Following on from the "How to reach your ideal weight" post, I thought it would be a good idea to start two other threads, Diet Tips and Fitness Tips. So please feel free to post anything fitness related / hints / tips / things that work for you etc. etc. here.
When I get a minute, I'll go through the original post and pull out anything fitness related.
Here's my first one:
If you are power walking or running, always take an ipod. It has taken me years to discover this but music makes a huge difference. I always walk much faster if I am listening to something and it will keep me going when I am running.
Happy New Year! I know this is predictable coming from me, but I just can't help myself. In my opinion, the best possible way to lose weight and get fit long term is Iyengar yoga practice - it's also great for foot stuff. It will take you by the hand where you are, with whatever injuries and limitations you have, and might even take you places you perhaps hadn't imagined going. Correctly taught and executed, the postures tone and massage the internal organs, improving digestions and elimination and helping to balance the endocrinol system. After six months' or so of regular practice with a teacher and you'll start feeling different, more in touch with your body. Personally I was a badly-co-ordinated space cadet with chronic stress, knock knees and flat feet until I took it up, and I still am to an extent, but in much better shape. Mr Iyengar still does his daily three-hour practice age 98 - one of his first students was the violinist Yehudi Menuhin. Anyway, do strongly recommend that you check it out. Some of the teachers are a bit fierce, but they do look after and you will absolutely not be bored in class. http://www.bksiyengar.com/
When hubby had his quadruple bypass 4 years ago, he was advised to walk daily - luckily we have an ideal (if a tad boring walk close by, hour to hour and a quarter, with flattish, steep incline and long incline - he built up his heart muscle again, and I lost about half a stone, much more comfortable.
Some of the ways that I can see you both benefitting : watching stress (adds fat around middle due to higher cortisol hormones released), getting enough sleep (not enough sleep means craving carbohydrates and fatty foods), watching emotional eating (eating out of boredom,stress, bad habits), and eating when we aren't hungry (this is hard when you have kids because it is important to eat together as a family)...this may mean altering dinner times or to not taste the food at all while cooking dinner . Good luck ! When I have felt the real need to feel slim and trim I really pumped up the gym time-or doubled the powerwalking. All these extra hours of exercise kept things in balance.
Love both suggestions…I can attest a dog works well!
Weights are my secret…when you build muscle, you’ve built an automatic fat burning system that works even when you’re at rest. Muscle burns calories at a higher rate than fat so adding some bulk to muscles is very useful for fat loss. And we women do not have to be afraid of looking too muscular as our hormones don’t allow it!
I have a very small Samsung mp3, sort of cigarette lighter size but thinner, that I use when I'm out. I can't jog, which I did until I did my shoulder in, so have to walk therefore try to keep up a good pace. Having 70+kg of dog pulling on one hand does help, but somehow the music makes the pace/rhythm of how I stride. So I think I am endorsing Catharine's idea and adding a minimum required amount of dog for good measure.