What can working out do for our insanity!?

Today I am going to talk about the much needed and loudly overlooked (because we all keep putting vanity before any of our health issues) topic of fitness, weightloss, and toning and its extremely direct connection with our mental and spiritual health.  People who are often fit or thin enough with moderate activity can still miss out on the benefits of occassional vigorous activity wich releases toxic chemicals from our body and positive endorphines into it.  I fully reccomend taking frustration, anger, fear, sadness, and even happiness out with all you've got through your workout at least from time to time. This can be done through any form of activity almost from a punching bag to a walk.  This relieves stress in a massive way, protects your heart, and IMMEDIATELY shows itself up in your mood and thinking capability.  It can remove brain fog and help you better dictate how to handle situations that come up looking like mountains.  I can go for a 45 minute power walk or absolutely punch the heck out of some air with the master Billy Blanks and Taebo and almost get done laughing at what is actually a mole hill in fron of me now.  Watch it shrink.  I find myself very often starting out with very fast even angry music and then as my frustrations dissipate, I crave vigorous - I can do this, I am powerful music or even sometimes a mellow just relax because whew! THAT is out now- tune.   If that was all, it'd be totally worth it, but also remember the results that do come to our self esteem with a better self image and the feelings of accomplishment with the discipline we have applied to our brain, body, and spirit.  I incorporate a powerful amount of time talking to God while I'm working out.  It is the utmost form of venting to him- with ALL 3 parts of ourselves and that is what he wants.  I know he hears me better.  My relief vibe is very loud.  At the end though, I know that not just one powerful thing has happened for me-  it was three.  My body is even better off than an hour before, my mind is cleared, and I am even closer to God and I left everything with him.  Now to go baptise and wash off the sweat.  If you have some serious depression, anxiety, anger issues, etc. .  Trust me.  Work. Out. And. Live. Better.      Happy movement guys!

New Adventures!

 Just some pics of some of my recent slimming down adventures.  Averaging aprx ten miles per day aka 1000 calories burned.  Also, I have been doing some toning and about to amp that up.  Soon I will be testing and reviewing or critiquing several video home workouts so stay intuned for my opinions.

 I love the convenience of wall pushups and they are very effective especially for those of us who want to be toned but not too beefed up. 

ALWAYS toning abs by focusing on contracting them into the flat position I want them in permanently!  Im getting closer and closer to my goal everyday!

 I love walking.  With music in my ears, it is not only a great workout especially on some of the terrains available but it is spiritually and mentally rejuvenating.

 Yes.  Rain or shine!  This is what they made backpacks and umbrellas for.  Love it!

 An especially motivated day!  I love when I have those.  Talk about feeling accomplished! 

 I love the awesome views I come up on in my adventures!

You might have had a good workout if....    Lesson learned!  TIE your shoes correctly and wear the right ones for the right workout!!!  And sometimes, you just gotta let em callous.

That's all for today!  Happy movement and I hope you are working toward your goals as well!!!  I would love to hear about it!!!!

Crunch time!!! 7x7x7

Weights are a wonderful thing.  Truly.  You can turn any past time into a calorie burning, muscle toning activity and any cardio workout into a double benefit by incorporating your muscle-toning into it.  Whether you are on the treadmill or taking a seasonal walk, taking these babies with you will benefit your body and mind vastly.  Try one to 3 lbs for beginners and go for 5 to 10 lbs for more advanced.  Use them while you are reading, checking emails, or like we have discussed even vacuuming and doing dishes.  Sitting or standing, stooping, or bending.  And remember if you don't have weights, use water bottles!  I have focused on the idea of any activity with weights because of the convenience of them, but today with bikini season drawing nearer, I am going to suggest some more- It's time to get "flat" serious tactics.

We all want that flat belly and long, lean, sculpted arms and legs- and now that the time is ON us, it is time to REALLY put aside that workout time and think lean and mean.  For this week, I want to focus on what I am going to call 7 x 7 x 7.  And remember this idea is to add TO your walks, cardio workouts, etc-  NOT replace it, if you want the ultimate results.  If time does not allow however choose at least one during scheduled workout days.  Remember these moves sculpt and help muscles build to burn longterm calories while cardio is for your heart health and faster short term calorie blasting.

7 x 7 x 7      - 7 maximum muscle building exercises 7 times in one cycle x 7 reps/cycles.

Here's the list and you can go in this order or change them up if you want.  Always remember to start with at least five minutes of warming up.  Jumping jacks can kick your whole body into movement and then Stretch after you've started to sweat a bit -then jump in!

1)  7 squats-  pretend you are about to sit in a chair with you knees not going over your ankles- hold for 2 seconds and raise up.  7 times.

2)  7 lunges- left leg

3)  7 lunges- right leg

4)  7 crunches- with back on the floor, pretend there is an apple or an orange between your chin and your chest- don't let your chin touch your chest- and raise your upper torso while raising your lower torse at the same time with your ankles crossed.

5)  7 bicep curls

6)  7 inner arm lifts-  lift your fists or weights straight behind you- this will also work your back.

7)  7 spread eagles-  lift your fists or weights completely outstretched like an eagle's wings even with your shoulders.


Do each of these 7 times 1 to3 x's daily!  Happy movement!