Most folks who know me...or who read this blog know of my passion for health and fitness. Having a knack for athletics since childhood, this passion naturally flowed into the varying stages of my life. My background as a personal trainer and exercise physiologist have given me some of the scientific background to understand the intricacies of proper health, but the simple love for activity has given this interest lasting endurance.
Recently, had a great run at the Secret City Half Marathon. It was a beautiful run, much of it by the water...a nice change from the challenging mountainous terrain used for training. Finding time to exercise with five young children who are homeschooled is not easy. Getting up at early or running during a nap time are usually the only alternatives. Moms especially need to make exercise a priority. Raising children and managing a household can be stressful, so for the mental health aspects squeezing in some activity works wonders in balancing those crazy days.
As women age, their bodies become more insulin resistant and hormones change making weight gain an issue. Regular exercise and reduced carbohydrate eating can do wonders to increase leptin levels (fat burning hormone), reduce blood glucose levels, increase testosterone (most women are overly estrogen dominate) and reduce cortisol (stress hormones) which increases blood sugar. Fatty abdomens are largely due to this sugar/hormone imbalance.
Our society is busy and exercise is usually the last on the priority list. However, making the time will be like adding hours to your day. Instead of collapsing in bed feeling defeated about how you plundered through the day, you will feel invigorated and amazed at how much you were able to accomplish. Exercise increases mitochondria in the cells (energy), so you are literally making energy by expending energy. Seems counter intuitive, but it's true.
Isn't it time to begin making exercise a priority in your day?
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