In one of the magazines laying around here, I found an article on some of the many benefits of being fit — beyond just looking good. A few fabulous things regular exercise can do for you:
- increases immunity, in recovering from colds more quickly
- increases sleep quality; fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply
- increases energy levels by about 20 percent
- decreases risk of depression by about half
- decreases risk of breast cancer by 40 percent
- decreases risk of type-2 diabetes by up to 58 percent
Those are pretty awesome benefits! I’m trying to remind myself of all these great benefits so I’ll continue my daily exercise routine long enough to make it a real habit. Last weekend’s three-mile “Walk for Life” proved to me that I actually can walk that far without any detrimental results. 
So this week, I’ve found a pleasant and hilly two-mile route around the neighborhood, and I’ve walked that yesterday and today. My plan is to walk that distance at least three times per week, and do some light weights and sit-ups and such on at least two other days each week. Eventually, I’d like to be walking 2.5 to three miles four times each week.
I don’t have any weight-loss goals, but I’ve found that I very much enjoy breathing; my asthma tends to kick my butt, especially this pollinated time of year, and cardiovascular fitness is the best thing I can do for it. A quick glance at how heart disease affects women scares me into wanting to get my heart in tip-top shape as well.
Two of my blogland/twitter friends, Carletta and Cheryl, are accountability partners with me in this work-out thing. They are using the Couch to 5K plan. I may or may not actually use the C25K app I have on my iPhone, but I know I’ll get most of the same benefits whether I’m briskly walking or actually jogging.
Want to join us in this accountability thing? Just leave a comment saying how you did this week. It’ll help me, too, knowing that even more folks are keeping up with how I did — or didn’t do! C’mon, let’s do this!
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I’ve been feeling the need to get into shape, but cannot seem to find the time ANYWHERE in my schedule! Any suggestions? How are you managing to fit exercise into your schedule?
oh I soooo need to… for fitness and weight loss and for preventing a slipped disc, the risk of which is going to increase dramatically once this baby is born (sometime in the next 2 weeks, sooner rather than later!!)
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So yes, count me in… I’ll work out exactly what, as I think it through today
As for fitting it in, it’s going to have to be with the kids, after breakfast and morning jobs, before we get into schooling for the day otherwise I can promise it won’t happen… procrastination is my middle name, often the first ;o)
Narelle recently posted..One day at a time
I’m game! I just posted that I am going to train for a marathon in January and once I posted it and have had people ask me about it, it has kept me more accountable.
I think this is a great idea!
I am SO with you!!! This is just what I’ve been looking for!
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Hi Jamie, Count me in. I’ve been procrastinating about getting my walking going again. This will help me.
Traci’s Teaching Times recently posted..Spring Breaking It!
Count me in. I really want to get (keep) my kids active and teach them at a young age that exercise is important. I want them to see mommy doing it. I want them to grow up with it as a lifestyle and not something that has to just be squeezed in. Having said all that I don’t totally have “how” figured out yet. But, I want to shoot for 20 minutes most days of continuous activity…either chasing in the backyard, the whole family taking a walk or jog, dancing. I have to get creative here and I would like to post and tell everyone what I come up with from week to week and then get more ideas too. Great idea! Especially because being healthier means we are better able to do what God is calling us to do!
Tina Savasuk recently posted..Multitudes on Mondays 151-175
Twitter: jen4ever4always
says:
This is a great idea. It’s so hard to find time, but it’s oh so important! I sleep better when I exercise and my stress level is so much more manageable. I have had good luck fitting in exercise early in the morning using the streaming feature on Netflix. I do find that blogging about things helps to keep me accountable!
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