The burst exercise plan seems to have a greater effect on my bike. That’s when you do short 30 second bursts every few minutes while you’re walking, riding a bike, using a stepper… whatever you’re doing to exert yourself. Studies have shown that it increases the overall effectiveness of your exercise and gives you more residual calorie burning. It’s sort of exercise kinetic energy. That is, you get the locomotive going faster and it takes longer for it to stop.
Of course you will notice it because you will have the satisfying pore cleansing sweat for a bit longer when you’re done.
TODAY: DO SOME BURSTS WHILE YOU EXERCISE. (WALK, RIDE OR WHATEVER)
The weekend is here. I don’t know about you, but it’s been a tough week. Take a few minutes today to plan an extended walk or bike ride tomorrow morning. The respite that a good long outing will bring should be something to look forward to. I always am stunned when I see someone walking and talking on their cell phone. Even wearing ear buds and listening to music seems like a missed opportunity. You get to know your environment more when you actually experience it first hand. You get to know your body better when you’re paying attention to it while you exercise. Finally you get to let your brain work and solve problems or create ideas from the seeds of information you plant there.
They have found that the left, right brain communication and activity increases when you walk. It’s good for Alzheimer’s patients and for keeping senior brains active. So if you’re not “senior” just think what benefits you can reap. Or… just think.
TODAY: PLAN YOUR EXERCISE FOR THE WEEKEND.
Okay, I admit it. I had stopped riding my bike for a while. It was because of any number of convenient excuses. Not enough time, too cold, too hot, too wet… too lazy. I actually had to get spider webs off the tires, (I hate spiders.) before re-inflating them. It was simply a matter of motivation. I know I have to burn more calories. The bike works for me. I had grown to really look forward to the rides, especially longer ones on Saturday mornings. But for some reason I lost interest and it took mustering up energy again to get back in the saddle.
You may have a stepper, rider, weights, skates, or walking shoes that need to be dusted off. Now is as good a time as any to get going again. Take it easy at first. Getting stiff will just give you an excuse to stop again. Then watch your endurance go up and your weight go down. You’ll remember how. It’s just like riding a bike.
TODAY: START A NEW, OLD EXERCISE ROUTINE.
Newton’s First Law of Motion states: “An object in motion tends to stay in motion and an object at rest tends to stay at rest, unless acted on by an outside force.” Sound familiar? It pretty much describes how we let ourselves gain weight and resist loosing it. It’s time that you act on it. So get moving and lay off the (Fig) Newtons.
TODAY: TAKE AN EXTENDED WALK.
We’re creatures of habit. Chances are that you have a daily schedule that is within minutes of being the same every single day. The same wake-up time, meals, relaxation, computer, even sitting in the same place to do it all. Well now you need to add another scheduled time. Schedule a specific time to walk every day. Morning, noon, after dinner, whatever will work for you. Morning is most likely the best because you can adjust your existing schedule for it easier. You also will be less likely to skip it because you are tired, too busy, or just lazy.
Start by walking the neighborhood route I suggested yesterday. Walk that same route every day at the same time, every day for a week. Then alternate with another route for a week. Then the magic happens. Studies show that doing something for 14 days will imprint the action on your brain. You will then do it as your routine and actually miss it if you change it. You will also begin to get a lot of satisfaction out of your dedicated success.
Beginning today, start every day on the right foot.
TODAY: SCHEDULE YOUR WALKING TIME AND WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Don’t think of it as HAVING to exercise. Instead, focus on how you WANT to exercise so you can feel great. That’s because you will. You will sleep better, have more energy, a clearer mind and even a better sex life. Physical activity is good for you whether you are trying to lose weight or not. Keep it positive and you’ll end up looking positively great!
TODAY: THINK OF HOW GOOD YOU’RE BEING TO YOURSELF WHEN YOU EXERCISE.
Spring has sprung. Now’s the time to get out and take advantage of it. This weekend get out and pick a spot for a garden. Clear the space, turn the soil, get down on your hands and knees and plant some veggies. Salad greens, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, eggplant, whatever you feel like or have room for. Taking care of the garden will give you exercise, and eating the veggies will be good for you and your food budget too.
They were once called “victory gardens”. It can be your “diet victory”.
TODAY: START YOUR GARDEN.