For this past 9 weeks I feel that regular exercise has been a top priority in my life. Not only am I looking better physically, but mentally my body is more alert, and my mind more focused. Following a healthy eating plan seems only natural, and I rarely slip up. It’s January 2009, and I have a feeling that this will be the healthiest year yet!
The gym is packed this week, and I assume many people made New Years Resolutions to re-join the gym. Due to necessity, this week I experimented with new cardio and strength training equipment. My new favorite cardio machine is called the life step (stair master). This machine requires the user to march up and down on steps while raised up off the floor. It’s a lower body workout that tones and tightens every muscle. At first 10 minutes was all I could handle, but this week I doubled it to 20. In 20 minutes I climb over 175 flights of stairs, and I can certainly feel the burn in my thighs after!
Now that I am feeling much more fit, I’ve noticed that during my workouts I can physically push myself harder and longer. In week 1 I was lifting 8 pound dumbbell curls, and now its 15 pounds. These days I’m laterally pulling down 45 pounds and have doubled the length of each cardio session since I re-joined the gym. In an hour and a half gym session I estimate that I burn around 500 + calories, or the equivalent of 1 healthy meal and snack. During the past 9 weeks I have noticed more definition in my arms and less jiggle in my midsection. My thighs are firm and I’ve even dropped a pant size!
Since I re-joined the gym my sleep is more restful. I don’t wake up during the night as much as I use to. I am drinking less coffee, but seem to have more energy. My clothes are bigger, and my self esteem is soaring. To top off this week I went shopping for a smaller gym outfit, which is always a good sign of weight loss. I am feeling, and beginning to look my best thanks to my workouts!
The key to exercising regularly is to find an activity you enjoy and stick to it! Exercise need not be boring since you can constantly switch up your routine. Personal trainers, like Courtney Steel at Atlantic Fitness East, www.atlanticfitnesseast.ca, suggest switching up your routine regularly. This will help to define new muscle groups and increase your physical strength and endurance.
Over the past 2 months I have learned that exercise, just like healthy eating, takes time, hard work and dedication. If you wish to lose more weight, or tighten and tone your body, exercise is a MUST. To say it simply, you just have to do it to see results. Stop making excuses not to exercise and start to schedule in the time to be physically active. Regular exercise has been proven to decrease the likelihood of developing illnesses like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. So blog readers I suggest you be good to your body and use it!