Let's Be Users

I was reading one of my favorite blogs by Bonnie Pfiester  http://pfitblog.com/2012/11/30/handicapped-by-fat-why-laziness-kills/ today and I thought it was a great message.  She wrote how America seems to be paralyzed by laziness, or as she put it:  Handicapped by Fat.  She mentioned about the use of scooters by people that can but refuse to walk, please realize she was in no way attacking those who are truly paralyzed.  The point I took away from the blog was, unless we stay healthy and active, we will end up not enjoying our lives to the fullest.

So why is it that we do not use our bodies?  Bonnie pointed out impatience, which I get that. I think of all the places I could walk to and I don't simply because I want to get there faster.  Heck, MY GYM is less than 2 miles from my house so I could walk there.  Perhaps at 3:30 am it is not the safest idea, but you get the point.   Not too long ago I loaned my Reshaping It All book to a neighbor who lives about 8 or so blocks from me. It was a windy night, but otherwise decent weather.  As I was picking up my keys I thought 'what are you doing?' I was seriously going to DRIVE to her house to deliver a book about getting healthy. I walked and was glad I did.

Another point of the article is that sometimes things get hard and it leads to laziness.This could be an injury, a little more weight, life's perils, heart issues, etc. that lead a person to stop exercising or even remaining mobile  for that matter. I think about all the times things got hard for me and all the times I quit.  I remember losing all the weight after my son was born 12 years ago and was a total gym rat.  Then I slowly started to let life creep in and wasn't working out as much, which led to weight gain and my highest weight ever in 2004. Next thing I knew, I was giving up.  I wasn't using my body for much of anything other than eating and taking care of my family, which was suffering because I was lazy and depressed.

Like Bonnie, my point is not to chastise the people who utilize scooters.  All I am saying is that we need to USE our bodies so we don't LOSE them.  It's no secret B is older than I am nor is it a secret that he is in very good physical health.  I know we both work hard to play hard.   I want to reach as many goals as we can together be that keeping in shape, traveling, enjoying the outdoors, just living life to the fullest and so on. I'm in for using my body to it's fullest potential and even pushing it beyond to boost my quality of life, plus I think it just sounds sort of funny to say 'I'm a user' and it actually mean a good thing.  HAPPY FRIDAY!

Small Sacrifice, Big Reward -Holiday Challenge Week 1

As I posted previously, I am participating in the Peak313 Holiday Challenge.  Simply put it's a challenge that allows me to share something with others when I make a sacrifice.  It's geared toward giving up unhealthy habits over the holiday and replacing them with healthy ones.  This morning I didn't not want to leave my bed for the gym, but forced myself to give up my nice warm cozy spot to go do something healthy.  In return I am donating blankets so that others can have a warm bed. It just made me feel good knowing that when I gave something up I wasn't rewarding myself with an extra Diet Pepsi or maybe more sleep tomorrow morning, but instead giving something to others-actually rewarding myself greatly in the process. 

Was it a huge sacrifice to get up and go to the gym this morning?  No it wasn't since I am accustom to going to the gym often. However, I haven't been on a Monday in awhile and it was really cold, so I say small sacrifice.  :-) Will it be a huge burden  for me to donate blankets? My God always makes the ends at my house meet, so helping others is something that I am glad to do.  Will my sacrifices in the next 21 days be small or large?  Only time can tell, but I do want to challenge myself to really put myself out on a limb to help others this holiday season through donations of time, money and goods.  

As Clare wrote in her blog, God gave us the ultimate sacrifice so any sacrifice of mine is the least I can do.  Let us not forget “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

So who is going to join me?  Get your jar, start jotting it down when you make a sacrifice and decide what you will share with others.  Leftover pie in the fridge?  How about just half a piece and donating some canned items to the food bank?  Holidays give you the blues?  Try turning off the sad Christmas movie (yes there are some really sad ones) and take a walk instead, your reward could be some cash or time to your favorite charity.  

It's not too late, the deal is below and I can't wait to see your results! 

http://peak313.com/featured/21-days-to-a-hunger-free-and-healthy-holiday-week-1-sacrifice/

Holidays are Challenging-Challenge Accepted!

Holidays are stressful and challenging. Sometimes I admit I find myself getting worked up as the Christmas countdown begins. As many of you know I did a 5 Week Challenge at Peak313 and really learned a lot about myself and the relationship between my spiritual and physical fitness. Thanks to Clare at Peak313, I am going to be part of another challenging Christmas-this time in a good way.  Please take a minute to see the challenge below and I pray that you consider joining me.  Let's challenge ourselves this year!

http://peak313.com/featured/holiday-challenge-21-days-to-a-hunger-free-and-healthy-holiday/

I cannot wait to get started fighting off the cravings and collecting money for a good cause while  I am at it!