healthy and beautiful

I was reading an article in More Magazine and came across a small piece on what motivates us to exercise. The reason I bring up the article is I happen to agree with the content. According to More , the top reasons women over 40 exercise are to lose weight and protect their health. Research indicated these women were more disenchanted with their fitness programs. Regular exercise was explained as a duty, not fun and more like taking a mouthful of bitter medicine. So, it appears gals over 40 feel exercise is more of a have to duty than having a fun time. The lesser percentage of women surveyed stated they exercised to improve mood and reduce stress. Now, that sounds fabulous. Studies show women who exercise for stress reduction and to feel good remained true to their programs. In fact, they exercised 30% more than those seeking to lose weight and protect their health. Now, you may think losing weight should be motivational, but let's say you're not seeing results. This creates...

What works for me may not work for you. That's awesome! Why? Because we're all different people with differing strengths and weaknesses. Each of us should focus on the things we can do, and do our best not holding anything back. Acceptance of who we are and celebrating our strengths is essential for health and fitness. I eliminate push-ups from my workout for example because they will aggravate my neck injury. Instead, I work hard on my chest press and it works for me. It could be easy to sulk back into a corner and cry over my loss of certain athletic abilities, but what would that do for me?  Nothing. Life has given me a great purpose and a strong will to fight for my fitness. I have good and bad days just like you. Over several years of training, I have come to really enjoy what I can do through exercise modification and creative program development. I do what works for me and it's fabulous. It's important to never give up hope and know you can achieve great things....

If I don't make time to get in a workout and let the day get away from me, it's easier to say forget it.  Other things become a priority and being a high energy morning person, I dread afternoon workouts.  It doesn't mean I skip it, but I somehow don't feel the same when I'm dragging.  I'm determined not to let myself down and push through.  It's on me when I miss my morning exercise appointment and my consequence is not feeling my best.  My fault, I own it and learn from it.   There will be times when missing a morning can't be helped and that's acceptable.  It's those days where "other things" seem to snowball into the afternoon and I'm left still needing a sweat session.  I have learned to plan better, make time and not skip a workout.  Without a plan, it's just a wish, right? Without making the time, it's not going to happen, right? We go through life making so many excuses on how we don't have time. Really?  I love ...

Discipline can feel like a negative word. Remember when we were disciplined as kids? It felt horrible at the time. However, if done out of love, discipline can provide structure and a healthy lifestyle . In fact, I would say I live a pretty disciplined life when it comes to health and fitness. Discipline has helped  mold me into the woman I am today. Discipline has made the ranks of being a positive part of fitness success. It provides the drive to pursue my goals even on days where I don't feel like it. Without discipline, I think my life would be completely different. Without this structure, I wouldn't have the discipline to work out, eat the way I do , or take care of myself overall.  Discipline includes keeping workout appointments with myself without excuses. Preparing meals ahead of time to stay accountable to eating right also takes discipline. Remaining true to fitness philosophies also takes a disciplined attitude. It could be easy to get off track, but a disciplined...

When it comes to fitness, I am not a believer of the "more is better" philosophy. Sometimes doing more exercise, juicing more, supplementing more, and eating more protein for example can come back to bite you in the butt.  When will people realize getting fit and maintaining a healthy body is a simple process and does not require all the "more" believed to be better?  Focused hour workouts that include a variety of cardio, weight training, and flexibility at least 4-times per week are sufficient.  Throwing in active rest days and having fun are also part of the exercise week and by all means should be enjoyed.  Nutrition is about eating a healthy and wide variety of all the macronutrients: lean proteins, good carbs, and fats.  Food is our fuel, but our body only requires a certain amount and over-consumption of one can actually have adverse health effects, just as eliminating healthy foods can cause nutrient deficiencies. If I was conducting a consult with a po...

Exercise does not have to be extreme to be effective.  When it comes to our health and fitness, it is not a competition, but a lifetime maintenance body program.  There may be those who have certain goals and need to perform above the maintenance requirement, but in general creating a healthy ROCKIN body can be accomplished by moving it for 30 minutes at least five days per week.  Most of us want to feel and look good in and out of clothes with a simple exercise routine that does not require leaping over tall buildings in single bounds and lifting hundreds of pounds of weight.  I am not knocking those doing the leaping, heavy lifting, or extreme sports with this Blog, but addressing the norm demographic of everyday people who just want to get healthy and look healthy. Studies have shown that 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as brisk walking is sufficient to maintain a healthy body, and spread over time throughout the week.  It would be reduced to 75...

Remember being graded on a curve back in high school?  I implement something similar when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle.  I am sure you have all heard of a 90/10 or 80/20 percent variable when it comes to eating clean and exercise.  What it comes down to for me is CONSISTENCY with a curve and that allows for the little fun off the plan meals or missed workouts that WILL be a part of my balanced life.  I really do not stress about it, and I try to have a positive and fun outlook most of the time.  There are times that my mental game can be in the tank just like anyone else, and my actions have to be stronger than my mind.  It is in these moments that I realize that the workouts never get easier, but I definitely am stronger for them.    I am not perfect and never will proclaim to be, but I am CONSISTENT.  I exercise at least five times per week and nothing extreme either.  I get in my sixty minutes and sometimes even forty-five a...

Simple is Healthy ~ Workouts Part 2 As promised, I am continuing my write about why I think “Simple is Healthy” and how I apply that to my life in all aspects.   Of course, it is such a HUGE factor for me, and knew that I could not fit all I had to say in one piece being the chatter bug that I am, so had to break it up in a series of Blogs. If you read the first of the series, I covered my food and how keeping it Simple makes for healthier foods…an apple vs. some packaged product with fake apple substance in it for example…YUCK.   I am dedicating this Blog to how I keep my workouts Simple and how that is absolutely HEALTHIER for me.   I am a down to earth, back to the basics, sticking to the foundation of exercise kind of gal.   I do not need anything fancy to create a healthy body, and in fact enjoy the simplicity of an all over body weight     program many times throughout the week.   Also…my time…it is so important…please do not think that I spend ...