Farewell January 2008!

It is time to bid farewell to January. I worked out with Paul this morning (as usual), and just a quarter of the way into our hike, it began to snow! It was simply magical.

We don't get snow in Auburn very often and I have never been in it like I was today. It was so peaceful and quiet. Even my breath seemed easier. You all know that working out is not easy for me but I intend to keep doing it. The snow today reminded me that I am looking for peace and balance in my life, and today in my workout, it was peaceful. I am going to keep doing it because even if I don't look as good as I think I would like, I know I am healthier and stronger.

All this year we will cover the topics that create health, harmony, and balance in our lives. February we will talk about relationships and the kinds of people we want to surround ourselves with. Feel free to chime in and give me your two cents. I would like this to be a forum where we can all have our opinions and perspectives, not just a podium for me to share my thoughts. With that, farewell January, welcome February!

Winding Down January's Topic - Fitness and Diet

As the month of January comes to a close, I am asking myself if I held up my end the agreements I made. I can honestly say, I have not let myself down, and though my weight has not drastically changed, my strength has.

I am stronger physically and I am stronger emotionally. I have been able to get a better grip on when I am eating to live and when I am eating for all the other reasons I eat. Some of those reasons are stress, not knowing how something is going to play out, feeling out of control, and the ever present (in my life), things are not moving fast enough for me.

For those of you who don't know me, I am fast. I think fast, move fast, talk fast, act fast, and feel fast. I like things to move at my pace and they rarely do. As I get older, I have been able to settle down and find the value in a slower pace, but on the inside, it still frustrates me. So as we bid farewell to January, I will feel like I succeeded in following through, eating better, exercising regularly and accepting that things happen as they are supposed to, not always as quickly as I think they should!

One more week to stay motivated!

We have been sharing ideas about diet, nutrition, and exercise. It has been really good for me to stay on track and I think, form some good habits. Working out is still a challenge and frankly, I don't like it. It is a effort everyday to make it happen but somehow, I am managing to get it done.

The really frustrating part is that I have not lost pounds. My body has changed and I have lost inches, but the scale is pretty much where it started almost eight weeks ago. So here is my take; I am going to keep doing what I am doing no matter what my scale says. I know I am getting stronger and making a difference in my overall health. How can that be bad?

Keep up the good work and if you lost your resolve, it is never too late to get back in the game. Everyday is a new opportunity to do the good thing, and ultimately improve your condition!

January's Topic

As you all know, we are addressing the number one New Year's resolution this month; Weight Loss and Getting Fit.
In February, we will talk about Love and Relationships. Stay tuned and chime it, I would love to know what you think!

Move to Thrive, Everyday!

I happen to catch Bob Green (fitness expert and Oprah's personal trainer) on Rachael Ray's show the other day, and he painted a picture for me that changed the way I think about exercise. Let me see if I can do the same for you.

Basically, he made the analogy that movement is life. Picture your body from the inside, veins, muscles, arteries, and organs. Think of your heart beating strong and pushing the blood through your body providing you with all that's good, and getting rid of all that's not so good. It has the strength and force to reach the outer limits (fingertips, and toes), making all the parts move and thrive.

Now think of a weak heart, beating with no vigor, and how it just moves the blood to the next place. Your blood is moving slowly and in some cases, losing momentum not making it all the way to your outer extremities. With the slow moving blood, you have weak veins and lack of breath. Since your veins and arteries don't have to support the force of the rush of blood, they get soft. When this happens, it is a prime environment for bacteria to grow, tears and breaks, and disease to set in.

Walking intentionally and vigorously for just 30 minutes everyday will keep your heart happy and your blood moving with force through your body. Strength training will make your muscles and bones strong. So many other things will go well, too. Your digestive system will work more efficiently, your energy levels will be high, and your body will eliminate properly and with regularity. Looking at it this way, how can you just sit there, not moving? I am working out with a trainer four days a week. Though it may not communicate in this picture, I am pushing up a pretty steep hill. It also happens to be about 30 degrees!

Our hearts are our life force and the international symbol for love. Love yourself and get those parts moving!

Martin Luther King Jr Day

As you know, we have been talking about getting fit and losing weight for the month of January, but today is a holiday. Martin Luther King Jr is celebrated and remembered today.

I am going to leave you to feel how you would like to about the man and his life, but here is something to think about; what kind of cause do you feel strongly enough about to knowingly risk your life every waking minute of your day?

If you don't have to work today, enjoy your time off. If you do, well, that sucks! Laughing. Have a great day no matter what!

No pain, no gain? Well, yes.

It's hard enough to make exercise happen everyday but then it has to hurt, too? Yes, it has to hurt if you want to see results. Here is what I understand to be true.

If you have gained weight and let your shape get soft, then your muscles need work. When you push what you can do physically, you stress the soft tissue and it gets sore. This is when you use muscles you don't use in your daily life (like horse back riding), or when you weight train and work your muscle groups to failure (like when you think you can't do one more rep and you painfully do two!). In both examples, it is best to give your body (specifically those sore muscles) a day of recovery by working a different group of muscles. And drink lots and lots of water.

So the answer to the question "Does exercise have to hurt?" is yes, if you want to see results. When you get into your routine and find that your routine is getting easy, you need to do the things that make you sweat, and make your muscles sore again. Keep upping the ante! Do keep in mind however, there is a difference between sore muscles as you get in shape and an injury. If you are hurting because you have sprained your ankle, you need to see a doctor and stay off your feet.