Working Out

I have been blessed with good genetics. That is to say the largest woman in my family is maybe a size five. My mother is a double zero at the age 45. That's what happens when you're half Japanese. We were all raised on southern fried country food that is far from good for you but our naturally high metabolism always made up for it. When my husband and I got married we decided to try and live healthier lives. We keep fresh veggies in the fridge and have a salad with every dinner. I have cut back on my caffeine and sweets. I have adjusted my family recipes to reduce the sodium and fats. Despite our better eating habits and regularly active lives we both managed to gain a little weight in the past year. Of course when you get older your metabolism slows and for me the use of hormonal birth control dramatically changed my ability to keep eating without consequence. I am still well within the normal range for my height and weight but I have gotten a little, shall we say, soft around the middle. I have decided to adopt a more regular workout routine and to incorporate lifting weights. Many women shy away from the weights. It is a widely accepted misconception that if we lift weights we will bulk up and look manly. (You know like all those female body builders you see on TV that look scary). The truth is women don't have the proper genetic makeup to make that happen naturally and lifting weights will actually aid your weight loss and over all health. There is no miracle drug or special workout to make you drop pounds over night but lifting weights gives you results you'll never see on cardio alone. I don't have any background in physical training. I am only sharing what I have learned in my process of putting together a routine for myself. I have really just begun but I can already see and feel the difference. I look forward to sharing my results and sharing tips I learn along the way. Believe me when I say this does not come naturally to me, but nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment I get when I leave the gym drenched in sweat. If you want to live a healthier life get up and do it. Don't be intimidated because you don't know what to do. There are so many good outlets out there to help guide you. You have to start somewhere, why not here and now? Check out these apps and websites: www.bodybuilding.com This website is a jack of all trades. You get information on nutrition, supplement use, and workout plans. Nike Training Club (app) This app allows you to pick workouts and difficulty levels and rewards you for completing workouts. It's a great motivator. Couch to 5k (app) This app helps you build a good cardio workout for someone who has never done any running before.