A lot of people make a New Year's resolution to lose weight or exercise more than they do. I am one of those people. Here are some steps that I've tried that I would like to share with you.
Stretch before and after a workout
I try to do this for about 5 minutes. I hold each stretch to a count of 30. Stretching will keep your muscles from being sore after you exercise. I used to start and end my workouts without stretching and I would always end up sore afterwards. That was a hard lesion and now I will always stretch before and after I exercise.
Stay active to burn calories
Since it's important to exercise for at least 30 minutes to burn calories, try something you would enjoy doing. My favorite things to do are walking and dancing. For me, they are easy to do and I enjoy it. I also use workout dvds which aren't as easy as walking and dancing. If you have eaten a lot, you should try to work out longer than 30 minutes. I read that working out for 60 minutes will help you lose weight. Working out for 60 to 90 minutes will help you keep the weight off. This is why it's important to choose an activity you will enjoy doing because no one wants to do something they don't love for a long time.
Lift weights or use resistance bands
Using weights or resistance bands will help you build muscles. Strength training will help you burn more calories. If you don't have weights or resistance bands, you can still build muscles using water bottles or soup cans as substitutes.
Breathing
Breathing is important to workouts. Exhale through your mouth when you exert the moves and inhale when you release. For example, when you are doing a crunch, you would exhale when you lift up and inhale on your way back down. You should also breathe while you are doing aerobics.
Squeeze in workouts
If you don't have time to workout, you can still squeeze it into your day. Take longer blocks than you should. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Another stair exercise you could try is to go up and down the steps 10 times. Your legs will definitely get a workout. When you are doing housework, try lunges and squats. You could also turn on the radio and start dancing. Try holding in your stomach and butt muscles 20 times each. This should also be done while you are doing your aerobics and strength training.
Don't weigh yourself
I definitely don't have a problem doing this one. I think weighing yourself is discouraging if you are trying to lose weight. You may feel like giving up if you see that you are not losing weight. The best way to tell if you are losing weight is through the fit of your clothes. This is how I can tell when I am losing weight.
Change your eating habits
I know this one is easier said than done, but you should try to develop good nutritional habits.
Drink plenty of water
This may seem pretty simple, but you'd be surprised how easy it is to get dehydrated while working out.
I hope these tips are as helpful for you as they are for me. Good luck to those of you are trying to lose weight and/or getting in shape.
