Getting Enough Iron

Did you know you have to eat a cup of beets everyday to keep up your iron level? No?  Just kidding. I like beets, but they are definitely not on my daily food planner.  Are you getting enough iron?  I'm not talking about the stuff in the blood that makes you feel tired when there's not enough. Although, you need that too!  I'm talking about weight lifting. For years, I spent my time focusing on cardio. My husband, Joe, was a workout monster and kept telling me to lift weights. I looked at his big muscles and thought, I don't want to look like that!  I politely declined each time he asked me to work out with him and did my own thing.

Now granted, I'm one of "those" people that could eat just about anything and not get in too much trouble.....sorry, I can't help genetics!  But now that I'm older, I have to watch what I'm doing.  I gained about 20 pounds at one point. I was having muscle aches after working all day, and knew I had to do something or I would not be able to keep working as much as I was.

It so happened after looking for options via the internet, I came across a website that turned things around for me.  Bodybuilding.com has many exercise routines and schedules to help you reach your goals.  For about 20 minutes, four days a week, I pump some iron (it makes my husband smile...especially knowing he was right.)  Guess what?  I don't look like my husband...not even close.  Starting off slow and with 3 pound dumbbells, I was gradually able to move up in weights.

While cardio is important in heart-health, weight lifting is important in bone health. Since getting more iron in my diet, I have lost my 15 pound goal, plus an extra 5 I didn't count on. The best thing about "pumping iron" is muscles burn more calories, so I can use up more calories sitting here writing this post. I feel stronger, because I am.  I like the results I'm seeing which gives me the desire to continue.

Always check with your physician prior to starting any exercise routines to make sure it's right for you.  It's important to keep moving for your whole health, even if it's walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

Health-bite:  pump some iron