Five Ways to Improve Your Fitness for Weight Loss Program

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

27 Sep 2006 05:00 AM

Weight loss is probably the number of one goal of all women. I say all women because I have heard women who weigh 110 pounds say they could stand to lose an extra few pounds. Before you discount them with a scoff and a snort, remember - the 110-pound woman may seem terrifically skinny, but her self-image is where that request for losing a few extra pounds is coming from. So with that in mind, here are five ways you can improve your fitness to assist your weight loss program.

• Interval Train - Interval training is great for your metabolism, but you should use the intervals in your aerobic training. For example, if you are using your treadmill you can incorporate one minute of higher intensity, higher speed walking for every five minutes you are walking. This can help boost your caloric burn as well as your metabolism and that boost will carry for the five minutes you are walking steadily
• Holidays are on the approach, get ready for them now because they mean food, candy and more. Don't deprive yourself, go for the steamed vegetables, the raw vegetables and the salad first, then indulge in a bite or two of your favorite foods - this lets you enjoy the party and still maintain your healthier nutrition levels
• Look for ways to stay active - walk to pick the kids up from school, take the baby out for a stroll around the park, get up from your desk and do some stretches, march in place while you are folding the laundry, reprogram your iPod so that every couple of songs you get a faster, more upbeat piece of music
• Decrease your portion sizes - pack your lunch at the same time you are packing your kid's and match your portions to theirs, when you are out to eat, order a kid's meal rather than an adult one - not only will this save on your pocket book, it will help you eat smaller portions more naturally
• Maximize your mental fitness while performing your cardio - put a stack of magazines or a good book next to your cardio machine and read while you walk or cycle, if reading isn't an option, pick up some books on tape or download some to your iPod so that you can stimulate your brain while you are stimulating your body

Your fitness is about more than just how much you exercise. Your fitness is about the portions that you eat; how you feel about yourself; how stimulated your mind is and how you feel about your place in the world. One extra suggestion here, spiritual fitness is important to attaining your goals - so make the Divine a part of your overall fitness. Pray before you begin your workout and pray after. Achieve harmony with your inner world and your outer.

One thing I like to do when I am done is thank the divine for being there for me and walking along. I like to thank the divine for the inspiration to reach beyond myself - physically, mentally and spiritually. In the meanwhile, check out Catherine's diary of an overweight mom over in the Weight Loss blog. She's offering a personal and insightful correspondence on her own personal weight loss efforts.

What do you do to help boost your fitness efforts for weight loss?

Related Articles:

Exercise = Weight Loss, Right?

Heart Rate Monitor: Yes or No?

Weight Loss 101

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger