What are we setting our minds to?

I have learned through the years that we can do anything we set our minds to. Will it be work? Oh yeah. Will it be painful? At times. Will it be worth it? Hope so. We usually don't put much effort into something we are expecting a great outcome from.

Working out and jogging were not something I grew up doing in school or anything I ever really thought about until I was 19. When I was 19 I moved to Arizona and a cousin decided for me that I needed to run with her. I thought this was a joke, it wasn't. She was 17 and was a runner in school. I, on the other hand, thought how hard can it be. So I agreed, not knowing she wanted to run at least a mile. I started off not so fast but doing ok. After about a half a mile I began to fall apart. So my cousin got in front of me and turned around to face me and was my cheerleader to get me to the goal. She would say "you can do it" and I would say "no I can't." I did make it and it led to me going out again to see if I could do it on my own.

From there I began to enjoy jogging and started jogging on the canals. Not long after I started to jog I broke my ankle and had surgery on it. So jogging was out for some time in my life.

I remember trying when I was about 22 to jog around the neighborhood. By then I had gotten married and moved so I didn't have a good area to run. When I finished my ankle swelled up so much I couldn't put my shoe back on. That ended the jogging for many years.

A couple of years back, about 3, I started trying to jog again. I again had moved and now have a great place to run. I started off slowly with a half a mile. Seriously thought I was dying any minute but kept going. After a while of doing this I began to set my sights on a mile then 2 miles then 3 miles. At that time the most I got up to was 4 miles. I had to keep telling myself that I was no different than the next gal that runs. I perfectly healthy and just need to build up to longer distances. This would take time. Now today I'm training for a half marathon, which I never thought would be possible.

My point is through all of this I had to constantly tell myself I could do this. Reminding myself that I could do anything I put my mind to. I believe most things we do in life are 80 to 90% mental and the other physical. I keep telling my body that I can do this.

This method has helped me in so many other areas of my life. Spiritually, I continually tell myself I have faith for this or that and I feel God's strength along the way. In my eating, this is a constant discipline and it's still hard at times but I want to be an example to my children and family on how we need to eat healthy and take care of our bodies since they are the temple.

So I challenge you today to tell yourself that you can do something that you have struggled with in life today and watch yourself accomplish the unthinkable things in life that are so rewarding.

no pain-no gain??

What on earth is a saying like that suppose to make me say, yes I'll take the pain?? So often I would think I wasn't willing to take the pain for whatever in life it might cost me to be able to gain something that would be a change and even a lifetime change.

For instance fitness- I didn't want to work out and be in pain no matter what I gained from it. It hurt and I was not going to put myself through any pain just to look good (that's how I seen it). Little did I know back then that it wasn't really about looking good but about taking care of my body and keeping it in shape so that I wouldn't pull muscles easy or I had flexibility. Also being able to lift my child and grandchildren without pain. Yes today I say I'll take the pain now and have great rewards in the flexibility of my body.

Next, eating healthy- I guess I thought I was going to always be young and in shape and never really have to worry about what I ate. I was not taught healthy eating and I don't blame my parents because they didn't have the teaching either. I would say I fell in to this on my own and began to put more thought into it and research as to what I should and shouldn't be eating.

One of the greatest things is setting boundaries for myself and my children. This took a long time to learn but thank GOD I did and have been working on it since. This is definitely a painful experience at first but can be a lifetime of gain.

So now when I think of this saying I know I have experienced it and it works. It's worth the pain for anything that will change you.

What do you think now..

Clear Thinking!!

I really believe, don't know if it has scientifically been proven or not, for myself that when I get out each day to exercise by walking or jogging that I actually think clearer. I feel like my mind is open and is more in tune with creativity, God, wisdom or just some good clear thinking. Someone once told me that they put their ipod on in the morning and jog 5 miles. Also, that they use this time for prayer.

When we stay inside all the time and get no exercise this is a sure way to quickly become depressed and feel sorry for ourselves. In turn this opens us up to sickness and disease.

I also believe it strengthens relationships. You are talking, laughing and giving of yourself to others. Get out and enjoy the day. Get some exercise and take someone with you.

Keep it Coming!!

Ok, workouts change depending upon if you are training for an event or just working out. I had been working on training for the Grand Canyon hike and doing the stairmaster a lot also I was working on endurance. My new goal is a 1/2 marathon, so now the routine changes a bit. Now I have to do more running and also keep the endurance.

We need goals. It gives us a reason to workout no matter what they are. The biggest goal we should all have is to love ourselves enough to take care of our body so that we will live a full, long and healthy life. Oh and it's not all about exercise either, thats just part of it. Remember I said LOVE ourselves enough. If you aren't willing to work on your body just yet find out why. Most of the time there are things in us we need to recognize and begin to deal with so that we see ourselves different, then we will get that inner strength to take on the challenge of taking care of us.

When you begin to work on you, start with healthy eating habits. What we are putting into our mouths is so important. With everything you eat figure out what your body is gaining from that food choice. Definitely eat more live foods. That would be fruits and vegetables. This kind of eating will certainly begin to help you feel good about YOU!

Ok, all done with the Grand Canyon hike and what a great trip. It was a little rough since I don't think I was truly well prepared but enjoyed it very much. I had never done this trip with my sisters together so that was cool, even thou we all split up after so long. What next, rim to rim sounds good!

Grand Canyon Hike

Ok, leaving today for a hike at the Grand Canyon tomorrow. Haven't hiked in 3 weeks. I'm contemplating if I should go to the river and up, 16 miles or just to Indian Gardens and up, 9 miles. Somehow going the shorter distance just doesn't seem like a Grand Canyon hike but I'm sure it would on the way out.

Not another diet!!

For the past few weeks I have been working with my mother to create healthy eating habits. She just moved back from Tenn. and needed some knowledge, support, motivation oh yeah and a cook. So far she has lost 13 lbs, yeah! However, when there is no weight loss for the week it sure feels like just another diet plan. I think it's more anxiety over wanting results now. I'm trying to remember that slow is good and 13 lbs. is amazing! Yeah mom!

What is up with me??

I have been up and down on my exercise plan. I started working a new job and have yet to be able to get back on track. So, I put my workout in my planner, considering the fact that I'm hiking the Grand Canyon soon, and found a way, if I stick to it, to make it happen daily. Then we had fall break. This is when your kids are out of school for two weeks, my kids go to year round school, with nothing to do but watch TV, run around the house, scream instructions to one another and drive whatever parent that is home, crazy! So how about that plan? Well, it's been tough but I'm not giving up. Only 3 more days of fall break.

Out of it??

When you've been out of it for awhile even a few weeks, it is so hard to get back in the discipline of working out. However, we MUST for our health. Not just working out but making sure that our eating habits haven't gotten out of control. Now get back to it!! Oh me too!!

amp it up!!

ok, I have been going at the same pace for some time now and its time to amp it up.. this really can be a set up for misery or maybe just a good place to let me see how far I've come.

GET BACK UP!

Ok, so I went camping for 4 days and ate terrible & didn't exercise. Awful!! I felt awful. It was very hard to get back in the flow of exercising. DON"T stop. Get back up and keep going. No matter how hard it is and how much you have to motivate yourself, keep going. I hate that feeling. I seem to be able to get back in the flow of eating right but have a hard time getting back into the exercising. It's discipline, discipline, discipline. I had none of this growing up. I mean for health. I had lots of other discipline but wasn't really taught that much about controling the outcome of my health. So, here I am at ??? age trying to get it right. I'm getting there and so can you. I gained ?? lbs over the holiday and have already lost what I gained. It's a mindset. We can do it....

Cellulite!! YUK!!

FYI!

Why do most women have cellulite, actually men get it too but 80% of women get it in all the WRONG places. Toxins and fatty acids get trapped in the fat cells thru poor diet, stress, lack of exercise, caffeine (ouch!) , achohol and high fat diets. Oh yeah women, its also it's all about us becuase of ESTROGEN, baby..I no likey, however, I have it too!! What can I do about it?????? Well according to Sarah Chapman (beauty & skin therapist)

1. drink more water - it flushes the toxins & fat deposits that cause cellulite, also it helps circulation and drainage which helps the appearance of cellulite

2. more exercise to increase the circulation

3. also a bristle body brush - brush with long strokes towards the heart..extra focus on the cellulite areas also improves the circulation. Do this daily before getting in the shower..

I SHALL TRY IT ALL!!!!

Hiking

Hiked Piestewa Peak today.. feels great to hike again and see that you still have in you. This is not an easy hike if you don't do it all the time, but love the work out. It feels great doing anything for your body each day.. whatever you can do helps.

Healthy Eating on the Run

Eating on the run can be your worst enemy so here are a few tips to help when eating out.

1. Menu terms that can mean more fat and calories: batter-fried, pan-fried, buttered, creamed, crispy, breaded. Choose these foods only occasionally and in small portions.

-We all know this but often times just ignore it. Remember we are also watching our cholestrol.

2.Boost the nutrition in all types of sandwiches by adding tomato, lettuce, peppers or other vegetables.

-We NEED vegetables.. be aware of what your eating and add the good stuff too.

3.Order the regular or child-size portion. Mega-sized servings are probably more than you need. For a lighter meal, order an appetizer in place of a main course.

- portion sizing is a huge downfall. It's important watch those portions.If need be, order child size portions.. come on, you know you've ordered the kids meals before....

Eating healthy is a lot of thinking first.. what is in this that is good and what is bad..

When Fear Affects Your Health

Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through your mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. -Author Somers Roche

Fear Will Paralyze You!

When I would read about other people working out I would say I don't think I can do that exercise thing. Not that I couldn't exercise but not the weight training. I was an exception because I had never lifted weights or done ANY resistance workouts. So when I would see people at the gym doing this I would want to, but never would try. Then I got a buddy to go to the gym with me. She had weight trained before and gotten out of it. She showed me a little and I realized I could do this. However, it was temporary and I was back to the same thought process. Then I joined the gym by my house and wanted more. I began by only doing cardio work outs 4 to 5 days a week. I had already been jogging in my neighborhood and now I had different machines to do this with. Then I finally decided to ask a trainer to check my body fat and from there I was on my way to a free consultation and doing weight training. Today I LOVE it. I was so afraid of it, thinking the demand was great but not realizing everyone started somewhere. So did I, now it is a very important part of my workouts at the gym. Buffeting our body is not always easy but it is a necessary part of our day to have a longer healthier life. You can do it too. Just start somewhere. I did! Also remember, you may not have a lot of weight to lose but that doesn't mean your body is in shape.

Fitness Today

ok, today I walked to the gym with my kids about a mile there and home. Started my workout on the stairmaster, fun fun, then ran 3 miles. I did NOT want to do the stairmaster today. It's painful, however, I do want to increase my ability to hike long periods of time so no choice.. I had to start my workout with the right attitude and keep the goal in mind. I start that at home in quit time before I go to the gym. Renewing my mind.

Fitness

Ok, my trip to the Grand Canyon was just the start. I realized that I didn't just need to train for the hike but daily exercise would prepare me for the preperation. I found out that you can look good on the outside and be totally out of shape on the inside. Don't be fooled like I was. If your not exercising, your not in shape. I needed cardio workouts AND strength training. I HATED the strength training. I did not want to put my body thru any real pain. However, this effected everything I did including riding that bike again. So I began the workouts. I did NOT like it at first but when I got past all the soreness and I mean soreness, I begin to look forward to working out. Today I love it and I've convinced my husband to join me. He now enjoys it as well. Also, don't stop, becuase then the pain starts all over again. Yeah!! 

Health

Health and fitness has not always been a part of my life. When I was in school I was very active however, when I got out of school it wasn't that important anymore. I never even really thought about it until I was asked to hike the Grand Canyon and without ever seeing it, I agreed. Didn't really think much about preparing because I didn't really understand what I had gotten myself into. I went to hike, to prepare, with a friend after work in the heat of the summer and went a quarter of the way up the mountain and had to turn around due to the fact that it was over 100 degrees outside and I thought I was going to pass out. I had no water or anything. Crazy, I know! Needless to say I fell apart on the hike and I didn't even go all the way to the river. I was so embarressed and swore to learn how to take care of my body. That was in 1990. Since then I have had another trip to the Canyon and almost passed out but conquered the last two times. I found out my health is something to take serious. Now I do. I take vitamins and eat healthy, which was something else I never did. I never thought about what I was putting into my body. Can't believe the difference. I feel better physically and mentally. It's a great feeling to know your in control of your body. This did not happen over night, but I have vowed to work on it continually. Do I fall, yes, but I get back up.