by callkayla | Dec 30, 2011 | Blog
A new year is a clean slate; an opportunity to start fresh and to turn over a new leaf. But as 
attractive as this sounds, the fact is that most New Year’s resolutions are most often dropped by the end of January. While it might seem like a good idea to set a new goal for yourself in the coming year, there are some basic reasons behind why New Year’s resolutions don’t work. If you want to create real change in your life, then it’s important to understand why many never follow through with their proclamations.
One of the reasons why New Year’s resolutions don’t work is that they’re often based on things that you think you’re supposed to do, and not necessarily on things that you want to do. You think you should exercise more, you think you should lose weight, you think you should stop smoking, you think you should start keeping a journal. These are all good things, but if you don’t really want to do them, then there’s nothing there to motivate you to keep it up. These types of resolutions can stress you out. It’s important to be authentically passionate about your self vision, in order to achieve it.
Another reason why New Year’s resolutions don’t work is that people often take on too much when writing out their list. They write a novel-length list that basically says, “I want to change the entirety of who I am in one year.” This is a recipe for disaster; no one can keep that many resolutions. And it can also serve as a reminder of all the things you don’t like about yourself, which is more likely to send you running for the ice cream in your freezer than it is to send you running to the gym.
There are many reasons why New Year’s resolutions don’t work, but here’s an effective way to affect genuine change in your life. Pick one area of your life in which you’d like to improve, and focus on making a little progress at a time in that area. By taking things step by step, you’re far more likely to follow through and take things day by day. And who says that you have to wait for the New Year? The rest of your life is starting now; you don’t have to wait a month in order to get your rump in gear.
by callkayla | Dec 24, 2011 | Blog
The holiday season brings happiness, joy and most importantly a lot of eating and shopping. And if you are a person who regularly works out, then this time of year surely disturbs your whole fitness routine. With all the parties, traveling and shopping, these interruptions make it difficult to maintain your work out and diet plan. The only thing that could be done to counter not working out is to burn calories within the time you have. Below, I’ll tell you a few easy ways to burn calories and at the same time enjoy your holiday season.
- Workout with family:Tis’ the season for family. So try to make best use of it and turn this opportunity into a workout session. Like during vacation, take your kids and partners for a walk in the neighborhood to see all the lights and decorations. It will give you and your family a chance to spend time amusing your aesthetic sense AND you will be burning calories.
- Workout at home:Finding time to leave home for the gym can seem impossible at this time of year. Take charge of your domain by utilizing your surroundings both inside and outside of the home. Run up and down the stairs, perform household chores that involve walking, or in warmer climates take the lawn mower and trim your lawn. All these activities will keep you involved in the preparation for the holiday and at the same time burn calories.
- Mall tour:While shopping, don’t just go directly to the outlets you usually buy from. Instead take a detour and window shop the entire mall, before reaching your desired outlet. It will burn calories in the form of a long walk and additionally you might discover an excellent sale.
- Winter Sports:Participate in winter sports. This is the reason they were invented. If you don’t know how to ski or ice skate, it could be quite fun learning. It will add to your social life — plus burn calories, strengthen your knees and improve your reflexes.
- Park further away:Don’t park your car at the closest possible space available in the lot. Instead park it in some far corner, which will give you a chance to take a walk. If you are in a hurry, you can still park it at a distance and walk briskly or jog, instead of meandering towards your objective. The faster you walk the more calories you burn.
All in all, the point is, don’t use the holidays as a lame excuse to skip your workout. Instead, try to utilize the holidays in a way that they both bring you pleasure and satisfy your workout routine.
by callkayla | Oct 22, 2011 | Blog
Ever seen someone go through a crisis in their life? Whether it was from the death of a loved one, lovesick from a breakup or someone returning from jail, the worries and woes that plague your mind and cause stress in your life can cause premature aging, disease and even death. In order to perform and survive the normal activities in today’s world it is necessary to go to another level and find a vessel where you can find inner peace and tranquility of mind. One of the best ways to achieve this today is through meditation. Although it’s been around for ages, more and more people are catching on and realizing its powerful benefits.
Stress Reduction
If you meditate for 10 to 15 minutes a day in a quiet environment it will lower your blood pressure, relax restricted veins and bring you a peace of mind that you never knew before. As a result you will become a better decision maker.
Control
Man has stepped on the moon, conquered Mount Everest and gone deep into the core of the earth, but what man has not been able to do is to control his own mind. The mind is key to everything. If controlled rightly it gives birth to positive thoughts and if let loose it produces negative thoughts. Meditation promotes a positive thought process and helps to control your mind over what really matters.
Patience and Perspective
Some things in life irritate us on a regular basis and make us desperate. It happens to all of us. You get annoyed when you have to stand in line, or you have little patience behind the wheel of your car at the signal. Meditation allows you to see a different perspective and creates a balance within you.
Clarity and Concentration
You cannot achieve success in life without concentration. Until you have your mind and heart focused on where you’re headed, you cannot perform at your optimum level. Meditation gives you clarity and concentration to see things through.
It is quite difficult to explain the power of meditation, because it involves a certain level of consciousness, which can’t be put in the form of words. The above-mentioned benefits of meditation are real. Nevertheless, the key factor that predicts the outcome of meditation is perseverance. The more consistent you are in your meditation, the more you will achieve inner peace and control which will help you discover new horizons.
by callkayla | Oct 17, 2011 | Blog
Remember to give your body time to kick in and get used to the new habits you’ve learned. You don’t have to do them all. Just choose the one that works best for you and your life style. Most of all don’t destroy your body by starving, overeating or giving up on food that helps you stay fit and healthy.
Eating the right components: During the day it’s important to eat the right combination of foods with each meal to ward off hunger before bedtime. Try to have a protein, carbohydrate and a good fat with each meal. Studies have shown that making protein and fiber a regular part of your diet helps you in keeping the hunger at bay.
Chew Gum: Chewing gum can help you suppress your craving for late night eating. It distracts you so you don’t feel bored. Its low in calories, gives you something to do with your mouth and it satisfies your need for snacking. How cool is that! .
Go to Sleep: Either find some work you could be doing or when all else fails drink some water and go to sleep. That way you don’t have to think about the fact that you may be hungry.
by callkayla | Oct 13, 2011 | Blog
Since late night eating is such a tough habit to conquer and has such devastating effects I thought more alternatives were in order. Don’t try to overdo anything just keep it simple and remember that the ultimate goal is to avoid and resist the tempting habit of late night munchies. Practice makes perfect!
Alternatives: If you still can’t resist the cravings, then wean yourself slowly by replacing snacking or unhealthy foods with some low cal foods. You can sip on a cup of low calorie, no caffeine herbal tea that will sooth your stomach, eat a small salad or maybe a piece of fruit. But junk food is strictly a no go!
Importance of Breakfast: Most people don’t realize the importance of breakfast and
therefore tend to skip it regularly. Research has proven that people who skip breakfast are more prone to eating high calorie foods at night as compared to those who eat breakfast.
by callkayla | Oct 11, 2011 | Blog
Do you feel the urge to reach for things in the refrigerator when it gets dark? Even though you’ve had a fulfilling dinner but still you can’t resist the temptation of eating late at night. It’s one of the worst dilemmas which diet conscious individuals face. Eating late at night is generally not due to hunger, but instead it could be due to things like boredom, fatigue or stress after a long day at work. Breaking this habit is tough enough but there are some things you can do that will help you rid yourself of late night eating forever.
Distract yourself: Usually late night eating is between your dinner and bed time. It’s really important during this time that you participate in what I call distracting activities.
Do some activity, take your dog for a walk, read a good book or rest in a hot tub. Whatever you do just don’t sit idle or in front of the TV. Because sitting and doing nothing will trigger your urge for eating.
Eat Regular Meals: Most dieters eat three meals a day and try to resist the temptation of snacking between meals or after dinner. To keep your body working properly and remain satisfied eat three nutritiously balanced meals and two small snacks. In general people starve themselves by skipping meals because they got busy during the day or just got caught up for one reason or another. Then they compensate for it by indulging in late night eating. The important thing to remember is never to eat three hours before your bedtime.
by callkayla | Jul 18, 2011 | Fitness Tips
The health club you choose can either be a major deterrent or motivate you to keep coming back and stay for longer periods of time. So be careful when making your selection.
A major factor to start with is first being realistic with yourself. Know what you are looking for in the first place. Some gyms cater more to athletes and body builders. Some cater to women only. In other gyms more socializing is going on than anything else, but that could be good if you’re looking to meet new friends. If you have a busy lifestyle or the type of work you do has non traditional hours, you may need to have access twenty-four hours a day to work in your exercise routine. Location also plays a major role in your drive to exercise. You simply will not be consistent if where you want to exercise is not convenient.
Once you find the right health club for your initial needs. Be sure to choose a club based on your personal needs too. Do your homework before you join to make sure it’s a good fit. Ask yourself some of the following questions to help you make that final decision.
- Is staff supportive and customer friendly?
- Are new or certain types of equipment important to you?
- Are group exercises important? If so what kind?
- Is the gym clean and/or do they have enough staff cleaning often enough?
- Is the equipment well maintained or off putting to you because of too many “out of order” signs?
- Do they have an open policy for welcoming comments and suggestions?
- Are they on the cutting edge or do they offer the same classes all the time?
- Is the atmosphere fun, eclectic and fresh enough to keep you motivated?
The best solution is to find a place that works for you and that includes the health club atmosphere or any other place that suits your fancy. It may take time to get the right fit, but it is well worth the effort.
by callkayla | Apr 30, 2010 | Diet/Healthy Eating
Weight loss is a major topic of concern these days. Many people are overweight in our society today. The average American lives a very sedentary life style. There is also an overabundance of processed foods and fast foods that make it easy for most people to gain weight. A large amount of people suffer from low self esteem due to a poor body image. The desire to fit in and look thin can cause people to drastically and quickly lose weight and then gain it back. This is very unhealthy. Stop the madness before it causes problems.
Gaining weight is a process that happens over a gradual amount of time. As excess food is eaten, the body begins to store it as fat. Unhealthy food choices and lack of exercise cause weight gain. This process cannot be reversed overnight. The body needs time to gradually remove the excess fat. Many people want to make drastic changes to quickly remove fat. This can lead to starvation and excessive exercise. People will impose very strict dieting regimens on themselves to lose weight. They are then unable to maintain this unnatural sort of diet and eventually succumb to temptation and gain the weight back again. That why diets don’t work.
Dieting is very unhealthy for the body and the emotions, especially when it involves drastic swings. This behavior sets up a repeated pattern of failure. This can cause depression and a sense of despair. This type of dieting is sure to fail. There are always new fad diets being advertised that promise quick weight loss. Even though some initial weight may be lost, the body will always win the fight for survival and you will need to eat again. Don’t diet just eat a healthy, balanced and portion controlled meal. It’s the best way to make sure that your body stays in balance and your emotions remain calm.
The best approach to weight loss is the approach that utilizes sound nutrition and exercise. A reasonable approach seeks to lose a steady amount of weight over a gradual amount of time. In this way the body is able to maintain health and slowly use its stored fuel without feeling like it is being starved. Yo-yo dieting can become an addiction that leads to an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. Be kind to your body, be patient and build muscle. Slow steady progress is the best way to permanent weight loss and health.
by callkayla | Mar 25, 2010 | Diet/Healthy Eating, Fitness Tips
The vast majority of us that need to lose a little bit of weight would like to be able to lose it quickly. There are some dangers of fast weight loss, however, that need to be addressed whenever we decide to drop the pounds in this way. The unfortunate thing is, the temptation still exists and it is often prompted even further by those that are selling us the weight-loss products. Here are some of the dangers and why you should avoid losing weight quickly.
- First of all, fast weight loss often results in a rebound of weight gain. This is because we are not teaching ourselves healthy eating habits whenever we are losing weight quickly, and we are perhaps putting ourselves on a regime that is unsustainable.
- Fast weight loss also tends to take its toll on other parts of the body as well, such as the hair, skin and many of the internal organs. This could lead to further difficulties after the weight-loss has subsided.
- One of the other dangers of fast weight loss is that if you are losing a lot of weight, your skin may not be able to keep up with the weight-loss. This is often one of the biggest cosmetic issues with individuals who lose weight, and in many cases it is avoidable.
- Losing more than two pounds a week is generally not recommended and can be hazardous to your health unless you are under the direct guidance of a doctor.
- When you lose weight fast don’t be duped in thinking its all body fat. On the contrary, you are losing precious muscle and other bodily fluids. And trust me you do not want to lose muscle. It is what gobbles up the fat and keeps you going among other things. TV shows like “Big Loser” give many a false sense of reality.
Although it does take a bit more patience, you can avoid the dangers of fast weight loss by eating a healthy diet which maintains a calorie deficit and getting a reasonable amount of exercise. Although it may not be as exciting as losing weight quickly, it is something that can stick with you for the rest of your life.
by callkayla | Mar 9, 2010 | Diet/Healthy Eating, Fitness Tips
Is smaller better? Do you know what your body type is? Are you pear shaped, apple, watermelon or maybe you are closer to the Na’ Vi Body like the one in the movie Avatar? They are a lot like human bodies right? Similarly, they have two arms and legs, two ears, two eyes, one nose and one mouth, but they are a bit more slender in comparison to the human bodies, although they still are similar in their proportions. That, however, is where the obvious differences seem to end.
I thought it was interesting to note that the Na’vi anatomy includes a small tendril that protrudes from the back of the head and is covered by a ponytail. This tendril allows them to connect to the environment around them. Other differences between Na’vi bodies and human bodies include the color of their skin and the fact that the Na’vi are several feet taller than the average human which gives them an advantage, as far as their strength and speed is concerned.
That being said here’s my question and root observation. How fit are you? Some make this judgment on eyesight alone. The assumption is that if you are skinny or a person of average build you are healthy and fit and if you are fat or a person of larger frame size you are sick and unhealthy. Let me just say, it ain’t necessarily so Joe! Furthermore no matter what shape or body type you are or even if you have tendrils flowing from the back of your neck and blue in color like the Na’vi, it is not a measure of your health or fitness level. Far too often I have met with people who are of average size but unfit and unhealthy.
Here’s what matters. Health! Focus on health and functional fitness first, not how you look and everything else will fall into place. AMEN!
by callkayla | Feb 26, 2010 | Diet/Healthy Eating, Fitness Tips
What generally happens to our physical fitness program when we travel? It all goes down hill right? Well it doesn’t have to be that way. All it takes is planning and a clear mind set of what you want to achieve. So often people tell me when they go on vacation or away on a business trip, they not only didn’t workout, but they over ate on all the wrong foods.
Here are some rules of thumb to live by when traveling:
#1 Rule – Don’t stay anywhere that doesn’t have a gym. These days that is pretty hard not to find.
#2 Rule – Plan your workout time just like you plan your meal times and pencil it into your day planner the same as you would if you were planning a business lunch.
#3 Rule – Reprioritize and rearrange your mindset on where exercise ranks in your life. Be sure to put it at the top. It must be recognized as a necessary and automatic function – Just like waking up in the morning and brushing your teeth or looking for breakfast.
#4 Rule – If you are short on time do body weight exercises and/or whip out that exercise tube I so often talk about and get busy.
#5 Rule – Make smart dining choices. Just because you are away from home there is still no excuse for eating bad. Many places today have a small selection of healthy menus. If they don’t, you have to mix, match and just ask for what you want. I do it all the time and 95% of the time I get my way.
Traveling is stressful and exercise is the antidote – No doubt! How are you handling the stress when traveling? Are you creative or just playing it by ear?
by callkayla | Feb 24, 2010 | Fitness Tips
Including health and fitness in your life and relationship has many benefits. To start with you must focus on self. If you have your life in order, everything else will fall into place. If you are healthy, you will feel good, look good and have lots of energy. All of that positive energy helps you to reach out to your partner and be more supportive to the people around you. It allows you to focus on the good things about your relationship that can help it to flourish.
Many times people with unfit and unhealthy bodies tend to have depressed attitudes. That radiates into negative energy. Disease, pain and a general loss of well being due to the body’s physiological changes can be the culprit.
A healthy body creates a clear mind. A clear mind helps you make wise decisions and with wise decisions you will make smarter choices. The increased energy you get from your workouts as well as healthy eating gives you a sustainable drive to reach your true potential. Also, as an added bonus it increases your sex drive. (For more tips see my website at www.wendyida.com)
