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I’m addicted to watching The Biggest Loser (don’t worry, I’m gearing up for a loooong series of posts re: this show very soon – later this week, actually, so sit tight.) I love watching the massive transformation that takes place in a relatively short time. It is amazing, don’t you think? Off the show, people just like that are able to lose weight, and keep it off. They aren’t famous, of course, like the contestants, but they should be. Keeping weight off is HARD work. So how do they do it? I want to know, don’t you? Fortunately, weight loss is a subject that colleges and univers......
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Sometimes it is good to make a mistake.  Here are 5 mistakes that can help you reach your goal... 1. Skipping a workout (or two). When you are focused on trying to shed pounds, you might think missing a workout is taboo. But, let's assume you miss that workout not because you choose to skip it, but because something came up. Bad weather when you planned a run outdoors, or the power went out at the gym, or your 4 yr-old comes down with a fever and hour before your kickboxing class at the Y. Life happens. First off - this isn't a mistake, but an opportunity to troubleshoot. Bad weather? Hike in......
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One of the reasons so many people have a tough time getting started with a weight loss plan is enormity of the project before them.  It is like standing in front of Mt. Everest, with no idea how you got there, or how to begin scaling that monster. Not to oversimplify the complexity of health behavior change, but sometimes the easiest way to tackle a mountain like that is to take just one step.  Addendum: one step that leads to another step. Here is a great example of a real person who lost 135 lbs (it took 10 months - which is a little more than 1 lb per week - a very healthy pace): Fitness ......
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The 2012 Olympics ended, what, last night? Already I'm experiencing withdrawal.  What event will I watch tonight? Who will I cheer on? I always forget how sad it is to see the Olympic games come to an end - it has been so much fun watching incredibly talented athletes compete in such spectacular displays of courage.  Becoming an Olympian is something most of us will never experience, for many reasons having nothing to do with lack of talent even, but there is one tool that Olympians use that you can use too - Visualization! Visualize your success .  Practice the exact techniques that Olympi......
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Kind of reads like a magazine cover, doesn't it? In all seriousness though, there really are some simple steps that will help you achieve a weight loss goal...but you can't do just one and kinda do the other two, or only kinda do all three. Do all three, keep you eye on the ball, and you'll hit a home run. Ready? Here we go... Your Plan 1. Record your food intake daily. Include in your diet a variety of fruits and vegetables at 6-9 servings daily; 2-3 servings of lean protein; 3 servings of dairy; and quality oils. Why? Keeping track of what you eat for a few weeks (I'm not talking forever peo......
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Actually, the question went more like this: “I hate to run. It is hard. Did I already say that I hate it? Yet, you talk about running so much. Why?” There was more, but for the sake of this post, let’s just say that this reader’s negative feelings about running ran deep (no pun intended).

Why am I so hip on running? Well, for one thing, it is hard. I like things that are hard to do. Second, it is “me” time, and often the only time I have for finishing a thought. Four kids…enough said. And finally, (and let’s face it, this is important stuff) few physical activities burn as many calories per minute as running. Check it out…

Table:

110 lb woman, 3 miles, 215 calories

130 lb woman, 3 miles, 255 calories

150 lb woman, 3 miles, 294 calories

170 lb woman, 3 miles, 333 calories

True, other cardiovascular activities come close to these stats, but in my opinion, they aren’t nearly as much fun. I can spend 40 minutes running through the woods and enjoy nature, or I can spend 40 minutes on an elliptical machine smelling the garlic spew from the pores of the sweaty guy next to me. And by the way, rec center staff, ESPN is not enjoyable to women, even when displayed on a fancy flat screen TV. Naw, it is outdoor running that I like – even when it involves chasing turkey vultures out of my way as I go. Now back to the topic of calories…

Tip: Want to find out how many calories you burn running? Look it up on Run the Planet. Enter your weight, gender and distance or speed and the handy calculator does the thinking for you!

Running has many perks

  • Running is appropriate for a variety of fitness levels, and virtually any age can participate. Leave from your doorstep, cruise a scenic trail, or wind your way through Chicago’s historic neighborhoods. There is no shortage of places to run, and no telling what you’ll see along the way.
  • Running is easy to learn. While running for sport and competition does require good form and some knowledge of proper training progression, the skill required is low compared with other sports, such as tennis or golf.  Regardless of your size, age, speed, or experience level, whether your goal is fitness, weight loss, or competition — nearly anyone can run.
  • Running is portable. How many activities can you think of where you can wear your equipment, and that is all that is required to begin your workout?
  • You can take it with you when you travel. There is nothing better than sightseeing on foot, and if you are a runner, you can see it all a bit faster. Quaint cafes, one-of-a-kind boutiques, off-the-beaten-path art galleries, and unique neighborhoods are among the many hidden treasures and well-kept secrets that would be easily missed when traveling by car.
  • With enough practice, running can become a competitive endeavor for your. From 5K to ultra-marathons, there is a challenge ripe for the picking, no matter what your level of fitness may be. This may possibly be what I like most about running – the dangling carrot.

So there you have it. I’m hip on running – other people, not so much, and that is fine. The important thing is to find an activity (preferably a physical activity :-) that you enjoy, and will stick with, for the long haul. I won’t hold it against you if you hate running too.

If you’d like to give running another shot, you might like to read, “Run/Walk/Jog: Footprints toward fitness,” to learn about getting started, even if you have no experience. Also, “Running Resources” is chock full of, well, running resources, from trail and map information, to running groups for women.

Have a favorite activity other than running? Let’s hear it…



3 Responses

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  1. I love running so much I had to start a blog about it so my friends would stop rolling their eyes when I talked about it!! I too love it because it’s hard, so I always feel this amazing accomplishment every time I finish

    • Diane says:

      I know exactly what you’re talking about ;-) Either you “get it,” or you don’t. It’s fun trying to convince the rest of the non-running world how awesome it is though, isn’t it? Great idea – starting a blog about running. I wish you much success with that!

      Stop back again!

      To your health!
      Diane

  2. Diane says:

    That is a tough time to deal with. Perhaps joining a running group would help? Knowing that others are counting on you to show up might coax you out of bed, and you might find you look forward to starting your day with not only a great work out, but great conversation as well.

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