3 Tips on Getting In Shape

Happy Monday, everyone!  I hope you are making it a great day.

So, for those of you following my little question and answer Giveaway..... we had 11 people ask a question to be posted on my blog.  Those people were entered into a random drawing to win a $10 Gift Card to Whole Foods.

And the winner is..... Sue Kuwitzky from Phoenix, AZ!

Thank you to EVERYONE who asked a question..... and don't hesitate to ask a question anytime.... I am here to support you!

Okay, so I will be posting the remainder of the questions... I am aiming for two questions a week.

Here is the next one!

Connie asks:

 I am 62 yrs old, I have done two 1/2 marathons and I am training for my next one in December. I do these to bring awareness to children who have cancer and do fund raisers for specific children I meet. What would you suggest for me to do so I am in better shape for my next race?

Answer:

First of all, Connie... wow!  That is amazing that you are 62 years old and training for a half marathon!! I must admit that running was never really my forte.  I commend you for helping to bring awareness to children who have cancer.  

First, a disclaimer:  I am not a personal trainer so I am not an expert in exercise.  However, I am happy to offer my health tips on how you can improve on the You inside! 

Now Connie, without talking with you personally, it is hard to answer this question really specifically, so if you dont mind, I will need to be a bit vague here.  My answer will probably work for anyone in my community who needs to get back in shape. 

Here are the 3 things I would recommend to anyone RIGHT NOW to get in better shape:

1.  Replace caloric drinks with water (even diet soda). 
 Many people are drinking their calories and they do not realize how quickly it adds up. I have known people who drop 10 pounds just by eliminating soda.  I also would like to add that even though diet soda contains no calories, it can still contribute to over eating because of the way the artificial sweeteners affects the brain.  That being said, a little bit of caffeine has been shown to enhance a race or speed up your metabolism.  If you would still like some, I would suggest 1/2 cup to 1 cup of  black coffee in the morning, 1 cup of black tea, or green tea (the healthiest form of caffeine).

2. Increase your leafy greens. 
 Spinach and kale are power houses when it comes to nutrition.  Just one cup of kale contains more iron, ounce for ounce compared to beef, it contains high amounts of antioxidants, and the fiber helps to aid in digestion.  It is also an excellent way to detox and help clean out your system. Since most people don't eat leafy greens raw on a daily basis, I recommend blending them up in a green smoothie.  It only takes 5 minutes to make, and if you blend it up with enough fruit, it tastes really great! 

3. Ditch the scale!
Okay, so this one is a bit radical here, but bear with me.  I am all about ditching our diets and focusing on our intuition when it comes to food (well, and life in general). You sound like you are already a fit woman and you are obviously concerned about your body and your health.  I think a lot of times, us women can be too caught up with our weight and what we look like.  If we don't feel we measure up compared to other people, we may give up and over eat.  Or we may go the other direction and increase the reign on our diet even more.  We may get to the point where we are starving ourself.  So, Connie, I don't know if this is even a problem for you, but this is something I always recommend to people who are wanting to get in shape.  Yes, I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but it really does work!  (weighing yourself once a month is okay if you need to keep track of weight loss)


Other important tips are to reduce sugar intake, get enough sleep, and focus on reducing stress.  

But above all, just focus on your passions, which seem to be running and helping to make a difference in other's lives.  Just stay consistent with what you are doing and don't give up!  You can do this! :)  


Does anyone have anything else to share that you have tried?  Any tips for Connie? I would especially enjoy hearing from other runners out there, or any personal trainers!  I would love more action on here... please leave a comment below! :)