Fitness and being Healthy

[Fivelives]

Tall = 12oz (354ml)
Grande = 16oz (473ml)
Venti = 24oz (709ml)
Trenta = 31oz (916ml)

[Nikachelle]

Just jumping in here to rave about how awesome morning runs are. I think I've been doing it two or three weeks now (generally aiming for Monday, Wednesday and Friday 6 am runs) and I find I actually look forward to getting up and going out for a jog now. It's not only given me more energy (I'm up even later at night than normal), but it's also keeping me frequent with off days (non running days that is) to do strength training.

[Fivelives]

Welcome to the morning club, Nika.

[Nikachelle]

Just throwing this in here for anyone who may find it useful... there's an app (and web site) that can help you track your exercise, calories burned and calories consumed called My Fitness Pal ( http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ ). Very helpful in the sense that you can see patterns in your eating habits and correct yourself as necessary.

I've been using it for about two months now and really do love it. I also find it motivational as well.

[Melathys]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007Y ... 00_s00_i00

Got this in the mail today. Used it to slice up a zucchini. I'm actually very surprised by the noodlely-ness of it. We stir fried it up with some oil and salt and pepper, very tasty. This will be a staple of our household from now on. We may not ever buy spaghetti noodles again, and instead use zucchini noodles.

I got the idea for this from here. I'd never known this could be done.

http://www.againstallgrain.com/2012/07/ ... i-noodles/

[Fivelives]

Huh. I use a spiral slicer to make curly fries, but never thought about running zucchini through it. Although I do loves me some spaghetti squash.

Thanks for the tip.

[Aubade]

Tall = 12oz (354ml)
Grande = 16oz (473ml)
Venti = 24oz (709ml)
Trenta = 31oz (916ml)

I need to get my local black bear to start doing Trenta Sizes. wooo

[Fivelives]

Yes, because we should all start the day off right! ... With a quart of coffee.

[Nikachelle]

Been sick with some cold/flu thingy for just over a week and was really worried about going back to running after having not done anything physical in two weeks. Couldn't believe how easy the 4k run was this morning. Felt like I could've kept going much longer which is really not what I expected.

Also dropped 10 pounds in about 2.5 months which I'm pretty pleased about. On to the next 10 pounds! Think I'm aiming for mid-November to lose those next 10.

[katraya]

Bah, I had a stomach bug a few weeks ago that knocked me out for over a week and now I have a cold. It's seriously pissing me off. I'm only a few pounds from my wedding weight goal (thanks to the stomach bug) and it's really frustrating to be sapped of all energy.

[Melathys]

When I start to think that I'm getting old, that I'm past the prime of my life... Stallone.



Seriously, the guy is nearly twice my age and in better shape than I've ever been, and I realize its not too late for me to get started. That I can find the prime of my life not in the years behind me, but in the years ahead.

[degre]

The problem is not much in getting started, I guess lots of us at a point signed up to the gym or got on doing some exercise, the problem is consistency, how long do you go before you get bored and start making excuses because you really can't be arsed?

[Nikachelle]

The problem is not much in getting started, I guess lots of us at a point signed up to the gym or got on doing some exercise, the problem is consistency, how long do you go before you get bored and start making excuses because you really can't be arsed?

If you're getting bored with your exercise you're either not switching it up enough or you're not doing something that is fun enough for *you*. Also, the longer you keep at something, the more easily it becomes a part of your routine where it gets to the point where it's actually hard to miss a workout. I think the saying is that it only takes four weeks to make a habit or something?

Also, you'll stay consistent with something if you actually see progress, since that's pretty motivational. If you start working out, but then end up overcompensating by eating too much, if your goal is weight loss, then you may not see any progress and figure there's no point in exercise after all.

I read/look at way too many motivational tumblrs and whatnot lately, and damn does that ever keep me going. One of the most commonly used phrases is something like "One hour of exercise is only 4% of your day". And it's so true! One hour is peanuts. I also got to the stage in my life where I'm tired of making excuses. No, I'm not too tired. Yes, I do have time. Yes, it's too hot outside but instead I'll go running in the mornings when it's cooler. No, I won't just eat less today to make up for the lack of exercise. No, I don't need a break. No, my work day wasn't too hard. Like seriously, at some point, you just have to smack yourself and say enough is enough.

Anyway, all that to say... if you don't enjoy your physical activity, you won't stick with it for long. So find something that you truly find entertaining, and stick with it. Be it running, going to the gym, special classes (I just found something called hooping that they've actually turned into an exercise class - yes, with a hula hoop), a sport, dancing, whatever.

[Skye1013]

Just did a quick check of all of my "standard" fast food nutrition info... while not surprised by most of it, there are a couple of things on the list that just make me go "really?"

For example, grilled chicken fajitas from Chili's, sounds healthy(ish), right? When factoring in the condiments (sour cream, guacamole, cheese, pico de gallo) and tortillas it comes out to 1090 calories. As opposed to the Whopper w/cheese and a side of fries (or onion rings) that I get from Burger King that totals up to 1110 calories...

My healthiest is a 6" Sweet Onion Teriyaki on Flatbread from Subway, clocking in at 380 calories. I don't normally get the chips, but even if I did, that would only add ~200 more (depending on the type.)

[katraya]

Skye that is why I track all my calories. There are a lot of things that really surprise you on their values, some good and some bad. For example one of the lowest calorie things to get at Outback is a steak rather than a fish or chicken dish.

I like having a mobile app too now so that I can check things before I order in a restaurant.