Karen’s Opinion

I have been surprising myself. I am still going to the gym! I was afraid that once our son’s wedding was over, I wouldn’t have the motivation to exercise. I fooled myself! It helps that my mom goes to the gym with me and we motivate each other.

Exercise is an important part of our lives. Staying in shape is one way to increase your life expectancy. Weight bearing exercises are important also for increasing muscle mass and bone density as you age. I have osteopenia so it is very important that I walk or run to help my bones increase in density.

Most of us have learned what to do when it comes to exercising. The problem is where and when to get the job done. With a busy lifestyle, making time for exercise is a challenge.

Weight bearing exercises aren’t just for bodybuilders. As you age, especially once you hit the age of forty, you begin to lose muscle mass. For women especially, bone loss becomes a problem. When the body is in need of calcium it can rob it from your bones. Building muscle not only increases their mass but your strength.

Here are five easy toning exercises that can be done anywhere and whenever you have time. At home, at the office, or on vacation, you can do these easy yet extremely effective exercises.

1. The Bridge Butt Lift – Sounds like a plastic surgery technique but it is an easy way to tone your buttocks. Lay down with feet flat on the floor, legs shoulder width apart. Place your hands, palm side down, on either side of your body. Pushing with your feet, squeeze your gluteal muscles and lift your butt off the floor. Hold the position for a count of five to ten and release down to the floor.

2. Squats – Squats work the butt, the hamstring muscles and the quadriceps. If you aren’t sure of proper form, you can use a chair. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and feet firmly planted. Push your butt back as if you were preparing to sit in a chair. Keep your abs tight and your upper body straight. Once you reach chair level stop and hold the position for a count of two to five and release. At the lowest point, place all of your weight on your heels for balance and maximum toning.

3. Reverse Lunges – Lunges work the quadriceps muscles. They can be hard for people with knee problems. A reverse lunge still tones the right muscle groups but with less pressure on the knee. Stand with feet together and arms at your sides. Take one leg and move it backwards until you are in lunge position: front leg bent at a 90 degree angle and back leg extended until you are on the ball of your foot. From this position lower yourself down until the back knee almost touches the floor. Hold for a count of two and return to starting position.

4. Pushups – This is a classic toning exercise that works all areas of the arms plus the chest muscles. If you aren’t comfortable or strong enough to perform a pushup on your toes, lower your body to your knees. Be sure your arms are tucked into the body and your back straight as you lower and lift your body.

5. Crunches – Abdominal muscles can be worked every day to build strength and muscle tone. Lying on the floor in sit up position, lace your fingers behind your head. Squeezing your abdominal muscles, lift your upper body until your lower back is about to come off the floor. Hold for two to five counts and return to starting position.

These five exercise moves can be done whenever you have time. The best thing about exercise is that its effects are cumulative. Even five or ten minutes at a time will work to your advantage.

Now I have even more incentive to do more cardio type exercising. I have got to get on the move so I can have arms as shapely as Michelle Obama! My first thought is to start exercising my arms but trainers state that arm exercises alone are not enough to get toned arms. I know that spot reducing does not work. You must get rid of body fat from the entire body. Ugh.

Maybe I shouldn’t have sold my Wii Fit. Using dumbbells (five pounds or more) and doing 12 to 15 of each exercise — bicep curls, tricep kickbacks to exercise the back of the arm, shoulder and lateral raises should do the trick. Those exercises along with the cardio already mentioned are the key to great arms like Michelle’s.

Before my daughter went to basic training she spent time preparing her clothing. She didn’t know what the weather would be like. Going to the eastern shore meant going to a place she had never been before. She wasn’t sure if it would be icy cold or just a cool fall type weather like here in the mid-west. She needed warm but comfortable and lightweight clothing.

We thought that it would be a great idea to have layers of clothing as found in the Icebreaker Clothing line. Icebreaker Base Layers were just the perfect choice of under clothing to meet every type of weather she might encounter. Basic training is full of strenuous exercise and training that makes you sweat. When a person is finished with basic training, their bodies are conditioned to say the least.

Stacy knew that she would be working hard and didn’t want to feel miserable while training. When you are out in the cold you need to wear clothing that wicks the sweat away from your body. Icebreaker garments work hard to move moisture away from your skin, keeping you cool in the heat of the day and insulating you from the cold when the temperature drops.

Now that basic training is behind her, the heavy duty, yet light feeling Icebreaker Clothing is still working great as a summer t-shirt or a winter underlayer. Icebreaker clothing is well worth the investment. The garments are great for snow boarding and working out at the gym because they keep you comfortable no matter what your body endures.

Do you realize how important it is to exercise? Frequent and regular exercise has been shown to help prevent or to cure major illnesses such as high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, insomnia, cancer and depression,; and strengthening the immune system. I know that my mental outlook is better when I am in good physical condition.

Keeping myself at a healthy weight, building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and joints are all important to keep my mind alert and maintain a feeling of good self worth. It is especially important to be in good physical shape before surgery and before attempting any major endurance feats.

I have decided that in order to get into shape, I need the right program. I need an exercise program that “inspires” me to look better and feel better. I have been looking for a program that does not require a lot of time and is not boring. XFLOWSION is the best program I have found that incorporates martial arts, power yoga, and dance all into one exercise program. That means when I use XFLOWSION™, I get the cardio and muscle toning I need to achieve the results I want. No more reaching a plateau to find myself at a standstill! This program looks like fun and with the fast results it touts, I will be anxious to keep with the program.

The person behind this revolutionary program is Eric Paskel, trainer to celebrities. He has used his knowledge in fitness and psychology to bring us this exciting new program. Let the XFLOWSION BEGIN!

I am so excited. While out and about with my daughter and other family members, we decided to stop at a store just on the chance that they might have a Wii and/or a Wii Fit for sale. I have been reading my sister’s blog with interest as she tells how much fun it is to exercise with her Wii Fit. I need any motivation I can get to get off my butt and get into shape. I am doing ok with my walks but except when it rains.

Lo and behold, they had a Wii Fit. I bought it and even though I didn’t have a Wii console, I figured I would find one some day. LOL

My daughter proceeded to check on the Internet that evening and found a Wii for me. They actually had one in stock. She processed the order and I received a Wii on Monday. Woo hoo!

I have discovered that I am terrible at skiing but boy oh boy, can I ever move my hips to make a hula hoop twirl. I have been walking, now that I found how to get to the walk portion of the program. I was dripping with sweat this morning. Yay me. I have to pat myself on the back. I require so much motivation!