This is my exercise since starting!

Thursday, March 20- walked approximately 2 km
Friday, March 21- walked approximately 5 km
Saturday, March 22- family get-together so didn’t do much but talk and laugh
Sunday, March 23- nothing!
 ...........................................................................

These are the cardiac exercises that I have been doing for the past week and a half.  I am mostly sticking the The Plan although I need to start adding the strength training. 

1 mile = 2.2 km

Thursday, March 20- walked approximately 2 km
Friday, March 21- walked approximately 5 km
Saturday, March 22- family get-together so didn’t do much but talk and laugh
Sunday, March 23- nothing!
Monday, March 24- biked about 8.8 km, walked about 1 km
Tuesday, March 25- walked about 6.5 km
Wednesday, March 26-walked about 4 km
Thursday, March 27- walked 2.5 km, biked 5.5 km
Friday, March 28- biked 5.5 km
Saturday, March 29- walked about 2 km
Sunday, March 30- biked 5 km
Monday, March 31- biked 13 km
Tuesday, April 1- biked 5.5 km   so far today

Why do people get fat, do you think?   I mean really?  Obviously it can happen when people eat too much.  Or don't exercise.  Or take in more calories than they burn.

For myself, I don't really eat too much, although I do eat more now than I ever used to, but it is more what I eat.  Give me a bag of chips and I could polish that baby off, no problem.  I could hoover any kind of chocolate without a breath!  But I think it is carbohydrates that are my real problem- bagels, breads, donuts, muffins, crackers- all those yummy things.  So I think it is not only how much I eat but what I eat.

Or is it more exercise, or lack of, that makes people fat?  I know that I exercise more than a lot of people I know.  I ride my bike a lot and walk when I can't ride.  My skinny sister couldn't keep up with me on a bike.  I sure don't ride very fast but I get where I am going.  So that is my exercise.  Am I likely to go to a gym to workout?  Nope.  I don't like exercise and I am too cheap to pay for a membership.  Kudos to the people who have a steady workout routine.  I know lots of chubby people who exercise more than anyone would think by looking at them.  And most people know that just because a person is thin, doesn't make that person healthy!

Calories in and calories burned- that is the basis of weight, at least that is the common thought.  Trying to research Why Do People Get Fat? is like wading into a dark, muddy pit: every time I think I have the answer, I get bogged down with different opinions.  So many different views!!!

Besides food and exercise, other factors that affect weight are:
Lack of sleep
Certain medications
Hormone problems
Stress
TV
Obesity gene
Intestinal bacteria
Lower income

I think I will try to tackle each factor in separate posts!

You have to have a plan.  With just about anything, a plan makes things run smoothly!

Here is my Weight Loss and Fitness Plan (subject to change and modification!)  Hereby shall be know as The Plan.

Exercise (which I really hate!):
Walk
Bike
Resistance band for toning
Yoga to build strength
Keep track of exercise on SparkPeople.com

Food and Nutrition:
No junk food!!!  (this is major for me)
Portion control (as opposed to a deprivation diet.  I think this will work better for me, at least in the beginning)
Low carbohydrates  (I am a carboholic!)
Less wheat (I may revise this to no wheat, I am not sure!)
Drink more water

Weigh-In Wednesday:
Check weight on Wednesday, for no other reason than they both start with W.

Spark People is a great site for weight loss.  You can keep track of calories in and calories burned with exercises.  There are lots of motivational articles and recipes.  Plus it is free.