So as I previously pledged, I’m going to participate in the local St. Patrick’s Day race. I officially signed up this morning (eek!), and now I have to stick with it!I’m going to have to figure out a good routine to either get up early or run after work to train. I have a little less than a month so wish me luck and I’ll keep you posted!If you’re interested in finding a local race or marathon check out Cool Running’s website and find what’s coming up in your area!
In the meantime, since today starts my “no eating after dinner” vow for the next 46 days (April 3rd seems so far away!) I’ve been trying to think of other ways I can get excited and enthusiastic besides late-night snacking while watching the Olympics.
I’ve decided I’m going to replace a bad habit with a good one. I absolutely LOVE to cook, although I do prefer baking!Since I can’t (correction, won’t) eat late at night, I’m going to make phenomenal dinners so I won’t have the desire or the stomach space to eat late.
Rather than just going to the grocery store and roaming the aisles for inspiration I decided visiting local farmers’ markets would be more fun! Not only are there awesome fruits and veggies that you can sample, but some of the stands offer free recipes as well!It’s a great way to get out with friends or family, and be a part of the community and get fresh produce.I found a great website where you can look up your local farmers’ markets, so rather than lounge around all weekend I’m going to hit up my local farmers’ markets!I’m excited to see what I can find, taste, and take back to create my next masterpiece! Who needs late-night snacks now?!
As we spring forward into the new year it’s important to also focus on our bodies as well as food.Let’s face it; some of us haven’t hit the pavement or the treadmills in quite some time (if at all) and tend to put exercise at the bottom of our lists.
Whether you’re getting outside or staying in the gym, it’s important to remember the best approach for your body.
Check out this article I recently read from Shape Magazine that gives great running tips for beginners and pros. As someone who is not always the most enthusiastic about jogging, this article really helped me realize some of the things I have been doing wrong, as well as how I can better myself when I hit the ground running!
In fact, after watching Val’s half-marathon video blog I was inspired to get out there and see what I’m capable of.I’ve decided to do a local St. Patrick’s Day race. I’m starting small with a 5k (3.1 miles), and see where I can take myself from there!Whether it’s walking, run-walking, or full on sprinting, let’s continue to challenge ourselves this year like Val has!
I just read this fantastic article by Rebecca Pratt, from SparkPeople. It gives you 10 reasons why you working out in the morning is the best. I have to agree, although I find that getting into the rhythm of getting up early can be challenging! When do you schedule your exercise?
“Top Ten Reasons” for getting up with the early birds to get moving:
Exercising early in the morning “jump starts” your metabolism, keeping it elevated for hours, sometimes for up to 24 hours! As a result, you’ll be burning more calories all day long—just because you exercised in the morning.
Exercising in the morning energizes you for the day—not to mention that gratifying feeling of virtue you have knowing you’ve done something disciplinedandgood for you. (Much better than a worm!)
Studies have shown that exercise significantly increases mental acuity—a benefit that lasts four to ten hours after your workout ends. Exercising in the a.m. means you get to harness that brainpower, instead of wasting it while you’re snoozing.
Assuming you make exercise a true priority, it shouldn’t be a major problem to get up 30 to 60 minutes earlier—especially since regular exercise generally means a higher quality of sleep, which in turn means you’ll probably require less sleep. (If getting up 30 to 60 minutes earlier each day seems too daunting, you can ease into it with 10 to 20 minutes at first.)
When you exercise at about the same time every morning—especially if you wake up regularly at about the same time—you’re regulating your body’s endocrine system and circadian rhythms. Your body learns that you do the same thing just about every day, and it begins to prepare for waking and exercise several hours before you actually open your eyes. That’s beneficial because: 1. Your body’s not “confused” by wildly changing wake-up times, which means waking up is much less painful. (You may even find that you don’t need an alarm clock most days.) 2. Hormones prepare your body for exercise by regulating blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to muscles, etc. 3. Your metabolism, along with all the hormones involved in activity and exercise, begin to elevate while you’re sleeping. As a result, you’ll feel more alert, energized, and ready to exercise when you do wake up.
Many people find that morning exercise has a tendency to regulate their appetite for the rest of the day. Not only do they eat less (since activity causes the release of endorphins, which in turn diminishes appetite), they also choose healthier portions of healthier foods
People who consistently exercise find, sometimes to their great surprise, that the appointed time every morning evolves into something they look forward to. Besides the satisfaction of taking care of themselves, they find it’s a great time to plan their day, pray, or just think more clearly—things most of us often don’t get to do otherwise.
Exercising first thing in the morning is the most foolproof way to ensure that other things don’t overtake your fitness commitment, particularly if you have a hectic family life. (It’s so easy to wimp out in the evening, when we’re tired or faced with such tasks as rustling up dinner and helping with homework.)
More than 90% of those who exercise consistently have a morning fitness routine. If you want to exercise on a regular basis, the odds are in your favor if you squeeze your workout into the a.m.
Non-morning people can always trick themselves in the a.m. Having trouble psyching yourself up for a sunrise jog? Do what I did—tell yourself that you’ll still be so fast asleep that you won’t even remember—much less mind!
OMG! As if looking amazing in a bikini wasn’t enough, Valerie Bertinelli ran the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country half marathon last weekend. Folks, that’s 13.1 miles! And she finished in 2:12:19! This should show a lot of her critics that she really has worked hard for her success. Her trainer is trying to convince her to run a full marathon before she’s 50 next April, but Val is convinced just yet. I don’t know about you, but I am proud of Val! She never ceases to inspire. Check out this interview after she finished the race!
Exercise is an important part of getting healthier and losing weight. It speeds up weight loss and is a great confidence booster. But some of us may have trouble getting motivated to start a fitness program, or may not be seeing big results. Well what if you could get fit in minutes - not hours a week?
An article in The New York Times summarizes the results of a study completed at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Two groups of healthy students completed different exercise programs. The first group rode a stationary bike for 90 - 120 minutes at a sustainable pace. The second group rode in high intensity intervals for 20 - 30 seconds, for four to six sets. Each group completed their exercises 3 times a week.
After two weeks both groups showed the same increase in endurance and had the same increase in their volume of mitochondria (cells in muscles that create energy). In addition, those that performed the high intensity intervals burned more calories longer after their workout than the other group. That’s right, the group that exercised for six minutes a week did just as good, and better in some cases, than the group that exercised for several hours a week.
So if you are currently slaving away at the gym and seeing minimal results, try high intensity interval training on the machines, or try it at home with a fitness video such as 30 Day Shred, by Jillian Michaels. Just remember that the key to success with interval training is really pushing yourself as hard as you possibly can. You will be uncomfortable, but the results will be worth it!
I’ve been doing pilates for several years now, and it still the best ab toning and strengthening method I’ve found. Pilates also strengthens the other muscles in your core, including your back! This video, by SparkPeople, is a fantastic 12 minute ab workout for those that are looking to try something new and challenging. If the exercises are too difficult even after modification, just go at your own pace, focusing on great posture. You’ll have super strong abs in no time!
Ya sure, walking is good exercise - that’s a no brainer! But what if you could get even more exercise out of every step you take? Here are three different shoes that claim to make you stronger!
My personal favorite, and for all of you that love to run around barefoot, is Vibram’s FiveFingers Classic. They claim that their shoe is the next best thing to walking barefoot, which makes the muscles in your feet and legs stronger. They are like toe socks, but with a durable, flexible sole!
Ok, maybe you like sandals and all, but you prefer a little more between the ground and your foot! Well, check out the FitFlop, which is available in a variety of styles that all firm your legs and butt. Who wouldn’t want that?
If you’re looking for a regular shoe, take a look at MBT - The Anti Shoe. They make a ton of different styles, from athletic, to casual to professional. MBT claims that their shoes activate neglected muscles and improve posture. Not bad!
So what do you think, would you be willing to give these a try?
Ahhhh, Spring! The days are getting longer and the sun has come out to play. I find that when the temperatures start to rise and blue sky takes over dreary clouds I become extra motivated to work harder on becoming healthy. I’ve kicked up my exercise routine a notch and have been extra careful about what I eat. Although I don’t plan on following in Valerie Bertinelli’s footsteps with a swimsuit splash cover (she looked amazing, by the way), I’m feeling good in my skin knowing that I’m taking care of myself.
How’s the weather out there for you? Do the changing seasons affect your diet motivation?
I’ll tell you what, it’s nice to be able to exercise a bit outside and enjoy the fresh air again! Not to mention the reopening of the local farmers market. Now I can incorporate really fresh and seasonal foods and get a bit of walking in.
As time goes on people seem to walk less and less, when did we become so sedentary? Especially with the age of the Internet, now we can shop, work, and even socialize online! Sometimes you need to break away from your routine and step outside for a good old-fashioned walk.
JC recommends walking 10,000 steps a day to keep you healthy and to help with weight loss. I came across a post on Garden of Egan that mentions her husband’s successful use of a pedometer.
He signed up for Jenny Craig, and so far he’s lost 30 pounds!!! (I’ve been on JC for 13 months and only lost 15, but that is all my fault.) He wears a pedometer every day, and does his best to get his 10,000 steps in.
How close do you think you are in taking 10,000 steps a day? It’s kind of a wakeup call the first time you use a pedometer and you see exactly how much you are or aren’t moving.
JC partitions activity into three categories: natural (household tasks etc), playful (being out and about w/family or friends) and planned (regular exercise).
We all know that staying active helps with weight loss, but it is also important for your overall health. What kind of exercise do you do? Does planning help to motivate you?
If you aren’t currently active, remember that normal activities add up (and count too), whether you vacuumed the house or walked the dog!
So as I previously pledged, I’m going to participate in the local St. Patrick’s Day race. I officially signed up this morning (eek!), and now I have to stick with it! I’m going to have to figure out a good routine to either get up early or run after work to train. I have a little less than a month so wish me luck and I’ll keep you posted! If you’re interested in finding a local race or marathon check out Cool Running’s website and find what’s coming up in your area!
