I haven't written here in a while. It's probably because I have been busy getting my own act together. I went through a season of comparing myself to other people and therefore justifying why I wasn't getting to the gym as much or not eating the way I should. So a couple months ago I came to my senses and changed my thinking. So here I am ready to motivate you as a result of some new fitness endeavors that I have been involved in recently.
Your mindset is everything. I like to parallel the spiritual and the physical. We shouldn't go to church, pray and read our Bible because in order to be a Christian, we have to. Instead, we should fall in love with Jesus, desire to do His will and the actions then follow. You pray because you truly want to talk to God. You go to church because you desire the encouragement and edification that comes when you are a part of a local body. You read your Bible because you want to know the nature of God and His instruction for your life.
Is your mindset broken when it comes to your physical condition? Do you find yourself constantly quitting and making excuses for why you quit or can't even start? What is your motivation for exercising? To look as thin as your girlfriends or someone you see on TV? To attract a man? To get your husband or other family members off your back? Are you caught up in the opinions of others? Those are ALL wrong motives for improving your health.
Where are you in your life right now? Are you young and full of energy with a charged up metabolism? Do you run from here to there without a care in the world about your weight or your health? That mom who had a baby last year and turns thirty this year isn't so carefree. She finds herself carrying around extra weight from being pregnant and now as she ages, those pounds aren't melting off like they did in her twenties.
Maybe you're a busy mom, wife and possibly a career woman. You're definitely not feeling as vibrant as you did in your thirties. You have settled into the chaotic norm of your life. Preparing meals is all about convenience. The evening hours are full of homework, housework and hopefully some family time. After that, your grab a bowl of ice cream, throw on your flannel night gown and watch television. You feel insecure about your body, but slightly comforted by the fact that bulk of other women your age look and feel like you too.
Now you're at the point in your life where the kids can fend for themselves. You're not laying out clothes or packing lunches or dropping the kids off at soccer practice. Your metabolism has slowed and the pounds just keep adding up. You have back pain, joint pain. You're tired all the time. That bowl of ice cream, TV and bedtime routine starts up a little earlier these days. You have become content with where you're at and perhaps resent anyone who would suggest that there could be an alternative to lethargy and hopelessness.
Let me encourage you today! It is never too soon OR too late to change the way you think, live and feel! You can be full of energy, ambition and power at ANY age. And remember that just because you may be slim, doesn't always mean you are healthy. Bad habits (or good ones) at a young age carry on into our adult lives. Maybe you grew up eating fast food every night for dinner. When you were young, you didn't notice it's adverse effects, but now that you are older, you see how that behavior has affected your health.
Break the cycle! Regardless of your age! I recently read an article about a 74 year old woman who competes in bodybuilding competitions! She has the body of a 20 year old! She started lifting weights in her fifties. Stop blaming your schedule, your age, your genetics and your circumstances for your unhealthy lifestyle. Do not accept it any longer. Get moving! Cut the junk and start taking years off your body. Be around for your kids and grand kids. Be strong and powerful, full of life and energy! Start now.
If you have questions on how to break the cycle and change the way you think, I'm here!
More motivation coming soon!
-Mindy
No More Excuses!
Time for the Holidays
Let's Talk Running
The last two weeks have been unbelievably busy for me and my family. This would be a perfect time to get frustrated, break good habits and feel like a failure. So that's what I did. But not anymore!!! My wonderful husband has taken all my swirling emotions and brought back some order. So I will simply pick up where I left off and work hard at the gym TO-NIGHT.
It was about this time last year that I was considering to register for my first 5K. The thought of a race terrified me. The thought of running 3.1 miles straight also terrified me.
Because you see, I am not a star athlete. I am not an authority on running or in the process training for my next marathon. I am simply an average woman who wants to push herself to whatever is next. So this post is for those who just want to get started and have some hope that they too can do something pretty amazing- no matter how big or small.
I remember my walk on the treadmill when I decided to give running a try. I think I jogged for about a minute and had to stop. It might not have even been that long. In the course of a 20 minute walk, I may have ran a combined 2 minutes. Woohoo. The next time, I tried again and might have gone a minute and a half. I remember coming home from the gym and reporting to my husband, "I ran for 4 minutes in a row tonight!"
So there is my brilliant formula for building endurance: Keep trying. Create a new challenge for yourself each time you set out. I remember the night I ran for a whole mile without stopping. It was a miracle.
Here's some ideas for creating some positive motivation:
1. Find a friend who is on your playing field. It's always good to know you are not alone and that there is someone else who shares your frustrations and joys. It also creates a little healthy competition.
2. Find a mentor that will challenge you. You don't even have to know this person, but simply follow their example. This will motivate you to go beyond your current place and do better. For me, I am blessed to have a cousin who runs marathons several times a year. I ask him all kinds of questions and he has been a great help and motivation to me. (He probably doesn't even know how much!)
3. Educate yourself. Talk to your doctor about your diet and other aspects of your fitness regimen so to train properly and avoid injury.
4. Change things up. Run outdoors, with friends, with your kids. Do some interval training or sprints. Run up steps or hills. Set new goals for yourself all the time.
5. Don't beat yourself up. We all get busy and don't put in the time we'd like. Make sure your family is before your fitness and don't feel guilty about skipping the gym to stay home and rest. I am always struggling with this, but it's so important to prioritize.
6. Sign up for a race! This will surely put a fire under you. Having a deadline is a great motivator.
Remember to always talk to your doctor if you are starting any new exercise and have fun!
Until next time!
Mindy
Ahhh, family!
The Fitness Plateau
Congratulations on losing those pesky pounds! Now you are ready to focus on your ideal shape. This is not the time to get complacent. Shedding the extra weight was really the easiest part. Cut back on calories and do some cardio a few times a week and the pounds will melt away. But now what? Don't go backwards!
Now it's time to look toward new goals. Don't get hung up on the numbers on the scale at this point. Once you have hit a healthy weight, it's time to focus on how you feel, how you look, not your weight.
After shedding my baby fat, I decided that I really wanted to spend some quality time in the gym and tone up. I joined an Anytime Fitness and started my routine. This particular gym has been great because it's literally open, "any time!" I can go when the kids are in bed, early in the morning. I may have even popped in there on Christmas Eve! I love it. After doing a nice routine of strength training and cardio, I started feeling the soft spots firming up. I was ready for something more.
I have never been much of an athlete. I think it's because I am not competitive at all. You want the ball? Please, take it! So I decided that I needed to find something that I could do to compete against myself. I began to run. I have severe hyperpronation (extreme flat feet), so I figured that that disqualified me from being a runner. But after getting the right shoes and pushing through, I went from running 2 minutes in a row on the treadmill to running my first 5k in March of this year!
So the moral of the story? As you move past the initial weight loss phase of your healthy life, begin to make new goals for yourself so that you do not plateau. Never be comfortable. Always try something more. This will increase your confidence, your mood and your outlook on life.
Before I close, let me remind you to not get caught up in body image to the point that you live in insecurity. Don't compare yourself to others or set unrealistic goals for yourself. God simply wants you to care for your temple and respect Him and yourself by keeping it clean and healthy. You are fearfully and wonderfully made!
Until next time,
Mindy
