This week I started reading the Jen Lancaster book, The Tao of Martha. Jen is an awesome funny writer, She says the stuff out loud that you think in your head. LOVE her biting humor.  In this book she was going to spend the year living like Martha Stewart, minus the gathering eggs from her hen house outback. BTW..I do have a number of friends who raise chickens and let’s just I’m in awe and shock. Well in the book she talks about Martha people and Oprah people.

Oprah people all about living their best life. Creating vision boards and affirmations and so forth.

Martha people are able organization and good things. You churn your own milk.

So I ask what kind of person are you’

If I were to be honest with myself I’m more of Oprah kind of person. I have made vision boards and I have my goals posted all over the house.  I’m all about living your best life. But my husband would prefer if I was a little like Martha. We often joke that we need a wife — someone who can help us to keep the house tidy, cook, do and fold our laundry, go to grocery store. If we were in the Brady Bunch times, we need an Alice — she doesn’t need to live here or where a uniform.

After reading this book, I’m thinking to myself, why not give it a shot too.

This year my plan is to be a little bit of a hybrid.

• I want to clean my home of clutter and keep it that way for more than 1 week LOL
• I want to file my bills on a monthly basis versus pile them on my counter until it falls over
• Find ways to better manage my email
• Meditate on a regular basis
• Feel the fear and do it anyway

How about you, what are you’ Are you an Oprah or a Martha or a hybrid’ In one of my blog posts, I give you 29 healthy habits to start. Could you start 1 habit one week’ Imagine where you would be in 1/2 a year’  Would you be able to blog about it ‘ Write a weekly post on Facebook. Think of that movie Julia and Julia. A women spent 1 year trying to cook all of Julia Child’s recipes, it was also made into a movie with Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. Churning your own milk is optional =)

Leave me a comment below. Letting me know what camp do you live in.

They say you never truly appreciate the value of a well-functioning machine until it breaks down. So it goes for your immune system. Its complex network of cells, tissues, and organs protect your body on a daily basis from bacteria, microbes, viruses, and toxins. But if compromised, as when under attack by pathogens or lacking supporting nutrients, the system can become overwhelmed and fail to accomplish the tasks to keep you healthy.

During the winter months, your body’s immune system is presented with greater challenges when germs are quickly spread from person to person. The standard advice from your doctor is to wash your hands regularly, get a flu shot, and avoid unnecessary contact with those who may be sick. Okay for those of who work with the general public and this is really hard.

For most of in the fitness industry, we know that one of the best ways to stay healthy is to have a balanced diet. While no nutritional product or supplement can ever prevent you from having allergies, catching a cold or flu, or treat those illnesses or symptoms once you get them,  it’s critical that you feed the immune system the proper nutrients for it to function optimally.

A balanced diet should provide you with all the sustenance your body needs. But studies continue to show that most diets lack vitamins and minerals, such as zinc and vitamin C, which play a special role in our bodies’ immune systems. Special ingredients within food and in supplements also can help your body in its fight against foreign invaders while protecting against their harm. The following seven nutrients and bioactives support your immune system through a variety of ways:

1. Zinc, in particular, is a mineral that plays an important role in the function and development of immune cells, specifically, T-cells.  Zinc has also been shown to maintain reserves to guard against a compromised immune system.
2. Vitamin D affects nearly all your body’s cells, including those in the immune system. During the winter months, however, levels tend to drop in most people (depending on latitude) because the days are shorter. Vitamin D plays a key role in balancing immune response (8).
3. Vitamin C is closely tied to the immune system. We can’t produce vitamin C. Instead, we need to rely on the foods we consume such as kiwi, bell peppers, and citrus fruits. Scientists are speaking up about the suboptimal recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C, saying that it should be increased to 200 milligrams per day to ensure tissue and cell saturation and promote better overall long-term health (9). This is more than double the current recommendation of 75 milligrams per day for women and 90 milligrams per day for men. Researchers argue that the current RDA levels are based on the prevention of vitamin C deficiency or the disease, scurvy. I’d love to hear if anyone has had a client that’s had scurvy or even rickets.
4. Echinacea this plant’s roots and leaves have been used for centuries by Native Americans for their medicinal qualities. Randomized controlled studies support Echinacea’s beneficial effect on the immune system (13-15).
5. Reishi Mushroom (pronounced Ray-She) is commonly consumed in Japan as either a tea or powder and reputed to increase youthful vigor and vitality. Multiple studies have also shown that Reishi mushroom supports the function of the immune system and benefits overall health. What’s more, multiple studies suggest the immunomodulatory effects of reishi mushroom and overall health benefits (15-19).
6. A good melatonin supplement can help guard against lack of sleep and poor sleep, helping to keep your immune system functioning nicely. Getting adequate sleep is probably the most important habit to support the immune system. Without proper sleep, the immune system is one of the first things to suffer. A number of the genes affected by sleep deprivation included several genes involved in immune system response.

Proactive Measures with Isagenix

When it comes to the immune system, it’s much more effective to be proactive rather than reactive, meaning you should be supporting the immune system every day rather than stepping up care once you are already sick. A healthy diet, along with daily supplementation with Ageless Essentials Daily Pack—containing zinc, and vitamins C and D—can keep your immune system properly nourished daily. Isamune Plus—containing zinc gluconate, colostrum, echinacea, and reishi mushroom—is a convenient spray that can be used daily to bolster defenses. In addition, Isagenix Sleep Support spray provides convenience in a quality melatonin supplement to make getting enough sleep easier nightly. Feel confident that you are protected with the best immune system support with Isagenix this winter.

References

1. Hemila H. The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal. 2011 (5):51-58.
2. Prasad AS et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2007 Mar; 85(3):837-44.
3. Prasad. Zinc: Mechanisms of Host Defense. J Nutr 2007, May; 137(5):1345-9.
4. Mossad SB et al. Ann Intern Med 1996;1[25:81]-8.
5. Godfrey  et al. J Int Med Res 1992;[20:23]4-6.
6. Weismann K et al. Dan Med Bull 1990;[37:27]9-81.
7. Eby GA et al. Antimicrob Agents and Chemother 1984;[25:20]-24.
8. Aranow C. Vitamin D and the Immune System. J Investig Med. 2011 August; 59(6): 881–886. doi:  10.231/JIM.0b013e31821b8755
9. Frei B, Birlouez-Aragon I, Lykkesfeldt J. Authors’ Perspective: What is the Optimum Intake of Vitamin C in Humans’ Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2012;[52:81]5-29. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2011.649149
10. Cesarone  MR et al.. Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis 2007; 13(2): 130-136.
11. Shing CM et al. Effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on immune variables in highly trained cyclists. J Appl Physiol 2007; 102: 1113-1122.
12. Crooks  CV et al. The effect of Bovine Colostrum Supplementation on Salivary IgA in Distance Runners. Inter  J Sport Nutr and Exercise Metabolism 2006; 16: 47-64.
13. Noguchi et al. Randomized clinical trial of an ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Asian J Androl.  2008;10(5):777-785.
14. Noguchi et al.. Asian J Androl.  Jul 2008;10(4):651-658.
15. Wachtel-Galor et al. Ganoderma lucidum (“Lingzhi”), a Chinese medicinal mushroom: biomarker responses in a controlled human supplementation study. Br J Nutr. 2004;91(2):263-269.
16. Gao  et al. Immunol Invest. 2003;32(3):201-215.
17. McGuffin  eds. American Herbal Products Association’s Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
18. Hobbs C. Medicinal Mushrooms. 3rd ed. Loveland (OR): Interweave Press; 1996.
19. Tao and Feng. Experimental and clinical studies on inhibitory effect of Ganoderma lucidum on platelet aggregation. J Tongji Med Univ 1990;[10:24]0-3.
20. Möller-Levet CS, Archer1 SN, Bucca G, Laing EE, Slak A, Kabiljo R, Lo JCY, Santhi N, von Schantz M, Smith CP, Dijk D. Effects of insufficient sleep on circadian rhythmicity and expression amplitude of the human blood transcriptome. PNAS 2013 Feb 25 doi: 10.1073/pnas.1217154110.

Okay — that’s a old school Dr. Dre song, but I love it none the less! We are 30 days into our challenge we have 1 more day and I want to do another check in to see where you are now!!

Are you stuck in a rut or are you like Stella and you’ve found your groove! Here’s a quick test.

You’ve found your groove if you:

• Feel awesome after a workout
• started to feel less stressed
• have seen your mood has improved
• don’t stress about what to eat
• don’t stress about your workouts
• head to the gym instead of the couch and you no longer think its a chore (okay sometimes it is, but you know you’ll feel better)
• are motivated to hit your goals
• completed more than 50% of this challenge and determined to finish the rest of it

Somebody reboot me please if you:

• struggling to reach your goals
• working hard and not seeing any results
• are feeling unmotivated
• been focused on the same goals for a while and unable to get started
• feel like crap for hours or days after a workout
• feel guilty for missing workouts or not eating cleanly
• hit a plateau and have been stuck for a while

If you’ve got your groove — rock on and good luck to you!!! If you need a reboot, let’s discuss how restart. The best thing about this challenge is that you can do it over and over again. I recommend starting from day 1 and taking it day by day. Don’t beat yourself up. We all have things that come up in our lives that may have prevented you from doing this challenge daily, but we just need to keep plugging away.  Do you need some accountability’ Do you need a more formal program’ That’s where wellness coaching can come in handy.  I will nudge you to explore what is most important to you right now, we’ll talk through your challenges and work to navigate obstacles so that you meet your health and fitness goals quicker and have the confidence that you will succeed.  To learn more about my programs, click here. 

Today’s Assignment

Where are you” Be honest — do you need to reboot are you charging ahead full blast!!!

Don’t forget Leave a comment below. Write a facebook post on the Fabulous Fit Squad. If you have a personal blog, write a blog post. Make sure you link back to the site so we can cheer you on and hold you accountable.

Just joining now” Don’t worry you can catch up.
Day 1 — Intro the challenge
Day 2 — Getting your mind straight 
Day 3 — Goal setting 
Day 4 — What’s on your plate
Day 5 — Lift
Day 6 — Cardio
Day 7 — Living on your own terms
Day 8 — Rest day
Day  9 — Forming a habit
Day 10 — Just Breathe
Day 11 — Fat loss secrets revealed
Day 12 — Can you pinch an inch
Day 13 — Dedicated and Focused 
Day 14 — Doubt
Day 15 — Rewards and Consequences
Day 16 — Damn Hormones
Day 17 — Pre and Post Workout Meals
Day 18 — Successful Weight Loss
Day 19 — Know Before You Go
Day 20 — Courage and Strength
Day 21 — You Can’t Out Run A Bad Diet
Day 22 — 10 Days To Go!
Day 23 To Cleanse Or Not Cleanse
Day 24 The Power Of Sleep
Day 25 — What’s Your Why
Day 26 — I’m Stressed
Day 27 — The Art Of The Start
Day 28 — What’s Your Advice
Day 29 — Healthy Tips

Change doesn’t happen overnight. It certain circumstances I’m a go big or go home kind of girl, but when it comes to your health. I’m a slow and steady wins the race and you are morel likely to stick with it.  Here are 29 baby steps to help you to keep moving forward.  Remember yesterday’s lesson about habits.

1. Break up with the scale — focus on your body composition. Find a pair of jeans or dress that you would love to fin into.
2. Stop with hours of cardio — you are on the road to no where.
3. You can’t out train a bad diet
4. Drop the pink dumbbells and lift heavy
5. Remove artificial sweeteners from your diet
6. Eat organic when possible
7. Have protein with all meals
8. Work your way up to 1 gallon of water
9. Fall of the wagon, hop right back on, don’t wait to the next day.
10. Have veggies with every meal
11. Learn to mediate
12. Progress not perfection
13. Set a bed time
14. Tracking my meals holds me accountable to me
15. 5-6 meals every 2-3 hours
16. It’s okay to make meal swaps at restaurants
17. Alcohol in moderation
18. It starts with small building small habits
19. Always be prepared — leave home with snacks
20. Cook 1x week so that you always have healthy food on hand
21. Have a protein shake within 30 minutes of a strength training workout
22. Overtraining will not get you to your goals any faster
23. Work to reduce your stress level
24. Know before you go — most restaurants have menus online
25. Drink green tea
26. Eat within 30 min to waking
27. Get a good pair of sneaker — if you can’t remember when you bought them it’s time for a new pair
28. Get in your good fat oils — there is more to life nuts and olive oil
29. Watch your portion sizes

Today’s Challenge:

• Pick 2 habits you will use today.

Don’t forget Leave a comment below. Write a facebook post on the Fabulous Fit Squad. If you have a personal blog, write a blog post. Make sure you link back to the site so we can cheer you on and hold you accountable.

Just joining now” Don’t worry you can catch up.
Day 1 — Intro the challenge
Day 2 — Getting your mind straight 
Day 3 — Goal setting 
Day 4 — What’s on your plate
Day 5 — Lift
Day 6 — Cardio
Day 7 — Living on your own terms
Day 8 — Rest day
Day  9 — Forming a habit
Day 10 — Just Breathe
Day 11 — Fat loss secrets revealed
Day 12 — Can you pinch an inch
Day 13 — Dedicated and Focused 
Day 14 — Doubt
Day 15 — Rewards and Consequences
Day 16 — Damn Hormones
Day 17 — Pre and Post Workout Meals
Day 18 — Successful Weight Loss
Day 19 — Know Before You Go
Day 20 — Courage and Strength
Day 21 — You Can’t Out Run A Bad Diet
Day 22 — 10 Days To Go!
Day 23 To Cleanse Or Not Cleanse
Day 24 The Power Of Sleep
Day 25 — What’s Your Why
Day 26 — I’m Stressed
Day 27 — The Art Of The Start
Day 28 — What’s Your Advice

I’ve been watching CBS This Morning and they do a segment on it called, Note To Self it’s a a letter you’d send to yourself in the past. I like it becasue as they say hindsight is 20/20. This would be a letter you could tell yourself what pitfalls to avoid, relive some great moments, what would you write to yourself’ The segment is really interesting because they have famous people write a letter to themselves in the past giving them advice and they read it on the air.
The one take away I’d like to give you. You are kind and worthy! Now tell someone else that today.

Oprah’s Note To Self

Today’s assignment

• Write a letter to your past self with what healthy lifestyle lessons you’ve learned
  • Here are 2 examples for me!
    • Going to the beach everyday without sunscreen =(
    • Calling Zumba a fad LOL
• Write a letter to your future self to congratulating yourself on where your healthy lifestyle will be 12 months from now

Don’t forget Leave a comment below. Write a facebook post on the Fabulous Fit Squad. If you have a personal blog, write a blog post. Make sure you link back to the site so we can cheer you on and hold you accountable.

Just joining now” Don’t worry you can catch up.
Day 1 — Intro the challenge
Day 2 — Getting your mind straight 
Day 3 — Goal setting 
Day 4 — What’s on your plate
Day 5 — Lift
Day 6 — Cardio
Day 7 — Living on your own terms
Day 8 — Rest day
Day  9 — Forming a habit
Day 10 — Just Breathe
Day 11 — Fat loss secrets revealed
Day 12 — Can you pinch an inch
Day 13 — Dedicated and Focused 
Day 14 — Doubt
Day 15 — Rewards and Consequences
Day 16 — Damn Hormones
Day 17 — Pre and Post Workout Meals
Day 18 — Successful Weight Loss
Day 19 — Know Before You Go
Day 20 — Courage and Strength
Day 21 — You Can’t Out Run A Bad Diet
Day 22 — 10 Days To Go!
Day 23 To Cleanse Or Not Cleanse
Day 24 The Power Of Sleep
Day 25 — What’s Your Why
Day 26 — I’m Stressed
Day 27 — The Art Of The Start

When you think about starting something new —

• do you feel excited
• do you feel like you are stepping onto a large platform about to dive into shark invested waters
• are you one of those folks we are always starting something and not finishing it
• are you someone who says you are going to do it and boom it done!

2 snaps up to you if you are the later. So many of us struggle with getting start and actually finishing. Today is all about how to keep that moving forward. The biggest reason people fail at creating and sticking to new habits is that they don’t keep doing it. That seems obvious: if you don’t keep doing a habit, it won’t really become a habit. So what’s the solution to this obvious problem’ Find a way to keep doing it. When you look at it this way, the key to forming a habit is not how much you do of the habit each day (exercise for 30 minutes, eat 5 meals, etc.), but whether you do it at all. So the key is just getting started. Let me emphasize that: the key to forming a habit is starting each day. What do I mean by starting’ If you want to form the habit of meditation, just park your tushy down in a quiet area each day. If you want to form the habit of running, just lace up your shoes and get out the door. If you want to form the habit of writing, just sit down, you can write it out long hand or type on your computer. Form the habit of starting, and you’ll get good at forming habits.

Easier Said Then Done — How Do You Get Started’

What happens when you wake up and don’t feel like doing yoga or heading to your cycle class’ Let’s first take a look at why you don’t feel like starting. It’s usually for one or both of these reasons:

1. You are comfortable with what you’re doing (doing something online, sleeping, just sitting down =)), and the habit you’d like to start  it’s too hard – aka not comfortable. We cling to the comfortable. We love our comfort zone!!!
2. It’s too difficult to get started — to do the habit, you have to buy stuff or find someone who will help or teach you, or drive 20 minutes to the gym, or go get a bunch of ingredients, etc. — This is when the excuse monster rears its ugly head.

Those are the main two reasons, and really they’re the same thing. So the solution is to make it easier and more comfortable to do the habit, and easier to get started. Some ways to do that:

• Focus on the smallest thing — just getting started. You don’t have to do even 5 minutes — just start. That’s so easy it’s hard to say no.
• Prepare everything you need to get started earlier. So if you need some equipment, get it ready well before you have to start, like the evening before, or in the morning if you have to do it in the afternoon, or at least an hour before. Then when it’s time to start, there is no barrier.
  • I lay out my gym clothes the night before so all I need to do is put them on my body.
  • I make my shopping list on Friday night and head to the grocery store on Saturday afternoon so I have food in the house for the week.
  • I put my workouts in my calendar weekly so I know when I’m working out.
• Make the habit something you can do where you are, instead of having to drive there.
  • Can you buy videos and do workouts at home
  • Can you pull out your ipod and just dance for 20 minutes
  • Can you grab stuff out of your cupboard and make a new recipe’
• If you have to drive or walk somewhere, have someone meet you there. Then you’re less likely to stay home (or at work), and more likely to go — and going there is the same thing as getting started. This works because you’re making it less comfortable to not start — the idea of leaving a friend waiting for you at the gym or park is not a comfortable one.
  • I recently started going to a cycle studio where if I don’t cancel the night before I lose my money.
  • Sign up for personal training sessions
  • Work with a coach on accountability
• Tell people you’re going to do the habit of starting your habit every day for 30 days. Having this kind of accountability motivates you to get started, and makes it less comfortable not to start.
  • This is the main reason why I started this challenge to help you get moving on a goal you may have been putting off.
• Start with the easiest version of the habit, so that it’s easy to start. For example, if you want to form the habit of reading, don’t start with War and Peace, but with the Shopaholic Series or whoever you find fun and easy to read. If you want to start yoga, don’t start with a head to a 90 min power yoga, head to a 60 min to class or find a website that shows you a few salutations.

Make it as easy as possible to start, and hard to not start. Tell yourself that all you have to do is lace up your shoes and get out the door, and you’ll have a hard time saying no. Once you’ve started, you’ll feel good and probably want to continue (though that’s not a necessity). Learn to love that moment of brilliance, and your habit troubles fade like the night.

Today’s assignment

Pick 2 of the starters that you could do to help you get started with one of your goals.

Don’t forget Leave a comment below. Write a facebook post on the Fabulous Fit Squad. If you have a personal blog, write a blog post. Make sure you link back to the site so we can cheer you on and hold you accountable.

Just joining now” Don’t worry you can catch up.
Day 1 — Intro the challenge
Day 2 — Getting your mind straight 
Day 3 — Goal setting 
Day 4 — What’s on your plate
Day 5 — Lift
Day 6 — Cardio
Day 7 — Living on your own terms
Day 8 — Rest day
Day  9 — Forming a habit
Day 10 — Just Breathe
Day 11 — Fat loss secrets revealed
Day 12 — Can you pinch an inch
Day 13 — Dedicated and Focused 
Day 14 — Doubt
Day 15 — Rewards and Consequences
Day 16 — Damn Hormones
Day 17 — Pre and Post Workout Meals
Day 18 — Successful Weight Loss
Day 19 — Know Before You Go
Day 20 — Courage and Strength
Day 21 — You Can’t Out Run A Bad Diet
Day 22 — 10 Days To Go!
Day 23 To Cleanse Or Not Cleanse
Day 24 The Power Of Sleep
Day 25 — What’s Your Why
Day 26 — I’m Stressed

Now. when you hear this you like what are you talking about. Over the past 2 years I’ve spent time working on mine. So. here’s a peak into me. Three years ago I was working slaving for a corporate gym burning the candle at both ends. One day I was like what am I doing. I’m exhausted, I’m giving them 60% of my money and they still want more. What else could I give’ Umm.. my notice.  My WHY — I wanted to be happier, less tired, go vacation with my husband with it not be the “right time” be appreciated for me hard work. I scaled back my time at gym and started working for myself training clients online. I was — less tired, had more energy and was HAPPIER! I was doing what I wanted to do — servicing clients.  What made me snap was my WHY! I started training becasue I wanted to help folks lose weight and get healthy. I didn’t want to hit quotas, if I wanted to do that I would have stayed in sales in corporate America. So.. let’s get down to today’s lesson.

• What’s your WHY’
• We’ve talked about a number of different mindset and motivational ideas, but really WHY are you looking to get healthier’
• Why are you looking to make a change’
• Who supports my success’
• Who needs me to succeed’
• Why now’
• Is my why big enough’

People who know their “why” will make their dreams come true. At times you may look in the mirror and think to yourself, I can’t do this, this is where you borrow belief. Allow yourself to be taught.

Today’s a assignment is a little tough. We are rapidly reaching the end of our time together so — I need to make sure I get it all in.

1. Decide what you want’
   • Where do you want to by the end of the year’
2. What is your why’
   • So deep and meaningful that it makes you want to move any obstacle to make your goals happen
3. Solid game plan
   • When we set goals at the beginning of this challenge where they solid’ Can you measure how far you have come’
   • Are your goals should be on paper!
   • Your goals should be posted someplace you can see every day to remind you of where you are going!
4. Commit
   • You can’t do just say I’ll try. You need to commit.
   • Are you willing to commit to be in a different place 12 months for now’

1. Personal Development
   • Become a student of a healthy lifestyle
   • Invest in coaching to help you get over your hurdles
   • Invest time in reading and learning about health and fitness
   • Invest in researching the best foods for you and your family
2. What’s you holding you back
   • Here is where you put the Hairy Eyeball of Truth

Don’t wait for someone else to to create what you want! In the words of Nike — Just Do It!! Another good blog post, Make Yourself! Love’d the Nike campaign.

Don’t forget Leave a comment below. Write a facebook post on the Fabulous Fit Squad. If you have a personal blog, write a blog post. Make sure you link back to the site so we can cheer you on and hold you accountable.

Just joining now” Don’t worry you can catch up.
Day 1 — Intro the challenge
Day 2 — Getting your mind straight 
Day 3 — Goal setting 
Day 4 — What’s on your plate
Day 5 — Lift
Day 6 — Cardio
Day 7 — Living on your own terms
Day 8 — Rest day
Day  9 — Forming a habit
Day 10 — Just Breathe
Day 11 — Fat loss secrets revealed
Day 12 — Can you pinch an inch
Day 13 — Dedicated and Focused 
Day 14 — Doubt
Day 15 — Rewards and Consequences
Day 16 — Damn Hormones
Day 17 — Pre and Post Workout Meals
Day 18 — Successful Weight Loss
Day 19 — Know Before You Go
Day 20 — Courage and Strength
Day 21 — You Can’t Out Run A Bad Diet
Day 22 — 10 Days To Go!
Day 23 To Cleanse Or Not Cleanse
Day 24 The Power Of Sleep

It’s no secret that we feel better when we get a good night’s sleep.  Tossing and turning all night, or simply hitting the sack too late, can leave us feeling un-energetic and grouchy the following day.  An adequate amount of restful sleep, on the other hand, makes us more alert and improves our mood. But a good night’s sleep has a lot more benefits than that.  It can improve our mental and physical health in several ways.  Here are some of the reasons we should strive to get enough sleep each and every night.

1. Getting enough sleep is good for your heart.  Our hearts slow down when we’re sleeping, so it stands to reason that not getting the sleep we need makes our hearts work harder for longer than intended during the course of a day.  Lack of sleep can also be linked to higher blood pressure and cholesterol, both of which are bad for the heart.
2. Sleep helps us fight disease and infection.  As we sleep, our bodies produce more of the hormones that aid the immune system, such as melatonin and cortisol.  These hormones can help prevent cell damage that leads to cancer, and they help fight off germs that cause colds, the flu, and infections.
3. Long-term memories are formed during sleep.  So when we get a good night’s sleep, we are giving our brains time to store more information away for later reference.  If you are suffering from forgetfulness, try getting a little more sleep.  Chances are, it will help.
4. Adequate amounts of sleep can help us maintain a healthy weight.  Studies have shown that those who sleep less than 7 to 8 hours a night are more likely to be overweight.  This is believed to be due in part to lower levels of leptin, a hormone that regulates appetite, and higher levels of ghrelin, a hormone that simulates hunger.
5. Getting the sleep you need can help ward off depression.  One of the contributing factors in depression is serotonin deficiency, which often occurs in those who do not get enough sleep.
6. Sleep is the time when our bodies repair themselves.  They create new cells to replace those that have been damaged during the waking hours.  This is one of the keys to good health.

Getting a good night’s sleep can help us be more productive, happier and healthier.  It gives our bodies a chance to produce hormones that we need and regenerate itself, and our brains a chance to file away the things we need to remember.  Getting enough sleep each night is one of the most effortless, yet most important, things we can do to keep our bodies functioning as they should. Here are some tips for getting a good night’s sleep.

• Set a bed time — I know are over 9 years old, but I have a bed time. I typically get up most days at 5:30am and if I don’t have a bed time I would be a let’s just say you might not like me. =)
• Don’t eat to close to bed time — You don’t want to be full before you go bed. You want to stop eating 2-3 hours before bed.
• Have a ritual — I’m typically lights out at 10pm. At 9pm I’m in bed reading to help quiet my mind. If I find that I can’t shut down my brain I will grab a notebook that I keep my bed and write what’s on my mind so it gets out of my head. When it’s winter, I cozy up in bed with a nice mug of tea.
• How’s your bedroom — Is it too warm, too cold, is your mattress comfortable, do you have comfy pillows’ Make your bedroom a little sanctuary.
• Wake up at the same time every day — I know that some of you work varying shifts so I know that it’s tough, but try your best to get the same number of hours of sleep. I ask that you strive for at least 7 hours of sleep/night.
• Get the electronics out of the bedroom — that means no TV or cell phones. Your bedroom should be just for sleeping and umm.. sex.
• Avoid stimulants to close to bed — that means both coffee and as well as alcohol. Both could cause you not to sleep.
• Sleeping pills — this is between you and your doctor. If you really struggling with sleep and doing all of the above and more check with your doctor. I’m a pretty good sleeper, but during certain times of the month I struggle with sleep. During that time of the month I use a sleep spray. It helps me fall asleep and stay asleep.

Resources: I’m Exhausted

Today’s Challenge:

If you have challenges sleeping, what 2 things can you do this week to help you to get a good night’s sleep. I know that most of you will say that I can survive on only x hours of sleep. Studies show that if you don’t sleep you will not lose weight. 

Don’t forget Leave a comment below. Write a facebook post on the Fabulous Fit Squad. If you have a personal blog, write a blog post. Make sure you link back to the site so we can cheer you on and hold you accountable.

Just joining now” Don’t worry you can catch up.
Day 1 — Intro the challenge
Day 2 — Getting your mind straight 
Day 3 — Goal setting 
Day 4 — What’s on your plate
Day 5 — Lift
Day 6 — Cardio
Day 7 — Living on your own terms
Day 8 — Rest day
Day  9 — Forming a habit
Day 10 — Just Breathe
Day 11 — Fat loss secrets revealed
Day 12 — Can you pinch an inch
Day 13 — Dedicated and Focused 
Day 14 — Doubt
Day 15 — Rewards and Consequences
Day 16 — Damn Hormones
Day 17 — Pre and Post Workout Meals
Day 18 — Successful Weight Loss
Day 19 — Know Before You Go
Day 20 — Courage and Strength
Day 21 — You Can’t Out Run A Bad Diet
Day 22 — 10 Days To Go!
Day 23 To Cleanse Or Not Cleanse

We have 10 days to go to complete the challenge, where are you” Do you need a breather’ Are you keeping up’

Today’s challenge:

• Pull out your goals and see where you stand’ Where are you’ Do you need assistance. I’m offering 15 min laser coaching for the next 10 days shoot me an email with times you are available and we’ll figure out how to get you to where you want to be by the end of this 30 day challenge.

Don’t forget Leave a comment below. Write a facebook post on the Fabulous Fit Squad. If you have a personal blog, write a blog post. Make sure you link back to the site so we can cheer you on and hold you accountable.

Just joining now” Don’t worry you can catch up.
Day 1 — Intro the challenge
Day 2 — Getting your mind straight 
Day 3 — Goal setting 
Day 4 — What’s on your plate
Day 5 — Lift
Day 6 — Cardio
Day 7 — Living on your own terms
Day 8 — Rest day
Day  9 — Forming a habit
Day 10 — Just Breathe
Day 11 — Fat loss secrets revealed
Day 12 — Can you pinch an inch
Day 13 — Dedicated and Focused 
Day 14 — Doubt
Day 15 — Rewards and Consequences
Day 16 — Damn Hormones
Day 17 — Pre and Post Workout Meals
Day 18 — Successful Weight Loss
Day 19 — Know Before You Go
Day 20 — Courage and Strength
Day 21 — You Can’t Out Run A Bad Diet

I was introduced to FlyWheel by my good friend Andi, she is a spin junkie.  So.. when I was heading to NYC for the weekend I was pumped that I got to be able attend a class and I was hooked. I left class a sweaty mess. A day later my legs were like yes, you challenged it. It felt good. A few weeks after my trip I heard rumors that FlyWheel Boston was opening and would be close to my house! I headed to a class and it was just as amazing as it was in NYC. My class was with Jessica. She was a lot of fun. She keep reminding us to not focus on what we were unable to do but to be grateful about being able to take a cycle class at 9:30am on a Wednesday morning.

One of things I like about Fly Wheel Boston is the scoreboard, now it’s not on all the time which is nice as I would become a little fixated and not really focus on my ride or form, but it’s flashed just enough so you see if you are challenging yourself.  They also will send you and email post class to give you your results. I love that so I can see that while I’m not the best cyclist in the world, I’m on my way. This journey is me vs me and not me vs the class. I will admit in the back o f my mind it would be nice to be at the top of the leader board. Hmm..

Now I’m not one of those cycle class junkies. I actually really don’t enjoy biking, but I needed to mix things up. FlyWheel Boston is what gives me just that, I’m able to get out of my fitness rut and push myself out of my comfort zone. The times of the classes are at convenient for me and I also like that you can sign up 1 week in advance. I block out my exercise times 1 week in advance and this is perfect. I treat these classes as an appointment I cannot break and in fact, I can’t if I don’t cancel before 5pm the day before my class I lose $$ now that’s an incentive! I also like the fact that when I register I can register a friend.

I took a second class this week this week with Melinda.  She was just as motivating and Jessica but she had a humorous edge, which I love. It reminds me not to take myself to seriously when working out.  At the end class we were doing a race and she was encouraging us to break out of our comfort zone and said we should be pedaling so fast that we should be scared that we will pee our Lululemons. Now that’s my kind of humor and yes I did pedal faster and no I didn’t wet my lulus =) If I did pee my Lulus I’m lucky there is a Lululemon in the Prudential Center so I could easily replace.

When you get about 30 min into class you pull out 2 different weight bars and we will do a nice upper body strength training session. Now don’t turn your nose up with you are pulling out 2 pounds and 4 pounds. With the number of reps we do and the static holding.. Boy your upper body feels it.

The bikes have torq and RPM so I like that during class you know where you should be. I LOVE that becasue in the past when I took cycle classes I  never really knew where I should be. With that said, the instructor is reminding that this a range and you should listen to your body.

I almost forgot the best part. They give you cycle shoes. I’ve never in my life worn cycle shoes and I’m still struggling to “clip in” and “clip out” but they made a huge difference in the ride. I had never invested in a pair becasue I was a casual cycler, and really didn’t see the point, well.. now I do… I felt I was able to pedal faster and really climb hills much easier than when I just had on sneakers. They also provide you with self locking lockers — so no need to bring a lock with you. FlyWheel  Boston is so smart there is also a board where you can write you name and locker name in case you forget. I’ll admit I haven’t used this, I play guess the locker game, but I’m sure that will soon wear on my patience. =) There are also nice white fluffy absorbent towels and filter water for the ride of your life.

If you are in the Prudential Center give FlyWheel Boston a try, you will not be disappointed.  My goal is to be there every Monday and Wednesday on my favorite bike which is bike 14. Why bike 14, don’t ask I”m not sure why.

This summer I was watching the highlights of the ESPYs for my non sports folks, the ESPYs are like the Ocars for all sports. Every year they have the Arthur Ashe Award and this year Robin Roberts from Good Morning America won the award. I listened to her speech and was so moved I wanted to share it with you.

After watching this speech I’m left with this as a mantra — This to shall pass. I say it whenever I feel I’m facing a big challenge or I’m feeling overwhelmed. I take a deep breath and say This to shall pass. Can you adopt this as your mantra when you feel overwhelmed, what could you say when you are feeling overwhelmed or even a little discouraged.

I strongly believe with belief in yourself and the process, you can preserve.  One of the lines from Robin’s speech that I love is “let faith answer the door”.  Please don’t take this to be religious I think faith in oneself is just as important as faith in a higher power.

I’m also a big believer in theme songs. My theme changes every year and right now I have two that have helped me through some tough spots.

Everybody’s Got Their Something

Titanium

Today’s challenge

1. When things get tough where will you find your strength’ What will be your mantra’ Do you have someone you can reach out to that can give you a pep talk ‘
2. What will be your theme song”

Don’t forget Leave a comment below. Write a facebook post on the Fabulous Fit Squad. If you have a personal blog, write a blog post. Make sure you link back to the site so we can cheer you on and hold you accountable.

Just joining now” Don’t worry you can catch up.
Day 1 — Intro the challenge
Day 2 — Getting your mind straight 
Day 3 — Goal setting 
Day 4 — What’s on your plate
Day 5 — Lift
Day 6 — Cardio
Day 7 — Living on your own terms
Day 8 — Rest day
Day  9 — Forming a habit
Day 10 — Just Breathe
Day 11 — Fat loss secrets revealed
Day 12 — Can you pinch an inch
Day 13 — Dedicated and Focused 
Day 14 — Doubt
Day 15 — Rewards and Consequences
Day 16 — Damn Hormones
Day 17 — Pre and Post Workout Meals
Day 18 — Successful Weight Loss
Day 19 — Know Before You Go

Most of my clients say to me it’s all well and good when I’m home, but how do I manage traveling, vacations or eating out. I promise you can still be social and still maintain a healthy lifestyle.

1. Know before you. Most restaurants have their menus online. Go there and check it out. Most restaurants can accommodate specials requests. I highly recommend you ask nicely — you get more with honey than with vinegar. I always start with “Is it possible….” If it’s not have a plan B.
2. Don’t arrive hungry. Have a small snack before you go.
3. Navigating the menu.
   1. Pass on the bread basket
   2. Look for simple, clean ingredients
   3. Skip the appetizers and have a salad (dressing on the side) or clear soup
   4. If your meal comes with a not so healthy choice — as if you could replace it with a veggie or even extra veggies. Here’s my philosophy as much as it kills my husband when I do it. If I see another veggie paired with a dish I’m not eating I will ask “Is it possible to have .. the asparagus with my dish’
   5. Don’t afraid to ask for details.
   6. Ask if your meal can be cooked without oil and butter
   7. Ask if you could have it grilled , baked or steamed
   8. Have an appetizer as an entree
   9. Sauces on the size

*If this is a treat meal, then you can have a fun appetizer, meal, dessert OR alcohol.

Best choices are different restaurants

Italian Food
Protein — grilled, baked or broiled Any protein works best — meatballs are okay (ask how they are prepped)
Salads — dressing on the side
Pizza is a treat –you  make it a little healthier with whole wheat crust or  by adding a protein topping
Pasta is a treat
Skip the cheeses, Alfredo sauces and the cured meats

Mexican Food
Protein — grilled, baked or broiled
Salsa
Guacamole — watch your portions
Skip the chips, beans and rice  — sorry

Japanese
Sashimi is great or ask that your rolls be made without rice
Skip the fried AKA tempura

Thai
Protein — grilled, baked or broiled
Satay
Non fried rolls
Tom Yum soup

Chinese
Stick with steamed proteins and brown rice
Most Chinese food is cooked with a lot of oil and sodium

Will you be traveling” Clean Food Ideas For Travel

Today’s assignment. 

1. What’s your favorite place to eat out’ Take look at the menu and how can you make one of their dishes healthier.
2. If you are traveling how could you make travel a little easier.

Don’t forget Leave a comment below. Write a facebook post on the Fabulous Fit Squad. If you have a personal blog, write a blog post. Make sure you link back to the site so we can cheer you on and hold you accountable.

Just joining now” Don’t worry you can catch up.
Day 1 — Intro the challenge
Day 2 — Getting your mind straight 
Day 3 — Goal setting 
Day 4 — What’s on your plate
Day 5 — Lift
Day 6 — Cardio
Day 7 — Living on your own terms
Day 8 — Rest day
Day  9 — Forming a habit
Day 10 — Just Breathe
Day 11 — Fat loss secrets revealed
Day 12 — Can you pinch an inch
Day 13 — Dedicated and Focused 
Day 14 — Doubt
Day 15 — Rewards and Consequences
Day 16 — Damn Hormones
Day 17 — Pre and Post Workout Meals Day 18 — Successful Weight Loss