A few days ago, I noticed a Wii Football on Amazon, set to release later next month. It’s from the same company that produced the calorie-counting Wii tennis racket, and I thought it was just another cute item to add on to Madden games. But it turns out that the pigskin Wiimote skin may be the shape of things to come – a rumor has it that EA Sports is planning a “guy’s” installment in their popular Active exergame line, and it’s going to be based on football-styled training, including instruction on how to make perfect passes. Sounds like a good way to burn off those Super Bowl nachos and beer. Maybe an old Slam Man can be suited up in a jersey and repurposed as a tackling dummy.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
A new football exergame may get guys off the couch
Exercise Less, Not More!
[ Editor's Note: Fitness author Jon Benson shared this letter with me and gave me permission to share it with you. ]
If I had to pick out the number one reason most people fail to achieve good results in the gym, guess what it would be? Over-training. Exercising too much. Sounds counter-intuitive, but trust me: It’s quite real. Folks write to me all the time and say…
“Jon, I don’t get it. I cannot lose bodyfat and I’m running six days a week for an hour and training in the gym five days a week for 45 minutes!”
My answer back is usually:
“You are training 4x more than me, and I’m a fitness pro!”
Look, do you take 21 aspirin for a headache, thinking the more you take the faster your pain will go away? No? So why apply the same logic to fitness? Only a certain amount is required. Beyond that, you are spinning your wheels. When I wrote 7 Minute Muscle (available here) I exposed all the lies about training too long and why this is not the best way to achieve the results you want. Check it out if you want the facts.
One more thing: 75% of your progress will come in the kitchen, not in the gym or on the treadmill. As for me, I would much rather eat smart and train less than train all the time and be forced to eat 6-8 times a day just to recover from it all. That makes no sense to me at all. You?
Click Here! <— Less Is More!
Monday, December 28, 2009
WOD
“Turkey Buster”
1000m Row
10 Burpees
800m Run
10 Burpees
750m Row
10 Burpees
600m Run
10 Burpees
500m Row
10 Burpees
400m Run
10 Burpess
250m Row
10 Burpees
200m Run
10 Burpees
64.2kgs or 141 lb and 8.58 oz
The same weight for two days in a row. Well that’s unusual.
Today I made it back to the gym. I did 40 minutes of cardio and burnt 460 calories. I’m not sure whether I’m still ill or have become unfit, but it was hard work. Not a little bit hard, but really, really hard. When I go o the gym, I definitely believe in the motto ‘go hard or go home’. I don’t understand the people who go to the gym and read. Read??? I once saw a woman who was lying on her back whilst also reading the SMH. I doubt she was concentrating on her form.
When I go to the gym it is for the sole purpose of burning as many calories as possible and toning and honing as much of my body as I can manage. I’m not there to talk or make friends. I’m there to work – I should be breathless, on the verge of pain and sweaty (and make no mistake about it, I don’t glow or perspire – I sweat). When I first set-up on a machine, I say hello to it. For the next however many minutes, it is my partner in achieving my goal.
Anyway today was a good workout. I would much rather be playing sport (damn my knees which won’t allow me to do the things I really love like play netball and run), but at least I can still get the endorphin high from somewhere.
Today’s outfit is definitely not flattering. I can’t say when all I did was go the gym, I care today. I’ve had the shorts since I was 21. I do like the fact I can still fit into clothes from more than a decade ago. Does help a bit when it’s got a drawstring waist!
I really thought taking a shot in my underwear every day would show me more. I’m almost disappointed that I can’t see big differences in my weight, but I can’t really and that shouldn’t disappinte me, it should reassure me. What this does prove though is the fact that it’s all in your head. The way you perceive yourself isn’t really down to the scales or what size you are or what a photoraph tells you – it’s in your head. Well my head to be precise.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Addiction Recovery - How to Jump Start Your Fitness Program - Part 2
Part 2: the mind, body and spirit:
As in my last article, the recovery of a life threatening disease is detected, requires a balanced approach to body, mind and spirit. In Part 1, Charlie makes a good start to his recovery program for help. He recognizes that sport is an integral part of his recovery program and began working with a health professional to restore the structure and function of his sick body.
A training program onlineImpact almost every aspect of the health of Charlie.
In fact, exercise can:
• Reduce the risk of premature death
• Reduce the risk of heart disease
• reduction of high blood pressure
• Reduce high cholesterol
• Reduce the risk of many cancers
• Reduce the risk of diabetes
• Reduce body fat and improve body weight
• Develop and maintain a healthyMuscles, bones and joints
• reduce depression and anxiety
• Improves performance in work and in sport
In this article I will focus on the importance of exercise in a balanced program and complete recovery.
How it works?
Recall that Charlie is 50 pounds overweight and a little 'short of breath. He finds walking very painful, because of the lower back. But after four weeks, chiropractic,Charlie is now without pain in the situation five to ten minutes walk. He is happy with his progress and, in any case, sees light at the end of the tunnel. Discovers that has taken hold on the levels of stress and the number of its sense of vitality and wellness. He had always enjoyed walking and stretching, but the chronic pain and addiction to alcohol and drugs kept him from carrying out these activities.
The next step for Charlie is on four simple low back add enough for his daily walkRegime. If it can be more flexible, the muscles in his lower back in a better position to support him during the loading operations. Charlie's chiropractor sits two given two practical exercises, lying on his back. He has no problem with the exercises in the office and feels he can do these exercises almost anywhere.
Charlie decides that he is on foot and back pain can perform the exercises in the beautiful park nearby. He will also be able to read every day hisMeditation and spend time in silent prayer as well. In this scenario, it is within his physical body and also feed your spirit and soul. In addition, there's the movement in the beauty of nature.
This is an excellent example of a recovery program that the mind, body and balance the spirit. It should be noted that many people to minimize or ignore altogether the exercise component of their program of recovery.
Charlie asked for help, and took the measures taken to achieve its objectives. Hework to collect his recovery program consistently every day and starts, the fruits of his efforts. Not only does exercise help him recover from his addiction, will also help him to the risk of another heart attack and help him lose weight. Ultimately, it will play again in position, with her two beautiful grandchildren.
Note that fitness is an important part of any recovery program. Act now and be physically fit!
Monday, December 21, 2009
The New Years Resolution
Tis’ the season!…to make our resolutions for the New Year. So how about that commitment that we all have made at one point or another take better care of ourselves? Quit smoking, stop drinking, eat better, exercise, read more books, the list goes on and on and every year we dutifully break our promises (some of us anyway!).
This year, I started on my new years resolution early…as in September early. My goals are simple
1.) Eat healthful most of the time
2.) Exercise 3-5 days per week and
3.) Gain a greater awareness of what my body needs to be healthy and happy from the inside out.
Seems simple enough, and so far I have been reasonably strong, but flexible in my commitment. The result? I’ve lost 21 lbs. I feel 100% better and it has become easier to make good choices. The process has been long, but to be honest, making the changes over time has proven to be a blessing in disguise.
Perhaps that is the key to keeping a New Years resolution, keep it simple, achievable and don’t beat yourself up if you have to take it slow?
Alexander Technique Brighton Hove Sussex - fitness & flexibility in five minutes a day
Alexander Technique Brighton Hove sport & fitness coaching with Alan Mars
Can you really, significantly, improve flexibility in 5 Minutes a day? Yes! http://tinyurl.com/yb3uzpq
I really enjoyed this Twitter post by colleague & former fellow student Robert Rickover.
Improving Flexibility, Nien Cheng, the Cultural Revolution, Body Mapping, Alexander Technique – all in one place! http://tinyurl.com/yb3uzpq
The flexibility routine that Robert describes is one that use for myself and particularly with people who come to me for Alexander Technique, sport and fitness coaching.
Visit Robert’s world here http://twitter.com/BodyLearning
Robert Rickover
Friday, December 18, 2009
Swimsuits and smiles
So it’s frigid cold here at this time of year. Everyone knows that! So why would these brave souls embrace the new year wearing only swimsuits and smiles?
That’s the story behind our Polar Bear Club for Promontory’s Elite!
On the first of every year, we commemorate the year by doing the PHA Circuit Training Class in the pool instead of staying inside. Unlike “normal” Polar Bear clubs that move from hot saunas into cold water, we exercise in a warm eighty degree pool and then roll in the snow.
Immediately after the snow roll, you get into the Jacuzzis. Hot beverages and pastries follow and you’re then rewarded with a prestigious Promontory Polar Bear Club T-shirt.
There is no cost for this once a year opportunity. For an unforgettable experience join the thirty-three other members that have already signed-up.
Where: Ranch Clubhouse
When: Friday, January 1, 2010
Time: 7:00am
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Walking Your Way To Health - It's All About The Walking!
So yeah, walking. Walking (that’s an entire freakin site dedicated to walking…a great site I might add!) is a wonderful for of physical fitness for many different reasons. It’s a form of exercise that just about anyone can get started with and at the end of the day it’s a form of physical exercise which means that it’s an incredibly healthy activity. You see, so many people feel as though they have fallen off the ladder so to speak when it comes to their physical appearance and overall fitness level. People like this are often desperate to get back into shape and to look “good”. They want to see fast results and they think that they need to start doing some crazy fitness stuff like signing up for a gym membership on impulse alone. The fact of the matter is that getting healthy is something that will not happen in a matter of a week and it isn’t something that you need to bash your head against. Something as simple and low key as walking really can help just about anyone change their life and get healthier.
Now, walking isn’t something that is going to melt the pounds off instantaneously or give you that sexy physique you’ve always wanted in a matter of days, but it is a great gateway to overall health and well being. Instead of trying to near kill yourself by running laps around your neiborhood after doing very little exercise for a long time, walking to exercise is a better way to go. A great analogy that I have literally just thought of is gateway drugs. If someone tries out alcohol or smokes a little weed for their first time and enjoys the feeling of being high or drunk, then that person is probably going to be more open to trying out harder drugs (I have to say that this fully depends on the individual though). So, think of walking as your gateway to harder drugs. And by harder drugs, I mean more intense exercises and bigger steps towards a healthier lifestyle. If you start walking and enjoy the feelings you get from this form of exercise and enjoy doing something healthy, then you are going to be more likely to start taking even more drastic steps towards better health.
Another great thing about walking is that it is incredibly cheap and easy to do. All you really need is a pair of comfortable walking shoes (that’s a site all about getting the best pair of walking shoes) and to get yourself out there and walking. And honestly, a pair of shoes specifically designed for walking isn’t really necessary. As long as you have a pair of sneakers that are comfortable then you should be good. And that’s it! You don’t need to pay for a gym membership. You don’t need to get a treadmill. All you really need are shoes and to start walking. Personally, I don’t walk too much anymore because I’ve since moved on to more “intense” physical exercises but I will say that it was a great stepping stone activity for getting me where I am today in terms of my great health and physique. I do still go for a walk now and then just because it is very relaxing and always healthy, but just not as much as I used to. Enough reading this post though, it’s time for you to get serious about walking if you’re someone who wants to get healthier. Go walk the walk!
Body Fat
There are many of us that are interested in losing weight, but whenever we say that we are interested in weight loss what we are typically saying is that we are interested in fat loss. That is why we would all benefit from taking a look at a body fat percentage chart whenever we first start in our efforts to lose weight and keep our eye on it during that time in order to see how we are progressing.
It is fairly easy to find a body fat percentage chart on the Internet, but it really depends on why you want to see one of these charts in the first place. If you’re just trying to determine whether you could be considered to be obese, those numbers may vary to a certain extent in some of the charts that you’re going to read. For the most part, however, a man that is 25% body fat and a woman that is about 32% body fat are considered to be obese. A healthy body fat for an athletic individual would be about half of that amount and you can even go much lower than that if you want to see better results and to look even thinner.
Although it may seem rather complex, a body fat percentage chart is really only based on a simple mathematical formula. It is figuring out the amount of fat that you have in your body in comparison to your overall body weight. For example, if you were a 200 pound man which was carrying around about 20 pounds of body fat, your body fat percentage would be at 10% which is a very healthy level. The way that you would reach these numbers is by weighing yourself and then taking into consideration the weight of your overall structure, muscles, bones and organs. There are some calculators that are available online which will make it very easy to calculate this number.
Whenever you first start losing weight, you may find that you are rather high on the body fat percentage chart and perhaps even a little bit higher than what you would have considered at first. Don’t be discouraged over this, and keep in mind that the more body fat that you have, the quicker you are going to be able to lose that body fat. It takes energy for you to carry around additional weight and if you’re watching what you are eating and eating healthfully, that extra fat is actually going to make you burn additional calories. That is why it is more difficult to lose the last 10 pounds of body fat that you want to lose but it is fairly easy for you to lose the first 10.
As you continue to lose weight and you are happier with how you look overall, your need to look at the body fat percentage chart is probably going to go away. It is still a good idea for you to keep track of it, however, as it is an interesting number to have in your head and can motivate you to keep going in your weight-loss efforts as necessary.
Get Your Dream Body In 6 Weeks With This Secret Summer Diet Plan
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Dominance of Culture. Or - Why the Healthcare Debate is Silly
My friend JR Atwood recently posted about the synchronous increase in American waistlines, and decrease in American intellect.
He was responding to an article by David Rock, called “Are Our Minds Going the Way of Our Waists?“
David’s point is that new technologies are providing distractions (mental calories) in much the same way that industrial agriculture has provided physical calories – in abundance, and with little concern for quality or nutritive value.
Are we becoming fat-heads?
In the end, David asks us to consider evaluating new technologies for their effect, before embracing them wholeheartedly.
While it’s a useful exercise to do personally, no group will ever do this, and if they do, they will never successfully enact changes to behavior based on their findings.
The nature of life is to expand. People will always seek the newer, better, faster, crazier thing out there. Depending, I think, on how their culture defines those terms.
What “causes” obesity? Is it simply “overeating,” or “an overabundance of cheap calories?”
I don’t think so. Many “indigenous” peoples throughout history have had access to an overabundance of cheap calories all the time (fruits, grains, etc.), yet didn’t tend toward obesity.
Similarly, what causes “fat-headedness?” Is it the availability of blogs, tweets, commercial television, etc.?
While I can’t think of an historical corollary here (a time when information was overabundant), there’s probably one to be had – and one where the individuals didn’t turn into snippet-junkies, but used that abundance of information to create wonderful new things. Maybe the Renaissance, following Gutenberg’s printing press, would be a good comparison.
The common denominator underlying these attitudes or approaches – the things that guide action – is the cultural context that the individual identifies with.
Identifies with – not that they are “within.” There are sub-cultures within every larger culture, and there are “iconoclasts” within every culture – people who do not go along with the larger push of that culture.
The distribution of individuals’ cultural-adherence within their culture probably follows the bell curve. Most people most likely tend to follow the status quo within the culture (hence the existence of the culture…if they didn’t, it wouldn’t exist!), and then there are people on either end of the spectrum, fewer and fewer the further away you get from the culture’s main mores and values.
Most of the modern “healthcare debate” fascinates me for precisely this reason. None of it addresses the creation of a culture of physical health.
Why is that? I asked this recently, following another author’s lead. Why is America terrified of physical education?
I’m not sure what the answer is to that question.
When you consider the power of culture, however, it becomes clear that any other action, any action that doesn’t seek to create a culture of physical health/education, is merely lip-service…it’s just talk.
Examples of cultures that valued physical strength, health, or education (in an “external” fashion…cultures that valued the above in an “internal” fashion are even more numerous, but because they never explicitly stated their mores with regard to the subject, it’s much more difficult to pinpoint why they valued physical health, etc.):
- Ancient Greece
- Ancient Rome (pre-Republic)
- Sparta
- Viking culture
- Soviet culture
These are mostly totalitarian-type cultures. Or at least, cultures that demand a high degree of self-sufficiency from their populace.
Is there a link? Does “Democracy” breed fatness?
I’m interested to find out.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Health News Roundup: Coffee Makes You Drunk(er) and You May Have "Sitting Disease"
Well…
…the polar ice caps are melting, it’s 27 degrees outside and my heater is broken. As I type this, the only heat in my apartment is coming from a 6-inch tall space heater perched on my desk and as close to me as possible. But, hey, it’s the holidays. As they said on Community last night (in another hilarious episode), “Happy Merry”!
Speaking of typing at my desk, the NY Daily News cites a poll conducted by the Institute of Medicine that found Americans sit an average of 56 hours a week. Even more disturbing is that going to the gym every day won’t help to erase the damage done by a 10-hr work-day spent in front of the computer. Their advice? Get up from the computer every couple of hours and walk around. You can always bring your iPhone along with you if you’re afraid you’ll miss a tweet.
While I’m on the subject of work, a new study shows that those of us that get paid hourly are happier at work than those who are salaried employees. As a freelance, I’m just happy ifwhen I get paid. Period.
If you’re attending any holiday parties this weekend (and I hope you are!), you may not want to drink coffee to sober up. I read in the Telegraph about a Temple University study showing that coffee and even alcoholic beverages with caffeine in them may make you more drunk. Caffeine gets rid of any remaining inhibitions you might have had regarding things like driving a car, or dying your hair.
It turns out that people can identify, pretty accurately, personality characteristics just by looking at someone. A new study shows that the way you stand, the expression on your face, your mannerisms, all of these things can tell someone whether you are nice, open and emotionally stable, for example. Guess it’s not just what’s on the inside that counts?
Have a great weekend,
Amber
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Fat is energy and the best way to lose it is to use it!
Hello Ladies! I know last week was tough but you all did such an excellent job. Lets work extra hard these last couple days and please don’t let the weather discourage you. I know it’s no easy task to rise before the sun and bundle up before you head outdoors. What you really want to do – and the last thing you should do – is to hit the snooze button and pull the blankets over your head. But it’s only winter! Don’t let it throw you off your game. While everyone is at home fattening up this holiday season you are out working your butts off and you are the winners in the long run!
I am sure you know someone who’s getting amazing results from an insanely low-calorie diet. It may be tempting to severely restrict your calories in hopes of a drastic weight loss, but don’t even think about it! The honest truth is, very few people can maintain one of those crazy kinds of diets for more than a couple weeks. And to make things worse, most people on near-starvation diets gain back all the weight (and more) just a few months later. In weight-loss terms, fat is energy and the best way to lose it is to use it. You have to do it with diet and exercise. If you diet without exercise, the majority of your weight loss will be from muscle. The minute you stray from your diet, the weight will come right back on. You being at boot camp and using the tools I am providing for you is the best way to go!
While we’re on the subject of diet I’m sure you’ve all heard that your post-workout meal is actually your most important meal of the day (aside from breakfast). I’d have to agree with that for the most part because refueling your body with the right combination of nutrients is SOOOOO vastly important to repairing your muscles from the breakdown of a workout, and keeping your metabolism sky high. A recent 12-week study said that those who failed to consume a post workout meal immediately after their workouts suffered a lower metabolism, loss of fat free mass, and had clear indications of muscle loss – while their counterparts (those who consumed a post workout recovery meal) significantly lost more fat, increased lean muscle, improved their metabolism, and increased dynamic strength.
First, keep in mind that your goal throughout the majority of each day is eating small whole food meals frequently that digest slowly with high fiber and a controlled glycemic response (blood sugar). These normal daily meals should also contain healthy fats and slowly digested proteins to keep a steady supply of amino acids. Well, when it comes to post-workout meals, you can almost use the exact opposite strategy of your normal meals. With post-workout meals, you actually want a faster digesting carbohydrate source to elicit an insulin response, which surges nutrients and glycogen back into your muscles for repair.
With the post workout meal, you actually want almost all carbs and protein, and very little fat if any. Fat just slows the absorption and glycemic response which is not what you want with the post-workout meal.
Post-workout shakes using a frozen banana, whey protein, water, and some real maple syrup are a great choice.
Studies show that the sooner you consume your post workout meal following your intense workout, the better your muscle recovery will be, and a higher percentage of the carbs ingested will be used for muscle glycogen replenishment instead of other uses. See you at camp!!!
Committed to your success,
Stacy Papakostas
Furloughs: Yes, you can survive them
Furloughs often feel like you're right in the middle of this place, getting ready to do battle with exotic snakes. Stay a step ahead of those snakes.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
When you’re faced with a furlough, you will want to choke the first person who says this to you. How can anyone look at losing pay — when they may already be rolling pennies for gas — in any sort of positive light?
I won’t sugarcoat it for you. Furloughs are hell. There is nothing good about them. The only iota of positivity about furloughs is that they’re better than permanently losing your job.
Life when you get the announcement, when you’re on the furlough and when you get that first cut paycheck will be horrible. However, there are ways you can make it (somewhat) less traumatic.
Save, save and save some more
I know this may be next to impossible for some of you who are already poorer than dirt. Believe me, I’m here right now. But as soon as you know a furlough is coming, start saving every single dime you can save.
First, try a set system: How about saving five bucks a week? Maybe $10 or $20 if you’re slightly more fortunate? Remember this: A little bit is better than nothing at all.
Look at what you can cut back. I’m not saying you have to starve, but there’s always some sort of little thing we’re always on which we’re blowing money. For example, I would buy AT LEAST one pop a day from the office vending machine. I’ve cut that out (except for some days when I’m desperate to wake up). Guess what? I have an extra $5 a week!
Space out the days (if you can)
One of the positives about how our company’s furloughs have worked is that we’re allowed to space out furlough days if we like. I know that our company has doled them out per quarter (three months). So if you take one furlough day every other week, for example, it’s less of a financial shock that half of a paycheck.
Keep in mind your timing versus the time you have a major expense due. My biggest expense, by far, is rent. So, when selecting my furlough days for this coming quarter, I’ve kept that in mind. I selected days that would appear on paychecks less critical that others. I sat down and figured out when pay days come for January, February and March. I then figured which days I would get the “rent paycheck”. I made sure to avoid scheduling a furlough day during pay periods for which I would get the rent paycheck. Correction: I avoided it as much as possible.
Some companies, though, do not have this option. Many of them, like the state of Oregon, are giving their employees scheduled days. Others are making them take a straight week — or two weeks — off.
Piece of advice: If you are allowed to choose your furlough days, get your requests in ASAP. In my individual department alone, our management had to schedule a combined 150 days off for everyone. If you have a furlough during the summer, you have to figure in everyone’s vacation time AND the furloughs.
Occupational therapy
Now it’s time to wake up for that dreaded day of your first furlough day. You will be very tempted to lie in your bed in a pile of Cheetos crumbs while watching daytime TV. You MAY eventually take a shower around 3 p.m.
You often get this “mad at the world” mentality. I hate to say it, but no matter what you do, it won’t totally go away. But one thing you can do to lessen the sting is serious time occupation. The busier you keep yourself, the less time you have to dwell.
Get your **** together
Pardon my edited French, but come on, everyone has that one household chore from hell or extremely daunting task that has been eating him/her alive. This is the time to get it done.
Is your un-mowed grass to the point where your yard looks so much like an exotic wildlife kingdom that Jack Hanna wants you to lease it to him? Does your fridge look like a science experiment from hell? Do you have a closet that is just ready to frickin’ explode? Does your laundry pile look like Mount Everest and smell like a backwoods sewer plant?
You have nothing else better to do now. So get something done. Trust me, you’ll feel like a whole new person. Just last month, I made the major accomplishment of cleaning out my bedroom closet. It was to the point where all the junk inside was making shelves collapse, and I couldn’t really get inside. Now, I can actually go inside, find things relatively quickly and not risk breaking my neck. That’s a great feeling.
Get it out of your system
Clearing your collection of Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer and Milli Vanilli cassette tapes — and hauling it out to the heap — will definitely wear you out. You can seriously burn a lot of calories while doing super-heavy housework.
But when you get that done, don’t stop moving. I hate to sound like one of those crazed infomercial people, but exercise truly is a major stress-reliever. And what could boost your self-esteem more than fitting into your “skinny jeans” again? Heck, even immediately after a workout, you get a sense of accomplishment. You’re just proud of yourself for actually getting off your rear and doing that.
Day at the “spa”
After all of that hard housework and exercise, you’ll definitely want to clean up. But because you have more time on your hands, take more time out for yourself and your sanity.
Find some of that bubble bath you got for Christmas last year that you’ve never had the chance to use. Get all of those girly or metro (for guys) stuff out. Run some hot water in the tub and just kick back. Go ahead, let your toes get wrinkly. You deserve it.
Take in some cheap or free entertainment
You want to amuse yourself during this time, too. You can’t make it all about work because when your next furlough day comes, all you will think about is, “Great. I had to finish this damned quarterly earnings report in less than a day. Now, I go home to scrub cat puke out of the carpet — AGAIN — while I’m losing pay.”
With entertainment, I highly advise going with comedy or really, purely stupid stuff. You know? Those “guilty pleasure” shows? The ones you would be so embarrassed to let your friends know you watch — but you still watch them anyway?
Laughter is proven to have both short- and long-term health benefits. Do you not believe me? Check out this info from the folks at the Mayo Clinic. You also have the effect of “escapism”. By diving into something that’s really out-there or absurd, you suspend reality. Escaping a terrible reality for just a little while is definitely needed.
You don’t have to pay a fortune for this. First, you can catch a variety of broadcast TV sitcoms for basically nothing or, if you’re a little more fortunate, there are several great escape shows on basic cable. truTV (f.k.a. Court TV) is an excellent place for this, because there’s “Cops”, “Speeders”, shows featuring dumb criminals, etc. Do you believe your life stinks? Well, you could be that nasty drunk with mange who just got busted for assaulting his stepbrother-in-law with a broken Old Crow bottle.
Try not to face it alone — but be choosy
During any extremely difficult time, you do not want to face it alone. Make sure to surround yourself with friends and/or family. Just choose them wisely.
If it’s possible, try to schedule your furlough days with a friendly co-worker or another friend whose company is also furloughing workers. This person can say, “I know how you feel,” and really, really mean it. Make sure, though, to not make your time with them a total “bitch session”, during which you lament your furlough and blame everything and everyone who may or may not be responsible. You may also choose a (and make sure you understand this key word) SUPPORTIVE friend or family member. This person must be someone who lends a shoulder instead of pointing the finger. Don’t spend time with Aunt I Told You So, who slams you in every conceivable way because you chose a career field she hated.
***
Are all of these ideas fool-proof? No. Will they ease all of your pain? No. Losing pay bites.
Just remember this: Every morning you wake up, you were meant to be alive. Don’t act like you’re dead.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Your success will come from being passionate about what you love and want.
Hanging around successful people…people who are at the top of their craft and making great money at it is inspiring and exciting. Encouraging. Bryan played with musicians who have had great commercial success and we hung out with them for hours and hours: Kelly Rhoads, Kelle Garni, Carmine Appice, Michael Angelo Batio. These musicians have been a part of or worked with Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, etc. What do you think they were talking about?
Most people would think…women, sex, drugs, etc. NO! The whole night they talked about their instruments, music, technique, their equipment. They live and breathe music. It is their greatest passion. It is as much a part of them as breathing.
I believe this is an important part of why they have been successful. Music lives in them at a cellular level. I’m not sure I have done this with anything except dance in my life, but I realize to have the kind of success I want, at writing, I have to really start talking about my writing all the time. I haven’t put my focus there, so how am I going to have great success at it.
So, this is my OWN Law of Attraction homework for myself. Talk to everyone about my writing! Now, I just gotta get on my other one…and hit the yoga hard today! I barely made it past 10 minutes last night!
Namaste.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Running in the Rain
In order to make today moderately productive, I went for a 3 mile+ run throughout local conservation lands. Before you navigate from this page, this run was abnormally through incessant rain in 50 degree weather. Some of you may claim this excessive and brainless but there was a natural high that resides above the normal “runner’s high.” I can only hypothesize that the accumulation of surrounding factors that I experienced running amplified my connection to nature and increased the purity of the activity. Beads of cool rainwater accumulated on my eyebrow prior to joining the resounding precipitation falling to the saturated ground. One squishy footstep followed another as I quickened my pace dodging the large obtuse puddles. Upon completion of my cleansing run, steam swirled away from my cooling body. An enjoyable run considering the climate.
I’m not claiming the best way to break the lethargy of daily fitness is to run in poor or unhealthy conditions, but it may open your eyes to a pure experience of exerting yourself within nature. I would rather get kicked in the cojones then run on a treadmill. I believe that any physical activity performed outdoors is far more enjoyable than straining yourself within the confinements of a gym. If given the opportunity, I urge you to expose yourself to the endless alternatives of healthy activities that reside outdoors. Take the breath of fresh air!
Late Late at Night I Thus Begin
This is the beginnings of this one man’s quest to spread the word about all things cool. I hope you will enjoy what I’ve to say and will stay with me through the times to come. I’m actively involved in many web projects, local businesses and organizations. Interests of mine include web development, life styles of kings, and being healthy and active with my life; all of which I will be blogging about.
I hope you do dearly enjoy this, and i look forward to meeting you all.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Muddy Rain
Whats great on a rainy, cold day? A cup of Starbucks that is! I however didn’t get a picture 
, mostly because I enjoyed it while entering school, and most schools have rules, rule 1# no technology, lame…
When I got home after a short rainy day I opened the cupboard to find a snack. Mom bought me some new granola bars from giant eagle today! but I didn’t wanna eat one already… So I looked for some left overs and found a jar of almond butter. My cupboard currently has 3 jars of almond butter, 2 jars of peanut butter, and one jar of soy butter. one of the jars of almond butter had about a tablespoon left, and the peanut butter even less. So looks like I have 2 jars of nut butter for oats in a jar! Today’s jar contained 1/2 scoop whey, 1/2 cup oatmeal, and 1tbsp almond butter. A fun and easy snack to kill that one or so tablespoons of butter left in yo jar!
Aside from oats in a jar, rainy days, Starbucks, etc… I GOT A STREET BIKE! We bought it Sunday and hopefully will be getting it tomorrow! I’m so excited to learn how to ride! My dad rocks, he is so good to me, and loves to see me succeed. More importantly is our great relationship together, he’s like a really good friend to me, and more importantly a great dad 
. I look up to him because of his strength and will power to be in the shape he is at 50+. He withholds the determination to oversee the physical setbacks he received in the past and workout like he never even received them. And most importantly his love for his family, and friends. What a powerful, respected person!
Biking Jacket
Monday, November 30, 2009
Seattle Half Marathon
We went to packet pick up on Friday morning. We got our bibs and chips and shirt (teal? really?) and headed out to the expo. Lots of vendors but no free swag except a few samples of granola or recovery beverages or dried cherries. There were a lot of people in a space much smaller than the Danskin expo. It didn’t translate to me then that these people were going to be running with me in a few days.
After we left the expo we went to Bambuza to get a bite to eat. Delicious as usual. I had the Ginger Claypot Chicken. Then we headed up to REI for some last minute shopping. We left REI and caught a bus back home. Downtown traffic was crazy. Turns out they were lighting the stupid tree at Westlake Center or somewhere.
Saturday morning we realized the clothing drop bags were not part of our packet so we drove back downtown to the Westin and I ran in to get them. Turns out they were nothing more than garbage bags. We went home and had steaks, sweet potatoes and a salad for our dinner. We laid out our clothes and gear and then off to bed fairly early.
Sunday morning the wind was blowing but not too hard. At least it wasn’t raining. Yet. It was overcast. We had a 7:30am start time and we figured we needed to catch the 6:03 bus to Key Arena. We got on the bus and the driver commented on us running the marathon. We let her know we were only doing the half, like that might make us sound less crazy. A few stops later another woman got on with her race bib on. We toodled down First Ave. and a gentleman got on and sat with us. He struck up a conversation about the race and laundry’s on Queen Anne. As we exited the bus he wished us luck.
We checked our clothes in and made one last stop at the Honey Buckets then off we went toward the start line. It was starting to mist by then and I was hoping it would let up soon. I saw a few Half Fanatic shirts and a few Marathon Maniacs too. Pretty soon it was time for us to line up. We were way back, well behind the 2hour 45minute pacer and there were still tons of people behind us. We saw our old Weight Watchers leader, Phil and our neighbor Lori but they were the only people we recognized.
After the singing of “America the Beautiful” and the announcements of who won the Baghdad Shadow half marathon, the airhorn sounded and we were off. Down Fifth Avenue. The Monorail went by overhead at one point early on and some people hooted and hollered. The entire width of Fifth Ave. was packed with people. People darting in and out, around other people. I nearly stepped on several people. I passed by a dropped glove. And then a knit hat. And a packet of Clif Blocks. Another glove. A sweatshirt? An asthma inhaler.
Finally we hit the entrance to I-90. I looked around the big, gentle turn and saw nothing but people. Lots and lots of people. We got to the top of what the Seattle Marathon map referred to as a gentle slope. There were people lined up for the Honey Bucket. There were so many people. Then I heard a thud and looked over to see about 6 or 7 people lifting an elderly woman to her feet. She put her hand to her mouth several times, like she was checking for blood. I didn’t see any on her face but maybe her mouth was bleeding on the inside. There seemed to be enough people there to take care of her so I didn’t feel too bad about continuing to run. We continued on I-90 for a little while eventually going through the Mt. Baker tunnel where two women had hopped over the jersey barrier to pee. Well, I assume they were doing #1. Hard to say since I didn’t stop for them either.
After exiting the tunnel we also exited I-90 and went down toward Lake Washington Blvd. I’m feeling pretty good at this point but I know there are hills coming up. I had already eaten some Sports Beans but was really waiting for the Gu station between mile 5 and 6. Finally it came and I grabbed a Vanilla Bean flavored Gu. It didn’t taste half bad. I didn’t care for the thick, gooeyness but beggars can’t be choosers I guess. It was supposed to have caffeine in it but I didn’t feel any better after taking it.
We came upon the halfway mark where they had a big ballooned arch with a timer. I thought I was doing pretty good crossing the halfway mark at 1:25 (gun time). If I could maintain my current pace (which I was pretty sure I couldn’t) I would come in at 2:50:something. My legs were starting to fatigue and I knew the hills were coming. I planned on walking up them unless they were sloped. First came Galer. Oh lord. This 1 1/2 block long hill is straight up. I walked it. As I turned the corner I looked back to see if I could see Morrie. She had fallen behind me a little earlier. There she was, walking up the hill, taking a sip of water. Ok, I felt better. I hit Madison and continued to walk for awhile but then decided this counted more as a slope than a hill so I started to run. After cresting the Madison portion we rounded the corner into the Arboretum. The rest of the race is pretty much a blur.
I remember coming out of the arboretum and crossing 24th with it’s weird zig-zag police tape aisle and then off the street and onto a paved trail I never knew existed. This part was more uphill and I continued to look back for Morrie. I stopped to use the Honey Bucket at around mile 9 and since I didn’t see her I thought maybe she had passed me. I kept looking back for her just in case. Pretty soon an ambulance went past me, on the trail. When I came up on it there was a woman laying on the ground covered in blankets with one runner holding her feet up and another at her head. Soon, I came down onto Roanoke. I was getting close. But Lakeview Drive was the worst part of the run for me. I kept thinking, “This is not fun”. But I kept running anyway. I was hurting by now. My right knee had a sharp pain when I stepped on that side and my right foot also had shooting pain. The hamstrings were getting tighter and tighter but they actually felt better than other races.
Once I conquered Lakeview Drive it was literally downhill from there. I crossed over I-5 and turned down Republican. Oh glory, downhill. Oh, except downhill hurts now. Thanks, Universe, for ruining something so sweet as the downhills. I rounded the corner and went one block, turned right and there it was. The final little hill. I ran down it and started running up the other side but walkers were passing me so I figured it counted as a hill. As soon as I reached the top I started running and when I turned the final corner toward Memorial Stadium I finally got my second wind. I kicked it up a little bit. Then I hit the artificial turf and kicked it up a little more. Finally, the finish line! After 2:53:43 (chip time) it was over.
I stumbled over to the chip removal person where Susan was standing. We exchanged tired woo-hoo’s and I went to get water and my space blanket. We stood around waiting for Morrie. I figured if she wasn’t ahead of me then she was right behind me. We waited. And waited. The security guy came along and made people get out of the area. We went over to the bleachers to sit. We had been seated for about 2 minutes and then we saw Morrie coming down the chute. We packed up our water and waddled our way over to her. We all went up to the Recovery area. There were about 50 chairs in the whole place and most of those were occupied by non runners. Hello? Get your ass out of that seat. We got some chocolate milk, bananas and a few other things. We stayed about 10 minutes then headed up to get our clothes from the drop off. Getting up the stairs of the stadium was a chore but getting back down them was hell. We made it though and eventually made our way to the bus stop.
We had to transfer busses so it took a little longer to get home than I had hoped. We made some tea and took turns taking an ice bath. After that, hot showers for everyone and then off to Zeek’s Pizza for the Cherry Bomb, Wild Green Salads and a Manny’s. Mmmmm.
My legs were restless for the rest of the day. I could not get comfortable. I hopped into the hot tub with Susan and that felt good and later we watched an episode of The Biggest Loser. The last time I had a big run I had a hard time sleeping so this time I took a sleep aid and was in bed by 8:30. I slept pretty well but woke up tired. As the day progresses I’m getting more sore. Each time I get up I discover a new muscle group that hurts.
Our next race is a cute little 5k – going back to our humble beginnings.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Classes
Just as a reminder that the classes for the next couple of weeks will be held in Gym 1, which is situated on the main road to your left going up towards the back gate opposite the nursery/ crèche. Classes will run on the following dates:
Monday 30.11.09 ~ 9.45 – 10.45
Thursday 03.12.09 ~ 9.45 – 10.45
Monday 07.12.09 ~ 9.45 – 10.45
Thursday 10.12.09 ~ 9.45 – 10.45
Monday 14.12.09 ~ 9.45 – 10.45
No further Thursday class as I am off on a nutrition course in Koeln for 4 days. Oh the joy!
Keep it up at home over the x-mas period and don’t forget:
You can’t outdo a bad diet
Think: moderation 
A Future Without Chocolate?!?!?!
Our bodies mean a lot to us.
They bring us pleasure and pain. They are the soft, organic matter through which we experience the world. They are also a reflection of how we choose to live our lives.
I have an ongoing sparring relationship with my health. We are at opposite ends of the jousting rod. I want to be fit and healthy, but I have a deep seated compulsion to fill my body with chocolate, sweets, breads and caffeine. I know that when I am in a place of health, my wellbeing and my sense of Gorgeousness is empowered, but I battle perpetually with craving for food and the disempowerment that this brings.
What is it about food that becomes so much more than simple sustenance?
Why do so many of us have such a rocky love/hate relationship with what we put in our mouths?
Why is it that when I’m stressed I’ll eat bread?
When I’m feeling homely I’ll eat cake?
Why does life suddenly seem dark, dull, gloomy and boring when I imagine a future life without chocolate?
Throughout the years I’ve started to recognise that I rely on sugar to make life sweet. Heavy, soft bread has always bought me a sense of comfort. Alcohol has bought my life stimulation and freedom. The question is, why do we seek these feelings from food and not from deep within ourselves?
I believe that when we lose our sense of Gorgeousness and fears of not being good enough replace it, we start seeking out good feelings in other things outside of our elves. This could be food, drugs or other negative, limiting habits or behaviours. When our own inner sweetness/beauty/sense of perfection is lost, we become addicted to trying to fill that hole, replacing the rich sweet beauty that we crave from ourselves and life . . . in food. This then turns into a love/hate relationship.
We eat the food, experience the pleasure, but then make ourselves guilty bad or wrong for doing it. We treat chocolate (or whatever Gorgeousness replacement vice we prefer) like a prostitute. One minute we are shunning the thing, disgusted by it and resisting our urge to go and have a passionate, overwhelming binge. Then after we have given into our desires and munched a whole packet of chocolate digestives, we then blame the biscuits!
“The danish made me do it!!!”
“The buns are the baddies!”
“ The handfuls of cereal seduced me again!”
Yet it’s us who beckon, nudge, tug and pull these substances into our bodies. We choose to eat them, then blame them for making us do it!
I believe that when a person cultivates their inner Gorgeousness, when their souls become Sweet, Succulent Pleasure Personified, they will never crave food that is detrimental to the health. If someone discovers the unequalled pleasure of Being Themselves, they would only consume the foods that sustain the body. Isn’t it interesting that the foods that we never crave have no emotional attachment for us? I have never in my life craved cabbage. Or broccoli. Or rice. Yet these foods are the ones that actually give us health, vibrancy and lightness of being.
If you would like to free yourself from compulsive eating, follow these three simple steps;
STEP ONE
• Write a list of foods/substances/habits that you find compulsive.
STEP TWO
• Ask yourself what do these food/habits mean to you? What feelings of wellbeing do they seem to offer? Ie, Cigarettes – freedom, independence, liberation, lightness, or Alcohol – release, confidence, boost, energy or Competitiveness – power, determination, separation, personal identity
STEP THREE
• Go through your list and recognise that all of these feeling already exist WITHIN you. All you need to do is re-member them. Do these three steps and repeat them each time you reach for that food/habit/substance. You may not STOP eating the things altogether, but you will certainly cut down and reclaim your conscious choice once again. You will realise how the world can still remain a sumptuous place full of deliciousness without chocolate. The real deliciousness was inside you all along!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Lifesource Blood Pressure Monitor for Extra-large Arms
- This blood pressure monitor was made to accommodate extra large arms
- AccuFit extra large cuff fits arms ranging from 16.5-inches to 23.6 inches(42-60 cm)
- Features HeartWise Technology, a high performance motor with irregular heartbeat detection and 60 memory recall
- FSA Eligible
- AC Power Adapter included
- Monitor measures 4.4 inches long x 6.4 inches wide x 2.4 inches high
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BodySolid Best Fitness Commercial Indoor Cycle
With an indoor cycle training program, the hill doesn’t end until you’re ready for it to end, but that’s not the only benefit of using the Best Fitness BFSB10. When you ride in the comfort and convenience of your own home, you’re not limited by the unpredictability of an outdoor terrain, the weather or traffic. You’ll also be able to use the cycle fully and have the freedom to close your eyes and concentrate on your pedal cadence without crashing into a tree! Joining a health club can be an expensive, time-consuming routine, and many novice exercisers are intimidated or become disenchanted by the prospects of working out with experienced fitness enthusiasts. Fortunately, you can achieve measurable benefits to your overall health by committing to a regular fitness regimen in the comfort and convenience of your own home. The Best Fitness line of equipment takes much of the guesswork out functional, effective home workouts with quality-built machines, ergonomically engineered equipment designs and a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. The Best Fitness BFSB10 is an excellent training tool and a marvel of modern engineering. With multiple adjustments and riding positions, you can duplicate the fit of your real bike, and its smooth precision flywheel simulates the real-feel of road riding. Using a bike can help tone your quad, calf and glut (buttocks) muscles as well as strengthen your tendons, without any load bearing. If you’re looking to build leg strength, work your cardiovascular system and burn fat, the Best Fitness BFSB10 is the perfect solution with its: One-piece 44lb. flywheel, Durable, grooved V-belt transmission system. Handle bar with chrome post tube. More than 84 levels of high/low and forward/backward adjustments for handle bar and seat. 3 sealed bearing sets (pedals, belt wheel, flywheel). Unlimited range of tension adjustments. Smooth, quiet, aluminum bearing pedals. Low maintenance & easy assembly. Dimensions: 20″w x 47″h x 43.5″l Warranty: 15 Years Frame, 1 Year Labor, 6 Months Parts
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Monday, November 23, 2009
So. Much. RELIEF!
Yesterday was scary. I had my science exam in the morning which was TERRIFYING! Because I was totally unprepared and I hadn’t realized just how much was resting on that Biology exam until about three days before it. Prior to that, I had done ZERO hours of science revision.
I spent a good two hours studying for Biology on Sunday, and thank god above I did, because those two hours just saved my future career.
There was a lot of extra stuff to deal with once I got into the exam because I still didn’t have my Chem and Bio papers and once I sat down at my desk, was confused to see on physics staring back at me. I spoke to a supervisor at once and we spent the next 10/15minutes sorting it out. Ugh, so much drama for SCIENCE… hardly seems worth it. Apart from biology of course 
Once the exam began, I dove straight into Biology. I liked the strategy I used when answering questions, I immediately answered the ones I knew the answer to and then on the more difficult ones that I wasn’t so sure about, I basically just used COMMON SENSE to construct a feasible answer haha. And thankfully, I do believe that it worked! I felt like I did pretty damn well on Biology, given my extreme lack of knowledge on the subject.
I didn’t even attempt physics. I weighed up my options, first I read through the booklet and realized that out of the entire thing, there were only two questions I could answer correctly. The rest of it, I had no idea. I could either have answered just those two and failed for lack of correct answers, or I could not submit and have the paper just come up with “not assessed”, which to me sounds far better than “not achieved”.
I did Chemistry, only because of the huge lengths we had to go to just to GET the paper for me. I didn’t really want it, but they just assumed I did, so I figured I’d better sit it, just for all the trouble the damn thing caused.
I honestly can’t say how I thought I did. But somehow, I don’t believe it was too crash hot… haha.
I was just so relieved to get out of that exam, also because I FELT SO SICK! Argh, all morning I’d felt off colour and then in the exam aswell, my poor little tummy was just not a happy camper.
That teamed with the fact that after breakfast I was nil by mouth all day for my ultrasound.
GREAT! not.
Anyway, Once I got home from the exam I had a couple of hours to kill before the scan. But eventually at five to 1 we headed to the hospital.
The wait was long, but I didn’t mind too much. Except for the fact that when you have an ultrasound, they require you to have a full bladder because it pushes all your organs up so they can see things better… I had to drink 6 cups of water within the hour before my scan… ugh, as you can imagine, by time my appointment rolled around, I wasn’t overly comfortable haha.
It wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t press down on your bladder!!!!!! grrrrr.
It was funny coz it was just like on Juno (I’M NOT PREGNANT THOUGH, NOR DID I EXPECT I WAS PREGNANT! I had the scan to check for appendicitis or an Ovarian Cyst. NOTHING to do with Babies!) She squirted the goo on my tummy and it was blue and made funny fart noises haha.
It was pretty boring really. Just uncomfortable, kinda interesting seeing my spleen, my liver, my ovaries and my kidneys though.
After my ultrasound, I started to get a little nervous. No one was telling me anything and the nurse told me she had to go give my results to a radiologist and a doctor for their opinion. She didn’t even tell me what she was worried about.
Next thing I know another nurse brings out a doctors note to me which was all sealed so I couldn’t read it and she told me to go to ED and take that with me. I was kinda freaking out, expecting it to be something really really serious.
I got to ED, handed my note in and was told to wait. A nurse called me to come in and she took my blood pressure, then made me wait again.
No one had told me anything!! My mind was left to wander to the worst possible outcome. It sucked..
Finally, my doctor I’d seen last friday called me through and simply told me they’d ruled out anything serious and I’d just have to manage the pain. I was so relieved!!! And yet do not understand why they couldn’t have just told me it was nothing serious at the ultrasound to put my mind at rest??
They couldn’t explain what the pain was and just told me to keep an eye on it and come back if it gets worse or I start to get bad fevers or chills or whatever.
I think I’ll be fine and I feel so much better knowing it nothing serious!!
Anyway, in other news, Gaz emailed me my training schedule for the next for weeks. I’m super excited and today I’ll go for a 5K run, as per the training plan. I was so excited to read through and see that in two weeks I’ll be running 12 K’s, that’s further than I’ve ever run in my life! The longest has been 11K’s, so the idea of setting a new PDR is really really exciting
He also sent some strength exercises.
I shall keep you updated on how that’s all going.
Have an awesome day!
Gotta remember to Blog!
Time to get back on the blogging bandwagon and update my weeks training the previous week
Wednesday just did an easy 12km at 5 min km pace – Felt great nice and easy!
Thursday did an hour and a half of cycling on the spin bikes – enjoyed it muchly! nice and comfy average HR 143bpm
Friday – not so comfy did a 10km tempo run 42:30 – hurt but necessary
Saturday – off just went for a 8km stroll with the Wifey
Sunday – THE LONG RUN, was too hot outside so basically did two hours on the treddy first hour and a half at 5min km pace and the last 30 mins at about 4:35 min km pace. will continue to follow the last 30min “fast finish” in my long runs, as I think it will condition my legs to “bring it home”
Today/Monday – back to back Rpm’s as my rest day nice and comfy.
Will post my report on tomorrows session TOMORROW Scouts honour!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Experianced
This week was busy! Packed with many experiences, but little time to blog about them…
To start today’s post id like to give my opinion on these baby’s.
PRO Bar Cherry Pretzel was yummy, but the Superfood Slam won the battle. Both crunchy and sweet with fruit, nuts, and dark chocolate, but The Sweet and Savory Cherry Pretzel didnt beat my Arts Original Superfood Slam by a long shot.
My greens+ protein bar satisfied my “teen hunger” during Thursdays workout. 20g of protein, and full of “and taste of” green goodness.
As for the weeks activities
Monday: 33mile bike ride outside. Was going for 40 but it became dark and where I was riding had “not one” street light. I made it home cold, and with a huge appetite. I downed 2 bowls of cereal + dinner faster than you can say “damn!”.
Tuesday: Boot Camp Tuesday! I did a full boot camp workout with my friend Sharon, lotta fun!
Wednesday: R.E.S.T, No I didn’t do the “Hartford acres run ” I was 2 tired, and my friends wanted to bag it anyways so it was kewl.
Thursday: Did 30min elliptical Hard! and a superb workout, afterwords I took a shower and went to a program called campus life. A nice group of people who meet every Thursday and hangout, and talk about religion. Its a very nice program that exercises your faith .
Friday: Are you Experienced? I sure am after that long bike ride. I now know not to ride in 40* weather in a shirtsleeve skin shirt, because riding 20-25mph tends to make it a lot colder. Also not to start a 30+ mile bike ride after 3:00 in the winter, it gets dark by 5:00. And making wise decisions like I did, I could have went the extra 7 miles, but I would have got lost without a cell phone on a trail in the woods with no street lights. Next bike rides going to be 50, but at 9:00 in the morning at 70* degrees.
Cuídate, redescubre tu salud, tu belleza: el pilates
Como un viernes más, me gustaría dejaros ejercicios interesantes para hacer en casa, pero si alguno por algún casual ya lo ha hecho con la tabla de fitness de artículos anteriores, hoy quería hablar de pilates.
¿Qué es el Pilates? Pues según la wikipedia (juas) El método Pilates, o simplemente Pilates, es un sistema de entrenamiento físico y mental basado en la gimnasia, traumatología, ballet y yoga, uniendo el dinamismo y la fuerza muscular con el control mental, la respiración y la relajación …. Una entente cordiale interesante a tener en cuenta, y destacada para hombres y mujeres que viven con gran intensidad, que quieren mantenerse en forma y desestresarse.
Además, es muy recomendado para cualquier edad…
Aunque el método Pilates se ha desarrollado y ha dado lugar a una gran cantidad de estilos y aplicaciones distintas, existen unos principios fundamentales que deben estar siempre presentes:
• Alineamiento
• Centralización
• Concentración
• Control
• Precisión
• Fluidez
• Respiración
Los ejercicios están fundamentalmente compuestos por movimientos controlados, muy conscientes, y coordinados con la respiración, con el fin de crear un cuerpo armonioso, coordinado, músculado y flexible.
A través de la práctica, la mente va tomando conciencia de las capacidades, limitaciones, fortalezas y debilidades del cuerpo para mejorar el estado físico y mental.
Es un deporte muy técnico, donde la correcta ejecución de los distintos elementos que componen cada ejercicio es más importante que el número de repeticiones o series.
Su complemento idóneo y básico para mí: la natación.
Soy amiga del yoga, la natación, pero sobre todo de los paseos en el campo, de cuidarnos entre nutrición, estabilidad emocional y actividad física … y en fin, que disfrutemos este nuevo fin de semana que nos merecemos! Un saludo a todos.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Health Club Step Cart
SHIPPING INCLUDED Stores and safely transport the original health club aerobics step (called “The STEP”, 43”L x 16”W) and the new Reebok STEP (gray and black, 35”L x 14”W). Conveniently transports up to 12 steps. The sturdy cart provides quick and easy distribution and collection of steps. Convenient handles at each end allow easy pushing or pulling of the cart. Dimensions: 46”L x 19”W x 60”H.
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Motus M-FUSION Racing Bike
Motus USA brings out the hottest new ride in the genres of group cycling. Our MlRacing Series features our unique EZ Walk-Through™ Design, Rear Wheel Drive guaranteed to extend the life of the flywheels, and On-Board Computer and HR monitors…units like these surpass both the abilities and durability of those currently on the market. GENERAL SPECS Flywheel Location Rear Wheel Location Flywheel Specifications 44lbs/18” ( also available in 50 lb option) Drive System Two way (Fixed Wheel & Crank) Drive Type Belt (Heavy Duty – Kevlar) Saddle Ergonomic Two Tone PVC cover / PU foam Crank Heavy Duty for Commercial Use Resistance Dual Brake Pads (Heavy Duty/Long Life) Tension Accujust™ 8 Levels/Settings Pedal Aluminum pedals with toe straps Computer Functions Scan, Time, Calories, Speed, Distance, Pulse Rate, Polar™ compatible
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Monday, November 16, 2009
ghinion fantastic
Azi m-am hotarat sa ma duc la sala. Nu la sala-tras-de-fiare pentru ca nu sunt destul de disciplinata pentru asa ceva. La sala-topait cu instructori frumosi si lucrati care topaie in fata ta.
Deci m-am dus la ce-mi placea sa ma duc si data trecuta cand am fost la sala – la DanceMIX cu Bebelusa Oana. Si am nimerit prost. Pentru ca au fost si un tip care a facut poze pt Libertatea din cate am inteles, si unii cu camera de filmat de la prima + Ernest care a dansat si pe care l-au filmat.
Sunt convinsa ca va iesi un reportaj foarte simpatic, dar pe mine nu ma enerveaza atat de tare ideea ca cine-stie-cine ma vede la televizor gafaind (care oricum ma enerveaza, dar e putin probabil) cat faptul ca Oana a fost ca la inspectie. Adica-mi amintesc cand profa avea inspectie la ora intreba mai multe, preda mai multe, ne tinea sub control de la inceput si era oricum foarte organizata. E, Oama m-a omorat. Poate mi se pare mie pentru ca nu mai facusem miscare de genul asta de 100 de ani, dar am fortat nota rau. Adica ultimul sfert de ora ma uitam urat si nu mai puteam sa fac nimic. Ceea ce nu mi se intampla des.
Anyway. Acum ma simt bine. Sper ca de data asta sa ma tin.
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Friday, November 13, 2009
No good.
I did very horrible this week.
Did not exercise as much as I wanted, did not keep up with tracking my food as I wanted, ate out when I said I wouldnt, and pretty much just blew the week off.
Good points: I DID manage to get out there and run, which is more than I can say of the past bunch of weeks. More than that, both of the times I ran, I did 3 miles! I havent been able to (read:have not pushed myself) do 3 in a LONG time. Needless to say, Im hurting for it. It is ok though, because I needed to let myself realize it needed to be done. Now I can work up to the 6.2 for Thanksgiving, and the 13.1 in January.
I’m also following a little closer the blogs that my friend reads, to get a better idea of what I need for this one, and also healthy eating tips. Almost feels like information overload sometimes, and with as much as I have going on outside of the interwebs, I think I might have developed a whole mental block about this whole idea. Not going to happen (I hope) this week coming up. Nothing weird is going on (that I can remember) so I should be able to set up a schedule and keep with it. The week after throws that off because I am taking that week off of work, but it might help because then I will have free time (read:study hardcore time) to further plan and reinforce the practices I want to put in place.
All this talk about running makes me want to go out for a run. Or is it that I want to further procrastinate on my studying? The world may never know . . .
Delayed gratification: marshmallows and mind control
One such morning last week I listened to a podcast of Kim Hill’s interview with psychologist Professor Walter Mischel of Columbia University on Radio New Zealand National.
Mischel is a distinguished researcher in the area of personality. In the 1960s he was one of the originators of what is often referred to as ‘the marshmallow test’. Children aged about four years old had one marshmallow (or some similarly delectable confection of their choice) placed in front of them and were told that they could either eat that one marshmallow straight away or they could wait to eat it, usually about 15 minutes, in which case they would be given another marshmallow.
The point of all this was to examine the children’s ability to delay gratification for a bigger reward. Mischel continued to study the children into adulthood, and discovered that those children who could delay gratification, waiting the 15 minutes so they could have two marshmallows, instead of immediately having one, have generally become more successful than those who couldn’t.
Now, Generation Y tends to be all about instant gratification. We don’t expect to have to wait for anything, be it a reply to an email, a promotion at work, or a new dress. We want it all and we want it now.
So this idea of waiting for something, of not taking that instant gratification that is right in front of you, is something that is quite foreign for many of us.
It’s a skill I think that I was never particularly good at. I always remember as a child being given I would eat all my Easter eggs in one day. It would often shock me when I would go to a friend’s house and in, say, June, she would still have a half-eaten Easter egg in the fridge.
Or when I was flatting at university, one of my flatmates would buy a packet of Toffee Pops and it would last her weeks. She would just have one occasionally. I would sometimes try to imitate her, and it would go well for maybe a day, or maybe an hour, and then I would mow through half the packet.
That these examples are to do with food is pertinent, but it’s certainly not the only area in which I have sometimes showed a lack of self-control. Some things I like to chalk up to experience, such as with my student loan – you could get a maximum of $1000 to spend on books or study accessories, and I would always get the maximum as a boost to my spending money, as $1000 right now was far more appealing than that delayed gratification of smaller loan in a few years’ time.
Self-control, will power, self-discipline, delayed gratification, whatever moniker you like to give it, is something I have been working hard at trying to develop, and over the past year I have definitely managed to become better in regard to both money and food.
In August last year, around the time of my uncle’s funeral, I had something of a watershed moment and realised that I really needed to get serious about losing weight. I have struggled with my weight my entire life, and I’m only now fully comprehending that I always will – it’s a lifelong battle for me in the way that sobriety is for an alcoholic. I had spent many months indulging in home baking and pastries from the caff at work, and this, combined with a very sedentary job, resulted in me packing even more kilos on to my already well-endowed frame.
It is now over a year since that time, and I have lost 16 kilos (it was 17, but through a lack of that much vaunted self-control, I’m now back up one kilo). While there are many elements that go into weight loss – just as there are many for weight gain – there is a necessarily strong emphasis on delayed gratification.
I always think of my auntie’s mantra of ‘minutes on the lips, months on the hips’. You can either have that instant gratification of eating that brownie, or those hot chips or that Danish pastry, or you can resist it for the bigger reward, some time in the future, of losing weight, fitting into your skinny jeans, being healthier, living longer, feeling better about yourself.
I’ve also managed to develop some self-control with regard to my spending. I’ve always been someone who loves shopping, loves spending, loves the finer things in life. Saving was something I only did for a very specific, short-term goal, like going on holiday
When I decided to move to London, I knew I would need to save for a considerable length of time, and that required further developing of that self-control. In the end, I didn’t end up moving to London, but I have continued saving. The original reason for saving may have disappeared or changed, but that self-control I developed hasn’t.
In the National Radio interview, Prof Mischel explains that delayed gratification is something that can be learned or developed with the right strategies and help.
Mischel used the example of retesting some children who had initially been bad at delayed gratification, but that if those same children were given a strategy to help them – such as the researcher suggesting that they visualise the marshmallow inside a picture frame – they would often be far better at delaying. When asked why they didn’t each the marshmallow in the retest, the children would say, ‘Well, you can’t eat a picture.’ Mischel explains that those people who manage to delay gratification in the marshmallow test did so by the simple art of distraction.
I think there’s a lot to take from this for my own struggles with self-control. So much of it is about trying to strategise, to visualise, to keep yourself distracted from temptation.
And it’s also something that, like most things, the more you do it, the better you get. It’s like with saving – when you first start, it’s so difficult, because you’re used to getting that instant gratification. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes. In fact, it can even get to the point where it becomes difficult to spend money, even when you need to. I now weigh-up decisions a lot more carefully before I spend money or before I eat something indulgent, this has benefits, but it can become mentally taxing.
There are some days when I decide that I’m going to get a piece of cake or something from the caff, but when I get there, I think about it so long that the desire passes – the moment for instant gratification has been and gone. Although I think the caff ladies must thing I’m slightly nutty, standing in front of the food cabinet silently deliberating the merits of a chocolate croissant.
I think developing my ability to delay gratification is definitely something that will help me with all aspects of my life. It just makes me slightly more contemplative about what my reasons are for doing something, for indulging, in whatever it may be. And that’s not to say I don’t indulge when it’s right (and sometimes when it’s wrong) like today I bought a $200 swimsuit. Gosh, writing that does make it seem indulgent. But I figured I deserved it. And I resisted buying a whole lot of other stuff, so we’ll call it even.
While I think the difference between how my weight loss in particular has gone is that other times I’ve tried to lose weight, it’s always been something that I’ve thought about being done over a short period of time – I just need an iron will for a few weeks or months and then I would get to where I want to be.
But that’s not really effecting change within my personality as I have done now. By doing it over a long period of time, I have actually changed my desires, changed my essential make-up, I think. So today when I decided that I should buy a chocolate bar, I ended up going into the dairy and looking at them, but really thought about whether I needed it, how I would feel without it, and I realised that I was fine without it. And so I walked home and tried on my bathing suit instead.
I’ve still got five kilos to lose to get to my goal weight, and still I think, ‘If I’m just really disciplined for the next few weeks or months, it will happen’ but it hasn’t happened yet. I don’t know if I’ll find that discipline to really make it, as the last few kilos are the hardest, but I do feel like I have changed my relationship with food, and with money, and that I have more faith in my ability to ensure a better future for myself, because being able to practise delayed gratification has wide ramifications.
In fact, in an article on the marshmallow test in the New Yorker, Mischel explains, “What we’re really measuring with the marshmallows isn’t will power or self-control. It’s much more important than that. This task forces kids to find a way to make the situation work for them. They want the second marshmallow, but how can they get it? We can’t control the world, but we can control how we think about it.”
The value of that goes beyond the ability to lose weight, to save money – it’s really about giving you control over your own reality.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Dance Your Turkey Off
Never mind Black Friday, put your feet up and save your energy for dancin’! That’s right, we’re here not only this week, AND next week, we’ll be here the day after Thanksgiving, shakin’ & bakin’ baby.
However, we shan’t be dancng on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day which both fall on Fridays this year.
DJ Supah Stah brought the mix last week (loved it, but she hasn’t sent it yet), so DJ Natasha Bygone’s rock-tastic mix is up for this week:
Ms. Bygone has been listening obsessively to Boston’s own Upper Crust lately.
Remember, your fun dancin’ time for only $5 supports Perishable Theatre’s artistic and education programs.
Shop Till Your Broadband Drops
One of the most expensive pass-times that I happen to indulge in on a regular basis (Okay okay, daily) is online shopping. Sometimes I browse for something specific (A book, DVD or perfume) or just stumble across an impulse buy.
During both my glee and fiscal regret that has accompanied this habit, my friends and family have piped up saying they didn’t know how to find Online Shopping Sites. I was flabbergasted. In this day and age, I thought everybody knew! So I thought, why not blog about my most frequented sites?
Drumroollll….
1) Trademe – www.trademe.co.nz – Okay, so even if you were living under a rock for most of your life, you would have heard of Trademe. But it’s a goodie, so it goes straight on my list. Trademe is where members can both sell and buy items, used and new, in online auctions. Some retailers have a Trademe “Shop Profile” where they sell their stock online, but mostly it’s individuals selling of unwanted gifts, clothing, cars and more. If you can think it, it’s probably for sale on this site.
2) FishPond – www.fishpond.co.nz – New Zealand’s biggest online bookstore, Fishpond sells books (New, but there are some second hand options) for very competitive prices. Amazing selection, including CD’s and DVD’s now, sourced directly from the distributors and sent to your door. Plus, if you spend NZD$50.00 or more you get free shipping… and to sweeten the deal, every now and then Fishpond sends you NZD$10.00 coupons via email.
3) 1-Day – www.1-day.co.nz – 1-Day is a site that has three items for sale every single day. At noon, the three items get updated with three new options and so on. The items can be anything, from clothing to gadgets, but I find that there tends to be items for men approximately 60% of the time, which sucks for the ladies. Addictive, one of the easiest sites to impulse buy on.
4) 3deals – www.3deals.co.nz – This is another site that works exactly the same way as 1-Day – Three items updated every day at noon. There is a point of difference though – The items seem to be for women about 60% of the time. (Guess life really does equal out at the end of the day, huh?) This site is the best for make-up deals and cookware.
5) Dealaday – www.dealaday.co.nz – This site is similar to the previous two in the sense that it updates every day with it’s daily deal, but the difference being it only ever has one item on special and the fact it updates at 10 AM rather than noon. It tends to feature mainly gadgets and tech stuff, as well as an awful lot for kids/babies. Great deals though.
6) Off The Back – www.offtheback.co.nz – This is a site much like 1-Day and 3deals that updates every day with three main items that are on special. It sometimes has the most amazing products, but at other times falls short. The items chosen tend to be either quite expensive (Despite discount) or a bit cheap and tacky. But there are also a few good gems that turn up on this site. The products that tend to show up the most are gadgets, camera equipment and computer extras.
7) I Want That – www.iwantthat.co.nz – This is an online store that has a lot of unique products. Everything from funny coasters to gun shaped vases; this store has it. Lot’s of specials, but it’s quality goods so not exactly cheap. Great for gift buying.
8 ) OO – www.oo.com.au – This is an Australian online shopping website that delivers to New Zealand, and it has some really funky items. Everything from fitness gear, kitchen appliances, electronics and wine. Not cheap, but there are some really good specials and some things that are extremely hard to find anywhere else. Worth a look, definitely.
9) Sella – www.sella.co.nz – A cheap mans Trademe. It’s not as good, but it runs the same way and has done the trick in the past when I haven’t been able to find an item on Trademe. Sella is ok… Not great. Just ok.
10) Zillion – www.zillion.co.nz – See above for my Sella description. Exactly the same deal. Can’t beat Trademe, I’m afraid.
11) The Warehouse – www.thewarehouse.co.nz – We all know the Big Red Shed, but did you know you can purchase things on their website now? Not everything is available to buy this way yet, but more and more gets added each week. Things like DVD’s, CD’s and jewellery are items you can purchase online, at the same discounted prices you get in store.
12) Ed Hardy – www.edhardy.co.nz – Anyone who knows me knows that I love Ed Hardy designs. The online store has the full in-store range available, including specials.
13) Amazon – www.amazon.com – Okay, so this is a U.S. store but it really is terrific. It sells almost everything but its the most famous for it’s massive assortment of books. Great range – amazing even – but despite super cheap prices you get massively stung on the international shipping. (So yeah, great for Americans!)
14) Paper Plus – www.paperplusbooks.co.nz – If you don’t feel like going into a Paper Plus store, then go to their site to find a great read. It’s not the cheapest, but it has the most information about the books, along with recommendations and picks for book clubs. Just great when you feel like a good book but have no idea where to start.
15) Glassons – www.glassons.co.nz – It’s not a groundbreaking site, but it has the usual good Glassons staples. Quality, fairly cheap clothing without having to mingle with obnoxious teens in overly lit malls.
16) 599 – www.599fashion.com – Another American site, but one I really like. It sells a massive load of tops, along with a smaller selection of dresses, skirts and belts. And here is the great news. Everything is USD$5.99. Okay so not so cheap when you convert it, but not half bad either. The clothes are super cute and funky, good quality too. The shipping’s a bit “Ouch” but it’s made up for by the cheap products.
17) Zazzle – www.zazzle.co.nz – A site that sells good quality t-shirts with any design you could possibly conceive on it – plus you can design your own. Kind of pricey, but as I said, the quality is what counts here. Great selection.
18) Mr Vintage – www.mrvintage.co.nz – A world famous site in New Zealand! This site sells t-shirts and hoodies with every kind of Kiwiana theme you can imagine. NZ brands, quotes, pop culture – you name it. Great deals daily, plus great gifts for overseas loved ones. Just a funky site for anyone who is proud to be a Kiwi.
19) Mighty Ape – www.mightyape.co.nz – Another good online store to buy books, DVD’s, CD’s and computer stuff. Not the cheapest, but it has a great range and sometimes products you just can’t get elsewhere.
20) Crazy Sales – www.crazysales.co.nz – This is one of those sites that sells everything. Well, almost anyway. Kids toys, fitness gear, musical instruments, beauty products and even rugs. I could go on, but you get the drift. It’s a mish-mash of glorious oddities, has a great selection of gift ideas as well as useful day-to-day items. Great deals, although it’s not the $2 shop! (Hmm, that’d be a great online store!)
21) EziBuy – www.ezibuy.co.nz – This is a great online store that has a massive selection of clothing – from the basics to a few surprisingly beautiful pieces. Shoes, lingerie, dresses, tops, jackets, swimwear… It’s not fashion chic, but hey, work it with one designer piece (Maybe a Guess bag? Mmmm…) and no one will ever know. Or care.
22) Supre – www.supre.com.au – Supre stores are littered around New Zealand, so you might not really see the point in shopping online and paying shipping from Australia. But I’m not inclined to see it that way. Supre has some super cute and funky clothes (If you steer away from the slut-wear and 80’s reject fluro items) and it’s nice to be able to browse through them all without a million angry teenage girls pushing past you as they viciously chew gum and sing along (badly) to the Britney Spears song playing waaaaayyyyy too loud on the speaker system. So yes, I prefer Supre from the relative safety of my laptop. Plus, although the shipping to New Zealand is about NZD$17.50, the clothing isn’t expensive so it’s totally worth it.
23) Foodtown/Woolworths – www.foodtown.co.nz or www.woolworths.co.nz – Okay, so not the most exciting kind of shopping. But nothing beats getting to pick all the items that you want and having it brought right to your door. There is a set delivery fee which isn’t too bad, and you can get same day delivery. Brilliant. And totally lazy… But ahhh, I sure don’t miss those supermarket crowds!
24) Foodrunner – www.foodrunner.co.nz – Okay, while I’m on the lazy food bent, here is a site where you key in your location and it tells you which restaurants are available to you in your area. From there you can pick your food (Thai, Pizza, Italian etc) and pay online with a delivery fee of about NZD$12.50 (Steep, but remember, the idea here is pure laziness) and they bring it to your door. Brilliant when you’re working late, it’s raining and you don’t want to go out or if you’re sick.
25) Apple – www.apple.com/nz – Apple products are a thing of beauty. I will blog about my love for the Mac later on, but the NZ Apple site is great for purchasing anything to sate your Apple needs. This site just makes me happy.
Alrighty then! That’s my overzealous list of my fave online shopping sites! Hopefully I haven’t lead anyone down the road to financial ruin!
Monday, November 9, 2009
School Sucks
So I’m getting closer to my post a week update on this site. I have more pictures to upload from a few hikes and I’ve been trying to think of a way to motivate my get in shape kick. Thinking maybe of posting my progress but… well see.
Thus far on the sailing front, I have been looking into certs and have been coherced into signing up for a scuba diving lesson. Should be interesting. Looking for people to join us, the more the merrier. I know winter in Canada does not sound like a time to take up scuba diving but if not now when? plus more practise this summer if I can finish the course/get my cert.
All for now. Smiles
Ruth
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Friday, November 6, 2009
The Balancing Act
TGIF fellow bloggies.
I wanted to do an update on balance.
As you may remember a month or so ago (wow has it been that long already!?) I blogged about trying to find a balance between my workouts and my diet. I went from working out 6 to 7 days a week, doing hard cardio and strength training. Most days I would just do cardio, and skimp out on lifting since I was crunched for time. Well since the end of september I have been taking Zumba classes twice a week on Mondays and Fridays and I adore them. The thing I love about Zumba is that it is fast paced, and energy packed. Most importantly it is FUN! While I love getting a couple miles in on the treadmill or an elliptical, sometimes it get’s boring.
Balance, and the balancing act comes into play in almost every aspect of ones daily life. Wether it is between school and work, or our home and social lives, we all have to do it. Every day each of us makes choices after carefully weighing the pros and cons of each side, and live with the consequences. Balance is a sense of harmony and is essential to maintaining quality in work, and life. Your life is made up of many vital areas including your health, family, financial, intellectual, social, work, spiritual, personal growth and more. Somethings are more important to some than others.
Trying to balance your life and integrate more mindfulness and relaxation in your lives can be challenging, so here are a few nifty tips…
Focus on your priorities – Identify your values and align your life around what’s truly most important to you. Concentrate your time and energy on the things that you value most, your personal self should be first and foremost.
Manage your time - Careful planning and time management can free up extra time that you can use to be more productive. More time = more time to balance between your daily activities.
Get organized - So much time is wasted on getting ready. Preparing yourself for your next task , getting ready to go here, do this or complete that. Take the time to get things ready the night before, or spend a minute or two doing the dishes so you dont have to do them later. The extra time that you save from being prepared can help you be more efficient and create a more zen like atmosphere.
Be flexible - Accept that needs will pop up that will require your readjustment and perhaps new choices. Forgive yourself when things don’t get done. Stop striving for perfection and allow for more reasonable standards. Simplify your life. Stop over-scheduling and over-committing. Begin eliminating things from your life that really aren’t important to you. Being busy 24/7 doesn’t mean that you are any more important than anyone else—it simply means that you are busy and probably missing out on the things that would really make you have more joy and fulfillment in your life.
When your life is overcomplicated and overfull, there’s little space for what truly matters.
So with my new found ponderings what am I going to do?
For starters I am going to start scheduling more me time. Time where I’m not working, or reading, or working out or anything. Everyone needs a moment where they can just breathe, and I very rarely get those moments. My works out and my diets need a fine tune-up aswell. I stick with my same routine day after day. Sometimes I wonder am I truly living? Or just being? I need to shake things up, take more risks. Have fun and enjoy life, because this is the only one that I am going to get. One thing I really miss is yoga. Over the summer I really enjoyed my practicing yoga, but since school started I have been more crunched for time and havent practiced in ages. Starting today I am going to make time for yoga and make time for meditation.
One thing that I am thankful for is that I have realized this at such a young age. I have my whole life ahead of me to devote to health, wellness and compassion. That is a true gift.
Michal ♥
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