Weight Loss: Exercising at the Mall

January 22nd, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

Starting a new exercise program can be intimidating and overwhelming. If you are not a gym person and don’t enjoy using the same exercise equipment every day, you may want to consider getting your exercise at the mall. Mall walking is a great way to work out.

Most of us have seen the dedicated people walking laps around our local mall early in the morning, hours before the mall opens. Maybe you thought that it looked like fun but just never looked into joining them. If you want to start exercising in a relaxed, friendly indoor environment then mall walking is for you. You can find a mall walking club in your area and get fit while you meet new people in a safe environment.

Most malls have a mall walking group that is always looking for new members. Check at your mall to see how to join a local group. You’ll be sure to meet new and interesting people and maybe do a little social networking.

Walking outdoors at a local park or on a trail is relaxing and enjoyable but it’s not always safe. When walking outdoors, you have to contend with dangerous heat and wet pavement and trails that could cause a fall. You also have to be aware of all the traffic and people around you at all times. If the weather isn’t good, your outdoor walk is ruined. Walking in the mall is safe, fun and you don’t have to worry about the weather.

Malls know that mall walkers make great customers so they often offer perks like medical check ups on site and special sales for the mall walking club members. You’ll get to know store owners and employees so you’ll be able to find out about special deals and maybe even get some extra sales through the mall walking club.

While you are walking around your local mall, you can check out all the new window displays and see what is new and interesting in all the stores. Since you’ll be walking, you won’t be able to shop right away, which means you’ll think about your purchase longer and avoid impulse shopping. You get a great view of all the merchandise while walking around before the mall is even open to the public.

If you think the concept is a good one but aren’t sold on the mall idea, try to find a local walking club at another location like a park or local zoo. If you do some research online, you should find some good options.

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Staying Shape in the Winter

January 18th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

It’s hard for all of us to get motivated to exercise in the winter. As few as 30% of us manage to exercise this time of year and even those that do exercise don’t get as much exercise as they do the rest of the year. With the holiday seasons keeping us busy and the cold and miserable weather, it’s easy to find other things to do. It’s hard to overcome these obstacles in the winter.

Winter is a great time to find a gym near you. You’ll be able to exercise in a warm and comfortable environment and you’ll feel better about yourself. You’ll also be able to get advice and help from fitness experts who can set up a great workout program for you. Gyms are also a great place to make new friends and meet new people with similar interests.

If joining a gym isn’t right for you, there are other ways you can get your exercise indoors. You can do laps at the local mall yourself or even join a mall walking group. Walking around the mall is enjoyable because you can check out the new merchandise in all the windows and do a little shopping afterwards. If you are there before the mall opens, you can walk as fast as you would like. If you join a mall walking club, there are often great membership benefits.

If you can’t seem to get out of the house, find a way to workout at home. You probably have some exercise tapes laying around in your house. Bring those out and try some new exercise programs. Run in place or up and down your stairs. Even playing a physically active game with the family will be beneficial. If you don’t have a treadmill, get a block of wood or a low, wide stool. Place it in front of your TV and step up and down from it while you watch your shows.

Winter sports leagues are a good idea if you are athletic. You can find sports leagues for basketball, indoor soccer and indoor football even. There are almost as many choices for winter sports as there are for summer sports. Maybe you could try something new like dodge ball or broomball just for fun. If you’d rather, you could organize a family football game at your backyard every week.

If you are going to be exercising outside, make sure you are dressed properly. You’ll need several layers of warm clothes on instead of just one warm coat. Make sure you aren’t overdressed because excess sweating in the cold can be dangerous. Don’t under dress either or you can end up getting sick.

Let your body get adjusted to the cold weather before doing too much. Do some warm ups to get your blood moving. When you come back in, you’ll have to adjust to the warm again by removing one layer at a time instead of taking all your warm clothes off at once.

You can find a way to get active in the winter if you do your research. Winter activities can be a lot of fun!

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How to Avoid Gaining Weight in the Winter

January 7th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

It is hard to avoid the winter weight gain that many of us experience. We may try and watch our weight but still end up with more weight to lose in the spring. You don’t have to do this, however, if you follow a few simple guidelines.

The holidays make it especially hard to watch our weight because there is tempting food everywhere we go. If you don’t want to end up heavier by the end of the year, there are some suggestions.

When you cook, use healthier ingredients like evaporated milk and broth to replace cream and butter, which are extremely fattening.

If you know you are going to be tempted with fattening food when you go out, bring your own healthy snack to eat instead. Make yourself a healthy snack or small meal before going to a dinner party or a restaurant where you are going to be tempted to eat way more than you should. This way you won’t be as hungry and you can control what you eat.

Instead of trying to lose weight this winter, just try to not gain any more. It you try to lose weight instead of maintain your weight, you’ll end up frustrated, and more likely to overeat and gain wait. Don’t try one of everything at those parties and holiday events. Instead decide what you really want to eat and just have a little of that so you don’t end up overeating.

It isn’t only what you eat this winter and through the holidays, it is that you are less likely to be exercising. It is a lot harder to get into and stick with an exercise program in the winter so fewer people do. Even though it is cold and dreary, you can still get exercise and have fun. Look for a mall walking group near you or join a fitness club and you’ll get some exercise and meet new people at the same time.

Often, we eat more in the winter because of depression. Seasonal depression is a very common problem during the winter months. People who are depressed are more likely to make bad food choices and overeat. This will lead to more depression, tiredness and weight gain.

It is important to stay positive and in a good mood throughout the entire winter and not let yourself get depressed. Often, the cause for winter depression is a lack of exposure to sunlight. You can remedy this by always keeping any room you are in bright and cheery. Also, you can spend just 20 minutes a day sitting under a light bulb with high wattage to simulate sunlight. You will feel better and be happier.

Poor food choices and depression often become a cycle that is heard to break in the winter. Make sure you eat a balanced diet and avoid too many sweets. Also, exercise and stay active. You can beat the winter weight and avoid the depression that can increase winter weight gain.

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5 Exercise for Baby Boomers

January 7th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

Just because you are getting older doesn’t mean you have to give up on getting into shape and feeling good. Participating in activities that build your endurance, strength, balance and keep you limber will allow you to maintain an active lifestyle no matter what your age.

The following five exercises will help you achieve these goals.

1. Walk

Walking may not seem like exercise but it really is good for you and will help you lose weight. If you enjoy walking with others, get a friend to walk with you or find a walking group in your neighborhood. You can do your walking any place really including inside a mall, on a track, on a treadmill in front of the TV or just around your neighborhood. Walking provides a lot of variety so you won’t get bored and give up on your exercise plan. You can enjoy the company of old friends or you can make new ones while you walk for health.

2. Make a Splash

Water aerobics are a great exercise because it offers you a great workout with good results without putting any strain on your joints that comes with other exercises. You can find a water aerobics class right for you no matter how experienced you are. Check out gyms and fitness health clubs in your area as these places often offer water aerobics classes for all ages and skill levels. You just might make some new friends at your local water aerobics class.

3. Lift Those Weights

Not everyone who lifts weights ends up with big bulging muscles. You can lose weight from weight lifting and what you lose will be more fat than with other exercises. Weight lifting is especially good as you age because it helps maintain bone density, mobility and balance. This will help you stay active as you age.

4. Do Yoga

Even if you have never done it before, yoga can be tailored to your skill level. Some yoga poses are extremely difficult and take a lot of strength and balance but others are easy enough for beginners to do. Yoga will help your increase your flexibility and balance as well as relax you and even help you fall asleep easier.

5. Play Sports

You may not be the most athletic person but you can find a “for fun” sports league that you will enjoy and that will be glad to have you. Check with your local senior citizen center or community group to see what is available. Sports are great for building strength and endurance and staying in shape. If organized sports are not for you, just go throw a ball around with your grandchildren. That is great exercise too.

If you find an activity you enjoy, you’ll be more likely to stay with it and keep improving your fitness and health.

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