Actually, weight loss is not as much a goal for me as getting strong and staying healthy! I generally don’t have a big appetite, and I’ve gotten the message about fatty, sugary foods and how they screw up your body, so my weight has been pretty manageable over the last 10 years or so. I actually trained for the Marine Corps marathon some years back, and like to think I would have finished it, had I not blown out my knees somewhere along mile 16.

Where I need help is in the strength department. I’ve never had much upper body strength, but isn’t it about time I had the power to open a jar of spaghetti sauce without needing the help of a brawny guy? Besides, as I get older, I’d like to do what I can to ward off osteoporosis, arthritis, and other illnesses. Load-bearing exercise, like lifting weights and walking or running, helps build strong bones and muscle power. It sounds like it’s worth the effort.

There’s also the mental benefit that comes from aerobics. My 94-year-old dad is sharp as a tack, and I think it’s due in large part to the fact that he played ice hockey from the time he could lace up his skates until he was into his 60s. He continued to walk a couple of miles every day until he turned 92. I don’t plan on learning how to shoot a puck, but if I can get my heart rate up a bit, I know I’ll feel more alert.

The “Go Green, Get Fit Challenge,”which is being hosted by the EcoMom Alliance and Healthy Home Magazine, is asking all participants to set a specific goal or goals for the next three months.

Here are mine:

First, I am going to complete the DVD-based P-90X “Beach Body” Program. I attempted the whole program earlier this year, and found parts of it (especially the yoga and the biceps-triceps routines) very difficult. As part of the “Go Green, Get Fit Challenge,” I’m going to take on the whole P90X program again. This time, I promise not to use the fast-forward button to skip over the exercises I thought I couldn’t manage before.

Second, I am going to aim for one very specific goal: I want to be able to do at least 5 underhand pull-ups on a chin-up bar. Remember what I said about no upper body strength? Right now, I can’t even pull myself up off the ground one inch when I’m hanging at a dead weight. Will I be able to do 5 chin ups three months from now?

Stay tuned!

FYI,

• › In 2010, only 16.4% of women age 18 and older met the 2008 Federal Physical Activity Guidelines (US Center for Disease Control (CDC) 2012).
• › Among women age 20 and older, the following are overweight or obese: 59.3% of non-Hispanic whites; 70.8% of non-Hispanic blacks and 75.1% of Mexican Americans (CDC, 2012)
• › A 2008 Center for Disease Control study found a majority of American women overextended, depressed, anxious and isolated. (CDC 2008)
• › One in three female adults has some kind of cardiovascular disease (CDC, 2012)
• › Personal health and environmental health are intertwined and equally important, yet women often allow their personal health to take a back seat to other demands in their lives

What’s your personal physical fitness goal? Let’s reach our goals together!

The post I Joined the Go Green, Get Fit Challenge! appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Yet that’s exactly what Bonnie C., a 26-year old resident of Washington, D.C., has done. Bonnie is single, lives in an apartment, and works for the U.S. Government. Here’s her story:

“I read a blog post of yours last year encouraging readers to redirect $1000 in spending to green purchases.  This really struck me, and I decided to try it.  I hit $1000 in December when I installed my own programmable thermostat.  Here’s how I did it:

BONNIE’S BIG GREEN SHIFTS

Used furniture (sofa, dining table, patio table, TV, TV cabinet): $340, but the TV and cabinet were free!

 Used Bike: $250

Garden Plot, tools, soil: $200

Organic Food: $75

Glass food containers: $40

Organic Body Products: $5 (but I’ve only run out of toothpaste, so I expect this number to grow)

No VOC Paint: $40

CFL Lightbulbs: $20

Green Cleaning Products: $25

Programmable Thermostat: $34

Total: $1029

Even though I live in an apartment, I installed the thermostat and painted – I’ll change them back when I move out.

I think it’s also interesting to note that most of these purchases saved me money.  I’m 26, and I don’t have a large budget to reallocate, but by buying used items, I must have saved hundreds.  The lightbulbs and thermostat will save me money, AND I don’t have to get out of bed in a cold house!  I also bought a fuel-efficient Honda Fit that gets about 34 mpg on average for my typical commute, but 37-38 on long road trips.

This year I’m planning to shift more spending towards food and beauty products.  I’m also trying to get a roommate, which will not only cut down on expenses, but house 2 people using about the same energy as 1.

Most of these were really easy changes, but I’m still getting over sticker shock of organic food and beauty products.

Changing out the thermostat was surprisingly easy.  Yes, there were tons of poorly labeled wires, but we followed the directions carefully and it only took about 30 minutes.

Next I’m looking for a roommate!  I’m also going to try to get into composting.  And I’ll keep migrating to better food and beauty products.”

Bonnie’s also going to keep working on her boyfriend, who was helpful if skeptical. “He was reluctant at first,” she says, “but had a positive view after we finished those projects (installing the thermostat and setting up the garden plot).”  I’m still trying to get him into better toiletries and food, but he was a quick sell on green cleaning products!”

Thanks for blogging and motivating me!”
Bonnie

As Bonnie knows, every dollar you shift makes a difference. The way you spend your money is your first line of defense against products that contain toxic ingredients or waste energy. Just as importantly, buying “green” encourages companies to reduce pollution and use water and other natural resources with greater care. Plus, choosing more environmental options often saves you money immediately. For all these reasons, the Big Green Purse One in a Million campaign inspires people to set a goal of shifting at least $1,000 of money they’d spend anyway on the most environmentally-friendly products available.

Thousands of people have already committed to shifting their spending. Why don’t you? You can sign up here.

For more inspiring stories like Bonnie’s, start here.

The post Washington, D.C. Woman Shifts $1,029 of Her Household Budget to Go Green appeared first on Big Green Purse.