First of all, I've been on TexAgs since almost the beginning, but I'm new to this board.
For several reasons, the wife and I have decided it's time to make some lifestyle changes. We're not unhealthy by current American standards, but suffice to say that we aren't exactly healthy either. I'm 41, she's 38, with three kids (10, 7, and 2). Like many Americans, we drink to much alcohol. Did I mention three kids? We also maintain a very busy schedule with work, kids, volunteer activities, and just general life. Working out has never been something we could fully commit to because we often just can't find the time. We also eat a bunch of crap because we've tricked ourselves into believing it takes more time to cook healthy meals. We're closer to 50 than 20 and, let's face it, we can't go backwards. Time to grow up!
One of the biggest driving factors is she has a recent history of inflammation from an unknown, perhaps auto-immune, condition. She has had flareups once a year, during the summer, each of the last three years. This summer was so bad she couldn't walk on her right foot and had to use a knee scooter to get around. We've read several articles about how being fat causes all sorts of health issues - chemical and hormonal imbalances, inflammation, circulatory issues, etc.
We're not looking to get ripped, though I don't think either of us would shy away from the idea of "looking good naked". The goal is just to get healthy and fit.
We've started walking on the treadmill for about 30 minutes a day. The treadmill has a programmed routine which varies the walking speeds every couple of minutes between 3-4 mph. She hates to jog or run, but I've started jogging when the program hits it's highest speeds. I'm horrible at breathing when I exercise, so I use the jogging time to focus on steady breathing.
In addition to the treadmill, I found a few "daily exercise routines" online that mix planks, pushups, crunches, burpees, etc. I'm sure there is a benefit to doing ANY activity, but I find myself wondering if the routines I'm finding online are good or not. Do y'all have any recommendations?
We're also trying to eat better and drink less alcohol (or none at all). Most importantly, we're cutting down on snacking during the day and eating smaller portions. For the last couple of weeks, we've done two-egg omelets for breakfast (egg, spinach, onions, bacon, and cheese), salad with grilled chicken for lunch, and a small serving of meat, potatoes, and a veggie for supper. We aren't counting calories. Just smaller portions and trying to stay away from processed foods.
And finally, we're drinking A LOT of water throughout the day. Our goal is to drink a 20 oz tumbler every hour or so.
What are we missing? I don't know anything about supplements (protein, etc). Should we incorporate something like that into our diets?
Thanks in advance and look forward to learning more on our journey.
For several reasons, the wife and I have decided it's time to make some lifestyle changes. We're not unhealthy by current American standards, but suffice to say that we aren't exactly healthy either. I'm 41, she's 38, with three kids (10, 7, and 2). Like many Americans, we drink to much alcohol. Did I mention three kids? We also maintain a very busy schedule with work, kids, volunteer activities, and just general life. Working out has never been something we could fully commit to because we often just can't find the time. We also eat a bunch of crap because we've tricked ourselves into believing it takes more time to cook healthy meals. We're closer to 50 than 20 and, let's face it, we can't go backwards. Time to grow up!
One of the biggest driving factors is she has a recent history of inflammation from an unknown, perhaps auto-immune, condition. She has had flareups once a year, during the summer, each of the last three years. This summer was so bad she couldn't walk on her right foot and had to use a knee scooter to get around. We've read several articles about how being fat causes all sorts of health issues - chemical and hormonal imbalances, inflammation, circulatory issues, etc.
We're not looking to get ripped, though I don't think either of us would shy away from the idea of "looking good naked". The goal is just to get healthy and fit.
We've started walking on the treadmill for about 30 minutes a day. The treadmill has a programmed routine which varies the walking speeds every couple of minutes between 3-4 mph. She hates to jog or run, but I've started jogging when the program hits it's highest speeds. I'm horrible at breathing when I exercise, so I use the jogging time to focus on steady breathing.
In addition to the treadmill, I found a few "daily exercise routines" online that mix planks, pushups, crunches, burpees, etc. I'm sure there is a benefit to doing ANY activity, but I find myself wondering if the routines I'm finding online are good or not. Do y'all have any recommendations?
We're also trying to eat better and drink less alcohol (or none at all). Most importantly, we're cutting down on snacking during the day and eating smaller portions. For the last couple of weeks, we've done two-egg omelets for breakfast (egg, spinach, onions, bacon, and cheese), salad with grilled chicken for lunch, and a small serving of meat, potatoes, and a veggie for supper. We aren't counting calories. Just smaller portions and trying to stay away from processed foods.
And finally, we're drinking A LOT of water throughout the day. Our goal is to drink a 20 oz tumbler every hour or so.
What are we missing? I don't know anything about supplements (protein, etc). Should we incorporate something like that into our diets?
Thanks in advance and look forward to learning more on our journey.