watch mo run
Showing posts with label watch mo run. Show all posts
Showing posts with label watch mo run. Show all posts

New Year, New Fitness Goals

Did 2013 go by fast or what? So much happened to me both personally and professionally in 2013 that I can't wait to see what happens in 2014.

While some people believe that new year resolutions are a waste of time, I believe differently. I love the idea of setting new goals at the start of a new year and working towards them. It's like, you finally get to try-try again in a brand new year - the slate is wiped clean and you& nbsp;. Personally I find it super motivating and thought I would share a few of mine with you as it relates to my health....


1. EXERCISE! I feel like I started the year off strong with this and then completely slacked the closer it got to my wedding. Before I knew it, the summer was over and my weight loss was shot. This year, I want to be more dedicated to exercising more frequently.

2. EAT BETTER. I've always opted for more healthy foods, but towards the end of the year, I began to stray from that path. I took a health scare to remind me that food is not pacifier, but rather fuel for our bodies...but it's still ok to indulge from time to time.

3. TAKE BETTER CARE OF MY HEALTH. See the previous post.

4. REST MORE. 2013 was non-stop for me but rightfully so. I mean, I did get engaged, plan a wedding, watched both my brothers graduate and I get married (all in the same weekend!), add extra duties at work and start some new hobbies all within a 6 month window at times. I think I have earned my rest.

5. RUN WITH BLACK GIRLS! RUN MORE. I didn't get a chance to spend as much time with BGR as I wanted but I plan to start the new year off right but doing more Saturday sessions with them. I don't know about those 5am runs but I got you for 7am on Saturdays :).

6. INVEST IN MORE WORKOUT GEAR. Call me vain but when I'm wearing a cute and comfort workout outfit, I feel more inclined to workout. Plus I need to start buying wicking socks, compression tights (or socks) and tutus for races.

Do you set new year resolutions? What are some that you are setting for yourself?
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Watch Mo...Power walk?

So I haven't necessarily been pounding the pavement in a running sense but I have power walking like a mad woman these days. Per my doctor's advice, I have pulled back on my running a bit and opted for a more gentle-on-the-knees cardio in power walking.

I will be the first to admit that I need to lose a couple more pounds before I start running again but
SOURCE
I'm getting there. Power walking, and walking in general, is just as effective of running. Not only is to gentlier on your joints and bones but therapeutic. I use that time to focus on my breathing and form while still getting a workout in.

If you're a mom like me and you have the kiddies with you, don't fret; power walking is still a get choice. You can push the stroller without fear of stumbling and get your workout on. Thinking of going to park with the kiddies? Let them play on the playground as you walk laps around it.< br />
I've never been a runner who focused solely on pace or speed; I'm a runner who focuses on being healthy all-around.
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Busting excuses to avoid exercise, no matter your size (Repost)

I love this article I saw on Sparkpeople.com

By Beth Donovan aka ~Indygirl

I used to think I had to have a goal of running a 5K or working out for at least a half hour a day to get any benefits from exercise. I was dead wrong. Every little bit of moving we do adds up and studies have shown that even daily broken up exercise routines work to reduce health concerns. SparkGuy himself sets a modest goal of 10 minutes a day, which he usually surpasses. I followed his lead and although at first I wasn’t able to do a full 10 minutes, I broke it up into a few minutes a few times a day. Something happens after 10 minutes though, and I find myself reaching for that 11th minute, the 12th minute and more.

If you haven’t moved in awhile, start slowly and ask your doctor what exercises might be right for you, especially if you have chronic pain or a disability. I started my exercise routine with sessions of in-home physical therapy because I was bedridden at the time. Wherever you are at with your fitness level, accept it and find the best workout for YOU, not for your friend or favorite celebrity. Just moving at all for some people is a workout, while others might need more vigorous training. You need to find your personal fitness level and build on it. When looking for a workout routine, remember it needs to be something you will enjoy. Try different things until you find what suits your tastes. Here's what works for me:

  1. Set modest goals. Don’t burn yourself out before you even get started. If you haven’t worked out in a year, starting with an hourlong walk a day might not be practical and might burn you out or leave you injured. You might start with a 10-minute walk for a week, then go to 15 minutes the next week depending on your fitness level. My goals usually change each month. I’m very slow to progress, but I do progress. If I progress too quickly, I suffer from too much pain and start to dread working out. When that happens, I slowly find reasons not to exercise. The trick is to not let that happen in the first place. To avoid the problem, I make my goals as easy to reach as possible. I want to succeed, so I make them attainable. Making them impossible or too challenging would serve no purpose for me.
  2. Music can be extremely motivating. My playlist is something I try not to listen to unless I’m working out. Why? It’s my reward for working out. I get to hear music I like when I exercise and I make sure the music is downright addictive to me so that I want to hear the next song. That way I will keep working out so I can listen to the music.

    I get motivated to go to the gym by people I meet there. I’m very social most of the time. If you are like me, a gym might be a great place to make friends by taking a class or showing up at the same time each day/night. If you like exercising at home or alone, having an accountability buddy might work. My friend Tina and I call each other and brag on our exercise or good choices throughout the day. It keeps me motivated and wanting to make more good choices.
  3. Workout clothing makes me feel motivated, too. I never thought I would say that, as I always considered myself inactive. When I dress in workout clothes, they make me feel like moving. The problem with being large is that finding cute workout clothes isn’t easy. Lately I’ve had a lot of fun shopping at Goodwill for my workout clothes, something I was never able to do before. (For more tips on workout clothes, equipment and more, check out: Solutions to the Challenges of Living Large or Less Mobile)
  4. If you just aren’t the indoor exercise type, take it outside. Enjoy the scenery, no matter what season; there is something to do, even if it is just to march in place or shovel snow. Walk to the mailbox to get your mail if that’s all you can do or make a few trips up and down the driveway. Look into dog-walking programs at the local pound if you enjoy animals. Some nursing homes have buddy programs, too, or you might be able to befriend a senior and exercise at a slower pace together.
  5. Make a dream list of activities you would like to do in your “fit life.” Using that dream list to motivate yourself to train for those activities might be another way to get excited about exercise. Personally, I would like to walk through a water park again and swim in the wave pool. I would also like to walk through Disney World and Epcot Center again and along the beach in Florida with my husband. To do this, I am strengthening my legs as much as I can via use of my walker and cane. I also do cardio on my arm bike, pushing the resistance as far as I can to get resistance training at the same time.
These are the ways that I stay on track when exercise seems tedious or too difficult. I hope these tips help you as well. Remember that before you start or change an exercise plan, you should discuss it with your doctor.
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Changing Directions

Before 2013 ended, I took a moment to pause and reflect on this blog. When I started it almost 4 years ago (!), it wasn't to make money; I had a story that I wanted to share with others like me. I remember what it was like contemplating cutting all of my hair off and not knowing where to go or where to start. I remember thinking that the internet was a hodgepodge of irrelevant information that I was not up to digging through. I remember not really being able to find a site to help me out the way I wanted.

When I finally decided to go natural, I vowed to help others who may have encountered the same thing. I would like to think I've been successful doing that so far, but there is always room for improvement. Anyway, I was talking to my husband about random stuff (as I always do) and I told him about an idea I had been toying with in regards to changing the direction of this blog.

I am in my no way going to stop talking about natural hair here but I do want to continue with the theme of 'sharing' and so I am happy to tell you guys that you will now begin to see some health/fitness related posts.

I'm not sure if you know but I  have another blog called "Watch Mo Run" where I write about my  personal fitness journey. I've decided to combine these two to share information about other things I'm doing but to also show you that your health has a direct impact on your hair.

Over the next few weeks I will begin transitioning some of those posts over here. I'm really excited about this "merging of the minds" so be patient with me and enjoy!
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