Exercise

This is certainly one of my weakest points!

Doctor Phil will tell you that you have to plan DELIBERATE exercise into your day. I think he also says 30 minutes (could be more, I don't remember) Most if not all health experts will tell you in order to get your motabolism up, you need to get your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes every day, and preferably in the morning so that you burn more calories for longer!

Unfortunately, my life style doesn't afford me that block of time (even if my fitness level did! LOL). We live on a farm, and for me to go to any sort of a gym would require at least one hour of driving. With a four year old around, finding a half hour without distraction is a rare treat not something I can rely on.

What I have been doing, and plan to increase on, is chunks of exercise. For upper body, I have been doing free weights. I do two sets of repetitions most days. I also got an exercise bike for Christmas - I do two rounds of at least 5 minutes each most days. I am already finding that those 5 minutes are stretching to 6 or 7 and are not as painful!

ALSO! I 'plan' accidental exercise! Parking farther away at the store, I have been going up the stairs at home more often (not saving up my trips until I HAVE to go up! LOL) I wear ankle weights around the house - particularly when doing house work. It may not be much, but I figure every bit counts!

Now, I am not saying this is a GREAT way to go about it, quite the contrary! I would love to be able to hire a personal trainer and have the time to really do this right, but I have to work with what is available to me, time wise, fitness wise and unfortunately finacially! I would like to show that EVERY BIT COUNTS! my 10 minutes a day on the bike is already (after only 2 weeks) closer to 15 and it hurts less!

The next thing I plan to do is to dust off my pedometer and start using it! (I stopped after breaking my last one) I will challange myself to walk a few more steps everyday! And in a couple of weeks, I will challange EVERYONE! LOL!

Now get out there and MOVE!!!!

I completely agree. I hate exercise! I've been doing exercise that I like. Hiking and taking the dog for a walk. Even though it's chilly here I still do it. I love being in the woods or the beach. I can't do all that other stuff. It drives me crazy. I plan to start doing some organized workouts though. Just not too excited about it!!

One thing I LOVE about my bike is that I can read while I am on it... AND hubby makes sure that DD leaves me alone (so I actually GET to read!)

That's great! My hubby doesn't help do anything. That is gonna stop as soon as school starts for me! Told him that if I was gonna raise the kids as a single mom then I was gonna act like one! He didn't go for that one and has started helping a little!

well, hubby has seen me put the weight on, the reasons it has gone on and how it has affected my outlook and self image - he would love to see the old more confident me back - so he does TRY to faciilitate it

A couple of years ago when I attempted Weighless, the instructor told me that it isn't good to start with a dient and then to join a gym if you are not used to that kind of excersize. She said if you are not a regular "gym" person, you should start with something like walking at a pace from one side of a mall to the other once a day. Or around a street block. The next week you do it twice. I think (if I recall correctly) it has to do with the fact that you are more prone to injuries in a gym if you start off too quickly.

Well....my hubby doesn't want me to lose as much weight as I would like. He likes larger women. I want to lose at least 20-25 and he only wants me to lose about 10. It's great that you have a very supportive husband though! Mine would love to see me quit smoking. Not sure that is gonna happen too soon. Maybe in a few months, after I get used to living healthier. Hopefully that will make me want to quit.