Laura Lewis
- http://www.thatsfit.com
Life Fit Expert for Thats Fit.com
Fired Up Quotes to Keep You Fit
The Passion Principle, Motivation
Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest legends in boxing history is famous for his quotes. He feels they led him down the path to greatness. Speaking positive words aloud, if said often enough has been the fuel for many successful athletes, professional and amateurs alike. Motivational quotes can be very powerful and make a difference between your own personal success or failure in and out of the gym.
On a flight one evening, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ali. I walked over and stood by his seat to say hello. Before I knew it he had motioned for me to sit down in the vacant next to him for a few minutes. This great man exuded such positive energy even in his physically compromised state, a possible result of his many years in the ring. He smiled at me and share a few words almost in a whisper. His eyes shined as he gave me his autograph and wished me well.
Ali is famous for his words that proclaimed he was the "greatest in the world." I really felt I was in the presence of true greatness. I read the following quote from him-- "I am the greatest, I said that before I even knew I was." Those words had a powerful impact upon his career.
Top 5 Reasons to Always be Fit
The Passion Principle, Motivation
Being fit can improve your sex life, your outlook on life and, oh, about a million other areas of your life! Sometimes we get so focused on making our waists thinner, our butts smaller and our arms more toned that we lose sight of the benefits we get by throwing on our tennis shoes, hitting the gym and eating right!
For some extra motivation to work out and eat healthfully check out these five reasons to always be fit.
- Improves Sex Drive. No doubt about it -- both men and women who lift weights on a regular basis experience elevated levels of testosterone. When the big "T" hormone goes up, so does your desire to have sex. An added bonus for men who exercise is improved erections. Do I have you thinking it might be a good idea to hit the gym?
- Boosts the Love-Yourself Factor. People who work out on a regular basis experience heightened self-esteem! Research has shown over and over again that by simply getting a move on via walking, running and generally being active several days per week, you can really feel better about yourself. Those with the lowest self esteem usually have the greatest gain in the love-yourself arena.
Get Fit With These Quirky Tips
The Passion Principle, Motivation
If you are at the point of popping in workout videos and watching from the sofa while sipping on milkshakes and eating popcorn, or you're supplementing your healthy diet with handfuls of peanut M&Ms, french fries and margaritas, well, then some new motivation is in order!
Heck, on occasion even I need motivation -- and I am known as an enthusiastic health and fitness advocate and motivator. I am only human, after all. So I decided to conduct a bit of research on some common and not-so-common motivators. I gleaned information from my body-obsessed hair stylist and from the editor of a popular fitness magazine. Plus, I checked out a few online sources. I came up with some "interesting" motivational strategies. Read on!
Set an alarm clock in your living room. There was a fellow who had a hard time getting out of bed in the morning to go to the gym. Since his wife and small children were sleeping, he felt it was easier to sleep in with the rest of them. So he decided to set two alarm clocks -- one by the bed and one in the living room. If the one in the living room were to go off, it would wake his children at 5 a.m., which is something he did not want to happen since havoc would inevitably ensue. So he learned to hop up when the first alarm went off, he turned off the one in the living room, and then he headed to the gym.
Laugh Your Butt Off - Science Says You Can
The Passion Principle, Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
Laughing is a cardiovascular workout. No joke. Not only does a mirthful expression of joy help increase your heart rate, it can also tone your muscles, improve circulation, energize your breathing and raise endorphin levels. Faking a smile can even make you feel happier.
Psychiatrist and laughter researcher Dr. William Fry, adjunct associate professor emeritus at Stanford University medical school, has been telling people for years that laughing is good for your health. And it turns out it could be beneficial for reducing your own, ahem, bottom line. Dr. Fry claims that laughing 100 times during a 24-hour period has the same cardiovascular benefit as rowing a rowing machine for 10 minutes or riding a stationary bike for 15.
The act of laughing raises your blood pressure and heart rate -- this is a reaction to the hormones released when you burst out in a guffaw. Your cancer-fighting ability increases too, because more of your disease fighting T-cells are released, thus boosting your immune system. And you get even happier because your stress hormones are lowered and feel-good endorphins elevate. Talk about a win-win situation!
Make Your Dream Bod a Reality
The Passion Principle, Motivation
Do you dream of being fit, trim and happy but never seem to reach your goal? A few techniques based upon NLP (neurolinguistic programming) might help you get out of your own way so you can turn your dream bod into a reality.
I'm fascinated with the idea of why some people fail in their attempts to achieve goals while others always hit their marks, especially when it comes to weight loss. In the neurolinguistic programming arena, it is believed that internal programming is often a key factor in how we behave and that by reprogramming our brains using specific techniques, we can achieve greater success. NLP was founded in the 1970s by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, and while it has received some criticism over the years, many have found NLP techniques to be highly effective.
Over the past two decades of educating and motivating people who seek to live healthier and happier lives, I have found strategies loosely based on NLP practices to be highly effective in helping folks achieve their diet and fitness goals. What I love most is that NLP helps to remove negative emotions from goals. I have observed in some people when they talk about their desires to be more svelte or ripped that they either have stars in their eyes, and they gaze off into the distance with whimsical looks or their faces become twisted, they slouch a bit and you can almost see the word shame written across their chests. In both of these scenarios, which I have seen so many times, unproductive emotions are getting in the way of those whose goals exist in the form of dreams. Once someone becomes more objective about their goal, it becomes easier to attain.
How to Fit Into Your Cute Jeans
The Passion Principle, Motivation
Chronic stress can slow down your ability to lose weight and get rid of stubborn stored fat. Practicing a few unique stress-reduction strategies can help you lose those jiggly arms and way-too-ample bellies and booties!
I am quite familiar with stress -- raising kids as a single mother has given me an intimate relationship with it. As a person who writes, coaches and speaks about health on an almost-daily basis, I know implicitly that experiencing chronic stress may result in weight gain, and I'm not talking about an increase in muscle! And after recently spending more than $100 on a pair of cool, "beautiful booty" jeans, I am highly motivated to keep my stress in check, or I'll have to shell out even more cash for bigger clothes. And that is something I do not care to do. Like you, I have plenty of other things I should be buying with my hard-earned cash.
Storing more calories as body fat, specifically around your middle, occurs under times of stress. Even slim women who eat healthfully and work out on a regular basis are likely to have more belly fat if they are constantly stressed out. Researchers call it "visceral" fat -- the kind that sticks close to your internal organs and interferes with liver function, hampers the processing of cholesterol and insulin and compromises the function of other tissues and systems. Yikes. So what do we do? Develop our own stress-reduction strategies, that's what. Here are a few.
Emotional Eating - Win the Battle
The Passion Principle, Motivation
Your emotional state can affect your eating habits, so when you're depressed, you might find yourself diving into a pint of Haagen Daz and if you are stressed, that bag of salty chips and salsa might be just the ticket.
I had a wake-up call years ago after graduating from college with my degree in food and nutrition. I discovered while reviewing food diaries and in general exploratory discussions with folks that their food choices were often dictated by how they were feeling. Rare were the people who were so "good" with their diet that nothing "life oriented" knocked them off balance. Patterns began to emerge when I asked questions like, "What do you eat when you are stressed out?" or "What do you eat when you are sad?" Those who were often depressed chose foods such as ice cream and candy. Stressed-out people preferred salty items like chips or fries. Food and feelings go hand in hand for many. Yet, how in the world can we win the battle against our emotions when we are trying to lose weight?
The Forgiveness Diet - Let Go and Lose
The Passion Principle, Motivation
If you've tried all sorts of diets and nothing works, it might not be your "slow metabolism" getting in the way. It could be your inability to forgive.
Remember that gym teacher who called you lazy? How about the "ex" who called you fat and not worthy? A boss who fired you? Or perhaps you can't forgive yourself. As we live our lives, hurtful memories are inevitable. But the act of forgiving can be a powerful technique for decreasing stress and improving your overall health and well-being.
Personally, I've been though an extensive forgiveness process, and the relief I felt was unexpected. I honestly felt as if someone lifted a huge burden off of my shoulders. The stress we experience by holding on to feelings of anger, resentment, hatred and negativity can weigh us down in many ways, and in some cases, can lead to self-destructive behaviors, such as overeating, excessive drinking and other not-so-good-for-you activities.
Weight Loss Tips for a Summer Bikini Bod
The Passion Principle, Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
April showers brings May flowers. And May brings freak-out time for those who fear baring their legs, bellies and bottoms as the weather warms up. Familiar cries of desperation and tales of weight-loss woes can be heard everywhere this time of year, an all-too-common scenario that continues to occur, kind of like in the movie "Groundhog Day," where the same day keeps repeating itself every time the star character would awaken in the morning.
Listen, it isn't an easy task to lose weight, especially as the years begin to fly by. For many, losing extra pounds becomes a bit more difficult than in years past. Yet, I believe that by adopting the mindset and strategies of a weight-loss warrior, you can really do it this time -- and do it right, so that it sticks and you aren't freaking out this time next year.
Here are seven ways of the weight-loss warrior, sure to help you get your bod ready for Summer.
Eat for Success - Stop, Look & Listen
The Passion Principle, Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
So you want to lose weight but cannot seem to make it happen. What gives? Your thyroid checks out fine, you work out regularly and you follow a good eating program "most" of the time ... hold on ... did you say "most" of the time? What does that mean, really? Does that mean you remember when you eat well and not so well? Or does that mean you remember what you eat most of the time?
Did you know many people who are unsuccessful dieters eat mindlessly on a regular basis? I jokingly call the syndrome "eating amnesia." Do you ever feel this happens to you? For example, when you find a candy wrapper in your car and you can't recall actually consuming its contents? Or when you try to remember what you had as a quick "snack" in the middle of the afternoon and simply cannot remember what it was? Mindless eating is often the culprit behind stalled weight loss. I have seen this "condition" occur over and over again with people I've worked with over the years. The fix? To awaken the sleeping giant that is getting in the way.
Check out these 5 tips to becoming a mindful eater.
