I believe our thoughts direct our actions. Our thoughts become things. If we think grumpy, we become grumpy, and the people around us seem grumpy as well! When we make it a point to focus on more positive thoughts, even when our circumstances are not ideal, we attract more positive things into our lives.
A client brought me a fresh cookie today from a local bakery. She said she was, "in a cookie mood," and wanted us to both enjoy a special treat. She is a thoughtful, caring, sensitive woman and I enjoy our sessions. The sugar cookie was beautifully decorated with thick frosting, a work of culinary art. Having watched The Biggest Loser Tuesday night I couldn't help but think what would trainers Jillian or Bob say to the final 4 contestants if they rewarded one another's weight loss with cookies? It's a twisted system that rewards us with the same products that created our problem. A thought of cookies, leads to buying cookies, which leads to eating cookies and then we become a cookie! It's self-sabotage; getting in the way of your own success. It's not what your eating but what's eating you! I sincerely appreciated the cookie gift, but being a sweet junkie myself I recognize the games we play when addicted to sugar, food, emotional eating, obesity, health and fighting fat. Sharing a cookie with your trainer creates a bigger problem. Misery loves company. What kind of company are you looking for? It's easier to be in a cookie mood than a carrot mood; easier to eat a cookie than to throw it away; easier to sit on the couch than sweat on the treadmill; easier to bemoan the unfairness of life rather than take action. Is the easiest way productive? Does the easy way bring us closer to our goals? I know the feeling of playing games, of taking the easy way, I do it everyday in some form; but I also know the easy way is seldom the right way, particularly when you have a long term goal in mind.
So what are we to do? Eating soothes the sadness briefly as we focus on flavor rather than feelings...shopping soothes the emptiness but the credit card bill is not forgiving...pulling the covers over our heads blocks the reality temporarily but the work remains. Sometimes we just have to buck up and admit the right way can be hard...whether it is weight loss, housecleaning, marriage, or work.
One of my daily goals for the past few weeks has been to walk 5 miles a day. This edict came from Dr. Oz as a primary means to maintain health and fitness. This 5 miles can be found through climbing stairs, chasing kids, swimming, biking, or walking in a parking lot. Regardless, by the end of the day, we should have covered some ground. Because I am a "numbers" girl, I like to see 5.0 on my treadmill screen by bedtime. Between clients I may walk a mile; first thing in the morning I may stroll in my pajamas; during a lull in the evening I might watch the news and finish my goal. Hopefully I have even managed to walk the kids from school, exercised with a friend, or done yard work to add to this total.
I had a moody feeling myself today after a restless sleep. It wasn't, "I'm in a cookie mood", but rather "I'm in a lazy mood." My free time from 1-3:30p.m. could easily disappear without any progress in the house or my workout. After 4 clients this morning, the easy way of squandering time and grazing until my kids got home from school was appealing, but I knew it wasn't right. I tricked myself into exercising by playing a game which would turn into a spectacular blog: My Home Training Chores Interval Game consisting of ten minutes on the treadmill followed by 10 minutes of housework! With the treadmill I challenged myself to work at 4-5% inclines with speeds between 4-9mph. For the first time in my life I looked forward to housework as I needed the rest. My housework included laundry, vacumming, moving furniture, dog chores, and organizing for our garage sale this weekend. It worked great, kept me focused, and gave me energy. The reality was that although I finished my workout at about 2:30p.m., if I had the motivation I could have seen 10.o miles on my treadmill by 3:30. In addition my house would have been more clean. But I'm not going to beat myself up over it. I met my goal and proved that I could maintain fitness and a relatively clean home efficiently.
In addition I overcame my lazy mood and saved it for when Ron got home from a long day at the office. He doesn't think I really work and seeing me sit on the couch and watch the Oprah/Ralph Lauren episode while he prepared to coach Little League, confirmed his belief!
Finally, please readers, don't be jealous of the exciting life I lead. The mind games, the house work, the exercise, the dog...it can all be yours too!
A client brought me a fresh cookie today from a local bakery. She said she was, "in a cookie mood," and wanted us to both enjoy a special treat. She is a thoughtful, caring, sensitive woman and I enjoy our sessions. The sugar cookie was beautifully decorated with thick frosting, a work of culinary art. Having watched The Biggest Loser Tuesday night I couldn't help but think what would trainers Jillian or Bob say to the final 4 contestants if they rewarded one another's weight loss with cookies? It's a twisted system that rewards us with the same products that created our problem. A thought of cookies, leads to buying cookies, which leads to eating cookies and then we become a cookie! It's self-sabotage; getting in the way of your own success. It's not what your eating but what's eating you! I sincerely appreciated the cookie gift, but being a sweet junkie myself I recognize the games we play when addicted to sugar, food, emotional eating, obesity, health and fighting fat. Sharing a cookie with your trainer creates a bigger problem. Misery loves company. What kind of company are you looking for? It's easier to be in a cookie mood than a carrot mood; easier to eat a cookie than to throw it away; easier to sit on the couch than sweat on the treadmill; easier to bemoan the unfairness of life rather than take action. Is the easiest way productive? Does the easy way bring us closer to our goals? I know the feeling of playing games, of taking the easy way, I do it everyday in some form; but I also know the easy way is seldom the right way, particularly when you have a long term goal in mind.
So what are we to do? Eating soothes the sadness briefly as we focus on flavor rather than feelings...shopping soothes the emptiness but the credit card bill is not forgiving...pulling the covers over our heads blocks the reality temporarily but the work remains. Sometimes we just have to buck up and admit the right way can be hard...whether it is weight loss, housecleaning, marriage, or work.
One of my daily goals for the past few weeks has been to walk 5 miles a day. This edict came from Dr. Oz as a primary means to maintain health and fitness. This 5 miles can be found through climbing stairs, chasing kids, swimming, biking, or walking in a parking lot. Regardless, by the end of the day, we should have covered some ground. Because I am a "numbers" girl, I like to see 5.0 on my treadmill screen by bedtime. Between clients I may walk a mile; first thing in the morning I may stroll in my pajamas; during a lull in the evening I might watch the news and finish my goal. Hopefully I have even managed to walk the kids from school, exercised with a friend, or done yard work to add to this total.
I had a moody feeling myself today after a restless sleep. It wasn't, "I'm in a cookie mood", but rather "I'm in a lazy mood." My free time from 1-3:30p.m. could easily disappear without any progress in the house or my workout. After 4 clients this morning, the easy way of squandering time and grazing until my kids got home from school was appealing, but I knew it wasn't right. I tricked myself into exercising by playing a game which would turn into a spectacular blog: My Home Training Chores Interval Game consisting of ten minutes on the treadmill followed by 10 minutes of housework! With the treadmill I challenged myself to work at 4-5% inclines with speeds between 4-9mph. For the first time in my life I looked forward to housework as I needed the rest. My housework included laundry, vacumming, moving furniture, dog chores, and organizing for our garage sale this weekend. It worked great, kept me focused, and gave me energy. The reality was that although I finished my workout at about 2:30p.m., if I had the motivation I could have seen 10.o miles on my treadmill by 3:30. In addition my house would have been more clean. But I'm not going to beat myself up over it. I met my goal and proved that I could maintain fitness and a relatively clean home efficiently.
In addition I overcame my lazy mood and saved it for when Ron got home from a long day at the office. He doesn't think I really work and seeing me sit on the couch and watch the Oprah/Ralph Lauren episode while he prepared to coach Little League, confirmed his belief!
Finally, please readers, don't be jealous of the exciting life I lead. The mind games, the house work, the exercise, the dog...it can all be yours too!
I used antiqua and burnt edges to give this laundry room picture a more magical effect. This was in my early stage of intervals...the room is messy but the laundry is happening!
My old, little dog has worn this lamp shade for almost 2 months due to an ear problem. Today I stepped in his water container while delivering clothes making for a more exciting interval session. We also took the lampshade off this evening and he immediately started going crazy on his ears.
Again, burnt edges and antiqua give an iridescent quality to my vacuum...like it's Nelly and "Just a Dream!"
At first I thought that's enough, 5.1 miles, but it felt premature. I desired to share a full 60 minute workout with my readers so I added one more chore interval just to impress you, my friends. No, No, No! Not for you, never exercise for your friends...exercise for your heart, for your mind, for your body!
This song reminds me of my mom and is the inspiration for today's blog title, "The Games People Play." I can recall her playing it on our record player while she cleaned the house in the 1970's! The words remain true today. Thank you Joe South and thank you mom!
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