I prefer not to use the 'E' word, you know the one. The one that means you have to get up off the sofa and do somthing, besides check out the pantry or the inside of the fridge.
I prefer, instead, the 'activity' word. It doesn't seem like so much work! Why can't we just have fun! You don't just have to join the gym to get "movin".
In this section, I'll share some other info about moving on to success...have fun, will ya!
Life is good! Find something you like to do that gets you motivated to 'move'.
Yes you can!
go for it...
As you know by now, our support group walks "The Loop" on Saturday mornings. I had made up my mind last night before going to bed, that I was going to walk "The Loop" rain or shine, except for lightening, of course.
I laid out my clothes and shoes, just to make it easier to get ready and awoke at 7:30am...I try to eat breakfast about 1 and 1/2 hours before I exercise. I was very motivated because my plan was to try to walk two times around today. This morning, as you know if you're local, it was pouring rain. I was so motivated to try the distance.
it had been several months since I had been able to walk the 6 mile stretch, since recovering from some recent surgery. Listening for thunder...I decided instead of driving down to the beach, I would walk in the neighborhood, in case I had to make a mad dash for home.
When the rain let up a bit, I started out. When I got about a 1/2 mile from the house, I remembered that when I started walking just after weight loss surgery 2 years ago, one of my goals was to be able to walk to the neighborhood lake, walk around the lake and back home. I had really forgotten about it. I now walk "The Loop", or I go off in the opposite direction when I walk the neighborhood. The distance was probably about the same as twice around "The Loop".
So off I went...and I did it...today was the day...I was able to walk all the way to the lake, around the lake, then back home. I did get a little wet on the way back, but it was so worth it!
Meeting the goal that I had set for myself was a wonderful feeling. It really wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. Two years ago I couldn't do it, but I did envision that one day I would. Today, I accomplished the goal. Next I will practice the track, and twice around "The Loop" until I am ready to go for my next goal of 9 miles.
During the week I walk about 3 miles, then once a week I do 6. My ultimate goal is to walk in a 13 mile event. Sometimes we all need to stretch ourselves beyond where we think we can go...
Andre Gide once said, "One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time."
Here's to new discoveries, new adventures and new achievements you only dreamed about...yes you can...you have many more miles to go!
Julia Holloman
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find the fun
Most of us just don’t like to exercise for one reason or another…we can always find a few excuses that seem reasonable. Fact is, you may get away with not exercising for a while, but not for long. My theory…go ahead and begin, starting is the hardest part, and soon or later you will be glad you did.
It has been said that one reason why people don’t exercise is because it’s boring…I think it’s just easier not to, (we won’t use the lazy word), however, we’ll give ourselves the benefit of the doubt and go with boredom, after all, our image is a stake here!
First try starting with the simple things like parking your car further away from your destination. Look for the stairs instead of the elevator. Mop the floor more often, yeah, right!
So, maybe we can come up with more “fun” alternatives to exercise, or at least something to make it a little more palatable. Have you considered golf, dance lessons, washing your car, walking, working in the yard, swimming, softball, bicycling, hiking, water skiing, surfing, walking in the mall, water aerobics, Frisbee, getting a dog to walk, or walking your neighbors dog, hey, you could even turn it into a business and get a monetary profit going here!
Next, we need a goal to aim for, to give us that sense of accomplishment. For example, if walking is your pleasure, then how about training for a walk or run. Don’t be surprised if you hear that there is an upcoming “Walk From Obesity” being planned for our area. You will want to be ready for that, start practicing now. While you’re walking, be thinking of all the people who would sponsor you and how proud you will be of yourself to achieve the goal.
Our local support group at Miles Surgical walks “the loop” every Saturday morning at 9:00am during the summer and 10:00am during the winter months. For those of you who aren’t local, it’s a 2.5-mile loop in the center of the island of Wrightsville Beach, NC. I show up every Saturday, sometimes I walk with my husband, sometimes by myself, and sometimes one or two people will show up. My goal is to be able to do a 13-mile walk. Last summer I could do 6 miles, but due to some recent plastic surgery, I have to build up to that again, and I’m almost there. Having a goal has been a huge motivating factor in getting me there at least three times a week, along with making the commitment to the support group. While my stamina is returning, I am practicing walking faster for the 2.5 miles, so that when I have the energy to walk more, I’ll be ready. My third motivating factor is attending an August wedding of some close friends, I have a new dress and while I’m walking, I think about how great it will be to see old friends and how good it will feel to be in that size 6 dress, (with high heels, no doubt)!
I really don’t like going to the gym, my husband has been trying to get me back in there, and I go during the winter months. He has been encouraging me to do some leg weights. I have good intentions, but I just don’t like the gym. I’m not motivated to get dressed, but I have recently gotten a pair of gym shorts that are the correct size and a really “cool” shirt, so maybe I’ll make the effort now. In my defense, I do have some small, 3-pound weights at home, which I lift from time to time.
Maybe you have noticed clothing is motivation for me, so find something that motivates you and go have fun getting fit this summer. Which reminds me, just think one season at a time. You may find another activity you will enjoy this winter, like snow skiing…yes you can, you have many more miles to go!
carb-ercise it
I am a firm believer in balance, even when it comes to weight loss. Even though for years I went on plenty of diets that eliminated whole food groups, I was never too fond of them. You know the saying, “Everything in moderation.” Before having surgery, I had reached a point that my body no longer responded to balance; metabolism was nowhere in sight. So now is my chance to do it right! When I read an article in the WLS Lifestyles magazine on “Keys To Losing Fat Without Losing Muscle”, and one thing got my attention...Carbohydrate management, not carbohydrate elimination. The article was written by a nutritionist, Charles Remington, who has worked with more than 10,000 clients over the last 12 years.
As I have said before, once I know the reason why, I am much more likely to commit. So my next goal was to understand how my body worked. My motto: work smarter, not harder. The information in the article was great, but a little tricky to understand, so I got an interpreter, a friend of mine who understands diet and exercise…my personal trainer, Monty Miller. He agreed, in order to burn fat and still keep muscle mass, you need those carbs, the good carbs. Not only that but the timing of eating carbs and exercise is very important.
Here is how it works. Your insulin and blood sugar levels rise and then drop slowly one-and-a-half to two hours after eating. The slow rise provides good nutrition for your cells and muscles. Then as blood sugar begins to drop, your pancreas produces a hormone, glucagons, which release fat cells. Good management of the rise and drop is very important. Timing your exercise to the drop allows the muscles be fed while losing fat.
Our goal is to lose fat, not muscle mass. Low carb diets help you lose weight for a while, but they also cause muscle loss and lower your metabolism. Low carbs don’t give you enough fuel to exercise and is a poor diet solution for long term weight loss.
That is a lot to say this: the best time to exercise is one-and-a-half to two hours after you eat. It is ok to eat more carbs on days that you exercise…so get in those good carbs which feed your muscles and your brain…then go for a walk, lift those weights. Make your muscles work for you.
By the way, at the end of the day…always have one meal left so that your muscles can recuperate...I can deal with that…can’t you? Exercise calls for good nutrition and our goal is good health…so eat a good healthy breakfast about an hour-and-a-half before, bring your friends and come walk the loop on Saturdays with our support group. Yes you can, you have many more miles to go!