I wanted to take some time to talk with you guys about making sure you eat right and also keep active in the gym as it is very important too. It will keep you going on those days when you feel you cannot make it another step…We need to stay in good health so our bodies and minds stay in good health. Especially during these difficult and stressful times in the economy today; like loved ones losing their job, or you losing your job, money being tight, challenges trying to pay bills; all these things can build up a ton of stress which can make us ill and cause many health problems.
When starting out your week it is best to plan ahead of time. If you have a really busy work schedule and perhaps going to class too it is easier to plan meals and dedicate an allotted time to working out. If you plan your meals in advance then you can make sure that you are still getting the good nutrition that is needed to fuel your body. When we do not plan we end up eating foods that are bad for us and high in fat. This is what we want to avoid because what does fat do…it makes us fat. I started cooking certain dishes on Sunday and then freezing them so during the week all I have to do is defrost/heat and eat. Not to mention you can throw in a quick side salad and you have your daily vegetable serving too. To give you some ideas; you can make casseroles or if you have a crock pot you can cook all kinds of meals – They sell books that give you tons of recipes to make (check out Amazon recipe books). You could even prep the night before and then in the morning before leaving put it on low and off for the entire day – when you come home you can eat. It doesn’t get much easier than that unless you have a butler or someone at home cooking for you. I unfortunately do not have either one.
The next most important task we should practice weekly is exercise. Most of us hate it; we probably all hate it, but in order to remain healthy, live longer and stay in shape it is necessary. First I want to start by saying I am not certified and I am only going by what I have learned in my life of exercise and working with trainers. If you have not worked out in years it is always best to speak with your doctor before beginning any new exercise. Exercise is not only to keep us in good physical shape, but it is good for our heart which keeps our blood pumping making our other organs run smoother and makes our skin healthier. It also helps to keep your metabolism up which helps fight off the bad fats we eat and it keep the immune system stronger. I could go on and on, but you get my point. I go to the gym for an hour, four days a week. Now that is asking a lot for many of you so do not panic. They say if you give yourself at least 30 minutes day three times a week you can maintain good health. The key word there is maintaining so if you are trying to lose weight or get a certain figure then you might need to increase. I have found the best work out plan for me; which would be best for most women is Supersets workout. This type of workout keeps you moving constantly and very little breaks therefore you are continuously burning fat. To give you an example:
Start by doing;
-Crunches/sit-ups
-then run for 2 minutes on treadmill
-then a set of regular lunges (15)
-set of squats- (15)
-set of side lunges (15)
-then back to treadmill for 2 minutes
**All of this would then repeat 2 more times and then I would have another 3 different exercises and so on – until I reach my hour mark. It is pretty intense because I do not take a break, but I feel great from doing it and I know I am making a difference to my body. If you do not have a gym you can walk or run outside and you can do all types of exercise in your own home without ever leaving or buying expensive workout equipment.
I also started taking vitamins because it is very important as we do not get enough nutrients from our daily foods. You can take regular vitamins daily, fish oil is important (I recently started taking Krill oil with primrose-more Omega 3’s then regular fish oil), and then whatever your personal body may be lacking; like iron or vitamin D, B or C.
These are all very simple things to keep you going day in and day out. If any of you have any questions or want some more ideas on working out and different cardio/exercise techniques let me know. I would be more than happy to help to the best of my ability. Happy Health!!
