Lately, my husband and I have started to focus heavily on getting fit. It started because we were going on a cruise for the wedding of good friends who happen to be actors. Of course, they are exceptionally good-looking and in shape, and a lot of their friends are beautiful actors or models, too. We didn't want to be out of shape on the lido deck among a bunch of super-toned models in bikinis, so we stepped it up. Since then, fitness has become a big part of our lives.
The wedding came and went, and it was on a cruise ship with tons of people, so we didn't need to be self-conscious, but regardless, we wanted to keep up with dieting and just generally getting fit. My husband is at the point where he wants to put on weight and muscle, but I'm, well, not, haha. This means a lot of the time, I make very low-cal (and low-carb, high protein) meals, but he just eats twice as much as I do.
That being said, here are a couple of tricks I've used to lose weight without a fad diet or anything like that. If you're looking to make a healthy change in your life, there are, as I see it, three essential pieces of equipment you'll need:
1) A digital food scale. We use the food scale for everything, including fruit. It helps us record our calorie intake properly, and it's also just a great way to control portions. Once I've measured out, say, 30 grams of trail mix, I probably won't go back for more. Serving size is a major issue for many people, so having a way to control it without estimating is very helpful. These are relatively cheap; the one linked above is $15 at Amazon.com
2) A heart rate monitor. Okay, so you're measuring your intake carefully... now what about your calorie expenditure? We love our heart rate monitors; they show you how hard you're working by displaying your heart rate in real time, and they count calories for you based on your height, weight, and age. They are much more accurate than the calorie counter on cardio machines at the gym. We use them for everything - I've even worn mine to Disneyland to record how many calories we burn walking for miles and miles all day! I know that if my heart rate is dipping during spin class, I've got to step it up. I wouldn't go to the gym without it. I like the Polar F7, which is linked above. At $60, it's a bit of a splurge, but it comes with a chest strap (like Iron Man!) and a watch that displays the information. My husband has a slightly pricier Polar HRM that connects to an app in his iPhone. I prefer watching my heart rate at all times, but he would rather see it at the end of his workout. My HRM is one of my favorite purchases ever and has really stepped up my workout.
3) MyFitnessPal. This one is FREE! It's a calorie counting website, and it's kind of amazing. You can set your height, weight, age, and activity level, and it'll tell you how many calories to eat to lose, maintain, or gain weight. You need to cut 3500 calories a week to lose a pound - that's 500 calories a day. However, if you work out, you can eat back your calories - that's why it's so important to use your HRM to get an accurate count! And that's why you'll find me at the gym daily... I love to eat. MFP is an amazing resource; almost every food can be found in its database. You can input recipes, save your favorites, and even use your phone to scan barcodes of products. The iPhone app is free and amazing. Just the act of recording your calories makes you eat less. Open up your diary to the public, and take advantage of the huge, supportive community there. With calorie counting, you can eat what you want for the most part, you just have to do it in moderation and fit it into your day's calories.
Anyway! I'm not a fitness expert, just a regular person trying to get fit in a healthy way. Stay tuned for more reviews of healthy living products.
What tips do you have for getting fit?
