THE STRENGTH OF FORGIVENESS

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

-Mohandas Gandhi

In the past, I have read several books that state that many of the PHYSICAL aches and pains we carry around with us have their roots in the past. Many of us tend to carry this extra weight around (negative situations/ experiences that occurred in the past), right into our present situations. This extra baggage can affect the way we think and act...and it is FORGIVENESS that has become a "HOT NEW WAY" to manage anger, cut stress, and improve HEALTH. 

Research shows that forgiveness can reduce chronic back pain, decrease stress by up to 50 percent, increase energy, and improve mood, sleep, and overall physical vitality.

It is also important to take care of your past with something deeper than relief from physical symptoms. FORGIVING someone for something that occurred in the past does not mean what they did was okay, but instead it means to stop feeling victimized and stop making others responsible for our lives. You must take RESPONSIBILITY and never give anyone the power to determine your HAPPINESS.

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to discover the prisoner was YOU!"

-Susan Brandis Slavin

Hawthorne, J. (2007) Life Lessons. p. 233-235

Work Hard In Everything You Do

The Bottom Line is that YOU must work as hard as you can every single day. Each day is a new day with a different beginning and a different end. Don't be concerned with time...just work hard and give it 100% every single day. Each day brings new hope and changes...helping you to discover what truly lives inside of you. Discipline yourself and you will develop at whatever rate is natural for you. It is up to YOU to find the answers and to do whatever it takes.

The key is to persevere, no matter the cost. Dig in....dig in deep and you will be surprised what you will find. Each of us has so much to give and so much to conquer. Believe in your abilities and potential and YOU will win every time! YOU WILL SUCCEED! 

How To Safely Exercise In The Heat

Summer is officially here. Finally you can pack away your jackets (well maybe not completely because this weather has been unpredictable...lol) and get outside. Summer offers extras hours of daylight and with it the opportunity to spend even more time enjoying outdoor activities. For many, this means more time doing physical activities and playing sports. So, it’s important to remember the potential dangers that also come with exercising in hot conditions. As long as you know the dos and don’ts of working out in the heat, then you can fully take advantage of all the fun of Summerr.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
• Drink plenty of fluids. It’s extremely important to stay hydrated. If you’re thirsty then you are already dehydrated; drink before you feel a need to. Be sure to drink throughout the day (stick to non-caffeinated beverages, preferably water). Also, drink 15-20 minutes before beginning your workout and every 15 minutes throughout the exercise.
• Eat regularly. The heat can decrease your appetite, but it’s important to eat normally. Try to eat small meals 5-6 times per day. Include lots of fruits and vegetables. Aside from being nutritious, fruits also tend to help with hydration.
• Wear light, loose fitting clothes that can breath. Cotton is always a good choice. If your outdoor activity produces a lot of perspiration, consider clothing that is designed to wick the sweat away.
• Wear sunscreen. Even if you exercise early in the morning or late in the evening, if the sun can reach you then you can get burned. Not only is a sunburn bad on the skin and potentially dangerous but it also hinders your bodies ability to stay cool.
• Use common sense and don’t attempt strenuous activities that your body is not accustom to. Stick to exercises that you are very familiar and comfortable with.
• Check the weather forecast. It’s best not to participate in intense outdoor exercise sessions when the heat index registers in the dangerous zone.

WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO:
• Don’t try to diet by sweating. Excessive perspiration is not the key to permanent weight loss. Any decrease in the scale would simply be a result of water loss, not fat reduction.
• Don’t adapt the “no pain, no gain” motto. Ignoring your body’s signals could be dangerous. Heat-related illnesses come with warning signs. Be sure to learn how to recognize them and what actions to take.
• Don’t forget to drink plenty of liquid when swimming.Just because your body is surrounded by water does not mean that you are well-hydrated. As with any land exercises, you need to regularly replenish lost fluids when in the pool.
• Avoid physical activity during the hottest part of the day, which usually is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• If you want (or need) to be working in very hot temperatures, don’t do it until you become acclimated.Try to spend only a few minutes per day in the hot conditions for the first couple of weeks and then add time gradually each day.
• Avoid extreme changes in temperature. Don’t hop from being extremely hot and sweating excessively right into an ice cold, air-conditioned environment. Try to cool your body down slightly before exposing it to the extreme temperature variation.

Whether you have to work outside or do it for enjoyment, following the above tips will help you stay cool and safe during the dog days of summer. So, don’t spend the season cooped up, get out there and have some fun!

Keep Going

The person that achieves the highest vision is the one who has made the most errors along the way. A person must recognize that success is built not on success, but on past mistakes, mishaps, and errors. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, but instead embrace them, move forward, and makes sure not to make the same mistakes again. Never take the shortcut in life, take the long route because it is on this path that you will pick up the most experiences along the way. Learn from each experience good or bad and push forward....GROW and BECOME. 

Time Is What Life Is Made Of

TIME ACCORDING TO BRUCE LEE:

THE CHANGE IS FROM INNER TO OUTER...WE START BY DISSOLVING OUR ATTITUDE NOT BY ALTERING OUTER CONDITIONS.

THE MOMENT IS FREEDOM. TRY TO LIVE FREELY FROM MOMENT TO MOMENT, LETTING THINGS HAPPEN AND ADJUSTING TO THEM.

THE TRUTH EXISTS HERE AND NOW. HAVE OPENNESS AND FREEDOM...THE FREEDOM TO BE OPEN AND NOT TETHERED BY ANY IDEAS, CONCEPTS, ETC.

TIME IS WHAT LIFE IS MADE OF! USE IT WISELY AND MAKE YOUR MARK ON THE WORLD! :)

Know Life's Heart

Do something you hate every day, just for practice.

Practice Makes Permanent!!!

Many of us at one time or another have asked the questions..."Who Am I?" "Why Am I Here?" Everyone goes down their own unique path set out just for them...transforming them along the way...helping them understand and find their true purpose in life. Each moment of your life is different...each moment presents itself in so many ways (sometimes good ways and sometimes bad ways). All to help guide you and help you discover. As you discover your purpose in life and pursue your dreams, you will inevitably spend more and more of your time doing what you enjoy and what you do best. You will begin to understand your strength, your courage, and your love for YOUR VISION.

Everyone has something value to give and everyone has something to sacrifice (something that we may not be excited about doing).  Your present circumstances (the good and the bad), always holds the seed of possibility. A possibility to find your vision, to understand who you are, to overcome your biggest challenges, and most importantly to discover your true purpose in life. 

I am a believer of the HEART...your HEART holds the key. Your HEART is at the core of your vision. With a combination of experiences (moments that have taught us and helped us learn), kindness, and an active imagination...ALL THINGS become possible. You become warriors of the HEART. 

You must learn that challenges are present in your life in order to learn and to grow. FAITH is the belief in things hoped for but not yet seen. When things fall apart, our FAITH is tested to the highest degree. Life humbles you, defeats your presumptions, and finally breathes into YOUR FAITH, making it alive. FAITH becomes your willingness to experience life as it unfolds in all of its pain and all of its promise. 

The last and most important part that helps you understand who you are and your purpose is...DISCIPLINE AND FOCUS. Strive to go down your path fearless, always be hopeful no matter what, and understand that you will meet a lot of frustrations and challenges along the way.  One of the best ways to improve discipline is to do something you don't enjoy doing--EVERY DAY. If you learn to do what you must, you will be able to do what you want.
In each moment, know LIFE'S HEART. 

Permission To Be Yourself And Your Treasure Of Kindness

I would like to share something with you...something that comes from my heart. Think of today as the day to be kind to yourself. It is OK to be you, just as you are. As old, as fat, as lazy, or as tired as you may be. Don't ever doubt yourself and embrace what truly lives inside you. Love what you are and what you can be. The concepts of loving and respecting yourself is so important because it gives you the ability to love and respect others. It is OK to struggle with these concepts, but try to remember and understand the positive outcome it will have on YOU AND ON OTHERS. This leads to the next idea I want to share with you...PRACTICING RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS.

The purpose of doing acts of KINDNESS for NO REASON makes us feel good inside and makes others feel even better. It reaffirms our connection with one another and adds to the light in the world. Remember, an act of kindness is so easy to do...putting a quarter in a stranger's parking meter takes less than minute, BUT gives a great burst of JOY. It feels so good inside to be kind for no reason. I also believe that being a kind person gives you inner strength and makes your heart stronger. So today, be a kindness angel and do something nice for ANYBODY!

Ryan, M.J. Instant Health and Happiness Boosters. ppgs. 135, 136.

Say I Will And Empower Yourself

EMPOWER YOURSELF- "When you say 'I WILL' with conviction, magic begins to happen."

Hello to all of you out there...  :)


First of all, I want to thank all you for tuning in to my blog. It means a great deal to me and I appreciate your support and kind words. If I am able to share and give you something back through health and fitness, then I have done my job. I want everyone to excel and I want everyone to come out on top from obstacles they may face each and every day. Believe in your strength and believe in yourself! IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU!!!!!!

In this blog entry, I am including circuits that I think you will enjoy trying. The same rules apply as before. Always pick challenging weight, make sure you perform full range of motion on all exercises/technique- this is very important, try to do each round as fast as possible BUT with good form! HERE WE GO! GO FOR IT! WORK HARD! GAME ON...

ROUND ONE:
1. Leg Extensions- 50x
2. Standing Dumbbell Front Shoulder Raises- 100x
3. Medicine Ball Slams- 25 x (use m.b. with handles/bring ball overhead/squat down and slam ball to the floor/stand up and bring ball overhead and repeat the motion)
4. Leg Extensions- 50x (try to increase weight from #1)
5. Standing Dumbbell Lateral Shoulder Raises- 100x
6. Medicine Ball Slams- 25x

ROUND TWO:
1. One Crunch + One Sit-up Twist/Twist (2=1 rep)- 10x
2. Core Plank with Forward/Backward Shifts (2=1)- 100x (Shift your body forward and backward/keep your body in plank position)
3. Two Crunches + Two Sit-up Twist/Twist (4=1)- 10x
4. Core Plank with Alternating Leg Raises- 100x (make sure body is in a flat tabletop/contract quads/butt/hamstrings/raise one leg and then switch to the other leg/count each leg as 1 rep)
5. Three Crunches + Three Sit-up Twist/Twist (6=1)- 10x
6. Core Plank Combination of Shifts and Leg Raises- 50x (begin with a fwd & bckwd shift/then do a left leg raise and then a right leg raise/this combo = 1 rep)
7. Jump Rope- 100x

ROUND THREE:
1. Stand-ups- 50x (begin in a lying position with legs bent/hold medicine ball over head/use momentum from arms and swing forward/contract abdominals/contract quads/then stand-up and take medicine ball overhead) *Goal is to stand up from a lying sit-up position using minimal weight as possible.
2. One K.B. Squat Raises- 100x
3. Jump Rope- 250x
4. Box Push- 4 sets (push a box/sled; ideal weight for women is (1-2) 45# plates/ideal weight for men is (3-4) 45# plates/distance is from the end line to half court of a basketball court= 1 set)
5. Push-ups- 25x
6. Two K.B. Squat Raises- 100x
7. Lateral Jumps over Step- 50x (Use a bench or a step/remember to challenge yourself)
8. Diamond-Shape Push-ups- 25x

WAY TO GO! BELIEVE, HOPE, STRIVE!

You Are Strong Enough

"Problems are a sign of life. So the more problems you have the more alive you are." -Norman Vincent Peale

As the late great minister points out, problems are endemic to the human condition. No one escapes. The trick is to use whatever problem, difficulty, or hardship you are facing as a vehicle for spiritual and emotional growth. It isn't always easy, and it isn't always possible to do in the moment, but there are always hidden blessings in difficult situations, and when we discover them, we REDEEM OUR SUFFERING. We make meaning out of tragedy and grow more loving, compassionate, patient, and kind as a consequence.

The people I admire the most all say that they are grateful for the hard things they faced because of these opportunities for growth: a heart attack that reconnected them to their feelings, cancer that forced them to slow down, financial difficulties that taught them resilience.

Think about the most challenging thing you are facing right now. How is it an opportunity for you to grow your soul?

Ryan, M.J. Instant Health and Happiness. Pg. 306.

Beware Of Emotional Vampires

Emotional vampires are people who suck the energy out of you or otherwise bring you down. They do it in various ways--by endlessly complaining, general negativity, bad-mouthing others. We tend to take on the energy charge of those whom we are around, so the more time you spend with vampires, the more depressed and negative you'll feel.

Do yourself a favor and avoid spending a lot of time with people who bring you down. Instead, focus on people who like rays of sunshine in your life, and soon you'll be shining too.

Ryan, M.J. Instant Health And Happiness. Pg. 101.

Unwind With Chamomile

Chamomile is considered an antidepressant that is also a mild sleep aid. So here's a wonderful way to relax before going to sleep. Make a cup of chamomile tea, and then run a warm bath. Add two chamomile tea bags to the bath water. Bring your cup of tea, along with a pen and pad of paper with you into the tub. As you sip, make a list of ten wishes you want to come true in your life. SLEEP WELL AND HAPPY WISHING!!!!!

Ryan, M.J. Instant Health and Happiness. pg. 276.

Your Thoughts Create Your Reality

"As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

It is important that you understand that your thoughts create your reality because your thoughts will determine how you respond to situations in your daily life. It is those responses that become the energy you have inside you. YOUR THOUGHTS ARE A FORM OF ENERGY. Everything you feel and experience is the result of attractor energies...in other words, you get back what you put out into the world. What you have attracted to you is what you have to give away to others.

Some studies show that low energy attracts low energy. Some of the low energy thoughts are anger, hate, shame, guilt, and fear. Not only do they weaken you, but they attract more of the same. I find that this is so crucial in overall well-being. You must change what's inside you creating more of positive inner thoughts and surrounding yourself with high energy in order to fulfill an overall outlook on life. By changing your inner thoughts to higher frequencies of love, harmony, kindness, peace, and joy, you will attract more of the same, and you will have those higher energies to give away.

Please read this paragraph carefully...I believe that it hits it right on the mark!
**Higher and Faster frequencies that empower you will automatically nullify and dissipate the lower energies in the same way that the presence of light makes darkness disappear.**

One of the most important concepts of them all is becoming more loving toward yourself. By doing this it creates a whole mix of possibilities for you. First, you will attract more of the higher, faster energies that will change what's inside you. Next, you will accomplish and achieve goals and challenges that you set for yourself. Then, your positive energy will help others achieve and become just as you are. So the process is that you will begin to receive this energy back and ultimately be able to send thoughts of love and joy to everyone and everything in YOUR world.

Remember, that the universe responds with the same energy that we send out. For example, if you attract a lot of people who wish to take advantage of you, you need to consider what you're doing to attract victimizers into your life. Or if you run into anger a lot, explore the angry thoughts you have inside you. If what you give is SELF-RESPECT and SELF-LOVE, the universe (attractor energy), will return the love and respect you have been radiating.

Dyer, W. Success For Success And Inner Peace. Ppgs. 37-41.

CREATE...LOVE...HOPE

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE... 

There is a story behind everything. How a picture got on your wall, how a scar got on your knee. Sometimes the stories are sweet and simple; sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking. That is truly what life is all about...the good and the bad...the pain and the pleasure. You can't experience one without the other, both play a role in shaping who you are and what you'll become. 

DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR HOPE. Even when it gets dark, the stars come out. 
STAY STRONG!

Discover Something New About A Friend

Just like love relationships, friendships can get into ruts. We can spend a great deal of time with our friends and not know very much about WHAT REALLY MATTERS TO THEM OR WHO THEY TRULY ARE.

There are all kinds of ways to deepen a relationship. One easy way is to try asking hypothetical questions (WELL, WELL, WELL...ISN'T THAT IRONIC! :) Would you rather become deaf or blind and why?) that reveal a side you've never seen before.

Or you can ask a friend to tell you what has been the most significant lesson they've learned in life and how they learned it. Or ask them to tell you a recent dream they had. Or which parent they're closer to and why. The point is to get off the surface level and deepen the encounter. It is so important to ask questions...it sets THE FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING. And merely by intending it YOU WILL FIND THE WAY!
Ryan, M.J. Instant Health and Happiness. Pg. 300.

Give Yourself A Soothing Gift

According to music researcher, Stephen Halpern, Ph.D., certain wind chimes produce harmonious, soothing sounds that can actually lower your breathing and heart rate, increasing calm and contentment. Test it out: Strike a chime a few times and notice if your breath slows as you listen.

Make sure you really embrace the moment and allow yourself to listen to the chime. Make sure your mind is clear and free from noise and stress.  **Give this one moment a gift to yourself. Remember, each moment is special.

Ryan, M.J. Instant Health and Happiness. Pg. 48.

Stop Counting

One of the best pieces of information that I can give you is stop counting your calories. First of all, most people don't have the time or discipline to record every pretzel stick they eat or weigh the three slices of turkey breast they carved. Secondly, all calories are not made equally when it comes to metabolism. Instead, the important thing is to eat the right foods. And if you do this, your body will essentially regulate your caloric intake all by itself.

Some of the problems many people face when they count calories or set a number of calories to take in...is they end up not taking enough calories and their body goes into starvation-survival mode and your metabolism slows down. Please understand that you need enough calories to power you through your workouts. Calories give you the energy to exercise with intensity. It is mostly true that a calorie is a calorie-the difference between eating 1,500 calories of Oreos and eating 1,500 calories of chicken is fairly minimal in terms of actual weight gain. So the most important thing to think about in regards to calories is that leaner bodies need more calories than less lean ones.

Zinczenko, David. Eat Right Every Time Guide. Pg. 61. 
Michaels, Jillian. Making The Cut. Pg. 10, 12.

Foods That Will Ensure Some Serious Shut-Eye

We all know how important it is to get enough sleep each night. Nothing makes it harder to fall asleep than knowing how important it is to sleep. Here is an interesting fact for you...DID YOU KNOW that Harvard scientists found that people who slept for 5 hours or less a night were 32 percent more likely to pack on major extra pounds (33 pounds) that those who dozed a full 7 hours.

Below is a list of snacks that you can try right before bedtime to ensure some serious shut-eye.

1.Nonfat Popcorn- Pop a bag half an hour before bedtime. The carbs will induce your body to create serotonin, a neurochemical that makes you feel relaxed. Skip the butter-fat will slow the process of boosting serotonin levels.

2. Oatmeal with Sliced Banana and Walnuts- Sleep is inspired by the hormone melatonin, but stress or excitement can disrupt melatonin's release. Bring your brain back down to earth by whipping up a bowl of instant oatmeal and topping it with a sliced banana and crushed walnuts, both rich in melatonin.

3. A Handful of Sesame Seeds- These are one of the best natural sources of tryptophan, the sleep-inducing amino acid responsible for all of those post-Thanksgiving turkey comas.

NOT THIS: A Glass of Warm Milk- Forget what your mom told you: This popular remedy for sleeplessness could be making matters worse. The protein in milk boosts alertness. Plus, unless it is skim, the fat in milk slows down digestion and make sleep more fitful.

SECRET WEAPON: Cherry Juice- Researchers at the University of Texas found that tart cherries are one of the best natural sources of melatonin. You can keep the pits off the sheets by drinking juices made with cherry concentrate, they have 10 times the melatonin content of the fruit. Try Knudsen "Just Black Cherry", with 100% cherry juice and no added sugar.

Zinczenko, David. Eat This Not That. Pg. 282.

Your Thirst

I came across this question along with this quote and I just had to share it with you. I believe that most of you will appreciate it and find its true meaning for YOURSELF.

How can you tell the dreamer from the dream?

"I've been having this recurring vision...In it, there's this fish tank--it calms me. I see a small speck floating on the water, and I look closer, it's me...I'm atop the waves. There's water as far as the eye can see, yet I can't drink. Not a drop. I taste salt in my mouth. I taste the bile. My thirst is great and it hangs around my neck like a chain. Eventually the weight drags me under. I'm drowning...I struggle, flail, kick... Then suddenly, I sense the familiar cold, hard hand of iron. I grab hold and pull myself up. This world is a vast sea but one thing remains fixed, constant...This iron. This calling. This THIRST."

You Hold The Key

YOU HOLD THE KEY…

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves. BELIEVE WHAT LIVES INSIDE OF YOU…YOU HOLD THE KEY.

Trust Your Heart And Let It Lead You

I thought this blog entry was very appropriate considering that it is "Love Week" and all. :) Many of our actions and feelings come from our heart this week...but it shouldn't be just for this week. You must feel from your heart all the time. So my question to you is...What is your Heart Longing For?

This is a practice adapted from Contentment by Robert A. Johnson and Jerry M. Ruhl. Find a place to sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a few slow, deep breaths. Now think over the past week. What have you spent your time, energy, and money doing? How has each thing contributed to your happiness or not? Now, continue to breath calmly, turn your attention to your heart and ask, "What is my heart longing for?" Perhaps the answer will pop up immediately; perhaps it will surface later. If you do get an answer right away, compare it to your list of how you've been spending your time and money. Notice how you feel. Is there a way to invest more in what your heart is longing for?

We all have an opportunity to live with our hearts...you must discover what is inside you. Allow your heart to lead you. You must gather all the "stuff" necessary to overcome and succeed in life from THE INSIDE. It is only within you that you are going to find what you need and what really matters...PURPOSE. Everyone fears the unknown and what is truly inside them...DON'T be afraid. Trust your heart and let it lead you. IT IS UP TO YOU TO FIND IT!

Ryan, M.J. Instant Health and Happiness Boosters. Pg. 203.