http://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/See Mommy Get Fithttp://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/rss.gifhttp://seemommygetfit.forumco.comhttp://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/rss.gif8637shoegal123http://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=1341&REPLY_ID=741510Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:21:59 +0100Traceyhttp://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=1307&REPLY_ID=723810Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:24:34 +0100Lizzy1981http://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=1309&REPLY_ID=722810Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:33:56 +0100Lizzy1981http://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=1291&REPLY_ID=713610Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:18:44 +0100Lizzy1981http://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=1260&REPLY_ID=706210Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:56:31 +0100Traceyhttp://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=1243&REPLY_ID=699410Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:33:43 +0100Traceyhttp://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=1251&REPLY_ID=699310Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:32:41 +0100Lizzy1981http://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=1193&REPLY_ID=674610Thu, 8 Nov 2007 08:12:01 +0100Traceyhttp://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=118710Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:59:32 +0100(Even if You're NOT A Morning Person)
-- By Rebecca Pratt, Staff Writer
I am not a morning person.

This confession will come as no surprise to my friends and family, most of whom have spent many glorious years making merry over my tendency to nod off over breakfast, my need for copious amounts of coffee before noon, and my late-night bursts of productivity.

For years I’ve tried to pretend I’m one of “them”—those chirpy, cheerful folks who rise effortlessly at dawn to go after that proverbial worm. I’ve also spent many years suppressing the urge to complain bitterly about a world where night owls like me suffer grievous discrimination at the hands of those ubiquitous “normal” people.

So those who know me best are always startled—no, make that shocked—to find out that I do most of my exercising in the early hours of the day, anywhere from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. They’re even more astonished, after an initial double take, to discover that I actually like to get my exercise in early.

Really.

And though my morning-exercise regimen started out as a concession to the practical constraints of my life, I have since discovered that there are some very good benefits to learning to love exercise in the morning—so I’ll share with you my “Top Ten Reasons” for getting up with the early birds to get moving:

1-Exercising early in the morning "jump starts" your metabolism, keeping it elevated for hours, sometimes for up to 24 hours! As a result, you’ll be burning more calories all day long—just because you exercised in the morning.

2-Exercising in the morning energizes you for the day—not to mention that gratifying feeling of virtue you have knowing you’ve done something disciplined and good for you. (Much better than a worm!)

3-Studies have shown that exercise significantly increases mental acuity—a benefit that lasts four to ten hours after your workout ends. Exercising in the a.m. means you get to harness that brainpower, instead of wasting it while you’re snoozing.

4-Assuming you make exercise a true priority, it shouldn’t be a major problem to get up 30 to 60 minutes earlier—especially since regular exercise generally means a higher quality of sleep, which in turn means you’ll probably require less sleep. (If getting up 30 to 60 minutes earlier each day seems too daunting, you can ease into it with 10 to 20 minutes at first.)

5-When you exercise at about the same time every morning—especially if you wake up regularly at about the same time—you’re regulating your body's endocrine system and circadian rhythms. Your body learns that you do the same thing just about every day, and it begins to prepare for waking and exercise several hours before you actually open your eyes. That’s beneficial because:
o Your body’s not “confused” by wildly changing wake-up times, which means waking up is much less painful. (You may even find that you don’t need an alarm clock most days.)
o Hormones prepare your body for exercise by regulating blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to muscles, etc.
o Your metabolism, along with all the hormones involved in activity and exercise, begin to elevate while you're sleeping. As a result, you’ll feel more alert, energized, and ready to exercise when you do wake up.

6-Many people find that morning exercise has a tendency to regulate their appetite for the rest of the day. Not only do they eat less (since activity causes the release of endorphins, which in turn diminishes appetite), they also choose healthier portions of healthier foods.

7-People who consistently exercise find, sometimes to their great surprise, that the appointed time every morning evolves into something they look forward to. Besides the satisfaction of taking care of themselves, they find it’s a great time to plan their day, pray, or just think more clearly—things most of us often don’t get to do otherwise.

8-Exercising first thing in the morning is the most foolproof way to ensure that other things don’t overtake your fitness commitment, particularly if you have a hectic family life. (It’s so easy to wimp out in the evening, when we’re tired or faced with such tasks as rustling up dinner and helping with homework.)

9-More than 90% of those who exercise consistently have a morning fitness routine. If you want to exercise on a regular basis, the odds are in your favor if you squeeze your workout into the a.m.

10-Non-morning people can always trick themselves in the a.m. Having trouble psyching yourself up for a sunrise jog? Do what I did—tell yourself that you’ll still be so fast asleep that you won’t even remember—much less mind!

My Body is a Temple
(right now it's just "under construction")
Tracey
Wife to Mark, Mommy to Zach(3) and Ashlee(dsd)(5)
]]>Traceyhttp://seemommygetfit.forumco.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=118610Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:56:03 +0100Squeezing in Exercise

Do you feel more like a chauffeur than a parent? We all know that exercise is important for us to stay healthy, but between cooking, cleaning up, budgeting, homework help, and--oh yeah--sleep, who has the time?

Next time you feel too busy to exercise, try squeezing it in to your schedule with these tips:

During Drive Time
Try some isometric exercises: Squeeze your glutes, contract your abs, and work your calves by raising your legs up on your toes at red lights. Park far from your destination so you have to walk farther. Arrive early to your event, if possible, to allow time for a brisk walk.

At Programs, Practices, and Games
Walk around the facility before or after the event; look for chances to combine a class or activity with those of your children. For example, take aerobics while your daughter has basketball practice at the YMCA.

While Keeping House
Shop at big stores where there'll be lots of walking; do meal prep and cleanup with a little music and dancing. Clean to music, and shun some of your labor saving devices (like remotes). When doing yard work, keep moving! Use your leg and glute muscles (instead of your back) to shovel, rake, move dirt, etc.

When doing laundry, do squats to pick up unfolded laundry from the basket, and take fitness breaks during homework time, such as stretching or jumping rope for a few minutes. (Your kids will love it too!) Become your dog's best friend--most dogs are always ready to boogie!

For Play Dates
Keep in mind the old adage that children live what they learn. If you don't want your kids to be couch potatoes, be a good example. Walk to the library for story hour; plan regular play times at the park or pool; when snow keeps you home, go play in it. By making physical activity fun, you'll lay the foundation for your kids to have healthy, active lives. What's more, you'll rediscover that activity can be fun--not just another item to check off your grown-up list!

My Body is a Temple
(right now it's just "under construction")
Tracey
Wife to Mark, Mommy to Zach(3) and Ashlee(dsd)(5)
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