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Monday, March 12, 2007
How much have you lost?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Why is that the first thing most will ask? Not how is it going, how do you feel, etc…
I have learned through Creed at Fitness Factory and Sara at Inspire Health how much you loose shouldn’t be your first concern. Your concerns should be striving towards a healthier lifestyle by eating better, drinking more water, increasing your physical activity, and dealing with all the changes emotionally.
This past week has been a milestone for me I haven’t eaten any fried food or had diet coke (caffeine) in over a week. I normally eat something fried once a day and can drink 3 or more glasses of diet coke in one meal. I have replaced my diet coke with water and diet rite orange. I have eaten more veggies and fruit this past week than I normally would in a month, heck probably three months.
How much have I lost? I do not know at the moment, but I do know I am feeling better, eating healthier, exercising more, my determination to achieve a healthier life is stronger than last week and I have learned much from the Inspire Health staff. Thank you!
I know I will have my up and down weeks, but this week has been an UP week!!! I have also been inspired by my co AJC fitness buddies blogs. Thank you Cyndee and Jennifer.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Laura
Revenge of the Gall Stones
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After five months of relatively healthy eating, I fell off the wagon last week and indulged in pizza, pasta, French fries, ice cream, Krystal AND Krispy Kreme. NO, the spurge wasn’t in one meal or even in one day, but my formerly cast iron stomach definitely threw a penalty flag, and at 1:30 Sunday morning I was writhing in pain from gall stones. I had enough gas packed into my chest cavity to float a Goodyear blimp. I will swear off donuts for the rest of my life if someone would guarantee gall stones would never strike again.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could receive negative physical reactions immediately to food that caused us to get fat? Kind of an early warning system of a dietary sort. Unfortunately, it can take several years of unhealthy eating before the internal (heart, liver, arteries) damage becomes apparent, while the fat part does show up a bit earlier! I’m working hard at understanding the impact of nutrition so I can be more judicious in my food choices. But why does all the bad stuff taste so good???
My trainer, Tina, is teaching me the impact of exercise. She offers a variety of things to do ranging from free weights, spinning classes, weighted balls, lunges, machines, Pilates and yoga which is good for the gal with ADD in the gym. She has a wonderful positive attitude and is extremely supportive. Thanks AJC for making the introduction.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Cydnee
Weight Loss and Fitness Myth #11: Doing Something is Better than Nothing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Commonly, I hear the phrase “doing something is better than nothing.” Though this may be a little true, it’s usually just a abdication for the efforts of the person who says it.
Now, before I get chastized, I want you to hear me out and unsderstand what I am getting at. I understand that there is a starting point that everone must start. However, if you want to make progress and reach your goals, you have to do more than just “do something” every time you go “do something.”
If you expect to improve your fitness levels, lose weight (build a body that burns fat), and become healthier, you have to implement a principle known as progressive training.
Progressive training is nothing more than the understanding that if you want to make improvement in your physical fitness/weight loss efforts, you’re going to have to push it a little. More specifically, it means that you must make changes in your frequency, intensity, and time of your training. Progressive training includes a concept known as overload.
In weight training, overload is the understanding that you must lift heavier weights than what you are accustome to in order for you to get stronger and increase lean muscle tissue. You can implement this same methodology to your aerobic/cardiovascualr fitness. If you walk 3 miles for the same amount of time every time and at the same speed, you will not improve your fitness levels. You must try to at least walk those first two miles in a faster time.
My examples are vague, but all you need to understand is that you must not be afraid to push it if you want to make progress. You were already meant to do activity by design. So, doing something like going on a walk all the time is not sufficient enough if you want to get results. You have to steadily increase what you do if you want to get results.
