Covid-19 is sweeping the globe and whether you choose to believe it is a real pandemic or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is how our world has changed. Running errands and shopping with masks on and using hand sanitizer is very real. Where I live we currently have a “safe six” group that you are allowed to get together with on a regular basis which is outside of the family members you live with. Our workplaces too have changed. Separating the workforce into different shifts so you can stay in your work bubble, having phone call meetings instead of in-person, wearing masks in the building, etc. All these changes are meant to keep us safe and healthy.
As I get older I realize my health has to be a priority. For so many years I let my weight creep up and I realized I had to make some significant changes. I had tried getting a gym membership in the past but hated going to the gym. I disliked having to wait for the machines, I disliked having to listen to other people talk on their phones while I was working out, I didn’t like showering at the gym but didn’t like going home sweaty. Even though I was going to a gym that was affordable ($4 per week Cdn), it just wasn’t for me.
My husband had heard about DDP Yoga and we got the discs. It was a great program! There is no running, no jumping, no weights are required. All you need is a willingness to get moving. A yoga matt definitely helps but even if you don’t have that it isn’t the end of the world. For the moves that are done from your knees you can always fold up a towel as thick as you need. Bad knees? No problem…they have programs designed just for that. You can also check out some of the many success stories on their website: https://ddpyoga.com/pages/success-stories DDP Yoga also has an app so you can choose a different workout every day. It all comes down to cost and what you can afford. While DDP Yoga was a great program and I saw some great results I got bored. I am a bit of a cardio and weight person. I continued to look for a program I would enjoy long term.
I think I found the best solution for me…Beachbody on Demand (BOD). This site is great! You can pay for a yearly membership which is $133.28 Cdn (at least it was in September 2020, which works out to $2.56 per week. They have other payment options as well but I found this to be the most economical. What is so great for me is that I have access to a plethora of workouts to keep me interested and motivated. Yes, I need to have some different tools like weights, resistance bands, etc. But pretty much everything is able to be modified to suit my fitness level and if you don’t have the tool needed, modify! They have some other things that are recommended but not necessary to do their programs like Shakeology. I chose not to do the Shakeology based on cost alone. It is pricey and I couldn’t justify spending that kind of money. You can sign up to do a 30 day trial to see if you like it or not at www.beachbody.com If you do sign up you also get assigned a trainer which is kind of cool.
It is said that 80 percent of all weight loss is from eating a healthy and balanced diet and that 20 percent is from working out. What I have also realized is that if you are working out regularly you tend to want to eat healthier. I have also heard it said to be your own hero: If you want to get healthy, lose weight, improve you cardio…you have to do the work to get there. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and don’t give up.