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Posts Tagged ‘Fit Friends’

You Are Not Alone

July 11, 2011

It may seem like other people know what they’re doing, and they’re breezing through life with all the answers. It may seem like everyone else has it better — no struggles, no anxieties, heartaches or disappointments.

Maybe your life is not where you thought it would be at this age. Maybe everyone else has the perfect spouse, big house, successful career, money, phenomenal body and great looks … and you’re just destined to be miserable.

Not really …

Not everyone expresses their pain. Think about it. Would you go spewing your disappointments and anxieties to just anyone?

Everyone is suffering in their own way. Everyone is struggling.

The more we feel alone … the more we feel like people don’t get us … the worse life can look.

Change your mindset. Reach out. Find people that can relate to you. Open your heart to those that love you. Express yourself in different ways. Try each and every day to find happiness. Come up a new plan.

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.

Photo by Wildcat Dunny.

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100 Days on Four Hour Body

May 25, 2011

Today marks 100 days of conscious eating. I can’t believe it.

I USED to be able to eat whatever, whenever and never have to worry about it. People used to be amazed at my appetite. Life was good, especially since I’m a total foodie … until I turned 28. I hurt my foot and my activity slowed down a lot. Then, I got wrapped up in drama and stress at work — and gave up on working out. For two years, I was an emotional eater, and had no energy or desire to cook. I ate to make myself happy, and I gained about 25 + pounds. UGH! Eventually I got let go from that job (as did 13+ others), but I still was wrapped up with the uncertainty of my next career move. Plus, we were engaged and I was really bugging out about finances.

When I look back, I kick myself for not being able to get in phenomenal shape for my wedding. Why couldn’t I do it then? But, I was so stressed out with being unemployed. There was always something in my head holding me back.

I finally had an “aha” moment and decided I needed to stop eating garbage. I realized life was always going to be challenging and needed to stop making excuses! I stopped accepting how unhappy I was with my body — and decided to do something — watch my diet.

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Being Healthy Can Make You RICH

March 22, 2011

I had dinner with a close girl friend last week. We tell each other EVERYTHING. We talk about fitness, healthy eating, relationships, work stress, holistic practices, etc. We like to explore the unconventional stuff.

She told me about her friend Courtney* that has relationship issues and is always disappointed, even when the situation is not “make-or-break.” For example, Courtney will get really bent out-of-shape and take it personally if her boyfriend, Mark* doesn’t call at the exact time he said he would. Courtney’s therapist suggested that she create a “checkbook” to record and monitor Mark’s positive and negative behavior. So, when Mark calls on time, she writes down +$50. When he takes her out to a nice dinner, +$75. When Mark is late, -$25. Courtney determines the worth/dollar amount for everything. And, the list is a way for her to determine what’s meaningful and focus on the positive things Mark does. Instead of flipping out, she’s programming herself to “check herself before she wrecks herself.”

I’m not endorsing or putting down this concept. I do feel bad for Courtney and her negative associations, but I’m happy that she’s working it out by getting help and using techniques that work. My thought though, is how to apply this idea to exercise and healthy living. Why not keep a checkbook of the things you do each day to get to your health and fitness goals? Assign the amount you’ve “earned” based on what you think you deserve.

My list would look like this:
Drank a full glass of water to start the day = $10
Packed my lunch(es) = $15
Avoided eating the coconut patties at work = + $15
Taught kickboxing at 30% exertion (injury) = + $20
Jogged for three miles and sprinted the last quarter mile = + $35
Ate consistently, four small meals, four hours apart = $30
Got to sleep before 10:30 pm = $40

With time, hopefully, your “bank” account will be exactly where you want it to be, you’ve “saved up” the “amount” you want and you have reprogrammed yoursef to have positive, happy associations with being healthy. Now, feel free to send me a real check in the mail!

Please share your list! I’d love to see what you think things are worth.

Photo by jridgewayphotography.
*Names changed!

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