Just a quick update

Hi everyone,

I hope you enjoyed the book reviews I posted recently and that some of you will decide to read those books, because they are helpful and informative.

I felt compelled to write a quick update on how my health is. I took Thursday as a rest day, so I made it ten days straight of working out. I didn’t beat my record (I tied it), but I do get pretty sore after working out that many days in a row. Friday, I needed to clean the house and I spent a great deal of time doing so (7 hours). I was on a roll and just wanted to do it all, so I did. But that left me too tired to workout. I do not consider that a rest day, since I burned more calories than a few workouts combined during the 7 hours of housecleaning. But then, Saturday, I had a single thought that I didn’t want to workout that day, because I was sore. Quickly, I changed that thought around when I realized I could get off track with exercising, and it would definitely be harder to get myself to workout the next day if I didn’t workout that day. So I did my workout! 30 minutes of strength training with The Biggest Loser Last Chance workout. Every muscle felt sore after that workout! The next day (yesterday), I did a 40-minute workout without weights in order to let my muscles heal, because I know I can do more harm than good if I keep tearing my muscles and not letting them heal. Today I plan on doing another Biggest Loser workout DVD. I haven’t decided which one yet.

Speaking of The Biggest Loser, how many of you watched the first episode last night? I loved it! I wasn’t thrilled about how hard Jillian worked her team, but I understand her philosophy and that it is show business. In real life, a person should make gradual, long-lasting changes in order to make their new eating and exercise habits a lifestyle. If you want to lose weight, you have to change yourself – your lifestyle – or else the new behaviors won’t “stick.” I’ve learned this with the bad habits I’ve stopped in the past. I changed my beliefs, values, and lifestyle, so I’ve been free of those habits for a long time. In order to be fit and healthy, you must admire healthy living and want to live that way. You have to change your daily habits, one day at a time. You need to change your surroundings too, so that your home reflects the new, healthy “you” (buy workout equipment, don’t buy and store unhealthy food in your house, etc.). Most of all, you must believe in yourself and your new way of living. And to do so, you will need to make small, gradual changes, so that you can get accustomed to them and allow them, one by one, to become a regular and natural part of your life. Unhealthy living is simply a bad habit that needs to be broken and replaced with good habits.

I’ll be watching The Biggest Loser tonight too, because I love to see people change for the better and improve themselves and their lives. Will you be watching tonight’s episode?

I’ve worked out the last three days in a row, so I’ve remained on my workout schedule. No slip-ups. Almost…but it didn’t happen, and I’m so glad. Skipping a workout when you should be working out is not worth the guilt you will feel, never mind neglecting your health. Do not give in to laziness. Do not workout too hard that you injure yourself, or else you won’t be able to workout for an extended period of time, but push yourself and continue to push yourself, so that you will benefit. Be committed to exercise and healthy eating. Do it all the time. In order to make it a part of your life – a lifestyle – you will need to make it a habit that you stick with. Keep trying and you will get it.

Take a walk once a week to get fresh air and receive the miracle of health that walking brings. I believe walking is the best exercise there is, so I try to go for a fast walk at least occasionally (about once a week right now).

Well, I’ve got to stop writing to go do my workout. Have an amazing day!

(Originally posted on Christine's Health Blog.)