Fitting Exercise into Your Life

Being physically active has so many health benefits. So if you are thinking you can’t possible fit 30 minutes or more of exercise into your daily routine, these tips from Johns Hopkins can help.

If finding enough time to exercise seems too much to contemplate, remember that any exercise is better than no exercise and small steps are the key to eventually making larger changes in your habits. What this means is that you shouldn’t forgo exercise altogether just because you can’t find the time or energy to exercise for 60 minutes a day — even 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week offers significant health benefits. Here are some strategies you can try to increase your amount of physical activity:

Exercise tip 1 Replace sedentary activities with more active ones. For example, instead of watching television while sitting on the couch, take a walk while listening to a book on tape or talking on your cell phone. Or at least try doing some calisthenics while watching your favorite show.

Exercise tip 2 Look for stolen moments throughout your day to add activity. Climb the stairs instead of taking the escalator, walk instead of taking your car or public transportation, do a lap around the mall before you start shopping, and return your cart all the way back to the supermarket instead of leaving it in the nearby cart bay.

Exercise tip 3 Buy a pedometer. This step counter will help you assess how many steps you’re taking per day. We and other experts recommend 10,000 steps a day (equivalent to about 5 miles), although most people walk much less than that. Start off by tracking the number of steps you take on a typical day. Then, try to increase your step count by 500–1,000 steps every 2–3 weeks. Keep a record of your step counts and reward yourself (not with food, of course) when you reach your goal.

Exercise tip 4 Consider activities such as tennis, golfing, fishing, and dancing. These activities can be enjoyed well into later life and add a social element to exercise.

Exercise tip 5 Plan for exercise every day. Mark out 30 minutes or more a day for physical activity and stick to it as if it’s an important meeting or appointment. Individuals who become habitual exercisers are those who make physical activity a priority.

Calories Burned During Moderate vs. Vigorous Activities

Calories Burned Per Hour for a 154-lb Person

Hiking 370
Light gardening/yard work 330
Dancing 330
Golf (walking and carrying clubs) 330
Bicycling (less than 10 mph) 290
Walking (3.5 mph) 280
Weight lifting (general light workout) 220
Stretching 180
Running/jogging (5 mph) 590
Bicycling (more than 10 mph) 590
Swimming (slow freestyle laps) 510
Aerobics Walking (4.5 mph) 460
Heavy yard work (chopping wood) 440
Weight lifting (vigorous effort) 440
Basketball (vigorous) 440

*People who weigh more than 154 lbs. will burn more calories per hour and people who weigh less than 154 lbs. will burn fewer calories per hour when engaged in the activities listed here. Source: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005.

Posted in Nutrition and Weight Control on July 9, 2008

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The Ultimate Weight Loss Plan: Journaling and Assessment
The Scale versus the Tape!

If you began with us right away on the first day of our Ultimate Weight Loss 30 Day Challenge, you are walking or engaged in some other form of aerobic activity (e.g., running, biking, rowing), you also know about diminished returns in aerobic exercise and making the most of the first 30 minutes, 10 in warm up and 20 at your target heart rate, in your aerobic exercise routine; and, you have cleaned out your refrigerator and your pantry.

Now that we are through the first 3 days, we need to take the next step in a successful weight loss program, and that’s the physical assessment.

The physical assessment needs to be both visual and and written. Significantly, many people who begin to lose weight hop on the scale daily. Weighing yourself every day is the kiss of death for a successful weight loss program!

I know what you do, I did the same thing for years! You weigh yourself naked the first thing in the morning, you may even wait until after weighing in before drinking or eating anything. And, to top it off you may even make a short “pit stop” to the “potty” before the ultimate moment! Some people even exhale! Yup!

Does that about paint the picture? Of course it does! I’ve been there, we’ve all been there. The thing is? It’s about the absolute worst thing you can do.

Follow the steps in the video below. Get a journal and write down everything, your measurements, your observations, your pants and belt size, etc. I use a spreadsheet so I can lay everything out in front of me and watch the progress. Whatever works for you is fine, but like the commercial says, just do it!

John

John Zajaros, Coach Z
216-712-6526
866-835-2913 (toll free)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimateweightlossplan.com

PS, Make sure you sign in for the newsletter and the drawing! You will also get a 65 page ebook complete with everything you need to have to supplement what you learn here…as far as diet and training tips go. And, it’s awesome and totally FREE!

When it Comes To Effective Weight Loss – More is Not Better in Every Instance!

The fact of the matter is when it comes to weight loss, in some cases more is great and in other cases more isn’t better, and in still other instances more will hurt your weight loss efforts. Today we are going to deal with one aspect of more is not necessarily better, particularly when it comes to aerobic fitness and permanent weight loss!

Aerobics is undeniably one of the most effective methods for losing weight in a fast and effective manner. Aerobics used to be thought of as jumping around in a studio to snappy music or running for hours on end! You either joined a program and jumped around for 30 to 60 minutes a night, a few nights a week, usually in high-impact ecstasy, or you laced up the New Balance or Nike running shoes and headed out the front door and into the great unknown, usually to huff and puff your way around the block and limp back home…at least at first!

The reality of aerobic fitness, particularly as it relates to weight loss is very different from the truly American mindset that usually goes like this:

“If 30 minutes is great, 60 minutes is fantastic, and 90 minutes will be amazing!”

NOT!

The mindset of “more is better” permeates much of Western thought and our bodies simply reject it. In fact, if we use this weight loss strategy, our bodies will rebel, usually by way of muscle strain, stress fractures, and overtraining syndrome….complete with fatigue, malaise, and the runs (and I don’t mean up a hill!).

Interestingly, it has been demonstrated time and time again that less is actually a more efficient strategy when it comes to aerobic fitness and weight loss. The reasons are myriad but the one we are interested in here has to do with our body’s way of handling any sort of aerobic exercise.

Let’s say you are about to begin your weight loss program and you do not want to adjust your diet, you like to eat and that’s all their is to it…so you figure you’ll jump on the treadmill or the recumbent bike for a few more minutes or you’ll walk or run for an extra 30 minutes.

WRONG!

Here is how your body works:

1) The first 10 minutes or so gets your body warmed up and your heart rate into the target range (we will get into that in a subsequent article).
2) The next 20 minutes are of maximum benefit, in terms of aerobic benefit and for fat burning purposes.
3) The next 20 minutes and every 20 minutes thereafter there is what is called “diminished returns.”
4) Warm down, light stretching and so on.

That’s it! Simple as that. Pick your poison, so to speak!

Here’s why:

1) The first 10 minutes is simply a warm up and the whole purpose is to get your body warmed up and your heart rate into the target zone. The warm up will get blood and oxygen to the muscles so you can exercise efficiently and effectively without injuring yourself.

2) The next 20 minutes is the period when your body achieves maximum benefit; and, this is true regardless of the exercise you are doing. It varies a tiny bit depending on your fitness level but the first 30 minutes, including the warm up, is when most of the weight loss and aerobic benefit is achieved.

3) Every 20 minutes after the first 30 minutes, again including the 10 minute warm up, will yield less of an effect. This is called the point of diminished returns. In reality, every 20 minutes you continue exercising aerobically results in less gain until you would actually begin to go into debt, meaning your body would begin to pay for your efforts by literally tearing itself down to continue to fuel your effort. This is similar to what happens with marathoners once they hit “the wall” at approximately 20 miles in a race. Of course, the reasons are more complex but diminished returns is part of it…that and the body simply runs out of fuel.

4) Always make sure you stretch and warm down. Don’t simply stop, pack up, and leave the gym or run into the house…take the time to stretch and allow your muscles to cool down. This is for a number of reasons, including the more your stretch, the better you will feel the next day, less soreness too!

Ultimately, walking is the best overall aerobic exercise for a number of reasons. Walking is low impact, it can be done almost anywhere and by anyone, and it is the least expensive form of fitness. All you need to begin walking for weight loss and aerobic fitness are the clothes on your back and a decent pair of shoes.

When it comes to the latter, I cannot stress shoes enough! Shoes are crucial. We will deal with equipment in an upcoming post but if you have started your 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge, make sure you are wearing the proper shoes or you can derail the entire program. I suggest New Balance (there are several and 1906 are best) or Skechers Shape-ups. If you are planning on jogging at some point or exercising in the gym, the New Balance are a better buy, simply because they are more of an all-around shoe.

So remember, more is not better, less is! Think about the diminishes returns when walking, running, rowing, biking or whatever. Does that mean you won’t benefit from a 60 minute walk?

NO!

But remember, the first 30 minutes are optimal and, with each subsequent 20 minute interval, there is less benefit. 20 minutes, including warm up, 3-4 times a week will be more than enough to start. If you are really gung-ho, go 5 or 6 days a week. But take a day off, allow your body to rebuild, and be consistent.

Good luck with your weight loss goals and tomorrow we will discuss the personal assessment and journaling, also key to your weight loss and aerobic fitness success. Remember, we are working on a lifestyle change and it takes all the components working together over a period of days, weeks, months, and even years to create a new you. But if you stay with it, the results will be amazing!

John

John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., “Coach Z”
216-712-6526
Skype; johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimateweightlossplan.com

PS, DON’T FORGET THE FREE EBOOK ON NUTRITION AND TRAINING! JUST SUBSCRIBE BY FILLING IN THE BOX IN THE RIGHT CORNER AND YOU WILL GET IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO SOME GREAT TIPS AND WONDERFUL OVERALL RESOURCE!

I have been helping people lose weight for years and there is one universal truth, no two people are alike when it comes to weight loss.

What works for one person may not work as well for the next individual trying to lose weight. However, when people talk about weight loss, they usually get very simplistic and say things like “eat less and exercise more!” Many reply, “If only it were that simple!”

Well, it is…and it isn’t!

The fact is, weight loss can be incredibly easy or incredibly difficult, depending on a number of factors, and we will cover most of them in depth over the next 30 days.

By now, if you started on day one, you have started to walk, you may have even thought about buying a dog…if you don’t have one already! No
kidding, a dog is an excellect accountability partner, and you need one. I will get into accountability tomorrow but for today I want to talk about the eating part of weight loss. And no, I am not talking about a diet! I am talking about a shift in thinking, a new way of conducting your life…so you don’t have to diet, just change how you do things.

For today, all I want you to do is to go through your cupboards and get rid of all of the junk food, all of it! Get rid of the chips, the pretzels, the cookies, the ice cream, the sugar-ladened cereals, the pop (soda-even the diet soda), Kool-aid, the high fructose and sucrose juices, particularly the ones with 0-10% juice, the booze (all of it), and everything else in it you can find that is even remotely close to being in the junk food category.

Yes, I know that may mean you are throwing away money. Would you rather have it around your waist? Because that’s where it is going if you don’t get rid of it.

Once you have gotten rid of the junk, resolve to never allow it back in your house again. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with an occasional treat, in fact I recommend it. but if you bring anything like that into the house, make sure vit is on a limited basis and is usually done as some kind of reward for a goal accomplished or a level of fitness achieved. If you use treats in that way, they are fine and may even help to keep you on track, you won’t be quite so apt to run out and binge if every once in a while you reward yourself for reaching a milestone of some sort.

Once you’ve gotten rid of the junk, go shopping!

This time make a list of the fruits and vegetables that are on sale and that are your favorites. Go to your favorite grocery for fruits and vegetables, there is always one known for their quality and selection…go there and go wild!

Stock up on the fruit and vegetables you enjoy and begin to train yourself to snack on a piece of fruit or a ready cut and cleaned veggie you have
already for you in the fridge. Anything you do to make things easier, particularly during the first days and weeks of a weight loss program, will help you stay on track. Oranges, grapes, and melon are great for the sweet tooth. Some kinds of melons actually take more calories to digest than are in them, this is also true of certain vegetables. But for now, simply get the ones you enjoy and we will play with the choices during the upcoming 30 days of your weight loss challenge.

That’s it for Day 2!

Clean out the cupboards, and the refrigerator, and restock with the kinds of fruits and vegetables you enjoy. As you begin to walk and change your eating, you will be amazed at how soon, and how fast, the weight loss commences.

John Zajaros, “Coach Z”
216-712-6526
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimateweightlossplan.com

PS, By now you should have subscribed to my newsletter, the next edition will be out in the next 10 days or so. You will also receive an amazing resource immediately upon confirming your subscription, a resource for getting the ultimate results from diet and training by one of the foremost experts in the field.

The 30 Day Walk Away from Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Also Helped Me Lose Almost All of My Excess Weight!

Let me tell you how I was able to accomplish a profound weight loss, an amazing weight loss…what I refer to as the “ultimate” weight loss! I have been able to experience a serious drop in weight and, more importantly, a drop in inches in a very short period of time!

First, let me provide a little background.

I have trained top-caliber amateur and professional athletes for almost 30 years. Along the way I have also had the good fortune to help many “regular folks,” some of my favorite people because they are doing it because they want to and not for the recognition that comes with top-level competition…they were just doing it to better themselves. My “favorites” would go through their entire day (or start out their day early in the morning) by dragging themselves into the gym and then working out in order to achieve their personal goal or goals.

Most of my weight loss clients were interested in:

1) Getting into better shape

2) Losing a few pounds

3) Increasing their energy level

4) Improving their standard of living (their overall well-being or “wellness”)

I always admired them for their determination and their commitment. In spite of everything else going on in their lives, they made it to the gym anywhere from 3 to 7 times a week, week in and week out, sometimes for years. Not only did they transform their outward appearance, many transformed their lives! It was an exciting thing to witness and be a part of.

So, when I was recovering from a catastrophic illness and several back surgeries, 14 back surgeries to be precise, I knew deep down inside that I had the knowledge to help myself. After all, I had helped thousands! So, it was simply a matter of getting up the courage to take that first step, to make the decision and then commit myself to begin working.

Once the decision was made to help myself, I knew the rest would fall into place…I just had no idea how fast it would happen, how rapid the weight loss and the transformation would be!

Over the next 30 days I am going to take you step-by-step through the entire weight loss process:

1) The template I used for measurements and other data

2) The personal assessment I employed

3) The journaling I did along the way

4) The shoes I wore (and still wear)

5) The workout clothes I wear and why

6) Even the precise workout and dieting strategies

And a whole lot more!

Over the next 30 days you are going to be introduced to a low-impact, high results way to transform your life in as little as 20 minutes, 3 times a week!

Want to do more?

What results faster without overtraining?

Stick with me and you will have a complete template to a new and amazing life…and weight loss will be the beginning!

By engaging in what I call the Ultimate Weight Loss Plan, you will discover a whole new you…in just 30 days!

Coach Z
John Zajaros
Skype: johnzajaros1
coachz@ultimateweightlossplan.com

PS, Do you want to get a jump start? This is just one component but it is a key weight loss tool and a wonderful overall fitness program. I will be referring to it a length over the next 30 days. Is it required? No! But it will be extremely useful and if you are serious about transforming your life, it is a small price to pay! BTW, it is also 100% guaranteed!