Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Spring is Here

Well, winter is over.  We have no excuses now! 
We do have a tendency to put on weight in winter.  It is our body saying, food could be scarce till new food comes up and ripens in the garden.  It really is only natural.
Now that June is just around the corner....and those in the south have been able to work outside for months, we should be making some effort to burn calories.  Digging in the garden is a great activity.  Planting tons of vegetables will mean that next winter we will constantly be saying, "We have to eat more of those vegetables."
Unfortunately, we will lose some weight this way, but it is not really the best way to get rid of stubborn fat.  We have to raise our heart rate for 20 to 40 minutes a day....more is better.  As we age, we find that exercise is harder, so swimming is a good choice...no weight in the water and no wear and tear on the knees...or we can just walk...  I am not talking about a gentle saunter, but a vigorous walk that gets our heart pumping.  You do not have to kill yourself, but you will be surprised at how easy it is to raise your heart rate. 
Hikers going out on mountain trails often burn thousands of calories a day!  I live in an area that is dominated by hills and nearby mountains.  There are plenty of lakes nearby that are suitable for a swim or for hiking around or just TO. Yoga is good for toning muscles and overall health, and that is wonderful to do outside in the morning before it gets too hot.  Early is the key here, as you can do it before breakfast, extending the time since your evening meal and accelerating weight loss.
It is remarkable too, that you often do not need a big meal after exercise.  You do not feel like eating so much when you get used to it.  Filling your time with useful and healthy activity fills up all those times when you cannot think of anything to do but to nibble.

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