Getting My Body Back Friday - Feeling Bored or Unmotivated with your Exercise Routine?

If you're feeling bored or unmotivated with your exercise routine, here's an article I wrote over a year ago when I was experiencing the same thing. Hope it gives you some ideas to create your own motivation and get over the boredom hurdle.

Check it out!

Getting to your Ideal Goal with the Spirit

Getting my body back Friday - Take a deep breath or two!

How does deep breathing help you maximize your workout?

Are you deep breathing when you exercise? What are the benefits of deep breathing?

Deep breathing relaxes the body and removes the resistance to receiving oxygen to the body cells. Now, I'm not talking about the shallow chest breathing habit that we've gotten used to. What I'm talking about is breathing where the breath goes down deep into the abdomen and the abdomen and ribcage expand and contract.

When you're deep breathing, oxygen goes to the muscles allowing you to be able to do more reps especially when you're weight lifting.

When I'm jogging I find that I need more oxygen intake than when I'm walking. I find myself feeling out of breath faster even though I'm breathing in through my nose. So, to solve this problem, I take alternate breaths; two deep breaths in through the nose and let it out, then deep breaths through the mouth and let it out.

Make sure you're feeling this in your stomach as you breathe out. Since I started doing that, I found that I have more energy; I could jog faster and longer. That's amazing for me. I actually have to make myself stop cause I feel so energized.

Another thing, I try to keep a rhythm when I'm jogging - deep breathe in, deep breath out, deep breath in, deep breath out. You got the idea, plus it adds some fun to it and keeps you focused.

Today I challenged myself for one more round but felt at the time that I didn't have the energy to make it. Instead of giving in to my body, I went deep within, took some deep breaths and got the energy I needed to finish the last lap.

What about you? Do you deep breathe when you're exercising? How is it working for you?

Design your life - Part 4 - Gather your materials

Getting my body back - Day 115

When a designer has completed the pattern, he or she purchases the fabric that's suitable for the dress style. The designer also gathers all the other raw materials, such as thread, zipper and buttons etc., that are necessary to complete the dress.

Once you've put your plan together to achieving your goal, you have a clear picture of the direction in which you're going. Now, you can begin to gather your materials necessary to implement each aspect of your plan. Some materials you may already have on hand, some you may need to purchase. Having all your materials all together when you need them saves you time and frustration when you're ready to use them.

When I put together my plan for my exercise routine, I made sure I had suitable running shoes for walking. I also knew what route I'm taking for the walk. For my endurance exercise I use the stairs as my step workout and I have several weight sizes for my weight lifting. Other equipment could also include an exercise ball, skipping ropes or if you have a gym membership all the equipment is already provided for you.

When you are gathering your materials, depending on what your goals are, someone else may already have all the equipment needed for you to execute your plan, or you may have to gather them yourself. You decide what will be the best choice for achieving your goals. The important point is that you choose, and then, put your plan into action.

Action steps:

1) Make a list of all the materials or equipment you need
2) Decide if someone else has all the equipment you need and pay them a fee for usage
3) Decide if you'd rather gather the equipment yourself
4) Find a central area to set up your equipment
5) Get ready to put your plan into action

Fuelling words: I gather all the equipment I need to carry out my action plan, adding and changing as the need arises.

Workout: walking, endurance exercises, weight lifting

Decluttering your life - Part 2 - Exercise & Food

Getting my body back - Day 108

In the process of decluttering your life, there are three levels which you could follow for this undertaking.

1) Start small or start slowly

Instead of undertaking a very ambitious approach which could lead you to feelings of overwhelm or discouragement, start with something that you know you will stick with and when you've completed it you'll feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.

When I first began exercising I started with what I was comfortable doing, knowing that I could stick with it. I did stretches only just to get my body loosened until I felt the need to go to the next level.

The same it is with food. Start with small changes in your diet - changes that you know you could stick with. For example, eating less of your favourite ice cream or having it on the weekend only. That way you don't feel the effects of deprivation and lessen the temptation to go right back to your old eating habits.

2) Take it up a notch - mid range

If you feel that starting small or going slowly is not for you, then feel free to do a bit more. The key is to do what you can without going into overwhelm and discouragement.

After I got used to the stretches I was ready to take it up a notch - adding some aerobics and weight training in addition to incorporating exercises into my daily activities.

The same adjustment can be made with eating habits, as well, making more of a conscious decision and effort to make healthier food choices, adding more salads and fruit into the daily diet.

3) Going all out

When you've had enough and you just can't take it anymore, you're then at the point where you know you are willing to go all out. What we've done with our home is going all out to make a complete overhaul and taking drastic measures to achieve our goal.

It is the same approach I took with my exercise routine. Even though I had some results, I felt that my results could have been better. So, I decided that it's time to take drastic measures. For some this may have been small steps, but this is the level I'm at and for me that means brisk walking, endurance training, weight lifting, gardening and incorporating exercise in my daily routine. My first week of my drastic move? Yes, I began seeing results in my ideal weight goal. I set my intention to gaining weekly results and it's showing.

I also took it up a notch in the food department - adding more salad and fruit and cutting back on my portions of other foods, such as rice, pasta etc.

I take one day off to rest just to let my body rejuvenate itself, especially from the weight training. The extreme end for me would be to go completely vegetarian which is something I've considered but I'm not ready to completely give up on meat just yet. So I've decided on a working compromise - eliminating one day of meat to start. In this category, I'll say I'm back to #1 - start small or slowly.

It's all about where you are and what you're willing to do to get the results you desire to declutter any area of your life. But regardless of your level, you'll only make progress when you begin.

Fuelling words: I do what I can do with all the willingness that I'm willing to do to get to where I need to be.

Workout - walking, endurance exercise, weight lifting

Measuring results and getting drastic

Getting my body back - Day 100

When President Obama reached his first 100 days in office his progress as president was evaluated at the 100 day mark.

It's now my turn. At the 100 day mark on my journey to reaching my ideal weight goal, I'm assessing my progress on a scale of 1 to 10. I give myself a 5. Many great lessons were learned over the period, but it's time I take this up a notch.

In the eating department, I'm measuring my results and getting drastic here - increasing my salads (low carb foods) and cutting back on portions of other foods, like rice and pasta. On the exercises, I'm also measuring my results and getting drastic here, as well.

So, in addition to my gardening and around the house duties, I've included brisk walking - not just a stroll, but an upbeat, getting my heart rate up deep breathing type of walking. I've also included my weight lifting after my brisk walk for toning and strength.

Even though I've shed a few noticeable pounds, it's time for some intensity and I'm seeing more results even now - that's 4 days now since I've started my intensity program. When you're at the point that you're not satisfied with what you're getting, the next step is to measure your results and get drastic. There's a determination that wells up inside of you when you've had enough.

When you've set out to achieve your goals, measuring results is essential, but setting parameters for achieving this goal aids the progress along.

Fuelling words: I know where I am and where I'm going. I evaluate my strategy to establish a better aim at my target.

Workout: gardening, incorporating exercise in my daily routine, walking, weight lifting.

Living your fullest potential

Getting my body back - Day 82

When you live to your fullest potential, you give opportunity to others to live to their fullest potential, as well. The opposite is also true; when you deny your purpose and settle to live the way others say that you should, you deny others their expression of their fullest capabilities and the attainment of their highest potential.

Humanity was designed to live as a whole; in oneness with God and with each other. However, when we see ourselves as separate and independent of each other and neglect to consider the effects of our actions, we all feel the effects of it whether we are conscious of it or not.

Your body, even though it has separate parts, functions together independently yet as a whole; the legs for walking acts independently from the hands but yet still working together to take the hands and the rest of the body where ever it needs to go.

If your right foot is deficient in any way and is not fulfilling its full capabilities it affects the rest of the body. You may find ways to compensate for this deficiency by improvising as much as possible, i.e. use a crotch. But even though this crotch assists you in walking, it does not perform in the same capacity as your right foot.

In the same way, when you do not live your life in a way that's fulfilling your purpose you were sent to earth to fill, this deficiency of full expression of your talent affects the rest of the body of humanity.

Others may not see the importance of what you have to contribute at the time but it is not for them to decide, they were not given your mission. Your purpose and mission are written deep in your heart and only you can feel the feelings of that which you enjoy doing and long to accomplish.

Fuelling words: I live each day fulfilling my purpose using my body as full expression of my divine mission.

Incorporating exercise in my daily routine

Getting to your ideal goal with the Spirit

Getting my body back - Day 75

Father's week was great and now it's time to get back to manifesting my ideal weight.

With the nice weather here, I've found it boring doing my regular exercise routine. I began paying attention to what I was truly feeling inside and discussing with God how I felt. I know I desire to get to my ideal weight goal, but I felt that I needed to incorporate my exercises into my regular schedule; something that was naturally worked into my schedule and that I enjoyed doing.

After that inner connection, I went about my daily activities, one of which included working out in our huge garden. I tell you; the work that I do out in the garden doesn't feel like work but leans more on the fun side.

After my garden workout I felt aches in places and muscles I forgot I had. Even in my regular exercise routine, I don't think I've really worked out these muscles. Talk about a full body workout naturally and effortlessly. I say 'effortlessly' because as I said before, even though I was working, I was having fun, even with the aches. I'm seeing more results now than when I was only doing my workout routine.

Now, that works for me. Do you find yourself engaging in boring routines perhaps necessary to achieve your goals? There's never just one way to arriving at your desired results. If you allow yourself to be open to the Spirit you never know what inspired ideas you may be led into or think of. And as a matter of fact, the results of those ideas may be a short cut to achieving the same goal with more fun, less effort and less time.

The Omniscient Mind knows every path and every possible combination of ideas to get you to the results that you've been working on for many years now.

Stop and make connection to the inner Spirit, communicate your desired end results and look for and expect to receive the answer to the path you should take to getting to your ideal goal with the Spirit.

Fuelling words: I communicate consistently with the Spirit and discover new inspired ideas to the path I should take to achieve my desired results.

Garden exercise - full body workout.

Mental Exercises - Part 4

Getting my body back - Day 67

Because thought is the life blood of the creative process, it is essential to be alert and be consciously aware of what thoughts are entering your mind.

Your thoughts should line up in accordance with what you wish to accomplish in your life or put another way, your thoughts should line up with what you wish to manifest in your outer world. Whatever thought comes to your mind, if you accept it, is saying to the universe, "I approve and this is what I want evidenced in my outer life."

When you come to the realization that there's a direct link between what your thought energy produces and your outward experiences, you'll develop a keen sensitivity to your thought patterns. You'd do well to consciously monitor these thoughts and address those thoughts that do not fall in line with what you desire to experience.

Observing your own thought patterns and behaviours brings you to a place of knowing certain thought triggers. For example, when I become overwhelmed, if I don't check myself, I find that feelings of depression step in bringing along with it negative thoughts. I've learned to immediately check myself and focus my thoughts on the things that I desire to be evidenced in my outer world.

Mastering mental discipline changes your perspective on life and as a result brings you to a place where you reap the benefits of those life-producing thoughts. Decide and determine today to be a master of your thoughts and change your world inside out.

Fuelling words: I am the master and gate keeper of my thoughts.

Walking is a great way to get out and enjoy the fresh air while getting my body into ship shape.

Mental Exercises - Part 2

Getting my body back - Day 65

How does one exercise the mind?

When you make a decision to attain an ideal weight, you get a clear mental picture of what you'd like to look like at that weight. Therefore, the first step to mental exercise is by getting very clear on what it is you desire to have or achieve.

Be specific as possible in deciding your final result. As discussed in Part 1, confusion sends mixed messages. When you are clear on what it is you desire to accomplish, you're sending clear mental images to your brain. Your brain sees in pictures not words. In addition, you're sending a clear specific thought energy to the universe which pools this thought energy bringing the desired result into form.

Once you're clear on what you desire, you are now able to constantly play this image over and over in your mind, your imagination, your visualization. You have a clear path to achieving your goal. This clarification is very important as it is the first step to prayer, the first step to decision making and all else builds from there.

The first discipline to mental exercises is concise and precise decision making. If you are unclear, you need to stop and open honest dialogue with yourself - "What is it do I really desire to achieve in _______?" Fill in the blanks. Once you can see the end results in your mind's eye, you can move forward.

Fuelling words: I remain very clear on the mental image of my ideal weight and see myself at this ideal weight.

Now that the good weather is here, incorporate exercise into your daily routine even as you go outside and are working around the house.

Experience the essence of life - Part 4

Getting my body back - Day 63

Breathe in life, exhale stress and tension. Feel the air as the freshness travels through your nostrils filling your lungs and relaxing your entire body.

Breathing deeply gets your bodily functions pumping and releases toxins from your body promoting fat-burning.

Shallow breathing cheats you of the benefits you get from deep breathing and is the result of bad breathing habits and busy schedules.

When you slow down or stop and focus on deep breathing, you're allowing yourself to reconnect with nature, with God.

As you breathe in, visualize inhaling new life, greater strength and positive energy. Exhale and release heaviness, depression and negative feelings.

Deep breathing helps to clear your mind and allows you to focus your attention on whatever it is you're working on.

Fuelling words: With every exercise move I make I take a deep breath allowing oxygen to flow to my muscles.

Now that the good weather is here, incorporate exercise into your daily routine even as you go outside and are working around the house.

Learn something new

Getting my body back - Day 39

When working towards your goal, being open to new ideas is essential for progress achievement. Reading information in the area you're working on gives you new and perhaps time-saving ways of accomplishing your goal. Use knowledge from others to jump start your own progress.

Even though I pretty much know what I should do to achieve my ideal weight, such as monitoring my eating habits and workout routine, I still find that there's so much more information available for me to try different ways to get the best out of my workout routine.

I read an article yesterday about a research that was done. Two groups of people were chosen to test the amount of time they spent doing their workout. One group spent an hour each day, while the other spread their workout throughout the day in 10 minute segments. The second group that spread out their workout actually showed betters results than the group that just exercised for the one hour.

Because of my schedule, I find it easier to just do the one hour and then I could focus on other things. Today I did things a little different. I decided to do my regular one hour workout, then I went out to the garden to get some gardening done, using the opportunity to workout other muscles that need special movement to get them going.

Other people's experience and advice could enhance your life and save you years of mistake. Make it a part of your daily routine to learn at least one thing new each day.

Fuelling words: I learn something new today, so I could be a better person tomorrow.

Routine: Warm-ups, stretches, aerobics, toning and strength exercises, cool down.

Visualization - keeping focus on my goal; healthy, strong and my ideal body weight and shape.

Deep breathing - relaxes the muscles and sends oxygen to the muscles where exercising alone would not reach.

Evaluating your progress - Part 4

Getting my body back - Day 37

Putting together a progress report

When putting together a progress report, decide what area or areas you want to track. There may be several areas you want to track but you don't want to become overwhelmed. Focusing on one area at a time allows you to zoom in to get the best results. When you see progress in this area, you'll be encouraged to focus on another.

1) Start by creating a chart. Choose the area you're working on i.e. ideal weight

2) What you want to track, i.e. workout routine, break it down into aerobics, strength training, nutrition etc.

3) Record your progress in each column

4) Date of your evaluation; whether it's daily, weekly or monthly

How often should you track your progress?

Depending on what you're working on, you may need to track and evaluate daily, others weekly or monthly. Or you can use a combination of these.

Start with what you feel is best or what works for you and then make adjustments from there. Or you can choose different areas within your goal to track daily and others weekly or monthly.

For my ideal weight goal, tracking my daily eating habits is a good way to stay on top of things. At the end of the day, I look back on what I've had to eat that day. For my workout routine, I evaluate weekly to see if I need to add more repetitions or change it. For weight reduction, I assess this monthly.

Fuelling words: I track my progress regularly to keep me focused on my goal.

Routine: Warm-ups, stretches, aerobics, toning and strength exercises, cool down.

Visualization - keeping focus on my goal; healthy, strong and my ideal body weight and shape.

Deep breathing - relaxes the muscles and sends oxygen to the muscles where exercising alone would not reach.

Evaluating your progress - Part 3

Getting my body back - Day 36

What is a progress report?

Remember when you were in school and you got a report card to take home to your parents? Perhaps you dreaded taking it home because you knew you really hadn't done your studies to warrant a good grade. If you did study, you'd be happy because you knew that you worked hard, understood the concepts taught and you expected good grades.

Your report card shows your progress during the school year in the same way a progress report tracks your progress at work, business or any project you're working on.

A progress report is a gauge to measuring how close you are to your goal.

Why do you need a progress report?

1) It keeps you focused on where you're going

2) It gets you back on track if you've gone off track

3) It shows where you're lacking and need to zoom in on a particular area

4) It tells you what's not working and what is

5) It helps you make decisions as to if you should continue with a segment of your goal or not or make adjustments or eliminate it altogether.

6) It tells you how far you've come

7) It shows you how far you have to go

A progress report can work for any aspect of your life; whether you're trying to get to your ideal body weight, running a business or be the best parent you could be. The method is transferable to all areas of your life.

Fuelling words: I'll track my progress to ensure that I stay focused and achieve my goal.

Routine: Warm-ups, stretches, aerobics, toning and strength exercises, cool down.

Visualization - keeping focus on my goal; healthy, strong and my ideal body weight and shape.

Deep breathing - relaxes the muscles and sends oxygen to the muscles where exercising alone would not reach.

Evaluating your progress - Part 2

Getting my body back - Day 35

Plan ahead

With all the other responsibilities you have to pay attention to, life could become a bit hectic at times. When your schedule is packed, you may tend to neglect some of the essential steps required to gain the results you're looking for.

Last week, I've been busy working, and found myself munching here and there on cookies. Now, I know myself, once I start, a little at a time, if I don't put myself in check, a little at a time could turn into a lot at a time. Recognizing your weakness is the first step to creating change.

What do I do, then?

Instead of waiting for when I'm hungry to prepare something to eat, I've set up some new strategies to follow:

1) Make sure I've made a salad early in the day so I could just grab it out of the fridge. If I don't have the time to stop what I'm doing to prepare something, I've already taken the time, when I was not busy, to prepare for that moment.

2) Make sure I have other easy nutritious choices available at my finger tips, like an apple or peeled carrots.

Whatever weaknesses you've uncovered in your evaluation process, make plans to address them. Stop them right in their tracks before things get out of hand.

Fuelling words: I fuel my body with nutritional food giving me the extra energy I need and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Routine: Warm-ups, stretches, aerobics, toning and strength exercises, cool down.

Visualization - keeping focus on my goal; healthy, strong and my ideal body weight and shape.

Deep breathing - relaxes the muscles and sends oxygen to the muscles where exercising alone would not reach.

Changing Inside Out Now! Getting my body back - Day 30

Miracles start in me

In order to achieve any goal in life, the miracle must first begin inside of you. All achievement has a starting point and an ending. Your final destiny is as a direct result of the growth that's occurring internally.

It first starts with a thought, then a desire, followed by a decision to physically attain that desire. Once the decision is made, the wheels in the brain start turning - how can I achieve this goal? Plans are put in place, then comes action steps; the first external evidence of what you've set out to accomplish.

When you are focused on the final goal, it propels you into action to ensure you reach your destiny. Taking your eyes off your goal, you begin to drift away from going in that direction and into the direction of whatever you're now focusing on. You cannot be driving a car going east while you're focused on north, you'll end up in a ditch or worse.

Whatever you set out to accomplish, it must first begin in you, continue to grow in you, even as you engage in activities to draw you closer to the goal. When you've finally arrived and you look back to where you started, you would see the distance you've traveled and how much you've grown.

Create miracles in your life today, starting from the inside out.

Fuelling words: I see my ideal weight. I work each day bringing into manifestation this desire.

Routine: Warm-ups, stretches, aerobics, toning and strength exercises, cool down.

Visualization - keeping focus on my goal; healthy, strong and my ideal body weight and shape.

Deep breathing - relaxes the muscles and sends oxygen to the muscles where exercising alone would not reach.

Changing Inside Out Now! Getting my body back - Day 29

Need a kick in the butt?

Okay, yesterday I got a mouthful from my 10 year old daughter because I missed our workout time. I got caught up doing some work and she kept asking, "Mom, when are we going to do our workout?" I told her later. Later came and I was still busy. Yep, she gave me an earful. Talk about accountability. Yes. We did do our workout. It was quite refreshing.

Need someone who'd give you a kick in the butt, keep you on your toes and get you moving? Either enlist someone who's willing to accept the task or find a way to keep yourself accountable.

Recently, I was listening to a self improvement audio by Jack Canfield, and one of the strategies suggested to use to keep you from self-sabotaging your own goals, is to promise yourself that if you didn't follow through you would do this really terrible thing that you really don't want to do.

Think of something that you'd really despise doing as a penalty on yourself if you failed to follow through on your promise to achieving your goal.

I know I won't be able to miss a workout and I can't fire my daughter. So guess what? I have no other choice and Dad's backing her, too. And no, I don't want to hear another mouthful.

Fuelling words: I keep following through on my goal achievement promise as I'm kept accountable.

Routine: Warm-ups, stretches, aerobics, toning and strength exercises, cool down.

Visualization - keeping focus on my goal; healthy, strong and my ideal body weight and shape.

Deep breathing - relaxes the muscles and sends oxygen to the muscles where exercising alone would not reach.

Changing Inside Out Now! Getting my body back - Day 25

Getting better by the day

Whenever you start off doing something new it may seem hard at first, but if you persevere, that same thing becomes easier as the days go by.

Many times we fail to attempt a new task because of fear. Fear that we may not be able to do it or trying and failing. Even if you've tried something and failed, and perhaps failed miserably, it doesn't mean that you should abandon the task altogether. It just means that you may need to do some more groundwork first in order to build up to that level.

For years I've been watching my 10 year old daughter do cartwheels and bridges and said that if I tried them I'd probably break something. But recently, while I was doing my workout, I decided that I'd try doing the bridge. It didn't work out for me. As a matter of fact I couldn't even lift myself off the floor. Yes, we had a good laugh.

Instead of me tossing the idea out and saying, "I knew I couldn't do it," then abandon the idea entirely, I looked at what kept me from completing the position. My hand muscles are not strong enough to push me up off the ground. The ground work that I need to engage in and have added to my daily routine is doing push ups to strengthen my hand muscles. Once I'm strong enough, I could now attempt to try the bridge at a later time.

One thing I've noticed though, is that I was able to complete, what my daughter calls, the stag sit position. When I first tried it, yesterday, I assumed the leg position but was unable to take my hands off the floor. Today, I tried the stag sit position again, and I was able to, not only take my hands off the floor, but lift them all the way up, stretching them upward towards the ceiling. This was quite an accomplishment for me.

As a matter of fact, I've had to increase my workout repetitions as they had become much easier. I've also added new routines to make me work harder.

Whatever new task you set out to achieve, don't allow its toughness to discourage you from moving forward. Take it one step at a time, do the groundwork and before you know it, you will be ready to take it to the next level.

Fuelling words: I'll master whatever groundwork is needed to reach my objective.

Routine: Warm-ups, stretches, aerobics, toning and strength exercises, cool down.

Visualization - keeping focus on my goal; healthy, strong and my ideal body weight and shape.

Deep breathing - relaxes the muscles and sends oxygen to the muscles where exercising alone would not reach.

Changing Inside Out Now! Getting my body back - Day 8

Evaluate your progress.

Evaluate is defined as 'to examine and judge carefully'.

On the journey to reaching your goal, pausing to evaluate where you are is imperative before continuing your activities for its attainment.

You need to take a look at the activities you've been engaged in; whether daily, weekly or monthly. Examine the progress you've made, if any.

- Is this where you expected to be? Providing that you've set small goals for yourself at the start of the journey, you need to match where you are now to where you expected to be.
- Are you on target?
- Are you behind schedule, or are you ahead of schedule?
- Are you completely off target?

Based on your activities, are you getting closer to your goals? Are you seeing changes, even though they may be small? Evaluate what changes or adjustments you need to make to get you closer to your goals. What can you do to enhance your activities that will position you in a better place to achieve your desired results?

This is where you start doing some trimming away, as well.

- Is this activity productive?
- Is it taking away time from things that I could be doing that are more productive?
- If you must perform the activity, are there other ways that it can done that is more time-efficient?

This is Day 8 of 'Getting my body back' journey. As I evaluate my activities, I reflect on the exercises that I've been engaged in.

What progress have I made, so far?
I feel my body taking form.
My muscles are tightening in those areas I've really focused on; abs, arms, butt, thighs (inner and outer).
I'm more flexible with my stretches.

Today, I challenged myself a bit more.

Now that I've looked at my exercise routine and see how far I've gone, I can look forward to the rest of this week. I'll continue to do my daily routine as it is proving to be working, no major outward changes, yet but small ones at a time.

I look at what I can improve on; perhaps taking it up a notch, adding some extra weight and variety. The future is promising as I keep my eyes focused on the prize.

Fueling words: I appreciate and I'm grateful for small changes as they are the starting pointing for growth to occur.

Routine: Warm-ups, stretches, aerobics, toning and strength exercises, cool down.

Visualization - keeping focus on my goal; healthy, strong and my ideal body weight and shape.

Deep breathing - relaxes the muscles and sends oxygen to the muscles where exercising alone would not reach.

Changing Inside Out Now! Getting my body back - Day 6

Determination gives birth to persistence and is the outward expression in the form of persistence.

Determination comes as a result of a decision made due to the realization that the attainment of a goal is worth the effort.

When that decision is made you automatically go into the active mode to achieving the end result.

Focusing on the area of achieving one's ideal weight, the decision made causes you to find solutions to reach your destination point. However, your determination keeps you moving even when your body says it does not want to exercise.

Determination causes you to pull up from deep within the motivation to continue moving forward and find ways to enjoy what you're doing when it seems tough to continue. You need to listen to what your body is saying and analyze what it's telling you; whether you need to shift gears and do something that is more enjoyable to you but will yield the results that you're looking for, e.g. ride a bicycle, go for a walk etc.

You may need to slow down to give your body a chance to get into the routine and formulate the new habit.

Whatever it is you're trying to achieve determine in your mind that you will continue to keep moving even if you have to shift gears when things seem to get tough.

Fueling words: As I work my muscles, I am getting stronger every day.

Routine: Warm-ups, stretches, aerobics, toning and strength exercises, cool down.

Visualization - keeping focus on my goal; healthy, strong and my ideal body weight and shape.

Deep breathing - relaxes the muscles and sends oxygen to the muscles where exercising alone would not reach.

Changing Inside Out Now! - Getting my body back

Changing Inside Out Now! comprises many aspects of one's life where change is required. After having my last baby, I've decided to take the journey and focus on the area of weight loss and getting my body back to my ideal body weight.

So, in light of practicing what I preach, I'm taking on this new adventure to not only attain my ideal body weight but also to reshape and transform my body into a fat burning machine.

The journey may be faced with challenges but taking it one day at a time, moving at my own pace, one step at a time is sure to take me to the finish line.