Let’s face it. No matter how much you may not like it, exercise is key. Physical activity is not only essential in losing weight but keeps us moving around when we get older, helps improve our memory and makes you feel great about yourself. No one is saying you need to be able to keep up with Matt and Lance, but you should have some exercise in your daily life. Slowly build up your strength and stamina and who knows, maybe we’ll see you in the next Tour De France. If you don’t already, you should start working out today. There is no better time to start then now. The first (and second) time is the hardest. But you will start noticing a change in your strength and endurance right away. It really is amazing.
From Wikipedia (Physical Exercise):
“Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health or wellness. It is performed for various reasons. These include strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance and for enjoyment. Frequent and regular physical exercise boosts the immune system, and helps prevent the “diseases of affluence” such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. It also improves mental health, helps prevent depression, helps to promote or maintain positive self-esteem, and can even augment an individual’s sex appeal or body image. Childhood obesity is a growing global concern and physical exercise may help decrease the effects of childhood obesity in developed countries.”
When I decided it was time for me to finally get my sh*t together and be healthy, the first thing I started doing was exercising. It gave me a reason right away to change my diet. I didn’t want to eat all unhealthy and stuff after I just worked it at the gym.
If you are trying to lose weight, another key element is calorie counting. Say you want to lose X amount of weight in a certain amount of time. Given certain other factors like current weight and height, you will need to lose Y amount of weight each week to reach your goal. That means you will only be able to eat a certain # of calories per day. The amount of calories you burn at the gym, or through the many different types of physical activity that there are out there, gets added onto your allotted calories you are “allowed” to consume each day. Once you start learning how many calories things that you may normally eat are and how long it takes to burn it off at the gym, you start to think twice about what you are putting in your body.
If you have an IPhone there is a really helpful app called “Lose It”. It changed my life. “Lose It” does all of the necessary calculations for you involving your goal weight then lets you know how many calories you can eat a day. You input any exercise you’ve done or food you’ve eaten and it does the appropriate additions and subtractions. It also has a huge data base of food items and exercises that will tell you how many calories you consumed or burned by entering quantities and times. It makes calorie counting remarkably easy, and it’s free. If you don’t have an IPhone, try www.my-calorie-counter.com for a good online diet journal and calorie counter.
When I first started working out again, I did 30 minutes 3 times a week on the elliptical machine at the gym. Now, I have a full on routine and go at least 5 times a week. Start out small and work your way up. You don’t need a gym to work out. Walk, bike, run, swim, play basketball…just do something to get that heart rate up! :)
Since it is Wednesday and I am talking about working out, I present to you Work it Out Wednesdays by BAM! Every Wednesday, I will give you one of my favorite workout tips, tricks and techniques. BAM! Work it Out Wednesdays! Whoot! (I am a sucker for alliteration)
You’ve got to move it, move it,
c
