Hi Everyone,
Yes, I'm feeling very anxious. I only have to go to bed 4 more times, before the doctor hopefully releases me to begin physical therapy, drive, and who knows what else. I'm hoping he'll let me drop-kick my crutches, or at least go from two crutches to one. Wish me luck! The last time I drove was July 1, 2013.
This all reminds me of one of the beauties of life--simple pleasures, which I have blogged about before. I absolutely can't wait to get back into a swimming pool; the bathtub; and the seat belt on the driver's side of my car. It will be such a natural high just to be able to drive myself wherever and whenever I want; to hit a ping pong ball; and to enter the gym. I hope I never take these things for granted again, and that this experience continues to help me feel empathy for others in far worse situations.
Here are a few interesting wellness facts:
*If you have an 'apple' figure as compared to a 'pear' shape, the apple figure is more dangerous health-wise, and here's why: Abdominal fat is metabolized differently than the fat that is stored in our hips and thighs. It is so interesting to learn that the less active fat stored on the hips and thighs serves as a fat storage area for making milk when lactating! No wonder you don't see guys with saddlebags! The fat in the abdominal area is active and more readily released into the blood stream. Unfortunately that means that it can clog arteries, and enter the liver as well. When it is in the liver, it interrupts the body's ability to get rid of insulin. With more insulin in the blood comes the chance of having higher blood pressure. Next time I look in the mirror, I'm going to be more thankful for my pear shape.
*You've heard the saying: Muscle weighs more than fat. And, that's silly. A pound is a pound. Here's a more clear explanation: A pound of fat fills up three to four times the amount of space that a pound of muscles does. That's why two people can be the same height and weight and look either lean and toned, or flabby and out of shape. Does that make you want to lift some weights or do some pushups? I hope so.
Have a great day, and enjoy your freedom to do as you please. I know I will.........................after I slumber four more times. YIPPEE!
Mary R.
Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Exercise is Your Top Age Eraser
So, here goes! Blog #1. I hope I can help motivate at least one person each time I write a post. And, I'm looking forward to being motivated by many of you, from your blogs, and your feedback.
I subscribe to three wonderful health magazines. Each time I go through a magazine, I tear out articles, sayings, recipes and ideas that I want to refer back to, and glue them into a blank composition book that I have decorated wtih magazine pictures and phrases. I was just looking at the cover of one of these "Good Stuff to Know" composition books of mine, and saw that I'd glued down this saying- "Exercise is Your Top Age Eraser".
Amen to that, don't you think? Think about the people you know who work out. Aren't they just vibrant and happy? Don't they just have a healthy glow about them? A positive outlook? Good posture? I don't have any statistics to share, but I don't know very many people who exercise frequently that use many of their sick days. I do think people who exercise frequently tend to appear more youthful.
Now, I'm sure many of you would agree with me that it takes awhile to be in the zone with exercise, and that it's tough to get motivated when you are just starting an exercise program. It takes probably about six weeks of working out at least 3-4 times a week, for at least thirty minutes at a time, for you to get that extra bounce in your step, and not feel like it's pure drudgery to get up and get moving. When I say "thiry minutes at a time", I mean non-stop movement, using the large leg muscles--biking, swimming, walking, your choice. Find what works for you. Do you prefer to be inside? Outside? Alone at home with an exercise DVD? Out walking with a buddy? Are you someone who prefers to be at the gym very late at night, so that you are not around the large crowds? Or, do you enjoy being in a large class with others? Do you have a dog that needs a daily walk?
One thing that has worked for me is a little rule I've made for myself: I may not go more than two days in a row without exercise. If life gets too hectic, I have to at least put in a few fifteen minute exercise sessions on that third day, even if that means just a short dog walk and lifting a few weights at home. Seems to work for me. It's good to make healthy rules for yourself, as long as they are reasonable.
I will close for now, hoping that you might consider starting an exercise program, if you have not yet done so. If you are someone who exercises, good on ya! Think about trying something new and please let me know how that goes for you. I tried a spinning class at the gym the other day. Yeow-sah! Guess I haven't been sweating much in my other workouts, compared to what I went through with that workout. It was a reminder to push myself to 60-80% of my maximum heart rate. That is the level one must work at in order to improve the strength of the heart muscle, and to burn fat.
Happy Exercising!
Mary
The Fit Optimist
I subscribe to three wonderful health magazines. Each time I go through a magazine, I tear out articles, sayings, recipes and ideas that I want to refer back to, and glue them into a blank composition book that I have decorated wtih magazine pictures and phrases. I was just looking at the cover of one of these "Good Stuff to Know" composition books of mine, and saw that I'd glued down this saying- "Exercise is Your Top Age Eraser".
Amen to that, don't you think? Think about the people you know who work out. Aren't they just vibrant and happy? Don't they just have a healthy glow about them? A positive outlook? Good posture? I don't have any statistics to share, but I don't know very many people who exercise frequently that use many of their sick days. I do think people who exercise frequently tend to appear more youthful.
Now, I'm sure many of you would agree with me that it takes awhile to be in the zone with exercise, and that it's tough to get motivated when you are just starting an exercise program. It takes probably about six weeks of working out at least 3-4 times a week, for at least thirty minutes at a time, for you to get that extra bounce in your step, and not feel like it's pure drudgery to get up and get moving. When I say "thiry minutes at a time", I mean non-stop movement, using the large leg muscles--biking, swimming, walking, your choice. Find what works for you. Do you prefer to be inside? Outside? Alone at home with an exercise DVD? Out walking with a buddy? Are you someone who prefers to be at the gym very late at night, so that you are not around the large crowds? Or, do you enjoy being in a large class with others? Do you have a dog that needs a daily walk?
One thing that has worked for me is a little rule I've made for myself: I may not go more than two days in a row without exercise. If life gets too hectic, I have to at least put in a few fifteen minute exercise sessions on that third day, even if that means just a short dog walk and lifting a few weights at home. Seems to work for me. It's good to make healthy rules for yourself, as long as they are reasonable.
I will close for now, hoping that you might consider starting an exercise program, if you have not yet done so. If you are someone who exercises, good on ya! Think about trying something new and please let me know how that goes for you. I tried a spinning class at the gym the other day. Yeow-sah! Guess I haven't been sweating much in my other workouts, compared to what I went through with that workout. It was a reminder to push myself to 60-80% of my maximum heart rate. That is the level one must work at in order to improve the strength of the heart muscle, and to burn fat.
Happy Exercising!
Mary
The Fit Optimist
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