I just had the most fun workout! Does having the words “fun” and “workout” in the same sentence seem like a contradiction to you? That’s one of those limiting beliefs that is resulting in your holding onto the weight! Who said working out had to be a drag? Or worse? And don’t think that just because my workout was fun that it means it was easy. An hour later and my face is still beat red and my metabolism revved. I definitely pushed it. And I loved every minute of it! While I will share what I was doing, the most important thing is to do is find the workout that you enjoy. That you find fun. That you kind-of-wish you were doing at other points in the day. The key to moving your body consistently is to enjoy it. And consistency is key to long-term success. A stumbling block for many women I work with is that they think they have to take up a form of exercise that they hate. Depending on what your goals are, there are many ways to achieve the results you’re looking for. For instance, I know women who are in great shape who have achieved their goals by doing everything from walking, to yoga, to tai chi. Others have done Pilates, dancing, boxing, jump-roping, and even hula-hooping. And there are many more options. Experiment until you find the workout you enjoy. So what was the workout I did this morning? If you follow my blog regularly, you know I love dance walking. But heading out in the dark and cold—not so much fun. A couple of months ago a fabulous reader and fellow blogger introduced me to dance cardio on the […]
Don’t Hold Back
Woo hoo! After two days of giving my squished foot some rest, I got in an upper body workout this morning. After taking a moment to pat myself on the back for getting back on the exercise wagon, I took a look at the quality of my workout. Hmm. I definitely held back. Out of curiosity, I asked myself “why?” The answer was fear. Fear of hurting my foot and fear of the pain I might create. “Perfectly normal,” you might say. After all, I did just give my foot a pretty significant whack with a grooming table. But as Bruce Schneider likes to say, “Normal does not mean necessary.” In this case, the most discomfort I had was putting on my shoe. Sure, I had some touchy moments here and there, but once I established a way to do each exercise comfortably, why didn’t I give it my all? Recognizing that I was acting from the fear of the pain I might experience was one of the “ah-ha” opportunities from this whole situation. How often have I held back from life not because of the pain I was experiencing, but because of the fear of pain? The answer is “a lot,” and I don’t think I’m alone here. One of the first things we often do when reaching for something new is to throw a bunch of “but what if” scenarios in our way. That can easily stop us right there. That worst case scenario is just too big a risk–and creates too much fear. Most of the time, however, we aren’t really risking that worst case scenario. Sure, theoretically it might be possible that I could lift so heavy a weight that I […]
Are You Feeling the Joy?
I love feeling unbridled optimism and joy! Wanting to sing at the top of my lungs and dance because it feels so good! Interestingly, one of the places this exuberance erupts is in the middle of running high intensity intervals. Even when I’m so out of breath that I can’t sing or clap, I sometimes just pump my arms. The joy just has to be expressed! Yes, most of the time I’m running on the treadmill at home so I have no inhibitions, but my husband will tell you that it doesn’t really matter if I’m out on the street. I’m a dance walker and runner, baby! Perhaps it’s just endorphins. Perhaps it’s the increased oxygen flow to my brain. Perhaps it’s just the beat of the music. Perhaps it’s the series of minor concussions I had as a kid. So what! Who cares? It’s anabolic and I love it! And it’s a gift that keeps on giving. That amazing feeling of being in love with life continues way longer than the 35 minutes I’m on the treadmill. It boosts my energy and positive feeling all day long. What does that boost do? It makes me more loving and patient with the people in my life. It allows me to let go of little things that don’t matter. It enables me to get more done—and to do it with a better attitude. It goes deeper than that. When we’re experiencing this kind of positive anabolic energy, it has the power to rebuild the body at the cellular level. This is why laughter is called the best medicine. Who wouldn’t want to take this if it were a drug? Exercise is one way I get the […]
Move Your Body to Improve Your Life
I’ve had a few “Thank goodness I work out” moments this week. From digging holes and planting shrubbery, to moving large planters around on the porch, to having to carry my 35-pound dog part of the way home from a walk—I’ve appreciated my strength and stamina. While studies show that exercise plays an important role in promoting sound physical and mental health, more practically, it also adds to quality of life. From easily carrying in the groceries to dancing for the sheer joy of it, being physically fit allows you to do and be more of Who you want to be. Ironically, this isn’t one of the many benefits of exercise that is often cited. Too often we focus on the external reasons to exercise—weight loss or maintenance, a healthier heart, reduced risk of high blood pressure, stronger bones and joints, a stronger immune system, etc. Those reasons are awesome, but alone they may not be enough to get you out of bed to go move your body. But what about having the energy or stamina to play with your kids or grand-kids? Getting out and enjoying a hike with your family? Taking on a do-it-yourself project around the house? Or doing anything else you might want to do, like going horseback riding, zip-lining, or canoeing? All of those activities are easier, safer, and more fun if you consistently move your body. Even small things make a difference to quality of life, for instance being able to easily carry a box to the attic or basement, hauling the laundry basket, or climbing several flights of stairs. Life is easier—and just more fun—when you have a strong and powerful body that you’ve developed through regular exercise. […]
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