I have learned many things about fitness throughout this course. I had a basic understanding of fitness and health but did not realize just how important it was. I also did not realize how many aspects there were to my health. This class caused me to reevaluate how I was living my life in order to make better choices for my wellbeing. My initial plan was good but not exactly what I needed it to be. It involved eating too little and working out too much. As I learned more I was able to tailor my plan until it was a more realistic and healthier routine.
Initially I knew I needed to be healthier but my idea of healthy was distorted. I knew I needed to recalculate my intake and output of calories but I did so in a relatively unhealthy manner. Throughout the day I was eating too little and attempting to exercise too much. Breakfast was a small piece of fruit, lunch and dinner were protein. I was not snacking throughout the day. Exercise consisted of running, running, and more running. As the course progressed I quickly learned that this type of plan was very unhealthy and I was able to reconsider it. My initial plan was not successful; I spent most of the day lightheaded and hungry. Technically I did not meet my goal because, though I lose weight, I did not so in a healthy manner. It was not a loss however because I made positive advancements in learning the healthy way to achieve my lifestyle goals.
My current plan is simple and healthy. My day begins with a breakfast of oatmeal or eggs. I find these foods to be healthy and also filling which makes my midmorning snack of fruits or almonds easier to tolerate. Lunch is leafy greens and light grains or fruits if I am craving something sweet. Dinner is more protein and more leafy greens. As for activity it has been difficult to balance my life and working out as much as I need to but I am managing on most days with small adjustments to my day. I try different exercises, such as cycling, running, and yoga to keep myself from getting bored. I also try even smaller life adjustments such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or even walking to the store instead of driving. I have experienced days so busy I have been unable to stick to any routine but despite that I am seeing results. I have lost weight, I feel better, and I do not get winded so easily anymore.
There are so many beneficial guidelines I will take from this course. One of the most important is that what I to my body today will impact my body when it ages. I can take my old age into my own hands if I take care of myself now which is very hopeful and makes me want to try harder at being healthy (Powers, Dodd, & Jackson, 2013). Another helpful thing this course taught me is the effect stress can have on my body. I was initially unaware of what stress can do to my health but now that I am I can take steps against letting it impact me in a negative way by taking time for myself and getting adequate amounts of sleep (Powers et all., 2013). I have also learned the most important thing of all: how to manage my lifestyle in a healthy way. My initial plan for wellbeing was not healthy and left me feeling worse than I did before I began it. Now I am more aware of how many calories my body needs as well as how many calories my body needs to be spending every day in order to keep a balance, lose weight, and gain weight. In order to lose weight I do need to expend more calories than I take in but I need to do so without leaving my body powerless and weak. Eating healthy and exercising within my limits will promote healthy muscle growth as well as many other benefits like a strong immune system (Powers et al,. 2013). I am a happy, healthier person thanks to these and many other things I have learned.
My outlook on health, wellness, and exercise has changed a lot since the beginning of this course. Before I knew I needed to be healthy and actually thought that I was for the most part. I was not significantly out of shape but I did not know that factors such as the amounts of sleep, stress, or physical affection in my life all had an impact on my health and wellness. I thought being healthy revolved around my diet and exercise routine alone. Concerning dieting I was mindful of the food pyramid but ignorant to several facts about calorie output and intake which, as you saw, led to some unhealthy practices in my first fitness plan. My outlook on health, wellness, and exercise as changed because now I do not look at it as a temporary change until I get the results I want. It is actually a lifestyle change in order to maintain the results I want over time.
Works Cited
Powers, S. K, & S. Dodd, & E. Jackson. (2013).Total Fitness and Wellness (Vol. 4, Ed.). Upper
Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education.
