When I was in high school, during the summers and before I could drive, I would ride my bike from home to the school gymnasium to practice volleyball with the JV and Varsity teams. The day's schedule went something like this:-7:00a.m. eat breakfast
-7:15a.m. ride my bike to school (if I had to guess I would say 5-8 miles)
-8:00a.m. to 10:00a.m. Volleyball practice
-10:00a.m. cycle back home for a quick lunch and to change clothes, maybe take a nap or maybe fake summer reading for an hour.
12:15p.m. cycle back to school for more practice
1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. Volleyball practice
3:15p.m. cycle back home
Do the math. That is 20 miles of cycling per day, 5 days a week = 100 miles per week. 4 hours of volleyball drills and scrimages per day, 5 days per week, 20 hours of volleyball per week. That is a LOT of exercise. I have to say that I was in the best shape of my life... when I was a kid and didn't even appreciate it!
Yesterday I walked 2 miles, briskly, carrying 2 pound weights in each hand at 4:00p.m. After my walk I played with Ali in the yard. I threw the ball and ran with her to fetch it. In all I ran the length of my back yard 8 times. I felt so incredibley heavy and thought to myself when did running become so hard? For dinner I prepared 1 broiled salmon filet, a serving of asparagus tips and summer squash sauteed in olive oil and a blend of fresh spices, with one glass of white table wine. Of course I am fully aware that I just had two kids two months ago so there is that to be said but there is also an extra amount of pounds I'm just carrying around because of laziness and over indulgence on things like Mexican white cheese dip, way too many carbs, and lately... icecream.
My new t.v. fetish is BBC's "You Are What You Eat." The host, Gillian McKeith displays an individual's food consumption for an entire week and then creatively calculates that person's favorite foods into a mind blowing illustration such as "this is the amount of crisps you eat in a month (as she points to a dumpster full of chip bags)... often bringing her clients to tears. It is in essence their "wake up call." The show really puts in perspective the danger that processed, hormone packed, sugar loaded foods can put us in. In just 8 weeks of eating as much veggies, whole grains, and fruits, along with moderate exercise the participants undergo a complete transformation. It is very very inspiring to me.
But is it realistic? Who has the money, first of all, to afford these natural, whole, organic foods? Who has the time to prepare the meals? My counters are already crowded enough with a toaster, a coffee maker, and baby bottles; don't even think about adding a blender or steamer to the lot!
We aren't getting any younger. I am willing to bet that everyone reading this post is 25 or older. Have you noticed your body changing or shifting or exericse getting harder?
What is your favorite routine and what is one healthy choice you make daily in order to make/keep yourself motivated in staying or returning to health?
10 comments:
i haven't necessarily noticed exercise getting tougher, its just been a matter or willing myself to do it (thank you, Wii Fit).
but i have noticed my personal aging. used to be, in the summer, i wouldn't use the AC in my car at all, ever. i was happier just rolling the windows down. i can't do that anymore; its just so unbearably uncomfortable these days.
as far as healthy choices and such, i just make sure to buy fruits/veggies and keep them in plain sight. whenever i get a hankering for a snack, there they are: a banana, or an apple, or a couple of graham crackers, or yogurt. i also drink a whole lot less Coke & Dr. Pepper than i used to. i think i've had 6 out a twelver of Diet Coke in the fridge in the past... 3 months?
My doctor told me that a can of Coke-Cola has the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar!!! I dig a coke every now and then but WOW ...I tend to drink lots of water while at home ...at the desk, watching tv or reading. I also take a big glass to bed at night ...have for years. Still need to walk more though ...
I have noticed parts of my body shift but I think it has a little more to do with babies than age. Mid twenties is still young, don't you think? :)
When I start to feel sluggish or demotivated I do the special K cereal for two meals a day for a week to 10 days and while that is not a fix it does help me get my portions back down and stop the snacking. Other than that I try to eat small breakfast and lunches so when I do snack a little during the day it is not adding to an already healthy size portion of calories from the first two meals.
I miss the extra time to exercise that I had in high school. 30 here and the biggest change I have noticed is muscle tone. I should be doing something to correct that, but am sporadic at best in my YMCA attendance. (Thanks for the motivation - after reading about a new mom of twins that found time to walk two miles - I have no excuse!)
The best change I have made health-wise is to learn more about the foods that I put in my mouth. When I learned more about high fructose corn syrup, my soft drink consumption went down dramatically. I still have one now and then (especially when out for pizza!) but we haven't had it in our house for almost a year. Portion control is also key for me, but the most successful weight loss I have experienced was inadvertent after getting braces. The weight came off in a few months. Snacking went down since it meant I'd have to floss/brush again in between meals. They should consider marketing braces as a dieting tool! :)
Cindy (found your blog via Steph G)
I am the queen of talking myself out of any type of exercise, but if you can make yourself do SOMETHING every day, you will feel better and be more apt to exercise more. Even if you walk for like 15 minutes. I try for a 30 minute power walk every day, even if I have to get up at 5:40 am.
Also, drink hot green tea every day. Not the crap in the gas station by Lipton, but the hot green tea from Starbucks is my fav. It increases your metabolism and I lost a lot of weight with it after college.
Ok.. I agree with my body changing. I haven't even had kids yet and my body is changing. Maybe its because I'm 28 and someone told me that it would get harder. I find it harder to lose weight and I exercise about 5 days a week. I try to watch what I eat and be somewhat healthy. Sometimes I convince myself that we only live once so I can eat whatever. Yeah right! I hear that if you drink water you won't be as hungry. Not real sure if that is true. I only like water when I exercise. Try Crystal light in your water. That definitely helps! I'd love to go walking sometime!
1) I keep a food journal of every bite I take.
2) I eat 3 meals and 2 snacks a day to keep my blood sugar levels from driving my hunger.
3) I walk at least 6 days a week, sometimes every day, for about an hour a time. NO WEIGHTS IN HAND -- YOU'LL SCREW UP YOUR BACK!!
Started out in the territory of 165 pounds at age 45 -- here I am at 50 in the best shape of my LIFE, and trust me when I tell you I was a total couch potato.
You can do this -- there are no magic bullets, but honestly? If I had to pick one of those habits to focus on it's the journaling of every bite!
Well, I guess the poppyseed chicken, peas, rolls, and cinnamon rolls we brought last night did not help you! ha! As for my routine after working full time, doing FP, getting home, cooking dinner, bathing John Parker, getting him to bed, picking up around the house, sitting down at 8:30 for 30 minutes of TV and going to bed at 9I have no time for exercise other than 5 am and that won't happen! ha! I'm proud of you! Exercise for me too please!
About 6 years ago I completely cut sodas out and lost 15 lbs in 3 weeks. Here, I try to go to a yoga class at least once a week, and of course I walk everywhere, seeing as how I dont have a car. But even then, its still really hard. My body holds on to weight more than I wish it would.
(shea's sister-in-law here)
Just thought I would tell you that our Winn Dixie has their Steam in the bag veggies on sale this week 10 for $10. (I always butcher fresh and frozen veggies when I try to steam them myself anyway!) I don't know if you have Winn Dixie, but if you do, they are super easy... just pop in micro and forget about them!
P.S. You are doing a great job! I keep up with you ever since I got a text to pray for you during delivery! :) Can't wait to see new pics and will definitely be praying for a way to stay home. My heart longs to stay home with my baby and for now I can, but I pray all the time that will remain the case... changes, changes, changes. I will add you to the mommies I pray for. :)
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