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Stepping Into 2019 Healthier

ByThe house that never rests | On January 17,19 | 0 Comment

I can do this!

Ok hands up who has been on a diet and given up on it? I am not happy to admit this but I have.

A few years back following my car accident I decided that it was about time I looked into trying to lose a few stone. My Aunt at the time had been a member of Slimming World and she was doing amazing so I thought why not join up and give it a try.

My journey began

I looked up to see where the local group was to me and contacted the Slimming World Consultant who welcomed me to come along. My journey then began. To cut a long story short I went on to lose 3 stone in weight. I felt amazing and also shocked that I had managed it. I felt so much healthier and happier in myself.

But sadly Christmas came along and so did the mince pies, cheese and wine. I then fastly learnt at how quickly and easily the weight goes back on at next weigh-in day. This left me feeling so ashamed with myself and embarrassed that I let this happen to the point I didn’t return back.

But since then I have been left kicking myself – if only I had continued going and just drew a line under my Christmas gain and carried on. I am sure I would have lost it all again and probably more. And I am sure I am not the only person to have a Christmas weight gain.

Back to square one

2018 see me back to square one with my weight and I haven’t liked it. I have not felt confident or happy with myself and the only one who can change that is me. So 2019 has seen me take control of my lifestyle and start the new year as I mean to go on – healthier and happier!

We are now just over two weeks into a new year. Week one saw me joining up at Slimming World again and getting used to everything again. It also saw me going through everything in our cupboards, fridge and freezer, all of which are now filled with healthier food options.

I am determined

Ian has seen my determination in my health kick that he has also said he wants to join me. Ian isn’t going to be joining Slimming World to weigh but will be eating more healthily and exercising more.

Week two see us both out walking with Coco and Hunter our two dogs. We spent most of our weekend walking, which we both enjoyed and loved being out in the fresh air, it made a lovely change. We walked along the river and round a local park, we walked to a dog agility course and done some training with our dogs.

We also walked around a lovely lake. When we got back home we realised then that we had walked a good few miles and been out a good few hours. With Coco being a Husky she helps to keep me active as she could just walk and walk.

I am focused

As I now head into week three I am finding myself meal planning more. I plan meals for the week ahead and then do a food shop online, only getting food that is needed for thoes meals. I find this helps me to stay in control of my food intake and helps me to stay on plan. I have also been drinking more water.

Making small changes every week

I have also been online and ordered myself some exercise equipment. I plan to start week 4 doing some light exercise. I suffer with Endometriosis and Fibromyalgia so I have to be careful what I do.

With these conditions I never know how I am going to wake up feeling, whether today is going to be a good day or a bad day pain wise.

Take each day as it comes

So all I can do is take each day as it comes and do what I can when I can. This is why I have opted to set up a home gym as I couldn’t gaurantee getting enough use out of a gym membership.

So here I am, 17 days into 2019 and I have already lost 10.5 lbs. I am so pleased and absolutely loving a healthier new lifestyle.

How has your 2019 been so far?

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Health and fitness

Kick Your Fitness Goals Into Gear With These Fun Ideas

ByThe house that never rests | On September 26,18 | 0 Comment

Way’s to make fitness fun

It seems everyone is trying to improve their health and fitness. As diseases and epidemics become more prevalent, people are making a better effort to be mindful of their actions and adopt healthy lifestyles. As great as it is to be healthy, when you’ve spent the majority of your life doing what you want, getting adjusted to the changes can be trying, to say the least.

From making a commitment to work out daily to transitioning to cleaner eating, many get lost along the way and give up hope altogether. If you’ve been a bit discouraged about reaching your health and fitness goals or are simply having a hard time making the transition, these tips are sure to give you the boost you need.

Use Mobile App Fitness Games

You’re already tied to your smart phone so why not use it to make health and fitness more fun? Did you know that there were multiple fitness games you can download to your smart phone? From running and jumping to push-ups and sit-ups, there are apps you can use to set goals, track, and win cool prizes if you’re a top performer.

Challenge Friends

There’s nothing like a little friendly competition to get you excited about health and fitness. If you need some inspiration, you can always take some of your friends and family members to compete with you. Set goals like steps per day, calories burned, and more and see who will reach their goals the fastest.

Take Dance Lessons

Most make the misconception that the only way to get fit is to join a gym. Though this method has been proven to be very effective for some, it is not an efficient solution for everyone. You can make getting in shape a lot more fun by taking dance lessons. All you need to figure out is what types of classes you’re interested in taking, where to buy toe socks and other gear you’ll need, and how often you’ll need to attend. You could tap, do ballet, jazz, or even hip-hop and burn a lot of calories to a beat.

Learn New Recipes

The thing with healthy eating is that most aren’t familiar with how to make healthy cuisines. They dwindle their menus down to salads and smoothies and quickly get bored. You can make healthy eating fun by learning new recipes. There are thousands of recipes online you could try that will bring new meaning to the phrase clean eating. The more you learn, the more skilled you become at making meals everyone can enjoy.

Reward Yourself

Here’s a great way to make healthy living more fun – rewards. Who doesn’t find it fun to reach goals if they’re going to get something in return? Lost those 5 lbs? Treat yourself to some frozen yogurt. Dropped a size? Go buy some new clothes to wear. The thrill you get from rewarding yourself can often make it easier to succeed.

Lighten Up

Sometimes, people take the fun out of getting healthy and fit by taking things too seriously. Learn to loosen up a bit. The very fact that you’re making an effort is worth smiling about. Set realistic goals, and enjoy your journey to reaching them. When you’re too hard on yourself it’s no longer fun and you become easily uninspired.

Don’t let unfamiliarity or lack of knowledge keep you from reaching your health and fitness goals. Though it is an adjustment, it doesn’t have to be difficult. Find ways to make being healthier fun like using mobile apps, creating a little friendly competition, joining a dance class, expanding your arsenal of recipes, and rewarding yourself for successful progress. Most importantly, remember to lighten up. As much as you want to reach your health and fitness goals, getting there is always easier with a smile.

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Get In The Know With Pilates Pal Website

ByThe house that never rests | On August 16,18 | 0 Comment

What is Pilates?

Pilates (pronounced puh-lah-teez) is a system of exercises developed by the German, Joseph Pilates during World War 1. The system was named after him but he referred to it as “Contrology.” He firmly believed that there was a definite connection between physical and mental health. The intent of these exercises was to strengthen both mind and body. If practiced consistently, Pilates will build strength, improves flexibility, and develop control and stamina. Pilates is practiced globally especially in countries in the Western Hemisphere. You can learn about the Pilates procedures and equipment used in the exercise programs at Pilatespal.com, Inc..

Principles of Pilates

Joseph Pilates never created a system of beliefs for his method, but the principles included here are evident from the pages he wrote and other documented materials. There is no set order in which the principles are presented, the list here is as follows: breath, control, concentration, center, flow and precision. These principles are the basis of many techniques of Pilates and they are normally accepted as the base of the system.

Breath

There is equal importance shared among the basic principles, but breath involves much more than respiration. In Pilates, breath is the energy of the driving force and the engine that propels the art. It can be viewed (as regarded by Joseph Pilates) as of life, of the mind, spirit and body. Breath then is observed here as the mutual thread that goes through every foundation principle; joining them together.

Breath is an important key to life. The only skeletal muscles necessary for life are the respiratory muscles, but too often breath is taken for granted. Understanding the anatomy essential to breath can assist in the optimum use of breath.

Concentration

The focus of this principle is the procedure involved in doing the exercise rather than on exercise itself. In this principle, it is important to concentrate on the body’s alignment, and keeping the correct alignment and equilibrium during the entire exercise session. It is vital that the practitioner maintains mental concentration throughout the session.

Center

In Pilates, a practitioner’s control of the body must begin somewhere: the center. Of the Pilates method, the center is the primary point. The body’s “powerhouse” are the set of muscles in the middle of the body, those surrounding the abdomen, hips, upper and lower back, inner thighs and buttocks. In addition, center is the point where if the body was suspended it would be balanced fully in all directions. Learn more about Pilates exercises here: https://www.wikihow.com/Do-Pilates

Control

“Contrology” was the preferred name given by Joseph Pilates for this principle. It focuses on muscle control. Every exercise is executed with control. Control becomes refined with practice. Refined control is related to fewer errors, greater coordination, exact alignment, greater balance and improved ability to duplicate the exercise effectively over many attempts, by the use of minimal effort and evading unnecessary muscle tensions.

Precision

Precision is the precise manner by which an action is performed. The difference between precision and other exercise routines is the way it is done. Knowing about anatomy will assist the practitioner in realizing precision.

Flow

Flow is effortless, continuous movement; a physical energy applied from the center that will direct movements of the extremities. Achieving precision will ultimately lead to flow to and from and within each exercise to build strength and grit.

Equipment used in Pilates

The exercises are done on mats placed on the floor or on exercise apparatus developed by Joseph Pilates. These workout machines use pulleys and resistance from the body weight of the participant on the equipment and progressed spring levels. The reformer is most likely the most famous resistance equipment to be found in a Pilates workroom. Read here for more on Pilates.

Pilates is appropriate for both males and females whether you are a professional athlete or you are just an ordinary person or retiree trying to get back in shape. Pilates low effect and usefulness have made it the preferred foundation exercise techniques for many individuals around the world including celebrities.

When done correctly and regularly, and with the correct instructions that will assist you in embracing the main principles, Pilates will bring a change in your life. It will also enhance your lifestyle giving you healthy appearance.