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Regular exercise has long been proven to help people with diabetes reduce their risk of future complications and manage their blood sugar levels. A recent study published in the Nov. 24, 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that when people with type 2 diabetes did aerobic (cardio) exercise some days and resistance training on others, they had lower blood sugar levels after nine months than people who did either type of exercise alone. That's news to researchers who long believed that aerobic exercise alone was the best way to manage blood sugar. According to Dr. Ronald Sigal, professor of medicine at the University of Calgary and author of an editorial that accompanied the published study, "Someone who wants to maximize the impact on glucose control and maximize the use of their time should do both aerobic and resistance exercise." He told HealthDay news that, "Even a relatively small amount of resistance exercise--one set twice a week for about 20 minutes--makes a difference." If you're new to fitness or just want to renew your commitment to exercise and weight loss, SparkPeople's 8-Week Diabetes Weight Loss Challenge is for you! I created this workout plan for people of all fitness levels. It involves a proven combination of cardio exercise and strength training to rev your metabolism to help you manage your weight. Another plus is that every workout can be tailored to your own fitness level, and you also get to pick activities that you enjoy. How it Works
Refer to the chart below for your 8-Week Diabetes Weight Loss Workout Plan.
I have limited mobility and/or diabetes complications. Will these workouts work for me? Good question. Talk to your doctor first about what types of exercise are safe and what you should avoid. The 20-Minute Resistance Band Workout above does take place seated, so stick with that workout week to week if seated workouts are the best thing for you. I've also created a series of seated exercise videos that you can use for ideas or as an alternative to the videos prescribed here, including a Seated Cardio Workout, which is great for people with limited mobility of diabetes complications that affect the feet. Use this as your three-times-weekly cardio workout if needed, but keep in mind that other types of cardio exercises (including swimming, an arm "bicycle" called an ergometer, chair dancing/aerobics classes, etc. are also viable options). No plan can be one-size-fits-all, but as long as you're getting moving and aiming for both cardiovascular exercise and muscle-toning exercises throughout the week, you'll be well on your way to a healthier body and heart, improved blood sugar levels, and a trimmer waistline. What if I miss a day or a week? If you miss a day, just move forward. This workout plan should be thought of as a guideline, so if you mess up here and there, don't worry—just get back to it! What if I can't do some of the exercises? Most of the videos will give you ideas to modify your workouts. But if there's any reason you can't do a certain exercise, don't feel pressured to try it. You can modify it as instructed, decrease your range of motion, use less weight (or no weights), or just skip the exercise entirely. Be sure to listen to your body and work at your own pace. And don't forget to check with your doctor before starting any exercise plan. If you have other mobility or medical issues that restrict your exercise activity, that's OK. You and your doctor know best what is safe and effective for you. So as long as you're working on strengthening your body three days a week--even without using our provided workouts--you're essentially meeting these recommendations and completing the challenge. Does it matter which days I work out? You don't have to start on any particular day or week, and for the most part, you can do these strength training video and cardio workouts on any days that work for your schedule. However, for best results, rest from strength training at least one day before doing the video again. Also remember that it is safe to do cardio on the same day as strength training if that works out for your schedule. What if I don't have time for all of this exercise? Did you know that your workouts can be split up into smaller sessions and you'll still achieve virtually the same benefits? If you need to, do a portion of the video early in the day, and another portion later. The same goes for cardio—you can split up cardio into 10-minute increments throughout your day to fit it in. If you still don't have the time, reassess your commitment to fitness and to this challenge. Managing diabetes, losing weight, and getting fit does all take time, so carve it out when you can. Otherwise, just do you best to come as close to the recommendations here, as your time allows. What if I have more questions or need support? Join our 8-Week Diabetes Weight Loss Challenge Team to connect with other people who are following this workout plan. There, you'll also get weekly emails to help you stay motivated and reach your goals and can "play" for the chance to win weekly and quarterly prizes by participating! Overall, this workout plan will make sure you're targeting each of your major muscle groups in new ways so that you'll have more fun and be more likely to stick with it! Enjoy! Selected Source Exercise Combo Best for Type 2 Diabetes via HealthDay News |
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