A Little Habit That Makes Exercise Easier

A tip from the RealAge e-zine I receive.

Rest your Mind before Exercising your Body. Research suggests that a tired mind means a tired body. Exercisers in a study had a harder time with their workouts if their brains were fatigued.

When men and women did tedious and time-intensive computer tasks before working out reported much more fatigue during their workout than when they relaxed in front of documentary films on relatively uncomplicated topics before working out.

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I find this an interesting concept. I know I love my morning walks when my body and mind are relaxed and refreshed, not yet pulled in a million directions from a day's activities. Exercising after a long day has its own rewards, yet it does seem to take more for me to push thru the mental demands of the day. So, if you work out later in the day, you might want to try taking a little time to quiet and relax your mind first!

Don't let the winter blues get to you

Hi all,

Just thought I'd check in with everyone. I think we've all been a bit overwhelmed with the record snowfalls this past week and checking in on the blog has not had top priority. I know I've been in that boat.

My exercise this week has been focus on my upper body - shovel, shovel, and shovel some more. And I still do my best to be mindful of how much stress I've been putting on my muscles.

So it's also been a time of soaks in the bathtub with our SeaSource SeaSoak, using the SeaSource Gelee on the sore muscles and even going for the powerhouse of our Herbal Muscle Massage on some spots on my back and by the shoulder blades.

Remember to take care of your body as you've probably been working it in ways that are not necessarily the best. Think 'Extreme Self Care' and then do the best you can. Your body will thank you for it!

Love! ~ Gerri

The Effects of Stress

In line with our healthy living principles, this is just a reminder to do what you can to minimize stress in your life. Did you know:

• The adrenal glands secrete cortisol in response to high stress and a high cortisol level has been linked to weight gain, specifically around the abdomen. For this reason stress management is so important.
• The ph of your body should be close to that of water. A body that is overly acidic causes you to feel tired and prevents you from losing weight
• The concept of a "detox" is to help the body eliminate the toxins that have accumulated (from food, pesticides, various additives, stress, alcohol, pollution, etc) by eating fruit and vegetbles known for their detoxifying properties. After a detox you will feel better and should have more energy

Remember:

1. If you allow your body to be exposed to stress for a long time, it can lead to serious health problems;
2. Chronic stress can affect every system in your body;
3. Stress can raise blood pressure, which can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke;
4. Stress can speed up the aging process;
5. Stress can lead to long term anxiety and depression

I've found that the healthy living, diet and exercise principles we discuss each week, have helped me tremendously with effective stress management. While there may always be some degree of stress in our lives, its really how we handle it and manage it, that will make the difference. Betty Robinson

a nice quote to carry around with you

The only person you have to measure up against is the person you have the potential to become.

snowy choices

Im certain that all of us AHL girls have had sooooooo many opportunities to challenge us these past few days. I want to admit that just before the snow, I bought my favorite chocolat dark milky way midnight bar. The purpose of this choice was just for "emergency useage". I can't beleive that it is still in the pantry untouched!! i am committed to leaving it in it's original form but with more snow on the way (YIKES)!!, I am going to try to continue to resist it. I have been eating alot of homemade soups, especially after shoveling. If anyone wants a good french onion soup recipe that is easy and delicious just let me know. Topped with alittle cheese... yummy!!

~myra

Home Decor and Abundant Healthy Living

As an interior designer/decorator and subscriber to the Daily OM messages, I felt an appreciation for and a connection to the following OM article and wanted to share it. I am a believer that the space you live in can truly contribute to a sense of well being and abundant healthy living.-Betty Robinson:

"Intuit Your Home's Decor - Working with Space"

When we decide the time has come to change the look or feel of our personal spaces, it is the spaces themselves that can provide us with the most useful guidance. Working with a single room, an apartment, or an entire house allows us to unearth the innate potential of these spaces and also better understand how we want to relate to them. To be conscious of the possibilities of a space, we need to listen to, look at, and bond with that space in a deep and personal way. Just as no two people are alike, no two rooms, however similar, are identical. The more we know about the spaces we wish to change, the better equipped we are to make them both beautiful and functional.

Before you contemplate colors and layouts, spend some time in the rooms you may plan to modify. Observe the way light moves through each space at different times of day. In the course of a week or so, note those times when you feel drawn to a particular space. You may naturally gravitate toward one room when you want to relax and toward another when you want to socialize. Also, remember that not all rooms have to be used as originally planned, for example a dining room may make a wonderful sitting area. Writing your thoughts down can make the process of examination simpler.

The discoveries you make regarding the rooms in your home can help guide you as you choose color schemes, furniture layouts, and decorative styles, so that you bring out the natural qualities of each using your creativity and eye for detail. Using the cues you pick up, you can design a beautiful room that is bright and exciting, or one that calms the soul and invites meditation.

By treating the layout and decor of your personal spaces in a mindful way, you can honor their natural rhythms while creating a cohesive and comfortable home through which energy can flow unencumbered. The design elements you subsequently choose will work together like the diverse instruments that come together to form a symphony orchestra. Each will resonate harmoniously with the next, ensuring that your home resounds with a lasting message of beauty, serenity, reassurance, and comfort." Daily OM, February 3, 2010 http://www.dailyom.com/

Find Healthy Comfort Food

It's been a busy week and I know I haven't blogged like I'm used to doing. I have missed this!

I'm looking out the window now at the beautiful winter wonderland developing. Then thinking of getting out and shoveling which can detract from that beauty. And that can send my thoughts towards 'comfort' foods rich in carbs...rich in poison.

This is definitely a time when we all need to remind ourselves of Abundant Healthy Living principles, of our desire to live as healthy and fit amazing women and men, and of being alive and aware to making the best choices we can.

So I'm sending out warm healthy wishes to all of you on this cold, wintery night. And I'm looking forward to connecting with all of you again next Monday on our call.

Love! ~Gerri