Before You Work Out

There's some simple steps you should take before beginning any kind of exercise regimen or workout. Taking precautions can keep you from injuring yourself or keep you from falling off your program.

1. Consult your physician before beginning any kind of diet, exercise or work out program or major lifestyle changes. This is critical to avoiding injuries to yourself.

2. Drink plenty of water and make sure you eat something with in an hour or two of exercising, but not right before hand. Try and give yourself 30 minutes after eating before working out.

3. Stretch! This is very important, I know it takes extra time and may seem unnecessary, but this will keep you from hurting yourself. Hurting yourself will prevent you from maintaining a regular workout. Remember to only stretch until you're at your limit and hold it for 10-20 seconds at a time.

4. If you do start to hurt listen to your body. Dull pain is generally ok and you can just lighten up a little if you need. Your muscle should hurt a little :) Sharp pain however, can be a sign of a serious injury and you should stop what you are doing and give your body time to rest and recuperate before you begin again.

5. Start slow. Beginners should limit workout times to 10 or 15 minutes and build up slowly adding 5 minutes to their workout routine every week. Pushing yourself too hard will most likely cause you to injure yourself or get frustrated and give up.

6. Don't give up, it gets easier. I can tell you honestly that I hated any kind of physical exercise for almost my entire life, but each day gets a little easier and I'm starting to like it.

7. Tell your friends and family, they will congratulate you and support you. I know it sounds dumb, like you are bragging or something, but if they love you, they will have nothing but encouragement for you.

I hope these tips help. They are working for me so I am happy to share. I've been working out for about 2 months now and I am down 10 pounds, 2 pant sizes and have lost 12 inches from my body!!

The Plague Strikes

So last week the plague struck our house as the stomach flu made it's way through town. As you can imagine I fell off the wagon a little bit dealing with sick children and a sick significant other.

Instead of cooking at home we ate out, I cheated and had a coffee, didn't do my work out as I was not feeling good. So I was expecting failure this morning when I got on the Wii Fit to do a body test and my work out.

To my amazement, I lost 3 pounds. I felt like I was on top of the world and felt even more motivated to get back on track. I know what some of you are thinking of course you lost 3 pounds with the stomach flu, but I never got sick! 

I'm glad everyone is on the mend, and happy to be back to my routine. I am looking forward to seeing how much I can accomplish this week. I had to give away some of my clothes that are too big now, but I am fitting clothes that were too small a month ago and it's like getting a whole new wardrobe.

Pep Talk

I'm no fitness expert, and I'm the first to admit that growing up I didn't want to make the effort to lose weight. I wanted a quick easy fix. Well I've grown up with that mentality and it's a hard one to break.

As the years have passed I have been depressed about my weight and really wanted to be thinner and healthier. This led to a lot of emotional eating, and more inactivity.

Working out is hard. It's tiring, it makes your chest and lungs burn, it makes your muscles burn, and let's not forget the sweating. But I am here to tell you it gets easier. You just have to try and keep trying.

For a month now I have gotten off my butt and made the effort to work out. I'll admit at first it was hard, very hard. I could only go for short burst at a time a few times a week, but after a month of pushing myself I am now able to do 30 minutes of step aerobics 6 days a week.

Let me tell you how amazing it feels. I used to get winded walking up the alley to my apartment, now I can walk up it without even breathing hard. I feel better, my pants keep getting looser, and I feel like I am sleeping better.

I still have a hard time believing how easy it has gotten and have been kind of kicking myself for not doing this YEARS ago. However, I won't kick myself too hard, and you shouldn't either.

Each day is a new one, so try and make that step today, and again tomorrow and the day after that. You'll thank yourself.