Filed Under (Diet, Reviews) by myjaxon on 20-03-2008
So I just started my first workout as I begin trying to lose weight yet again. According to our physician, yoga and pilates are the way to go. I’m not a fan of home workout videos. I prefer looking like an idiot in an aerobic class because they I try not to look like an idiot. It’s more of a motivation thing. Doing it at home just seems silly and I get more self conscious than anything. I found this especially true with Billy Blanks Bootcamp workouts; plus he would go really fast and it’s more of a kickboxing and I can’t do that with Ian around.
Anyway, the first yoga workout I tried was Sara Ivanhoe’s 20 Min Yoga Makeover - Flat Abs. I’ve only done it once (Ian woke up half way through it), but I thought it was good. The workout didn’t use a fast pace method, but more of a slowly working the muscles idea. I was able to do this on the floor and I didn’t feel to self conscious since I wasn’t making these big gestures. I felt that I was actually working my muscles because it was hard to slowly do some of the techniques and that’s mainly because I am so out of shape. I’ve done a lot of the techniques before and I know I used to be able to do them, so it is a wake-up call knowing that I can’t do them now. The biggest thing I need to remember is to continue breathing as I’m doing the exercises. Even though Ian woke up 5-10 minutes into the workout, I was still able to do some of the techniques while he was up and around. It was kind of hard when he decided to climb on me, but he was climbing on my stomach and those were the muscles I was working at the time, so I think that worked a little.
Overall, I think I can do this DVD. I’m going to keep doing it once a day (at least) until I have to return it to the library.
Filed Under (Diet) by myjaxon on 19-03-2008
My 10 year reunion is this summer and I really want to lose all the weight I’ve gained in the last 10 years. So, I’m going to try again. I talked with our physician and she recommended doing yoga and pilates as an exercise and I’ve heard raved reviews about Weight Watchers. Unfortunately, I can’t afford Weight Watchers. I really want to do it, but Jesse isn’t allowing me too. So I’m going to try and do it on my own. I have the basic idea, so I’m going to work with that. I am definitely going to need everyone’s help to keep me on track.
Here are the Good Health Guidelines… as ‘prescribed’ by Weight Watchers. I found this list on one of my forums.
- Eat at least 5 servings of fruits or vegetables (5f&v) - a serving is 1/2 cup, except for leafy greens which are 1 cup
- Choose whole-grain foods
- Include 2 servings of milk products per day
- a serving of milk, yogurt, pudding is 8 oz
- a serving of cottage cheese is 2 cups
- a serving of hard or semi-soft cheese is 1 1/2 oz
- Drink at least 6 glasses of water each day (6h2o)
- Have some healthy oil each day (2 tsp.) Healthy oil include olive, canola, safflower, sunflower or flaxseed oil
- Make sure you get enough protein - recommendation is to get a serving or two each day
- Limit added sugar and alcohol
- Take a multi vitamin-mineral supplement each day
Another practice I have found useful is keeping a weight log (it’s after midnight, so I’ll starting the weighing in the morning). Basically, I’ll weigh myself in the morning and at night, plus I’ll include how much I exercise during the day as well as how far I walk. By seeing how much I gain, lose, or maintain during the day, I’ll be able to stay away from foods that make me gain weight on a daily basis. It’s a bit of a mind game, but it kind of works. At least for me. Plus, maybe by making it this public, it’ll help me keep on track. Keep your fingers crossed and pray for me. 
