As we all know gym memberships and personal trainers are expensive. Don't let the cost of a gym membership be your excuse. There are plenty of ways to get excersice for little or no cost.
1. Jogging or running is free. This is something you can do outside anywhere you like or even jog around in your house. If you feel like it you can purchase a new or used treadmill.
2. Step Aerobics doesn't have to be in a class, you can do it at home on your own steps, or purchase a step board, they are not very expensive.
3. Youtube has a plethra of workout videos, or you can purchase any number of workout videos online or in stores.
4. Consider joining a local sports team, or find a friend to work out with. Many people will advertise on Craig's List looking for someone to workout with. (PLEASE be careful when dealing with strangers on Craigslist or any other website, take a friend with you and meet in a public place.)
5. Dancing in your house to music can be great exercise. Try and find upbeat music and really move for at least 20 minutes. If you are not sweating and out of breath you're not getting all the benefit.
6. Spinning or bicycling is another great fairly inexpensive way to get a great workkout. Plus buying a bike or a stationary bike is a one time expense, as opposed to a monthly gym membership.
7. Consider signing up for classes at an annex or community college, these are usually failry inexpensive and you get the benefit of having an instructor to help you.
8. Yoga is considered to be an aerobic exercise as well, and if you don't want to join a yoga class you can watch some videos on youtube, or buy a video.
9. The Wii Fit for those of you who have a Wii or would like to get one this is a great program not only because of exercises but because there is an instructor programmed in to guide you along the way.
Now you can't let that "I can't afford a gym" mentailty get to you anymore. You can workout anywhere, you just have to want it bad enough. Stick with it and you'll be much happier with yourself.
Showing posts with label Yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yoga. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Tips for Dealing with Stress
Life can be stressful. Stress causes a lot of health problems, and it lends itself to emotional eating and bad eating habits. It can also affect your sleep, your digestive system, your hormones, and even cause muscular tension.
Getting rid of stress can help alleviate many of those symptoms and more. Finding ways to de-stress is important for your health, both physically and emotionally.
Here's some suggestions for getting rid of stress:
1. Stop and take a 5 minute break when your are getting stressed out. Find somewhere quiet, take a couple deep breaths and try and push the stress out of your mind.
2. Write it down. Even if you just throw away the paper later, you'll feel better getting it out of you.
3. Take a relaxing shower or bath. Lock the door, ignore the kids and hubby or whatever and just let go.
4. Cleaning. I know it sounds crazy but I feel so much better after getting some housework done, and it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
5. Try a support group or therapy. Having someone who's not involved in your day to day life to vent to can really help.
6. This may sound silly but try playing games or cards. With friends or alone this can help take your mind of what's bothering you for a little while. Obviously limit time spent playing video games, or find a physical game, like football or volley ball.
7. The "I did list". Instead of writing a "to do list" make an "I did" list. I write down all the things I got done, and instead of seeing all the things I didn't get done on the list, I see a big list of things I did get done.
8. Listen to some music. I'm one of those people that likes to sing along and sometimes I'll even dance around if no one's about.
9. Call a friend and talk about something. You can talk about what's stressing you out or about anything, I bet you'll feel a little better afterwards.
10. Consider Yoga or meditation, if that's not your thing maybe just find a class that you want to try. It will give you a break from thinking about your stress causer, and give you a chance to meet new people.
11. Try and stay positive. Glass half full kind of thing you know? It's easy to let stress get the better of you if you're only looking for the bad things.
Of course no one can ever really relieve all their stress, but cutting it down as much as possible will improve your quality of life if nothing else.
Getting rid of stress can help alleviate many of those symptoms and more. Finding ways to de-stress is important for your health, both physically and emotionally.
Here's some suggestions for getting rid of stress:
1. Stop and take a 5 minute break when your are getting stressed out. Find somewhere quiet, take a couple deep breaths and try and push the stress out of your mind.
2. Write it down. Even if you just throw away the paper later, you'll feel better getting it out of you.
3. Take a relaxing shower or bath. Lock the door, ignore the kids and hubby or whatever and just let go.
4. Cleaning. I know it sounds crazy but I feel so much better after getting some housework done, and it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
5. Try a support group or therapy. Having someone who's not involved in your day to day life to vent to can really help.
6. This may sound silly but try playing games or cards. With friends or alone this can help take your mind of what's bothering you for a little while. Obviously limit time spent playing video games, or find a physical game, like football or volley ball.
7. The "I did list". Instead of writing a "to do list" make an "I did" list. I write down all the things I got done, and instead of seeing all the things I didn't get done on the list, I see a big list of things I did get done.
8. Listen to some music. I'm one of those people that likes to sing along and sometimes I'll even dance around if no one's about.
9. Call a friend and talk about something. You can talk about what's stressing you out or about anything, I bet you'll feel a little better afterwards.
10. Consider Yoga or meditation, if that's not your thing maybe just find a class that you want to try. It will give you a break from thinking about your stress causer, and give you a chance to meet new people.
11. Try and stay positive. Glass half full kind of thing you know? It's easy to let stress get the better of you if you're only looking for the bad things.
Of course no one can ever really relieve all their stress, but cutting it down as much as possible will improve your quality of life if nothing else.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wii Fit Plus + Balance Board for the Nintendo Wii
So I mentioned that I got a Wii Fit Plus for Christmas this year and I'd like to talk a little bit more about that. I LOVE my Wii Fit Plus. I have never been very big on working out, and I'm a bit of a couch potato in the evening hours after the kids go to bed. I have found though, that the Wii Fit Plus is easy to use and fun. I have been using it 2-3 times a week for at least 20 minutes, sometimes as long as an hour, and boy do you work up a sweat!
There's 5 main segments to the game: training plus, yoga, strength training, aerobics and balance games. Each segment offers numerous activities, or you can enter the My Wii Fit Plus area where you can create and/or combine exercise to customize your workout.
The Wii Fit body test not only weighs you and tells you where your center of balance lies, but it will give you your Body Mass Index or BMI. The program lets you set a weight loss goal and the time you'd like to complete it in. You get a stamp everyday on your calendar that you perform a body test and a graph to show your progress. You'll earn coins for every minute of exercise you do in a day, this will unlock new exercises as you go along. It also has a calorie counter that lets you know how many calories you burned per exercise or for your whole workout.
Another really cool feature is the lock function you can add to your Mii character in the Wii Fit game, your 4 digit pin allows you to hide your weight and stats from prying eyes. For those of you unfamiliar with the Wii gaming system the Mii is the character you create to represent yourself as a player.
I highly recommend buying the Wii Fit Plus system for the Wii, it's just amazing. I'd like to get the "Step It Up Wii Fit Aerobics Step Platform" which sits under your Wii Fit Balance Board to bring it to the standard aerobics height of 4". This version includes a drawer for organizing your Wii accessories. Anything that can help me lose more weight and stay organized is a winner in my book! Maybe I can get the significant other to get it for me when my birthday rolls around here in 2 months :)
There's 5 main segments to the game: training plus, yoga, strength training, aerobics and balance games. Each segment offers numerous activities, or you can enter the My Wii Fit Plus area where you can create and/or combine exercise to customize your workout.
The Wii Fit body test not only weighs you and tells you where your center of balance lies, but it will give you your Body Mass Index or BMI. The program lets you set a weight loss goal and the time you'd like to complete it in. You get a stamp everyday on your calendar that you perform a body test and a graph to show your progress. You'll earn coins for every minute of exercise you do in a day, this will unlock new exercises as you go along. It also has a calorie counter that lets you know how many calories you burned per exercise or for your whole workout.
Another really cool feature is the lock function you can add to your Mii character in the Wii Fit game, your 4 digit pin allows you to hide your weight and stats from prying eyes. For those of you unfamiliar with the Wii gaming system the Mii is the character you create to represent yourself as a player.
I highly recommend buying the Wii Fit Plus system for the Wii, it's just amazing. I'd like to get the "Step It Up Wii Fit Aerobics Step Platform" which sits under your Wii Fit Balance Board to bring it to the standard aerobics height of 4". This version includes a drawer for organizing your Wii accessories. Anything that can help me lose more weight and stay organized is a winner in my book! Maybe I can get the significant other to get it for me when my birthday rolls around here in 2 months :)
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