This is Health and Fitness month on RDRB. I am getting back into my workout routine and making better decisions about what I eat, so I thought I would dedicate a post per week to share some health and fitness tips that have worked for me.  Also, if you have not noticed, I have a new category on the blog - Health and Fitness. I plan to post healthy recipes, workout routines, health and fitness tips every couple of weeks. We are kicking things off today by sharing my fitness philosophy. This is what I have found works for me

Set a schedule: I workout 3 to 4 times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I try to switch up my workout from day to day. I know folks who workout daily, that is not for me - I don’t have the time or the motivation to work out everyday. Plus, I have found out the hard way that trying to workout everyday is the best way to set myself up for falling off the wagon. 

Do what you love: I loathe running, so it hardly comes into play in my fitness routine. I do kickboxing, zumba, brisk walks, dance, pilates. Those fitness moves are fun to me, so it does not require much to get myself motivated. Don’t get me wrong, every now and then I will go for a run – but if I put that at the top of my list, I will never workout.

Portion Control: I have tried several diets out there and have failed on every try. I will lose 5 to 7 pounds, peak out and gain back the weight (and then some).  I love my carbs and occasional desert - any diet that requires I cut out my favorite foods completely always lead to falling off the wagon. That was until I started to cut back my portions, I still ate what I loved (in fractions) and soon the weight started to fall off.

Set reasonable/manageable goals: Trying to lose 30 pounds in three months is not reasonable. When I started my fitness journey, I set a goal to lose 15 pounds in two months - That was completely unreasonable for my body. After failed attempts, I switched things up and set a goal to lose a pound per week – that was manageable and not overwhelming. I started to see the results. 

Gym Optional: I never thought I would lose weight working out outside the gym, but with a hectic work schedule, I find myself working out at odd hours when the gym is closed. I started doing fitness videos (like fitness blender, pilates, kickboxing) at home. I also incorporated little fitness bits (i.e. running the stairs, packing far from the building). Those work great for me and my schedule, so I have stuck to it.

Read the labels: A few years ago, I took ill and doctors could not figure out what was wrong with me. Months of being poked and prodded, one of the specialist I visited suggested switching my diet. At that point I was desperate, so I began making small changes. – I cut out sodas for awhile; switched to organic fruits and meats and very quickly began to feel better. Since that episode, I have began taking time to read labels, some low fat snacks have such high sugar or sodium content that cancel out the the low fat.  Now I am not saying, you should only eat organic food or read labels on everything, but pay some attention to the ingredients in foods you eat the most.

Put the scale away: Depending on what workout regime you try out, you may not see the number on the scale decrease; some workouts help build muscles which will cause the numbers on the scale to go up. Other times you hit a plato and just need to switch things up. Whatever the case, I will not pay too much attention to the number on the scale. It can be deceiving and demotivating - Now I weigh weekly or twice a month.

Losing Weight does not equal Fit: I have reached my target weight, but I am still 100% out of shape. I can barely go up/down a few flights of stairs without needing a oxygen mask. Now I am switching up my routine to help me get fit and build endurance.

Baby Steps: Make small manageable changes. Going cold turkey is the recipe for failure. I am trying to reduce my soda intake and I failed by cutting it out completely. Now I “portion control”  – Instead of  three 8 oz cans a day, I cut it back to two cans and now (on most days) I only have one can of soda per day  – I am working towards one per week until I wean myself completely. 

A little bit is more than nothing: 15 to 20 mins of physical activity is better than no activity, so don't wait till you have a full hour to devote to workout, if all you have is a few minutes, get something done. There are several 10 minutes/15 minute videos and routines you can try out. 

What are some of your fitness philosophies?

Next week, I will be sharing my health and fitness bucket list. Be sure to follow me on bloglovin (and social media) to get all the details.

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Cheers,

S.I.