Time to come clean about how we did in August! In case you just joined us, our heatlh goal for August was to eat out less than 3 times a week. I successfully completed this mission!! Although there were a couple of times I really wanted sushi over a homemade sandwich, I stuck it out. However, my personal health goal didn't go as well. I tried really hard to stick to the 2 diet cokes a week rule, but I totally blew it one week. I'll admit it: old habits die hard. Even though I didn't completely meet my goal, I am definitely decreasing my diet coke consumption.
Now, on to September's Health Goals. I am constantly asked by people, especially girls, if they should do cardio or weights to slim down. The answer is...... you should do both! However, a lot of girls will skip over the weights and head straight to the elliptical because they think it will help them burn more calories and therefore lose more weight. This is simply not true. Resistance training helps you build lean muscle mass, which increases your resting metabolic rate (or how many calories you burn just hanging out). You will see results faster if you include both cardiovascular and resistance training.
Benefits of Strength Training:
- Increases bone density.
- Helps you control your weight. It is a proven fact that muscle burns more calories at rest than fat.
- Reduces your risk of injury by protecting joints and improving balance.
- Boosts your stamina (aka gives you more energy).
- Can help you manage chronic diseases such as lower back pain, arthritis, depression, diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis.
- Improves the physical appearance of your muscles. Also known as that "toned" look. (you know you've said at some point in your life..."I just want to look toned.")
- Increase athletic performance.
Don't worry we won't look like this!
I think we could all meditate if we were somewhere like this?
Food for thought:
Will you join me in our health goal for September?
Do you currently strength train 3+ times a week? If so, do you have any tips you would like to share?
What is your personal health goal for this month?
Yours truly,
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Strength training is so important. How great to push people to do it!
ReplyDeleteAnd you know I failed the diet coke thing. I have about 3-4 each week. I got back in the habit during the first trimester and just can't break it now.
So true. I never seem to be able to carry out a weight routine for more than two weeks. I think it's time I start up again, with some inspiration from this blog.
ReplyDeleteYay go Kitty! We can do it together!
ReplyDelete