Change

~ Change ~ A little word with so much meaning & emotion behind it... What have you tried changing lately? The way you behave when someone cuts you off on the highway, how you react to your loved ones when you are stressed, what you are eating while at the birthday brunch, going to bed early to exercise early in the mornings, changing negative thoughts and habits? Isn't it uncomfortable and hard?? Or is it?

Timothy Ferriss talks about having "uncomfortable conversations" - taking the issues you are having with a relationship (whatever that may be, personal or other) and dealing directly with that person quickly. It's only uncomfortable for a short period of time, but is so much more effective than waiting for someone to change or dropping hints. Scott Smith has provided a brief script we could use, which is basically "I have something to say that will be uncomfortable for just a moment, but I believe that it will clear up many things and we can move on."

"Human nature often impels us to look at others in our lives and cry, 'But you don't care. I can only love you if you love me.' Our human nature tends to withhold and wait to give until we're sure we'll get benefits for our emotional time and trouble.

But how contrary human nature is to true love! When we long for someone to change, sometimes the best step to take is the first step - acting not the way things are but on the way we wish a relationship to be. Choosing to have faith in a relationship is always a risk. But more often than not, when we're willing to take the first step, changes happen - in us and in those we long to be close to." (Chapman, Gary. Love is a Verb. p 44)

Patience and perhaps visual and physical reminders can help us to get the changes we want. JB Glossinger often talks about flicking a rubber band that's around his wrist to change negative thought patterns. I've read of others having lists they read every day of the positive attributes they see in their spouses. These seemingly little things can make all the difference in your journey of change.

May you have peace today and always,
April

It’s Time to Experiment!

Unfortunately, one size does NOT fit all when it comes to our diet. Now that we have some basic knowledge under our belts with portion sizes and servings needed to be healthy – it's time to experiment!




Our bodies are basically chemistry sets – we are mixing food, exercise, rest, and general health to see what we come up with. Food is energy. Exercise and rest dictates how our bodies use that fuel. Ask yourself: Am I tired when I eat certain foods or quantities of foods? How do I feel? Am I eating enough or too much? What combination of food makes me feel good? Do I feel better when I eat more protein?




Our bodies are also like accounting books – "The goes ins and goes outs" as my uncle likes to say. When the food that we eat matches how much or little exercise we do daily, we stay the same weight. When we eat too much and exercise too little, we will gain weight. On the other hand, when we eat less and exercise more, we lose weight. See how much your body needs to live (BMR - Basal Metabolic Rate) and daily intake should be by using any of the calorie calculators available online. Try http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm . I personally use www.fitday.com to log all of my food and exercise when I am looking to lose weight.




And remember – When you fall off the wagon, as we all have the tendency to do, your next meal is 3 hours away – get right back on and keep moving forward! There's no need to wait until Monday to get back on. Continue being "more good-er than bad-er." (thanks to Scott Smith for those words of wisdom!)




Happy Eating!
April

First Blog Post!

Ok, Ok, I guess I've gotta get with the program & START publishing online!!! Here I go! *SPLASH*

Yes, I have the tendency to jump headfirst into things! And I take my time about it and do it when it feels right for me!

Let's MOVE! What's all this about??? I don't care what form of exercise you enjoy - dancing, playing with your kids, running, working out in the gym, gardening - DO WHAT YOU LOVE & MOVE!! Let's show our kids (not that I have any right now...) that it's GREAT to be alive and moving!

This is the place I am going to motivate you and myself to keep moving every day and enjoy life more and more.

Some people I'd like to thank are:

Scott Smith from http://www.motivationtomove.com/ His podcasts The Daily Boost & the Fitness Boost are what keep me going every day - look him up!

JB Glossinger from http://www.morningcoach.com/ His podcasts and encouragement to progressively move forward have helped me tremendously.

Johnnette Armstrong - she's my training partner and friend - the most motivational person I have daily contact with who exudes her passion for exercise with every breath she takes.

Cherie Metivier - my friend who first exposed me to fitness and the joy I wanted in my life. She owns a Lady of America gym and has been a personal trainer for many years. Her exuberance for life is how I want to live my own life.

My parents - if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here today!

Have a WONDERFUL day! I will see you tomorrow!
April Doyle
NASM & NPTI certified Personal Trainer
n2fitness94@gmail.com