If you’re not familiar with the Challenge, it’s an awesome diet and exercise program SELF features annually beginning each March that’s fun, customizable and inspiring. Last year, I even lost 21 pounds through the program, and continued to lose more after it was over!
To make sure I don’t undo any of my hard work before June rolls around, I’ll definitely be taking up the Challenge again this year. Here, some of my other tops tips and strategies for losing weight and getting in shape!
· I love to run outdoors, and scorched tons of pounds by running at least three miles five days a week last year. But I also hate cold weather, and the snowy winter months have put a snag in my plans. Instead, I bought a fairly inexpensive manual treadmill for $120 so that I can work out while I watch an hour of TV each night. I also go to a Saturday cardio and toning class, offered for a reasonable price at our community center, and alternate between different workout DVDs, including the tough but effective 30 Day Shred.
· I’m not a morning person in any sense of the word, so I schedule most of my workouts in the evenings and at night. The truth is that if I tried forcing myself to exercise in the morning or during lunch, I know I’d quit, so I instead try to figure out the best time based on my body’s natural rhythm throughout the day.
· As hard as it sometimes is, I stop eating when I’m no longer hungry, rather than waiting until I’m completely full. This takes a ton of willpower, but saves lots of calories!
· If I do the same thing for too long, I get bored. To mix things up, I frequently change the fitness classes I take, and also cross-train by including dance, running and weight exercises that work different muscle groups.
· I’ll exercise by myself if I have to, but I enjoy my workouts much more when I have a buddy to share them with. So, I love that Stephen and I usually go running together. I’m also much more successful if I have a specific goal to train or work toward, such as a 5K race. It literally forces me to get moving!
What workout strategies work best for you? Do you have any specific goals you’d like to reach before the wedding?
(Photo Credits: SELF)
What great inspiration! I had been running weekly but these cold snaps (it gets in the 30s here!) have kept me indoors. Hopefully it gets warmer so I have no excuse to stay indoors!
ReplyDeleteWhen I started Weight Watchers in January last year, so I could lose weight before shopping for my dress and carry on till the wedding, me and a friend started going to a tums, bums and thighs toning class and more recently we have been going to Les Mills Body Attack which is SO hard! Good for me to go with a friend tho as I wouldnt go to the gym by myself!
ReplyDeleteI lost 3 stone {42 pounds} in total so the combination of WW and some more excercise did work!
Congrats to you for being in Self and for being a real-life success story for all of us to admire :) I am still struggling to make it to the gym three times per week, but hey! That three times more per week than I was going to the gym before the New Year. I need to focus more on my diet. I'm definitely going to pick up a copy of Self next time I'm at the store :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! I'll have to pick up that copy of Self! I do a lot of running and sprinting and try to go in the morning but like you, I am not a morning person either. As long as I do my mile everyday, it doesn't matter what time I do it. I also do a little of P-90X and they have the best ab exercises which I do every other day to give myself ample recovery time. My fiance also works out with me and motivates me when I am lagging so I credit a lot of my success to him!
ReplyDeleteCongrats lady! Thats so awesome! I've never read the magazine but I will go look for you now! I agree that the toughest thing is to stop eating when you are no longer hungry and not when you are about to explode. I think the Greek genes get the better of me in this department!
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed reading about your upcoming wedding. You have been chosen to my wedding blog of the week on April 2. Congratulations and keep up the great work.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! Congratulations, I am actually going to be featured in the April issue of Glamour because of their Body By Glamour program. These online programs are a great way to get active and learn little things for FREE!
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