Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog

I am on the 6th day of a new challenge... 30 days of ab exercises. I saw a 30 day challenge posted at the Waterbury YMCA and thought I would give it a try.

The challenge includes crunches, leg raises and planks. Leg raises are my least favorite exercise but I'm doing them anyway! The number of exercises increases everyday, until the last day of the challenge, when I would need to do 160 crunches, 64 leg raises and 255 second plank. I'll take it one day at a time as it's too overwhelming to think of how many I'll need to do by then.

Sometime in December, 2012, I got to my lowest weight (although I've lost some weight since then) of 212 pounds. The thing that astonishes me is that I've maintained this weight loss for three years now. After all the failed diet attempts, the weightless happened because I gave up on "diets".and changed my lifestyle.

I'm like everyone else who was heavy. I was on so many different diets but none of them ever worked. You can make all the resolutions you want, but when you are on a diet, you have to come off the diet sometime. And once that happens, you will more than likely regain.

I first became aware of Dr. Fuhrman about three and a half years ago, when he made an appearance on the Dr. Oz Show. I had already lost a lot of weight but hadn't reached my goal yet.

I was searching for foods that would promote good health as I wanted to lower my blood pressure without prescription drugs. Dr. Fuhrman's nutritional plan provided foods that I incorporated in my diet everyday.

First, I'd like to get away from the word "diet". I think of a diet as a temporary fix, never a permanent solution to maintain a healthy weight. In order to sustain healthy weight loss, without risk of gaining it all back, you have to have a lifestyle change. For me, that meant giving up overly processed, sugary foods and replacing them with healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.

The push-up challenge I'm doing is helping me a lot. Not only have my push-ups improved, but I'm noticing how much stronger my triceps have become. This challenge has been a great opportunity to improve something that I was never able to do for years, the dreaded push-up.

I'm amazed when I think of how far I came since college. I never could do push-ups and I remember people laughing at me that I couldn't do them. I just had no strength in my arms back then.

I keep striving to improve my fitness level. After just completing another 8 week walking challenge at my work, I began a push-up challenge at the beginning of December.

Push-ups are an essential part of a workout routine. It builds strength for your arms, chest and core. Nearly every muscle group can be involved in this exercise. You also don't need to use any equipment, they can be performed just as easily from home as the gym!