Saturday, January 28, 2012

Healthier Choices

"He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything."
(Arabic Proverb)

Some people ask if I'll go on a wedding diet... As far as I'm concerned, d--t is a four-letter word. I don't really want to lose weight, although I'm sure I gained some over the holidays! Like women everywhere, my actual weight is likely to be in constant flux, so I wouldn't be surprised if I go up and down a few pounds within any given month. I don't have a scale, and weight doesn't mean much to me since every body is different, so why focus on a number?

Could I eat more healthfully? Yes. But I'm for moderation, not deprivation.

Should I start to exercise? Definitely. I want to incorporate more physical activity as a way of life, not for a one-day event. Health means a lot to my fiancé Sam, who says that from the time he met me over 8 years ago, he hasn't heard of me working out. He has a hard time believing that I used to be able to do real pull-ups and chin-ups, and that I'm naturally gifted at video games; both true.

As a kid I was athletic and tomboyish, rode my bike and played kickball with the boys in the neighborhood, played tennis and soccer, swam and skied; in fact, it wasn't until I got older that I realized my skin is actually on the pale side, because growing up I was always tan from running around outdoors! In high school, there was volleyball and a little lacrosse and track (alright, I confess: I only managed the winter track team one year to get out of gym class). In college and graduate school I was active here and there.

But as a working adult I don't do these things, and I don't belong to a gym, so where does that leave me? I'm not a fan of gyms; I'd rather do some sporty activity, but it seems most grown-ups -- aside from paid professionals -- don't do much of that. Some day when my bank account feels a little more flush, I'll probably join a health club or take a fitness class. Until then, maybe I can just play Dance Central with my friend Leslie, or use the Shake Weight she gave me a while back!

Image: Shake Weight Women

To improve my overall body wellness, I will make a conscious effort to regularly do the following:
  • Drink more water
  • Sleep 8 hours a night
  • Take a daily women's multivitamin
  • Do simple exercises

Do you have any health or fitness tips, taking into account that I don't have access to a gym? Push-ups and lunges are basic moves that target multiple muscles and don't require equipment, space, or a TV/DVD.

7 comments:

  1. Running outside? Hiking? Yoga/pilates dvds at home? jump rope? TAEBO!!! hahahahahaha!!! :D

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    1. I definitely like hiking when the weather's nice. I've never had the space to do DVDs but I have always wanted to try yoga and pilates. Do people still do Tae-Bo? I haven't heard about it since the '90s!

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  2. Check out Ellen DeGeneres and First Lady Michelle Obama's push-up competition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTAIedFfUBU&feature=player_embedded.

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  3. i saw something recently on tv that just mentioned doing little things here and there like getting off the subway one or two stops early and walking the rest of the way... and always taking stairs instead of elevators. i know running doesn't sound very fun but training for a race has always been a good motivator for me!

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    1. Sam doesn't believe in incidental exercise, but those little things add up! I'd love to train for a race at some point!

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  4. Moderation, not deprivation - I am stealing this as my moto! I did push-ups before the wedding and I do actually think they helped. The girly kind, on my knees. I wish I had kept up the habit.

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    1. It's good to know that they helped. I'm going to try to keep them up... or at least some equivalent exercise!

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