micktherat's Journal, 12 February 2008

I wish you all the luck in the world! Did you see this weeks team challenge? I wrote a little article about stretching and the benefits of doing so and it's impact on weight loss. Check it out. I bet if you add this challenge through this week, you might see a difference. Everyone who is trying it so far has posted nothing but wonderful results. Sounds like you stay pretty busy so maybe this stretching challenge is a good one for you? The post and explanation is on page 29 of the challenge post, but here's a copy of what I posted: "Stretching for weight loss" It's not immediately obvious that there's a connection between stretching and weight loss. You hardly use any energy at all, so just how is weight loss and stretching connected? The CORTISOL connection: When stress levels rise, so does your bodies level of the hormone insulin. This leads to insulin resistance and ultimately, weight gain. Keeping stress levels low also benefits weight loss. When you're stressed, your muscles tighten, you may have noticed how your shoulders tense just thinking about an important deadline! You may also experience tension headaches. We all carry stress in our muscles. You must remove stress from your muscles to release it. Stretching does just that. Many people have found that the secret to relieving headaches wasn't in their medicine cabinet but rather in taking 5-10 minutes more to stretch. Stretching removes tension, lightens stress loads and reduces cortisol levels, making it easier to lose weight. ALSO: When you stretch your muscles, you're helping to release toxins that are stored in fat and muscle. Stretching also helps move the lymph fluid that removes toxins through the body. Because toxin build up can thwart weight loss, removing those toxins by stretching can further assist your weight loss efforts!  

Thanks ImLuuvd! I did see the challenge and did some stretching which helped so much with the tension in my shoulders. I love the info on Cortisol and it looks like stretching is the answer for me!! 

HEY HEY BLACK PORSCHE teammate!! Wonderful to see you...and I hear ya on the exercise...I really just got started at that diligently about a month or so ago by joining the local gym (which I drive right by on my way home from the office) - GREAT to hear you are staying very focused on your healthy eating habits...and the pedometer is a GREAT idea...until you see the numbers, it's hard to believe just how much you can walk in a day if you have an active job. Continued success darlin'......GO BLACK PORSCHE's - HAMMER DOWN this week and RACE hard....Huggies 

GREAT to get back on top of things! It's so easy to get lost in our busy worlds!! We are all here to help out and have a listen to ya! BURN RUBBER BABY!!!! 

Thought about you this afternoon. I have the same issue. I do great on the food but I just haven't gotten the exercise down yet! I did do my stretching & I did walk on the treadmill. I need to step it up for the TEAM- GO BLACK PORSCHE! But I gotta get the brain in gear to get the body in gear!!! Hoping your day was AWESOME! Good job with staying with it while you weren't on with us!! See ya 'round the track....... SMOKIN'