Been quiet on here...too quiet. It's me own fault! I have been torn lately as to what I wanted this blog to cover. I started out as Frugal Maven in my last blog, and really didn't change that once I started this blog. In other words, I'm still frugal. That's one of my main things, and something I didn't give up once I went to healthy eating. You can see it in some of my past posts. When you're on a tight budget is when most of us throw in the healthy eating towel. These two blogs are still interchangeable. I started realizing that I can't ONLY focus on one thing. Things in life over lap. Life overlaps.
So I have incorporated my old blog posts into my new blog and will begin to write about all things in my sphere. For you that means you can easily look aaaaaalllllll the way back as far as 2010 and see all my past posts. I'm also in the process of labeling them so you can find each category easily: Frugality, Healthy eating, Daily living, etc. I've also been adding recipes to my recipe pages,as well as some of the old tutorials I had on my old blog. New stuff will also be appearing if I have my way.
As for me, it's been a rough few past months, which threw me into a bit of a tail spin. This Past Christmas, while joyful in some ways, ended up being an "off the wagon" derail of sorts. I ate myself sick, and I do mean sick. My body, after months of healthy eating, I think, couldn't tolerate the amount of sugar it was taking in. I was physically sick, and that made me a little....well panicky. I faced the music on Christmas Eve and was up 10 lbs over the past 4 months since the heart attack. I was praying about it and wondering where my mojo went. I used to could stare down a cheese cake and not blink. I could have whatever in the house and it not phase me. During the course of my prayer I realized two things; actually, I believe God revealed these two things to me. 1) I was still living with, and fearful of another attack. 2) I was convicted that I had just celebrated the birth of Christ by abusing my body; which God says is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Needless to say, I never want to treat myself like that again. I also realize that good health is the one thing on earth that can keep another attack away.
So! Happy to say I have been back on track. No hanging on by a thread: It's good. I'm down 5 lbs since Monday. I finished cardiac rehab and am doing this on my own. I have a heart monitor and I'm not afraid to use it! In fact, I just finished my workout for the day.
I'm wanting to see my progress over time and so, to save on paper, I'm going to put the stats on here. You'll see my music list that I walk to, and beside each one will be the speed and incline I use on the tread mill to keep my heart between 114-124. As time progresses, I'm looking forward to seeing those numbers go up; higher incline. The speed will remain the same,as it goes with the beat of the music.
Grace Wins by Matthew West- 2.8 speed- 0 first minute then-5 incline
Oxygen by Lincoln Brewster- 3 speed- 5 incline
Overcomer by Mandesa- 3 speed- 5 incline
Feel It by Toby Mac- 3 speed- 5 incline-down to 4 at end
More by Usher- 3.3 speed- 4 incline -down to 2.5
Move by Toby Mac- 3 speed- 4 incline
Down to the River by Jordan Feliz- 3.3 speed- 4 incline- 2.5
Every good thing by The Afters- 3.3 speed 2.5 speed
Still haven't found by U2- 2.7 speed- 6.5 incline- last minute no incline as I cool down
No weights today
Showing posts with label How to move. Show all posts
Showing posts with label How to move. Show all posts
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Monday, September 25, 2017
I HATE, yes I said Hate Treadmills
Before you start, no this is not a "You don't have to exercise with my plan" post. Activity is vital. I don't believe God created us to be sedentary. We may like nothing more than to be slugs, but our bodies need more. We may eat like our ancestors here in the south, but many times we don't work as hard as they did. Great Grandma might have had ham and biscuits with gravy and all the fixins (yea that's a word here in the south), but then went out and washed the weeks laundry with a wash board and a cast iron pot(those things are heavy).
Now I'm not going to say do THAT!, but you have to move.
In my case I would rather do anything other than get on a treadmill or other type of exercise equipment. Well I take that back. There is one thing that comes after getting on a treadmill. Cutting the grass with a push mower. I've done this all season as part of my "workouts". After a complete spring and summer of constantly getting bitten by ants EVERY. TIME. I CUT THE GRASS!. I've determined a riding lawnmower would be nice and I'll just do a workout routine instead. But if you don't have ants in your yard, have at it! Here's some other examples of movement (exercise) that burns calories! Digging a raised bed with a shovel (or just digging), Heavy duty house cleaning, Hiking, joining your kids on a bike ride. Anything that causes you to move and use energy. Uh making the bed doesn't count. FYI.
That's me and my grandson in the pic above. My workout that day was a trip to Tallulah Gorge in North Georgia. DH is taking the picture. It is 1062 steps down to the bottom of the gorge. That means it's 1062 back up to the top. Needless to say both my workout and my prayer life increased that day. My rambunctious grandson RAN up the steps and at each landing would...ahem, encourage his grandma with wonderful phrases like "NO MERCY GRANDMA!". This was about 20 lbs ago.
My main problem with having to do a structured workout is the fact that I'm accomplishing nothing for 45 minutes. I know "but your accomplishing health!". That doesn't work for me as a motivator. For you guys who work a 40+ hour week and your trying to decide between being healthy and having well adjusted kids or a clean house; it's even less of a motivator. Let me say it doesn't have to be a choice. You have housework that needs doing? Set a timer and move around the house for 45 minutes; sweeping, mopping, cleaning the bathroom, whatever as long as you are moving at a good pace. Want to spend time with the kids? Do something physical either outside or inside depending on weather. Play tag with your kids, hide and seek, etc. You are substituting these tasks for a workout. Look for ways to move. You don't have to have a gym membership to be successful. I stopped trying to make myself an athlete a long time ago.
If you're at a desk job, it's good to get up and walk around every 15-30 minutes. Not necessarily for weight loss as much as aiding in circulation. And not for a long time, just enough to aid blood flow. They say sitting is the new smoking.
If you're already in an active job with a lot of walking, lifting etc, then you're ahead of the game, just watch your calorie intake.
There are days where I'm not cleaning house or working in the yard. In those times I know I need to add something to continue moving. By the way, days off from work are a great time to do a structured workout, just to hush up all the nay Sayers. Lol. I do get on the treadmill some, but my favorite thing to do is step aerobics. I've learned enough moves over the years of dieting that I just downloaded very upbeat music to my MP3 player and worked out a routine. Even if all you can do is step up and down on a step to your music, it counts. My point is to choose what YOU like best. What you can look forward to. I have discovered this as well; walking beats nothing, but walking in and of itself doesn't burn many calories. The only way I'm burning a significant amount of calories on a treadmill is if I'm on at least a 5% incline. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you get the most calorie burn for your time.
Remember for this to work for the long haul, your life needs to be minimally disrupted. Additional costs for a gym membership or special foods, can derail a healthy eating plan. Having to find time in an already busy day to add a workout, can derail a diet plan. You need to be able to easily adapt to the fun changes (ahem sarcasm here) life throws at you.
Now I'm not going to say do THAT!, but you have to move.
In my case I would rather do anything other than get on a treadmill or other type of exercise equipment. Well I take that back. There is one thing that comes after getting on a treadmill. Cutting the grass with a push mower. I've done this all season as part of my "workouts". After a complete spring and summer of constantly getting bitten by ants EVERY. TIME. I CUT THE GRASS!. I've determined a riding lawnmower would be nice and I'll just do a workout routine instead. But if you don't have ants in your yard, have at it! Here's some other examples of movement (exercise) that burns calories! Digging a raised bed with a shovel (or just digging), Heavy duty house cleaning, Hiking, joining your kids on a bike ride. Anything that causes you to move and use energy. Uh making the bed doesn't count. FYI.
That's me and my grandson in the pic above. My workout that day was a trip to Tallulah Gorge in North Georgia. DH is taking the picture. It is 1062 steps down to the bottom of the gorge. That means it's 1062 back up to the top. Needless to say both my workout and my prayer life increased that day. My rambunctious grandson RAN up the steps and at each landing would...ahem, encourage his grandma with wonderful phrases like "NO MERCY GRANDMA!". This was about 20 lbs ago.
My main problem with having to do a structured workout is the fact that I'm accomplishing nothing for 45 minutes. I know "but your accomplishing health!". That doesn't work for me as a motivator. For you guys who work a 40+ hour week and your trying to decide between being healthy and having well adjusted kids or a clean house; it's even less of a motivator. Let me say it doesn't have to be a choice. You have housework that needs doing? Set a timer and move around the house for 45 minutes; sweeping, mopping, cleaning the bathroom, whatever as long as you are moving at a good pace. Want to spend time with the kids? Do something physical either outside or inside depending on weather. Play tag with your kids, hide and seek, etc. You are substituting these tasks for a workout. Look for ways to move. You don't have to have a gym membership to be successful. I stopped trying to make myself an athlete a long time ago.
If you're at a desk job, it's good to get up and walk around every 15-30 minutes. Not necessarily for weight loss as much as aiding in circulation. And not for a long time, just enough to aid blood flow. They say sitting is the new smoking.
If you're already in an active job with a lot of walking, lifting etc, then you're ahead of the game, just watch your calorie intake.
There are days where I'm not cleaning house or working in the yard. In those times I know I need to add something to continue moving. By the way, days off from work are a great time to do a structured workout, just to hush up all the nay Sayers. Lol. I do get on the treadmill some, but my favorite thing to do is step aerobics. I've learned enough moves over the years of dieting that I just downloaded very upbeat music to my MP3 player and worked out a routine. Even if all you can do is step up and down on a step to your music, it counts. My point is to choose what YOU like best. What you can look forward to. I have discovered this as well; walking beats nothing, but walking in and of itself doesn't burn many calories. The only way I'm burning a significant amount of calories on a treadmill is if I'm on at least a 5% incline. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you get the most calorie burn for your time.
Remember for this to work for the long haul, your life needs to be minimally disrupted. Additional costs for a gym membership or special foods, can derail a healthy eating plan. Having to find time in an already busy day to add a workout, can derail a diet plan. You need to be able to easily adapt to the fun changes (ahem sarcasm here) life throws at you.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Moving (Yes I had to go there)
SHHHH! I have a little secret to tell.
Our ancestors didn't have treadmills. I KNOW! Crazy. No treadmills, elliptical s, weight benches, bikes, etc. Life was their workout. Let's face it guys, the more gadgets we've invented, the more sedentary we've become. From remote control TVs to Segways, activity has been slowly taken away from us. Maybe a better turn of phrase would be "given up by us". So we've given up the activity of life and exchanged it for, if we're diligent, time in a gym making up for it. I used to think "you know our fore fathers ate bacon and sausage and whole milk, butter, etc and never had to count calories". Well Yea! That's because they burned what they ate by lunch! Now I'm not saying you need to go out and plow the north 40 or wash all of your laundry by hand (though I have done that (( the laundry not the 40)). What I'm saying is, if you want, life can give you more activity than you would think. So now I Segway (sorry, really sorry, but I had to do that) to my third point.
3) Move in a way you enjoy- Treadmills, exercise bikes and the lot don't thrill me too much. I see walking in place for 45 minutes as a waste of my time. For that reason it doesn't take much to talk me out of exercising that way. Walking outside is nice as long as it isn't raining....or freezing. Still, I can think of other things that NEED to be done rather than exercise. Now I LOVE working in the garden or yard work in general. Come to find out that counts as exercise. Who knew! Heavy duty house cleaning is exercise too. Not the pillow fluffing or making a bed, but the vacuuming, tub scouring, dusting everything, washing windows, etc. are definite moving. When I can't work in the yard, or I don't need to do any heavy house cleaning, I turn to my new favorite movement. My youngest son Rubic has been so kind to help me in compiling some awesome songs on my MP3 player. Songs you just have to move to. I've even added some myself. A total of 12 songs which totals approximately 45 minutes of exercise. My Trusty MP3 player, a set of headphones, and a basic aerobic step constitute my workout. It's fun for me because I get to dance for the most part. And I do work up a sweat! The best thing is I don't sweat this! Pardon the pun. I try to move 5 days a week. If I need to do yard work; that counts. If I need to spring clean my house; that works. If I'm in the middle of something like sewing, or errands, I take that day off and don't beat myself up. In other words I Live my LIFE! Do you know what my workout will be today? Mowing the lawn with a push mower. 45 minutes burns 328 calories for someone my size. Now you don't have to do what I do. Like I said, this has to work for you. Some people love to work out at the gym. Boggles my mind, but I've been told they're out there.
But I work a full time Job! How can I add a workout!
I will be the first to admit that being home has helped me in fitting everything in. I do spend 2 and a half hours of each day in the car carting two sons to school and or work (til they get their license). Which means I have to fit in whatever workout plus whatever needs doing at home into a 9-12 window. That's why I make chores/workouts do double duty. I will also admit that having a full time job, especially if you are a working mom, makes the idea of exercise daunting. It's a challenge. Your choice though is to try something and possibly succeed, or do nothing and continue on as you are. The object is to work this into your life some how. Incorporate movement while at work. Take the long way to a meeting, use the stairs, walk on your break, etc. When you get home and want to spend time with the kids, make it a physical activity. The time spent with them is just as valuable. Save your "serious" work outs for your days off. If you can find no way to get activity right now, that's fine! Any change is positive. Figure your calories (on whatever site you choose)on being in a sedentary job for now. As you get the food part down, then address the activity. I will tell you if you try to force it all in and it's to much for you, then you'll stop and gain back all you've lost. Guess what. You will then beat your self up with every pound gained. Success is a great motivator, and failure is just the opposite. If you have gone through the loss, gain, loss, gain more loop then it can be hard to motivate yourself to try again. That was me. When I finally resolved to try again it was with the knowledge that I would never be an athlete or Jillian Micheals. Instead I just wanted to focus on what I could do with my activity level where it is. It had to fit my life and not the other way around. I will never be a super model (I know shocks me too), but I can be my best for my life style. That is all this is about.
Final Thoughts:
People asked me what I did to lose weight and this is it. If you do what I did; Great! If you do your own thing; Great! If you have to have a plan like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig, etc, then great as well. I will say this. Whatever you choose to do to lose weight will have to be done from now until eternity. If you can't sustain the plan you choose for that length of time, you will fail. Period. Plan accordingly. There will come a time when I hit a maintenance level to my calories. In other words I maintain my weight and not lose. However I will always, Always have to measure, record, and move. I accept that. I also accept the fact that at any time I fail to do these things, I will gain my weight back and it will be no ones fault but my own.
So there you have it. There will be times in the future I will write about a recipe or tip I have tried just like in everything else I write about. I would love to hear about your successes, tips and recipes too. In fact I look forward to it. Thank you for reading alllllll of this.
Our ancestors didn't have treadmills. I KNOW! Crazy. No treadmills, elliptical s, weight benches, bikes, etc. Life was their workout. Let's face it guys, the more gadgets we've invented, the more sedentary we've become. From remote control TVs to Segways, activity has been slowly taken away from us. Maybe a better turn of phrase would be "given up by us". So we've given up the activity of life and exchanged it for, if we're diligent, time in a gym making up for it. I used to think "you know our fore fathers ate bacon and sausage and whole milk, butter, etc and never had to count calories". Well Yea! That's because they burned what they ate by lunch! Now I'm not saying you need to go out and plow the north 40 or wash all of your laundry by hand (though I have done that (( the laundry not the 40)). What I'm saying is, if you want, life can give you more activity than you would think. So now I Segway (sorry, really sorry, but I had to do that) to my third point.
3) Move in a way you enjoy- Treadmills, exercise bikes and the lot don't thrill me too much. I see walking in place for 45 minutes as a waste of my time. For that reason it doesn't take much to talk me out of exercising that way. Walking outside is nice as long as it isn't raining....or freezing. Still, I can think of other things that NEED to be done rather than exercise. Now I LOVE working in the garden or yard work in general. Come to find out that counts as exercise. Who knew! Heavy duty house cleaning is exercise too. Not the pillow fluffing or making a bed, but the vacuuming, tub scouring, dusting everything, washing windows, etc. are definite moving. When I can't work in the yard, or I don't need to do any heavy house cleaning, I turn to my new favorite movement. My youngest son Rubic has been so kind to help me in compiling some awesome songs on my MP3 player. Songs you just have to move to. I've even added some myself. A total of 12 songs which totals approximately 45 minutes of exercise. My Trusty MP3 player, a set of headphones, and a basic aerobic step constitute my workout. It's fun for me because I get to dance for the most part. And I do work up a sweat! The best thing is I don't sweat this! Pardon the pun. I try to move 5 days a week. If I need to do yard work; that counts. If I need to spring clean my house; that works. If I'm in the middle of something like sewing, or errands, I take that day off and don't beat myself up. In other words I Live my LIFE! Do you know what my workout will be today? Mowing the lawn with a push mower. 45 minutes burns 328 calories for someone my size. Now you don't have to do what I do. Like I said, this has to work for you. Some people love to work out at the gym. Boggles my mind, but I've been told they're out there.
But I work a full time Job! How can I add a workout!
I will be the first to admit that being home has helped me in fitting everything in. I do spend 2 and a half hours of each day in the car carting two sons to school and or work (til they get their license). Which means I have to fit in whatever workout plus whatever needs doing at home into a 9-12 window. That's why I make chores/workouts do double duty. I will also admit that having a full time job, especially if you are a working mom, makes the idea of exercise daunting. It's a challenge. Your choice though is to try something and possibly succeed, or do nothing and continue on as you are. The object is to work this into your life some how. Incorporate movement while at work. Take the long way to a meeting, use the stairs, walk on your break, etc. When you get home and want to spend time with the kids, make it a physical activity. The time spent with them is just as valuable. Save your "serious" work outs for your days off. If you can find no way to get activity right now, that's fine! Any change is positive. Figure your calories (on whatever site you choose)on being in a sedentary job for now. As you get the food part down, then address the activity. I will tell you if you try to force it all in and it's to much for you, then you'll stop and gain back all you've lost. Guess what. You will then beat your self up with every pound gained. Success is a great motivator, and failure is just the opposite. If you have gone through the loss, gain, loss, gain more loop then it can be hard to motivate yourself to try again. That was me. When I finally resolved to try again it was with the knowledge that I would never be an athlete or Jillian Micheals. Instead I just wanted to focus on what I could do with my activity level where it is. It had to fit my life and not the other way around. I will never be a super model (I know shocks me too), but I can be my best for my life style. That is all this is about.
Final Thoughts:
People asked me what I did to lose weight and this is it. If you do what I did; Great! If you do your own thing; Great! If you have to have a plan like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig, etc, then great as well. I will say this. Whatever you choose to do to lose weight will have to be done from now until eternity. If you can't sustain the plan you choose for that length of time, you will fail. Period. Plan accordingly. There will come a time when I hit a maintenance level to my calories. In other words I maintain my weight and not lose. However I will always, Always have to measure, record, and move. I accept that. I also accept the fact that at any time I fail to do these things, I will gain my weight back and it will be no ones fault but my own.
So there you have it. There will be times in the future I will write about a recipe or tip I have tried just like in everything else I write about. I would love to hear about your successes, tips and recipes too. In fact I look forward to it. Thank you for reading alllllll of this.
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