How should I exercise if I have no specific goals?!


Question: I don't want to lose weight, or gain weight, or tone up, or participate in a triathlon. I just want to exercise like a "normal" person. According to most guidelines for healthy living, I should be aiming for 30 to 60 minutes of cardio at least 5 times a week... but somehow that doesn't seem like enough. Is it possible to be healthy but still LOOK flabby? Can I actually live healthily without doing crunches?

Please keep in mind that my appearance is not an issue here. I just want optimal health!

(If it matters, I'm already eating very well. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, whole grains. I could practically be the poster girl for the food pyramid.)


Answers: I don't want to lose weight, or gain weight, or tone up, or participate in a triathlon. I just want to exercise like a "normal" person. According to most guidelines for healthy living, I should be aiming for 30 to 60 minutes of cardio at least 5 times a week... but somehow that doesn't seem like enough. Is it possible to be healthy but still LOOK flabby? Can I actually live healthily without doing crunches?

Please keep in mind that my appearance is not an issue here. I just want optimal health!

(If it matters, I'm already eating very well. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, whole grains. I could practically be the poster girl for the food pyramid.)

Studies have shown that brisk walking for 30 minutes a day/6 days a week reduces the risk of heart attack by 40%. I think it is Dr. Oz who quotes that study.

In addition, and especially because you are a woman, some weight bearing exercise is essential to maintain bone health.
Walking qualifies for this with lower body. Light weights every other day with upper body will take care of that.

Yoga is also good for bone health, and of course, flexibility. It's also good for your core muscles. Core muscles are important because they reduce the likelihood of damaging falls as you get older. Most important, yoga brings the spiritual component into your practice. There are many overall health benefits.

When choosing excercise goals take into account what kinds of exercise you actually enjoy doing. Tennis could do all of this, but if you hate to play tennis, you won't stick to it and you will end up resenting it. Swimming would do it, too.

Personally, I am happiest when i vary my exercise. Walking and yoga are pretty much constants. But I also do a yoga dance video, belly dancing, balance ball, resistance bands, light weights and swimming.

By the way, I am a 56 year old grandmother with systemic lupus with organ involvement!

The point is to get your heart going and your blood pumping, so cardio for those periods of time for that many times a week sounds good to me. Instead of running on the treadmill, you can also do sports that up your heart rate that are more fun, resulting in a happier mindset as well. :)

Set goals for yourself, even if they're just simple things. For example, "Today I want to beat my previous time on the mile.", or, "I want to be able to run that 5k marathon that's coming up next month." I find that having the simple goal of trying to do better than I did last time helps keep me pushing myself during the workout. When I feel that what I'm doing is getting too easy or boring, I crank it up a few notches. Just make sure you like your workout routine so you want to keep doing it!

In a study of 10,000 people followed for 10 years, it was determined that the optimal body mass index is between 19 and 24. If you consult a BMI table, you will find the goal that you need to have for maintaining your weight for optimal health, without concern for appearance.

A well balanced nutritional program is the foundation for building a healthy life.

I have found a family of nutritional products that I know gives me the best chance for longevity and health. Email me if you would like particulars.


Living a long and healthy life.

Just try to set some goals like I will work out 30 minutes aday for 5 days or something. Try out different sports like soccer, track, walking, running, or weight training and see which one's your favorite. It is possible to be perfectly healthy and still look flabby. As long as you enjoy what you're doing and you're making your heart work (cardio workout) for a set amount of time then you should be fine.

well .. a couple of things. It's great that you are eating well.. but I bet if I broke it down for you by the Macro nutrients, you'd be surprised how not well even the best eater eats... Timing is critical... Now I know you said the looks aren't an issue.. but later on you ask the question.. "is it possible to be healthy and still look flabby" .. so obviously you are considering the aesthetic that is inherent in all of us.. we all want to look good.
As for the responder above me that has you looking for your BMI.. I'm sorry but there are 6 billion plus people in the world.. those charts and numbers are as general as general gets.

Try to eat small meals , about the size of your hand per group. In other words if you are sitting down for lunch, try not to let any one portion be larger than your fist, and I would if you can avoid sugary deserts and sweets. Soda is a no no and white bread is another "flab" maker.
as for exercise, you should be able to do cardio 7 days a week if you like it.. don't listen to anyone other than your body.. if what you are doing doesn't feel like enough it isn't.
5-6 days of half hour to forty five minutes will keep you lean, walking, biking, running,swimming.. switch it up as much as you can, ..strength train three times a week with an over all body plan (tons out there...google it) eating every three hours will get your metabolism cranking and keeping hydrated will do the rest, depending on your size between 3/4 gallon to 1 1/2 gallons a day.
All my clients look at me like I'm nuts when I tell them this ..and then in two months when they start to really feel great they hug me and say thanks :)

PS... no less than 7 hours sleep... the most over looked aspect of physical training is sleep.
Much luck

Got it... however, it will take getting below 10% body fat for a six pack anyway.. so you needn't worry about that..
I think Buda bellies are sexy.

there has to be some kind of goal like to increase strength or endurance, etc. if you just go to the gym to go and count reps, calories expended, etc. you won't get anywhere

Yoga is an ancient exercise ,and meditation form that was developed over thousands of years. It's good to stay limber, strong ,and relaxed. it's perfect ,and actually custom designed for general health with no specific goal, it was developed alongside Ayurveda which is probably the most complete ,and effective indigenous study of human helth around, better than traditional Chinese medecine.Together they compliment for a relxed ,and stress free healthy lifestyle.Get a yoga book or if can afford go to class.Than walk at brisk pace for thirty minutes every morning or evening.If you really want to learn how to live ,and eat for a perfectly balnced body ,and mind look into Ayurveda, "Essential Ayurveda" is a great book along with "Power Yoga". I hear pilates is good too, but gets a lot of hype as Yoga has gotten recently. Remeber though that Pilates is almost 100 years old ,and effective, and Yoga is literally thousands of years in the making ,and used by millions, it too is very effective, and like everything there is advanced poses that take progressively more strength and flexibilty to pose ,and hold for time while deep breathing, it can get sweaty.For hardcore strength and conditioning I always reccomend people to go to rosstraining.com and pick up his products.As regards to being healthy without looking it,Fedor Emelianenko looks like an average big dude but has good conditioning. I don't know if he eats healthy.You definately don't have to look like a model or spin aerobics instructor chick to be healthy.They spend their time trying to be aesthetically pleasing whereas the most of us just want someone to cuddle with.For diet, if its man made or processed don't eat it. If you can just apply that rule to most of your meals you'll be fine, that means white rice, white flour and sugar and corn syrup.

For tips on how to lose weight at home without exercising u can refer to dis website
http://www.detoxmedifast.blogspot.com
and u ll find so many tips for weight lose n detox diets...try them n lose weight easily

Hi,

I've tried so many different diets in the last 10 years that I can say now, they don't work!
A few months ago, I came across a great product for weight loss (it's actually a colon cleanse) and like many others I was skeptical about it. But I really wanted to lose weight and I tried it (it's 100% natural). The results were excellent. I lost about 20 pounds in 2 months with this detox. That's why I recommend you check this product at http://www.thin-quick.us where they have a free trial and you only pay $4.95 shipping and handling.
Good luck!





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