The Workout DVDaholics guide to well everything....

I have to admit that I am workoutDVDaholic.  I will try anything once, and I mean anything.  I don't think there is one workout dvd that I have had in my hands and not tried.  I also make use of the free workouts that come "on demand" whenever I feel like mixing things up.  I devour anything fitness and health related I can get my hands on.  I read Self, shape and fitness from cover to cover every month.  I keep a running list of new workout DVDs I want to try, and new exercise equipment that I would love to own.    I know how many calories are in most foods, and what the benefits of their certain nutrients are.   It sounds like an obsession I know, but really it is a hobby that I absolutely love.   Working out is my stress reliever, it gives me energy, resets my mood, and gives me a great start to the day.

I feel like there may be some people who are misconstruing what I want to say here.  I want  am going to clarify.  I am not obsessed with my weight, or being too thin.  I have had times in my life where I did have some extra weight to lose (I gained way too much weight during my second pregnancy and it took a year of struggling to get it off.) but really now working out for me is something I enjoy.    I am perfectly happy with myself, and my body the way it is.   I just want to live a long and healthy life, and I believe that working out is part of that.

Where does all this come from?  It started when I was little.  My mom was an avid exerciser and I grew up doing Jane Fonda in my Daffy duck leotard and leg warmers in the living room with her.  In my family we are what I like to call "healthy sweaters."  A topic that I will touch on later.  To this day I love working out with a partner or a friend.  The conversation, and the camaraderie makes the workout so much fun, and sometimes even more rewarding.  

I was told a long time ago that I am person who needs variety, I need flavor, spice, and excitement.  For example,  I do not like Hershey bars.  I never have.  I find them to be sad, drab little excuses for chocolate with very little taste and poor melting quality.  If I am going to eat plain chocolate with nothing in it I will go for the good stuff godiva, lindt or even dove.    More than likely though I will indulge in something with a little flavor, mint or caramel or peanuts.    Why eat a Hershey bar when you can have a Twix, or York Peppermint Patty?   (Sorry this was a little off the subject, but the tangent in my head fit my need for variety in workouts to my need to variety in life.)

I think this need for variety is why I have never joined a gym.   I would love to take the classes, but they are expensive, and most of the workout stuff I have at home I have asked for for birthdays or Christmas, thus keeping my cost down.   And also, I really hate the thought of say going on the elliptical everyday for an hour.  I would love to do it once in awhile, but I couldn't everyday.

What is the point of all this?  Why am I sharing the back story of all this stuff?  I am asked questions all the time by my friends, and family about fitness and health related stuff.  Through those questions I have discovered that I have something to say.   I have pearls of wisdom itching to come out.   My advice is well researched, although not expert advice, and I am ok with that.  I also have this blog where I am allowed to share whatever I want, and I think I feel a string of blogs coming.

So, what are your questions?  I will do my best to answer them, and research them.  Want to know if a workout dvd is good?  I will try it for you and review it.   Need to know why cherries are good for you?  I have the answer and if I don't then I will figure it out.   :)