I had a bit of a rough start to 2019, with illness stopping me from exercising as much as I would have liked. But this is a new month and a new year being alive since I recently celebrated my birthday and I am back on track to getting in shape! I have moved on from some small one mile workouts that I could do in January and am now getting in two mile workouts, some with HIIT involved even! Next up I want to add some three mile workouts in and then get back to doing more yoga. I have been using the Walk at Home app from Leslie Sansone for my workouts for ease and so I have a variety workouts anytime that I have to sneak in some exercise. With my health I have good days and bad days, but I am starting to get some consistency with my workouts and that is giving me a few more good days I think. Hopefully I see some pounds start to drop off soon, but being healthy really is more important than losing weight to me at this point in my life. And I am still cooking more at home and I feel that is only improving my health as well. I think that taking better care of myself is even helping my art and writing!
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Last month was a tough month for me for many reasons. When we were moving one thing I noticed was just how out of shape that I was. Well this is a new month, hopefully a better month, and I have decided that it is time to get back into shape and take it seriously now. Now that I no longer live on the top floor of an apartment building I feel more comfortable working out at home without disturbing my neighbors. With being out of shape and having health issues I have to start small and just stay consistent. So I am starting off with some Walk Away the Pounds videos and YouTube workouts three time a week, and hopefully adding some yoga in once or twice a week. As I get in better shape I will add to the duration and intensity of things. I know it's too late to get my summer body, but really I just want to get in better shape for my health and not for looks. Wish me luck! Of course I am trying to clean up my diet as well, mostly by adding more veggies and healthy foods rather than just taking things away. Lets see how it works! If I were brave I'd post a before picture here, but really I am not that brave.
This year I have been slowly attempting to get back in shape despite health setbacks all over the place. I have upped my walking, but now that summer is just around the corner it is time for me to start looking for a gym. I love walking outside and at home, but outside is not an option once the heat starts to become overwhelming. Plus I probably need to up my working out and start hitting some weights. The thing is, the hubby and I don't have a ton of money to spend. So those of you who belong to gyms, which ones do you recommend that don't cost an arm and a leg?
A couple of times this year I have tried to start a consistent exercise program, only to be derailed by health and life. And that is how I find myself starting over once again. Sometimes falling off the exercise wagon makes me feel like a loser, but I always manage to pick myself back up and again and start over. As long as I keep trying I am making forward progress.
Now I am still suffering from some long term health issues, so this time I am starting off smaller and building as my body will let me. That means I'm mainly focusing on walking and getting my steps back up and doing yoga on a daily basis again. I think that I what I am going to focus on until the end of the year. Maybe if I ease my body into exercise, I can start to add more after the new year. While I do hope to lose some weight from this exercise program, what is more important to me is feeling better and helping my health. I'm hoping this time I don't push myself too far and overdo it, that way hopefully I can stick to it this time. If not, well I will just start over one more time. It's been a couple of weeks since I gave a little fitness update. A couple of weeks ago I had a bit of a health scare and ended up in urgent care. Since then I have been resting and taking things rather slowly. I have taken a little break from yoga and been keeping my step count a little lower, but still getting some gentle exercise in none the less. I have also been continuing to eat fairly health and I have lost over four pounds in a month. Not too bad if I do say so myself!
I am finally feeling a little better, so that means this week I am getting back into yoga and upping my step goal once more. I think it will be at least another month before I can join a gym and start going on a regular basis with my gym buddy, but I am still making forward progress and that is what really counts. I have found that having some accountability buddies on Facebook has really helped me keep on track. Having other friends who are working towards similar goals keeps me motivated and having them check in on me keeps me honest with myself and motivates me to get up when I'd rather sleep in. This is a life long journey and I am happy to have some dear friends cheering me on as I cheer them on as well. I had a small set back health wise this past week, one that sent me to urgent care and to the doctor. So that means my fitness regime was also set back somewhat. I missed my yoga, strength training, and step goal for the last three days. Still, the first part of the week started out well and I kept to my fairly healthy diet, so I ended up actually losing a pound! Woo hoo!
Tomorrow is a new week and I am feeling better, which means I am ready to hit my exercise goals hard once more! Sure I had a set back, but life is full of setbacks. I am still doing what I can and making progress in bettering my health and that is what counts. I still need to figure out a way to get to the gym and really start strength training, but until then I have found some wonderful full body workouts on Youtube. What would I do without Youtube? lol Anyways, I am behind in my 31 days of yoga, but I am planing on catching up and finishing my commitment to myself. I am also going to try really hard to beat my brother in our weekly workweek step challenge on Fitbit. I also need to strength train at least three times. I can do this! I also have a couple accountability friends on FB, where we check in with each other and encourage each other to reach out goals, in health, writing and life in general! I am two weeks into my personal fitness challenge and things are going well despite my health trying to get in the way. I have been doing yoga every day and it is getting easier, I feel my body moving better, though balance is an issue for me some days. I still do the best I can each day and keep showing up at the mat. I am also trying to keep up with my daily step goal, though I have missed the mark there some days as I continue to add other exercises to my routine. I am adding abs on most days, and alternating legs and arms, trying to build muscle and strength.
Last Monday I actually went to the gym for the first time in forever. I went with someone younger and in better shape than me, but I didn't die. Okay abs almost killed me, but I was pleased to see that my legs are still strong! As soon as I can logistically figure out how to get to the gym on a regular basis I will be joining and going as often as I can. It felt good to do a serious workout. I have also been making an attempt to eat healthier of late, this included eating more vegetarian meals. Of course I still have a burger a week, but hey a girl can't be perfect! Still, small steps will hopefully lead to big changes. I have managed to lose about 3.3 pounds in the past two weeks and I hope to see the scale moving lower and lower. Well it is one week into my 31 day fitness challenge. I have managed to do my yoga workout each day, though some days have been harder than others. I am trying to just be where I am and be happy with it, but I am struggling to get back into yoga shape that is for sure. Still I feel a little more at peace with myself and that is one of the main benefits that I get from yoga, so that is a win if you ask me. I have also been hitting my 10,000 step goal each day. That has not been easy either, especially on days when I work. I don't get as much walking in at work as I would like, so I have to commit time in the morning and at night to getting the steps in. I know that this is good and healthy for me, but it is taking some time from my writing schedule, which of course makes me feel guilty. I need to learn balance and to remember that if I don't take care of myself then I won't be able to write anyways.
So all in all a successful week one on my new fitness regime. Weight loss was only about one pound, but hey that's a step in the right direction! This week I will continue my yoga practice each day and hitting my step goals. I also need to add in some ab work and maybe some weights. I will either do this at home on my own, or I may see if I can hit the gym with a friend. Said friend is younger and in better shape than I, so I must admit that I am rather scared to hit the gym with him. But my husband told me, "I don't care if you are scared, do it anyways." I think that is what I need to do! I'll have a new update next week! So if you read this blog on a regular base, you know that I am attempting to slowly get back in shape. Well it is time to get serious and that is why I am committing myself to a 31 day health challenge. I signed up for a yoga program that has the 31 days all planned out for me. I hope this really jump starts a regular yoga practice for me. At the same time I am getting back into using my Fitbit to hit at least 10,000 steps a day. I figure 31 days of hitting my step goal, combined with daily yoga is a big step in the right direction. I am also slowly cleaning up my eating, though I love food too much to ever be perfect in that area. As I get in better shape I hope that I see improvements in my overall health. Stay tuned for weekly updates, I need to be held accountable so that is why I am putting my health journey out there.
If you are interested in doing the same yoga challenge that I am, here it is: http://yogawithadriene.com/revolution-31-days-of-yoga/ As I talked about at the beginning of the month, I am really working on taking better care of myself and getting back in shape. I have been drinking more water, trying to get more steps in each day, exercising at least three times per month, and slowly trying to add in some strength training. Now thanks to Kris Carr, a kick ass cancer survivor whose books I have read, I am taking a four part free webinar that is helping me to focus on myself even more. I am trying to meditate more and treat my body even better. Now I don't know if I can ever go vegan like Kris is, but I can eat better and feel better. I am even considering signing up for her 21 program to get a jump start on a healthier life. I have had some health setbacks and I sure could use some more energy and less stress in my life. At least I am on the right track and making small changes each and every day.
If you are interested in checking out more about Kris Carr and her free wellness series or anything else, you can find her at http://kriscarr.com/! I highly recommend her books and website not only for cancer patients and survivors, but for anyone who needs a kick in the pants to get healthier for all kinds of health conditions. |
AuthorAuthor, artist, jewelry maker and all around creative person. I write in many genres and have a lot of fun doing so. Please take a look around and enjoy! Archives
January 2022
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