Wednesday, September 10, 2008

What to do, what to do?

The Bag Lady is not into exercise. What do you mean; that's obvious!
She occasionally takes a spin on her stationary bike, but doesn't have an elliptical machine, a treadmill, or a gym membership. She does, of course, do a lot of walking, and a little gardening, and sometimes some heavy lifting.

In the cold weather to come, she knows she will be inside more often, and tends to go into hibernation mode because she hates the cold so much. She will go outside every day and feed her cows, but that is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a strenuous workout. She will sweep snow off her deck, or shovel it off her little sidewalk (if you can call three feet of sidewalk blocks a sidewalk!), and she will chop wood and carry it into the house to feed the woodstove.

She has decided she needs to find something to help her lose some weight. She has lost a teensy tiny amount this summer (the same 2 or 3 very sticky pounds - everytime she thinks she has shaken them, they reappear!) but she is loathe to go back onto a starvation diet as she has in the past, because obviously, they don't work well in the long-term. She has been watching her diet if she doesn't watch what she puts in her mouth, she slops it all over herself! and it seems to be helping a little, but she is afraid that with the cold weather and the slow-down in her activity level, those sticky little pounds will invite some buddies over to stay!

She is making a vow to do some sort of exercise on a regular basis, starting after she gets her garden taken off and all her canning done. Canning may not be demanding exercise, but it is time-consuming and tiring. She needs to get back to doing yoga, or jumping jacks or something.

Any suggestions?

26 comments:

new*me said...

You get your share of exercise that is for sure!~~

Not for everyone, but I LOVE the Leslie Sansone workouts on dvd.....she has all sorts of levels and lengths.....and the music and people make you feel like you are working out with friends. I have them ranging from 18 min-almost an hour.

Fun, fun :)

Emily said...

Bag Lady- as much as I bitch about exercising, it does make me feel better (even if it isn't making me lose weight, at least I'm not gaining.) If you prefer the inside, as I do, I would suggest some low-intensity aerobic videos (WARNING: Do not attempt ANYTHING by Denise Austin or you'll wish you were dead 5 minutes into it.) I found that YouTube.com has some clips from different videos that you might want to check out to see if anything interests you. Just make sure you find something that you ENJOY or it won't stick.

Leah J. Utas said...

DfBag Lady - I think you get a fair amount of exercise already. That said, I lean toward yoga and I work out on my stationary bike so I'm biased. My bias is my recommendation.

Penny said...

Dearest Bag Lady, I may go on and on about my time at the gym but the rest of my day I am either sitting at my desk reading magazines or lying on the sofa with my boyfriend watching 24. I have no doubt that your daily burn is far far greater than mine - chopping and shovelling and generally DOING is hard, tiring work. So don't be mean to yourself, you exercise just as much as all of us, you just do it in a much more productive way!

I agree, find a good low impact workout DVD with a good mix of toning and aerobic activity to keep you interested. The key to a good DVD in my opinion is a presenter who doesn't make you want to murder them so it's a great idea of Emily's to hit up Youtube and find out the ones who make you want to gogogoYAY and the ones that make you want to punch the TV.

Let us know how you get on!

TA x

Shammickite said...

try Tai Chi!

the Bag Lady said...

new*me - I will check Leslie out - thanks!

Emily - I will also check out YouTube and now, must confess to being extremely curious about Denise Austin - hmmm, may be a challenge there for me!! (kidding, really!)

dfLeah - I really must get back to the yoga - I was feeling so much better when I was doing it. I hate the stationary bike, but do believe it was helping, too.

TA - You hit the nail on the head as far as the DVD's that make you want to put your fist through the TV! I have a yoga DVD that makes me talk back to the presenter! Of course, I say nasty things, which make me giggle, which in turn spoils the pose.... you get the idea.
Will check out YouTube for sure.

Thanks, all of you, for some great suggestions!

the Bag Lady said...

shammickite - oh, yes! I had forgotten about Tai Chi. I've seen people doing it and always envied their fluidity. Are there DVD's available, I wonder?

Missicat said...

Hi - Tai Chi is a good idea! Do you have a library that has exercise DVDs so you can sample a few?
Walking is good too.

Geosomin said...

I have an exercise ball and I love it. You can work all your major muscle groups in about 20 minutes and it's not hard on your back or anything...It feels good. The ball came with a DVD that is actually really easy to use. I could burn ya a copy if ya like...
I don't mind exercise DVDs..I think it's just finding something you like. Until we got an elliptical, most of the time I turn up a CD I like and hop around the room and get active for about 20 minutes...a friend of mine lost 40 opunds by just using his bike 30 mintues a day. He'd do it during a favourite TV show...
I figure any little buit I do is better than nothign at all.
Of course having said that, I haven't really had a proper workout in about a month (heh) so I'm trying to get back into it. I like Tai Chi...once you memorise the moves it is fun. Bellydancing is a hoot too... there are soe good cheap DVS out ther efor both those. I signed up for a weekly community college bellydance thing for the winter...it'll be fun if nothing else.
Surviving the initial stuff is the worst...then the happy endorphins come and make it worth it later.
It seems to me you do a lot of stuff on the farm that would poop most of us out, so you're doing a fair bit already.

Geosomin said...

Sorry...I really need to spellcheck before I post. Hope that was readable.

Gena said...

Someone may have mentioned it, but there is a series of "Walk off the Weight" videos (or some name along those lines). Mixed in with some weights, yoga, or whatever else you enjoy, you should be able to keep yourself busy during the cold months.

the Bag Lady said...

Hi, missicat - there is a library in town, but I haven't been there for ages, so don't know what they have available. I really would like to try Tai Chi, so I'll have to look around for a DVD.

Geo - I have a stability ball. I tried it once, fell off, got the giggles, deflated it and stuck it in a cupboard. ~~sigh~~
I like the idea of belly-dancing, and certainly have a lot of belly to fling around! hahahaha
I think you are right, it's the initial part that's torture - I just need to get off my ever-expanding butt and DO something!
Thanks for the suggestions!

the Bag Lady said...

Gena (we were posting at the same time - sorry) - I shall look for that DVD. I love to walk, I have some free weights, and a yoga DVD. Just need to get motivated!

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Lots of good suggestions here for indoors at-home exercise. You could also look into buying a used elliptical, treadmill or rowing machine, if it's only the purchase price putting you off. If you wouldn't use such things anyway, don't do it of course.

If you're willing to drive, how about a dance class? Belly dance would be fun to do on your own, or get your man out the door for a swing class.

If you don't mind being outdoors in winter, is your area appropriate for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing? Cross-country is supposed to be a fantastic workout.

Anonymous said...

Good for you. BTW..I did my first yoga class ever today...yay! :)

JavaChick said...

I gave my Mom one of the Leslie Sansone DVDs (has a 1 mile, 2 mile & 3 mile walk) and she loves them in the winter when she can't get outside. I even got her a couple little weighted balls like they use in the DVD (the weights are optional) and she thinks it's fun. Yes, that's what she said. Using the weights is fun.

I believe you have mentioned back problems, so I'm not sure what is off limits, but some other ideas - a hula hoop? skipping rope? you could do circuits with the hoop, skipping rope and/or jumping jacks, some push ups, squats, etc.

Tai Chi is fun, I was going to a class for a while, and I really miss it. I've tried a couple of DVDs, but it seems like Tai Chi is hard to learn from a DVD. If you do happen to find a good one, let me know!

Unknown said...

Love Bunnygirl's idea for cross country skiing. I adore cross country skiing!

If you've done yoga in the past and enjoyed it then you should definitely take it up again!

In the winter when I'm at work I do jumping jacks every time I make tea or go to the bathroom- it keeps me warm in a freezing building:)

Scrumpy said...

Exercise is on all of our minds! I get into phases where I love workout videos, and then I go months where I can't stand them. But a great site for them is www.collagevideo.com

Even if you don't buy from them, they have great reviews and video clips. Also, if you have a Netflix or Blockbuster membership, you can rent several to try them before you buy.

Let us know what you find!

Maggie said...

Hmmm I get exhausted just reading all the things you already do in your daily life. With that said...

You could use the jars that you use to fill those delicious jams as weights. Or when weeding your beautiful flowers pull your arm back a touch more to work your upper arms and back. keeping your core tight as you do this.
You could use just about all the things you do around the house as added excercise equipment. :)

Anonymous said...

I'm a fan of yoga, and I read somewhere that people who did yoga 3 times a week lost more weight than those who didn't, but I'm sure that's been contradicted by now, and I can't name the study off the top of my head.

I stole the pedometer that BK got from work, keep it by my phone, and when I get a phone call, I walk around the apartment. Laugh if you want, but I walked a mile talking to my sister.

I agree with the warning against Denise Austin: I'm caught between wishing I were dead and wondering why no one stopped the camera and told her to fix her camel toe.

Melissa said...

I recommend yoga.

If you lived in the states, you could always get your exercise wringing your hands.

I got drawing number 2 done (8 to go).

http://melissa-mindsweeper.blogspot.com/2008/09/politics-makes-me-sick.html

the Bag Lady said...

Thanks, everyone, for your hints and tips. I think I will try to find a Tai Chi DVD, and get back into the yoga.

BG - I have tried cross-country skiing, and snow-shoeing and I have learned I hate outdoor winter sports. The dance lessons sound like a good idea, though!

Mark - good for you for doing yoga! Hope you enjoy it.

Javachick - I really do think I'll try Tai Chi. If I can find a good DVD, that is.

Sagan - I did enjoy yoga, so that might be something I should go back to.

SB - thanks for the tips!

Maggie - good idea - thanks!

Tricia - I used to use a pedometer when I was working as a cook - amazing how quickly those steps add up.
Now I'm really curious about Denise Austin... :)(but the camel-toe, not so much!)

Melissa - thanks! Good for you for drawing again!

Hilary said...

The good thing about coming late to the party is that I get to see all the good advice when I have none to offer. I've also been looking for a DVD that is doable (as in you don't have to already be a fitness guru) and not annoying. Baggie do you remember Cynthia Kereluk (sp?)? I used to love her split screen workouts and have never seen one on TV since that was anywhere near as entertaining and doable. Sounds like I'll have to look into this Leslie Sansone.

the Bag Lady said...

Hilary - can't honestly say I remember her, but really wish there was someone on TV these days who was interesting and helpful. ~~sigh~~

P.O.M. said...

I think walking/jogging/running out there in the wilderness would be awesome! A little yoga too - easy to do anywhere :)

the Bag Lady said...

Thanks, POM. I'm thinking indoors things, so yoga and perhaps Tai Chi.