$100 Visa Card up for grabs to whoever is best at pretending they’re excited about getting into shape this year! Enjoy!
Keep reading for this easy-entry contest!
This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Reebok.
Last year I discovered that European travel on a budget is not conducive to healthy eating habits. In Reykjavik and Copenhagen, I survived 2 and a half weeks on cheese, bread and salty street food. In the much cheaper Berlin, I got wise to the wide variety of delicious, but not-neccessarily healthy vegan street food (read: deep fried / composed of starch / ordered with extra non-vegan cheese and consumed in excess quantities, in my case), thanks to my vegan host. Needless to say, this resulted in a carnivorous solo orgy towards the end of my stay. In Vilnius, it was all about collaborative meat products, potatoes, and cream sauces (read: meat mush stuffed into a potato and covered in cream sauce). Belgium’s restaurants had a beer selection that could make a monk cry and a menu that consisted of 80% goat cheese. Finally, London forced me to consume mass amounts of overpriced curry, just to stay alive.
Luckily, my preferred form of transit is the only one that’s totally free. I covered miles and miles of cobblestone on foot. Impossible amounts. I pretty much traversed the city of Berlin. So I managed to return stateside with regrets consisting of, but not limited to; my accented beer gut, some afore-unmentioned lithuanian river snails, and having not thought to trade out my ankle boots for some of those new Reebok EasyTones. Then I’d have been toned, svelte and right primed for my annual holiday bulk-up. So, I’ll go ahead and make peace with the brand new pair of cheese thighs and bacon-wrapped butt I’m getting for Christmas. The dessert boobs, however, can please stay for as long as they like.
This year, however, I’m not leaving the weight swings up to chance. I’ll be starting my dream job and moving to Canada in a year, and won’t have the luxury of agreeable weather and/or miles of gothic architecture to keep me fit. I’m hoping if I splurge on a shmancy pair of running shoes with all the features, and a yoga class subscription, I’ll at least attempt to get my money’s worth.
What are your best tips on getting back in shape for the new year? Answer in the comments and win a $100 Visa Gift Card! Contest ends January 16, 2010.
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Anything (and everything)… in moderation!
Angela´s last [type] ..More Past Finds! Kate Spade- Michael Kors- Karen Wilson and Coach!
I’ve got some suggestions that have really worked for me the last few months.
First of all, if you’re a gymgoer, don’t just stick to the treadmill – the weight machines can be your best friends. Not only will you visually tone up those cheese thighs and perk up your porky posterior in a reasonable amount of time, your muscles will be tight and toned and best of all – visible! I’ve found that by pairing the weight room with cardio not only (and most importantly) made me feel -RAD- all day and have tons of energy, but people were noticing!
I’d have to say that if you’re on a time crunch — opt for the circuit over the cardio, because you can always take a walk later in the day and the benefits of circuit training far outstrap most anything I’ve tried before.
Secondly, I find that if I bite the bullet and go first thing in the morning, not only am I stoked to have working out out of the way, by the time my workday is over I’ve got no excuse not to go out and happy hour with friends or take my time cooking dinner. I’m finding that the post-lunch coma doesn’t come around nearly as often as it used to, and I’m less inclined to go for snacky crap foods when I do get hungry.
Anyhow, those’re my two cents — I’ve absolutely loved this new addition to my lifestyle and would sing it from the rafters if I could!
Any exercise is good exercise. Ask a friend to go on a walk to catch up. Go to the gym and do a few sprints mixed in with walking while watching sex and the city (haha, this was me last night). Take an exercise class you haven’t tried before. Lastly, buy a pair of cute exercise pants they make you feel amazing and sexy while you work it
I will try to walk more this coming year and eat healthier.
Find fun physical activities and do them often because you love it. Being a big nerd, I get my geek on and LARP weekly. Running up and hitting men 2x my size with fake swords and winning is always a thrill. I burn off my empty alcohol calories by dancing hard at clubs. Me and my sister’s hyper dog like to play tag all around her house.
Also, putting your mind’s passion into your body keeps your heart rate up. If you play an instrument, perform like there’s a stadium in front of you even though you’re just practicing. Put enthusiasm into your cooking/sewing/work etc. You’ll be healthy in both body and mind.
I hold TV shows I love hostage… take Dexter. I wasn’t allowed to watch it unless I was running on my treadmill or doing a toning exercise DVD. I’d pop a Dexter DVD in my computer and watch an episode while I ran or did the same ol’ DVD (which helps because I pretty much have it memorized and can just mute it while I watch Dexter.) I just stick the laptop right in front of the TV (ridiculous, I know) but it makes the 60 minutes of exercise fly by… there have been times when I simply MUST find out what happens next NOW, which means running another 5 miles on the treadmill. It works if you have the self-discipline to actually hold them hostage and not give in to watching them on the couch!
Regular exercise and eat right.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
To get up off my bumm and move it!
Oh and to stop eating whatever I want! I’m so bad at indulging….constantly!
I don’t like the results of my behavior! Time to get with it!
I’m hoping to cook healthier meals and exercise more. I want to set a good example for my children and be around for a looong time to come to see them grow! Since healthier meals are sometimes more costly, this would SO come in handy for grocery shopping next month – I’m on unpaid maternity leave, so what a blessing it would be! Thanks for the chance!
Tweet Tweet!
http://twitter.com/#!/ChampagneWisdom/status/23125259334983680
Jamie´s last [type] ..Book Giveaway – 5 Winners!
My only tip to getting fit this year is to just get out and do it! You can plan all day, but until you go on your first walk, bike ride or go to a gym, etc., you aren’t going to be burning any extra calories.
sustahl´s last [type] ..Top 10 ways I knew I was out of shape
I tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/rsmstahley/status/23166308719792129
I do want to walk more…it’s the only exercise I enjoy
Just eat sensibly and don’t deprive yourself of something if you really wan it. And of course, fit time in to exercise.
tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/KerryBishop/status/23213470853898240
i’m going to be cooking with more whole grains and eating more veggies.
Steph´s last [type] ..Etsy Love!
http://twitter.com/#!/DesMoinesDealin/status/23237803399716866
Steph´s last [type] ..Etsy Love!
blogged http://sodahoney.blogspot.com/2011/01/116-tone-up-this-new-year-with-reebok.html
tweet http://twitter.com/#!/sodahoney/status/23242404588945408
My best tip for getting healthy this year is to do things that you have fun doing for exercise and you’ll barely even notice that you’re exercising. I find that if I “go to the gym”, I don’t last long, but if I “play” for exercise, I keep it up!
I take my dog for a walk around our neighborhood a few times a week. I’m trying to eat more fruits and vegetables and less junk food this year.
http://twitter.com/#!/susan1215/status/23384648256061440
I try to different things, muscle confusion, I think it’s called. It get your whole body in shape and burns lots of calories. I also like the interval exercises because you do a round and rest, letting your heart rate drop back down, then right back up again, repeating…
It burns more calories bc your heart is working double to get it back up again and again.
I also try to use my running and/or walking time to pray, listen to music, or think about the day or goals ahead to take my mind off of the workout:)
Tweet! http://api.twitter.com/#!/EverydayVibrant/status/23409110078717952
Eat more real foods, less processed stuff. Try to get exercise in in the morning, gets you going fo rthe day and you don’t have to worry about running out of time at the end of the day.
I plan to continue my fitness regime i started in August 2010. Walk 45 minutes a day five days a week. It is working for me!
When I go somewhere, I park WAAAAY out at the edge of parking lot. Two good results from doing this: 1) you walk further going in and coming back out; 2) No door dings on the car! (a pet peeve of mine)
I am going to try to be more physically active, esp. during the winter months. I notice as I age, I have less stamina. I always need to drink more water!!
This winter I have added yoga in addition to my five days a week walking schedule. Come spring, I get back out hiking and backpacking and drop and drop the yoga.
My tweet: Painfully Hip Resolutionists, for the WIN! | Painfully Hip: http://bit.ly/hvO317
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by painfullyhip, Nancy, Judy v, Steph, Kerry Bishop and others. Kerry Bishop said: win a visa gift card: http://www.painfullyhip.com/2011/01/painfully-hip-resolutionists-for-the-win/ [...]
I think keeping a food diary so that you can see how many calories you’ve consumed really helps to stay on track. Also it’s important to exercise at least 3 times a week.
tweet-http://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/23472450624815105
Belly fat is my nemesis. Best way I’ve found to get it off is cutting back on foods that metabolize quickly into sugar. Yep — that would be most carbs. Gone. I’m also walking and doing some Pilates for that area.
Tweeted.
http://twitter.com/#!/Jayne_Martin/status/23504015786508288
injaynesworld´s last [type] ..injaynesworld were Downsizing For Dummies
I don’t have much as far as tips to get back in shape go. I have trouble enough getting moving to do my exercises every day myself. I do notice that it helps to have a regular schedule or routine.
chainmail (at) iwon (dot) com
I tweeted about this promotion
http://twitter.com/The_Sunshyn/status/23540009382449152
I’m going to buy myself a bicycle. And what’s more I’m going to ride it!
tweet http://twitter.com/tnshadylady/status/23796097289814017
mine is (seemingly) simple: more yoga, less beer. we shall see…
my best tip is don’t park close to stores..the extra walking really adds up
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net
My tip is to start with an achievable goal, and then write it down somewhere that you can see everyday. Just having that reminder there will you that extra little push to exercise, eat healthier, or whatever else you need to do to reach your goal.
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/livelovelynn/status/23944892241674242
Take you dog for a brisk walk (no sniffing! lol). Dogs experience so much joy from a walk…there’s nothing they’d rather do! …and that joy can be contagious if you let it!
I am joining a yoga class for sure, exercise has to be on the slower pace and joining Weight Watchers too!
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
Tweeted here too
http://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/24113707541860352
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
I am going to try to get some of this weight off by doing more exersize and leaving the sweets and fast food alone
marybug2 at yahoo.com
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/marybug2/status/24118318902288384
marybug2 at yahoo.com
I started walking last March and took off 15 lbs in four months. I also reduced what I was eating by half. One piece of toast in the morning, a half sandwich for dinner and smaller portions at the dinner table. It is amazing the transformation. I have put on 3-4 lbs with the cold weather and not being able to walk 4-5 times a week. So looking forward to my five miles a day as the temps warm up a bit.
It takes me one hour and fifteen minutes to walk five miles and I try to be consistent 4-5 times a week.
My best tip during the winter months is try and stay offline as much as you can. With the shorter amounts of sunshine, we tend to sit more, and sitting will make your butt spread
Like sunnygirl, I am a walker, and I use DVDs to try and keep the weight off