Monday, November 17, 2008

Anyone for Getting Fit?

I am ashamed of the town where I went to college. Read This, then come back here.

If there is anyone in the Martinsburg/Shepherdstown/Charlestown area in West Virginia who would like to get fit, I can help. I am not selling anything. I am giving advice and coaching. Leave me a comment or email me if you are interested.

Exercise does not guarantee adding years to your life, but it does add life to your years.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

3 Keys to Fitness and Feeling Better

There are three key factors in why I feel better and weigh less these days. They are:

1. I am eating less, but better food.
2. My level of activity is much higher than it was a couple of years ago.
3. I am getting more sleep on a regular basis.

Portion control is key to eating less food. I generally eat just about anything I want (I do try to limit fatty foods), but I just eat less of them.

I have a job now where I am on my feet all day long. And a couple of times a week I lift and move around about 60 heavy boxes.

Having a semi regular schedule and a very short commute means more and better sleep.

If you have any questions, or need help in your own fitness program, contact me. I would be happy to help you.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Away too Long

Yes, I am back. I have had several personal issues recently. And they are for the most part resolved.

I found a job I had, while a very good job which I enjoyed, did not give me time for what was really important to me - my family. I have had and continue to have financial difficulties related to that decision.

The job I have now gives me a lot more time with my wife and children. It is also a very active job. I am on my feet almost all 8 hours. I am lifting and carrying heavy boxes several day a week. In fact, in less than a year, due to the increased work activity, I have taken off another 20 pounds and in the process added muscle. I am stronger and feel better now than I have in may years. I know I can help you feel stronger, lose weight and become more fit.

If you would like to know how and get your own personal coach, either leave a comment or email me.

I will post again within the week. Hope you have a great week until then!

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

I'm Back

Hello again!

I am sorry it has been so long since I have posted here. But sometimes things can't be helped.

There have been several changes in my life since April. My day job got ultra-busy in April. My wife's Grandfather died in May. This caused me to re-evaluate my life and my goals. As a result, I quit my job in June to be closer to family and friends. I had a commute of 2 hours each way and I needed to have more time with my family. My daughter started kindergarten in August and there have been many school activities. Then, most recently, my wife's Grandmother, who was in Stage 5 kidney failure, died this month. And, as of this post I have not found work.

On the fitness front, I have been keeping active and have been eating fairly well. I still weigh 175 pounds and feel great... although I could use a little more sleep.

Since Labor Day, my wife has lost 6 more pounds! And people think she has lost more. Part of it is she has been updating her wardrobe this fall with clothes that actually fit her. It is amazing how the right size of clothing will make you look better and feel better about yourself.

Stay tuned! I will be posting on tips and tricks to help you feel better and be fitter. I will be posting at least two times a week. In the near future look for me to add a link for FAQs, Vitamin and Mineral supplement information, and a few links to sites which may interest you.

As always, feel free to comment (on topic please) or drop me an email with any question or advise you have.

Feel Better!

Sunday, April 02, 2006

No Diet or Exercise (Just Less Food, More Activity)

Hello again! If you read my first post, then you know that at one point I had a weight problem. I had a gut that hung over my belt. I did not feel good. This was not where I saw myself as a 40-year-old man/husband/father.

I decided I needed to change what I ate, my level of activity, and how I felt about myself. I basically did two things. First I cut down on what I ate, and secondly, I increased my level of activity.

Notice I did not use two words – diet and exercise. I try not to use those words. I find that they sometimes work against you. You know what I mean. “Jeez, I hate this diet. I’m always hungry.” Or “I hate to exercise. I get all sweaty and sore.”

The sweaty and sore part doesn’t bother me as much as the hungry part. I can’t go long without having something to eat. My blood sugar starts to drop and I get headaches. So I don’t necessarily want to eat less or less often. This means I have to eat smarter. I think I figured out how to accomplish this. I either choose to eat foods that have less fat and/or less calories or less of the foods that have more fat and or calories.

More in my next post.

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Introduction

Hi! My name is Leigh Ervine. I will be writing here on health issues as they relate to fitness, weight-loss, and feeling better. I will try to post here roughly two or three times a week. Hopefully I can help you with what I write here.

Anytime you feel the urge, please leave a comment or question, send me an email, or if I have it running send me an IM at my Yahoo account.


First, a little bit about myself… I grew up in Southern West Virginia, one of the most fattening places in the U.S. Somehow I managed to make it through college and still be thin. When I graduated, I weighed 135. For a 6’1” runner, that was downright skinny. After about 5 years of work, I had gained up to 170. Fortunately the weight was mostly muscle.

It wasn’t until my wife became pregnant with our first child that my weight problems began. I gained almost 40 pounds in that 7 and half month period. I was bursting at the seams, literally. Still I did not see it as too much of a problem until our daughter was about 6 months old. At that point I really noticed how tired I was all the time. I was over-eating fast food for lunch, not getting exercise, and still not getting enough sleep. I knew in my head that this was not a good combination and decided to change my habits.

In the next 10 months, I went from 210 pounds down to 175 (where I am today, almost five years later). In the coming posts I will try to explain how I have accomplished this. I think the principles I have learned and use can work for quite a few of you out there.


Stay tuned for more!