Walking helps improve our memory!

I read this week that walking just 6 miles a week helps improve memory and preserve brain size, according to the journal Neurology. Now who wouldn't want to have a sharper memory capacity! And at my age, anything that preserves and/or improves my brain power is a fabulous thing.  It's the end of week 4 (and month 1) of the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge, and I walked 10 miles this week for a grand total of 27 miles.   Hmm, I wonder,  if you walk more than 6 miles a week, does your brain's memory improvement grow expotentially?!? 

So, to my fellow 100 Mile Fitness Challenge members, keep walking! 

100 Mile Fitness Challenge-Week 3

Between the extreme heat and the consistent migraine headache I had this week, I'm happy to report that I managed to get 6 miles in this week. In addition, I did three days of strength training. For me, strength training is key to improving my overall health and fitness. Strength training helps retain and improve muscle mass. Gaining muscle mass helps my body become more efficient and effective at burning calories, which helps me lose needed pounds. Strength training helps my bones, body and mind stay strong.

I'm still learning the My Fitness Pal site (see yesterday's post). It's a great way to track my workouts and calories and maintain a food diary.

Tomorrow, I'm signed up to walk a charity 5K with a couple good friends. That will be a great start to next week's total.

How did you do this week?

100 Mile Fitness Challenge-Week #2

Well, I'm off to a slow start.  Between all the family visiting in the last two weeks and the major storm that knocked power out all over the area for 3-5 days,  I was only able to post 6 miles this week, all walking.  I was hoping to swim this week and discovered on Monday morning that my local pool was closed for the week for cleaning.  Shortly thereafter, the biggest storm in 10 years hit the entire region, knocking out power to 800,000 customers, including my fitness center where I like to treadmill.   No power there for 3 days.  Yikes,  that meant I had to actually walk outside in the heat with all the lovely misquitos who love to feast on me.  Do I sound whiny enough in my excuse-making here?!?  

I know the value of consistent exercise.  In my journey toward better health and fitness in the last two years,  I was able to bring my blood pressure down to an acceptable measurement because I was able to lose 30 pounds.  Those 30 pounds only came off because of consistent exercise (cardio and strength training) and careful intake of food.  Sixteen of those 30 pounds has inched back on me in 2011 and my blood pressure has inched upward, too, which is scary.

So I'm celebrating those 6 miles walked this week, as well as the 1 hour collective strength training I did this week, knowing every step taken, every weight lifted, and every exercise performed moves me closer to my goal of normal blood pressure and a healthy, safe weight.

So, how did you do this week?  

100 Mile Fitness Challenge Week 1 Check-in

Hate to start using excuses at the beginning of my 100 mile fitness challenge, but my first week was definitely a rough start.  Between the 4th of July holiday and all the family visiting,  I didn't get much "me" time to get walking.  I only posted 5 miles.  But I am not too bummed.  I kept active "chasing" a 19 month old grand-nephew and spending another day this week walking all over a renaissance fair with some other family members, all activity not included in my count for the week.  So here's to week 2 and to achieving a higher number of miles than 5 miles for the coming week.  If you are reading this and want to join me in the challenge, you can sign up over at 100 Mile Fitness Challenge

New 100 Mile Fitness Challenge

The ladies over at 100 Mile Fitness Challenge are beginning a new 100 mile challenge beginning July 1st.  It's been ages since I've posted on my blog and a long time since the last 100 Mile Fitness Challenge.  So I'm making a fresh start on both my blog and on the challenge.  Post a comment if you want to join me.

Last Post for 2nd QTR 100 Mile Challenge

Life has been chaotic for me....too much I want to do and not enough time and energy to achieve it all.  But I did make my 100 mile goal.  It's been hard but fun.  I hope to see another challenge offered for the 3rd quarter. 

Coming down the stretch on the 100 mile fitness challenge

This week, I tried a kick boxing class for the first time.  My neighbor invited me to join for a free class.  It lasted an hour and I barely "survived".  It was a hard but good workout.  For my 100 mile fitness challenge, I managed 10 miles this week for a total of 91 miles.

I still don't really enjoy working out.  I prefer to play a sport and get the workout that way.  But I feel that working out is the only way that I will be able to achieve my fitness goals.  So I need to stick with it.  Plus I have the short-term goal of getting ready for my 5K walk on July 3rd.  I'm not concerned about it, but I feel the more I walk in advance of that day, the faster I will walk on that day. 

Lazy Walking Week

Can I blame it on the humidity and all the rain?   I only walked 6 miles this week.  On the upside, I signed up for a 5K on July 3.  So I need to keep walking to continue to getting fit. 

Last Chance Workout-WHEW!! It's hard!

This week I tried the Last Chance Workout that was available on my cable's On Demand.  For me, it was definitely a challenge.  Jillian works you through 4 circuits that are a mix of cardio and strengthening using weights.  I didn't use any weights and followed the beginner version of the workout.  The first 3 circuits were a fun challenge for me, but circuit 4 did me in.  The beginner's version of circuit 4 was still too hard for me.  But I'm not deterred; I'm motivated to get all the way through the entire workout, including circuit 4. 

I'm not sure how that would translate in my 100 mile fitness challenge.  So I'm taking zero miles for the last chance workout, leaving me only 10 miles for the week ended May 27th, for a grand total of 75 miles/100 miles.  25 miles to go in the month of June!!!!!  I should be able to do that easily.

Kicking it into a Higher Gear

I've been traveling the last two weeks and haven't had internet access. But I worked hard at walking and exercising more while on the road......I can add 12 miles for first week and 15 miles for the second week.  My new total:  65/100 miles

100 Mile Fitness Challenge

YAY!  12 miles this week!  Now I need to control my eating, so I start losing some weight.

Getting fit takes time and discipline

This week I have finally started ramping up my exercise.  Now I need to be disciplined not to eat more than I should, in order to make my 2 pound/week goal.  The weekend was tough food-wise, but great in the exercise department.  Can't wait until I can say that my food intake and my exercise output for a week were exactly what they should be in order to achieve my weekly goal.

Fitness challenge update and immediate fitness goals.

Slowly but surely, I am beginning to "get on board" with myself in my quest to become fit and healthy.  While I'm still not exercising as much I want each week, I am honing and working on eating better.  So after 2 weeks, I have lost 4 pounds.  It may not seem like much to you, but to me, it's a start.  I have become aware that I need to establish some specific goals for myself, not only in the exercise area of my life, but in general.  My overall fitness goal is  to lose 50 pounds by December 31, 2010.  To achieve that, I need to ramp up my physical activity, combined with sensible eating.  To achieve that, my initial immediate goals are to workout daily, avoid fast foods, lose 2 pounds/week and drink sufficient water daily.

I should add  to my goal list to go to bed at a decent hour. I stay up too late these days. 

So here's to 4/50 pounds lost!

Fitness Update!

I am in an 8 week challenge with a friend to try to lose 2 pounds a week.  This is midway through week #1 and the challenge has good, but difficult.  I've had a dry cough for several months.  This week the cough went ballistic on me so I finally called my doctor.  I definitely have a respiratory ailment and am now on antibiotics and cough meds.  I have been fortunate to not have to take antibiotics much in my life.  I think, thankfully, this is only the third or fourth time I've ever been on antibiotics.  So I hope the drugs kick in and knock the bug out of my system...FAST! 

In the meantime,  I'm watching what I eat and trying to move more.  Once I get over this bug, I will ramp up my exercise.

100 Mile Fitness Challenge:  this bug has slowed down my 100 mile progress, but I still managed 6 this week....

100 Mile Fitness Challenge

Thanks to Jill and Allie for hosting this round of the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge.  It's a fun way to walk 100 miles in 3 months by joining with other bloggers and posting your progress.  This round starts today, April 1 and runs through June 30th.  I should easily be able to walk 100 miles in that timeframe, but I can be so lazy, so I'm hoping this challenge will help keep me motivated, especially as I record my weekly progress on the Challenge blog. 

If you care to join me, here's a link to the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge blog.  Plus leave me a comment here, so we can cheer each other on in this challenge.  http://100milefitness.blogspot.com/2010/03/100-mile-fitness-challenge-3-sign-ups.html