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Having Fun with Zumba!

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You know, after trying to lose weight for eons already, I have already realized that the best fat burners is simply good old healthy diet and exercise. Life could really hold one back though. Sometimes things get too busy and I always find the excuse I am too busy to exercise. Which led me to a solution that I should make exercise fun and something to look forward to.

And so I bought a Nintendo Wii which had been great and enjoyable but now I’m looking for something more intensive. I tried out Hip Hop Abs and its wonderful. I guess I found dancing to be a really good workout. Now I’m trying out Zumba for a little bit more flavor. And I’m absolutely crazy about it. Not only do I get a good body workout, I’m also learning how to dance, which means I won’t be bumbling like a baboon the next time I attend a dance party.

I love the energetic, sexy beat of Latin music and this is the core of Zumba. Right now I’m doing the basics and the 20 minute workout on DVD and I think I’m moving on to something more intensive in a month. Also, I’m really tempted to order the Wii game version of this. Lol!

Here’s a video of the basic steps. It’s so upbeat and broken down into easy steps to follow so even if you have two left feet, I’m sure you’d be grooving in no time..

Discovering Healthy Living..

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It’s a known thing. I’m trying to lose weight for the nth time. I’ve done all sorts of things to achieve this goal. And it skipped my mind, in my frantic attempts to lose weight quickly, that the real secret to my quest to a healthier weight it is to live healthy.

Though I didn’t really go to extreme lengths like take slimming pills, so I was spared the side effects of extenze, still I went on mad diets, crazy exercise schemes etc. Sure I lost a bit of weight every time I go into these things but I usually gain it back in no time.

It’s only just recently that it seriously hit me what living healthy means. It’s definition may differ for each person but we’d pretty much agree on the fact the healthy living includes eating a healthy well balanced diet and having some form of exercise on a daily basis.

I also realized that trying to live healthy is a slow process. One that cannot be hurried up overnight. Perhaps it might work for some people to change overnight, but definitely not for me. So, I’m taking gradual but definite steps towards a healthier lifestyle.

I’ve been changing my goals from just losing weight to living healthy. Unconsciously, going for this new goal has the positive side effect – I’m starting to lose weight! I’ll be talking about this more soon..But for now, it’s what I wanna share. Having healthy eating and lifestyle habits does have its just rewards.

Easy Dumbbell Exercises For Women

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I mentioned in my previous post – Calorie Burning Activities, that I’ve taken up light strength exercises. I’ve been using a dumbbell and I did a bit of ‘looking out’ for basic dumbbell routines that I could start with.

Having toned and strong muscles is one way of upping my metabolic rate. I don’t aim to have bulging muscles the way a body builder would look like, I simply want to have toned muscles particularly in my arm area which I think is approaching jiggly gross standards. I want to be in my right weight for my height and I wanna accomplish that without fancy weight loss products but the good old fashioned way, meaning – I wanna sweat it out!

The Side Shoulder Raise – for outer portion of the shoulders (2-3 sets)

Front Shoulder Raise – for front portion of shoulders (2-3 sets)

Upright Row – for shoulders, upper back and the neck

Bicep Curls (Standing) – for front of arm (2-3 sets)

Bicep Curls (Sitting) – for front of arm (2-3 sets)

Tricep Curls – for triceps (2-3 sets)

Tricep Kickbacks (2-3 sets)

Alternate Dumbbell Press (2-3 sets)

Dumbbell Squats (2-3 sets)

Reverse Dumbbell Lunge (2-3 sets)

Chest Dumbbell Press (2-3 sets)

Calorie Burning Activities!

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I’ve just weighed myself and horrors! I’ve been stepping up my exercise routine and eating less fatty stuff but not much improvement..**Sigh** It has been a hard thing for the past three years for me to lose weight. Mostly my fault, coz I’m not consistent and I tend to fall into those quick weight loss fads which is not really effective for me.

I realize my problem is that I’m constantly inactive. Knowing that work usually binds me to my desk and chair for hours, I realized that I should really set aside some time to exercise – CONSISTENTLY!!! I don’t really have a problem with food coz I find it easy to eat healthy and curb those cravings when it hits me and I hardly need any phentermine to suppress my appetite. So its really the exercise that I should try to get off the ground.

A friend of mine who is a fitness instructor advised me to do some cardio, calorie burning exercise and add some light strength training exercises. I bought myself a pair of dumbbells a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been consistently using it for two weeks already. Slow results but I could definitely notice some changes. Less jiggly arms and now my arms are starting to look toned. And of course, I’m so ecstatic.

As for the exercises and cardio, well that’s a different story. I should be consistent I know. Right now, I’ve settled into jumping rope, everyday for at least 30 minutes. I’m looking for other forms of exercises that would suit me and would also burn calories for me. I came across a featured slideshow in iVillage – Which Burns Most Calories and it has some interesting bits I’d like to share..

Swimming – 270 calories per hour
Active yoga – 166 calories per hour
Running – 634 calories per hour
Cycling – 666 calories per hour
Spinning – 333 calories per half hour
Intermediate aerobics – 380 calories per hour
Intermediate pilates – 328 calories per hour
Incline walking – 282 calories per hour
Stairmaster – 380 calories per hour
Circuit training – 508 calories per hour
Kickboxing – 700 calories per hour
Car washing – 200 calories per hour
Rearranging the garage – 158 calories per hour {..but we don’t have a garage…lol!}
Gardening – 288 calories per hour
Raking leaves – 158 calories per hour
Organizing closet – 230 calories per hour
Shopping – 152 calories per hour {and this one burns more than calories, right??? wallet oh wallet!}
Ironing – 146 calories per hour {oops, I hate this chore, maybe I should start loving it!}
Folding the laundry – 118 calories per hour
Washing the windows – 300 calories an hour {tomorrow, I’m washing the windows..}
Washing dishes – 142 calories an hour
Rollerblading – 444 calories per hour
Playing Frisbee – 197 calories per hour
Hoola Hooping – 204 calories per hour
Jumping on Trampoline – 300 calories per hour
Walking the dog – 222 calories per hour
Riding the bike around neighborhood – 254 calories per hour
Surfing the web – 114 calories per hour
Reading a book – 82 calories per hour

3 Easy Exercises to Keep Fit

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I’ve been struggling to keep myself fit and I’m sure a lot of women out there are in similar predicament. It’s true that diet and exercise are really the keys to having healthy weight. I’ve tried the route of using crash diets, slimming pills and other get slim quick schemes but it didn’t really work. I’m disciplined enough to stick to a diet but once you hit your 30′s it proves to be a lot more difficult to lose weight.

So to lose weight and to maintain a healthy weight, what really works is a healthy diet and exercise. I can stick to a healthy diet but the big problems is that with my current work and lifestyle, I had become so sedentary. A lot of my women friends are also facing similar dilemmas specially if your day is spent mostly sitting down and your physical activity is getting less and less. Just recently, I’ve started disciplining myself and have a little more active lifestyle. I’m starting it really gradually, from short walks, stretching exercises. In short, just conditioning my body to some physical activities first.

I’ve notice a change in me albeit small. I hardly catch my breath now when doing some brisk walking. I feel more energized and ready for more activities. So, I’ve been searching for exercises easy enough for me to do while I’m waiting for ideas to come when I’m writing or when I’m on my hourly breaks from my computer or when I’m waiting for the clothes to dry etc, etc..

And here’s what I found – Dr. Mao’s 3 Unique Exercises to Shape Up for Spring. This line caught my eye, “The number one cause of being overweight is inactivity. The human body is designed for physical activity.” Now that is so true, then the article piqued my interest, “Physical activity does not necessarily mean abrupt, fast-paced and forceful exercise. What if I told you that gentle, slower, and deliberate movements are just as beneficial for your health?”

These are called mind-body exercises which promote energy, balance of function, and a calm mind. Combination of tai chi, qigong, and Dao In yoga.

Exercise 1: Swimming Dragon