Slowed Down

Last week, I worked out 3 times and I sweated almost everyday while I have been cleaning and clearing my house. I have been in a major Spring cleaning and organizing mood. My house still feels like a mess because I have a few projects in progress. I have a cough that just won't go away, and it just slows me down horribly. I did exercise today, and then I have swimming lessons with my daughter. I hope I can wake up soon. I feel like I'm moving in mud even after working out for 30 minutes.

A New Week

This morning when the alarm went off, it was so difficult to get out of bed. My head was pounding, and my jaw ached which means that I've been clenching it again. My day is going to be so busy, and I just wanted more sleep. Then I started to drift back to sleep into a dream of exercising, and I knew if I didn't get up NOW then it wasn't going to happen. So I told myself: just exercise for 10 minutes and if you feel better, then continue and if you feel worse then you can just do some gentle Yoga. So I got up and popped my tape in, and wouldn't you know it, in 10 minutes I was feeling a lot better. I've finished my workout for the day, and last week, I did 6 days in a row!! Yippee!! I took Sunday off, and I am not sure if that helped or not. I am beginning to think that I need some lighter workout days and heavier workout days. Monday needs to be a lighter day to get me going again, and put my heavier days Tues, Wed, Thurs. Well, I have a very busy morning ahead of me. I want to do some ab work before I go take a shower. Have a Great Day!

Yay Me !!!

Well, I did it. I got up on my birthday and worked out. Today is the 5th day in a row that I have sweated. This is definitely a record. I am proud of myself. Now I can enjoy the rest of my birthday. I feel very blessed this year. I am surrounded by family and friends that care. A friend is taking me out to lunch and my husband is taking me to dinner and shopping tomorrow. Isn't that amazing? I have been thinking about my life, and I realize that there isn't anything that I would really want to change (other than to be healthier, but we are always tweaking that ... this is the year) I love my husband and my kids. I like staying at home with them. I am able to do a variety of kinds of work: mental, physical, creative. I have time to work on relationships. I have time to rest when I need to or play when I need to. Last night, I played Uno with my daughter. That was so cool. Life really is good ... just like those t-shirts.

Staying Motivated to Exercise

I have exercised 4 times this week. Better yet, I have sweated for at least 20 minutes 4 times this week. I am feeling really tired today. Usually, I do this for 2 weeks and then something happens, and I "fall off the wagon". If I focus on the positive, I may be tired today, but I am feeling so thankful. The sun shined. My daughter had a really fun St. Patrick's Day parade at school. My son gave me a kiss. When does the extra energy kick in? I know it is too early yet. Patience was never one of my virtues although I do have a healthy dose of determination (read STUBBORNESS). Let me know what keeps you motivated to exercise, to be healthy.

Ten Steps to a Better Body & a Better Life

I have been reading books lately about raising metabolism and getting healthier with more energy. While I was sick, I finished Make the Connection with Bob Greene & Oprah Winfrey. This is an old book, but it explained everything in ways I could understand and relate to. I thought I would send you the condensed version.

1. Exercise aerobically, 5 to 7 days each week, preferably in the morning. This will raise your metabolism all day. The best aerobic exercise is running, walking, aerobic dance, or stair climbing (not stair stepping).

2. Exercise in the zone (at a level 7 or 8 intensity - you can talk but you don't want to).

3. Exercise for 20 to 60 minutes each exercise session (Warm up, stretch, warm up, exercise 20-60 minutes, cool down, stretch)

4. Eat a low-fat, balanced diet each day (Commit to continually improving the way you eat.)

5. Eat 3 meals & 2 snacks each day (Eating boosts your metabolism & eating your calories earlier in the day gives you time to use them as energy instead of storing them as fat.)

6. Limit or Eliminate Alcohol. (Alcohol has almost as many calories as pure fat and it can slow down your metabolism for up to 3 days after you drink it.)

7. Stop eating 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. (That little craving for food late at night is your body dipping into its fat stores. You have a choice: let it dip into your fat stores or sacrifice your weight loss for the day.)

8. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. (Water aids digestion & metabolism and it makes all of the body's systems work better.)

9. Have at least 2 servings of fruit & 3 servings of vegetables each day.

10. Renew your commitment to healthy living each day (Daily Renewal) by keeping a journal or some other way of reminding yourself of why you are choosing to be healthy. It helps the process if you dwell on the present, living in the moment, and allowing yourself to experience daily joy & pain. By always focusing on the past or the future, you numb yourself to the present and don't fully LIVE.

Bob Greene recommends that you do the minimum of each of the 10 steps before you increase any one step.

Would anyone like to join me in this quest to be healthier?

Trans Fatty Acids

I just got my cholesterol checked and it is high. The good news is that my HDL (good) is high but the bad news is that my LDL (Bad) is also high. So I just need to bring my LDL down. I was reading yesterday in Prevention magazine that there are lots of transfats in fried chicken and french fries, and transfats raise your LDL. Actually, there are lots of transfats in all restaurant fried foods and baked goods. So I think I need to cut back on fried foods. Bummer. I think this will be very difficult for me to do.

I can cut back to once a week, but I don't think I can just eliminate them right now. I'm not ready.