The Weather Sucks, Why Is Exercise Important Anyway?

Weather messing with your exercise program?

I seem to be living under a perpetual gray cloud lately.  The clouds really aren’t all that bad, it’s the frigid trade winds that get to me.

Do you walk or jog first thing in the morning?

Isn’t it hard to get out there when it is raining, or worse yet snowing… and COLD?

You just feel like turning off the alarm and pulling the blanket over your head.

“Wake me up when it is sunny!”

Or maybe…. you are suffering at the other end of the spectrum.  Are your clothes dripping after your afternoon walk, and you feel like a noodle trying to lift a fork to your mouth at dinner?

The sun can really take it out of you, huh?

What is the alternative?

Drive through traffic to the gym to run around in circles without a view?

Fun?  I don’t think so!

Why is exercise important anyway?

Is Exercise Worth Your Time?

• Exercise strengthens your heart muscle.
• If you lose muscle you lose bone.
• Mental clarity is not associated with lazy people.
• Exercise actually increases your metabolism AND your energy level.
• Physical activity strengthens your immune system.

Are you still asking why is exercise important?

Is improving your quality of life a big deal to you?

“Well, duh!  That’s why you planned to exercise in the first place!”

So how can you keep the motivation-stealing weather from sabotaging your daily walk?

• Go to sleep in your sweat suit, it makes cozy jammies and you won’t have to do anything but put on your shoes and walk out the door on those cold mornings.
• Invest in a good jacket that repels water and has a hood that zips up to your chin.  Keep that cold wind off your neck.
• Plan your walk early and/or late, that way you avoid the heat of the day.
• When you can’t avoid the heat, wrap a cold wet towel around your neck.  I like to actually put it in the freezer for a few minutes.  It’s surprising how much it helps keep you cool.
• Visualize yourself walking through rain and snow with a smile on your face and feel how ripped with muscles you are.  Feel the youthful energy that exercise gives you.  Believe it or not, if you can SEE yourself happy, strong, and sexy as a result of exercise….. you’ll get out there no matter what the weather is doing.

Yes, I used the word sexy!

I don’t care what size, shape, gender, or even age you are.  Sexy to me, is that playful inner energy that is so very sensual.  Sexy is not a dirty word.

Kid’s get that wonderful awe of life and the non-stop energy to go with it.  When you grow up, you get to keep your playful side.

It comes in the form of practical jokes and feeling sexy.

And it’s really FUN!!

Still needing more choices?

Think about purchasing workout equipment for your home.

The Total Gym is my very favorite piece of equipment for versatility.  It covers the gamut, from aerobic exercise to all types of resistance training.

John Carleo is one of the folks you see on television advertising The Total Gym.  He has a great DVD of his version of the Total Gym workout, he actually works out with you, counting your repetitions.

John also offers the Total Gym 3000 XLS, if you can afford all the bells and whistles, it is a fun toy.  However, you can get really low cost versions of the Total Gym on Amazon and many other places.

The real gem John offers, is his NO EQUIPMENT workout.

Using nothing but a chair and a hand towel you can get an incredible muscle-building and cardiovascular conditioning workout.

This amazing NO EQUIPMENT workout is intended to be used for 6–8 minutes, 6 days a week.  Talk about quick and easy!

It won’t replace your daily walk, but it gives you more choices.  Hey 6–8 minutes is doable isn’t it?

Doing this simple workout will make you feel like taking to the road!

Many blessings,

Carrie

Heart Failure Solutions

PS– Remember everyday:

1. Relax and Release tension
2. Take deeep breaths
3. Be active in a way that adds joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter