[Sportsandrec] New list member with fitness-related questions and goals for the new year

[foleyforever at gmail.com]

Thanks for your question.  I don't know if my answers will totally give you what you were looking for, but I'm happy to share with you what I know and what has worked for me so far.  Just a little background, last year I started at 220 pounds and I am now down to 190.  My goal weight is 160.  I imagine it will probably take about a year to get to my goal weight.  Some will say that's a little slow, but I'm OK with that.  I figure this is the best way to keep the weight off once I lose it.

That said, here's what I have to share.  Last year, I joined weight watchers on their smart points program.  It takes a little more discipline than I would like, but I have experience that if you stick with it faithfully it will work.  So far, it has helped me to lose 30 pounds.  They have meetings and they also have an app which is reasonably accessible for the most part.  With voiceover, I can use the app to track my foods, my exercise, and my weight.   Unfortunately, voiceover does not work so well with the Connect feature of weight watchers.  Connect, is kind of like an online support group or social media for weight watchers.  As an alternative, most weight watchers groups have Facebook pages, which might be a little more accessible.  Statistically, people who go to the meetings tend to lose more weight than those who just use the app.  In my situation, however, I find that if I just stick with it I can do OK with the online app and I don't have to pay for the transportation to get to meetings.

Another good resource I have come in contact with in the last year is from blind alive.  The website is blindalive.com.  They have pretty decent, free podcasts on health, nutrition and exercise.  They also have a series of "eyes free workouts" for yoga, Pilates, and cardio.  So far, I have tried one of the yoga workouts.  

Another tool in my weight-loss tool kit is the fit bit zip.  This is the least expensive of the fit bits and you can clip it to your bra or wear it on a lanyard and just have it around your neck.  You can sync it with the weight watchers app as well as some other fitness apps.  I can't always read fit bit too well but I can sync it with the iPhone and read it using voice over.  It motivates me to walk more and it makes me a little more willing to do things such as run some errands or take out the trash.  

Finally, I go to yoga classes at a hot yoga studio.  I have found for the most part that instructors are pretty patient and willing to describe what is going on.  To supplement this, I also check out YouTube videos and books such as journey into power by Baron Baptiste.  That book, which is on Audible.com does provide pretty decent audio descriptions of the poses.  I won't lie, learning all of the movements and the terminology takes a while.  

Hopefully, this information will be enough to get you started.  In weight watchers, they describe the weight-loss is a journey.  I'm halfway to my goal but i too still have a lot to learn.  If I can be of any further help to you, please feel free to email me: 

 foleyforever at gmail.com

Kris Foley

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 18, 2016, at 3:23 PM, Miranda B. via SportsandRec <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone,
> 
> I am new to this list, and if appropriate, I have some questions regarding
> health/fitness and public gyms.
> 
> To give a bit of background, I ran track in junior high and high school, and
> throughout high school I ran 5 days a week and lifted weights 3 days a week.
> Mind you, that was over 10 years ago, so the most exercise I do at the
> moment is extensive walking.
> 
> I would like to eat healthier and exercise in the new year, both to lose
> some weight before possibly traveling overseas for the summer, and just to
> be more healthy and in-shape. I'm trying to plan ahead, hence my message to
> all of you today.
> 
> I live in a second floor apartment, so any at-home exercise should be
> minimal in noise. However, I do also have access to a gym at my university,
> although I haven't yet had a chance to explore it as someone who is
> completely blind. A couple of my visually impaired friends inquired for
> themselves if anyone was available to assist them with learning how to
> accessibly use the equipment, and it seemed that this was not possible.
> However, I do have at least one sighted friend who I would trust to help me
> in this way, if necessary.
> 
> I should also note that I have an iPhone, so I can use health and
> fitness-related apps as well. For instance, I loved using MyFitnessPal
> earlier this year, except it became tedius to enter and find the correct
> ingredients for meals and recipes.
> 
> Do you have any tips or advice related to inexpensive gym memberships (in
> the event I decide to go that route) or accessibility in my university's
> gym, helpful iPhone apps, exercise mats, dumbbell brands, accessible scales
> that connect to the iPhone, or anything else related to my goal for the new
> year?
> 
> Thanks in advance for your time and assistance, and I wish all of you a
> happy holiday season!
> 
> 
> 
> Best wishes, Miranda
> 
> 
> 
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