Must. Do. More. Cardio.

Cardiovascular activity..... ugh! It is my nemesis. I love to exercise, but in order to lose the weight I want to lose, I have to step up the cardio. Apparently, twenty minutes on an elliptical is not enough. It is just not interesting. I have tried conversation, TV and music as distraction, and yet, there I am watching the seconds tick by in boredom.

My solution: changing it up! My spectacular workout partner and I have decided to run/ walk on the indoor track and get back into spinning. Both are excellent cardiovascular exercises, and interesting. I am not much of a runner, but the run/ walk combination helps. Spinning, in itself, is ever changing for the 50-60 minutes you are on the bike. Just when you think you want to give up, the instructor changes either your position, the tension or the speed. You feel accomplished when you get off the bike.

I am always telling my patients that in order to increase their endurance and strength, they need to build on what they are already doing. That simply doing the same thing everyday (even if they are very active), will only maintain what they have now. In order to increase strength and endurance, you need to take it to the next step, without exhausting yourself.

So I guess I need to start taking a bit of my own advise.

In the time since starting my exercise/ diet change regiment, I lost a total of 6 lbs, however, today I hopped on the scale and I am back to where I started. Major bummer, but more of a butt kicker. I will keep chugging along, and taking in the helpful advise that has been coming my way. I am so fortunate to have such great supporters, and hope they continue to motivate me along this journey.... "My Journey To The New Me."

"The Activia Challenge"

As part of "My Journey To The New Me," I have accepted the "Activia Challenge." The challenge is to consume Activia daily for two weeks as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, and Activia will help to regulate your digestive system.

I have tried the flavors, strawberry/ banana and peach! They are both very tasty, and an excellent sweet tooth fix. I have been eating Activia for two days now, and already feel a difference. I don't feel as full in the stomach or bloated as I did before, I look forward to what the next two weeks will bring.

I am headed to the refrigerator and grabbing a spoon.... until next time!

My Journey To The New Me

I have decided to use the art of blogging to my advantage..... my weight loss advantage. I have come to realize that the mere act of thinking about weight loss and the continual excuses for not losing the weight are not correlating. Well, duh! I know, how genius of me to put these those two thoughts together. Saying I want to lose weight and actually doing something about it, have been my biggest challenges.

So, I use this blog to put myself out there. To share my ups and downs with weight loss. To give myself somewhere and someone to report to. I feel that if I have that "someone to answer to," I just may be motivated to keep moving along. I am looking for encouragement and help through this journey, so today I am asking for your support, your ideas.

Weight loss is not something new to me. I have struggled with weight for a very long time. While I love my three children, having them has done a number on my body. Of course, they are not fully to blame, I also enjoy food! I have tried many fad diets, and frankly, I am not interested. I am successful while on the diet, but slowly go back to "old habits." TA DA! So, here I am.... Ready to make a change!

I will no longer hide behind my pretty pink North Face jacket. I am shedding the layers, and shedding the pounds. The right way.... no skipping meals (doesn't help the metabolism), no pills (I have heart palpitations, shouldn't be taking them anyway) and no binge and purge (been there, done that.... not a good time in my life and I don't want to go back).

I will try to post weekly updates with healthy food tips, exercise tips or other useful information I have found along the way. I hope to stay motivated through posting this blog, and with a little help from all of you! Your encouraging words, suggestions and tips through this journey will be uplifting, and at times much needed. Thanks in advance! Love!


"Most health professionals recommend slow weight loss as the safest and most effective approach. A sensible weight-loss program allows you to lose weight gradually -- about one-half to one pound per week. Gradual weight loss promotes long-term loss of body fat, not just water weight that can be quickly regained.

To lose one pound, a person must burn 3,500 calories more than are consumed (500 calories per day over the course of a week). For example, reducing calories by 300 per day and increasing daily activity to burn off an additional 200 calories should result in a weight loss of one pound per week.

Here is an example of how the calculator can help you. If your daily calorie needs were calculated as 2500 calories and you desire to lose weight, you could:

1. Consume 2200 calories. (That's 300 calories less than this example diet), and
2. Burn 200 calories through activity, to result in a 2000-calorie diet!"

www.caloriecontrol.org






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