you have any other great tips let me know!
I usually go to the gym 5 times a week. I do cardio every day and weights Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I have worked up to a whole hour on weights day but still only do about 50 mins on cardio days. Remember work at your own pace. But do something.
If you've missed the last 3 posts you can find them here, here and here. Is everyone drinking their water? Saturday I'm going to be posting about teas that are beneficial to weight loss and health. I hope you all are enjoying this little segment and are finding something that you can implement into your lifestyle!
Hugs to you all!

14 comments:

  1. Kimmy,

    I have a step master and I have a love/hate relationship with it! lol

    I have to do it for so many minutes at a time and then rest and then get back on and rest and well, you get the idea. But you are so right, we need to exercise!

    I wish we lived closer...I would so go to the gym with you...so we could laugh at each other! lol

    Happy Thursday, my friend!

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  2. Thank you for this...you've got me motivated..I'm off to check out your other three post and the cooking light sight.

    :)Doreen

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  3. Ok Kim, I'm doing this because you are such a motivator! And LOL!!!!!!! on the "Depends" comment! Yeah, three kids does some things to your body....

    Of course I'm one of those stuck indoors right now and it is very challenging. I LOVE to walk outside, but our roads are snow/ice covered right now. BLAH! And I love going to a gym but there's not one close by here, and even then if you're willing to drive, they are like $40/month (AFTER you pay almost $200 to sign up!). Working out in any capacity indoors is very challenging due to lack of space. Our rooms are all quite small. I'm actually wanting to find one of those little round one-person trampolines - great for "running" indoors and easy on the joints.

    Exercise is my biggest challenge by far, though, and I know at my age no diet on its own is going to do much for me.

    *sigh*...!

    Maria

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  4. Why must you make me cringe in the morning?

    ICK!

    I prefer to eat less then excercise! All though it will feel good once this babe is out to get some kind of workout in! :)

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  5. What gym do you go to? The one I am at doesn't hav classes and am looking for some good ones. My sister and I "E" several times a week, whether its doing the causeway, at home routines or the gym. My helpful hint: Do it with someone and make sure that someone can keep you accountable and make you get up off the couch to do it.
    Thanks again... looking forward to the tea post

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  6. Lots of helpful stuff my friend! I do need to get back to exercising - I have some great workout DVDs and now we have a Wii which does actually have some training and fitness with the Sports pack. We do have inexpensive gyms nearby, but I find that it's too easy for me to make an excuse not to go - I have quit a few!

    Alright - on Monday I will start. I have to try to figure out the best time. I think I figured once before that after school was great because I'm not usually heading back out and my son is busy with homework and we eat dinner later anyway. I will give it a try!

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  7. I am sure I will get lots of cardio tonight....if you know what I mean. NO NOT THAT. The football game is on....the National Championship....OU vs Florida, oh I bet you already knew that though didn't you? I stomach is already in my throat just waiting. I have such fears and I will go into deep deep depression if we don't win tonight. So just know if you all beat us...I may be away from my computer for a while. I am a very die hard fan of the OU Sooners.

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  8. Once I stopped exerc ising with the purpose to lose weight, I really started to enjoy it. lol. I have less headaches, more energy, and even LESS ACNE!!!! I'm definitely not as energetic as I used to be, but I do what I can. I've also added in a fitness yoga class to my routine, and though it takes out all the meditation/religious stuff, it is very therapeutic and relaxing. Great stuff, girlie!

    One question: Do you make jokes during the whole class and make people laugh?

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  9. Girl, I think about you every morning when I get my water. Thanks for the reminder.

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  10. I have a love/hate relationship with the E word. I'm fixing to order Leslie Sansome (sp?)'s Walk Away the Pounds. Gyms intimdiate me. I have to do it at home or not at all...eeek!

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  11. You are hard core!! I started a 30 minute cardio and so far so good:-)

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  12. Hey there!!
    Stop by the Internet Cafe when you get a chance! You are one of our New Year Giveaway winners!!
    Congratulations,
    Lori and Amy

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  13. I'm definitely one of those that is stuck inside for several months. with all the snow we've had, it's impossible to get outdoors. Who wants to walk in ice, snow, and wind?

    However, I have a stationary bike, and I really enjoy riding it. I usually read Country magazine while I'm pedaling away.

    Hugs,
    Patti

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  14. Unfortunately most E I can't do anymore which is driving me up a wall. I'm a walker and was told definitely no more of that. (Crying). LOL
    One thing for those stuck in doors if you have stairs--I know this isn't that fun--go up and down them at any pace a few times. Or just up and down on one step at any pace. The pace does have to be continous though. ;)
    I don't know if there is any more, but there used to be several good E programs on the sports channels in the morning. They have low and high impact work outs. I used to do these and loved them. I'd go walk 4-5 miles a day, then do the workout. Good luck everyone.

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