Have you been drinking your water?
Have you been exercising?
Do you like to exercise?
I think exercising is important if you want to lose weight and/or stay healthy. I don't think it matters what kind of exercise you do, just as long as you do something.
In my younger, pre-marriage, pre-baby stage of life, I loved to exercise! LOVED IT!
As a kid, I would beg my parents to buy me workout tapes (VHS-the kind on infomercials) and exercise equipment.
It just looked like fun.
I still have these tapes, and I still use them too.
One Christmas I received a gazelle.
The gazelle exercise machine.
It was on my list.
The machine that was in the infomercial with this guy.
We have the same hair.
I used this thing all the time.
We eventually moved it to my cousin's house because it was taking up a lot of room.
But I really did use it a lot
I also really wanted a treadmill. I never got one.
But as soon as I got married and moved out, my parents got a treadmill.
Guess where they put it.
My room.
Anyways, back to exercise.
I do not have the same motivation for exercise that I once did.
My problem is that I am busier and tired.
Cold weather is also a hard time to get motivated.
So here are my tips for exercising:
1. Make it a habit.
If you currently don't exercise, try setting aside 10 minutes everyday to exercise. It could be any time of day, and it doesn't matter what you do. 10 minutes is better than 0 minutes.
Once you start, you might find out you can go longer than 10 minutes.
You can also do two or three 10 minute intervals throughout the day. Sometimes a certain child may interrupt me in the middle of exercising, and I'll have to stop. A few hours may go by before I finish my workout. If you don't get all your exercise in one sitting, you can always finish later.
I don't think you HAVE to exercise everyday to get fit or lose weight. Three to four times a week is good for you. However, in order for exercise to become a habit, you may want to start with every day or every other day until you get into a groove.
It is easy to get out of the habit of exercising. Just skipping two or three days can turn into two or three weeks. You must make yourself do something until you get to the point where it is in your daily/weekly routine.
2. Be creative.
Sometimes my time to exercise is when Millie is playing on the floor. My workout can sometimes turn into her entertainment. She thinks jumping jacks or any kind of kick is hilarious. Sometimes exercise moves can make her stop crying.
I'll also lie on the floor next to her and exercise. Leg lifts, push ups, sit ups. This is also a good time to do the plank pose (shown below).
So entertain your child when you workout.
If you don't have babies, then exercise while watching TV, listening to the radio, or any other 'lounging around time.'
Another time I exercise is when I'm cooking. Waiting on water to boil or something to finish heating in the microwave or the oven is a perfect time to jump rope in place, jumping jacks, push ups on the counter, or even squats.
Yes this sounds silly to use my imaginary jump rope in the kitchen, but it is better than snacking on grated cheese while waiting on my water to boil.
You get my point. You can exercise anywhere or any time. Just use some imagination.
3. Take advantage of nice weather.
Walk outside, swim, walk around the park. Anytime it is nice, go outside and exercise.
Sometimes it is easier to go on a walk than do a video. However, in the winter months this can be challenging, especially if you have to take a child with you. So if it is pretty weather, like it has been around here, call a friend and go walk.
4. Use you IPhone, IPad, and Internet.
If you have a device that can download apps you can get some free exercise videos and information.
I have downloaded some free pilates apps that give me multiple videos. They are only a few minutes long, and they work! Just search for 'free exercise' or 'free pilates.'
I have also found free videos for light weight lifting or other aerobic exercise.
Just search around for what works best for you.
5. Videos (not on the internet)
I go through stages with videos, and I know some people who hate doing exercise videos.
If you hate them, then just stop reading.
I still use some old exercise video tapes to help change up my routine. I already showed you these videos.
But I also have MTV's The Grind. Anyone else do this one? It is really fun.
I won't embarrass myself any more by showing you the rest.
The best up-to-date DVDs I have are The Biggest Loser Videos. Most of them have 3 different levels. There are 3 different workouts in one DVD. It takes longer to get tired of the same old video.
6. Change up your routine
Doing the same thing everyday will eventually become less effective. So change it up every now and then.
It is now 72 degrees on January 31st. I'm taking my own advice and going on a walk.
