Every weekend I tell myself the same old tired lie, “The diet starts Monday.” And with all that healthy eating just around the bend, why not indulge? I just need a couple more days with high-calorie, high-fat food. You know, for closure.
The diet does indeed start every Monday and is out the window by Friday afternoon. I’m exhausted, stressed out and diving face first into a pile of nachos. With this cyclical eating system, I can report that have lost and regained the same 3 pounds hundreds of times. I’ve been looking for a work around, but there just isn’t one. The only way to maintain a healthy weight (and overall health) is through a balanced diet and exercise.
A big part of my problem is that I would rather not eat than have to exercise. I know that regular physical activity can improve mood, increase energy levels, combat disease, and so on. These are all things that would add value to my life, yet I insist on viewing it as a form of punishment and avoid it all costs.
But it doesn’t have to be that way! One of my friends is a member of a Natural Movement group, also called MovNat. The physical activities are more suited to the playground than the gym– think climbing trees and playing tag. My schedule is prohibitive, and I’m not much of a joiner… Still, it got me thinking about the activities I enjoyed as a kid. I hated P.E., but I always looked forward to the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Your Heart event. I was most interested in scoring a t-shirt, but it also got me moving and raised money for the AHA.
Jumping rope, that’s just the ticket!
- It can be done just about any place space allows.
- No special equipment is required, just a jump rope and athletic shoes.
- Jumping rope is great for your cardio vascular system and works your arms, legs, and core.
- It burns lots of calories in a short amount of time.
Fitness Magazine and Real Simple have great 10-15 minute workout guides, and YouTube is a good resource as well. I like this one from Spark People.
I am probably never going to be one of those people who loves to exercise, but it is my hope that I can find a routine I can commit to, jumping rope or otherwise. What do you do to get your blood pumping? How do you choose an exercise routine and stick to it?
MsBehaved.com 
I’ve been exercising (yoga in conference room or speedwalking outside) during my lunch breaks at work. Way more practical than trying to do it after work, when I’m usually pooped.
Like Bianca, I have been walking with a friend at lunch for about 20 minutes (every little bit helps, right?). Of course, with the 90+ days already hitting us, I stink through the afternoon and it takes me an hour to begin to cool down. This plan may not last into June.
No kidding! Being smelly is my excuse not to not use my lunch break to squeeze in exercise. Maybe I”ll just stink! It’ll keep people (and work) away from from my desk. haha
Yeah the Austin heat would be gross to exercise in. I cant jumprope though, murder on the boobs!
Right about now, getting up off the couch and walking into the kitchen to get a snack feels like a work out to me. I have ALL SORTS of good intentions for after the baby is born… we’ll see how THAT pans out. Maybe I’ll do a series on all the ridiculous ways I try to motivate myself to lose the post baby weight. lol
Reblogged this on Pushthedumpfatbutton/weightloss/Living healthier/Exercise/Gettingthepoundsoff.