New year, new you

By By Michelle Blaylock, Mom’s Corner
It seems the number one New Year’s resolution that I hear is: “I’m going to lose weight.” Considering Alabama is considered one of the “fattest” states, that resolution is not necessarily a bad one. However, I still do not think the number on the scale should be the absolute goal. I think it is more important to look at how we feel both physically and emotionally, how we want to live our lives and how we want to live out our lives.
For example, if I watch every bite of food I put in my mouth and manage to lose 70 pounds, but I am hateful and no one can stand to be around me, I have benefited how? Of course, the other extreme is not good either. As in most things, moderation is the answer. I will not presume to tell you how to live your life, but I am going to try this year to work, not on “losing” weight, but on making overall healthier choices a little at a time.
To this end, I came up with a plan. (My husband will be proud of me – for the “plan” part anyway.) I decided to look at this plan in two parts: food/drink choices and activity choices.
The first part of my plan is to limit “unhealthy” food/drink choices. I am not going to give them up completely. For example, I am not going to totally stop drinking sodas, but I will drink them as a treat, not every day, but occasionally. I will choose low-fat options like healthy granola, whole grain breads, fresh fruits and veggies, dried fruits, lean meat, low-fat dairy products and portion control. My plan also includes eating slower (whenever possible) and drinking more water.
Part two of my plan includes movement. I read an article recently that encouraged people to take 10,000 steps a day. In case you are wondering, for an average person that is about five miles. The nice thing is that all 10,000 steps do not have to be all at the same time. So the question becomes: how to get more steps into my day.
Here are some of the ideas I have collected from various articles, web-sites, and TV programs.
1. Try to park toward the back of a parking lot.
2. Take the extra steps when doing housework. For example, go up the stairs every time there is a reason. Do not try to “save” yourself a few steps by gathering everything together before making a trip to the back of the house or upstairs. Also try to incorporate extra movement by using arms, if possible, in a pumping motion to increase the benefit. If you are at an office take the long way to the restroom or breakroom.
3. Around the house wear ankle weights will help increase the benefit of housework.
4. Take the extra steps yourself. I am bad about sending one of my children after something in another part of our house. Again, I can increase the benefit if I use my arms in a pumping motion, and if I’m going upstairs I try to increase the speed or intensity.
5. Are you waiting for something to cook? Try using that “wait” time to do a few leg lifts or stretches.
6. Are you talking on the phone? Well, try pacing around, doing leg lifts or cleaning something. Speaking of cleaning something, any time you are doing a household chore, do it in as fast a pace a possible to get your heart pumping. You will get the chore done faster and burn a few more calories in the process.
Of course, there are many household duties that are exercise in and of themselves. Raking leaves and pushing a lawn mower are a couple that come to mind. Even doing all these things will not realistically provide 10,000 steps in a day. It is preferable to have a real exercise program. (That’s assuming your doctor tells you it’s safe for you.) However, some extra movement is better than none.
Now, if you have little ones that are not in school yet your life is a little more complicated. There is at least one gym in the area that provides child care while you work out. You could also trade off with another mom. She could watch your angels while you exercise and vice versa. There’s always exercising before your angels are up for the day or after they’re in bed at night or naptime. You could trade off with hubby every other night. He could put the kids to bed and you could exercise. If your children are three or older they can be encouraged to let you have your exercise time.
Obviously, you can’t leave them and go for a run, but they could watch a video or play for a half hour while you work out. You can reward them with things like special story time or a visit to the park.
My plan also includes stretching before bed and trying to get more sleep. One study I read said that people who increased their sleep time were healthier, happier, and lost weight faster. Imagine that!
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