Last Saturday I went to the gym on my college campus. I'm more of a yoga in my room and walking around town for exercise type of a girl, but I figured getting a serious elliptical workout would be good for me. It was 1:20pm and I expected to see the place packed with fit-loving college students. Instead I was met with an empty gym complete with wide open doors allowing easy access for hundreds of touring high school students and their parents to walk through. Also, there was no music playing at all. I immediately became self-conscious and felt as if I really didn't belong.
Why did I feel this way? I'm not really sure. Most of the time people feel weird when the gym is packed because they think everyone is staring at them. This time I felt weird because the gym was empty and anyone passing by had the perfect opportunity to stare at me. In both cases, I can assure you no one cares that much. I am pretty sure that people come to the gym to workout not stare at other people. The only time anyone would be starting is if you are extremely fit and they need motivation or if you have no clue what you are doing and they need entertainment. Since I don't fall into either of these categories, I am certain no one stares at me while I'm at the gym. Either way, I only lasted 15 minutes and left before anyone one else had the chance to not stare at me.
Today I was internet surfing and stumbled across this article from Self. It discusses this idea of feeling uncomfortable in the gym and gives strategies for overcoming anxiety. I'm not one for self-help articles or books, but this one actually makes good points.
Although I'm not sure I would purchase $98 Lululemon workout pants just because they give "great butt lift" and will help you get over the common anxiety of "I don't look as cute as everyone else" nor would I try a completely different workout move just because "this one is so humiliating" I did find some strategies to be helpful. One that stuck out the most was the idea of downloading workout apps for your phone so you can easy find the right ways to use certain machines and practice certain moves that may be complicated. I would also imagine that using your phone while working out would make you appear to care about both fitness and maintaining a social life, which in today's society is always important.
I'm sure another day will come when I feel like the gym is just too much to handle. This article did help to clear things up a bit and offered good tips on how to get over gym anxiety. A media source giving us confidence about health practices? Definitely something out of the ordinary but something I will try. As long as they promise not to stare at me.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Bikini Body Makeover Recap: I'm not sure which week because I stopped
Remember when I said I was going to try Fitness Magazine's Bikini Body Makeover Challenge? Well, I think this would have been the 4th week if I was on track but I am not. I think I fell off the bikini makeover wagon around the middle of week 3. Let me explain.
As a final semester college senior (!), I blame this on the fact that my exercise plan changes on a daily basis. By this I mean I try to make whatever activities I have planned for the day part of my daily dose of fitness. Example: On Tuesdays, my walks from my apartment to classes and back usually count for part of my leg workouts and cardio. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I count the hours I spend folding clothes and walking around the store at work as part of my cardio. Thursday night trips to the local club (if you can even call it that) count as a full out calorie and strength training sweat sesh.
These activities don't really fit into the Fitness Mag guidlines, but they fit into my life. Really, this is all that matters. I have found that if something doesn't work for you it isn't going to work at all. The treadmill cardio workout that was suggested in the magazine was doable, but let's be honest, I would much rather walk around campus and dance around downtown than force myself to jump on a machine for 45 minutes 3 times a week.
I did follow the strength training workout that was outlined in the magazine. I found the exercises to be very well-balanced and they definitely left me sore the next day. I usually did my own thing for the ab workouts instead of following their suggestions.
Despite mentioning that I might try the meal plan, I never did. I used to count calories like a crazy person and I must say, it really keeps you accountable and is a great way to understand one's eating habits. After doing that for awhile, I began to realize how much food my body needed and continued to eat in that way. The meal plan laid out by the magazine was pretty different from the way I normally eat, causing me to shy away from it.
Overall, I think the plan is a good one. It seems to have the three big things that most healthy living plans have: cardio, strength training, eating in a balanced way. The plan is rigid, which I am sure is great for some people. For me, I felt that the plan changed my healthy living habits only slightly. I didn't see drastic results simply because I already incorporate many of the same ideas into my daily life.
The Bikini Body Makeover didn't result in an amazing transformation, but it did make me realize finding your own personal fitness plan is the only way to stay truly healthy.
As a final semester college senior (!), I blame this on the fact that my exercise plan changes on a daily basis. By this I mean I try to make whatever activities I have planned for the day part of my daily dose of fitness. Example: On Tuesdays, my walks from my apartment to classes and back usually count for part of my leg workouts and cardio. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I count the hours I spend folding clothes and walking around the store at work as part of my cardio. Thursday night trips to the local club (if you can even call it that) count as a full out calorie and strength training sweat sesh.
These activities don't really fit into the Fitness Mag guidlines, but they fit into my life. Really, this is all that matters. I have found that if something doesn't work for you it isn't going to work at all. The treadmill cardio workout that was suggested in the magazine was doable, but let's be honest, I would much rather walk around campus and dance around downtown than force myself to jump on a machine for 45 minutes 3 times a week.
I did follow the strength training workout that was outlined in the magazine. I found the exercises to be very well-balanced and they definitely left me sore the next day. I usually did my own thing for the ab workouts instead of following their suggestions.
Despite mentioning that I might try the meal plan, I never did. I used to count calories like a crazy person and I must say, it really keeps you accountable and is a great way to understand one's eating habits. After doing that for awhile, I began to realize how much food my body needed and continued to eat in that way. The meal plan laid out by the magazine was pretty different from the way I normally eat, causing me to shy away from it.
Overall, I think the plan is a good one. It seems to have the three big things that most healthy living plans have: cardio, strength training, eating in a balanced way. The plan is rigid, which I am sure is great for some people. For me, I felt that the plan changed my healthy living habits only slightly. I didn't see drastic results simply because I already incorporate many of the same ideas into my daily life.
The Bikini Body Makeover didn't result in an amazing transformation, but it did make me realize finding your own personal fitness plan is the only way to stay truly healthy.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Problem with Oatmeal
Personally, I love oatmeal. I eat it about 5 times a week for breakfast and find it to be quick, easy, healthy and most of all-extremely filling. The only problem with oatmeal is that it is often filled with many things that just don't belong. Oats are a great source of whole grains, but when filled with added sugar and cream a bowl of oats begins to hold the same weight (pun intended) as a bowl of ice cream.
Another problem with oatmeal is that is seems to be a popular item on many fast food restaurant menus. The recent addition of oatmeal to McDonald's breakfast menu has gained much attention in the health world.
Mark Bittman, author of many food and health related materials brought up a lot of good points on the issue in his New York Times article. He explains that McDonald's has ruined oatmeal by adding cream, brown sugar, and using a base of oatmeal that contains around 7 ingredients. In case you weren't aware, in order to make oatmeal all you need is oats. The other 6 ingredients are unnecessary.
He also gives a great counterargument to the idea that fast food is popular and "good" because it is cheaper by pointing out that no one seems to take into account the fact that that health care bills for obesity related care are quite expensive. He also makes note of perhaps the biggest reason why fast food is bad-because fast food restaurants often take ingredients that are healthy and make them unhealthy by processing them and adding unnecessary things.
Bittman's points are valid, there has been disagreement with his case. Although this article doesn't have good feelings towards Bittman's ideas, the inclusion of a list of fast food oatmeals and their stats is helpful.
Do you know what really bothers me? The commercial for this oatmeal.
It looks good doesn't it? After seeing this, it will be super easy to think that you are getting a healthy breakfast. Of course the oats are "all natural", the brown sugar is sprinkled on lightly, and the fruit is fresh, right? Maybe it is in this commercial, but in reality the words "all natural" don't mean anything, they don't mention that the brown sugar is optional, and the fruit? It's dried, and probably has added sugar.
Just another example of the media presenting something that is healthy even though it really isn't. I love oatmeal, but if I ever find myself at McDonald's for breakfast (which I probably won't) I will plan to order apple dippers and iced water.
Another problem with oatmeal is that is seems to be a popular item on many fast food restaurant menus. The recent addition of oatmeal to McDonald's breakfast menu has gained much attention in the health world.
Mark Bittman, author of many food and health related materials brought up a lot of good points on the issue in his New York Times article. He explains that McDonald's has ruined oatmeal by adding cream, brown sugar, and using a base of oatmeal that contains around 7 ingredients. In case you weren't aware, in order to make oatmeal all you need is oats. The other 6 ingredients are unnecessary.
He also gives a great counterargument to the idea that fast food is popular and "good" because it is cheaper by pointing out that no one seems to take into account the fact that that health care bills for obesity related care are quite expensive. He also makes note of perhaps the biggest reason why fast food is bad-because fast food restaurants often take ingredients that are healthy and make them unhealthy by processing them and adding unnecessary things.
Bittman's points are valid, there has been disagreement with his case. Although this article doesn't have good feelings towards Bittman's ideas, the inclusion of a list of fast food oatmeals and their stats is helpful.
Do you know what really bothers me? The commercial for this oatmeal.
It looks good doesn't it? After seeing this, it will be super easy to think that you are getting a healthy breakfast. Of course the oats are "all natural", the brown sugar is sprinkled on lightly, and the fruit is fresh, right? Maybe it is in this commercial, but in reality the words "all natural" don't mean anything, they don't mention that the brown sugar is optional, and the fruit? It's dried, and probably has added sugar.
Just another example of the media presenting something that is healthy even though it really isn't. I love oatmeal, but if I ever find myself at McDonald's for breakfast (which I probably won't) I will plan to order apple dippers and iced water.
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