Monday, 10 September 2012
-
September Health/Fitness Goal
As you may know, last month I began my journey on becoming a healthier, fitter person. Last month, my goal was to do at least moderate exercise 30 minutes/4 times a week. I did, for the most part, maybe one week I only did 3 times/week, but I would have to say that is a great improvement to no exercise at all. I am also paying more attention to portion sizes, but I know I am still eating more calories than I should.
I think mostly all inspiration fitness and health-minded people would agree to achieve a health weight and a fit body, you must commit to lifestyle changes to reach your health goals rather than relying on crash diets to lose pounds. I read an article a long time ago that made a lot of sense. It recommended that for each week, I just CHANGE ONE habit. Trying to quit all your vices cold turkey and expecting to work out a certain amount each week is setting yourself up for failure.
This month, my goal is get at least 7 hours of a sleep a night, and increase the exercise to 5 times a week. I know I have to get more than 5 hours of sleep because it is still tough getting up to exercise some days and on the weekend I am pretty sedentary. I think I may need to set a reminder alarm to wind down and go to bed. Most nights, I think I go to bed just too late to get a decent amount of sleep. Lazy weekends coupled with rich foods is not a great way to start on Monday. One day, I hope to do some physical activity on the weekends, too. Maybe hiking with friends.
Future Challenges, no particular order, not limited to the following:
- EDIT: Increase water intake!
- Limit soda to one 12 ounce can/serving a week.
- Decrease consumption of sweets.
- Increase intensity of exercise, and vary the activities.
- Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into diet, and reducing foods that do not offer much nutritional benefits.
- Do light weight training regularly.
- Sign up and train for a 5K run. I have done a 5K walk and it was doable, but I hope to run one.
Getting a healthy, fit body is no easy feat. What do you do to improve your health/stay healthy? What healthy goals do you hope to achieve?
-
recommend
- recs 0
-
email
- sent 0
- like
Related Posts
Post a Comment
- Back to babybug329's Xanga Site!
- Note: your comment will appear in babybug329's local time zone: GMT -08:00 (Pacific Standard - US, Canada)
Comments (15)
I think the hardest thing for me is trying to limit eating bad things. It's been VERY hard. I think you have set some pretty good goals! You've got this!
Awesome goals! I'm glad you're taking it slowlly. Working out consistently is something to be proud of. Way to go!
@HelloRoxyy - I hope so! But yes, limiting the favorite junk foods is hard! We can do it, though. I think it would be easier to limit than to give up.
@AlwaysNatural - Consistently really is the key. I want to make good choices for life rather than just making the good choices until I lose the weight I intended to. Once I go back to my bad habits, the weight will find its way to my gut and my blood pressure/sugar will be out of control again. I wrote a long time ago about my family health, we have a history of hypertension and diabetes, even thin (older) family members get sick. I know if I continue my bad habits, I can get very sick. The worst thing about it is, that these are 2 things I can easily control on my own with diet and exercise as a young person. I know I can still get sick when I am older, but if I can put off having to take medication for it with a few simple things, I am going to. My doctor has warned me at the last physical, the numbers weren't good. She did the usual diet/exercise song and dance. She gave me 3 months to get it down or I'd have to go on meds. I did exercise and eat well for 3 months to go back to the check up. I had lost 12 pounds and my blood pressure and sugar was in the normal range. Diet and exercise does work! BUT, I fell off the wagon after the follow-up appointment. There were many false starts. But, this time, it is different
I am a sucker for popcorn, cheese burgers, french fries even just sliced butter... mmm sliced butter! I lost 36 pounds in 3 months. I didn't actually ever really eat breakfast, never been a breakfast person. I did do things to boost my metabolism thought like instead of eating red meat I would have chicken with cajun spice. Spices like cinnamon, ginger, garlic, cajun all help with burning calories even after you are done eating and just watching TV. I also found substitutes for everything like instead of chips I had dry fruit. It took me a while to try dried fruit I liked but it happened. I still have popcorn everyday but with either canola or olive oil cooking spray with a bit of seasoning salt. You could put cajun and stuff on that as well. Besides on my popcorn I don't eat salt but lots of pepper. I eat smaller portions then what I should but I have been told fill half your plate with veggies and the brighter they are the better they are for you, a piece of meat the size of your palm, and the same size of carbs like potatoes or a bun. I never ever eat mayo EVER!! I also drink lots of teas like different green teas, rooabis, mate,, that is all suppose to help you lose weight as well.
I don't excersize, I just don't know how you do it especially waking up early. Good luck this month!
believing is key.
Well I cant diet & weight gain is inevitable right now. LOL I just make sure to eat healthy & try to get in some walking. I had to do a 180 on how I ate. I dont say 360 because it's not radically different but I had to stop eating a lot of normal foods (well normal for me) & find substitutions. I'm cooking at home more because of that so that's healthier than eating out. I know I'm gonna be on a cooking blitz the last 2-3 weeks of pregnancy stocking up on food so I can make it quick or make Stu do it for me. LOL
@Foodhog - Great idea on the plate-filling. I am thinking of investing in a few 8" salad plates rather than eating dinner off gigantic platters they sell as dinner plates nowadays. 36 pounds is a huge loss! Awesome idea of seasoning air popped popcorn with spices rather than butter and salt, that should make for a nice savory snack that is high in fiber.
@JoeytheGenie - Yes, it is.
@Mrs_FoodLover - If I try to break all the habits at once, I will be so sad! "Damn, I gotta eat whole grains and plain vegetables, exercise, etc...I can't even eat a cookie..." I'm sue you can see where that is going. I think it'll be good for you, too.
@Shinbi_Belldandy - Ha, I know! But, revamping the old eating habits will surely be beneficial for you and BatBaby--especially if you've been eating as poorly as I have been!
@babybug329 - I always eat off a small salad plate. I also hear that if your eat of a blue plate you won't feel the need to eat so much.
I love my popcorn and just couldn't cut it out so I compromised with the toppings!
If I want to eat something sweet, I usually try to find some fruits instead of candy or soda. I am soooo addicted to soda, it's ridiculous. But having a limited supply of soda makes me want to conserve them, so I don't drink them as often lol. I've also converted to brown rice instead of white rice because brown rice contains much more nutrients :3 I also have to walk a lot and up hills to reach my classes, so there's that haha. And last of all, I try to exercise by doing sports I love, like tennis and swimming. I hate running on a treadmill or just running in general. It's so annoying and boring. But when I'm playing with someone, it's fun and doesn't seem like a chore.
As for eating, I don't really make sandwiches anymore, so I don't have mayo lol. For snacking, I usually try to get something healthy, like baby carrots orrr idk, toasted fiber bread + hummus mmmm.
My main goal is to flatten my tummy. It's so embarassing, it looks like I'm pregnant >
@hilabpartnerxD - Oh! I forgot to put on my list to replace white carbs with better versions, such as the brown rice you mentioned. I agree with you on finding physical activities you enjoy rather than tedious things especially if you cannot stand to just go jogging. Swimming is a great workout for strength and toning. When I was a kid, my siblings and I went to swim every day at the Y during the summer. If you don't like your workout, you are less likely to do it.
I hope to flatten my tummy too. What's worse, your stomach is big and round like you're pregnant, or for the belly to extend out and OVER your waist band? Either way, we can do things to minimize it. Best wishes!
@babybug329 - Yes yes (: I actually like the texture of brown rice better than white rice. I love swimming! It made my tummy flat and worked out virtually all parts of my body (: I guess I was exaggerating a bit when I said pregnant, it's more like body rolls ;_; Thank you and best of luck to you as well!
@hilabpartnerxD - Brown rice took some getting used to, considering the first 2 decades of my life, there was white rice at nearly every dinner. Now I love brown rice. I like that it has more of a bite to it, something to chew and a heartier flavor. You know, besides having more fiber and other nutrients.
@babybug329 - Ahh, I tried it for the first time last week, and I fell in love with it. I love how it has texture, and you can taste individual grains! Totally agree with you (: