Some people have asked me why I want to lose weight and get in shape. I wonder why anyone would have the audacity to ask someone that question. I am not overweight but I do have some unnecessary, excess body fat I'd like to lose and keep off. Something changed inside of me since becoming a mother and good health has become a significant and important part of my life. Why not?
So in asking me why losing weight and being in shape is important to me I decided to give you 5 simple and good reasons:
1.
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in
you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" - 1 Corinthians 6:19. Yes I'm going to add some religion here and a very important factor in my opinion. My body is not mine. It's only given to me temporarily while I'm living on this earth and while I'm borrowing it I might as well do my best to take care of it.
2. I have watched my mother's health decline for years with obesity, diabetes and a stroke. I may not be able to avoid some diseases but I
can and need to do my best to stay as healthy as possible. Obesity is not a hereditary trait.
3. The lifestyle I live is the lifestyle my children will know and grow accustomed to. Good health for me means they will grow to have good health too.
4. A healthy life is a long life and I want to stick around as long as I can for my family. They deserve that kind of wife and mother, don't they?
5. Because when I look good I feel good. It's simple.
I have managed to find a variety of exercises that I work into a daily routine: Yoga, Zumba, Pilates, basic cardio, running and strength training. I'm doing at least one of these things every day and it has me feeling so good afterward. I've also become a fan of the famous personal trainer Jillian Michaels. I use her 30 Day Shred DVD quite often and have also found a very intense
6 Week Six-Pack Abs video on YouTube. Jillian Michaels knows what it takes to get fit and her workouts are no joke.
So I've easily mastered getting myself on a decent exercise routine. The one thing I lack is figuring out how to eat better. I can't rely on exercise alone. I need to add a well balanced and nutritious diet to the routine as well. That's why I'm so happy that I now own a copy of Jillian Michaels' new book SLIM FOR LIFE.
I'm still working through the first chapter which talks about eating. As I just stated, this is something I need to work on better. According to the fitness guru, and what my husband has always been telling me, it's important to burn more calories than we consume in a day. Well, that makes sense, doesn't it? She talks about the dangers of certain diets that some people have become drawn to such as the low-carb, fat-free and yes even vegetarian/vegan diets. It's important to stick to all the main food groups. Our bodies need the carbs, fats, meat and grains. Of course, Jillian Michaels also talks about portion control. Eating less of everything is better. Go for the smaller sizes. Also, just because something is labeled "fat-free" doesn't mean it's free from high carbs and sugar. Artificial sweeteners are also very dangerous (I was already aware of that one).
Ms. Michaels also talks about staying away from any foods with chemical additives (processed foods). I've recently become very turned off from any processed foods and I want to avoid bringing any of that into my home. Many of the chemicals that are added to certain foods can make you fat. The term
processed food just makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it. Why would I want to put chemicals in my body and, more importantly, in my childrens' bodies?
One quote from the book that I like is, "If it doesn't come from nature don't eat it." She suggests going organic whenever possible. Organic foods are more costly but as I read further she will explain how to go the inexpensive way. She also talks about staying away from white foods ... uh oh ... I eat a lot of white foods -- white bread and white pasta to name a few. I'm a huge lover of pasta. The white food (made from white bleached flour) can be high in calories and send our blood sugar skyrocketing - yikes! Mental note: no more white bread!
She also suggests buying local. Not only will it help the local economy but it's also fresher and more healthier than the foods that have traveled for days from another location. I guess a trip to the local farmers market is on the to-do list.
The last point I read before closing the book for the night was the importance of NOT skipping meals. Especially breakfast. She suggests only eating every four hours including a healthy snack between lunch and dinner. So far I'm doing well with that today. It's normal for me to snack consistently throughout the day. Bad idea.
I know, all of this seems to be common sense, right? At least it should be. So far I really like the book and look forward to reading the rest of it. As I read I will keep notes and add them to the blog from time to time. Jillian Michaels also talks about counting calories, but only for a few weeks. That way we get a better idea of what we're eating and how much we need to work off. Counting calories is something I never bothered to do before. I have no idea how many calories I consume in a day ... time to start figuring that out.
