Honesty.

So here I am, being honest. After all, what more could I offer to faithful readers? Or any reader for that matter.

Honestly, I've forgotten how to work out. You know, the importance of it, how to stick with it, why should I like it, and so on and so forth. Ironically enough my last post was on, what was it again? Oh yeah, motivation. Ironic.

I'm admitting it openly to all who read. I've slacked in the exercise department of life for a few months. Now you know.

Sometimes it's hard to have heard 100 billion excuses for not exercising. They tend to stay with me and shout at me in my head when the loves-of-my-life and work should be coming first. But guess what. You really do have time to do what you want; you just have to make the time for it. There's 24 hours in each day (duh) and you have to make room for what's important to you.

Moving on and a more positive note, I have decided to rejoin the exercise community as of yesterday. And today I decided to post about it and get this blog moving again. Also, C.J. and I are having a 6 week challenge to see who can "improve" their health the best. Still not sure how we're going to measure that, but we have 6 weeks to decide.

Monday: took measurements (yikes!) and weighed in (yikes, yikes!!). 20 minutes of intervals on the eliptical (1 min hard, 2 min medium) with a 3 minute warm-up and 5 minute cool down. Lifted. And I've found a new lift that I really, really like. Mostly because it takes coordination and strength. (It's an emphasizing kind of day today.) So I'm looking to lose this 5 lb weight gain due to neglect of exercising and going overboard with the treats over the next 6 weeks.

That's where I'm at. What about you? What have you been doing the last 3 months?

Your reason?

Reason(s) I will exercise today:

I'm training to decrease my mile time
I've got to lower my blood pressure
I'm going to be stronger
I'm will reshape my body
I want to see my kids graduate from high school
Oh, those "skinny jeans"
I love getting fresh morning air & seeing the sun rise
It's part of my daily routine
I'll see so-and-so in step/spinning/kickboxing class
I like seeing more definition in my muscles
My iPod exercise music list is THE BEST
I ate more than I planned last weekend
The 5k is coming up
Looking forward to some "me time"

What's your reason?

Frustration = Motivation

There are some emotions felt in life that can be used to motivate you to exercise. Mostly they are the negative feelings that give us a surge of bad energy. If you really try, you can turn this negativity into something positive. Harboring ill feelings within us isn't healthy (especially for your heart) and you've got to learn to let those things go.

Scientifically speaking, exercising releases endorphins that help put us in a better mood. Why not move your muscles for 20-30 minutes when you're stressing over something to help you feel closer to your normal happy?

IMO frustration has GOT to be my number one emotion that gets me moving. It doesn't matter if it's been a single person, a group of people, or a people-less situation that has sent me through the roof; if I'm frustrated I will exercise to help get rid of those feelings. (On the flip side of that, I'll exercise when I'm happy too.)

Do you exercise to help you feel better? Consider that the next time you're ready to punch a hole in the wall. :)

~Amy

A random title wouldn't suffice.

Oh, thanks for asking. Actually I'm particularly indecisive today on a variety of topics, including but of course not limited to what to write for my next wellness article, what design to use for the background of my personal/family blog, how I should structure my new fitness blog, if I should peruse the Internet for a while or begin my aforementioned wellness article... Yes. Dot, dot, dot because that list is continuing a mile a minute in the twisted confines of my brain tissue. BTW, I loved studying the brain and the heart in my anatomy class in college -- both times I took it -- and figured really, how difficult could it be to become a brain surgeon? Seriously? Not to demote the position of brain surgeon by any means, but merely the fact that if you wanted to be a brain surgeon, you could become one simply because you wanted that position in life. Note that I had to take anatomy twice, clearly stating that I had no desire to be a brain surgeon.

Perhaps the indecisiveness stems from the lack of sleep I've encountered. I can now fully appreciate Ambien commercials and the help that little pill provides to many during the dark hours of the night. Apparently my body gets a kick out of the practical joke of tricking my mind into thinking that 4-5 hours of sleep is the only rest my body needs for the next 19 or so hours. Get real. (The wakefulness is usually due to the little princes and princess who randomly wake in the middle of night needing comfort, and my problem is falling back to sleep in a timely manner.)

Despite this and the many other reasons for my inability to make a decision, the day trudges along. I'm hopeful at some point during this day (or night) I'll once again resume normality and press forward with sharp decision-making skills.

And that, my friends, was one attempt to clear my head. Hopefully I can get back to work now. Keep striving to live well!

~Amy

New Look!!

I'm super excited about my new logo -- and a BIG THANKS to my new friend Echo over at Echo Ect. for her creative thinking!!

You all know I've got three kids that keep me busy (among other things) and my family and work has been taking priority lately, hence my lack in blogging. I'm hoping to get back into it very, very soon, as well as launching a new site in general. Until then, continue to Live Well!!

~Amy

6 weeks ends...this week!

Well how did you do on your push-ups?? I had a busy 6 weeks...a funeral, a wedding, TONS of work, and sick children...but I managed to keep up on the routine. In the middle of it my wrists began to hurt and I think I strained some chest muscles (both hurt pretty badly) but after a weekend of rest all was well again.

I really love the increased definition in my shoulders, arms, and upper back. I also did bent-over-rows to work my upper back so my front and back muscles would be more balanced while doing the push-up challenge.

What were your experiences? How much did you improve??

Bragging Rights...

I placed within the top 50! Thanks for all of your votes!!

P.U.C. details

I announced earlier this week that I'll be starting the push-up challenge soon. "Soon" will be this Monday (Jan 12), and it'll run for six weeks. I plan to take a week or two off to rest, and then I'll start up again.

I know a couple people wanted to do this too, and if you want to stay on the same schedule then you'll need to do your initial test on or before Monday, and then do three days each week. Leave a comment here with your initial number and I'll have these posted. Every couple weeks you're instructed to do another test, and we'll post those numbers too so we can watch our progress.

Happy pushing!
Amy

The "correct" way to remove snow.

Here it is, the beginning of January, and my house has already seen way too much snow according to yours truly, of course. Los niños adore the mounds and mounds of it surrounding the house. Rumor has it's we're a month ahead of our typical snow schedule, and don't I know it. I've shoveled just about all of it off the driveway and sidewalks (hubby's been home in time to do it once). I see snowflakes start coming down and my first thought is, Seriously, more snow to shovel? Enough already!! One month down, 4 1/2 more to go. *Deep sigh*

Since I don't have a snow removal wand, or a snow blower at that, I know I need to do a few strategic things to keep my back safe as I shovel the unwanted "stuff" off to the side. I came across a fantabulous article that reinforces the basics. Here's a brief synopsis:

Digging Your Way Through Winter: Tips for Snow Shoveling
Jean-Jacques Abitbol, MD, FRCSC
Orthopaedic Surgeon
California Spine Group, MC
San Diego, CA

~ Wear a hat, thick gloves, and good boots.
~ Choose a shovel with a curved handle for better posture.
~ Choose a shovel with a plastic blade instead of a metal blade because plastic is lighter.
~ Hand placement on the shovel is important. Keeps hands farther apart for better leverage.

For more tips from Dr. Abitbol, see his article from spineuniverse.com by clicking on the title. For those of you who have people to do this daunting task for you, lucky you. And for those of you who don't have the faintest idea what it's like to look out your front window during the winter and see snow sticking to your property, you'd better be outside running.

Live well (even when it's snowing)!
Amy

To: All Biggest Loser Fans

I know just about everyone on the face of the earth has heard of the reality show The Biggest Loser, which means just about everyone knows of Bob and Jillian, the insanely wonderful trainers that help people learn how to transform their lives.

Jenn and Erin over at Fit Bottom Girls were incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to interview the oh-so-famous Bob Harper and have posted it on their blog. If you have a few minutes, go read it (and try very hard to avoid any jealous fits)!