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I really wanted to get in shape for years and would start a workout
program time and time again before I finally took myself seriously 7
months ago, and what really made the difference for me was the book Make
The Connection by Oprah & Bob Greene. Somehow, the way things were
worded made me finally take responsibility for my health, my weight, and
my body.
I had put on about 3-5 pounds every year for the last 7 years and it was
starting to scare me. I have now lost close to 20 pounds but I don't
focus on the weight; I count inches and the way I feel (I have
definitely gained muscle, which weighs more than fat anyway).
When I first started I'd alternate between nordic track for 10-20
minutes on one day and step aerobics the next (15-20 minutes). Then I
slowly added more variety including strength training, which has made a
MAJOR difference for me (in the past I've always done the aerobics and
fast forwarded through the YUCKY toning parts). Yoga has also helped me
a lot by increasing my flexibility, strength, and posture.
Bob Greene points out in Make
The Connection that you are better off to
start working out for a shorter period but still work really hard,
because: 1 - you are more likely to stick with a workout if you are
working hard at it, 2 - you are less likely to stop if you are only
working out for a short period at first, and 3 - as your fitness
improves you can add more time. What really struck me was that if you
start off working out for 60 minutes then want to see more
results, it makes it really hard to keep adding time or you'll end up
working out for too long and give up. But if you work out for 20
minutes, it's easy to add another 5, 10, or even 30 minutes and still
have a reasonable workout time.
I think what made the biggest difference for me this time was focusing
on the way I felt rather than the way I looked. I have been fighting
depression and I KNOW that if I hadn't been exercising, I would have
really been WAY DOWN. So the benefits of regular exercise FAR surpass
just the "looks" benefits.
Another thing that has really helped is drinking TONS of water (about 64
ounces per day) and having healthier, better snack alternatives around
(again, VFer's, thanks for the suggestions!).
I now am up to an hour workout a day 5-6 days per week, and I really
look forward to working out (something I never thought I'd be able to
say!). And VF has inspired me to try new workouts (thanks for the
recommendation for Kathy Smith's Functionally Fit Peak Fat Burning - it
has been AWESOME for me!) and stay motivated. VF is the best!
Jennifer Duffin
[email protected]
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