It ain't all peaches and ice cream. Life is life - it is the experiences you go through day in and day out. While we all have our routines, many of our day to day experiences are unpredictable . . . and even our responses to some of that randomness is unpredictable as well. We respond in a way that does not reflect who we are as a person. Life can make us into someone we are not . . . someone we don't want to be and often times into the very opposite of who we are on the inside. This is what happens when you allow life to control you rather than taking control yourself.
So how are you going to respond the next time you are met with a challenging memory/relationship/injury/situation? It is time to take control. Whether you have had a bad day or a litany of bad experiences - it is time to change your response. Don't worry - I don't expect you to do it alone. Even M2, the machine that I am…;)) needs help getting through rough patches in life. Even if you are the type who is not good at asking for help - it's time . . . your current situation . . . how is that working for you? If you can honestly say that you are on the right track and are not letting anything hold you down, then great! But I suspect that we all could use a little extra support in our lives.
A really good friend of mine is dealing with a pretty serious situation and needed a release. She wanted Cheetos and a Diet Dr. Pepper. In the past, she has always gravitated towards something like this - an unhealthy snack and a soda. This time - rather than justifying that unhealthy decision - she realized she had a choice . . . and y'all - she has worked REALLY hard to achieve where she's at right now. So, what did she do? She sent me and another friend a text - we both responded and encouraged her to take control of the situation (reaching for that snack & soda, obviously, was not taking control). Another friend was able to get on the phone with her to ease her stress and encourage her to make a good CHOICE . . . and she did. The end. Only . . . it's not the end. She will face more challenges, but she reached out for support and when she did she developed a new pattern, a new routine and one that will reward her in the weeks, months and years to come.
We are all going to face challenges in our lives and 90% of us are dealing with issues we've had since we were kids. There is no excuse or justification that flies for the bad eating habits/cigarettes/alcohol/Gossip (this can easily have a negative impact on your life) - what ever your vice. We are all affected by our experiences and they never leave us . . . some of us wouldn't want them to as they have shaped who we are today. Perhaps we would have chosen a different life if we HAD the choice, but we didn't and those experiences are ours . . . forever. But NOW we have the CHOICE . . . and it affects your forever starting this very moment. If you have been carrying around extra weight (literally and figuratively), it is time to take control of your decisions and your life. If I can do it, you can do it - I know you can. It is not easy, it takes a lot of effort and you will need support. But it is achievable. What do you have to lose?
"It's been a hard day's night . . . and I've been working like a dog!" Does anyone else feel like they are living this song? So much work, so little time - as I am sure everyone experiences from time to time. Although last week was quite hectic, I felt great! This challenge has me (and many others) eating cleanly. And with limited options, we are all sharing new recipes and discovering and trying things we would have otherwise not tried. The enthusiasm everyone is sharing is really the driving force behind everyone's success just with the first week . . . as you know, the first week is usually the toughest. It is just very refreshing to be around such positive attitudes and encouraging people.
Which reminds me of an old blog I posted not so long ago. We have discussed the buddy system - finding a friend to help encourage you and make you accountable for your workout routine. We are beginning the fourth week of the new year and while the gym is still hopping with new year's resolutions and the promise of a more fit form, this is usually the time when people begin to get off course. It is easy to get sidelined and off track - it happens to all of us . . . why do you think I started the 10 week challenge for my Pure Strength group? What is essential is getting back on track and focused on your goal. And sometimes you just need a little help and encouragement.
In these next couple of weeks, if you feel like your commitment is starting to shake a bit, rely on a friend to hold you accountable. Make an appointment with the gym and keep it. You have worked hard to achieve where you are at this point, so don't throw it all away. We all work like dogs and we all get tired . . . but you need to stay active to keep your mind and body healthy - it's actually the best thing for you when you are feeling run down!
Have a great week…:))
I hope you all enjoyed last week's guest blog. Charley's advice regarding the importance of getting in shape and maintaining your health rings true for everyone. No matter what your ailment is - like a back issue in Charley's case, knees, circulatory, heart, etc. - none of us are getting any younger and the better shape you are in, the more prepared you are to fight your current issue along with what ever the future has in store for you. Charley's blog really got me thinking . . . drastic times call for drastic measures - which is the theme for my Pure Strength group this session.
Yesterday, we kicked off a 10 week challenge and while I did hear a few groans and doubts, I am happy to say that every one seems to be on board and excited about this new endeavor. It really is just getting back to the basics and getting in tune with what your body needs naturally - getting away from all of the processed junk that we all gravitate toward (because it is easy and quick) is just one of the nine rules. So even if you don't have much weight to lose, this is a win/win because you are cleansing your system and learning to eat well for the long term.
And that is what it is all about, right? Reaching your optimum health? It's great that the gym is busier this time of year and I love meeting fresh faces and seeing renewed motivation in the eyes of my regulars. So it is important, while we are invigorated with fresh motivation, to be sure we are learning the steps (or simply getting back in the swing of things) to long term physical and mental health. The key is and has always been diet and exercise - finding a routine and friends to keep you encouraged and on track. This year is going to bring new and exciting challenges to each of us, so why not get prepared to face those challenges - what ever they may be? Which is exactly what our PS family is doing together and I couldn't be more excited!
This week's blog is written by a devoted kick boxer and loyal M2 supporter, which I very much appreciate…:)) When I first saw Charley I saw this big, tall guy . . . in his little athletic shorts, matching tank, and headband and thought "Hmmm, who do we have here . . . Semi-Pro?"…;)) And I should say that it is with Charley's permission, that I am publishing his nickname, which I very affectionately gave him (in my head) in those first few weeks. He started off his first class in the front row, right by my stage - which, as most of you know, is where the regulars take their place in kickboxing class. And I'm proud to say, it is where he continues to stand 3 or 4 times a week, faithfully and consistently . . . rarely missing a class.
Charley is a wonderful person with a great sense of humor. Very generous, kind, thoughtful and always available to share his wisdom . . . as he has done so this week. Thank you, Charley. Happy Birthday, my friend. And when I grow up, I want to be just like you. _____
I turn 60 this month, always a sobering age for reflection. Blessed with good health and reasonably strong physique, the lessons learned are as follow. Start off with good genes (thanks Mom and Dad) and build on that with a very dedicated exercise program. I was a tennis, football, and soccer player in high school but did little in college or grad school aside from lots of tennis. While living in Johannesburg, South Africa in a high rise with a dog, I started running. Running and tennis at 6000 feet makes one very sound from a cardio perspective. Returning to Texas in 1981, I hated the climate for running because of the heat and cold relative to JoBurg’s superb climate. What to do to stay in shape?
My girlfriend at the time dragged me into Jazzercise but she moved on to a new thing that was a Dallas copy of Jane Fonda’s Workout, high impact group aerobics. She said it would kick my ass. Not one to shrink from a challenge, I tried to join; they were not taking any men but I was persistent. It was very difficult at first because a) I am not very coordinated and b) it was a very advanced class with some really fit young ladies (after six months, one of them said to me, “Still here?”). I got better, stronger, and more coordinated. Moving around the country to San Antonio, Hartford, Indianapolis, and Denver, head up on my list of first things to find was the best instructor with the most challenging class. What works for me is a group class at specific times. Those times go into my electronic calendar and I don’t skip classes unless a dire emergency. My friends, family, and co-workers think me more than a little compulsive about it. Guilty as charged.
I came to Spectrum from doing TurboKick in Denver. THAT at 5300 feet above sea level showed that my body could be strengthened despite age. When we moved back to Bandera, the search began. Manny at Bandera Pointe said that Margie has enormous energy and a near cult following. As a proud member of Margie’s fan club, it is no “near cult”! She exemplifies what I look for in an instructor: a great physique, a personality that reaches inside of me to drag out my best, and a seemingly never-ending range of challenging routines that maintain great conditioning but throw a few curves each week lest I get complacent. That and she really loves what she does and watches over our progress to greater fitness. Having done these classes with lots of really good instructors, I am a total snob when it comes to a new instructor. Margie is my all time favorite. Thank you for that!
Lessons learned? Try to do a minimum 3 times a week (when I went from two classes a week to four, the improvement was big). Be very disciplined about coming to class. As we age, tone, strength, and lung capacity fall off quickly away from class. It is also a fact that getting back in shape takes longer than it used to! I have two compressed lower discs. These classes which do so much for core strength amaze my orthopedic surgeon. At a loss to account for why I can do what I do with a bad back, she said simply “Keep it up; I can’t do anything as good for you on the operating table”. The stress management is also a big part of my “positive addiction” to F2M2 kick-boxing. Coordination much improved. Now if I can just learn to quit hitting like a girl.
New Year's resolutions are buzzing around - I've even seen a few funny comic strips about how resolutions are goals you have for the first week of the new year. Obviously, we are all notorious for setting goals, falling off the wagon, and some of us never quite hop back up and that wagon speeds off into the distance until the following year. Personally, I don't make resolutions . . . at least not in the traditional way. What I do, which may be a common practice with you, is take time to reflect on the past year . . . with clearer vision.
When we're in the thick of things - good or bad - our vision is muddled and often times we may not have the best perspective or reaction to a specific event. This is especially true when dealing with negative aspects of our lives. It is so much easier to look back, with a calmer heart and clearer head, and figure out what could have been done differently . . . and what WILL be done differently should that situation arise in the future. Those negative situations are more often what shapes us and helps us to become a better person - not something to dwell on or lament bad decisions - rather, something to learn from and move forward.
The best part of thinking back is knowing that everything happened for a reason. I may not understand or like those difficult moments, but I don't regret a single one of them - and that is really good for M2's soul. The few days I was able to 'disconnect' and refresh my spirit really did help to provide clarity on a few events I was struggling with, which also allowed me to focus on the positive. Focusing on the positive doesn't mean you forget or refuse to acknowledge the times that knocked you down, conversely, it is what drives you to get back up, shake it off, and get back in the game.
So what did I learn from 2011? Hmmm. I learned that I am not a machine . . . I finally gave in to the fact that I am human…;)) And while I try to be everything to everyone, I can't . . . and as much as I don't like it, every now and then, I have to admit I'm human. Also, I worked VERY hard in 2011 and although that is part of who I am, I do intend to take more time to smell the roses. One thing that I am keeping with me is the feeling I had when my PS group helped a family in need for Christmas. If you know me, you know I love to give and while it is something I try to do year round (on a smaller scale), the response from our family really inspired me to make a focused effort to helping out - in any way I can - throughout the entire year.
If each of us focuses on helping our community, we can make a significant impact. Your contribution can come in many different ways - many parents are cleaning out old toys to make room for their kids Christmas loot --- donate those old toys to a children's home. If you are cleaning out your pantry for a healthier lifestyle and have any (unused) foods, donate them! Very soon, we will all be Spring cleaning - DONATE! If you can only donate your time, volunteer! If you do not have time to volunteer, go in with some friends on a HEB gift card for a struggling family, or buy a pair of shoes for a child who needs them. You get the idea - help how ever you can…:)) That was my most memorable experience for 2011 and I am taking it with me into 2012 . . . will you join me?
Happy New Year…:))
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