Return Of The Scale

Prison Workout, Exercising In Small Spaces

Mike Rowe of The Discovery Channels “Dirty Jobs” shows you a quick workout technique called the burpie.

February Steps

Tracking your steps daily with your pedomter means you can’t lie to yourself about your physical activity.  When I first got the pedometer, I was getting around 4,00 steps.  Toward the end of the month, on a regular day, I started walking close to 7,000 steps a day.  However, my goal is still to walk 10,000 steps everyday, so it looks like I have some work in store for March.

Be Active and Have Fun by Playing Sports

One way to stay active is to play sports.  This is a great way to get a workout because time passes and you don’t even realize that you were working out. I know that I will get a workout every Saturday.

I have been playing indoor soccer for a few years now with some friends of mine.  Indoor soccer is great because you can play year round, and you don’t need to get a huge team together.  Our indoor arena doesn’t look quite like this, but you get the idea.  It is pretty casual, and they tolerate the fact that I am out of shape, but I would like to be a better player and that involves better conditioning.

A few years ago, when I was on a heath kick, I was playing soccer and also started a basketball team in the city league.  We were officially the worst team in the history of basketball (I didn’t know that all the other women were professionals - haha).  However, being good wasn’t the point.  I was socializing, playing and getting healthier all at the same time.  This is something I may look into again.

Move More Daily by Tracking your Steps with a Pedometer

My work is beginning a health program so all the employees received pedometers to track our daily steps.  Our goal is walk 10,000 steps a day, which is about 4 miles.  I was walking an avereage of 4,000 steps per day.  I am very competitive (all in a fun way of coarse) so this wouldn’t cut it, especially since I feel like I am letting my team down.  Well this week I broke 10,000 steps in one day, and have been increasing my steps on a daily basis.

A pedometer is just another way to track and be accountable for your daily activity.  Because I have been monitoring myself, I can no longer pretend that I am active, if I am not.  Everything is right there on the screen.  If I need more steps, I can go for a walk or shopping, or do a workout video.  I am also joining a walking club to increase my steps more routinely.

As for this particular pedometer?  I like it.  It has different modes, so you can see your steps, miles, aerobic steps, and calories burned.  It easily clips on your pants or belt and has a saftey string so it doesn’t fall off.  It also allows you to set your stride to record steps more accurately.  An added bonus is that it has a clock and resets your steps on a daily basis.  Then it keeps a record of steps for 7 days.  All in all, this is a great pedometer.  I wish the screen had a backlight, and I already scuffed up the front, but those are the only negative things I have to say about this product.

Stay Active With Video Games

Many may disagree, but video games can be beneficial.  They can be educational and help with reaction time.  But, now they can also help you lose weight.  Several years ago, I got Dance Dance Revolution when I was on a health kick and it was great, and addicting.  Now I have a Wii and have already seen results from playing with family over the holidays.  I have been playing Wii Sports on a daily basis, and have worked up a sweat and am sore from increased physical activity.  Just one more way to move from sedentary to active.

5k Walk

This weekend, I participated in a 5k walk. I completed the walk in just under 1 hour. I had a good time and it was fun to get outside early in the morning and have a purpose. My sister did the walk with me so it was nice to be accountable to someone. I am really happy that I participated in this event because it was fun and I felt a sense of accomplishment.

I started preparing for the walk by walking around my neighborhood. Then I drove in my car to estimate about how far I was walking and a made a practice route that was close to three miles. I didn’t train as much as I wanted to, but I was ready and was able to keep a steady pace the entire time.

In the past I have participated in 5ks and even a 10k at one point. However, I ran them (if you can call what I do running). I had the mentality that if you didn’t run, you weren’t really accomplishing anything. I really enjoyed walking and my time wasn’t that much longer than my time was when I jogged.

On the down side, I got a fancy long sleeved T-shirt (the kind runners wear) for participating, and the XL didn’t fit. I am keeping it so that when it fits, I can show off. I am not sure that I am brave enough to post a picture, but you never know.