Fitness/Exercise question?

[JadeStar]

I would really like some opinions/advice here... All thru my adult life, including having 3 babies, I was thin. Never had to exercise, watch what I ate, ect. Needless to say, that is a recipe for REALLY bad habits Now I am in my mid 30's, on different meds for bipolar, and about 10-12 lbs heavier than I feel comfortable w/. The WORST part for me is my belly fat, which honestly, seemed to appear from nowhere! I have never had a stomach in my life- now i fear I am going to be a "muffin-top" hanging over my jeans! I love sweets, and everytime I try and limit or cut them out- I just want them more. I know i better do something here before I am in big trouble, and truly really overweight. I have a treadmill and walk on it when I have time, which i admit is not often as it should be. Anyone who wants to give lifestyle,exercise,diet, ect advice would be great! Also- we moved to a new neighborhood a year ago and I lost my walking buddy

[Joel J]

Exercise shouldnt be a chore, thats important. Find something you like to do for exercise (sport with friends, biking, etc). As for the sweets, your probably addicted to sugar, not the actual sweets, you body expects the rush of easy to digest sugar from your habit. To kick it, start off by swapping a sweet or to for something healthier -but still sweet, like a carrot and hummus (surprisingly tasty and moorish). Take little steps, try to change everything to fast and you'll feel horrible and give up.

[friskymisty01]

as often as you can conciously remember, squeeze in your stomach muscles, still breathing normally, continue doing whatever it is you're doing (cooking, doing dishes, dressing the kids) pull in those stomach muscles* all day* as often as you can*
when you can at the end of the day...when all the kids have gone to bed...MAKE TIME FOR YOU* rather than collapsing on the couch infront of the tv........take 1/2hr -1hr and go on that treadmill...step it up some...pick up the pace where your heart rate is up and your body really is having a workout..
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lay on floor or in your bed on your side, slightly bend your knees and lift your leg/hip up .hold...for 5seconds and put back down, repeat 10x then turn to do other leg...again repeat and go back to the first leg* (works on inner/outer thighs)
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in kitchen when cooking, making lunches....stand on toes..hold....back down on flat feet, squat-crunching down to almost sitting position, and back up again
as well as..........Holding in your tummy* dont forget that one* it will tighten your inner tummy muscles which have just been let go for a while now*
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lay on your back, legs straight out....lift both legs off the floor and hold...then go up a bit higher, hold again, then back down and hold, then down to ground again*
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try and cut out sugars and whites* (start using WholeWheat Breads, rice, pastas*....cut out sugary treats, (have fruit instead)-make fresh fruit salad,
use lean meats (chicken, salmon, tuna, lean ground beef, ..)
add more lentils, beans into your diet gives you the fibre, protien you need, use 1% milk .....but you have to Try and Make the Time for you to focus on doing exercises to tone you up in your mid section*
try drinking some water or grabbing a pear, peach, strawberrys, grapes, plum, or a handful of raisins when you have that SWEET urge* it's mind over matter* grab a handful of raisins, bottle of water and get on the treadmill*, take the kids to the backyard, and do lunges, make it fun so you get a workout and the kids love following doing different things..keeps them fit, hope this helps

[iluvdefleppard]

well if ur in florida i will help! lol

definitely need to walk. i have the same issues, but if u eat sweets that still get ur cravings, u shoul,d be okay. i had to switch chocolate cookies for those devils food cookies that they have that only have 1 gram of fat in them. u have to swap out the bad stuff and look for the healthier equivalent to them!! that is the key! and walking too