Again the Fit Tip

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
     -Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization, 1946

So yeah, I'm still on the feeling groovy bandwagon for super fitness!  Personally, I've noticed through the years that I tend to look my best when I'm at my happiest.  I rarely loose weight during those times, nor do I change my schedule or routine. (I'm sure if I looked hard I'd see a trend, but I'm no statistician!)  I do know that upon reflexion, those were times when all was right with my world.

Idea Fitness Journal is my motivator this week and I'm quoting from an article published entitled "The Happiness Factor." 
Here's a list of what they call What Happy People Do:

• devote a great amount of time to nurturing and enjoying relationships;
• are comfortable expressing gratitude;
• are often the first to offer help to others;
• are optimistic about their futures;
• live in the present moment;
• make physical exercise a weekly and daily habit;
• are deeply committed to lifelong goals and ambitions; and
• have stresses and even tragedies, but are able to cope in the face of challenges.

This week, focus on being happy.  It doesn't come easy to many of us!  I've been practicing happiness for the last many years and I won't lie to you (I never do!), it's a lot of work.  But trust me, its worth all the effort you put into it.  Go ahead, make my glass half full please!

Holiday Fit Tip

I saw this in Sunday's Parade and saved it to share this week.  Dr. Oz will announce the winner of Transformation Nation this week.  If you don't know, its a contest co-partnered by Dr. Oz and Weight Watchers.  Participants were asked to practice seven steps to make changes in their lifestyle, hence improving overall health and losing weight. 
The seven key steps:
Tell a friend
Official weigh-in/calculate your BMI
Learn your family’s health history
Get more sleep
Assess your stress and
Start new fitness habits. 

It seems that reducing stress had a huge impact on participants overall success (including weight loss).

This holiday weekend, my weekly challenge to you is to make relaxing a priority.  If you already have big plans, try to incorporate "me time" into that.  Delegate chores and jobs for your event, review the itinerary and delete excessive activities, and keep in mind that sometimes less really is more!

Fit Tip

 Just do it!

Fit Tip

It's closing in on summer and I'm sure all the parents out there are scrambling to fill the kids schedule with activities for the summer.
Grab some of the fun and get your workout in by volunteering to work with your child's sports team! 

No plans to "join a team," then host your own kick-ball game/softball game/soccer match/tether-ball competition, etc once a week in your neighborhood!

No young-uns?  Check out the calendar of events with your nieces and nephews or sign up with a charitable organization.  Game on!

Fit Tip

You know how I'm always preaching the 10 minute workout...well, here's some easy ways to fit that in to your crazy schedule:

• While watching TV, do a chore (like dusting, Swiffering the floor, polishing silver, etc). 
• During commercials, do an exercise for the duration of the ad.  Try jumping jacks, triceps dip, push ups, or burpees.
• Make homemade bread-by hand!  Don't use the bread maker or Kitchen Aid; go old school and mix and knead by hand.
• Use the rest room in your office building farthest from your desk.
• Walk your talk; while chatting on the phone, move your body.
• Wash your own car!
• Rent an exercise video and shake up your routine.  FYI, Net Flix will hook you up.
• Every two hours at work, stand up, move away from your desk; take a flight of stairs, walk to the hallway water fountain, stretch and move.
• Escape for 5 or 10 minutes and walk around the building/house/school.