Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum, though I've been reading Steve's blog for a couple months and yours too Erin ever since you did the 30 day raw food diet. My goal for 2009 is different but certainly related. My goal for 2009 is to make a change in my career and turn my passion for health and fitness into a career. I'm just getting started. I'm currently studying to become certified as a personal trainer and hope to pass the test in the next 2 months. I've spent the last 20 years studying everything I can get my hands on about health and nutrition, weight loss, etc and transformed from my body from being obese to a runner. It's been a long road but I must say, the benefits are countless and your life changes in more ways than you can ever imagine.
You all sound so motivated and passionate. It's so great to find a group like this and I'm excited to hear about all the progress. Erin, can't wait to hear what your dietician says. I'm a vegan too and most "diets" out there don't address that. I think it's great that you all realize it's what you eat (better way to say it than diet) AND exercise that will make a long term difference in your health and fitness. You really have to think about it as a way of life, not as a diet that you will do for a while and then go "off" of. You owe it to yourself to take care of your body. I've struggled with this more than anything. It's not about seeing some magic number on the scale. It's about fueling your body with whole, nutritious foods so that you have the energy to do whatever you want!
Like I said, right now I'm concentrating on studying for a test so I'm just getting started with blogging and I know I need to add more articles but I have a couple that might be helpful. I truly believe that these are small changes you can make that can have a huge impact!
Fitness4Good | EAT to achieve your ideal weight!
There is a link in that post to another about fiber. I can't believe there isn't more emphasis put on this with people trying to lose weight. I truly believe it is the untold secret to people getting to their ideal weight.
Fitness4Good | Fiber: A secret weapon to achieve your ideal weight!
I listened to the webcast of Oprah and Bob Greene the other day and Bob explained some of the reasons our bodies react certain ways. He explained how empty calories - like soda (pop) - for instance, make our body call out for more. The body is craving the nutrients it needs. Those empty calories not only have no nutritional value, they also make the body ask for more food! The same goes for the stuff out there that has had all the nutritional value stripped from it like white flour, white rice, etc. We need to get away from processed foods and back to food the way nature intended. Food is processed to increase shelf life and decrease the cost to produce it. It's all big corporations doing what is good for their bottom line, not what's good for people. We shouldn't be eating high fructose corn syrup and white flour but it's cheap and can sit on the shelf for two (or 10!) years! That's good for food manufacturers but it's not good for the human body!
So now, the exercise program... If you aren't currently exercising, you need to start moving more. Baby steps... For health, you need to get at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week. For weight loss, you should exercise 5 days a week, start with 30 minutes and work your way up to 60. Intensity is important too. Start off with an intensity where you can still talk. If you are short of breath and talking is hard, you need to decrease your intensity. Listen to your body. As you start moving, it will get easier and easier. Your body will react to the work you have asked of it and come back stronger. If you can walk fast this week, soon you will be jogging, or increasing your incline and soon it will be easier. Add hills (or incline to a treadmill) or move faster. Keep challenging your body and it will come back stronger and ready for a bigger challenge!
The next consideration - weight training. Weight training increases your muscles, turns fat to muscle and everyone knows that muscle burns more calories, even while you are sleeping! Get your metabolism going! Make your body work and it will react. What's hard today will be easy in a couple weeks and you will reap the benefits!
Ok, I'll stop for now. I hope someone finds this helpful! Wishing you peace and fitness in 2009!
Karen