Adding an active life can be as simple or as advanced as you want. Start out small and grow from there. Just 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week is enough to get you started until you build yourself up. Get up 30 minutes earlier on the days you choose to “get active”. After a while, you’ll start to know the difference. Once you find your focus, you’ll open a door that will rock your world. As for me, you know, I’m a runner and cannot live without it! There is an activity out there for everyone, find it, do it and you’ll see the difference. For those who say “Well, Tim, I don’t have the time!” I say, “20 minutes, and a DVD player and you can have a workout. There are plenty of workout videos available on DVD out there now and that’s just for starters. If something is important to you, you’ll make the time for it. Don’t wait until you reach the point where you wish you did do something, do it now! Even if you have to do a series of exercises in the morning just to get started. What ever it takes for you to get started and explore the world of fitness. If you still feel you don’t have time, perhaps there are those things you are doing that you should replace with fitness? How much time do you spend just watching TV?
Check out our section called NEWU, it may be what can help you get started.
A side benefit of using Weight Watchers to help with portion control is how it can improve your attitude on what you can eat. You end up realizing and saying “oh, I can have a yogurt now”. When one has been used to eating a certain way, eating another way can be a hard reality to swallow. No weight loss program in the world will work if your head isn’t in the game. Portion control is an important issue because, if you can’t control your portions, then you are just spinning your wheels. Yes, we all love to eat, but, when your eating habits get out of control, so does your weight. Think of it this way, lets say that your workouts are fantastic, you are getting the right amount of nutrition, but, your eating habits are though the roof. Well, because of that one issue, your efforts are stalemated. There is nothing wrong with splurging now and then, but not daily. With portion control you can afford splurging now and then because you realized that you went overboard that one day and you are following a routine and therefore the impact of one time isn’t going to crash your efforts.
I just love Dunkin Donuts Medium Hazelnut Ice’d Lattes and I have at least one whenever I get a chance. By using the Weight Watchers Point system, I know that a 24oz Iced Latte is worth 2 points and that is cheap for what you get. Compare that to a 4 point McDonalds Medium Hazelnut Iced coffee.
Sound like a lot of work? Not at all, once you understand how the point system works, it’s a breeze. So, instead of being hampered you are actually enabled and weight loss actually becomes easier since your portions are under control and you are not stifling your efforts.
If you feel like you don’t want to be a member of Weight Watchers to loose your weight, well, no one ever said you’d have to stay a member forever now did they? Get in, Get Informed, Get It Done!
NO and I mean NO, I am not advertising Weight Watchers here, but, it DOES work.
You hear sayings (or say them) all the time. Sayings like “Oh, I’m not that bad”, “you’ll have that anywhere” or “that won’t work”. Unfortunately, it’s sayings like these that can also “trap” you into not taking any action for yourself. Deep down inside, there is a small seed of care waiting to be nurtured. For some, it never sees the light of day and doesn’t sprout into anything. For others, it can mean the difference of night and day and wow, does it ever! Accepting denial can apply to just about any issue such as weight loss, staying in the job you’ve had for years, addictions, illnesses, and so fourth. It isn’t always easy to break away from this way of thinking especially if one is not good at change. You have to reach the point where you stop listening to the hype around you and start listening to yourself.
How many years have to go by before one stops accepting denial and alters course to something more positive? Yes, I said years, it can take a long time before one reaches the point where change happens (if any at all). Accepting denial is a powerful negative that can hold one from making changes that would be beneficial.
Why do I call it Accepting Denial? It’s because one is accepting reasons for not making choices thus denying one self of a positive situation. One lives in denial of what could be instead of taking that first step.
One has to be careful and not be disillusioned by denial. In other words, the reasons you are accepting may seem real and really pertain to your situation, but, do they really apply? This is where you have to dig deep and I mean deep down inside yourself and get to the truth of the matter and ask that HARD question, “what do I want?”. This is not as easy as it seams and can really rock your world. How do I know this you ask? I’ve been there and decided that this would be a good subject to write about. So I ask you — Are you accepting denial? Think about it…….
One of the greatest benefits I get from running is the feeling of being refreshed after a good run. My favorite distance is 4 miles for the reason that after about a mile or so, I am warmed up and really starting to get into the run. Then not quite half way, I’m revved and really getting into it. With a good run, I’m burning calories, building endurance, combating stress, staying in shape, getting refreshed all at the same time. I love running, not only for the above reasons, but also, I can run anywhere at anytime even indoors and best of all it costs nothing to run. So, all my fitness efforts tend to gravitate toward running. I also have a Shwinn Letour Ten Speed bicycle that I have had since I was 19 and it is still pretty much in top notch shape. Unfortunately for it, my feet gets more of the pavement then it does. I may at some point get it back in action again. You see, if running isn’t up your alley, then something else could be right there waiting for you to focus on it. I have always had an interest in running even since high school. Though, back then, I really never pursued it an wished I did.
Having an active life is about 1/3rd part of the pie that helps with weight management to burn calories as well as to help with other areas such as stress and fitness. If you take the active slice out of the pie, and only concentrate nutrition and weight management, loosing weight an be more of a challenge. I know, who has time to be active right? Well, you make time for what is important to you. Believe me, if you want it, you’ll do it.
Let’s say that you are making a real hard effort in eating right including planning your meals accordingly, ensuring proper nutrition and striving to manage your weight for what ever your goals are. Wouldn’t you like to take advantage of anything at your disposal to achieve your goals? This is why if you add “getting active” to your agenda, it will help you in your efforts and you may just enjoy it like I do. If you are not sure what you want to do, then why not check out a new resource available right here on AboveNbeyond4u.com called NEWU. It’s a section to get you motivated into embracing the new you.
Aside from the physical benefits of running, there are others such as the scenery that you pass by while running. The same place takes on a different look each season. Runner’s see this all the time, but, do we take it for granted? Now, those that tend to gravitate to the couch, miss out on a lot. Is the couch a trap that holds one back? A safety zone to keep people from venturing out? I was there once, but no more.
For me, the neat thing about running was that it inspired somewhat of a competitive spirit in me. I started running in 5k and 10k races in 1997. The whole sport for me took on it’s own life. I run in races about 5 to 8 times a year and hopefully more someday. I just heard that a friend of mine is preparing to run in her first 5k race ever! Way to go Alexa!
What can the couch do for you that a pair of running shoes can’t? It can keep you comfortable, let you rest or sleep, and give you a false sense of security thus keeping you from those running shoes. There are awesome resources for new or beginning runners on the Internet. One that I recommend is called Newrunner.com and/or Runnersworld.com So, if you haven’t started running, or just beginning, these are good sources to check out. If you want more of a selection of websites, you can google it. Who knows, it may even help one off the couch.
Now, if racing isn’t in your immediate future, no problem, it doesn’t cost anything to get those feet on the road except for a pair of running shoes. I did hear of people running barefoot, but, just starting out, I wouldn’t recommend that just yet especially if it is in the middle of Winter. Stat out slow at first, and build yourself up. You don’t want to run 4 miles right away, otherwise, you may find yourself, demotivated on running. You can find training tips on running in Newrunner.com and Runnersworld.com to help you with your progress and other issues such as dehydration, types of apparel to wear and when.
Today, I added more videos found on Youtube.com. One of them is more motivational and while it is a commercial, see if you can realize why I put it in the video Vault. I’ll give you a hint, it’s not for the product. This is regarding Nike – Video #1 (Motivational related) in vault. Check it out
Ok, you’ve started a path to a new lifestyle, but, you see advertisements on TV and the newspapers, for those miracle pills that say they will help you shed that weight. Well, be careful, while some do actually work, there is no such thing as a “workout” pill in a bottle. You can’t depend on pills alone to achieving your goals. You’d be waiting a very long time to get to where you want to go by doing this. And even then, you may not get there. The best thing you can start doing is to change your habits. Here is a list of some changes you can start with:
1. Portion Control
2. Exercise (running, weight lifting, walking, jump rope etc)
3. Low fat recipes
4. Start reading and understanding nutrition labels
5. Weigh yourself once a week in the morning
6. Never reward yourself with food
7. Join an online community for support and encouragement
8. Team up with a friend
9. Don’t sweat the bad day and get back at it the next day
10. Cut the candy (soda included)
These are just some things you can start doing to keep you on the road to your goals. Every day will not be an easy day, but, consistency will be the key. It’s never to late to change your habits.
Life can sometimes get your way and influence your attitude. People can do that too. I perceive that there are 3 groups of attitudes: Good, Bad and Ugly. I’m being simple here on the 3 types. Let’s start with the Ugly Attitude first.
The Ugly Attitude: This goes far beyond the Bad types. Nothing is good and this person is not open to anything at all. One view, his/her view and that is it. This person has few friends and it’s no wonder why.
The Bad Attitude: Having a bad attitude could be a result of a recent bad experience and the person hasn’t yet gotten over it. This type is nowhere near like the Ugly Attitude. Bad attitudes can come and go.
The Good Attitude: Those who have a good attitude are not immune to the Bad Attitude, but, is usually on good terms. These types usually bounce back quickly after a bad experience.
Your everyday life is affected in some way by your attitude. Your health, outlook, and daily routine can all be in some way touched by your outlook. Take for instance, you may not feel like doing something depending upon how your attitude is. Your attitude could be a result of depression, injury, sickness , or even a positive event.
If you are having a real bad day today, here is something to try, look in a mirror and smile, it may just get you going. Attitude is like good or bad weather, it can change from one day to the next. Get out from under the rain cloud and poor out the sunshine today!
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Adding an active life can be as simple or as advanced as you want. Start out small and grow from there. Just 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week is enough to get you started until you build yourself up. Get up 30 minutes earlier on the days you choose to “get active”. After a while, you’ll start to know the difference. Once you find your focus, you’ll open a door that will rock your world. As for me, you know, I’m a runner and cannot live without it! 
There is an activity out there for everyone, find it, do it and you’ll see the difference. For those who say “Well, Tim, I don’t have the time!” I say, “20 minutes, and a DVD player and you can have a workout. There are plenty of workout videos available on DVD out there now and that’s just for starters. If something is important to you, you’ll make the time for it. Don’t wait until you reach the point where you wish you did do something, do it now! Even if you have to do a series of exercises in the morning just to get started. What ever it takes for you to get started and explore the world of fitness. If you still feel you don’t have time, perhaps there are those things you are doing that you should replace with fitness? How much time do you spend just watching TV?
