Searching for that 25th hour!

In my quest to become healthier, I am exploring creative ways that people can exercise and eat better. My post about Flex + Fit was just that. I was intrigued about this new business and wanted others to know what they have to offer. I have not nor could I accept direct compensation from any organization in exchange for promotion in my blog posts.

On weeks like this one, my days won’t end until 8 pm every night. Time will be a very tight commodity due to work, child’s extracurricular activities, events and doctors appointments. Because I am still very committed to achieving a healthier lifestyle, I realize that I must get really creative to find time to exercise and watch what I eat.

I know that I am not alone. Each of us has commitments that can sometimes stretch our days to a state of chaos, but I will carve out at least 30 minutes every day for myself. I am learning that I won’t be any good for anyone if I am burned out. I will continue to blog about creative and fun ways to exercise and eat better without compensation. I hope some of you find them as interesting as I have.

Today’s tip: While watching your favorite TV show, move during every commercial break. If you do jumping jacks, walk or jog during the commercials, you will learn like I did, there are more commercials than shows! Enjoy the day.

Nancy Johnson

http://cltbiggestlosers.blogspot.com/2011/06/best-of-both-worlds.html

http://www.flexandfit.com/

Full of Fuel

For some of us old style (and in my case just plain "old") believers in calories in versus calories out weight loss, there are wrinkles to that philosophy to contemplate.

Past assumptions of lingering exercise benefit after exercising ceases has come under some recent review. The old idea was a nice long jog might keep on burning more calories for hours afterwards beyond what you'd normally use up if you didn't run. Now, some research suggest you may have to reach a very intense level of exercise to achieve that type of benefit to any meaningful degree.

As regards calories, a 100 calories isn't just a 100 calories no matter what you eat. Not completely that simple anyway. For instance, a potato raises blood sugar sharply then a crash quickly and you feel hungrier sooner than if you ate 100 calories of lean meat. Sure, if you are super dedicated to counting calories and never give in to hunger it wouldn't matter. However, all we folks looking for ways to not overeat look for foods that feel like they fill us up and keep us satisfied longer.

Add to that drinking plenty of water and maybe our 100 calories of chicken or broccoli will satisfy us long enough to allow the exercise to burn it all up before the next "feeding".

It isn't really all that complex but it does take thought and perhaps reading to improve our diet and exercise "mix" .

Good luck on your search for the right route for yourself. Seek help from a nutritionist or exercise specialist as needed and never give up.

I take a cooking class!

Last week I had the privilege of attending a complimentary culinary class at the new fitness center, Flex and Fit. It was the first class conducted since the facility opened. I have confessed my limitations in the kitchen on previous blog posts and I warned the Chef Terra about these limitations. Thankfully, she chose a meal and dessert that did not require alot of ingredients, time or money so I became immediately intrigued. As Chef Terra cooked I asked the other attendees about their cooking skills. Surprising many of the ladies were like me, they could cook basic things but often struggle because of their constant work and family responsibilities. Most of us agreed that cooking appeared to be a dying art especially with the younger generation.
The chicken dish and its fruity dessert were prepared and cooked in about 45 minutes. All of us committed to making time to plan and cook healthier meals. Thank you Flex and Fit for providing a facility that focuses on what we eat and exercise. Both are important parts of healthy living and weight loss. I'll explore places to find quick and cheap menus in a later post.

Until next week.

Nancy Johnson

Road Scholar

The next month is shaping up to be a challenge to my will power and making a point to exercise and diet. During the next month I will be driving a car or riding a motorcycle from NC to Fla back to NC to Pa and back to Fla and back once more to NC. Also will be meeting my son who is active duty military on our motorcycles for a weekend of riding in the mountains. Another trip to DC area will fall into that time frame also. All total my miles driven or riding will be approximately 5,000 miles. A lot of time sitting. A lot of family events to tempt one to eat and drink and be merry. Due to my broke toe related foot problems, I will postpone my fun run 5k until later into the summer to make sure I don't really screw up my foot by jogging too much too soon on an injury.

A lot of you guys out there will be going on trips or vacations during the summer. Have fun. If you are overweight though, try your best to exercise some and eat smart during your fun activities.

Now get out there and go for a nice hot walk.

Filling the Hole

Happy Belated Fathers Day to anyone that provides love, support and a sense of security to a child.  Every year, this particular holiday was a reminder of a hole in my life because I had a MIA father. My parents separated when I was young and when my father left my mother, he also left me and my two younger brothers.  This parental abandonment left an emotional hole and is one reason for my weight issues.

In my quest to win my battle of the bulge, I've decided to explore some of the reasons for the weight. Although I've long given up on the dream of the typical loving father-daughter relationship, this year I decided to finally do something I haven't done in a very long time. This year I mailed a card to my father.

In the past, I often ate to fill this and other voids in my life. Sending the Father's Day card was my way of finally addressing this hole and moving on to a healthier life.  Food and fathers both have an important role in a healthy life.  It's important, not to mix the roles.

Nancy Johnson

Eat Your Veggies

Summer doesn't officially start until next week. Try to convince the thermometer summer didn't start weeks ago. Its been hot. Until the brief respite this week one local weather person said our average for early June had been same median temperature as what Tampa Florida would normally expect for that time of the year.

So, how is your body and appetite holding out in the heat? For me I spend a lot of time outside and don't let the heat stop me. However, I do find a change in my yearnings for food during hot weather. I tend to crave veggies more than meat. My garden is doing its best imitation of a jungle these days as I planted way too much stuff for the space. We have bunches of tomatoes , lettuce, squash, zucchini and onions ready to harvest and egg plant, okra, cauliflower, peppers all about to produce.

My opportunity to eat lots and lots of vegetables will soon push aside the need for meat even more.

Visit your local produce stands and load up on healthy food for the summer. Try some filling and tasty melons while you are at it. They fill you up and hydrate you well in this hot weather.

With exercise and proper healthy eating we will come into fall weather needing to buy some smaller cloths for winter.....so start saving your money for the new wardrobe.

Agony of The Feet

I tried to get back to jogging a portion of each walk last week. I will have to monitor this closely as the foot that had the broken toe recently has pain for a day or two after each jog/walk session. So for now, I'll have to rely on the exercise bike and mountain bike for a larger than normal portion of my calorie burning. Its nice to be back home with my scale, my exercise equipment and away from temptation while entertaining folks at my mountain place. I'm a "routine" kind of guy and like getting back to the routine.

Be careful though. "Routines" can become boring or stagnant. They can also ignore or overuse certain muscle groups and lead to imbalances and injuries. Look for ways to alternate hard/easy days and build in a rest day when needed.

Keep at it folks. We are almost halfway through the year.