Get Moving

The New Year is just beginning and if you haven’t hopped on your Resolution list it can feel like you’re already behind.  You’re not!  Take the rest of this month to get up and get moving.

One of my own New Year’s Resolutions was to get healthy.  Like many American women with the stress of a job, school, and life my weight has been slowly tipping the scale.   This is one of the hardest resolutions to maintain.  I can’t tell you how many years I have written it down only to ignore it as soon as a sweet treat came into my life.  If you’re like me and you absolutely love junk food, television, and curling up on your couch then this is our rallying cry:  Get Moving! 

Here are 5 steps that will get all of us back on track.

1. Make a Plan

Start out by making a detailed plan that works with your schedule.  Don’t try to “squeeze” your new routine in with your old one.  Make sure your plan is flexible for your lifestyle.  When planning your new healthy routine try finding those odd spare hours to work out and schedule your snack times.  The last part of this portion is the hardest: sticking to it.  Stick with it and give yourself some slack when you need it the most.

 2. Tell Someone

Instead of posting all about your new health and fitness kick on facebook pick a close friend who lives near you and show them your plan.  This person will become an integral part of your new healthy routine.  Explain to them your expectations of yourself and discuss the role your friend will play.  They can be your workout buddy, your accountability partner, or even you trainer.  Work with them on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.

 

 

 

3. Working It Out

You don’t need a fancy gym membership or exercise equipment to work out.  We compiled a few different ideas to help you get moving more often with stuff you already own!  No need to spend extra money or gas going somewhere and you have the privacy of your own home to get as crazy as you like.
  
The Garage Gym

Usually this is featured as a men’s cavern or escape to gain those gimungous muscles but, you can turn this space into your personal exercise escape without having to lift those awkward weights.  Start your own exercise routines with some of your childhood favorites.

Jump Ropes

Remember those endless games of double dutch and the quirky rhymes that decided your destiny?  Grab this toy out of your toybox or garage and spend an afternoon hopping and skipping around your yard.  If you want to do some more intense work outs check out these links:

http://www.pbfingers.com/2011/12/21/jump-rope-circuit-workout/

http://www.pbfingers.com/2012/09/01/jump-rope-lower-body-circuit-workout/ 

http://youngmarriedchic.com/2012/04/fit-chic-jump-rope-circuit/

 

Hula Hoops 

If you were a star in grade school you could keep that hula hoop swinging for a good 10 minutes.  Get back into the habit of hula hooping every day.  This is an easy way to trim your waist while having buckets of fun.  You can hula hoop with your friends or just by yourself.  Step up your hula hooping skills by checking out routines from this link:

http://fitbottomedgirls.com/2011/08/hooping-the-most-fun-workout-ever/#.UDWdEo0qSpI.pinterest

Couch Potato Gym

If you’re anything like me then your couch is adored.  I love my couch and my television and often my excuse for not exercising is because something fascinating is on.  Change up your attitude by turning your living room into a gym.

Movie Marathons

Turn your favorite movie marathons into an opportunity to train for a real marathon.  Take your weekend from couch potato to fitness flunky.  Click the picture to your right to link you to a site where you can pick from a variety of Movie Work Out Plans.

Late Night TV

Love coming home to watch your favorite TV show at the end of the day?  Turn that half hour of sitting into a half hour of moving.  You won’t regret it.  Here are some of our favorite shows with their own workout plan.

If you are a beginner, like me, instead of working out the whole show you can work out during the commercial breaks.  Here are some links to a site I absolutely love for short workouts that really exercise those hidden muscles.  

• http://violetsage.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/lazy-girl-fitness-3-min-arms/
• http://violetsage.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/fitness-for-lazy-girls/
• http://pinterest.com/pin/261068109621017477/

 

4. Treat Yourself  

When getting healthy we can’t forget about the food.  Instead of harsh dieting I want to start a habit of better food choices.  

In this world of fast food it’s easy to fall into the quick and easy trap so, I decided to look up some healthy snack foods that would be tasty.  I found a few snacks that look as easy to pack away in my desk as they are tasty looking.

Crunchy Ham, Cheese, and Apple Wraps 

http://somethewiser.danoah.com/2012/01/ham-and-cheese-apple-wraps-healthy.html

 

 

Veggie Pinwheels

http://spoonful.com/recipes/veggie-pinwheels 

 

Nutty Trail Mix

http://www.willcookforsmiles.com/2013/01/power-study-snack-mix-back-to-school.html

 

 

 

 

5. Dress It Up

Sometimes I feel like if I have to wear workout clothes that are less fabulous than my daily wear I would rather not exercise at all.  Instead of splurging on expensive exercise clothing that you don’t like convert some of your old clothing into fabulous workout clothes.

 





Spice up that old shirt that doesn’t quite fit right into a fun and flirty tank.  Follow the link to a set of DIY instructions that will help you make your own sports tank.

Get your Flashdance on with an off the shoulder sweatshirt for those cooler days.  Or just to help motivate you to get outside today.  Follow the link to a set of DIY instructions to make your own fabulous off the shoulder sweatshirt.

As I’m working towards accomplishing my New Year’s Resolution to getting healthy I’d love to hear from our readers on how to best achieve my goal.  Or is there a New Year’s Resolution you are working towards that you think is very popular this year?

**From TreasureChest to you we hope you are successful in all your endeavors this year!**