Motivation
Energy and persistence conquer all things.
I’m writing this post as I sit with my family, watching the KC Royals personify this perfect quote by Benjamin Franklin. Although I am a lifetime resident of ‘The Paris of the Plains’ I’m not really a big fan of watching sports on TV but these games have even caught my attention.
What I’ve seen as in these games the past few weeks is, I think, a lesson that we can take away from the series. I see these young men working hard, pushing themselves to the limit, hanging in there even when they encounter difficulty. I can’t imagine the pressure they must be facing – but they’re doing it!
And I feel … Inspired
I find myself considering where I can push a little harder, where I can be a little more persistent. I won’t ever play in a World Series game but I can do my things a little better. I can give a little more. I can win.
What about you?
Motivation
Sometimes we think that there will always be plenty of time.
Time to take that class. Time to take that trip. Time to have lunch with that one special friend.
Sometimes, when we think there’s plenty of time we’re wrong; and we miss out on something wonderful that could have been.
But sometimes …
sometimes we think that our time’s up.
We think, ‘Well, I’m ## years old and I’ve missed the boat. If I wanted to take that class, (or that trip, or get in shape) I really should have started years ago – and now it’s just too late.’
The thing is, that type of thinking is just as much of a mistake.
If you want to do something, if you have a dream – you owe it to yourself to take the chance and the steps to make your dreams happen.
Today is the perfect day to begin.
Fun, Motivation
I ran across this list (below) the other day and it made me laugh. We humans really are strange creatures; sometimes we will resort to absolutely insane levels in order to avoid hard work. We all know that the best way to lose weight is to make better food choices and move more and I would highly doubt that this is new information. Yet many of us would rather resort to stinky breath and starvation just in case THIS is the ‘diet’ that holds the key to the eternal perfect body – seriously people SWALLOWED TAPEWORMS! Check these out…
The Fletcherism diet
The Fletcherism diet is defined as “the practice of eating small amounts and only when hungry,” according to Merriam-Webster.com. It also refers to the act of thoroughly chewing one’s food. The diet was made popular by a San Francisco art dealer, Horace Fletcher, who was known for chewing each mouthful of food 32 times or until is liquefied.
Ok, obviously we should eat small amounts and only when hungry. THAT part I have no problem with; but chewing my food until it’s liquefied – ugh no thanks!
Sleeping Beauty diet
The Sleeping Beauty diet was a method reportedly used by Elvis Presley. People who followed the diet went under heavy sedation so they could sleep off the pounds.
Cabbage soup diet
The cabbage soup diet is just that, eating nothing but cabbage soup for a week straight. The diet boasts fast results, but critics say the soup alone doesn’t have enough nutrients to ensure the body can properly function.
I don’t think I’ve tried this ‘diet’ myself but I’m pretty sure that my mom did back in the 80’s. Tell you what – cabbage smells awful. Next
Hallelujah diet
Bringing it back to the days of the Bible, the Hallelujah diet entails people eating the “garden foods God instructs man to eat,” including mostly raw, plant-based foods, according to WebMD.com.
Frankly, this sounds kind of right on track (unless, like me, you can’t stand the idea of NEVER EATING ANOTHER STEAK AGAIN nope, sorry). I’ve never heard it called the ‘Hallelujah’ diet though around here they call it the ‘Daniel Diet’
Tapeworm diet
Popular in the early 20th century, the tapeworm diet involved its participants ingesting the parasite, which was usually sold in pill-form, in the hopes of losing a lot of weight very quickly.
Sorry, nope, I can’t even address this one – well except for sharing the awesome advertisement (above) for ‘Lard-B-Gone * Now with live tapeworm eggs!*
Vinegar diet
One of the first well-known diet methods was this one, made popular in 1820 by Lord Byron. The diet consists of drinking water mixed with apple cider vinegar.
Now, I know a lot of people swear by apple cider vinegar mixed with water to assist with weight loss so unless this was ALL Lord Byron was ingesting I’d say this one might not be such a bad idea.
Nicotine diet
Also known as the cigarette diet, this one became popular in the middle of the 20th century, when cigarette companies began promoting cigarettes as a tool for weight loss.
Oh, you’ll lose weight all right; illness and death will do that to ya. (if any of my readers are smokers; I know it’s hard but please stop – we love you too much to pretend like it’s not bad for you)
Grapefruit diet
The idea behind the grapefruit diet is that by eating the fruit before every meal it helps a person burn fat and lose weight faster. However, according to WebMD.com, grapefruit doesn’t actually burn fat.
Master cleanse
Created by author Stanley Burroughs and made popular in the 1940s, the master cleanse is where a person doesn’t eat any food and only consumes a liquid mixture of cayenne pepper, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, maple syrup and water.
Okay I admit, I did this one and I DID lose weight – until my daughter brought a friend over the next week and we made cookies together. Then it was a free for all and I gained back MORE. Plus, I slept ALL OF THE TIME while I was starving myself.
Now I want to hear from you. Go to the comments (below or on our Facebook page) and tell us about the crazy diets that you have tried.
Mental Health, Motivation
I love this quote, something about it really draws me – well actually it would be more accurate to say that it sets me free.
I grew up in a very negative home – with very little praise and a lot of criticism. I learned to keep my dreams to myself long before I learned how to drive a car and after being in that kind of environment for long enough I internalized the negativity and made it my own.
I stopped believing in myself, I stopped having dreams. I even stopped trying to make friends.
I created a safe little cell for myself – and I hung out there for years, closed up tight.
Then I met Aaron Wright and, oh my gosh, that man is ANYTHING but tight! I think Aaron may be the most easy going and OUTGOING person I have ever met in my entire life. Being with him inspired me to open up, to blossom – he led by example.
So what does this have to do with exercising? Well for me, one of the things I kept in my safe little cell was food; and of course, there’s not a lot of exercise happening in a teeny tiny cell – right? I have gained quite a bit of weight (and lost … and gained … multiplied by whatever – which has created an bit of a metabolic issue for me).
If I choose to remain in the bud of inactivity and poor nutrition what do I have to look forward to? Well, diabetes and heart disease run in my family, as does depression – all of which can be helped or prevented by getting a little more exercise. I can get used to wearing the less attractive clothing that is available to me; and resign myself to sitting in a chair for longer and longer periods as my health continues to deteriorate; eventually not being able to take care of my home, myself, or my family properly.
But what if I choose to BLOSSOM?
Do you have a garden? Have you ever watched a flower blossom? Flowers bloom over a period of time – it doesn’t happen all at once. they open a little bit each day.
What if I gave myself permission to make small changes, each day that brought me closer and closer to the goals that I have for my life? Changes that made me stronger with time instead of jumping into some program that would make me feel inferior and like I wanted to quit.
What if I started walking a little each day? Then a little more? And a little more?
What if I started getting up from my desk every so often instead of allowing myself to remain ‘in the zone’ for many hours at a time? Then, what if, during those breaks I started doing a little stretching or a few sit-ups.
I’ll tell you what. Improvement happens when you start doing some little things each day to get stronger in an area. Confidence happens.
Blossoming happens.
And it’s wonderful.
Motivation
Seth Godin is one of my all time favorite bloggers, he’s concise and powerful with every word. The “Make two list” post on October 10 was just what I needed to hear this morning as I was wallowing and focusing on the obstacles I have today. Instead I’m going to count my highlights list and make my minutes matter today. Below is the post in its entirety.
‘One list highlights the lucky breaks, the advantages, the good feedback, your trusted network. It talks about the accident of being born in the right time and the right place, your health, your freedom. It features your education, your connection to the marketplace and just about every nice thing someone has said about you in the last week or month.
The other list is the flipside. It contains the obstacles you’ve got to deal with regularly, the defects in your family situation, the criticisms your work has received lately. It is a list of people who have better luck than you and moments you’ve been shafted and misunderstood.
The thing is, at every juncture, during every crisis, in every moment of doubt, you have a choice. You will pull out one (virtual) list or the other. You’ll read and reread it, and rely on it to decide how to proceed.
Up to you.’ – Seth Godin
What list are you choosing today?
Motivation, Quality of Life
Strive for progress, not perfection.
-Unknown
I’ve had a lot to say this week about making sure that you’re doing some (really, any) exercise instead of getting caught up in the attempt to follow a perfect regimen. In some ways I’ve been sharing what I needed to hear most.
I’m an absolute perfectionist and that often leaves me stuck, waiting until I can do something ‘the right way’. Aaron isn’t the only one on the team who was frustrated with the amount of time it took to fit exercise into an already packed day (or the added weight that results from being more sedentary). I would agonize over my schedule, trying to figure out how to make it ‘work’ – everything, not just exercise but I never could really figure it out. I even resisted adapting Minute Movement for myself because I enjoy and wanted a ‘proper’ workout schedule even though Minute Movement was obviously working for Aaron and science backed it up! The thing is, I really DO love hitting the gym and lifting weights with loud music blaring in the background or going for a ‘run’ (I just wish I did more actual running on my runs) but it wasn’t happening. I was too busy and my lack of exercise was contributing to increased weight and stress – which was then (of course) making those ‘proper workouts’ even more of a challenge.
During the past year though, Aaron and I have been working together constantly to bring Minute Movement to you. During that time I’ve had ‘Coach Wright’ around to offer constant encouragement and a great example – and I’m becoming a disciple. Sometimes I do things a little differently than the program suggests and some days I still head to the gym, go for a ‘run’, or do yoga but I am officially a Minute Mover.
I’m feeling better, my energy is higher and today I’m wearing jeans that haven’t fit for two years. Minute Movement is giving me MY life back – even in the middle of the absolute stress of launching a business.
I’m finding myself relaxing that perfectionism in other areas of my life too and I’m finally learning how to relax and enjoy life.
