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Week 1: How I Stay Fit
This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light Pure Fitness.
Did you know that it gets hot in the summer? In the same way that the freezing temps of winter keep me inside and away from the gym, the already hot and humid weather has been trying to keep me away from the track. And, somehow, even out of the air-conditioned gym. But I’m not going to let it win.
I have been working very hard this year (2010) on getting back to being fit. More over, I’ve just wanted and needed to be healthy. I started out the year doing yoga both at the YMCA and at home with some downloaded episodes from exerciseTV on iTunes. And, of course, walking through 13 inches of snow is a proven butt toner. No lie. I made some vast body improvements during the winter months when most people are content to live in their Winter Skin. In fact, it was my Early Winter Skin that motivated me to get on the ball. While the family picture we took at Christmas featured both of my children looking at the camera and smiling at the same time, I couldn’t take my eyes off my own cheeks. Chubby cheeks were cute on my boys, not on my face. It took looking at that picture to make me realize that my BMI was in the overweight category for the first time in life (minus being pregnant) and that I needed to do something about it. As an added bonus, all that yoga gave me a whole bunch of energy. Who knew?
When the weather finally warmed up, I decided to put on my big girl undies and start running with the couch to 5k program. I’ve been struggling a bit due to a random leg injury followed by a back injury followed by weather that makes me sweat when I sit still. But I remained determined. I’m not progressing as quickly as I would like, especially seeing as how I used to run. I imagine that I’ll get there soon enough. I’ve really been enjoying pushing myself to achieve this goal though. I had forgotten how the cares of the world melt away as my feet pound the track (and are literally melted away by the blazing hot sun). As an added bonus, I’ve been having fun taking pictures while out running. Yes, I always have my camera with me. Why are you surprised?
I’ve also been eating well! It’s hard sometimes and I fell off the wagon just after my birthday in April. I think I’m firmly back on now that the Farmer’s Market is open and fresh fruits and veggies are back in my world. I totally gave up pop (soda). I know a few “safe” meals to get at restaurants when I am working out of the home, thus avoiding the fast food fix. I drink a lot of water though I have recently been mixing it up between water and Crystal Light Pure Fitness. I’m someone who bores easy with repetition in food and drink. While I try my best to drink all the water I’m supposed to every day, I get bored. Plain and simple. I’ve found that adding in Crystal Light Pure Fitness (I’m partial to the Lemon Lime but I’ve been eying some other flavors) keeps me drinking. I tried taking it with me on a run but as I leave my bottle sit in the sun, I didn’t like drinking the drink warm. As such, I like to have it with ice when I get back from a run along with a nice snack of strawberries, cantaloupe or yogurt. As the Crystal Light Pure Fitness is only 15 calories per serving, I’m not adding a whole lot of wasted calories to my day! I love that! Finally, my last healthy eating trick has been to keep lots of healthy snacks in the house which also means keeping all the unhealthy snacks out of the house.
I hit my first weight goal (10 pounds) and have been fluctuating back and forth for the past two months. The good news is that my weight is back in the healthy BMI category. If I only ever maintain this weight, I’ll be okay with that. If I lose any more weight will remaining in the healthy BMI level, I’d be pleased but it’s not my main goal anymore. The good news is that I have a renewed sense of energy and a better outlook not only on my body but on life in general. I’m enjoying the healthier me.
And I want to know what you’re doing to help keep/make yourself fit. Over the next four weeks I’ll be posting topics about fitness and what I’m doing (or need to be doing). On each post, I’ll ask a question of you. Your answers will be entered in a giveaway for a $100 Visa gift card! Easy as that! So, this week I want to know what you’re doing (or what you know you should be doing but haven’t started yet) to get fit. Are you running? Eating well? Drinking more water? Getting more sleep (my personal pitfall)? Yoga? Cardio? Weights? Tell me what you’re doing and maybe we can all motivate each other to get off the couch even though it’s sweltering out! Simply leave a comment on this post. At the end of the four week period, one winner will be picked from all eligible comments!
Not enough for you? You have four other chances to win and a $1000 sweepstakes over at BlogHer! Go! BlogHer.com Crystal Light Pure Fitness exclusive offers page. (View official rules for all giveaways here.)
Before you leave a comment, go ahead and click a button on this poll as well!
I have started walking 2 days a week. Kiddo’s school is only a 15min OW walk from the house so I’ve already decided I’m walking to school to pick him up in the afternoons (weather not withstanding). I usually walk starting at 6am but down here in the Houston area, it’s already 80 degrees plus high humidity by then. We are contemplating joining the YMCA. I need to lose about 100 pounds for my overall health. I’ve developed Type 2 diabetes. high blood pressure, high cholesterol plus Hypothyroidism. Although to be fair, those all run in my family. The sad thing is exercise has NEVER given me extra energy. Not even when I was younger & working out 3-4x a week on a regular long term basis. I have started back on eating healthier snacks. My eating schedule is messed up with my wacky work schedule but I’m focusing on 6-7 small heathly meals/snacks a day instead of 3 big meals plus snacks.
I take martial arts! My daughter begged and begged to take karate right before she turned 5; she’s now coming up on 8, and we’re anticipating that she’ll be a black belt within a year. Finally, last year, I started taking classes, too. It’s a lot of work, but my balance is better (despite what my Wii Fit says) and so is my energy level. Breaking boards is awesome, and I even added a class in weapons. I feel like a total dork sometimes, especially when the little kids kick circles around me (LITERALLY, sometimes!), but I feel a lot better.
I have been drinking more water, trying to get more sleep and eat healthier. I still an not exercising like I should be, however.
I know exactly what I should be doing, but I am doing none of it. I need to get more sleep, drink more water, and start taking walks, which I can then turn into runs. Now I just have to figure out how to get myself to do it.
Though not nearly enough, I have found three different walking partners and now walking three days a week. Better than nothing.
I need to start with stretching in the mornings. I know that will make my whole day go better. Then on to some light exercise. We will see!
I started cutting down on portions and calories and lost 25 pounds gradually. But my body is aching for some kind of fitness so my husband and I started talking about getting a treadmill since I just cannot commit the time to doing anything away from home right now. But I would hate for it to become a white elephant as we hear so often!
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I hike at least twice a week with a friend and also started Weight Watchers back in January and have lost 10 of the 20 baby weight I had to lose.
Lately I’ve had to “tune down” my fitness because I’m almost 8 months pregnant, but NORMALLY this is what I do:
Tennis, 2-3 hours twice a week.
Gym, weight training 2-3 times her week for about an hour at a time.
Running, 3-4 miles sometimes solo, other times pushing two kids in a double jogging stroller, 2-3 times per week and I vary my route between 3 different routes to keep it “interesting.”
After having two children, this regimen put me in the best shape of my life! I was down to a very toned and healthy looking (if there is such a thing) size zero on my petite frame. I lost 45 lbs between having baby #2 and getting pregnant with #3. I obviously can’t keep up with that pace anymore, but being outside and not doing the same exact thing every day is what keeps me excited about fitness and keeps me in great shape.
I’m with ya! I am in the process of getting myself up to running 5K with the C25K program and so far, so good. I need to do more strength stuff though to complement the aerobic I’m getting. But it eels good!
I’m going to the Y 2-3 times a week. I have a typical routine of weight training on the Nautilus circuit and then running for about 30 minutes on the treadmill. This is all I’m doing right now to stay fit.
I am trying to add at least 5 minutes of exercise a day. If that’s all I do, fine, but usually I keep going.
I started Weight Watchers 6 weeks ago and since then I have been more aware of the need to increase activity. I’m getting out of the habit of being a couch potato and enjoying being outside with my grandsons. On evenings when it isn’t raining or so hot you can’t breath we go to the local track and walk. The boys love it and so do I!
Since my youngest is only 2 months old, I am still in “sleep is the highest priority” mode, so my routine right now is limited to going for long walks after dinner with the family, going to the pool and splashing around with the kids, and going to a postnatal yoga class once a week (and doing a short practice at home a couple times a week).
Three days a week I work deep in the heart of LA (many, many miles from where I live). Traffic on the notorious 405 is a MONSTER during rush hour. So, I head to the gym to kill time and get fit – win, win!!!
Mondays and Fridays I hit up the stationary bikes, treadmill and stairs. Wednesdays I attend a Cardio Funk type dance class. I love it!
Even more, I love getting on an empty(er) freeway!
I walk at least every other day.
llots of walking
Just started doing a couch-2-5k training program. I am trying to make sure I get out and do that at least 3 times per week. I need another fitness program to use when the winter comes because I have a syndrome that causes my hands and feet to quickly numb in the cold, so I cannot be outside for too long.
I definitely need to exercise more regularly than I am, not really to lose weight but because I need to get in shape
Yoga keeps me fit and sexy. It has the complete exercises which offer full well being and fitness.