Happy New Year - What’s on Your Agenda? - By: Sandy Durham

Diet & Exercise - Where do you start?

Okay ladies, we know what time of year it is. Time to make changes, set goals and get ready for the new year. The perfect opportunity to start with a new program for healthy living. Let’s look at diet & exercise, for many of us this will be the first goal on the agenda. If you are anything like me you have tried, every diet program out there that looked halfway reasonable. Over the next few weeks I will be researching some of the diet programs. I would like your input, if you have tried a program that worked for you, please give your opinion below.

The most important part of choosing a new program is that it is healthy for you, and something that you can live with over the years. Dieting is not really what you should be thinking, think of making a choice in your lifestyle that will benefit you over the long haul. A few weeks of watching what you eat is not going to cut it over time. When picking a plan, see if the food choices sound satisfying and reasonable to prepare. Preparation is key to a successful plan. If you know what you will be eating before you are famished, you will make much better choices. Take the time at the beginning of your week to go over your meal plans. Take your lunch with you, or decide where you will be eating your meal and what you will be ordering. Take a few healthy snacks with you, you can munch on these when you get hungry. Taking your meals with you will also help you save a little cash for the new clothes you will need when you shed the pounds.

Exercise

I will also be seeking the ultimate fat burning program, you know the one that you get to sit on your couch and shed the pounds, not likely. You must move your body to burn calories, build strength and create the body you desire. There are so many programs out there, how do you decide what is right for you. You may have to try several before you find the one that works for you, don’t give up, there is one for you. Women that are over forty must start to make changes in their lifestyle now, it does not get any easier to keep off the pounds as you inch closer to menopause. You must cut down on your calorie intake, or burn more calories with movement.

Let’s go over the options.

Walking has always been a great way to get the body moving, if you have not been in the habit of exercising this is a great start. Begin walking 20 minutes a day, three times a week. You can add to five times a week after you have gotten used to the idea.

Breathing and stretching are also very good for you, you can get DVDs that you can do right in your own home.

Dancing is a fun way to get moving, if you have a partner that is willing, grab them and go for it. If not there is line dancing, or DVDs that you can do at home.
Weight training is something I have tried and cannot believe that I enjoy it as much as I do. I started with very light weights (I don’t enjoy pain in the least), but gradually have built up to a somewhat reasonable program. Body for Life is the book that was recommended to me. I started there with weights I bought used for very little cost. You can also join a gym and use a trainer if you prefer. It is great if you have a buddy to work out with, you can keep each other on track.

Cardio can be fun and invigorating as well, there are many DVDs to choose from as well as many classes you can join, some at very reasonable cost this time of year.

Find a sport, tennis, racket ball, running, anything you enjoy. Start slowly, you will improve over time.

Okay, this is where you come in, please give me any idea’s you may have that might help someone else with their choices. Sharing with you again in a few days.

Here are a few of the programs I will be researching:

Belly Fat Cure-Cruise

Gluten-Free Diet

Mediterranean diet

Raw food diet

About the Author

Find out about Weight Loss During Menopause by visiting the Menopause Control Blog Here: Menopause Control Tips

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