November 25th, 2008 -- Posted in WeightLoss Issues |
You know I’d never really thought about this before but it kind of makes sense. After you read this, leave me a comment and tell me what you think.
There’s one big mistake many people make and never even realize it’s making them gain weight: making a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. Many of us make a commitment to lose weight by making it a New Year’s Resolution, seems like a good idea….right?
While it seems counterintuitive, resolving to lose weight later may very well cause you to gain it now. That’s because you get into the mindset of, “well, I’m going to stop eating sweets altogether next month, so I might as well enjoy them now.” You could actually end up eating more now and gaining more weight during the holidays simply because you “know” you’re going to lose weight “next year.” Think about it…how many times have you heard people sit down at a holiday feast and say, “Good thing my diet starts tomorrow” or something to that effect. I know I hear it every year. Someone will always say, “I’ll start tomorrow” or “next week.” My family is certainly guilty of that.
By telling ourselves that losing weight will be a New Year’s Resolution, we may be shooting ourselves in the foot during this holiday season. What do you think?
Technorati Tags: health, new years, resolution, weightloss
November 19th, 2008 -- Posted in Did You Know?, Holiday WeightLoss Tips, Mom Exercise Tips, WeightLoss Tips |
You are not alone!
Did you know that 30 percent of people don’t get any exercise at all during the winter?
I don’t know about you, but right now I’m part of that statistic. In addition to those who aren’t exercising, those that do often get less than they would during the warmer months of the year. Winter is often cold and bitter outside which discourages us from getting out and about. I know if I lived in a really cold place, I’d probably just want to curl up under a warm blanket with a good book all winter long. Winter can also be dark and dreary which can easily hamper motivation to do anything, much less get up and work out. The on top of all of that, it’s generally a hectic time of year with it being that holiday season and all. Shopping, holiday gatherings, company parties, and everything else that goes along with the holidays makes it a challenge to find time for exercise. I have to admit that I’m more likely to want to fill my extra time with a fun holiday activity than a workout. All this adds up to the unhealthy habit or not getting enough physical activity during the winter. With that in mind, here are
3 Tips for Getting Exercise During the Winter
Join a gym: Gyms offer expert staffs, a warm and safe place to exercise, a chance to get out of the house, and chance to socialize with new people.
Utilize the Mall: The mall is not only good for shopping. A walk at the mall, may be more interesting than walking at the park. Plus some have some great stairs you can climb for an added challenge. Some malls even have walking clubs you can join.
Exercise Tapes or DVDs: Ah yes, it’s time to break out those exercise videos! They allow you to stay in the comfort of your own home and have more privacy while you exercise.
Other ideas include:
- Running in place
- Getting a rebounder
- Playing with the kids
- Playing sports with family and friends
- Participating in indoor winter sports programs
A word of warning: Quick temperature changes can be a dangerous shock to your body. When going outside, take time to give your body a proper warm up and cool down. Also, when coming in from the cold, wait a few minutes to remove your coat and other layers.
When you venture outside in the winter, it’s important to take extra precautions to stay warm and safe. Always be sure to bundle up and wear layers. You want enough to keep you warm, but not so much that you’re sweating. While sweating during your summer workout is great, during the winter sweat makes you wet and can make you cold in freezing temperatures.
Exercising during the winter may take a bit more planning and effort, but you’ll be rewarded by staying healthy, looking good, and maybe even having some fun.
Technorati Tags: exercise tips, fitness, health, Holiday WeightLoss Tips, weightloss, winter exercise
October 28th, 2008 -- Posted in Did You Know?, Mom Exercise Tips, WeightLoss Tips |
Have you ever felt tired and stressed out from work only to see your three children running towards you asking you to play basketball with them once you got home? Since you’re tired, you refuse and promise that you’ll play “later.” Sound familiar?
Instead of disappointing your children, why not say, “yes” next time? You will be surprised by the amount of energy you will have after that 30-minute activity.
Did you know that exercising at a moderate pace for only 30 minutes helps you feel a lot better, mentally? It has been proven that even moderate exercise not only improves appetite, but sharpens your style in problem solving as well. Not only that. You will also find it is easier to sleep at night if you do moderate exercises even for only 30 minutes every day.
What are the benefits of regular exercise? It promotes self-discipline and has a positive impact how you perceive life. Exercise helps in lifting your spirits and getting you out of any depression. For first timers, it can be done for 15 minutes for 2 to 3 days a week. You can increase the time you spend once your body gets tuned up for it.
DON’T you ever force your body! This is one of THE biggest mistakes newbies make. If you get hurt, then stop. You can take a break from exercising for a few days and then you can start again but you’ll be starting all over from day 1.
Here are some moderate exercises you can do and enjoy:
1. Do the Walking. Make use of your surroundings. You can walk your dog, with your partner or child. Encourage your family to do the walking exercise daily and you will find yourself burning calories while enjoying the surroundings and getting enough sunlight that is also good for your body.
2. Discover the wonders of Yoga. Yoga is one effective exercise that energizes not only your body but also your soul. You may want to learn even the basic yoga positions that are not too complicated but proven effective. A five-minute yoga exercise can perk you up and recharge your body with the energy you lost for the whole day. You relax and at the same time you stretch!
3. Engage yourself into sports. Play basketball, football, baseball, tennis or badminton. Many doctors have recommended sports as an effective way to stay fit and healthy. Sports can also be done in moderation. Do not take it seriously. Shooting basketball with a friend is one moderate exercise that is also considered a sport.
4. Join exercise programs at work. If you still do not have exercises programs at work, then why not start it? You can talk to your boss about it and start with your colleagues. You do not only lose calories but it is also one good way to bond with them. This can be done 30 minutes, 3 times a week.
5. Exercise while doing household chores. Gardening, raking leaves, lawn mowing, doing the laundry, vacuuming and car washing are effective moderate exercises at home. Make use of these chores to sweat and burn calories. Instead of using machines and gadgets to perform these chores, why not do it with your hands and lose some fats?
You may be surprised at how many calories you burn simply by incorporating exercises into your daily routines and tasks. Doing these moderate exercises every day can burn from 150 calories up to 1,000 calories a day!
Personally, I love high intensity exercise. With high intensity, you feel like you’ve gotten a great workout and you see results relatively quickly. However, not everyone finds it easy to get into high intensity, especially if you’re not used to working out. If you’re not quite ready for high intensity these moderate exercise ideas are a great way to get started on your path to improved fitness!
Technorati Tags: exercise, fitness, health, moms weightloss, weightloss
