Are you like the vast majority of us who have resolved, promised, signed contracts and simply willed yourself that THIS will be the year to finally take off those unwanted pounds? And like the majority of us, only to you feel your resolve slipping away by mid-February. And when failure seems eminent do you dive straight into those mashed potatoes (or what ever your pleasure)? We have become an all or nothing nation of exercisers and dieters. When I used to go to my neighborhood gym, those of us “regulars” used to complain how busy “our” gym was every January. We used to joke that “Don’t worry, they will be gone by March”. Today, I am pained by the desire and frustration of those individuals trying to lose weight and better understand the psyche that drives that cycle, as it did me for many years.So, I have the biggest weight loss secret ever to share with you. Forget the latest fitness craze. Whatever late night infomercial gadget, or hottest class. The secret is… Consistency! Yep, that is it, regular anything. Granted, certain exercises burn more calories than others, but if you actually keep a calorie journal I believe you will find that doing a little something everyday will ultimately reward you by burning more calories in the long run.

First, I want you to find out how many calories your body needs everyday. That is a good basic place to start. On a recent hike with a couple of gal friends I had an “Ah-ha” moment. At the end of a rigorous hike on Mt Diablo, one gal read her pedometer and said we had burned approx. 750 calories. The other gal seemly unimpressed, asked” Is that a lot”? We were shocked. She is a very intelligent woman who is interested in fitness but didn’t know the basics. One good web site is www.mypyramid.gov to find out for yourself.

Then for just a couple of days keep a food journal. To get an idea of what your calorie consumption really is. You could be surprised that simply not eating your kids leftovers when you are cleaning the kitchen could add up to a lot. Then let me give you some idea of how many calories different exercises burns:

Your Weight: 125 lbs. 150 lbs. 175 lbs. 200 lbs.
         
(Activity) (Calories burned per 10 minutes)
Aerobic (traditional high intensity) 95 115 134 153
Gardening 41 49 57 65
Running (9 min/mile) 109 131 153 174
Walking(15 min/mile) 44 52 61 70
Walking Upstairs 150 175 202 229
Shopping 35 42 49 56

(Data from Rebook Instructor News)

On a recent segment for ABC-7’s ‘View From The Bay’ I did a “Fit Tips For The Holidays” piece and I gave viewers this same message. I told them to get a pedometer to track their daily movements. It is a fun little way to motivate yourself throughout every day.

I hear from women that they found the miracle class that burns more calories than any other exercise, ever! OK so I exaggerate. That a killer spin class (I have nothing against spin classes) burns 700 calories! Yep, but when was the last time you went to that class, I ask? Well… you get the picture, pick the excuse. So, let me give you an example. If you took a moderate one hour walk, 5 you would burn approximately 224 calories*. If you walk 5 days a week that adds up to 1,120 calories for the week, and a whopping 4,480 calories for the month.
(*224 calories based on 3.0 mph and assuming a 150 lb person)

Simple consistency works. Of course I would like to see people do more, spin class and a walk, sure. But reality is people won’t do that. So let the entrance to exercise be as simple as just outside your front door.

You can Google ‘exercise calories burned’ and come up with dozens of free sites that will give you an idea of the calories your favorite activity burns. Pick an activity that is the path of least resistance so it is harder for you to make excuses. Something that is close to your home or office, that you genuinely enjoy and has childcare, if that is an obstacle, will help you stick to your plan. The less of an ordeal your exercise routine is, the better.

If you want this to be your fitness year, it will be. Start Today! It is not about what you did or didn’t do yesterday it is what you are going to do today. It is not a New Year’s resolution, but a Daily Resolution!. I applaud you and hope to catch you out on the trail.

If you would like to contact Lorrie to see how she could help your new resolution she can be reached at ToYourPeak @ yahoo . com.