Posted By Phylicia on July 29, 2009

Back to Practical Beauty! I have finally discovered an exercise routine that works for me, and I am so amazed that it is working that I had to share it.  This is what I call a ‘fluff post’ because I can’t think of anything interesting to say, so bear with me here!

Personally I never even get on a scale except at the doctor’s office.  I know what my ideal weight range is, but I can tell by looking at myself when I am getting near the edge of that limit.  So generally, when I see some things not looking the way they should, I start rethinking my exercise patterns.

I have tried multiple exercise routines, unable to be consistent with any because a) I got bored; b) I got tired or c) I got distracted and ate ice cream.  I don’t enjoy exercising like some girls do; I tolerate it.  I don’t I could do it without my little iPod shuffle keeping my mind off the ‘pain’.  That being said, I knew I needed a good routine that maintained my current shape and weight.

I don’t know where I got the idea, but it must be a hybrid of MSN Health and the ab workout video I was doing before.  I also read MSN Men’s Health (this is not a regular site of visitation, concerned viewers) and found tips on doing pushups, which increase your entire body strength.  So I came up with this routine each morning:

• Stretches; this is arms, waist, neck, legs — runner’s stretch and Figure 4.
• 30 ‘upper’ crunches.  This works out the upper abs, and I guess you would call these ‘military crunches’.
• 30 ‘lower’ crunches.  Cross your legs at the ankles and raise them perpendicular to the ceiling, then lift them using the lower abs (sucking the bellybutton to your spine).
• 10 oblique planks (five per side).  Suspend your body from your elbow to your feet and raise your hips off the floor in a straight line, then lower your hips and raise them five times.  Then hold for 20 seconds each side.
• 30 pushups (this is the real thing, ladies).  Guys take these pretty seriously so I guess there is a ‘right way’ to do it;  I suggest MSN Men’s Health for detailed info on effective push-upping.

After this workout, which takes all of 15 minutes, I use the treadmill and do a 15-20 minute run on one of the programs.  I try to break a sweat and get my heartrate up — how far I go to do that varies.  Our treadmill is currently out of commission so I am resigned to running outside by the road.

The whole routine takes 35-40 minutes at the most.  I try to start at 6 am and finish by 6:40 so I can shower and have breakfast around 7 am.

Results are where it’s at, and so far this method has worked wonders!  I haven’t had to cut out any of my regular eating habits, including desserts (although that Black and Tan Sundae I had tonight might change that…).  However, one key suggestion I have also found in keeping weight off is to stop eating three hours before you go to bed. If you are hungry, drink tea or lemon water, but eat nothing.  This has several effects:

• It allows for decent digestion.
• It reduces bloating and water retention.
• You don’t lie in bed all night, inactive, while your body disperses fat to unpleasant places.
• You wake up hungry for breakfast, so you will eat your largest meal in the morning, work it off during your active day, followed by a smaller lunch and smallest dinner.

I had a few problem spots with my own body and this eating pattern and exercise routine produced positive results within one week.  I am not going to write a book to sell my exercise ideas, so I am giving this to you free and I hope it helps you the same way it did me!

Categories: Practical Beauty
Tags: abs, crunches, exercise, pushups, routines, women