Day 5: Keeping on Track During the Holidays

With the arrival of the holidays comes old family traditions. For most people, this will include lots of baking, lazing around, and big meals. The hours in a day get consumed by spending time with family and friends; finding time to exercise is often the last thing on your mind. So how do you avoid getting off track?

Here are some tricks for avoiding the post-holidays weight gain blues:

1. Holiday shopping. Although this may seem like a counter-intuitive concept, holiday shopping can be beneficial to exercising. Park your car in the farthest spot from the door that you feel comfortable with. The environment will thank you for not circling the lot 15 times to get that spot 20 feet closer to the door. Worried about having to carry your purchases? Think of it as weight-lifting! And make sure to bring reusable cloth bags which are more durable and environmentally friendly.

2. This one is going to seem ridiculous but give it a shot. When decorating your tree, try putting your box of ornaments down the hall or in another room. The walking back and forth will burn calories and give you a new vantage point of how your tree is coming along. You laugh now, but seriously, give it a try!

3. Make use of those fantastic outdoor winter sports. Skating, tobogganing, and snowshoeing are all great ways to enjoy yourself in the winter. It's easy to hibernate the winter away indoors under blankets, but once you give these activities a shot, you'll realize how good the fresh air and exercise feel. Getting your kids involved in these activities can be the start of a healthy lifestyle for the rest of their lives. Living in a climate like Winnipeg's means that you have to be willing to brave the cold to get the most out of your city. You'll soon acclimatize to the cold and find it invigorating rather than immobilizing. The holidays are usually a time when we get some time to spend with our families so spend some of those hours outdoors!

4. Lastly, try to stay calm by staying organized. The holidays often puts extra pressure on us, causing us to absentmindedly grab for whatever is nearest to eat. If you can anticipate some of what will stress you (last minute gift buying, big meal preparation, scouring the city for the toy your child has to have), and prepare early for whatever you can, you will feel more at ease during the holidays and more inclined to stay on track.

Day 4: To Spend or Not to Spend…

Once most people have convinced themselves that they’re going to start a new exercise routine, the obvious place to start is to purchase the necessary apparel. Gone are the days when exercise meant throwing on the rattiest thing you owned and headed outside for a jog. Nowadays, there is specific apparel for every sport. Is this necessary? And if so, how much money should you be spending?

Let’s consider outdoor running. If you’re running in the summer, the one item I’d recommend spending the most significant amount of money on is your shoes. The quality of your shorts and t-shirt matter much less. You can purchase Athletic Works running shorts for under ten dollars from Walmart, and equally inexpensive tops as well. The best shoes I’ve ever owned are the adi-zero running shoes by Adidas. They are among the lightest running shoes on the market. I found that they feel weight wise as though you’re wearing gauze on your feet, yet equal to the competitors in support. They are definitely worth the $150 price tag. Click to Go Directly to the Product's Website

For winter running, the most important equipment to spend the most money on is moisture-wicking clothing. High-end shoes are less important in some respects, because you will likely be running on a snow-covered service which is less jarring, and you will be forced to wear a heavy sock which will dampen the qualities of your shoe.

Good moisture-wicking clothes do not need to be expensive. Mountain Equipment Co-Op has some fantastic winter running gear at a mid-price range. My favourite is their MEC Merino Lightweight 2 Zip-T. This zip-up is the perfect base-layer. In –30 degree conditions, I can wear this with a thick jacket overtop and never feel chilled or overheated. They have a similar product for the legs. If this price ranger is a little steep for your budget (about $65 dollars each), other stores have less expensive alternatives. Walmart, Zellers, Old Navy etc. all carry their own lines of base-layers for a lesser amount. One word of caution, however, is that good moisture wicking clothes will be vital to your running experience. Talk to the people working at the store you choose and find out what they recommend. Although you may not think that you would perspire in the winter, you will be amazed at how quickly your body will heat up. Wearing improper gear will cause that moisture to be locked in your first layer and eventually you will get chilled. Gear for your head and hands should be made of a breathable material (like fleece) which can be layered with a nylon cover for added warmth.

And finally, don't stress about having all the perfect stuff right away. Go out for a jog with the gear you've got and see if there's anything which sticks out as a deterrent to your running. You'll quickly understand what you need to buy in order to turn your running experiment into a success. Good luck!

Day 3: Running with Woman’s Best Friend

If you have a furry friend at home, this post is for you. For many of us with dogs, winter is a dreaded season. It’s the season where your dog requires just as much, if not more, exercise, and most people hate being outside. We open the back door to let our dogs out just long enough so they can scoot out before too much cold air gets in. By the time winter’s half done, the dogs are feeling cabin fever and most people have neglected any New Year’s plans of getting fit. Solution? Put on your running shoes, winter socks, breathable yet warm winter zip-up, fleece hat and mitts, grab your leash, and hit the streets for a jog.

For many people this sounds like a ridiculously bad idea. Even a dangerous one. But once you get into the habit of taking your pup out for a run when you get home, you’ll see the benefits. Now if you have an elderly dog, obviously this isn’t an option. Only take a pet with you that is up for the challenge. I have run with my six year old lab/husky, Nash, since he was one and a half. When we introduced his new sister, Jeanie, to the family, she was four months old at the time. By the time she was 6 months she was joining in on the runs and loving it. Being a bichon/pekingese/terrier I figured she would be good for no more than a half mile. Three miles later I’m realizing that it’s her that Nash and I have to keep up with. 

So what gear should they wear? Below, Jeanie is modeling her typical running outfit. For small dogs I would recommend some sort of running vest. Being so small and low to the ground means that they often get jerked around more than the big dogs. The harness she wears means that she doesn’t get so much strain on her little neck. In the winter, boots are a must for her. Your dog will adapt surprisingly quickly to their new gear once they realize they get to go for a run once they’ve got it on.

And for the bigger dogs in Nash’s category? He doesn’t require boots because he has husky in him, but use your discretion. For him I like to use a martingale collar (below). Rather than the old style of collar which just slips around their neck, a martingale collar rewards them when they’re not pulling, and tightens when they strain on the leash. Because a dog of Nash’s size can get running fairly quickly and pull you in any direction, you sometimes need to up the ante when it comes to collars. You need to make sure that you have control at all times for your safety and theirs. The nice thing about this collar in particular is that it is a “no-slip” collar and therefore the dog can’t get it off their head, when fitted properly.

Lastly, start slow. Begin by doing a couple blocks. Figure out what you and your dog’s comfortable limit is. Always make sure that their gear is fitted correctly and routinely check for any equipment that needs to be readjusted. Before you know it, winter will be done and you and your dog can enter the spring fit, happy,and ready for beach season!

Final Tip:

If you’re going to be running at night, think about purchasing a collar that lights up. This will allow drivers to easily see your dog and will keep you from running into each other!

Day 2: Exercise On the Go

What's the easiest way to encorporate exercise into your routine? Do it while you're on your way to work! Although it may not be easy to get into at first, running, cycling, walking, rollerblading etc. can be a fantastic way to get the exercise fix you need.

*Start small. Take one day a week where you have a lighter day and have the time to shower or do whatever you need to start the day. If the distance you need to travel is too great to do solely with your own body power, consider busing some of the distance.

*Work rewards into your routine. On days when you exercise to work, treat yourself to your favourite coffee, snack, or magazine. Although this may feel counterintuitive, it's actually a fairly healthy habit. By commuting this way, you're giving yourself much needed excercise, giving yourself something to look forward to, and likely improving your cash flow. By not driving to work and using gas and parking money, you're likely still saving some cash after purchasing your daily reward. The best return of all, however, is feeling at the end of the day that you didn't just exercise your brain, but your body as well. I find that these are the days where I have the most energy at the end of the day. I realize this is counterintuitive because you would think that you will be tired from exercise, however, getting your blood flowing will rejuvenate your energy level. After begining this process, I began to realize that I looked forward to the days I was going to get off my bus early and run the rest of the way.

*Find a friend. Try convincing a workmate to begin the same routine. If not a workmate, a friend who can commiserate and share experiences. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to commute together; rather, keep tabs on each other and offer encouragement. On days when you feel you'd rather grab your keys, knowing that your commute buddy is likely going to follow through and leave their car at home may be enough incentive to lace up your running shoes. This doesn't have to be a competitive mindset. Think of the two of you as a team. Always look for others who want to join. Remember - power in numbers!

Day 1: Welcome to the Lifestyle Junkie blog!

It's easy to forget to take time for yourself. Everyone is busy and there is usually something more important to do than make time for exercise (instead of sitting down working), eating right (processed foods are faster), and proper sleep (many people try to defy the rule that we should sleep for a third of our lives). But as the old adage goes, "those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness" (Edward Stanley).

 

Many people roll their eyes when they hear quotes like this. It's something we all realize to some extent, yet few people can take this knowledge and be proactive towards a healthier lifestyle. A big contributor to this common habit is that there is not easy and quick fix for a healthy lifestyle. For most people, doing right by your body is a time consuming habit and it is far more difficult than living however feels right. Technology is at everyone's finger tips, and it's easier to buy something online and have it shipped from across the world than it is to go to your local store. The idea of planning and carrying out proper exercise and diet is not an overwhelmingly inviting task. Infomercials  promise major results for customers; with the purchase of a machine, users can hold a light weight while it "excercises" for them (the Shake Weight, seen below). This fits with the way people shop for the other items in their lives: one stop shopping. With the use of credit card, all the hard work is done for the customer.

In reality, however, as far as technology has taken the world, a truly healthy and well rounded lifestyle still can't be bought. A healthy lifestyle is not available for purchase at three in the morning with a quick phone call. After millions of dollars have been spent on promoting the latest and greatest exercise tools, the most succesful way to ensure a healthy life remains diet and exercise.

Stay tuned to this blog to learn some tips and tricks for leading a healthier life- and a happier one. Connect with others by posting comments on this blog and watch for new communication opportunities!