Get Started Exercising Now, But Take It Easy!
So you're overweight, "fat"--to be honest--and you want to start exercising. Before you take off like an overlarge airplane and start preparing for the Olympics trials, stop right there. You may have it all figured out by now, after checking with your friends, the media and finally that fickle fiend known as the bathroom mirror, that a regular exercise program is the only way to fly when it comes to permanent weight loss. That entails working out or otherwise flexing your physical and psychological muscles on a regular basis, perhaps three times a week, or maybe even once per day. But therein lies the rub. How do you get started? How often do you exercise? Most importantly, if you've been very sedate or at least somewhat off your feet for awhile, what's the safest way to begin an effective, weight-loss centered exercise program? Beginning a Righteous Program--Realistically First of all, follow the old saw about consulting with your doctor. Don't start thinking you can just begin running around the block. That's why the medical profession exists, to advise and keep you safe. You doctor will recommend specific types of exercise tailored to fit your own individual lifestyle, personal health needs and concerns. But you don't need to make it entirely clinical when you begin an exercise program. Most importantly, you need to pick something you're going to stick with. What do you like in the way of sports? If you're people-oriented, you should look into joining a team sports program of some kind in your area, one created for adult participation. You can look for a local softball league, take a beginning aerobics class at a fitness center, or play regular games of basketball at a gym with your buddies. And then there's golf, the perennial favorite of people who want to perform fun and interesting mild exercise. All you have to do is motivate yourself and perhaps some friends to get started. Or if you're a loner, you can take up an individualized sport such as bicycle touring, which can also be done in small groups, or laps swimming at your community pool. And if you like to be around a humungous amount of people, how about mall-walking, one of the latest in adult and family mild fitness trends, or the more traditional act of partner dancing, which you can do at all kinds of gathering places such as local taverns, senior centers, community halls and social clubs. There's an almost infinite number of places you can go and groups you can join. Just pick one, and remember to start out with a breezy, fun and easygoing attitude. You're not punishing yourself; you're picking up on a lifelong habit of moving your body for health purposes. You'll feel better, look fitter and maybe meet new people while you're dropping those needless extra pounds. But be realistic, and work with your doctor. You want to aim for something fun that you'll keep committing to doing regularly. If it's something you hate, perhaps such as running on a track, climbing stairs or using what seems to you to be boring exercise equipment, forget it! Don't spend all your money on something you can't keep doing because you feel guilty, or think you have to punish yourself into exercising. Be sure you like what you're going to do before you get started. Simply walking around the block is a very inexpensive and potentially fun way to go from a sedentary state to a beginning new level of much better health and fitness. You must start with something easy and simple if you haven't been exercising for decades, and you should gradually increase your level of activity as you feel comfortable with it. Move by inches, not by miles. Are you a morning or an evening person? If you're the former, plan to work out in the morning, and if you wake up later in the day, do your routine more near twilight. Also, as your doctor will tell you, start with a small window of time, perhaps only fifteen minutes at first, and slowly increase it every other day or so. In order to achieve a higher level of fitness and to lose weight, you must perform whatever exercise you choose at least three to four times a week. This is better at first than every day, as a rest may be needed between workouts to give your aching muscles a chance to soothe themselves and heal before you bravely saunter forth again or head back merrily to the gym. Eventually, you can try exercising every single day, anywhere from twenty minutes to a full hour. But especially at first--and that may be for several months--don't push yourself too hard. Don't go all out, and get frustrated because you can't keep it up. You don't have to be a college athlete, and you can seriously hurt your heart by pushing too hard or overdoing it. Remember, you're doing this for fun, for health reasons and to feel good about yourself. Don't try to become an "athlete" unless you think that will be something you'll want to commit to on a much more rigorous schedule. Later! Easy Exercise Comes--Naturally Americans tend to think of exercise as more their duty than as a part of their culture, or "way of life." But it's a true lifestyle preference. Throughout the world, many forms of regular exercise are taking hold of whole general populations. Take walking, for example. In Europe, people are flocking to their local well-developed public hiking trails, and there's quite a few of those spread across the USA as well. Walking of a moderate type is called Volkssport in Europe, and it's really been around for many centuries. Easy-going exercise such as walking continues to stave off heart disease, osteoporosis, high cholesterol and many types of cancer, as well as taking care of most of your belly flab. It doesn't sound like much, but it will really tighten your whole body up. Your legs will especially benefit, and your buns will automatically grow firmer as you stroll. Not to mention that the worst investment you need to make is a pair of comfy, sturdy sensible shoes, preferably made of leather or canvas with rubber soles.You may think that yoga is some uncomfortable form of Eastern self-punishment and mysticism, but it's not. Yoga is great for toning your body, as it's extremely gentle when done correctly. It combines traditional breathing and relaxation techniques with simple stretching. It's good to use yoga during a weight-loss program when you're sedentary, as it's very easy on your body, you don't have to repeat the same exercises every day, and it requires a minimal time commitment. Yoga can be used in conjunction with a more rigorous exercise program to help maintain your overall state of fitness. "Yoga doesn't take over your life, it enhances it," says Alice Cristensen, founder and executive director of the American Yoga Association. Continuing Your Program--Goals and Motivation Okay, so you've gotten started, but what does all this have to do with watching your weight? To keep on schedule with this as your original goal, you also have to keep that commitment to lose enough poundage to be a healthy, happy and physically fit person. First of all, you have to figure out exactly what you're expecting to accomplish. Are you looking for optimal health, or do you really want to fit into slinky clothes better? Either way, you're going to have to set goals and try to attain them as you go. It helps to clearly keep in mind what you're aiming for, and it helps to visualize yourself at your ideal weight several times a day. This image impresses itself upon your subconscious and inwardly motivates you to continue your program with a bulldog's sheer tenacity and motivation. You want that; whatever happens, you don't want to stress out and quit. Try looking at old photographs of yourself at your ideal weight and picturing realistically what you'll look like when you're back there again. Don't expect the Fountain of Youth, but you'd be shocked how close you can get to your mental picture, and how good you're going to feel as you move your body, eat less liberally and become fit and not fat. Also, you should make a brief list of the five major reasons you're embarking on an exercise and weight-loss program. Do you want to bring down your blood pressure? Does being fat make you feel too old? Do you want to attract someone new in your life? When you sit in your car, does your stomach practically turn the steering wheel? Make it a point to carry this list with you wherever you go, and when you get in the mood to quit and give up, whip it out and read it aloud, saying to yourself that this is what you really want. You must also remember to keep it simple when you're losing weight. In most cases, burning more calories than you ingest is the biggest concern. You have to expend approximately 3,500 calories to lose one pound of adipose fat tissue. Water weight doesn't count, and that's what a lot of people lose at first. Also, the important thing about exercise is that you can eat almost normally and still lose the weight at a healthy and reasonable pace. If you don't exercise and try to lose weight, you'll be tempted to embark on a starvation diet. This has been shown to make you lose lean muscle mass instead of fat in most cases, and although you'll drop some pounds, they may be the wrongest ones. Chances are that if you're unfit while you're losing weight, you'll get physically tired, sleep less, become overly emotional, and stress out and become extremely irritable. It simply isn't healthy to do it that way, so you need at least a moderate exercise program. Try keeping a journal of your progress every day, and consult with it when you want to know how far along you've come. You can also use it to gauge how you're doing, and whether or not you're losing weight at a reasonable pace. Congratulate yourself every time you ate the right thing, kept to your walking schedule, or didn't give in to temptation that day by making a brief note about it. Read the journal to inspire you about what you're doing whenever you feel the urge to let go. Meanwhile, as you chart your progress, take the time to reward yourself for everything you're doing right. Ignore occasional slipups, and don't let them bother you. Move on and motivate yourself by going to a movie, taking a break from work, going to the beach or whatever floats your boat. Don't reward yourself with food, ever! Find other methods of loving life and use them. Treating yourself manifests your brain's reward system and keeps you striving toward your goals. Don't forget to share any successes or failures with your friends and family. Tell them all about how proud you are of the new lifestyle choices you're making, and share in their enthusiasm. They want you to be healthy and go on living, and so do you. But some of them may worry that you're starving yourself or are in a state of denial. Reassure them, and proceed carefully with your healthy diet and exercise plans, while always knowing that it's exactly what you need to do to look better, feel stronger and live longer. Easy Dieting Tips to Live By--Starting Now ? Never eat after 7 pm. Studies prove that your body's metabolism begins to shut down in the early evening. It needed fuel to function earlier, but at night you're getting yourself ready to fall asleep. Eat the bulk of your daily food intake around noon--that's when you're burning the most calories. But if you work nights, do it the other way around, of course. It's not the time of day that's important; it's the fact that your body is well-adjusted to a cycle where it doesn't burn many calories before and during bedtime. ? Americans are used to eating super-sized meals, so learn to limit your portion size. Eat smaller meals five or six times a day instead of the standard three huge ones, and grab healthy snacks like vegetables, fruits and yogurt in-between. You want to prevent any binging or "pigging out" that could occur. Eat modestly, but often, and be sure to drink plenty of healthy fluids--mostly, pure cool water. ? Limit your intake of saturated fats, sugars and any other substances in food proven to add empty calories to your daily diet. Don't drink any pop or sodas at all as they're very bad for you generally, being full of chemicals. Diet sodas tempt you into drinking the sugary ones, and all soda pop robs water from your system and makes you thirstier. That can lead to eating more food. ? Eat lots of vegetables and fruits. You might want to go easy on some of the higher-calorie fruits such as starchy bananas, and don't eat lots of high-fat avocados. But in general veggies are a dieter's best friend. You might want to always eat your veggies with some meat protein to curb any histamines that might ravage your system and make it harder for you to breathe. Also, eating plenty of veggies kills the hunger signals from your brain, due to their sheer bulk and fiber. And the nutrients in fruits and veggies will increase your physical strength. Eat your spinach! ? Also eat lots of whole grains, which provide antioxidants that fight cancer and help you feel satisfied in a manner similar to that of eating veggies. But whole grains are even more filling, and help you digest your food. You want to eat plenty of fibrous foods, plus drinking lots of water, to flush toxins left over in your body from the dieting completely out of your system. ? Take a healthy multivitamin. Don't go overboard and try to take everything, because some of the substances we need interact non-positively and can cause chemical imbalances. Consult with your doctor and see what's recommended nowadays. One good wholistic multivitamin and mineral supplement--not a megadose of potentially harmful chemicals--can improve your skin, hair, overall appearance in general, and also your chances of managing on a little bit less food. Lastly--Remember This Please remain consistently aware of one thing: these are radical, life-changing choices that you're making each day and night, and you've got to stick with them. Not everyone else in the world is going to live this way, but many people are and it's a sensational start! Think that you really have no choice, if you want to go on living for many long years and be vibrant, strong and healthy. Realize that your loved ones truly need you, and that the right thing to do is to take the best possible care of yourself. Tell yourself that with honest compassion, every single waking moment of your entire life. RAINBOW WRITING, INC. -- featuring Karen Peralta, copy editor, ghost writer and book author -- EXPERT FREE DOWNLOAD COMPUTER FIXER PROGRAM! We also offer inexpensive professional freelance and contracted writing, editing, copy editing and writing, rewriting, ghost writing, graphics design and CAD, Internet marketing, publishing assistance, search engine optimization, professional free services and supercheap dedicated web hosting and website development services. http://www.rainbowriting.com/
   
MORE RESOURCES:
Defining yoga, one style at a timeCommon Ground, CA - 3 hours agoThat’s the philosophy that inspired Jivamukti Yoga founders Sharon Gannon and David Life, who developed the style in their Manhattan studio in 1984. ... |
Library offers beginner's yoga classLog Cabin Democrat, AR - 3 hours agoA beginner's yoga class is being held weekly at the Faulkner County Library. The class is on-going, meeting from 7 to 8 pm on Tuesdays. ... |
Yoga for mumsThe Times, South Africa - 10 hours agoI used to harbour images of myself, after many years of uninterrupted yoga practice, as an 80-year-old doing the Shirshasana — sleek, youthful, and eternal. ... |
YOGA FOR YOU Utthita ParsvakonasanaHonolulu Star-Bulletin, HI - Nov 30, 2008Ray Madigan and Shelley Choy are certified Iyengar yoga teachers and co-direct the Manoa Yoga Center. Address questions to them at Manoa Marketplace, ... |
Strike a Yoga Pose: Locust PrepFitSugar.com, CA - 2 hours agoIf you're looking for a unique way to increase flexibility in your spine, then you'll want to try Locust. The full pose is rather Cirque du Soleil-ish, ... |
Yoga - Google News
|
 |
 |
 |
RELATED ARTICLES
Questioning Cardio for Weight Loss?
Q: I've heard you mention that you don't need tons of cardio to burn stubborn abdominal fat. Okay, I can live with that, but you've also said that it isn't absolutely necessary to perform direct ab work either.
FAT LOSS: The Truth On Fat Loss And How To Achieve It!
Fat Loss in GeneralThis morning I conducted a search engine "search" on the word fat loss. "Fat Loss" and "Fat Loss Supplements", being the most popular keywords, came up with a combined 1800 links, in one search engine.
Tired Of Struggling To Lose Weight?
There are many factors that cause us to increase body weight, yet three stand out from the rest.Our genetic make: Every cell in our body has a central control panel, that is a nucleus that contains our genes and chromosomes.
Weightloss Supplements - How Weightloss Patches & Diet Pills Can Control Your Appetite
All of us that have had a love-hate relationship with diets know that it is very easy to succumb to the phenomena known as the "yo-yo diet". What is the yo-yo diet, and how can we prevent ourselves from taking that path which can only end in disappointment, unhealthy weight gains and weightlosses, and damaged self esteem?Yo-yo dieting, as it has been termed, is the cycle of losing and gaining weight that seems to be so prevalent in the United States.
Are You Overweight Because Youre Not Sleeping Enough?
If you're like me, you probably wish that there was a way for you to lose weight without having to put in much effort, right?Everyone knows the importance of exercise and how it helps us with weight loss, but on some days don't we all wish we can just sleep in bed and lose weight at the same time?Well, I've got some great news for you..
Dieting? Want and Desire are Dangerous
This is a very important topic that needs to be addressed. People always talk about wanting this or wanting that.
Will The Real Fitness Hormone Please Stand Up!
New Medical Research shows high-intensity exercise can increase the body's natural production of the fitness hormone by 530%!When I completed the research phase for a health and fitness book in 2002, the bio-medical research was complete enough to draw hard conclusions about the type of fitness program that would make your body increase anti-aging, anti-MIDDLE-aging, and athletic performance improving HGH growth hormone - THE FITNESS HORMONE. However, the research didn't specifically test high-intensity sprints - until now!NEW LANDMARK RESEARCHIn a new study, researchers compared HGH growth hormone levels in several ways - resting (for a baseline measurement), after a 6 second cycle sprint, and after 30 second cycle sprint.
Spot Reducing is For The Laundry
· Can you give me an exercise that will get rid of the fat on my stomach?· What exercises an I do to tone my thighs?· Can you recommend some exercises to make my arms, thighs and stomach smaller and also speed up my weight loss??I hear questions such as this on a daily basis, both from our clients and from people standing in the grocery line with me who want to know what exercises I do for such "toned" arms. Spot reduction works only in the laundry room, ladies and gentleman - there is simply no such thing as localized fat loss.
Breaking Research: Whats a Dieter To Do?
Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight loss or nutrition is released to the public. These studies tout the latest and greatest trends, products or discoveries and then a willing public jumps on the bandwagon expecting mighty results.
Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #5
Wow! You must be on fire by now burning and churning up those calories on your way to your ideal weight. I know that taking steps to better your life is not always easy.
Weight Loss, Exercise, and Bodybuilding Tips - Keeping Your Body-Fat Low: Part 7 of 10
People usually quit weightloss and exercise programs for one of two reasons: boredom or lack of results, maybe even both!I cannot explain this, nor did I learn this in a classroom, but twenty years in the field proves it to me all the time- after about ten weeks the body starts catching onto what your workout will consist of that day. I believe that your body knows after awhile exactly what you are going to put it through, adapts to it and stops progress.
How to Eat Out and Lose Weight
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and now want healthy choices whether eating at home or at their favorite restaurants. Luckily, the restaurant industry has been quick to accommodate the demand, so you'll find you have many options to "eat healthy" these days.
Weight Loss Surgery: A Last Resort
Thinking about weight loss surgery? You're not alone. Over two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese.
Put Down That Brownie! Just One Bite Can Knock You Off Plan
It is very important for low carb dietersto stick to the exact plan prescribed ina book or by a doctor or dietitian.Taking even "one bite" of somethingthat is not on the plan can easilyruin a dieter's progress on a lowcarb plan.
5 Simple Steps to Start Your Weight Loss Program
Remember there's more to you than meets the eye. You've got personality, brains, feelings? in short, all those things that make you, YOU.
5 Diet Pill Free Weightloss Tips For Powerful Living
Before you even think of taking diet pills to lose weight,carefully consider all of your options. There are plenty ofchanges you can make in your daily eating and excercise habitsthat may help you shed the pounds without turning to diet pills.
How to Burn Fat: Doctors Proven Weight Loss Secret #1
Let me ask you a personal question. As you read these words, right now-- are you burning fat?If you don't know the answer, you need to know about a simple, inexpensive way to make sure.
How You Can Chew to Lose Weight
There Is A Right Way to Chew!Chewing your food is the beginning of the whole digestion process. By chewing food, your mouth produces saliva which helps break it down.
Why Are There Different Diet Types?
Diet is a dreadful word for most of us because it will mean food deprivation. This is especially so for those who love to eat, hearing this word seems like asking them to commit suicide.
Fitness through Exercise for Life - Principles that Keep You Going for Life!
ATTITUDESIT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!Exercising has so many physical benefits that most of uscan relate to, but what about the emotional andpsychological benefits it brings? Physical fitness, Ibelieve, touches far more than just our arms, arteries andwaistlines. It touches our very soul.
|