Getting my body back Friday - Cardio vs. Weight Training

Another great resource to follow up from last week's eat clean diet. Now's time to work out!

Check out the video!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cepCs4U2I54

Baby Weights?

Getting my body back - Day 136

I started my workout today and here I am getting into the swing of things. Just when I began to do my weight training, baby Roxella decided that she wants mommy. What was I to do? Guess who became my new set of weights? Yep, you guessed it - Ms. Roxella. So I traded in my dumbbells for baby weights. She was quite pleased just to be in mommy's arms and really enjoyed the up and down movements. As a matter of fact, she's heavier than my weights which made my workout a bit more challenging and fun, as well.

We need to be open to embrace life at any stage of the game. Everyday has new and interesting experiences and we only get the best out of it when we let go of our rigid mindset and open our minds for adventures. Sometimes we get fixed in our routines that we lose the spontaneity of life, and then we become bored of the monotony and lose our zest for life's explorations.

So exactly how do we deprogram ourselves from such rigid mindset to embrace spontaneity?

Let go

Plan your schedule, work your plan and let go of the outcome. It is in the letting go that we are open to peacefully embrace the small miracles each day holds. And as we let go, we allow the Spirit to enhance our day in ways we would never have thought possible or would have orchestrated.

Know that all good comes to me

Know and expect that everything in your life will work out for your good no matter how awful they may seem at the moment.

A year ago I was driving into the city to take a course. It was the last day of the course and I was late. I began feeling panicky inside and immediately I felt the wisdom - Calm down, just relax. So I adopted a mindset of peace. When I got there, I was looking for a parking spot at the parking meters. I found a spot, got out of the vehicle and was about to put money into the meter. To my surprise, the parking meter had enough money in it to cover me for the entire day. I was grateful and thankful for this miracle that I had that day.

But it didn't stop there, after the class I went to do some shopping before I headed home and when I got to the store I had to pay another parking meter. You guessed it, there was also money left in the meter, enough to cover me for the duration of the time in the store with some time left over when I left.

When we relax into the moment and allow things to unfold we give ourselves the permission to experience the flow of the Spirit.

Fuellings words: I leave my mind open to embrace the beauty and wonder each day holds.

Workout: walking, step exercise, weight training

Keep your focus

Getting my body back - Day 134

Today is Day 2 of 'The 14-Day Body Sculpting Workout'. It was much cooler this morning, so I had to put on my comfy sweater and head out for my walk. By the time I was done I was feeling nice and toasty. I usually hibernate for the winter but I've decided to get out of my comfort zone and begun making plans to keep up with my outdoor workout - burrr!! It feels really good going out for the morning fresh air.

I completed my step exercise and then on to my weight training. I'm really working on keeping my form. This is really important to prevent injury. In addition to keep form, I'm keeping focused on the muscles I'm working on and contracting them, as well, to maximize my results.

Sometimes when we are working on a task we can become so distracted that our mind is not on what we're doing. When we do this, we miss the essence of the moment. It's the same with food. There are so many things we do that distract us even while we're eating. I have the habit of eating in front of my computer; something I've developed from having my own office in the corporate world. However, I try to keep my focus on the flavour of the food, especially when my husband cooks which is like, uhm, 99% of the time - God bless him. But his meals are jammed packed with mouth-watering explosive flavours which make portion control next to impossible, but I really try.

When we're distracted we're not consciously engaged in the experience of the flavour of the food or mentally engaged with the visualization process of weight training which makes a big impact on the results we're getting. As we're focused on what we're doing at the time, we are open for new ideas and we can actively affect the way we feel and make adjustments when something is not going right.

Keep the focus on whatever you're doing so you can better channel your energies into your activity.

Fuelling words: I am focused on my current activity that I may reap full benefit from it.

Workout: walking, jogging, step exercises, weight training

Persistence - the key to goal attainment

Getting my body back - Day 133

So, I'm off and running with day 1 of the 14-day body sculpture workout, beginning with my walking, step climbing and weight training. I'm really making sure that I get my form right and moving between lighter weights to heavier weights depending on the exercise and the amount of reps.

I'm still working on my push ups, though. I could do the full length push ups but can't do as many reps, so I do knee push ups, still working the chest but getting more reps in. It's been a great workout and I feel great, too. One of the reasons, I believe, is because I've been doing the weight training before so it's easier to make the transition and not have to start at the newbie level.

As with anything you embark on, you need to stay focused on your goals, one day at a time, and be persistent. Persistent is the key to attaining any goal. One of the things I'm reminded of that I tend to forget sometimes is to focus on and contract the muscles as I work them.

I love weight training because of the benefits I get long after the exercise workout is over. Weight training works the muscles and continues to help burn fat throughout the day and into the night, and more importantly, tighten those areas that are being pulled down by gravity, if you know what I mean.

I'm taking my routine to the next level where I'm redesigning and sculpting my body into the way I desire it to be.

Fuelling words: I am persistent in achieving my goal. I use different methods but my focus remains constant.

Workout: walking, step exercise, weight training.