Eat to Live, Don't Live to Eat!

One of the realities of getting older is that weight gain is not unusual. People talk about pounds "creeping" on as they age. Well, my weight has been growing by leaps and bounds! I can't even look at food without adding a pound or two. The scale and mirrors are not my friends! Recent studies indicate that you can be overweight and healthy and, conversely, average weight and unhealthy. I would like to be healthy AND within the weight guidelines for my age and height. Tight clothes are not attractive. Just look at some of the people on the "People of Walmart" website:
http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

Based on past experience, the best way to reach my "goal" is three-fold: eat less, exercise more, and keep a journal of what I consume. Several weeks ago I started a very basic exercise plan: 10 minutes of calisthenics/day which includes crunches (to gain control of my blossoming belly!), push-ups (sissy girl ones!), jumping jacks (for bone strength) and leg lifts.

Next, I would like to add walking or using my son's elliptical machine, starting at five minutes/day and increasing to twenty. Once I have reached this "goal", I plan to add 10 minutes of interval training followed by five minutes of stretching. The final goal is to exercise 45 minutes/day. Hopefully, this will be supplemented by yard work and other calorie burning activities.

At the moment I see myself as a beached whale. It's not that I find whales unattractive, but the image of a whale stranded on a beach is how I feel about the weight I have gained over the years. I have lost control over my life.

How am I doing?

April 6 - 10 minutes of calisthenics
April 10 - Calisthenics (150 crunches; 15 push-ups; 40 jumping jacks; 190 leg lifts; 20 seconds slant board)
April 25 - Lost two pounds!
- Calisthenics (200 crunches, 50 push-ups; 50 jumping jacks; 230 leg lifts; 20 seconds slant board)
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