Downsizing that Waist - Tips and Tricks 3

It is incredibly overwhelming to jump in with both feet into a completely new, healthier lifestyle. I'm ready to admit my weight issues can partially be attributed to a lazy attitude coupled with a love for food that wasn't all good for me. Since this business with a healthy lifestyle is two-pronged - diet and exercise - it can be a fairly drastic change to make.

I found it easier to take it in steps and take on the diet aspect first. I'm a complete foody so this is a daily challenge for me still, but since having started the whole healthy eating business I've found it's not that hard to keep up with.

The first step I took was to measure my BMI and my basal caloric requirements based on daily activities. Then I researched what caloric content of various foods to see what my healthiest options were. It was really good to see how many different and options there were and how many of them I was already incorporating into my diet.

Actually, I guess the first step is to recognize that the word 'diet' doesn't mean a drastic alteration in your food consumption where you're limiting yourself to certain foods or cutting something out 100%. Diet just refers to the types and amounts of food you consume. I'm not at all into diets that say I can only eat cabbage or have to cut out all carbs from my life. Med School has taught me enough to recognize that every food group is essential for the human body, it's just that the intake amount of each thing varies for every person.

It took a few days to get into the habit of getting healthier. It only took a week for my body to get used to consuming fewer simple carbs and limiting my intake of complex carbs to what my body needs. Now, when I deviate, my body gets very uncomfortable. I'm not going to lecture you on what to eat and what not to eat. That's something you have to do some research on and figure out for yourself because every body's requirements are different. Remember, it only takes 3 weeks (21 days) to develop a habit and get comfortable with it.

Once you get a handle on your eating habits, it becomes easier to jump into an exercise routine. Your body should start feeling healthier from the change in diet. As you pick up an exercise routine, you can adjust your dietary needs more easily.

Bottom line. Don't overwhelm yourself with a complete regime change. It's perfectly alright to go at it one thing at a time. Heck, I recommend it.

Downsizing Day 12 ... my waist size, that is.

I've been a bad girl. I skipped Day 11's workout. It was yoga day. I don't like yoga day.

Justification (excuse) ... my sleep cycle runs per a different time zone, as opposed to my physical location. Most people wake up at 6am; I hit the bed at that time. This leaves me disconcerted for part of the day. And I lose a lot of productive "business hours." I've tried changing my sleeping/waking times but I keep reverting to this odd schedule. Basically that leaves me tired and harried (still gotta focus on my studying too, after all). That and it's my birthday week. I'm allowed some leniency. So I am trying to convince myself anyway.

I also indulged in Chinese buffet for lunch - it was a birthday celebration with friends. I stuck to the soup, veggies, proteins and only had a tiny bit of the noodles. Ever since I've started P90X I've been even more conscientious about my carb intake and such. That tiny amount of noodles (2-3 forkfuls) left me feeling disgusting for most of the evening.

All in all, Wednesday was not conducive to working out, particularly yoga for one and a half hours.

Day 12, however, I brought it to Leg and Back and enjoyed getting back to exercising. I'll try to make up on the yoga on Saturday, which is rest/stretch day. I'll stick to the lighter moves. Curse the guilty conscience!

I didn't bring it to Ab Ripper X since I had to get ready for ... HARRY POTTER! Yes, I'm two weeks late, but I have a friend to blame for that. Anyway. The movie was AMAZING! Go watch it if you haven't.

Tomorrow is my birthday. And tomorrow is Kenpo day. I will do justice to both tomorrow :)

Downsizing Day 10 ... my waist size, that is.

I think it's time to invest in resistance bands. I don't feel the burn as much with most of the moves. Amazing. It only took a week for my muscles to say I can do more. Yay!

I'm able to do more and more as the days go by and that's exciting me.

So a week after P90X, I'm proud to say I've dropped 3.5lbs! I know water weight is the first to go, but it's progress so yay! Also, I've been drinking a lot more water (healthier choice!) so it's not exactly water weight that I've lost necessarily. Basically, I'm very happy to see the needle move down on the scale.

I'm really getting into P90X now. Sadly, my friend couldn't keep up, so I'll be doing Yoga solo again, but I'll try to get through the whole video this week.

Downsizing Day 9 ... my waist size, that is.

Exhausted, in a good way. As much as I hate it, Plyometrics is a great workout. I sweat the most on Plyo and Kenpo days.

I took my inhaler before starting the workout today, and boy am I glad I did.

My right hip continued to be a problem today, limiting me in range of motion on some of the exercises. My knees are also flaring up again, making squats a literal pain. These are the same problems I had back in the TKD days - ironically, I believe these problems developed because of TKD. The aggressive demands on these joints has led them to be worn down and out (not that any of the x-rays and MRIs support my understanding...my poor docs can't figure me out). I know there are people reading this blog (google stats tells me so), so if any of you have any suggestions as to what I can do to make it less painful as I try to maximize my range of motion, I would really appreciate it.

For now, I'm sticking to the low impact variations that Pam from the video demonstrates. Definitely helps keep the pain at bay, but I'd love to get more depth in my squats and lunges to max the muscle workout.

ps - I think I see a slightly slimmer face - the chin being one of the first places to show weight loss/gain. fingers crossed! I hope to have more visible results by the time I get home in 3 weeks (that'll be a month after having started p90x).

Downsizing Day 8 ... my waist size, that is.

It's almost funny when I realize it's another Ab Ripper X day. Almost. I need another week or so before I'll be comfortable with that realization. For now, a slight feeling of dread persists.

Chest and Back session 2 went well enough - a few more reps, some improvement in my form. If the first 30 days are to be a struggle, I'm happy with my progress in the first week. Of course, a part of me is anxious to see some physical change and disappointed when the same figure looks back at me. I just remind myself that this is no overnight miracle cure and that beauty is pain.

I'm doing P90X for my health (and some obvious, aesthetic enhancement), not because I'm into working out and building muscle. If the latter had been true, I wouldn't be in the position I am in today to begin with. Once I drop to my goal weight and size (not necessarily mutually inclusive) I will switch to a lighter workout. I'll have to fiddle around with what works best, but I'm guessing it will be daily 30 minute walks and 3-4 days/week of exercise, relying on what I have picked up through P90X.

But for now...still chugging away. Oh no! Tomorrow is Pylometrics. *cringe*

Downsizing Day 6/7 ... my waist size, that is.

Phew! That was another red-in-the-face, sweat-inducing work out. Take your inhaler!

Kenpo X really makes you work it. This workout was a throwback to my Tae Kwon Do days. The forms are very different and I found myself reverting to the "correct way" with my punches and blocks. Kicks were tough to keep up with - my right hip was in pain 15 minutes into the workout, which made kicks on either side that much more difficult. I've been saying it all week, so here it is again... that was hard and my muscles feel it. I'm sure my noodle arms and sore legs will be even grumpier tomorrow, but it's well worth it.

I'm skipping rest/stretch day. I'd rather stick to the program and get back on track than take a day off right now.

Time to get back into it with Chest, Back and Ab tomorrow... 1 week down, 12 to go!

Downsizing Day 5 ... my waist size, that is.

I missed a day of P90X yesterday. I blame it on Thanksgiving and the coma it put me in.

Today was Legs, Back and Ab Ripper X. I'm proud to say I was able to keep going through the whole thing, never pausing (I haven't for any of the days, though I do lighter versions of some of the workouts in order to keep up) and keeping up at almost the same pace.

I'm still doing the exercises weights-free, but I'm feeling the burn on my pull ups and other exercises (I model my arm movements for the resistance bands since that's what I'll be getting). I think I'll be ready for resistance bands in another week.

I hate Ab Ripper X because it's 15 minutes of intense workout and I still can't do half the moves properly. But I've noticed a drastic improvement since Day 1 so I'm loving that something, whatever it may be, is working.

Since I missed a day, I'll be skipping the rest/stretch day or combining it with Day 6 of Kenpo (Kenpo in the morning, stretch in the evening) and I'll jump right into week two after that.

Thank God I started when I did. All other holidays fall on rest/stretch days - karmic coincidence!

Looking forward to tomorrow's Kenpo; it'll be nice to get some martial arts related exercise going.

Downsizing Day 4 ... my waist size, that is.

I have to admit I gave up today. To be fair to myself, I quit half-way through today's Yoga session, which is still 45 minutes of sweat inducing exercise.

The Yoga portion of P90X is harder than I anticipated. I got frustrated because I couldn't even get into half the poses, let alone maintain them. I struggled with what should have been easy. I just have to keep reminding myself that this was my first day and it will get better with time and more effort. But Yoga is definitely one of the sections where I need a buddy doing it next to me to keep me motivated and going.

Boo to me on this one. Hopefully I'll have better luck next week. My friend will be joining me, so at the very least we can laugh at/with each other as we struggle through the poses.

Edit: Turns out there is an ab portion in the second half of the Yoga session. Guess I should have at least kept watching. Serves me right. Well, definitely something to look forward to next week.

Just keep swimming...

Rolling out of bed, walking, tucking my hair behind my ear ... it's all PAINFUL! Muscles that hadn't worked in years, if ever, are protesting to the sudden and vigorous exercise. And they make themselves heard loud and clear throughout the day.

Blogging is working as wonderful motivating tool for me. I feel like I've put myself out there and would be a fraud if I didn't continue with the P90X.

Thanks to the combined power of blogging and tweeting I've gotten some really positive feedback. It's nice when others take time out of their lives to provide encouragement.

Seeing P90X through? I really badly want to give up because of how much it hurts. But then I look in the mirror and I'm not happy. More than that, I'm scared of my future if I don't make the effort now. I gotta tell you, it's taking every ounce of determination and will-power to keep pushing. For the moment, I just want the soreness and pain to go away.

Downsizing Day 3 ... my waist size, that is.

I really, badly did not want to do today's workout. I almost said forget it. Between the sore arms and abs from Day 1 and the burning thighs from Day 2 I didn't think I was up for an Arms & Shoulders workout. But I didn't want to quit two days into the program, especially after having 'gone public' about it.

So I did it. And it wasn't so bad. Day 3 consists of an arms and shoulders workout which was less intense and difficult on my body, when compared to the high-impact workout Pylometrics had wrung out of me the day before. I definitely need to invest in a set of resistance bands (easier to pack since I travel regularly) soon!

Day 3 involved the Ab Ripper X again, and it was as intense as Day 1. But I found myself able to do more, so there is hope for the future.

Overall, today's workout actually helped wring out some of the soreness and pain from the past two days. I feel better about both having done the workout and having accomplished more on my third day.

Onwards and downwards!

Downsizing Day 2 ... my waist size, that is.

Holy flippin' shit! Day 2 is not for the faint of heart...literally. If you're an asthmatic, take a couple of pumps of your inhaler before you start this one!

Ah! This one was hard! I mean muscle-burning, sweat-inducing, lung-working hard. It's all about jumping and squatting and lunging. My leg muscles haven't been worked this hard since Tae Kwon Do. In fact, after this workout, I know I can't even consider going back to Tae Kwon Do any time soon ... my muscles have gone soft and don't remember or appreciate the movements Day 2 of P90X (Pylometrics) demands of them.

Today had me doubting if I can go on at all with P90X. Fortunately I have a few big incentives in my head (health and better body included) that I really want to achieve, so I'm going to push myself to keep at it. But man did today have my questioning if I could ever get to the level that the people in the video are at. I want to see how much I can better myself. I'm just wondering where that's going to come from. Wooh!

Keep a towel, your inhaler and a bottle of water at the ready for this one; Day 2 is TOUGH!

I gave it as much as I could, but busted knees/hips and muscles that had forgotten these moves had me at a slower and shallower pace. I gave up a few times in between, just doing a slow jog to fill up the space while I cursed at the trainer. I just had to keep reminding myself that this was my first day with Pylometrics and the trainer's bazillionth. It's okay not to be nearly as good as the people in the video, you just have to keep trying and keep working.

Now, please excuse me. I need a hose and a trough. Or maybe I'll just fall into the trough.

Downsizing that Waist - Tips and Tricks

Exercising is a pain, literally and figuratively. I'm sure what I have to share is all stuff you've probably already heard. But maybe you haven't, or hearing it from my point of view and experience will help you.

1. Partner up. You don't have to actually exercise with someone else. I find the P90X videos to be quite motivating in and of themselves. I don't feel like I'm going at it alone. But it definitely helps to have a friend to talk to about the routine and get feedback or encouragement from. My friend is also doing the P90X program on her own, so we chat about our efforts and issues. I'm hoping we'll have some positive results to talk about soon.

Your friend doesn't have to be doing the same exercise program, or even any exercise program. He/she can just be there for emotional/mental support as you go through the exercise program for yourself. It's good to have someone encourage you along. If you don't have anyone in your real life who will fulfill this role, turn to the virtual world. There are forums you can turn to, or tweet or blog about your efforts and you'll find others going through the same struggles.

Or you can buddy up to exercise with someone. Sometimes the physical presence of a friend provides a comfortable and competitive environment in which you can try your hardest without feeling judged.

I'm starting solo, with a friend to talk to about my efforts and progress. We will try exercising together during week 2 and see if that works better for us.

2. Set your goals, be realistic. Do some research, find out what the ideal weight is for your height and ethnicity (yes, that does make a difference). Don't aim for an exact number, just go for a range.

Personally, I'm at 150lbs when I should be between 120lbs-125lbs. I'm not forcing myself to lose the 25lbs-30lbs within the 90 day program period. I'm just aiming for some weight loss. Some people have lost that much and more through P90X. Some people have lost less. I'm realistic. I haven't cut out all carbs, sugars, etc. from my diet. It's just more moderate and healthier than my previous eating habits. I'm not comparing my results to those of others who have done this program. I just know what my goal is and I accept that it might take more than 90 days for me to achieve it.

I'm ready to do P90X a second time over, if that's what it takes for me to lose the weight.

Don't impose time limits and weight goals. If you don't achieve them, you might get demotivated. No sense in imposing exact values that will work against you if you don't achieve them. Instead, go for ranges. The flexibility let's you work as hard as possible to reach reasonable goals.

I'm at 150lbs. My ideal weight is 122lbs, based on a height of 5'3". My personal end goal is a range between 115lbs-125lbs. I would like to lose 25lbs-35lbs in the next year. I will make a realistic time projection based on my results from one round of P90X.

3. Treat yourself. I don't mean indulge in a sundae. Set up goal points and treat yourself to a healthy gift/indulgence that will help you keep moving forward.

Here's my breakdown:

-5lbs - set of weights/resistance bands

-10lbs - weighing scale

-15lbs - mini-shopping spree

-20lbs - leather jacket

-25lbs - ?

-30lbs - shopping spree

-35lbs - shopping spree

My carrot is this set of incentives, the stick is the exercise program and my reflection in the mirror. I don't know what I'll do to indulge myself at 125lbs, but it's not my end target so I'm not going for the big shopping spree then. 

I'll update with other tips and tricks as and when I discover them. This is just the beginning of what I am hoping will be a very fruitful 90 days. Stick with me!

Downsizing Day 1 ... my waist size, that is.

I've got weight issues. That is, I weigh too much. I don't speak from a fashion and beauty point of view (though the boost of confidence I would get from a slimmer waist-line would be incredible). Rather, I'm coming at this from a health concern point of view. Genetically speaking I'm already at risk for developing diabetes, heart diseases and some other health problems. The environment has only added to the potential health risks in my future. As a doctor-to-be I want to be the fittest I possibly can, in order to avoid and escape as many health problems as possible. Diet and exercise truly are the key towards a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Trust me, I've researched every plausible alternative so that I can feel less guilty about a slice of cake or a day of bumming on the couch. Sadly, there isn't one.

So I started with diet. It's not that hard or bad to switch to healthy; there are actually a lot of tasty alternatives out there. I'll blog more about that later.

For me, the hardest thing was getting my butt moving and sticking to a real exercise regime. The evening walks and half-arsed yoga/basic work outs weren't doing anything for me. One late night of infomercials later, I was sold on an exercise regime known as P90X. I won't bore you with the details of the program. If you're interested, you can go out and read about it yourself. Instead, I'll be blogging about my 90 days, the struggles and strategies involved and the results I get.

Going from couch potato straight into P90X is a bit like jumping from fridge straight into the fire, completely bypassing the frying pan. It's an intense workout, as Day 1 proved to me. The P90X program starts with Chest and Back and Ab Ripper X. I haven't bothered to invest in weights, bands, etc. but today I didn't need them. Going through the motions for the various exercises was more than enough for my muscles. I'm embarrassed by how little I was able to do today. The really great thing about the P90X videos is that it let's you go at your own pace but also keeps encouraging you to push harder. Since each section repeats through the videos cycle, you have many opportunities to improve.

I didn't give my 100% today but I still felt the burn. Sadly, I felt the burn 5 minutes into the 1 hour 15 minute routine. It was a wake up call regarding just how badly out of shape I am. So, even though my arms and legs feel like overcooked noodles and I'm going to have very sore ab muscles tomorrow, I'm motivated to keep at it. Tomorrow is pylometrics. I have no clue what to look forward to. I believe a lot of jumping is involved. Thankfully, my downstairs neighbors don't hear anything.

Keep up with me as I go through the next 90 days of tough exercise and towards my weight-loss goals.

So about those calories...

So far, this has been an "epic fail" of a trial. It's mostly my fault. I'm sure you can say I'm finding excuses, especially since others down here find the time to jog daily or hit the gym pretty regularly. But here's the thing, when I do a breakdown of my 24hrs, I don't see time for the exercise.

9am - 6pm = School .. that's 9/24

1hr to eat/make 3 meals ... 1/24

1.5hrs shower/prep/primp 1.5/24

6hrs study (minimum!) ... 6/24

5hrs sleep (for basic fnctn) 5/24

= 22.5/24

That leaves me with 1.5hrs to relax, catch up on emails, do my chores...

Regarding the food... Like I said, I'll make an effort. But the whole food journal concept went out the window pretty much the second day, since I need the calories to keep me going through the heat (feels like 100s everyday).

It's not impossible to lose weight or lead a very healthy lifestyle on the island; I know many people who have/do. But it just doesn't make my priority cut right now. I need to study, for which even 6hrs is too little. And I need my sanity, for which 5hrs of sleep is absolutely necessary. Right now, I'd rather do what it takes to get me the grades and get me through the next 87days left on the island.

Weight Loss attempt - Take 2

So the last attempt at having a workout routine failed rather miserably. No shock there; I wasn't totally committed and was trying to introduce a new activity to the schedule during exam week.

This last visit back home was a wake up call. My weight went up by 3lbs, the first in 2+ years. 3 pounds sounds insignificant, but for me, it was the tipping point. I'm at a place where I am not happy with my body weight, size and shape. All of that must change. But how!? I've gotten all sorts of advice: cut the carbs, exercise more, go on a low cal diet, etc. The truth of it is, no one fad diet or out-of-the-ordinary effort is going to work (not in the long term, healthy way). In order to lose weight and keep it off, I'll have to incorporate bits and pieces from all sources.

As I'm doing research, it turns out that I almost never hit my target caloric intake. I'm usually either grossly below the mark, or above it (typically when I'm home for break). I'm not much into the whole low carb/high protein deal. I'd much rather eat my aloo paratha (which, incidentally, is only 290 cal) and work with the number of calories I'm taking in versus expending. The basic deal is, you should burn more than you consume in order to lose weight. If you consistently consume more than you use, you will end up gaining about 1lb/2weeks.

Honestly, so far, it's been quiet mind-boggling. I definitely can't figure it out for myself, so I'll be taking help from a friend who used to be a physical trainer. The goal here is to lose 20lb in the next 7 months. I'm hoping to greet 2011 with a leaner body, healthier lifestyle and still satisfied stomach (yes, I know the actual satisfaction is actually, only felt in the brain...).

First step in all of this is more research. I need to figure out where I can cut back and where I can add on, what foods are good for me and how many calories are in the 50+ pounds of frozen food I brought from home for this semester. Being Indian, it has been frustrating to figure out how many calories my daal-chawal, bhindi and chicken jalfrezi have. Recently, however, there's been an increased awareness from the public sector and people are finally doing the math and posting it online. Additionally, companies are becoming more health savvy and putting nutritional information on the maggis and frutis out there (doesn't stop me from eating that stuff!).

Second step is to adjust my eating habits as best I can (I'm eating Special K cereal with 1% milk - ew! - as I type this up). I'll also be keeping a food journal to keep track of my daily caloric intake - this will help in the adjustment part of things.

Lastly, I'll be adding more exercise and calorie-consuming activities to my routine. Did you know, you burn 11.4cals for every 4mts of brushing your teeth? Somebody's about to have really white teeth in 7 months ;) I'll also be cleaning my house more often, ironing more clothes and washing dishes for free for the entire neighborhood (just kidding!). It's amazing that the simplest things can burn a significant number of calories. Of course, those are just regular activities. I'll also be including about 1 hour of exercise into my routine. Yoga, Tae Kwon Do and jump roping for 20mts each burns about 430 calories. Add to that 45mts of (hard-core) dancing and you total a burn of 688 calories. Oh and I'll have to adjust the crunches and leg raises into that as well...I don't suppose they count as yoga? I'm suddenly starting to get concerned about the time limitations imposed by the little factor of attending medical school while I try to get my weight/size/shape under control. 24 hours just aren't enough!

The math is a little hard to work out since regular activities like putting on your clothes and shoes are part of the equation; the real trick is in figuring out how much goes towards keeping my body functioning throughout the day and how much "leftover" goes towards weight loss. I'm anticipating a second journal will be involved - hurray for Excel!

If I haven't confused you, you are amazing! For the moment, my cereal is finished, as is my brain's capacity to comprehend much more of this calorie in versus calorie out game. At 10-something, I'll call it an early night and get cracking on a fresh schedule on a fresh day =)

Losing inches and toning up .. at least that's the plan

So I'm decidedly on the overweight side of the scale. Not obese, not even in the danger zone on the BMI. But I'm not at my ideal weight. Or my preferred size (smaller! haha). I'm a bit of a sizist, and find it a bit hypocritical since I'm not where I should and want to be. Partially it's a visual apeal thing. I'm not into size 0, so skinny you can count my ribs. Think Madhuri a la Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and you've got what I consider to be the ideal body - for the most part. Partially it's a health thing. Genetically, I'm at risk for Diabetes and Heart Disease. Both of these can be avoided for a greater length of time (if not indefinitely) through control of diet and excercise. Having a healthier body, where the fat content is less and diet is balanced, will only help me in the long run. Not to mention, as a future doctor I think it's only right to lead by example.

So diet and excercise. And when I say 'diet' I'm not referring to some fad where you avoid x, eat only y, or drink z 3 times a day. I mean a healthy proportion of the entire food pyramid, with a target number of calories consumed daily (target calorie intake reflects amount of excercise achieved daily as well). But I'm a total foodie. And I live on a tropical, where it is astonishingly difficult and expensive to get fresh fruits and vegetables. And I'm a total foodie =D I try to remind myself moderation is key, but I typically don't say no to a food either (unless it's bittergourd or eggplant/brinjal. blech!). I do try to limit the sweets and carbs, but most of meals involve either rice, bread or pasta. While I'm on the island and going through med school, I'm not going to concern myself too much over this angle. Much of it is out of my control. I'm sure the caffeine diet I'm about to endure through clinicals and residency will balance out the carb-intake from these past 2 years.

Excerise is not my friend. Rather, I find it boring. For most people it's the waist-line that motivates them to excercise. And yes, my waistline does concern me. But what really motivated me to resume some form of an excercise regime was the state of my calves. For as long as I can remember they've been firm, well shaped, and well muscled. The toning is most likely thanks to 4+ years of Tae Kwon Do. But that's talk of 5 years ago (oh gosh!). Any excercise, even just walking from class has minimized since the bus comes right to the apartment complex and all my classes are held in one room. Disuse has lead to less firm calves, and I'm determined to get them back!

So, this shall be a log/journal of sorts. I'll periodically update with any progress made. I'm not a stickler for weight or dress sizes. Weight reflects muscle mass as well, and the idea is to replace the fat with muscle. Dress sizes are a gimmick. I'm most concerned about bringing out the potential body that's hiding within me. Wish me luck! ;)

My routine includes 50 sit-ups and 50 leg-raises in the morning, and stretching and 20 low, middle, high front kicks each in the evening. I started 5 days back. On the second and 3rd days I felt that burn, the one that lets you know you're working muscles that forgot they existed. Sadly on the third day in itself I started slacking off. I've kept up the morning routine, but by the end of the I either get lazy or too tired, too full (it's never a good idea to excercise right after eating) to fit in the evening routine. To make excuses for myself, it is finals week and that is definitely priority. My eating and sleeping habits are off kilter (note, it's 4am right now!) and that doesn't lend to a proper excercise schedule. Call it all growing pains - I'll adjust my life to ensure including my evening routine as well. Having missed it 2/4 days, I'll make a concentrated effort not to ignore the kicks today. I have a feeling I have a few more sore days left in me.

I'll up the number of sit-ups, leg-raises and kicks as I adjust to the soreness and develop a tolerance for that level. I'll also vary the kicks once I'm back in form with the front kicks. Additionally I want to incorporate a bit of yoga into my routines. I won't get into how it really is very beneficial for your body. Suffice to say, I've seen it works and really want/need to make it a more regular part of my life. Everytime I stop I notice a regression to pre-yoga body. Pity there's no permanent 'fix'; maintaining a healthy, toned body takes work. I want to work in a Surya Namaskar - the full body stretch you get from that is incredible! Plus a couple positions/postures my dad taught me; the ones I want to incorporate all target either weight reduction/control or keeping diabetes at bay. Oh and eventually I want to add push-ups. I've never been any good at them, but they really are very good for building up arm muscles. But that's for a really later date, haha.

Anyway, enough of that. The point of making this a public log is so that there's a record of my making this committment. Hopefully that will encourage me to stick to it this time around. And maybe, if people do read this, it might encourage someone else (even just one person) to take up a healthier lifestyle =)

Ciao!