Copyright 2012 www.yourdailymotivation.com
YOUR BODY
Developing A Sustainable Fitness Plan In This New Year
making more out of the new year rush to get fit
Something about the Holiday Season creates an irrepressible guilt that seems to predictably surface the day after New Year's. Maybe we ate too much, exercised too little, are feeling a little overweight and out of shape. So, we buy a gym membership on January 2nd, enlist the services of a personal trainer, buy a heart rate monitor and away we go off toward our new found destiny with health, fitness, and improved self-image. It has been this way for decades in my observations, as a regular health club member who has always dreaded the "January Rush", mostly because I have to wait for machines to open up.
If your fitness commitment is new found than don't make a fad out of it. Here are a few good general rules to live by that will make your exercise more enjoyable, successful, and increase the chances that you'll stick with it:
1.) Warm-up and Warm-Down - The reality is that we should all spend 10 or 15 minutes stretching before every work out or competition because it loosens us up and reduces the risk of injury.
2.) Hydrate - drinking water is important and, for exercise of longer duration, drinks containing electrolytes can help overcome premature cramping and fatigue that are symptoms of being dehydrated.
3.) Start Slow and Build a Base - Every solid house needs a foundation and so does your exercise program. If you are just beginning an exercise program it is very important to build a base through proper zone training. This is where a heart rate monitor becomes an invaluable tool and combined with the advice of fitness professional it can go a long ways toward starting you off on the right foot.
4.) Get Advice - All serious athletes and fitness buffs should use a personal trainer, or coach, to talk about goals, develop a realistic schedule and plan, and to act as a motivator. Decide why you are exercising - for general fitness, to get better at golf, at skiing, or some other sport. A trainer can help you develop a sport specific routine that will enhance your enjoyment of whatever it is that you want to enjoy. It is also critical to know proper technique for all sports and this is especially true for weight lifting - we don't want to see you injured when you've just gotten out of the starting blocks.
5.) Monitor Your Rest & Recovery - It is important to keep track of your resting heart rate on a daily basis. It is a good gauge of fitness and provides a benchmark that lets you know how well you have recovered. If you normal resting pulse is 60 and following three hard days of training you awake to find it at 70 that is a good indication that you need a day off to rest. Taking periodic days off provides your body with the opportunity to recover rejuvenate and re-build.
6.) Plan Your Work-outs in Modules - It is important to plan your training in modules. When I was a competitive cyclist we called the first 1,000 to 2,000 miles each year our base building period. We had rules we followed such as trying to maintain a cadence between 90 and 100 pedal revolutions per minute and we never used the big chain ring until our base period was completed. Develop similar rules for your base building that are consistent with reaching the final goal - better fitness, faster 10k time, or whatever your goals may be. There is a progression for any sport that if adhered to will help insure you reach your goals.
7.) Write Down Your Goals and Your Schedule - There is an old saying - "That which gets measured is that which can be improved". Plan your training weekly and it doesn't hurt to have a dietary plan, either. Many heart rate monitors will allow you to measure calories burned and if you measure calories consumed and know what your resting calorie burn rate is you can calculate total caloric burn versus intake. No matter how many dietary fads develop the real truth is that if caloric burn is greater than uptake you will lose weight and it's the only dietary truth that has withstood the test of time.
This information and other information on this site is intended for general reference purposes only and is not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information on this site should be used to diagnose,
treat, cure or prevent any medical condition.
YOUR SPIRIT
Thoughts
the creation ground of experience
Our thoughts are powerful forces in the creation of our experience of life. You may be able to recall a time when frustration that was based on a misunderstanding completely evaporated when your understanding changed. This is because our interpretation defines our experience, and it can change in an instant. Our only true reality is the present moment, so rather than merely accepting that life is happening to us, we can harness the power of our thoughts to actively create a positive reality. For example, we can choose to appreciate beauty around us rather than focusing on traffic or look for admirable qualities in the people we deal with rather than focusing on the negative. By choosing how to interpret and define each moment with your thoughts, you truly create your reality.
Throughout the day, we can monitor our thoughts to catch ourselves in the middle of investing our energy elsewhere—such as into belief in limitations—and instead pull our focus back to the infinite possibilities of the present. Taking a deep breath will help us center our thoughts on being in our bodies right now. Regular meditation allows us to gain mastery over our minds so that we can still our thoughts to focus on the pureness of being. If we mentally dwell on the past or the future, we may miss the experience of living in the present moment. Setting and visualizing goals is wonderful, but we can bring our thoughts into our current experience by taking steps to create them now.
Our minds are powerful tools that we can harness to create our reality. Through them we move the unformed energy of the universe into form, which gives us direction for our words and actions. Each thought is like a stone dropped into a lake, sending ripples out into our world to affect all they touch. We can choose our focus and how we invest our energy, which gives us the power to design our lives to be whatever we choose in each and every moment.
YOUR RECIPE
No Added Sugar, Low Carb Cappuccino Mousse
Serves: 2
Serving Size 1 cup
Carbs Per Serving: 20.3 g
Prep Time:<15 minutes
Skill Level: Easy
Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup whole milk
1-1/2 teaspoons baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
1/3 cup yogurt
2 tablespoons Fructevia, Steviva Blend or a tiny dash to taste Steviva Brands Pure Stevia Powder
1/2 cup whipped cream or sugar free topping
Directions:
In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over milk; let stand for 1 minute. Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved.
Add cocoa and coffee; stir until dissolved. Transfer to a small bowl; refrigerate until mixture begins to thicken.
Remove from refrigerator and beat until light and fluffy. Combine yogurt and sweetener; beat into gelatin mixture.
Fold in whipped cream or sugar free topping.
Divide between two dessert dishes. I use a martini glass.
Optional: Garnish with a few fresh berries or shaved chocolate and a dollop of whipped cream.
Refrigerate until firm.