Finding ways to be more active

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Today has been a very active day for me! I was on my feet all day at work, walked my way to work and back (about 40 minutes) and then in the evening I went biking for 8.5 miles (it took me about 50 minutes). I feel sooo good about myself now!

I have been trying to find small and simple ways to be more active during the day. I go to work by bike or by foot, and at work I stand and move around all day. I take the stairs instead of the elevator and I deliver messages by walking to a co-workers desk instead of sending an email. Other small ways to add more activity I have recently come up with are just as simple: whenever I go to the bathroom (which is quite often because I drink a lot of water!) I do some wall push-ups or squats! I usually do about ten or fifteen at a time, and it really adds up (and takes NO TIME to do)!! I also hide my remote and if I have to change the channel I get up and walk to the TV. And speaking of watching TV, I sometimes stretch or do some simple strength training while I watch my favorite show.

It's really easy to find new ways to be active! All those little steps add up at the end of the day. In addition to these small activities, I also go for a walk/jog three times a week, a brisk walk a couple of times a week and I also go biking a couple of times a week. In the future, I would like to add more strength training but I'm happy with this routine for now.

Do you have any more suggestions for burning a little extra calories during the day? :)

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FITNESSMONSTER8 6/14/2012 2:14PM

Those are some great ideas! Report Inappropriate Comment

IUHRYTR 6/14/2012 12:42AM

Sounds like you're doing great, Annie, with all your creative ways to sneak in extra exercise. A good lesson for all of us. Keep going. -- Lou Report Inappropriate Comment

BD3269PM 6/13/2012 6:17PM

You are doing great. A nce long list of items to keep you moving Report Inappropriate Comment

CANES4EVER63 6/13/2012 5:24PM

GREAT list!! Whenever you go to the store, you could park in the far back parking spot, or when you bring groceries into the house, why try to put all the bags on one arm? Take only one or two bags at a time! Maybe whenever there is a commercial break, you can do strength training. Keep up the great work! Report Inappropriate Comment

KRISZTA11 6/13/2012 4:49PM

I can't add anything new to your list - you are doing great! Report Inappropriate Comment

Upward spiral?

Monday, June 11, 2012

This past weekend wasn't as healthy as it could have been. My boyfriend's graduation party was on Saturday and I had some cake despite the fact that I wasn't supposed to (because of the Tame your sweet tooth challenge). By the way, I have a whole blog about the challenge coming up tomorrow because I need to vent about a few things and share some insights I have come across. I didn't track my meals this weekend but I doubt I went over my calories (at least not by a lot). I weighed myself this morning and I was around 164.4 lbs so I didn't gain any weight which is good. But somehow I feel like this weekend interrupted my upward spiral and for me, it's always that much more difficult to get back to my usual routine after a weekend of not so healthy routines. After a couple of days, things will run smoothly again but it's just difficult to get started again. You know what I mean?

I tracked my meals today and ended up consuming about 1,500 calories . I also went for a walk and ate pretty healthy today. But I miss my upward spiral! All I can do is take it a step and a day at a time, keep making healthy choices and being active every day. I guess that's the only way to get my upward spiral back :)

I hope you all had a great and healthy weekend!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

IUHRYTR 6/11/2012 8:14PM

Keep focusing on the troublesome weekends so they become like other days of the week. -- Lou Report Inappropriate Comment

KRISZTA11 6/11/2012 3:15PM

An upward spiral is the most wonderful thing, takes you up and you can circle effortlessly where you want to be, like a high flying bird... You'll get back, I'm sure! Report Inappropriate Comment

SHERMOR13 6/11/2012 1:35PM

Good for you not gaining weight. I had a family destination wedding I attended last week, so I know what you mean. I was a nervous wreck about the food - ate out more than I have in a LONG while; I did track my food except for the day of the wedding - it was TOOOOO busy! But I did good, so I know how you feel. Upward & onward is the way to look at it, huh? Have a super day! Sherli Report Inappropriate Comment

Tame Your Sweet Tooth Challenge: Update, Week 2

Thursday, June 07, 2012

So far, I am doing really well with the challenge! I am now on day 12 of the challenge and this week, I have given up all sugar in my diet. Surprisingly, I haven't had any serious cravings yet! A co-worker offered me a piece of cake the other day and today I was offered some delicious chocolate pralines, but I said no thank you! AND IT WAS SO EASY, TOO!

But that being said, I don't think I could keep this up in the long run, and honestly, I wouldn't even want to. I think I would eventually end up getting really intense cravings and maybe even end up going overboard to compensate for not being able to have any sugar. I don't like going to extremes and I'm a huge believer in having everything in moderation! I am going to finish this challenge though just to see how my body will respond and to learn to cut back on sugar so it's not necessarily a daily thing and to only enjoy it in moderation. Just to put it back in its place! It's also nice to push myself a little harder and challenge myself to give up sugar for a few weeks. Getting out of your comfort zone is usually a good thing, and I'm sure I'll learn a lot by the time this challenge is over!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

IUHRYTR 6/7/2012 11:44PM

I continue to be impressed by your dedication, determination and focus and am confident you will keep seeing results. I'm eager to see your before and after pictures. They will be ! -- Lou Report Inappropriate Comment

A drive in the country (pics!)

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Tommi and I went for a drive in the country on Sunday, and I had my camera with me. I took some beautiful pictures and it was such a gorgeous summer evening that I wanted to share them with you guys! People often ask me what it's like to live in Finland and if it's cold and snowy even in the summer (NO, of course not!) so I thought why not share a few pictures to show what it looks like in the Finnish countryside. These pictures were taken (at least most of them) in a small village called Asikkala. It's about a 45-minute drive from where I live.

Enjoy!































Even though I always talk about moving abroad when I graduate, I have to say I love Finland in the summer. Everything is so green and it's warm and sunny. The sun barely goes down (today the sun set around 10:42 pm and it rises at 3:49 am tomorrow morning) and it's so magical.

Anyway! Hope you liked the pictures :) I'm off to bed now.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

IUHRYTR 6/6/2012 10:02AM

What a peaceful and relaxing drive that had to be. Makes me want to be there, too. -- Lou Report Inappropriate Comment

CATLADY52 6/5/2012 5:42PM

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely countryside. Report Inappropriate Comment

KRISZTA11 6/5/2012 4:53PM

for sharing! The most beautiful blue and green... A lovely place! Report Inappropriate Comment

DMANN104 6/5/2012 4:51PM

BEAUTIFUL! Everything is so green! Looks like some where I would like to visit some time! Report Inappropriate Comment

DZDAZR2BGR8T 6/5/2012 4:33PM

I live in the Midwest section of the United States-your scenery is every bit as beautiful as many parts of our country...that added daylight would be great for being active, but I'd definitely have to live elsewhere during the 'darkest' days.... Thanks for sharing your Sunday drive!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MAGPIE17 6/5/2012 4:24PM

Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing :) Report Inappropriate Comment

WANNABWERNER 6/5/2012 4:10PM

SO BEAUTIFUL!! Thank you for sharing made my afternoon!! Living in the desert I sure do miss the green stuff!! Report Inappropriate Comment

5K Your Way Rookie Running Program!

Monday, June 04, 2012

I joined the 5K Your Way Rookie Running program today and I also went for my first walk/run! It was so much fun and I felt comfortable with the pace I was going as well as the time/distance. During week 1, you walk for 4 minutes and then jog for 1 minute, and then repeat three more times. I am so excited to be doing this and I finally want to complete this program and be able to run my first 5K in just eight weeks from now! I'm taking it very easy and making sure I give myself enough a day off after each run, and do something else on those days instead. I'm also going to focus on stretching thoroughly after my workouts because I don't want to get shin splints this time!

Also, I am now on week 2 of the Tame Your Sweet Tooth challenge, and it's going very well so far! I haven't had any sugar in two days now and I'm not having any cravings for it either. It'll be interesting to see how my body will respond during the next couple of weeks! This week, I have to choose three sources of sugar I usually reach for when I get a craving, and then eliminate them from my diet for the next few weeks. My sugar triggers are ice cream, chocolate (and all kinds of sweets) and chocolate pudding (an odd choice, you might think, but I actually used it to satisfy my cravings for chocolate and stop eating it so much - and now it has become a problem and I eat it way too often so I need a break). I'll update you guys with more info later on!

OH AND BY THE WAY! I need to brag one last time! I lost three more pounds this week which means I'm down to 164.5 pounds!!! WOO HOO!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KRISZTA11 6/5/2012 3:25AM

I agree with you about taking it easy: there is no need to push hard, you will get stronger every week anyway, and by being patient you decrease risk of injuries. to your weight loss success! Comment edited on: 6/5/2012 3:26:00 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

IUHRYTR 6/4/2012 11:55PM

You are doing a job. Your results are impressive and inspiring. Push forward and believe you will continue making progress. -- Lou Report Inappropriate Comment

DMANN104 6/4/2012 11:03PM

All good news! Good for you! Report Inappropriate Comment

CAMAEL100 6/4/2012 5:30PM

Well done on the sugar, weight loss and the 5k rookie training. I have completed the 5k training and it is a great feeling being able to run a 5k! Keep up the good work. Report Inappropriate Comment