Calorie Burning Activities!

Posted in Beauty, Health, Diet & Fitness | 2 comments

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

Gradually Losing..

Posted in Health, Diet & Fitness | 0 comments

I’m talking about weight loss. You see, after I gave birth my weight has been on  a see-saw mode. I’m pretty sure a lot of women there have similar dilemmas. There were times I was slim, then I’d balloon. I was seriously at a loss on what to do about it. I’ve tried fad diets, I’ve tried not eating carbs and sugar for weeks but these worked for me on short term. Once I’m thin again, I’d slide back to my usual routines then gain weight again.

I’ve also tried going to the gym but this didn’t work out since I’m usually very very busy and I would end up always losing the rhythm and making excuses not to go. There was even a point when I was already desperate and I’ve tried slimming pills but it didn’t make me feel good. Like I was cheating and there were some complications like shortness of breath and I was deathly scared that I’d be needing a pulse oximeter soon.

Lately though, I’ve been re-examining my weight loss quest and where I’m doing wrong. I always want to have results fast and easy and I think this is ultimately costing me. I’ve decided to switch to gradual weight loss regime by just cutting back bit by bit on my calorie consumption. I still eat, but I cut my servings in smaller portions and now I’ve adjusted well enough to not eat rice for dinner and I’m loading up on fruits and veggies.

I’ve also started exercising gradually. Gradually being the keyword. Instead of going straight for a heavy workout routine, these past two weeks I’ve been doing 30 minute stretching exercises and I feel so much better and ready for the next step. Next week I’m planning to step up my exercises with more cardio and adding jumping rope to my routine.

And surprisingly, its getting me results! I’ve already lost 1 lb in less than a week! So, I’m seriously intent on keeping this up till I reach my ideal weight.