The other day I was on the phone with the customer service department for either a utility company or a credit card, I can’t remember. I do remember the conversation I had with the woman on the phone.

I was in my kitchen making a cup of coffee. She asked for some information that I had to look up. I asked her to hold on as I quickly walked up the two flights of stairs to my attic office. She said no problem.

Of course after I gave her the info, she then asked me for more info, this time I had to ask her to hold on as I quickly walked down the same two flights to get back to the piece of paper I left in the kitchen. That’s when I couldn’t believe what she said to me.

“Well at least you’re getting your exercise today.”

Is that really exercise? No

Does she really think that was good exercise? Sadly, probably.

I walk up and down from my attic office to the kitchen more times than I can count in a day. In between all that I also do an actual real workout, one where I sweat and lift weights.

Have we, as a collective whole, really become so sedentary and inactive, that walking up and down two flights of stairs has been classified as exercise?

I almost forgot to mention that my house is set up off the road, so I also have to walk up and down about 15 steps every time I want to leave my house or come home.

Crazy exercise I get with all those stairs!

Tags: exercise, pamela macelree, womens strength training by Pamela
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Here we go again…I’ve heard a bunch more excuses on why people can’t fit a workout into their day.

Now it has to do with the kids being out of school, or it’s too hot, or not having enough energy at the end of the day.

I can answer those three for you right now…

Take your kids outside to play, they need the fresh air and exercise just as much if not more than you do.

It’s been beautiful lately, but even if you’re overly sensitive to the sun and heat, most gyms are still indoors and they have the a/c on. If this isn’t enough for you then make your workout revolve around swimming.

If you don’t have enough energy at the end of the day, try working out first thing in the morning. For many folks, this is the preferred time of day. You can also make sure you are fueling your body with the appropriate nutrition and a decent amount of sleep.

There’s always time for a workout, even if it’s a short one, something (to an extent anyway) is always better than nothing.

Tags: exercise, nutrition, pamela macelree, womens strength training by Pamela
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In case you haven’t gathered I’m still fired up about the Fat Acceptance Movement.

At the bottom of this post you’ll find another link, the one that Erica referenced, about the Fat Acceptance Movement.

I still shake my head in disbelief.

I give credit and respect to people who fight for what they believe in, but this is just one of those things, I can’t.

With all the research and studies that have been conducted on obesity and the effects of obesity, you would think this movement would create an encouraging environment for people to want to become more healthy without having to face the thoughts of mainstream society.

Yet, this movement has created a belief that it’s just fine to be obese, that it’s just fine to condemn your body. I’ve seen quite a few people lose a significant amount of weight in my career. I met them at the beginning, or at their sticking point, I know them now, as they have made a choice and committment to leading a healthy lifestyle and have proof to show the world.

Not a single one of them has told me they prefer they way they used to live their life.

They all have stories, stories of unsupportive friends and family members, stories of success, and stories of how they just feel better.

None of them are willing to trade how they felt before, for how they feel today.

Here’s the article that Erica mentioned.

http://bitchmagazine.org/article/big-trouble

Tags: exercise, fat acceptance movement, nutrition, pamela macelree, womens strength training by Pamela
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