[beachgal]

Got this in my Daily Dish today (10/20/04):

Fitness and Heart Disease Risk


A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that physical fitness may have a greater impact on heart health than being overweight or obese.

The study followed 906 at-risk women over a period of four years and found that women with low activity levels were more likely to develop heart problems regardless of their weight. Women who stayed at least moderately active had fewer incidences of heart attack, stroke, and other heart-disease-related problems. This research suggests increased physical activity may be an ideal recommendation for those who are at risk of developing coronary heart disease.

These findings provide yet another reason to add at least 30 minutes of exercise to your daily routine. Not only does exercise promote weight loss, build strength, and increase stamina, it may also prevent heart disease so you can live a longer, happier life.

I really agree...exercise is amazing stuff...and the more weight you lose, the easier and more fun it can be! I'm sure Nelie (are you the reigning queen of exercise right now? ) would agree...when we get down below the 300s, it's amazing how much more energy we have to exercise!

Anyways, I thought this was a good thing to see coming from Dr. A.

[Ruthxxx]

Words of wisdom. I guess I WILL go for my morning walk despite feeling crappy with this cold!
Sometimes I just hate you, Laurie!

[beachgal]

Ah, Ruth! How can you hate little old me? Can I make it better by bringing over a hot toddy for after your walk?

[Barb0522]

I am so glad to see the importance of exercise stressed. I love it! And I know it makes a huge difference in the weight I have lost.

[nelie]

Well I have to say that I have learned to love exercise. In fact, I've been kind of upset the last couple days because I've been sick and haven't been able to exercise. Today I feel better, so I might try to brave the gym.

I had a HUGE compliment at the beginning of the week. At work, we have a lunchtime basketball league and I've been playing on it. One of the girls saw me playing and told me "you can really move, will you teach me how to play?" Someone saying I can really move? And thinks that I am good? Wow at a sport?!

[fuzzy324]

Awesome, nelie! Nothing like a good compliment to make you glow for a good week or two.

Here's my unexpected benefit from exercise: when I exercise in the morning, it unstuffs my nose for me. I'm having a heck of a time with allergies this fall, and I keep waking up with a stuffy nose and lots of pressure in my head. BUT I've found that I'm clear as a bell by the time I'm done exercising... Interesting.

[chick_on_the_beach]

Originally Posted by Ruthxxx

Words of wisdom. I guess I WILL go for my morning walk despite feeling crappy with this cold!
Sometimes I just hate you, Laurie!

I find I get over a cold much quicker if I continue to exercise while I have it. It doesn't tend to get really bad.

[Marianna]

I also find that after I exercise I am even more inclined to stay right on track with my eating ~ there is no way I want to jeapardise all of the work I have done by eating badly.. On one of the WW thread here in Australia the women were having a competition to walk around Australia. They used a pedometer to counts their steps every day and worked out the steps into distance ie miles for you guys. They had a big map on the wall and would have a pushpin that they would move every week and when they reached another state capital city they would reward themselves with a day spa treatment or a new outfit.. Others were swimming... I wouldn't mind giving that a go. i like the idea of rewarding positive action that results in bringing me closer to my goals, rather than just measuring my weight.

[beachgal]

Artemis, mini goals are so powerful!!! I know mine have really helped! I set a goal of getting to 236 by Christmas. If I make it (I'm a 1/2 pound away!) I get to go to Disneyland! (I'll be in So. Cal. to visit family, so it's not like I'm making a special trip...). For every 10 pounds I lose after that, I get $20 in Disney Dollars. I can't wait! I'm going to Europe this November, and this mini goal is really going to help me to refrain from indulging while there. I'm planning a cheat to have a true English tea, but after that, I'm hopping back on a phase 1 as much as I can.

I totally agree with Fuzzy about unstuffing the sinuses...cardio totally helps me with that, too! As does the hot shower afterwards...the two totally clear me out!

One of the 3FCers has this in her sig: "When I don't want to exercise, I just remember: I've never regretted a workout". SO true!