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Showing posts with the label Exercise

Choices Beyond the Treadmill...

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In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. – Eleanor Roosevelt _______________________ My life has taken a dramatic turn, and it all began with a hinky treadmill. No worries and definitely no treadmill accidents – this is a positive turn of events. Let me elaborate by beginning with how I handled my Sioux City vacation this year. For the first time ever while visiting family, I did not fall completely back into bad eating habits. Yes, I did step off program slightly (mostly planned, sometimes not so much), but never to the extent that my stomach hurt and felt bloated. And I did not need one stinkin’ Zantac – a first for a “back home” vacation. For the first time ever , I returned home from vacation with a significant weight loss, despite the fact that I wasn’t always on track with mindful eating. I can point to four possible reasons: I conti

I Have a Goal: CPAP Therapy + Diet + Exercise = Appetite Control – Say What?

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How Leptin and Insulin Signal Satiety  Source for Graphic: Wiki.Brown.edu ____________________ I have been stamping my feet and complaining for the last six weeks because of having to wear a CPAP mask ( Continuous Positive Airway Pressure , a therapy designed for people who stop breathing during sleep, and, therefore, wake up several times during the night. Sleep-deprived people can experience serious medical problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity, among other ailments). I grumble every single night. My better half must be sick of my constant kvetching... But for the first time since I can remember, I’m getting good sleep and waking up energetic and exercising regularly. About four weeks into the CPAP therapy, I also noticed something else: my appetite has started to regulate itself, which has been a total surprise to me because I have always had an out-sized appetite. I never really knew the difference between hunger and satiety – I would go fr

Could YOU Walk a 5k Today?

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Funky, Cool Fish Statue, Skopje, Macedonia, Located near the center and along my walking path _________________________ All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking. --Friedrich Nietzsche Could YOU walk a 5k TODAY? Yes, you could! Just for today, decide to walk a 5k. Don't worry about tomorrow, for you should decide what you do tomorrow, tomorrow. No matter where you are right now or how old you are, if you have legs and are able to walk at all, you can walk a 5k (3.1 miles) today . HOW you do it does not matter; you can break up your 5k in small increments, even 10-15 minute sessions throughout the day: at work, at the grocery store, and at home. You don't need any special equipment, just a pair of comfortable shoes and a bottle of water (to keep yourself hydrated). You don't need to walk fast; you just need to move. In fact, for the long haul, slow as she goes is more sustainable. Our bodies were built for walking, and when we don't do it re

Back on the Treadmill Again (But with a Whole New Respect)

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We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear. --Martin Luther King, Jr. For two days, I have been eyeballing that stupid treadmill, not wanting to have anything to do with it. But the truth of the matter: the treadmill accident was entirely my fault because I did not offer due respect to a powerful machine with a surface that was moving at 3.9 mph. It might seem counter intuitive, but my doctor said I should move around and not sit or lie still for too long because my injured muscles might spasm. So with my husband close by, I climbed back on the treadmill, albeit at a lower level of intensity: No elevation and 3.2 mph. Given that I'm in overall good shape, this was doable and I didn't overtax my body or exacerbate my injury. I made sure treadmill was OFF before getting on, and I stood on the rails before starting it up. So that others may learn from my mistake (or be reminded once again), here are some basic treadmill safety tips. --ALWAYS appr

Thought for the Day--April 25, 2011: Children and Exercise

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Webmaster, 8, on her bike. During Spring, Summer, and Fall, she lived on that bicycle _______________________ Exercise to stimulate, not to annihilate. The world wasn't formed in a day, and neither were we. Set small goals and build upon them. --Lee Haney Back in the late 1950's, during the long, hot Sioux City, Iowa, summers, it seems that kids were always outside: exploring, playing whiffle or softball, jumping rope, cycling, roller skating, and hula hooping. Play was organic, not organized by parents as "play dates." As a kid, you scoured the neighborhood until you found some kids to play with, and that was it. You just went home to eat and sleep, both of which interfered with the important work of playing with your friends. It was too hot to stay home and park yourself in front of the TV--no one I knew had air-conditioning. Only department stores and movie theaters had that luxury. On the unbearably hot days of July and August, you hung out at the local swimming p

Thought for the Day--April 20, 2011: When is Exercise Too Much?

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Exercise to live, never live to exercise. --Jack LaLanne Moving our bodies is a good thing and can extend our lives by years. We were given arms and legs for a reason. If we were meant to be blobs, we would look like amoebas! Also, older people can avoid, through exercise, or at the very least lessen, the possibility of ending up impaired or infirmed at an earlier age. However, at what point does exercise become an unhealthy obsession? 1. When exercise becomes the main focus of your life, above and beyond everything else. 2. When your body is constantly achy and sore. 3. You're always tired. 4. You are becoming too thin. 5. Your loved ones are starting to make comments about the time you spend on your treadmill or other equipment. Yesterday, my husband reminded me that I don't have to jump on the treadmill every single day, that taking an occasional day off actually helps my body recover. I took his advice, and I do feel better today. Take a reality check, my cyber friends!

Thought for the Day--April 19, 2011: Taking Exercise and Diet Advice

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Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet, 1694–1778) Portrait by Nicolas de Largillière (1656-1746) _______________________________ Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. --Voltaire That Voltaire! Who knew he could offer quips so a propos for 2011? In the above portrait, the humorist looks fit (and cute) enough, but as we all know, portrait painters were (and are) commissioned to emphasize the positive and gloss over the flaws. Ah, vanity is thy middle name! Now on topic: On this very site, I have said that we can learn from naturally slim people by studying their normal eating habits, but now I'm going to turn this notion on its head by advising when we shouldn't follow their advice blindly. Clueless slim people often toss around simplistic dictums, such as Losing weight is simple: stop eating so much! In a literal sense, this is true, but if it were realistically so simple, we would all be slim and no on

Thought for the Day--February 6, 2011: A Gorgeous Day

Not every thought has to be diet-related. Life is so much more than just weight issues. Today was a beautiful winter day, so I went for a walk, a change from the day-to-day treadmill.

Thought for the Day--January 31, 2011: Sweat It Off!

If, today, the scale shows a weight gain, don't sweat it. Just sweat it off. It doesn't matter if you have overeaten yesterday or the day before; today is what matters most. Tomorrow will come soon enough.

Thought for the Day--January 30, 2011: The Treadmill

Today, I dragged myself on the treadmill as a whining, complaining child ; I leaped off as a powerful and empowered woman. ;=)

Thought for the Day--January 27, 2011: Deep Winter

If you live in a cold climate, you most likely have some piles of snow around. Try not to get too down and out. It is bleak out there. Drink some hot chocolate or tea--it will warm and comfort you. Between shoveling and treadmill, I earned 11 activity points today. Curiously, I'm not all that hungry. I'm just tired. Today's snow was heavy and difficult--not quite the kind of exercise I had in mind. Now I know why most of our ancestors did not have serious weight issues.

Thought for the Day--January 22, 2011: Exercise and Physical Activity

Consider doing some kind of daily exercise. Your activity does not need to be a "no pain, no gain" deal, just something simple to keep your body moving and your metabolism up. I'm currently walking on my treadmill, but when the weather improves, I'm going to take it outside. I would also like to add some resistance exercises. Exercise pays off; I can now touch my toes without bending my knees.

Thought for the Day--January 18, 2011: Shovelling Snow

Winter! Piles and piles of snow! Lots of shovelling! Be careful when shoveling snow, especially if you are of a certain age. Small shovelfuls... Easy does it. Tip: Don't eat high fiber and high fat foods late at night. Tame those "night horses."

Memoir Madness: Driven to Involuntary Commitment