How active are you? Losing weight to get healthier is important for many of us, but if you aren’t getting enough exercise, you could still be at risk for many health issues, including heart disease and diabetes.

You might be thinking to yourself that you don’t have enough hours in the day to fit in anything else. You can fit in exercise, though, no matter how busy your schedule is…

New Survey Finds Lack of Time is Main Culprit in

Americans’ Limited Level of Activity

America On the Move Launches Month-Long Campaign to Promote the Simplicity of Adding More Activity and Healthier Eating to Daily Life

DENVER, September 3, 2008, 2008 –Nearly forty (40) percent of Americans say a physician has recommended they lose weight while lack of time (50 percent) and lack of motivation (46 percent) are the two most common obstacles as to why Americans don’t participate in more daily activity. These findings are the result of a new survey commissioned by the America On the Move^® Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals, families and communities make positive changes to improve their health and quality of life. 

The America On the Move survey polled 1084 people nationwide between the ages of 25 and 55, and also found that:

· More than half of the people surveyed (55 percent) reported having gained and retained weight in the last five years; of these

- Two thirds (66 percent) have gained 10 pounds or more

- Nearly one third (31 percent) have gained between 5-10 pounds

· More than one third (39 percent) of people polled reported worrying about the weight of their children, and nearly half (41 percent) believe that their children engage in too little activity each day.

Most of the respondents (59 percent) said they did not believe they received enough daily physical activity for good health. In fact, nearly half (44 percent) reported exercising just once a week or less. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the average adult needs at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day to maintain health.

More Americans (88 percent) are moderately or very concerned about the recent downturn in the U.S. economy than such long-term problems as climate change (61 percent) and adult and childhood obesity (74 and 61 percent, respectively).

Meanwhile, the United States has experienced a dramatic increase in obesity over the past 20 years. Today, more than two thirds of U.S. adult population are either overweight or obese – costing our country as much as $150 billion every year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The bulk of that bill comes from health care costs for obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and hypertension.

The America On the Move survey was conducted as part of the organization’s third annual STEPtember campaign, a national month-long celebration highlighting how easy it is to be active and eat healthy. During the month of September, America On the Move encourages Americans to try its small change approach to healthier living. You can learn more about America On the Move and STEPtember at www.americaonthemove.org.

As the National Founding Sponsor of America On the Move, PepsiCo and its Smart Spot® products support STEPtember.  Today more than 300 Smart Spot products are available, including Tropicana® juices, Aquafina® water, Gatorade® thirst quencher, Baked! Lay’s® snacks, Quaker® oats and Diet Pepsi®, among others. The national sponsor for STEPtember is LEAN CUISINE® and its full range of nutritional frozen prepared meals, including SPA CUISINE™ Classics, Café Classics and Comfort Classics; CASUAL EATING™ Pizzas, Panini and Flatbread Melts; ONE DISH FAVORITES™ and DINNERTIME SELECTS™ meals.

About America On the Move Foundation Inc.

America On the Move Foundation Inc. is a national nonprofit organization that helps individuals, families and communities make positive changes to improve Americans’ health and quality of life. With more than a million participants on- and offline, America On the Move supports a small-changes approach to healthy eating and active living habits. America On the Move’s science-based programs and outreach support Americans of all ages manage their weight effectively through energy balance. For more information, please visit www.americaonthemove.org.

# # #

Post from: Blisstree

Get Up and Get Moving

Some people go to extremes in an effort to lose weight. This can be dangerous, and I hope you aren’t doing this to yourself just to lose weight.

Why less isn’t always best

Starving yourself to lose weight is definitely not the way to go. You will only end up losing muscle and feel irritable, edgy, and extreme hunger. Your body need daily nutrition. It needs a certain amount of vegetables and protein every single day.

While starving yourself and living on very little food might make you lose weight, it has the potential risk of throwing you into a self-induced eating disorder.

Lose weight and stay healthy

Instead of starving yourself, simply cut back on your portions and start drinking more water every day. It is much healthier for you to lose a small amount of weight over a long period of time, than it is for you to starve yourself and lose a lot of weight very fast.

Post from: Blisstree

Are You Starving Yourself?

Last week was another doozy for me. Since the kids went back to school, I’ve been lost…and eating everything in sight.

I’ve gotten off to a better start today, though. I’ve already had two bottles of water (40 oz.). I’m planning a light lunch, followed by my afternoon coffee break, and then a light dinner.

How did you do last week?

Post from: Blisstree

Week 21 weigh in

Plateaus are the worst. One month you’re rolling right along, shedding the pounds at a healthy, normal rate, then suddenly you’re at a standstill, and might even gain a pound or two back.

Don’t worry if this is where you’re at right now. It happens to everyone. Here’s something you can try…

Look at your goals

If you already set some weight loss goals for yourself, now is a good time to pull them out and revisit them, particularly if it’s been months now.

The goals we set at the beginning of our weight loss journey are merely a starting point. Lots of people forget about their original goals once they start losing weight anyway.

Decide what’s working

Some of your goals may be strong enough that they need to be carried through an extended period of time. Then there may be goals that you haven’t even begun to work on.

Go through your weight loss goals and mark a line through the ones you’ve already accomplished. Take a look at what’s left. Determine what needs to be chunked and what you still need to work on.

Create new weight loss goals

Now that you’ve chopped up your old list of weight loss goals, it’s time to create a whole new list of goals for yourself. If you are still struggling with something (for me, it’s still chips), make that your top priority this time around.

Post from: Blisstree

Revisit Your Weight Loss Goals

If you’re struggling right now because you can’t see any changes in yourself, I have another simple, but effective tip that just might help you…

Picture a slimmer, sexier you

Visualization has been used for many years, for many different purposes. I have found that it helps me, especially when I’m feeling frumpy again and not seeing much progress on the scales.

Do this…

Get a picture of yourself from years ago, before you gained all that weight. I have one particular picture of myself that has always helped me re-frame my thoughts about what I want to look like. If you don’t have a photo of a thinner you, don’t worry, you will do some true visualization.

If you have a photo, take a few minutes every day (preferably in the morning before the house gets noisy and your day gets started) to sit alone, in the quiet, and look at that picture of yourself. First, remember how you felt then. Then imagine how you would feel now if you looked that good again. Hold these positive thoughts with you all day. When you feel a moment of weakness, stop and mentally visualize yourself being that thin again, with all the positive feelings.

If you don’t have a photo, you’ll follow the same suit, except you will visualize in your mind what you will look like when you have finally lost all your weight. Think about how much healthier you will be, how fit you’ll be, how much lighter you’ll feel and how active you’ll be able to be. As you experience these positive feelings, remember to carry them with you throughout the day.

If you’ve never practiced visualization before, this might all seem a little weird to you. But it only takes a few minutes every day (10-15 at the most) and it really can help you remember what you’re working towards and help control your emotions and actions.

Try it and let me know how it works for you!

Post from: Blisstree

Imagine Yourself Thin

Are you having a difficult time hanging on? Here’s a quick weight loss tip for the day…

Make a new lifestyle change today

Name one thing you know you are doing right now that is hurting your weight loss progress. For me, one thing I’m doing is eating out too much. Since my kids started back to school, I’ve been much more active, but I’ve been eating out more, too. I’ve been feeling bloated again, so it has to stop.

Sometimes all it takes is one small change to help you get back on track.

Post from: Blisstree

Make It A Lifestyle Change

When I first started writing this blog, I told you that my starting weight was 219. The truth is, that wasn’t my starting weight…

I actually started back on Weight Watchers the week before I started sharing my weight loss journey here. My heaviest weight when I started was 221. This blog had been in the making for about a month or so, and I knew if I was going to be successful I needed to get a jump-start on my weight loss.

The truth is, that first week I lost three pounds. I didn’t count it though, when I started writing here. And it has eaten away at me ever since.

I tend to do this to myself a lot. I don’t give myself credit where credit is due. No more. Today I decided that I am going to take credit for those three pounds from now on. No more dismissing them, just because I lost them before I started writing this blog.

My weight loss to date: 29 pounds (beginning weight: 221).

Post from: Blisstree

Giving Myself Credit

• The Chicken Biscuit Lesson – What would you do if you ordered a drink and was given a free chicken biscuit as a promo? Read this hilarious–and motivating–story of one woman’s reaction.
• 8 Reasons Why Size Really Matters: When Smaller Is King – Adjusting your portion sizes matters.
• How to Eat Healthy Traveling (Part 1) – A very helpful 2-part series on staying focused and on track while traveling.
• How to Eat Healthy Traveling (Part 2)
• Eating Consciously – Don’t zone out.
• Tips To Tone At Your Desk – I found this post helpful, since I sit at my desk between 8-12+ hours every day.

Are you a weight loss blogger? Share your link in the comments below!

Post from: Blisstree

Weight Loss Linky Love

Post from: Blisstree

Week 20 Weigh in

Have you ever been roped in by a bright neon sign, telling you to come on in, sit down, and have a bite or two? Don’t be swayed by those flashy signs. Here’s why…

You can’t stop with one bite

Fast food joints are almost like drugs. They reel you in with promises of juicy burgers or other tasty morsels. They don’t share the reality of the bloated calories all their delicious food contains. They feed you, then send you on your merry way, feeling ten pounds heavier instantly.

Fast food is too fattening

A fast food meal, in comparison to a home-cooked meal is extremely fattening. Sure, home cooked meals take some time and effort. But laziness will only get you fatter and unhealthier.

You’ll rack on the pounds quicker than you expect

If you like to drive through fast food joints and tell yourself that it’s okay because you order the grilled chicken, you’re wrong. Sure, if you only drive through once every three or four weeks, that’s fine. But if you are consuming this type of food 3-4 times per week, you are seriously off-balance.

Fast Fact: The Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich at McDonald’s has 420 calories and 10 grams of fat. Not bad, but if you eat just this sandwich (not including fries or a soda) three times per week, that totals 1,260 calories and 30 grams of fat. For three meals.

How often are you roped in by the bright lights of fast food joints every week?

Post from: Blisstree

Don’t Be Roped In By The Bright Lights