Posts Tagged ‘routine’

Spring Forward!

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Often times we think we want to change and we really try. For a few weeks we’ll go all out! But then we get back to our old familiar routine whether it’s from catching up with old friends or enjoying our favorite pastimes, like a baseball game. Our new healthy lifestyle is one that takes a lot of maintenance, and gradual change. If it were easy we would have done it a long time ago. But it isn’t easy. Our environment very much dictates the way we live, what we eat, and how we feel. It is very important to surround ourselves with good supportive people and positive things, to remind ourselves the course we want our lives to take.  If the company we keep doesn’t support us in our change for a better life, should we really want to keep that company?

Don’t eat the piece of wedding cake just because you had a hard workout. Peer pressure is just in our teens, be sensible, do you want to spend your workout making up for the cake, or do you want to use the workout to push farther and burn the piece of cake that’s still there from last wedding season? Sharing that tid bit with your friends will really help the badgering. This spring, spring forward!

As we approach spring, this wonderful time of renewal and freshness we must also remember all the work we have put into our bodies and to our good health and build upon that and move forward. When the weather is nice, make sure to enjoy. Lace up your sneakers and enjoy a nice jog along the lakefront. Renew your love of Chicago and Lake Michigan and yourself! While you’re at the baseball game make sure you take in the fresh air not just the ballpark food. This spring go back to the simple things in life. Enjoy the great friends and times that we share!  Take in the beautiful parks on a picnic or a walk with a friend. I know I can’t wait for spring!

Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers. You can also drop by in our GH Fitness Facilities :)

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Fitness, Goal Setting, Motivation, Nutrition, energy | View Comments

Build more life tissue!

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

What is life tissue? Muscles. More muscles mean more blood, more blood means more circulation and …you get the idea. Muscles are important. The more life in our muscles, i.e. size, strength, density, stamina, the better we feel about ourselves.

Building muscles is very important to every aspect of life, for everything you do you need muscles. For everything you don’t do you need muscles too. Think about it, wouldn’t you like to burn more calories reading, or watching a movie? Having more muscle mass means you are burning more calories at rest! Having more lean muscle mass will increase your metabolism, and you will burn more calories at rest as well as daily activities.

Going for a walk with a friend, playing with the kids, taking the stairs, even putting the groceries away is easier with more muscle mass!  With age our metabolism slows and we lose muscle mass, you can reverse these affects by including more weight bearing exercise into your routine.

Building and maintaining muscles is important for various reasons, more muscle tissue increases the production and need for more blood, with more white blood cells you have a more antibodies and you will have a larger defense system and more resistance to viruses and bacteria.

Your kinesthetic awareness will also heighten. You will move more smoothly through your daily routine, your balance and coordination will improve drastically! By raising this awareness you will also be challenging your mind in ways it hasn’t been challenged recently or ever! Moving your body through the different exercises not only pushes your brain to think about and focus on the muscles but strengthens your mind to also think of where it should be in space, a concept often forgot when thinking of the importance of exercise. Yoga is a great example of this concept, and strength training will help you develop the muscles necessary!

Having more muscle mass will also help reduce the risk of injury, the muscles will do a better job of supporting the joints and the exercises that build the muscle, weight bearing, will also help increase bone density.  If you do unfortunately get injured, you will have a faster recovery time.

Your energy will increase with more lean muscle mass. You will be more productive at work, you will have less sick days, you can turn them into well days!  Your confidence will skyrocket, clothes will fit better, and posture will improve. Who wouldn’t want to build muscle mass and life tissue in their body? Want to workout? :)

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Fitness, Strength Training, energy | View Comments

Feeling tired?

Monday, February 15th, 2010

So, you’re having trouble falling asleep, but you’re doing everything right! You exercise everyday, you’re not drinking caffeine after lunch, you’re not eating late or drinking alcohol. So why can’t you wind down and just relax? Many factors may be to blame…

Sleep regularity is very important in maintaining restful nights. For some six hours will work great, and others need eight or nine. The most crucial factor in this equation would have to be regularity and routine. Sleeping too much and not enough in the same week is also a very common habit. When you are going to bed and waking around the same time everyday do you notice that you are waking up before the alarm? This is a good indicator of adequate sleep and a good routine.

Another thing we do that can cause sleeplessness… working in bed. Beds and Bedrooms are for two things only! Sleeping and intimacy. By working from your bed you are changing that space from a sleep and relaxing place to a work place and you will end up taking work stresses to bed with you, leaving you with a less restful space.

Stress. We are always rushing, to the gym, to work, to take the kids to school, to get home, to make dinner, to do chores, to watch your shows. You name it and you’re probably rushing. You are having a hard time transitioning from day to night. To help make your transition easier look for an adjustment activity.

Just like before your workout, give yourself an adjustment activity, something that lets your body and mind now what’s coming next. For some it’s taking a calming shower, chamomile tea or light stretching. The only requirement for your activity is that you need to incorporate it into your routine.

Try to stay away from talking about your day and your worries while lying in bed, and even in your bedroom. This is your tranquil space.  A great activity to increase your rest and every other aspect of your life is to look at everything you are thankful for before you go to bed. This very positive activity will put you at ease by focusing on all the good in your life. Keep your bedroom very positive and all stresses out!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in energy | View Comments