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I'll admit to being somewhat shy about sharing my decision to attempt to get more active and loss weight but admitting I'm overweight and rather unfit is one of the key places to start in rolling out a positive lifestyle change.
Moving to the US saw about a 2 stone increase in my weight. It's big mixture larger food portions, the cheapness, range and ease of take outs (which wasn't the case when growing up in the countryside), I have a very sedentary lifestyle - I use to walk a good couple of miles everyday walking to and from the bus stop to around York and just generally being lazy. It's been bugging me for over a year I've never been willing enough to make a change but recent photographs of myself (once I gain more confidence I'll share them) I know it's time to make the time and the effort to help myself.
The changes have been slight but in the two weeks I've been doing this I've seen a difference already - yey! Every couple of week i'm hoping to reflect and share the journey, the hurdles, the workouts I love to meal planning and such. But to start off I want to explain the small differences I've already made;
Moving to the US saw about a 2 stone increase in my weight. It's big mixture larger food portions, the cheapness, range and ease of take outs (which wasn't the case when growing up in the countryside), I have a very sedentary lifestyle - I use to walk a good couple of miles everyday walking to and from the bus stop to around York and just generally being lazy. It's been bugging me for over a year I've never been willing enough to make a change but recent photographs of myself (once I gain more confidence I'll share them) I know it's time to make the time and the effort to help myself.
The changes have been slight but in the two weeks I've been doing this I've seen a difference already - yey! Every couple of week i'm hoping to reflect and share the journey, the hurdles, the workouts I love to meal planning and such. But to start off I want to explain the small differences I've already made;
// Being more active
Sitting down all day in front of a computer and the only commute to work being form the bed or sofa to the computer chair makes me an extra lazy person so i'm now aiming to do 3/4 40 minute work outs a week alongside all the walking we do at weekends which in the past two weeks I have been achieving. I've been bookmarking fitness videos on Youtube like crazy and switch back and forth between types of exercise so I love having a huge back stock of workouts and I particularly love those by the FitnessBlender, Popsugar Fitness and BeFit channels. Most mornings begin with a workout and the day i'm typically not doing a workout i'll make up with having a big cleaning session which is still calorie burning.
// Eating better
We recently made the switch to organic fruit and veg which I think has helped in my decision to be more healthy although my eating has never been too I just tend to overeat when it comes to snacks, chocolate and home baking. Daily sandwiches have been intermingled with to taco wraps, eating more salads, no more snacking on an evening and drinking a lot more water alongside eating a lot fruit and veg. While I don't try to calorie watch I do document everything into my Fitness Pal food and exercise dairy which is great for seeing calories burned through exercise to food content and a place to measure your progress.
While I don't feel brave enough in writing how much I weigh (at least not right now), in a little over a week I've lost 4lb so it's great to see it's working and I do feel better in myself for being more active. For me it's not just about loosing weight it's about helping myself while becoming both healthier and better for it.
I thought i'd leave you with a couple of my favorite work out videos from the past couple of weeks that I've been using (all youtube links);
- Bikini Body
- Inner thigh and triceps
- Zumba workout < love this one!
I'd love to hear your weight loss and exercise stories! Share your favorite workout videos and exercise below too! Any tips and hints to share for those of us just starting down the weight loss and exercise journey?
Good for you chick, 4lb is great! I really struggle with losing weight, it doesn't come off easily at all... But like you I just want to feel healthier. Good luck with it! x
ReplyDeleteThank you! I struggle with the getting started and doing it for more then a week part. I really loose interest which is probably why I have all the videos just to do something different. Luckily because I've seen some change it'll keep me motivated to continue!
DeleteCongratulations on your loss so far!
ReplyDeleteMy #1 tip is to make sure to eat your 7-9 servings of veggies a day (maybe a couple of those can be fruit, but not too many). For me, as long as I get my veggies, everything else falls into place.
Good luck!
Thanks for your advice! I'm a big salad eater already so i've been trying to make sure it's a part of my lunch as well as my evening meal. It's just trying to find ways to make them tasty and interesting!
DeleteGood for you! I found making food choices difficult after my divorce and going back to work full time so I started eating fast food. After my diagnosis with fibromyalgia last June I stopped eating fast food all together and dropped two sizes. But I was stuck on lean cuisines. I've now also given them up and snack on things like Luna Bars, raw sugar snap peas, salads, all natural Greek yogurt, and fresh fruits instead. I also gave up my daily coffee drinks and stick to just plain old coffee with sugar and half and half in the am. I read labels and avoid anything with corn syrup as well. It's made a big difference. Walking daily helps too - not only with staying healthy but in reducing my pain. Good luck with your new venture!
ReplyDeleteYeah I've reduced the coffee intact - I was probably taking in too much caffeine anyway but i'm certainly not going to cut it out, nor treats especially at the weekend.
Deletegood luck to you. I'm sure you will do well. and congrats already.
ReplyDeleteI'm nearing the 50 year old mark and it's tough losing weight at my age. I want to lose 15 pounds, but it's hard. Weight loss programs are hard and costly. I ordered one at the first of the year and once my supply of the drink and the pills ran out, I still followed the menu plan that came with it. It was excellent. Just watch what you eat and exercise. That's the best thing. It takes work, but you can do it. Now, if I can just follow my own advice! LOL
I know what you mean about the cost - kind of why I've chosen to just modify what we're already eating and using all the free fitness videos on you tube. They are workable, interesting and challenging enough that I can stick on a couple and make up a 30-40 minute work out.
DeleteWell done for losing 4lbs in a week!!
ReplyDeleteMe and my sister have tried the 30 day challenge. Last month was the 30 day Squat challenge. 3 days doing squats and gradually increasing the number you do everyday, then having a day off so your body can rest.
You can then change up the challenges every month and the weight literally drops off :)
I've just started a new blog where I find cheap Ebay fashion, I would love it if you dropped by:)
http://finditfashion.blogspot.co.uk/
Thank you! I have the 30 day challenge lined up, alongside a couple of others of her videos (the kickboxing one looks really fun) but I'm not feeling confident in my fitness levels enough to be able to achieve more then the warm up - it looks very intense! The squat challenge sounds interesting, I might have to look into that.
DeleteHii... :)
ReplyDeletea new follower of yours. Liked your blog :) Health challenges..!! I'm rather something of an opposite thing. I'm so underweight, I'm trying to gain some weight.
Love
from India
........
Tanuja
Hi and thank you for the follow! I hope you achieve your weight gain!
DeleteGood luck with your journey Rachael, it's great to hear you're trying to lose healthily and for the right reasons! 4lb is an amazing start, well done :)
ReplyDeleteJess xo
Thank you yeah I didn't just want to loose weight (hopefully) and still be unfit - which I've always been. A bit of self improvement and change for myself.
Delete