There is nothing like sitting in the sauna after a workout. There are several health benefits derived from a 15-30 minutes stay in a sweaty wonderland. I am not a health expert, so I would direct you to google to do a search of the benefits.
I thought my 15-30 minutes of leisure time in the sauna would be best served by dispensing words of wisdom that befall on me during my workouts. This is a good way to reflect and plan on having successful results from my weight loss journey.
I started the "couch to 5K" app on January 1st. After doing so many exercise regiments over the years, I needed something new. This interactive app keeps you informed of what you should be doing and when, while you are on the treadmill or hitting the pavement. The app instructs you to walk and run and different times and increments. In the end, one should be running an entire 5K. I definitely see that becoming a reality for me this year, although running a 5K wasn't on my New Year's Resolutions.
What was on my NYR was to lose weight. Over a period of about 6 months I packed on 25 lbs. we always look back in our weight gains and try to figure out how it happened. It feels like the weight went on overnight, when in fact it didn't. I started making poor food choices once school was out. I continued on that path all summer and continues the stress eating after my grandmother passed away. Having difficulties finding a job kept me sitting around the house and informed a close bond with my pantry and refrigerator. Once I did find a job, I had to put my one source of exercise-Zumba-on the back burner. My new job kept me so busy that I became focused on work and became sedentary. I wanted to make sure I did a good job, so I spent what would have been my exercise time planning lessons and grading papers. Although those were very important, I really could have carved 30 minutes to an hour out of that time to take a walk or pop in an exercise tape.
So here I sit in the sauna on the 3rd day of a new year vowing to never let myself get so overweight again. If you have been making excuses, why? My kids are fine for an hour without me at home. They are fine with dad and probably not even missing me. I am sure they are playing video games.
Here are my tips for starting to find your best shape:
1. Join Fuel Fitness. It is $20 a month. If you go 4 times a month, it pays for itself. But you will go at least 5 days a week. My goal is 6 days a week. If you don't know where to start, ask an employee. I am sure in this day and age everyone knows how to work a treadmill. Just get on one and walk.
2. No money for a fitness center? Bundle up and hit the pavement. You honestly will not burn a lot of calories walking-but it is a start! Walking is a good way to reduce lower belly fat. (Google it)
3. Download a fitness app. I recommend the C25K I am using. There are also running apps and ones for weight training. (Saving those for later)
4. Download a calorie/food app. I use Lose it! You can put in your weight, height, age, sex, and figure out how many calories you can eat a day to lose a certain amount of weight in a certain amount of time. It has a barcode where you can scan all the foods you eat and it has a library of every store and restaurant food. It makes it easy to track your calories. It also has exercises and will tell you how many calories you burn doings particular exercise over a certain amount of time.
5. Don't make any excuses! You my have to skip a day, but don't let that get you off track. Get an accountability partner. Mine is going to be the program put on by the extension office that starts this Thursday.
OK. My time is up. I actually stayed 15 minutes longer than planned! I guess that makes you my accountability partner because you just helped me burn an extra 100 calories!
