Don't wait for a rainy day....

I was happy to have a rainy Sunday this weekend to regroup. When my schedule gets too busy, I like to clear off a day to just BE and it helps if it's a rainy day.


So I spent a perfect Sunday leaving the house only to go to church. Then it was a day full of relaxing, cooking, puttering, and watching a French film. I'm much better with subtitles in the afternoon!


I also had a chance to browse through my growing stack of magazines. One of my favorite parts of"O" magazine is Oprah's column "What I Know for Sure." In April's issue she talks about how our relationships with others reflect your relationship with ourselves.


How right she is! In order for our relationships to flourish we really have to care for ourselves, yet so often caring for ourselves is viewed as selfish or followed by guilt.


I think she sums it up with this: "The key to meaningful connections with the people in your life is making yourself whole by honoring your body, mind, and spirit - filling the voids that cause you not to love yourself. You can't give love if you don't have it. And you can't receive (or even perceive) it because you won't recognize it when it shows up. You've got to care for yourself in order to be able to care for others. "


Oprah, I couldn't agree with you more! And this time I won't wait for a rainy day to do just that.

What's your excuse?

In the fitness industry we hear a lot of excuses as to why people don't exercise. I know how it is. I've made my own share of excuses when something I want to achieve seems too difficult or daunting.

Do you frequently use excuses to get yourself out of doing what it takes to reach your goals?

Any of these sound familiar?

“I don’t have time.”
“I don’t like to sweat.”
"I have kids with busy schedules."
“I feel claustrophobic when I’m out of breath.”
“The rest of my family would never eat that.”
“Then I’d have to shower before I go to work.”
“I have to travel a lot in my line of work.”
“My shins hurt when I do that.”
“I have asthma.”
“I get a rash when I do that.”
“Then what do I do with all those sweaty clothes?”
“I’ll start Monday.”
“I’ll start the first of the year.”
"I have bad knees."
“I’ll focus on that next year.”

Lots of people talk about making a change. But when it comes right down to doing the hard work or making the tough decisions, they prefer to offer excuses as to why they continue living their lives just as they are.

This applies to any life changes, not just your health.

I know for me it comes up sometimes in business. For example, prior to opening the Jazzercise Fitness Center, I operated out of a church hall. A commercial space was out of my price range. Fairfield County prices were just unattainable. There's a small profit margin in this industry. Get the picture. I had a long list. AND I might add, all true statements, right?

BUT I realized (with the help of a fabulous biz coach) that I was a victim of my own excuses. I would never find a space if I continued to operate with this mindset and let the excuses take the forefront.

Whether it's making a career change, a relationship change, or changes in your health habits don’t be a victim of your own excuses. If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always gotten!

We've all heard the famous quote "Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results." It just isn't going to happen.

So ditch the excuse and make the change.

Prepare your body

I've registered for the Five Boro Bike Tour (my 2nd time) and today I got an email letting me know that it's only 24 days away.

YIKES!

Now I exercise most days of the week, so I should get too worried, right? The last time I did this race - oops, sorry Joe, I mean TOUR, I had not been on my bike for probably a decade. And I didn't train. I just showed up.

But isn't showing up half the battle sometimes?

With record breaking temperatures this week, we are thinking summer. Maybe you've already unpacked the shorts and are eyeing the bathing suit.

Beautiful weather can inspire you to get out and get moving. So whether you're embarking on a 42 mile bike tour without training, or simply committing to a new exercise routine, there are a few things you need to think about to prepare your body. That was the theme of one of the Five Boro emails sent weeks ago which I hadn't bothered to open until now. These tips were loosely inspired by that email....

If you're new to the world of exercise, start at the beginning. Everyone needs to start somewhere. So dust off your bike helmet, or sign up for a Jazzercise membership, or call a friend to go for a walk (better yet - do all of the above!) A varied workout routine is more likely to keep you interested and on track.

Make a date with yourself to exercise. Check off 60 of those required activity minutes by making a plan. Your schedule will always be full, there will always be laundry in the basket, and there's always going to be some excuse not to do it.

Step it up a notch. Once you're on a roll and exercise has become a habit, keep it fresh. Try new classes, use heavier weights, or give yourself a challenge - like riding 42 miles!

Start small, start now and prepare your body -- not for bathing suit season, not for summer weather, but for LIFE!

Here's Team Checkered Flag at the Five Boro in '08.

Go team!!

Easter Blessings......

You're never too old to color eggs

After a glorious Easter of mass, conversation, family and chocolate (and some delicious deviled eggs), I am curled up reading Mitch Albom's "Have A Little Faith." This is purely accidental. It's not by design that I've been reading a book about faith during Holy Week. In fact, from the stack of library books I took out recently I could have just as easily been reading the "Fudge Cupcake Murder."

At some point midway in the book, Mitch asks his Rabbi about the secret of happiness and the following conversation ensues:


"Be satisfied."
That's it?
"Be grateful."
That's it?
"For what you have. For the love you receive. And for what God has given you."
That's it?
He looked me in the eye. Then he sighed deeply.
"That's it."

So as Easter winds down, I ask that you think about what God has given you and all of the love you have received. And be satisfied and grateful.

I know I am.