Working Out.... a few thoughts...

Exercise should not be a dirty word, it also shouldn't bring about thoughts of dread.... but, most times it does.  And I think in part, its purely attitude.

So that means, we need to rewire or hardwire how we view exercise on the one hand and on the other, we need to find something we actually LIKE doing.

Whether its following along with an Exercise DVD with one of our Faves, like Bob or Julian from Biggest Loser, Walking outdoors, joining a gym, working out at home with equipment or even using the Wii or XBox... exercise should be enjoyable!

A few things to consider... if you are not a disciplined type person, you will struggle with working out at home and sticking with it.  There needs to be an accountability factor to help keep you going.

Joining a gym, this has some GREAT pros to it and only a few cons... you will have access to all kinds of equipment, usually people who know how and can instruct you how to use it and in a good club, you can hire a personal trainer to help get you going... that also means that some people might be watching but, its probably not "you" they are watching, its the trainer.  They might want to know if they are any good, their technique etc... and consider hiring them as well. Some of the drawbacks can be waiting for equipment if the club is too small and over-signs clients, the hours its open, the staff, you want to ensure they have the proper insurance and certification, and there is the fact that you are walking in the door over-weight, obese or severely obese... it can be overwhelming if people forget where they came from.

One thing, that no matter what you choose to do for your activity, be competitive with yourself!  It will help to set up a successful manner of a challenge to keep you going.  Learn to kick that negative little chatter that goes on in your head, to the curb!  Its not there to HELP you, so get rid of it lol!!

When my head goes "ugh do I have to work out now"... then it will say, "maybe we can do it later on?" I say NO, we are going now... whatever my head decides to say, my mouth counters it out loud, with the opposite.  Counter the negative with a positive.

This is about MY health and I want MY body back lol!! After kids, being home, and just "life" getting in the way... like I said, its time to be selfish, when in fact, that selfishness benefits everyone around me.

I have more energy, our meals are more nutritionally sound, I can do more and I look better hehehe!

So my first goal... I bought a new outfit... I don't have a deadline to get into it, just getting into it will be the reward that I am looking forward to.

Rewards, as I mentioned before, shouldn't have anything to do with food, you don't "Treat" yourself to food, you SUSTAIN yourself with it.

Food is also used in Celebrations of Life!  Weddings, Birthdays, Showers and even Celebrating the Life of a loved one departed.

WE should control the food that goes into our bodies to sustain it, and not act like its the last time we will ever eat and look like we are haunched over a trough with a shovel!

When you actually measure out portions of food, keeping calories in mind, whether you want to eat 1200, 1400 or 1600 calories a day, you would be surprised just what that looks like on a plate over the day!! Its NOT as much food as you think, especially if you are eating nutritionally sound food.

The biggest issue I saw when I was in practice... people "thinking" they knew what was the right thing to do and they were totally wrong.

In the next few days... I plan on posting a number of thoughts on Labeling Gimmicks, Marketing Gimmicks and Advertising Gimmicks that mislead people.

Regarding Exercise... pick something you enjoy and can see yourself doing, you don't have to do "this" thing for the rest of your life but, you will have to keep moving, or eat less and still gain a few pounds.

To my "gaming buddies" on FaceBook... if you consider the time between hitting "play" or the "horn" is only 15 minutes... it only takes two horns or two plays three to four days a week to start to make a difference and that difference of one to two pounds a week... sure is better than GAINING 1 to 2 pounds a week!!

And if you add that up... 2lbs per week for 20 weeks, that's 40lbs!!!  think about it...