2009 July Archive at themojocoach.com

Archive for July, 2009

Why do YOU need to exercise?

Published on July 26, 2009 in General. 0 Comments

Why do you need to exercise?

There are many reasons to incorporate exercise into your life. But all of them may not have the same motivating power for you. Finding the benefits of exercise that mean the most to you personally can make all the difference in getting you into a long term habit of regular exercise.

Some of benefits of exercise that you might consider are:

Reduces your risk for conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity
Helps reduce your blood pressure
Increases HDL (“good” cholesterol) and reduces LDL (“bad” cholesterol)
Clears toxins
Improves the quality of your sleep
Sharpens your mind and increases energy
Makes your heart and lungs stronger and more efficient
Elevates mood
Helps manage stress
Sets a positive example for your children
Tones your body and keeps you slim

You have probably heard most of these benefits before, and they’re all good reasons to get off the couch and get moving. But finding the one that motivates you is the key to making exercise a part of your life!

If reducing the risk of disease jumps out on the list and makes you want to get started, then think about how exercise helps normalize your levels of stress hormones, blood glucose levels, and insulin levels. Normalizing these levels keeps your body in balance while reducing your risk for diseases.

If the idea of elevating your mood is especially appealing to you, imagine being outside on the perfect day, with a clear head, listening to the perfect song and enjoying the feeling of treating your body well. Now imagine you are midway through your workout and suddenly you feel a burst of energy that makes you feel as if you can fly. You are completely “in the zone”, you feel weightless and you feel like nothing beats the feeling you’re experiencing right at that moment. You may double your speed and not even notice because you are so completely enjoying the experience.

Those of you who don’t exercise may think I am nothing short of crazy, but I can only urge you to give this “high” a try! When you compare it to any chemically induced high, this one is available any time, for free, and is actually good for you!

Another example of how exercise can elevate your mood is by giving you a positive outlet for stress relief, building your confidence by building a more fit body and showing yourself a commitment to living a healthy lifestyle. The positive thoughts that come along with these feelings will overflow into other areas of your life.

If setting a good example for your children seems like a strong reason to get moving, realize that you can tell your children all day long how important it is for them to exercise. But if they see you finding the time to exercise yourself, they may follow your example and get out and try it themselves. Don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk!

If making your body lean, toned and strong sounds good to you, you are in good company! Having children can leave your body in less than optimal condition and you can thank your little ones for the new stretch marks, change in skin tone, sagging, and those few extra pounds you may still have hanging around since their arrival. While people will tell you these are some of the ‘medals of motherhood’, I’m going to tell you something else. You don’t have to be unhappy with your post-pregnancy body. In fact, you can make your post-pregnancy body stronger, sleeker, and sexier than ever before.

While you may have a few extra pounds on you, you also may have some new curves to work with. While your skin tone may not be the same, you can certainly tighten up what’s lying underneath. The point is, it’s never too late to work toward a healthy, fit body!

So take some time and think about what would motivate YOU to exercise. What benefits of becoming fit mean the most to you? Find a personal reason for beginning or maintaining an exercise routine. The reason can be your health, your appearance, stress-management, the chance to take some time for self-care, or showing yourself that you can make a commitment and stick to it. Whatever reason you discover, write it down and review it every day. On days when you don’t feel like exercising, reading your own words of motivation may offer you the incentive to get moving!

What does it take for your garden to grow?

Published on July 14, 2009 in General. 0 Comments

This weekend I drove by a nursery and noticed many people excited to get everything they need to grow a perfect garden. While some held plants, some held flowers, some held seeds and others held gardening tools, these people all shared the same intention, to plant and grow a beautiful garden.

Well, that got me thinking…

What does it take for a garden to flourish and thrive? Seems to me that much of what is needed to grow a healthy garden is also what is needed to build a healthy life.

Think about it. When planting flowers, we want to plant them on moist, nutrient rich soil, water them frequently, and make sure they have adequate space and are able to receive the sunlight that encourages their growth.

Now take a look at us. What conditions do we need to grow, thrive and be our best?

The moist, nutrient rich soil can be compared to eating healthy food. Are you eating a colorful, nutrient rich, healthy diet filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats and plenty of water? Just as the garden grows best when it has quality nutrients it can absorb, our bodies perform better when we eat quality foods packed with healthy ingredients while hydrating ourselves with enough water.

Next, a garden thrives when given enough sunlight. Don’t you feel better when you’re enjoying the sun too? Take advantage of the summer weather to get outside and enjoy the sun (with protection, of course!)

Now, think about why we need to give a garden adequate space in an area that encourages its growth. When flowers or plants are planted too closely together they don’t have room to grow. Just as a garden can suffer when it is crammed with too much “stuff” in too little space, our lives can be crammed with so many tasks, responsibilities, chores, errands, commitments and obligations that we don’t have room to breathe.

With so much going on, it’s unlikely we have the mental space we need to consider (let alone do anything about) what we need to feel fulfilled, enriched, happy and healthy.

Even if there is enough space, it is important to consider the environment where the garden being planted. For plants to thrive, the soil needs to be dense, free and clear of any rocks or debris. In this clutter free environment, it’s easy to see your garden grow. If you planted your garden on dry, hard clay or in a cluttered area filled with extra “stuff,” would you expect the same results?

Take a look at your surroundings. Is there adequate room and is it calm, serene and comfortable? Or, is it cluttered, disorganized, messy and chaotic? Just like the garden, our surroundings are either supportive or destructive to our well being. They can either enhance and soothe or unnerve and distress us.

Just as the garden is more likely to grow or perform better in the right environment, so are we.

Finally, consider the daily care of the garden. A beautiful garden receives support in the form of a loving caretaker. Since the garden can’t take care of itself, one of the roles of the garden’s caretaker is to remove the harmful weeds that would prevent it from thriving. Basically, the caretaker ensures that nothing sabotages the garden’s health, growth and well-being.

Consider your own daily care in the form of exercise, emotions and your relationships. Exercise, positive emotions and healthy relationships encourage healing, growth, health and happiness. But a lack of exercise, negative emotions and toxic relationships act just like those weeds, suffocating wellness and preventing us from flourishing.

Is a lack of exercise, negative thoughts or toxic relationships preventing healthy, positive results in your life? Is it time to do something about those “weeds?” Are they preventing you, just like that garden from becoming its best?

In the right environment, any garden can grow, thrive and be beautiful. Just as you give the garden what it needs to grow, it’s time to be a loving caretaker to yourself and make sure you have the same love, care and attention so you can bloom!

Mojo 911!!

Published on July 6, 2009 in General. 0 Comments

Have you ever wished that you could get private coaching from a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s Degree to create a healthy eating plan? Work one-on-one with a Personal Trainer to create a fitness routine that is just right for you? Meet with a Whole Health Coach who can show you how your current lifestyle is creating health/wellness or illness/disease?

But all of that individualized attention would cost thousands of dollars, right? Since I’m all three of those experts rolled into one (branded The Mojo Coach™ by my clients to sum it all up), I can tell you – yes, it would! And it would be worth every penny!

BUT, starting on Tuesday, July 7th at 2PM EST you can join me at www.MomTV.com for my new TV show – Mojo 911! – where I’m giving away all of this and much more… for FREE!!

I’ll be giving truckloads of information, ideas, strategies and inspiration within the six areas that as moms, we struggle with most: Nutrition/Weight Loss, Fitness, Stress Control, Emotional Health, Relationship Wellness, and Spirituality.

Each week I’ll be giving away a FREE gift: either one of my 2 CD’s, my book: The Lifestyle Fitness Program: A Six Part Plan So Every Mom Can Look, Feel and Live Her Best (recommended by Parenting Magazine), a mini coaching session, or who knows-if you live nearby I may just stop by and give you a kitchen cabinet makeover, take you on a food shopping tour or help you set up an effective home gym!

How can YOU win these FREE gifts? You’ll have to tune in each week to find out how to enter and winners will be announced each week!

If you are a mom who is ready to make lasting lifestyle changes, lose weight, become fit, healthy and happy from the inside, out…you’re going to want to tune in Tuesdays at 2PM EST at www.MomTV.com!

For nearly 20 years, I’ve inspired and empowered unfit, overweight and overwhelmed moms “get their mojo back” and now I’m eager to share everything that’s worked with moms who’ll be watching my show: Mojo 911! The program I created and teach (The Lifestyle Fitness Program) works because I know that you need a program that values your time, understands your specific needs and brings results. Also, being a mom of 4, I “get it” and know that our needs as moms are very different from the needs of others!