Posts Tagged ‘fit’

I am a terrible athlete. I don't even think I could call myself a terrible athlete.

I am a non-athlete.

And my lack of skill applies to all sports — from hockey to bowling.

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "How do you know you're bad at hockey? I bet you've never even played!"

That's where you're wrong. I totally play. This is my rookie season. Full equipment. Costly enrolment. Weekly humiliation. The whole deal.

Also — I bowled last Saturday. Despite the "turkey" (that's three strikes in a row!) I warmly recall bowling in my parents' living room at Christmastime, it seems my Wii skills do not translate into the real game. I bowled at 38.

(For those of you unfamiliar with bowling scoring, that is a terrible score. That's the score of a first-timer. A toddler first-timer.)

I can't help but think that if I excelled at sports, I would be in better shape because I would enjoy staying active.

What do you think? Are you sporty? Does it help you stay in shape? Or maybe, like me, you were humiliated in elementary school gym class to the point where the idea of even throwing darts or playing badminton makes you feel a little sick. Do you subject yourself to sports despite your shortcomings in an attempt to stay fit?

The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook

I know — no one wants to leave a reply spilling their guts about how their Grade 4 gym teacher made them cry in the middle of their gymnastics routine and how, even now, the thought of spandex makes them weep a little bit on the inside.

But it's cathartic. You'll see. You are not alone. And to sweeten the deal and encourage you to confess, I have a huge book giveaway for you. The person with the sorriest story — or sweetest story of perseverance — will win:

1. The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: A delicious alternative for lifelong health by Nancy Harmon Jenkings
2. The Diet Detective's Count Down: 7500 of your favorite food counts with their exercise equivalents for walking, running, biking, swimming, yoga and dance, by Charles Stuart Platkin
3. Fat Proof Your Family: God's way to forming healthy habits for life, by J. Ron Eaker, MD
4. Happiness: How to find it and keep it, by Joan Duncan Oliver
5. The Source: Beat fatigue, power up your health and feel 10 years younger, by Woodson Merrell, M.D
6. Jaime Brenkus' Get Lean in 15 — 15 ways in 15 days to shape up and slim down . . .  fast!
7. The Instinct Diet: Use your five food instincts to lose weight and keep it off, by Susan B. Roberts, Ph.D.

That is a huge, fabulous prize. For a chance to WIN, just Subscribe to This Blog and then leave a reply, telling us your story.

Let us know by Monday, April 6. I'll announce the big winner here on Tuesday, April 7.

That smile is a lie!

When I was chatting to Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper the other day, I was explaining to him that I'm a bit of a fatty because I'm not one of those people who like to exercise.

I told him that whenever I think about getting off the couch to workout, I involuntarily think "NO! I DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT!"

Bob laughed and said, "So do I".

Wait — what? I thought he loved to exercise! He's in such great shape. I thought it was easy for some people to stay fit because they really enjoyed exercise. Somehow, these people were finding pleasure in the muscle pain, exhaustion, excessive sweating and loss of breath.

I, on the other hand, do not like those things.

But it turns out that they probably don't love it, either. "That's when resolve and self-discipline come in," said Bob. "If you're actually ready, you're going to find that gumption to get up and go to the gym."

You can tune in to The Biggest Loser Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on E!.

Waaay back on Day 8, bourgeoning Boot Campers clamoured for a chance to win Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper's book Are You Ready!

We got such a great response from the contest that I set up an interview with Bob and, on Day 29, I asked you to post your questions for Bob and I would ask him two of them.

Theresa asked:
"What is your advise for people who are trying to lose weight who have limited physical movement, and on lots of medicines that they must take?

I have MS and find if very difficult to lost weight I have lost 50 lbs but it has take over two years and still have 30 more to go…. that just doesn’t seem to want to come off.

I ride a stationary bike in the winter and go outdoors in the summer (I bike for around an hour) I no longer can walk, and I also do weights. Any advice???"

Dinah Cotter asked:
"I watched some of the Biggest Loser but like with most reality shows and talk shows etc., it is almost as if it is taboo to include persons with disabilities. It is hard for most to lose weight however when you are unable to stand and must use a wheelchair, mechanical lifts to go from wheelchair to bed etc., weight issues are very much a danger to your health. I get very frustrated with so many different ways there are suggested to lose weight and exercise to improve your health by so many, Dr. Phil etc. included. Why is it that no one wants to look at people who can’t walk or/and the elderly who cannot walk long distances, most of whom need seated exercises? I have written many with no response. I am on a limited income so even to get a YMCA membership to use the pool is not possible.

I would like to challenge Bob and anyone who will listen to offer any suggestions, and in future try to be more inclusive. However, I have heard it doesn’t sell. I think people would be surprised!!!

So my question in a nutshell is what do you suggest or what ideas do you have for wheelchair users etc."

I squished these two important questions into one and told Bob:

"We have some readers who are ready, but they're people who have limited mobility or who have multiple sclerosis or they're in a wheel chair and they're wondering what's the best way for them to approach exercise, what can they be doing?"

Here's what Bob had to say:
"Well, the normal thing that they would have to do in that situation is to talk to their doctor to see what they are actually able or capable of doing.

There are plenty of workout videos out there that cater to people, especially older people, who are in wheelchairs. But I think that when i comes to finding an exercise plan that works with someone with physical ailments, it just takes a doctors' guidance."

Hmm. I know it's frustrating that he suggests that you ask someone else, but consulting your doctor does sound like good advice. Let us know what your doctor suggests!

I also asked him Corkrose's question. Here's what she wanted to know:
"What about the weight around the middle that comes at a certain age (right 50) & no matter what eating & exercising it’s still there - how do you lose that muffin top?"

Here's Bob's response:
"Oh, that is all about diet. When you talk to people with fat in that area, it's all about what they're eating. You have to really clean up your diet. And get doing cardio! I mean, cardio would be just as important because you got to be able to burn the fat off of your body."

So there you go. Diet and cardio to trim the muffin top. Let us know how it goes!

I'll have more Q & As with Bob in tomorrow's post. You can tune in to The Biggest Loser Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on E!.