Here's another few!

I am a big believer that a lot of our achievement originates in our brain. What we think and how we think plays a big roll in our lives. Our words are powerful. If you think about it, what we say to ourselves is what we hear all day long! So be nice to yourself and remind yourself that you are strong and you can do this! He talks about using our brain in this 20 minute workout.

(FYI, he does use one swear word.)

This is a fun kickboxing one for you.

(No swear words. ;))

Confessions of a Yoga Lover

Today I heard my 5 year old daughter excitedly talking to a friend in the next room "That was a pose! Did you see that?!" Then she yelled in to me, "Mom! I held a pose for a long time! You can see it when you get in here!" And went back to teaching her (somewhat disinterested) friend how to do it. I went to find her, very curious to see what pose my sweet little yogi had just accomplished. I was surprised and quite impressed to see my baby teaching her friend how to do crow pose. That's right, crow pose. She might not have really been holding it, but she was pretty darn close.

Life lesson for October 8th: There are no yoga lessons at my house except a few that my kids specifically ask for, but I do do a lot of yoga here as you might have surmised. Really, truly, kids learn from watching their parents. We lead. We are examples. Whether we like it or not!

Just Walk it Off

I'm not sure why I'm so excited to find these videos, but I am. I think these walking videos are great for beginners and anyone wanting to start an exercise program. You can really slow it down if you need to and pick it up as you get used to it. They are low impact and easy to follow. I've only tried these 15 minute one mile ones, but I've seen some that are longer! I still think taking it outside is more favorable, but not always accessible, plus these videos hit spots you wouldn't hit just on a normal walk. I found this one when my morning PE walk with my kids was rained out. We were all smiles as we did this together... yes, really... but do not tell my boys I told you that!!

Click HERE to find more Walk at Home videos.

Brutal is right

I heart my mornings. They are my personal time for exercise, checking my email, studying scripture, and drinking my green smoothie. The house is quiet, the sun is rising, the weather is cool. I just love this time of day. The earlier I wake up the better, because the more time I have for said activities. The problem is I also heart SLEEP. I need sleep. I need all of these things. Sometimes, to assure I get the much needed sleep, I sleep later than I really want to, cutting into my special time before the kids wake up. Some days this has a negative impact, but mostly I've learned to let it go and savor whatever time I can carve for myself. This is why these 20 & 30 minute videos work so well for me. When you HIIT, that's all the time you need anyway! This one is only 20 minutes but it's intense! There is no cool down so be sure to leave a little time for that because you will need it. Now go work it!

Awww, Yoga

I took an ah-mazing ashtanga yoga class last week. Ashtanga yoga has an intense, flowing style in which the same asanas (poses) are always done in the same order. I wish I could find the words to explain how I felt when I left that hour and a half class. Other than the fact that I could barely stand (how many vinyasa flows can one person do??) I felt so good. Yes. Just really very good. Yoga has a way of making your body feel tall, long, strong, and capable. Learning to breath and focus on my practice and on what I need right at that moment is a skill I feel has effected my whole life. I have had a stressful few years, but I've made it through them and I am still making it through each day. Yoga calms me and it encourages me. I think back to the first time I tried yoga and laughed at what I was trying to do. At the time I was laughing because I thought there was no possible way I was ever going to accomplish these crazy things, but as my practice continued my view changed and I began to try. I decided I would just see what happened. I left that class last week having held a headstand, a backbend, and several balancing poses and binds! Yay! We can do so many things, but first we have to try and then we have to diligently keep trying until *suddenly* you realize you're doing it!! It is such a great feeling that everyone should experience. Okay, go try something new this week! And keep trying until you've got it.... even if it takes a year... or five years. :)

Here's a great beginning - feel fantastic - yoga video, if you want to give it a try.

My current goal: Grasshopper Pose

I'm getting there!

Encouragement wether you want it or not. It's just on my mind.

I found out yesterday, during a conversation with a few health conscious friends, that Grade B is the more nutritious maple syrup to buy, as opposed to the large Grade A pure maple syrup I buy at Costco. So again, I learn something new about the foods I'm eating. This just got me thinking. Thinking about how frustrating healthy eating can feel sometimes, right?! I'm doing something I'm sure is good for me and then I find out I should be doing something else. Now, the maple syrup isn't a big deal (upon further research I found that all types contain nutritious minerals, but the darker syrup has a higher quantity of said minerals) and I didn't actually feel disheartened by this news, but it reminded me of all the times I have been disheartened. Like when I go to the grocery store and start reading labels. I feel like being completely honest with you, I have stood in the store with tears in my eyes trying to figure out what I can feed my family that is nutritious and edible! I am still not as healthy as some, but I am a long way from where I started. As I sat around this table with health conscious friends, I listened to my friend--who gave up refined white sugars cold turkey and soaks all of her grains when she cooks--tell me she was in a slump! Whaaaaat? How can this be? She said she hadn't been exercising regularly and was buying pre-made food (bread) that she didn't normally buy because it was just easier, but she was working on getting better again. Now mind you, her "slump" might be healthier than my very healthiest, but the point I'm hoping to make here is that we all have times when we feel weaker than other times. Think of our healthy living journey like a great big hill (mountain??) that we are climbing. We are all at different parts of the trail, some at the beginning and some further up, and all of us are going to get tired and slow down sometimes. We might even stop for a while. The key to eventual success, though, is to KEEP TRYING. Thomas Edison said, "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." This is as applicable here as it is in all other areas of our life. First you have to believe you can make it to the top of that hill. It might be really hard. You might stumble and fall a few times before  you get the hang of it, but you will get there. This part is really important, because if you don't believe this it will be really hard to keep going when you've stumbled, you're desire to give up will be strong because, after all, you don't think you'll even make it. Next, you have to believe that it is worth it! If you're at the bottom of the hill, it might not seem that way, but when you start getting higher and look around you begin to see the fruits of your effort and you realize how great it feels. You gain more confidence with your ability. Lastly (for now at least), you have to make climbing this hill a lifetime commitment. This is not a one time deal or something you start and finish, but rather something you choose to add to your life. It gets easier, for sure, but anything you're doing is something you need to keep on doing. Remember, don't worry if you stumble or even if you fall off, expect the downfalls. Not very many (if any) people head straight up without any set backs. JUST KEEP ON TRYING. Thomas Edison tried 10,000 times before he invented the light bulb. That's right friends, YOU'VE GOT THIS! Here's one of my favorite books for anyone who's interested. Easy to follow and practical ideas that make sense and you can start implementing right away.

Now my son is about to go crazy dancing all around me needing to "check stats" before he goes to bed. I think I should turn over the computer time to him. It is fantasy football season after all.

Goodnight!

Denise Austin! Well, say no more.

I found it for you! You know, that "comfort video" I talked about in the last post... because, really, who doesn't love Denise Austin. Watching this video was a blast from my past. It was at least 20 years ago that I had some Denise Austin videos I used and she is the exact same. I am pretty sure that she and I could be good friends. She is always so happy and encouraging! This video is an "easy mile" walking video. I had never done a walking video before, but I'm sold. Beginners, this one is perfect for you! I smiled through the whole thing. Having an instructor that is fun to watch is a big bonus for me because it makes the workout that much more fun.... funner? Let me know how you like this one! I hope you enjoy it, because, in the words of Denise Austin, "You deserve it and you're worth it!" <3 <3 <3