Although this is a blog about my weight loss journey i find it necessary to share with you all some things that nobody told me and that i just had to find out for myself.
Getting a gym membership is not enough, it's simply a first step. Going to the gym without having a plan or not knowing how to use the equipment has the potential to be just as useless as sitting on the couch. Before you set foot in a gym and spend 90 minutes on a treadmill take the time to do some research. I know i've mentioned bodybuilding.com before but believe me it is a great tool. They have workout regimens for both men and women with tutorials and video links attached to all exercises so that you will know proper form when it comes time to execute those exercises. And best of all it's FREE!! I also suggest lolofit . It is an app available through iTunes for both the elliptical and the treadmill. all you have to do is download it, add your music to the app and get going. It will customize a treadmill/elliptical workout for you that will be set to your music. There is a virtual trainer that encourages you throughout and provides helpful tips to improve your health. The apps are 4.99 each but well worth their weight in gold.
- Invest in a heart rate monitor. There are several on the market but any of them will do. I have the bowflex heart rate monitor that i purchased at big 5 for a whopping 29 bucks and it works just as well and has just as many features as it's more expensive counterparts from makers such as Polar. Having a heart rate monitor is important because it will provide you with your heart rate as well as how many calories you burned during your workout session. It is true that the heart rate monitors on any given machine at the gym works but the calories burned feature aren't set to match your height, weight or body fat percentage. Those machines overestimate by as much as 15%. With your own heart rate monitor you will get a more accurate reading.
- Measure, Measure, Measure!! Both your food and your body. It is soooo easy to think we are eating less than we actually are. I can pretty much guarantee that the bowl of cereal you ate this morning was at least three times the normal serving size yet you counted it as one. You can avoid this common pitfall by beginning to measure your portions. Purchase both the Cup and tsp/tbsp measuring sets so that you are always sure of what you are eating. You can get them from the 99 cents store for all of 2 dollars. and while you're there pick up a measuring tape. The scale is not your friend. (mine either) but the measuring tape will be your best ally. As your body changes the measuring tape will capture differences way before and more continuously than the scale will. You may not think you're losing any weight or making any progress if you only focus on the number on the scale. It's all about the small victories and the measuring tape will provide that for you.
- Last but not least journal, in some shape or form. Keep a diary, a blog, a spreadsheet, make tick marks on a calendar but do something so you can see your progress in black and white. As you continue on your journey, you will be inspired when you look back and see just how far you've come.
Now that i have provided you with what i feel are the most important tools of the trade i can go on with my journey. i hope in some way you find this useful. until next time . . . . . peace and love
