Tag: Water Bottles

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Weight Loss Exercise

Essential Running Gear for Beginners




When it comes to running gear, the single most important item you need is a good pair of running shoes. However, there are a few things you may also need in order to make running safer and more comfortable. Having these basic gear will help ensure that you’ll grow to love this form of aerobic exercise and be healthy and fit for the rest of your life.

Running Shoes

Every runner needs a decent pair of running shoes. If you have an old pair gathering dust at the back of your closet, ditch them and get yourself a new pair of running shoes, preferably from a specialty running store. The employees at the specialty store should be able to advise you on the best running shoes for your foot type and gait. The running shoes you choose should provide the cushioning and support you need to run comfortably and avoid injury.

Clothes

You need comfortable clothes for running. Choose a shirt made of wicking fabric such as DryFit, Thermax or CoolMax, to draw sweat away from your body. Cotton fabrics are not recommended because once they get wet, they’ll stay wet. Clothes that wick away sweat and moisture help prevent chafing.

Wear a comfortable pair of running shorts. If it’s cold out, you may want to wear sweatpants/tights. Cotton socks are not recommended as they hold moisture and leave your feet wet and cold. Instead, wear socks made of wicking material such as polyester. Women should wear a comfortable and supportive sports bra.

New runners have a tendency to overdress. When the temperature is above 55°F, all you have to wear is a pair of shorts and a shirt. Once your body has warmed up, it will feel 15-20 degrees warmer from your extra body heat. If it’s really cold, consider wearing a stocking cap and gloves.

Hydration Belt and Water Bottles

It’s important to stay hydrated, so if your run lasts more than 30 minutes and you have no access to water on your route, you’ll need to carry your own water or drink. A hydration belt and some water bottles can hold your fluids while keeping your hands free.

Running Watch

One piece of running gear that you will find useful is a running watch so you can keep track of how long you have been running. You can also use it to time your run/walk intervals. As you gain more running experience, you may soon want to buy a GPS watch or one with a heart rate monitor.

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General Weight Loss Tips

My 2011 Story

I’m slowly getting back in the groove of counting calories and I have to say that showcasing what I eat here is challenging me to make better decisions. You guys have been known to keep me on my toes with comments, so for the “eat more vegetables” reminders, I find myself throwing a salad on my plate where I otherwise would have went without.

I’m also drinking a lot of water. I find that I just don’t drink enough through the day and while water, juice and milk are the only beverages I consume on a regular basis, I’m just not drinking enough. I’ve got water bottles filled and in the refrigerator for easy access.

I’ve been thinking today about what my story will be at the end of this year. What I want it to be. Come January first I want to reflect on 2011 and be proud of the first three months of consistent exercise. That I stuck with it even when the scale was slow to move. How I believed in myself despite people asking “are you sticking with your exercise?” assuming I had stopped. A valid question giving my past history. I will talk about how in April I started to take my eating seriously with calorie counting, and how the hard part was doing it even on days when I really didn’t want to.

I will talk about how the scale started to move and I was seeing my weight go down each week. Every month my clothes were getting looser. By early Fall I had to buy new pants and by winter I was down two sizes. My face is slimmer and people are noticing. They will wonder how I did it- there won’t be a gimmick, no pills, not diet fad of the week and no restrictive plans. Just me believing in myself.

I will talk about how I feared not losing the weight- would I not lose weight even if I tried? I believed in myself and tried anyway. I will talk about how I learned to eat in moderation. How I found other ways to fill myself up.

I don’t know what my weight will be come January 2012, but I truly believe it will be significantly lower than it is today. On top of that I will feel the joys of being able to move a little easier and feel much more comfortable in my body.

What will your story be?

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