Works for Me Wednesday: Taking the Stairs
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I have something in my home that can be both a blessing and a curse, though now that I’m working at losing 95 pounds I should definitely consider it a blessing — lots of stairs. There is a full flight from the main living area of our home to the basement and a half-flight from the main living area to the kitchen/dining area and yet another half-flight to our bedroom. At any given point during the day, there’s bound to be something that you need at the top or bottom of one of those flights of stairs.
For the last couple of weeks, I’ve decided to quit grumbling about those stairs and start using them to my advantage. At any point during the day, it doesn’t take but just a few minutes to walk up and down those stairs three or four times. Talk about getting your heart rate going! I’ve started trying to do this several times a day — just icing on the cake of my weight loss efforts.
What do you have easily at your disposal that you could turn into a weight loss tool?
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Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.
Kris,
I commend you on your efforts and commitment at accomplishing your weight loss goal. I too have been putting off a few goals for many years and decided to make a change. I have always had easily at my disposal "pavement," which I have been pounding for the past month. I've returned to running which required only lacing up my shoes and getting back outside again. I'm now up to two miles/day and am looking forward to adding more mileage at the beginning of the year.
Kris I LOVE this! I also have two full flights of stairs in my house that I have been whining about! I just decided started using those stairs too hahaha! I started with five times up and down and am trying to add at least one more trip up and down each day =-}
@ Momma — That's great! I have to admit, I hate running. I'm hoping that, by the time I'm closer to my goal weight, I will have developed a love of running…or, at least, a tolerance for it.
@ Christina — Wow! Five trips up/down the stairs is great! I've only done about 3 trips at a time, so far, and I am totally huffing and puffing by that last time. I've thought about making that my cardio workout one or two days a week, but I'm quite sure that I couldn't maintain that for 20 or 30 minutes. Ouch!
I have gone what seems like forever in going upstairs – no real need. I think that I will join you in using it as a "stairmaster". thank you for sharing your journey.
My dog who needs walking daily is a blessing to get my heart pumping also.
=) I have stairs. And I grumble often. ;D I know, I know they could be good for me though…
Fantastic!!!
Good idea! Only I live in a one story dwelling (mobile home). But I did find that if I made a conscious effort to move MORE during the day – I did better. I've exercised three mornings in a row so far so I guess I'm doing well. 😉
You've got me thinking! I have a large amount to lose, as well.
Great idea. I have two sets of stairs in my house that I use regularly (and complain about frequently). Steps, here I come!
I have been somewhere between thin and average all my life, and stairs are one of my tools! I have a two-story house with basement, so I use the stairs there, but I also use them in my office building where I work on the 4th floor. (I previously worked in a building where we weren't allowed to use the stairs–we'd get locked in and have to set off an alarm and wait for rescue–and I was only on the 2nd floor; it was so annoying!!)
My other tips:
Fidget. Get in the habit of jiggling your leg or tapping your toe when sitting. Studies show it actually burns enough calories to make a difference!
Carry things (like babies and bags of groceries) instead of pushing them on wheels. For groceries, shoulder bags or a backpack let you carry more weight than bags in your hands.
Walk wherever you can, or take public transit and walk to the stop. When you do have to drive, take the farthest-away parking space.
Walk as fast as possible in the situation, even just around the house.
The Seven-Minute Stretch
Good luck with your weight loss journey! I'm on one as well. Keep me posted!