My "Getting in Better Shape" Plan 3.17.09

As stated in my last post, I really want to get into better shape. I am hoping that updating on this blog will help me to do that.

Here are my goals...
To be happier with the way I look.
To feel more athletic.
To play better golf.

I am making it clear that just weight loss is not the goal. I do want to lose weight, but I also want to get stronger. Muscle is more dense than fat, so I don't want to limit myself to only losing fat and weighing less. But of course weight loss is much easier to measure. So at least to begin with I will measure progress with weight loss.

The problems are:
I like to eat and drink tasty stuff.
I am not currently very active.
Getting active is not too easy when you have 4 kids. I can't just run out to play some tennis. I have to plan ahead.

My Assets are:
A weight machine in the garage. Nothing elaborate, it was the thing you could buy at Walmart for like $175.
I treadmill.
A couple of dumbbells.
A pool in the back yard.
A Bike.


Here's what I'm going to do to make it happen...
Incentives. For each milestone that I reach, I will buy myself something that I have been wanting for a while. Each prize will be cooler than the last.
Drink more iced tea. Many times, I choose beverages that are not all that good for me. Iced tea is not fattening, and I find it delicious.
Finding foods that I like that are healthy. (my recent love of shish ka bobs is going to help here.)
Finding healthier lunch choices that I love. I miss having a Teriyaki place on every corner.
Finding fun ways to exercise. I don't like to run, but there is nothing better for me in order to get my heart rate up.
Lifting weights. I want to do this with golf in mind. I want a stronger back and I want increased power and balance in my swing.
Stretching. I think that becoming more flexible would really be a good thing for. So I am going to start finding stretches that will help my back and also loosen me up.

I don't want to sacrifice eating food that I like altogether. I don't want to run 5 miles a day either. I want to do this in a fun way where I get to eat food that I like and don't feel terrible every time I choose not to exercise.

I am deciding to start today.