Hump Day Helpers

Brain Gym...we are all familiar with gyms or facilities where we exercise our bodies, but how often to we exercise our brains.  I mean break the routine and really challenge ourselves intellectually.  At my sons school, they have what is called Brain Gym--it's a series of physical activities that require that they cross the mid-line of their bodies as well as other physical tasks that make the right and left brain interact.  This is designed to stimulate brain activity and wake up the brain to think differently and more focused.  How often do we just veg out at the end of the day? We just want to chill, turn off the workday or the noise and relax. Well, when was the last time you stimulated your brain.  I mean picked up the Wall Street Journal, did Sudoku, completed a crossword puzzle, watched a documentary, or in some cases try this "new math" they are teaching now?  It's important that as we work to challenge our bodies physically, that we don't forget about our brains.  Go ahead--Think of something you can do to challenge your brain.  Don't forget to share what you did.

Monday Motivation

Happy rainy Monday!!! I want everyone to picture a box.  Go ahead, look inside, imagine you are in the box.  I want you to decorate your box, imagine some color on the interior of the box, put some furniture in it, go ahead sit down.  Get comfortable!!!!  Feels good right? We all have "a box" that we live in,  we maneuver through and sometimes we even invite others to join us in our "box".  We all get comfortable with our boxes, and when we grow tired of our box, we usually redecorate, or rearrange things until we like the way our box looks again.  Sometimes, we need to STEP OUTSIDE the BOX, to get another perspective, redirect our thoughts and focus as well as to make changes.  Stepping outside the box involves taking a risk and overcoming fear.  Once you step outside, it enlightens you to new discoveries and experiences.  When was the last time you stepped outside the box?  I encourage everyone to step outside the box, get a different view, and see what happens once you are OUTSIDE the box!!!

Friday ConFessions

It's FRIDAY!!!! and as usual, I am glad to see it arrive.  Spring has Sprung and even though it brings alot of liquid sunshine, I am glad for warmer temperatures.  I seem to be in a groove with getting one of my workouts done early in the week, then getting up earlier on Friday to complete the second workout.  I need to break this cycle though.  I had hoped to have increased my exercising to three times per week, but that hasn't happened.  I'm still hopeful that with the days ahead, I will be able to increase to three times per week.  Anyone exercising more than twice per week?  If so, share how you make time.... As far as the eating, doing well,  making good choices,  but I need to do better with eating dinner every evening.  I've skipped a few dinners because of the boys schedule, or because I'm not hungry.  Don't worry--the Boys eat.  I am glad that I'm resisting emotional/stress eating and grabbing a Coke.  I did have a bout with impulsive eating--damn those girl scout cookies.! Well, that's all folks...Your turn.....

Hump Day Helpers

Happy Hump Day.  Usually Wednesday feel like slump day...Ever feel that mid-afternoon slump?  Most people feel a drop in energy level anytime between 2-5 in the afternoon.  We feel drained, lethargic, and basically want to take a nap.  Here are some tips to beat the mid-afternoon slump.

• Start each day with a good breakfast, which includes a mix of carbs and protein.  Women should eat about 300-400 calories at breakfast (recommended-WebMD).
• Carbs help get you going (energy) and protein fuels the brain and muscles.  The combination of carbs and protein helps to increase concentration levels.
• Eat a well balanced lunch, no matter how busy you are, lunch is essential to help beat the afternoon slump.  It might even prevent that afternoon headache.
• Eat light at lunch, a mix of carbs and protein is recommended.  Heavy lunches or lunches with a lot of fat help increase that lethargic feeling.  
• Take a walk outside
• Drink some water
• Have a healthy mid-afternoon snack.
• yogurt with granola
• select peanut butter crackers instead of a candy bar
• trail mix with nuts (skip the one with the M-n-M's, my personal favorite) 
• eat fresh fruit or veggies
• And of course,  a 20 min. power nap, if possible.  (don't try this at work!)

Monday's Motivation

We have entered week 5 and should have some new and improved changes taking a foothold in our lives.  We should be in a groove, right?  Usually just as soon as we think we've gotten into a groove,  we hit a pothole, encounter a detour and sometimes, we fall completely off the wagon.   It is those times when we need to GET UP,  go back, re-evaluate our goals and sometimes adjust them or redefine them.  Remember, it doesn't matter how many times we fall, but it's important to Get Back UP!!!!! Just like when we were learning how to ride a bike...How many times did you fall off, before you were riding?  Once you got the hang of it, you were riding and enjoying the ride!  Think about it.... Okay, time to get back on the bike...and RIDE!!!!!

Friday conFessions

We did it!!!! We are a month down the road to change.  How's the journey going for you?  Any new revelations about yourself or your goals?  Notice anything different about your attitude or your body?  Anybody saying "why am I doing this?"  I hope the past month has allowed you to implement some changes for the good and start to eliminate some things that may have been unhealthy or not as good for you.  I am proud to say, it's been a FULL MONTH since I've indulged in drinking a Coke and trust me,  I've been challenged to want to go grab one or two!!  In addition, at this moment, I have a CASE of it at home, thanks to my parents who are visiting.  BUT I have had a mind shift and I am now able to not grab that Coke as a comforter as I once did.  Exercising has been challenging, I won't make excuses or list reasons,  but I have successfully managed to get the minimum required two times for 30 mins. per week in.  It's been hard though and honestly the past 3 Friday's I've been up in the morning exercising to be in compliance with the requirement I set up.  As far as the eating, I'm making much healthier choices, eating more fruit and veggies...and I stopped indulging in the Friday Fish Fry at work and the occasional hot dog and fries for lunch.  Okay, your turn.  Holla at your girl!!! How you doin?  

Hump Day Helpers

Ever been stressed out or emotionally in a low place and you grab something to eat or drink.   Before you know it, you are like "why did I eat that?" or,  "why did I eat so much of that?"  Same thing with drinks, whether it be non-alcoholic or alcoholic.  For me, Coke was my MAIN thing to grab if I was stressed or bothered by something.  Of course Coke, isn't the worse thing to gravitate towards, but you get my point.  For some it's a pint of ice cream, some an entire package of Oreos, for others it could be more serious.  Ever eat something just because it was right in front of you, or you smell food and then want food, even if you aren't hungry.  What do you do to avoid emotional or impulse eating?  Here are a few tips to beat impulse or stress induced eating.  Once you try one of these tips, you will be less likely to indulge.

• say a prayer
• take a walk, get some fresh air
• chew a piece of gum or have a mint
• take deep breaths
• call a friend
• drink some water
• keep raw veggies around and chomp on a few of them
• eat a piece of fruit
• write a note or letter to someone (when was the last time anyone did that?)
• start a food journal and write down when you want to eat because you are stressed and what you are feeling.  see if you can track a pattern.  
• work on a hobby