A Beautiful me in 21 days

Tomorrow I will start  a 21 days journey to find the fountain of Youth.

Right!  who am I kidding....

Ol Mr. Clock tic's away regardless of what I choose to do or not do.

The question is this:   Do I recognize the "tic" of the clock is the "ticking" of my heart?

at 60 BPM (beats per minute) x 60 minutes ( 1 hr)  x 24 hrs  x 325 days x  75 years = 2,106,000,000,000 beats in a life time  - sounds like our  National debt!

Freak... that's a lot of work for my little heart to do.  And to think, I DON'T have to think about it.  It just does it!  But, I am responsible to take care of my heart.  Exercise, healthy diet.... 

I just had to leave my blog to throw in a load of clothes into the washer.  

Then it dawned on me why I digressed into talking about the  "heart".

I heard a story today about a women.  Her husband recently passed away and she was having great difficulty coping with the loss.  Her comment was to her Doctor, " how can you fix my broken heart,  my husband "was my heart" and now he's gone". 

The heart of my blog is all about OUR HEARTS being balanced

Yes our heart is a muscle... pumping life giving blood to our bodies (PHYSICAL)

Yes our heart is the center of our emotions  (SPIRITUAL)

Yes our heart is the foundation for our thoughts (MIND)

Our bodies can not function without a beating heart.  Our Heart can not function with out the oxygen contained in our blood. Our hearts are damage by lack of activity, diseases, poor diets...... AND our HEARTS can be broken by an events in our life.  

It is real that someone can die of a broken heart.  It's called

  Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, or Broken-Heart Syndrome .  No kidding!

   (go ahead and google it). 

Psalm 51:10  

 ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, 

O God; and renew a right spirit within me

That scripture states we must exam and have our heart cleansed so God can dwell within his Temple -  WE are HIS temple here on Earth.

So, you want to live life with JOY and STRENGTH...

You want to experience true LOVE...

talk to your creator.... go to the instruction manual for your BODY, MIND and SPIRIT and read  

the Word of GOD

Happiness and satisfaction can't be found in the size of your Jeans (truly, true)

Happiness and satisfaction can't be found in a double hot fudge sunday made with  

Häagen-Dazs 

 Vanilla Bean Ice Cream  (think I hit your sweet tooth- it took me a while to find just the right picture that captured what "I use to like")

It's not found in your children, your career, your home, your marriage, your money, your family, your your your... whatever.....  

When you find your heart, you'll find your balance

Matthew 6:21  

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

When I've been asked "how did you lose your weight?"  "Balance" is my answer.

BALANCE

Spending an equal time Physically, Mentally AND Spiritually

When you do this (as I am choosing to do moment by moment) you'll find your Real Treasure.   A treasure that is ETERNAL!  Love is eternal....  That's what I want ETERNAL Happiness and Satisfaction

oh to love the Lord and His TEMPLE  - Oh, Yes YOU ARE HIS TEMPLE

Love what he created .... Yes, that is YOU!  Love YOU!

How can anyone love someone who doesn't love and honor themselves?

Do you want Peace in your Home?  Then you must  first find Peace in yourself.  Your peace will infect those around you.  Your Peace will fill the space all around you.  Just as a smile is contagious, so is peace.

When you're feeling frustrated, confused, burdened, unhappy....  

here is my suggestion (it's powerful)

• Close your eye's no matter where you are (unless your driving your car... not a good idea then)

• • Feel what's happening in your body... (Tension in your shoulders, neck... what are your feelings... anger, frustration, worry...)

• • Take a deep breath in through your nose and then slowly release a longer breath than you took in.

• • While you're doing this say to your self with each inhalation and exhalation:
  •     "__________________"   You fill in this Blank with
  • words of Praise, thanksgiving... positive affirmations to yourself.

• • Take at least 5 breaths... If you can sit for 5 minutes... If you can sit for 15 minutes
  
  

• 
  
  • • • There are studies that show an improvement in your immune system when you practice this breathing exercise

When you empty your mind it becomes a vulnerable vessel 

Fill it with positive, lovely, true thoughts.

Ok... not sure how I got to this tonight... 

I was only blogging that I'm starting another 21 days tomorrow.  

GHEEZE LOUSIE, I get going crazy! Time to stop  "tick, Tock... got to stop"  (dear lord I didn't even have coffee tonight.... and I'm wound up like a clock"  YIKES

Salute!  to your Health and Wellness

PS:  when you hit with a stressful situation - Stop and do the above each time before you react.   Kind of like counting to 10 before you speak or react.

Cranking up Metabolism is better than being a Crank

Proverbs 16:24

   Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, 

      Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. 

 One of the lessons I heard and learned at Canyon Ranch this past week was about "myths in weight loss"

What did intrigue me was the old problem ALL women talk about "metabolism".  It's true.  When your body gets to a certain place in life the metabolism adjust to what your doing and you have difficulty losing weight.

I learned that working on the Large muscle groups (exercise) is the best way to pump up the metabolism when trying to lose weight.  

I went to one of the trainer's and asked what can I do without having weights at home.  I was told

Push ups (women's) will work 3 large muscle groups: Shoulders, back and Chest

Squats will work the large muscle group: legs.

I need to do 10-12 reps TWICE to accomplish the best benefit for my body.

YIKES,  I could barely do 3 push ups and the next two days.... OWWW my rib cage and arms are sore.

What a wake up call!   I'm not in very good health (strength) if I can't do these a few push ups and squats without disabling my body!

Here is something found at one of my favorite sites:  LiveStrong.com (Lance Armstrongs site)

When it comes to the metabolism of the body, you would be hard pressed to find a better predictor of size. This is because your metabolic rate is what is responsible for the amount of calories you burn throughout the day during rest and activities. If you happen to have a high metabolism, then you can burn calories efficiently. If your metabolism is low, then weight loss can be difficult. With that being said, there are ways of turning your body into a fat-burning machine by firing up your metabolism. The approach involves some dietary adjustments, some exercise and a little bit of discipline.

Step 1

Avoid starving.  

Step 2

Make sure to eat protein.  

 

Step 3

Do high intensity aerobic exercise.  

Step 4

Increase your muscle mass. 

Step 5

Drink cold water.  

(Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/15513-boost-metabolism/#ixzz111DhyAkj)




Starting October 1st (love to start a 21 day thing on the first of the month- so I can keep track of the days')


I'm going to work my large muscle groups 3 to 4 times a week.  GOTTA DO IT!


Plus, I'll blog tomorrow on some of the important things I learned about BREATHING! (sounds dumb... but crazy important in our lives)  and about Stretches that "free up" joints.


Gotta run....


Ciao


Salute!  To your continued Health and Wellness

You're never fully dressed without a Smile

Ok, Ok  I hear Me....

Back on a real computer this morning.... came from being at a Health Resort for several days and blogged on my iPad... not so easy and fluid as my computer.

Although the food was amazingly healthy,  I didn't see a drop on the scale.
Although I exercised throughout the day (water work out, dance, yoga, weights...) I didn't
      see a drop on the scale.

In fact, I'm fighting being sore!  AHHHH,  I thought I was in shape with all this exercise routine this past 9 months.  BUT.... here is the real test!

Can you do 10-12 push ups (women style)?
Can you do 10 -12 squats?

OK, OK  I hear me.....

I have to remind myself ..... it's not what is on the scale (weight) but in my heart that makes me smile inside my soul

I have to remind myself...... only Christ can satisfy my soul... not a chocolate covered banana!  (can you believe that was a dessert.... frozen small banana on a stick dipped in dark chocolate - it was a healthy choice for a dessert! yea!).

I did notice it wasn't the right work out outfit that made me successful- it helps but it's not the answer to being successful (ever put on the work out outfit and then NOT exercise?)

I did notice it wasn't  the right  outfit and jewelry I wore to dinner   with my girlfriends....   that made me a pleasure to be with.

I actually found a cloud of unhappiness the last two days.... circling around me.  Just enough of a cloud to keep the ray's of light and sunshine from touching my soul and mind.

I asked the Lord (whispered to him from my heart) What is going on!  I should be ecstatic with joy.... I'm here at an amazing Health Resort with nothing to do but take care of me.

I heard (not audible of course) Him say.... Where is your armor?

It was me not putting on my armor of God each morning.

Each morning  I jumped up  to run to breakfast with my girlfriends and then off to an exercise class.

I missed my "real" time with the Lord.  Oh, yes... I was talking to the Lord throughout the day... prayed for my food (even the chocolate covered banana)... prayed to him during my stretch class

I missed blogging (my pseudo journal) when I choose scripture for the day.  Getting real POWER for the day. I really truly missed my blogging in the morning.
I didn't realize how not blogging (time with the Lord)  would affect my day until I didn't do it.

I need to dress every morning with the armor of God.     Reading His Word
Journalizing or blogging is so very powerful!  Especially first thing in the morning or even before bed each night.  A powerful tool for life.

Ephesians 6:10-18  

The Armor of God

 ¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

The title this morning comes from the Song in the movie "Annie"

 (ahhh, you probably knew that).

Each morning we take time to pick out the right clothes for the day (even if we're staying home we CHOOSE what to put on).  Our clothes usually reflect our morning mood (this is true...) Then, we  spend time (or maybe not) putting on make up.... looking into a mirror all morning... looking at our reflection.... looking at ourselves..... having an internal monologue about ourselves.... (think about what your thinking when you see yourself in the mirror... are you being your best friend or worst critic?)

Then, either before dressing or after dragging ourselves to get some coffee and CHOOSING what to eat or not eat we need to .......really, truly....

Wake up!!!!

If we (talking to ME) spent as much time each morning 

with the Lord... praying, reading HIS WORD... 

focusing ourselves on what is before us..as we spend on getting "dressed".... WOW

We'd be dressed for success

AND

when you're getting dressed you SHOULD be
looking at yourself and affirming... 

"I am HIS child"

"A child of the LIVING GOD of the UNIVERSE"

"My Body is His temple"

Today I will HONOR his temple and fill His Temple (ME)

and choose ONLY those foods and thoughts that please HIM.

Today I will let Him Shine through me in my words and actions

Today when Life throws temptations, challenges and struggles my way 

I will CHOOSE to call upon the Lord within me to DEAL WITH IT! 

 He fights my battles, He Heals, Restores and Loves  those around me

through me his vessel!  

I AM WORTHY OF HIS LOVE!

I will wear HIS Love on and in me today!

Now that makes me SMILE....

You're never fully dressed without the Lord!

Salute!  To your Healthy Choices today that bring you health and wellness

Wheels -take a ride

Listening the past two days to numerologist/ graphologist/astrologist/ ti Chi ...
made me dwell for some time on my belief system.

As a Christian I was taught to stay away from listening to these beliefs... Ideas

Yet, without compromise I believe they are of God... Why not He created all things! I just think that they've been tapped into and sometimes used to divert people from God.

My God is a God of purpose, order, destin.. Why not?

If you can take your spiritual beliefs and see it as a wheel. Put God at the Center (of course) and then look at all the spokes attached - guess I'm the wheel?

Unless an idea, philosophy is attached to the center of the wheel and balanced as the other spokes it has no place

Well, maybe too much sun today but. I'm thinking!

There is a lot we do not know. But this I Know. Christ is the center of my universe

God the canvas of my life. All else I hear and see are just brush strokes that paint my life. The word of God is my mentor as I paint. Ahhhhh


Salute!!

See it in your mind
Feel it in your heart

Speak it!

Change your desire
Change your life

Balance Balance Balance

I'm enjoying the experience of a health retreat, you can see by my thoughts here


Seeing and listening to other women here at the spa is enlightening

Salute

*************

What I learned during a class " joint freeing"
When stretching or exercising , if your not enjoying what your doing than your mind tells your body to resist the benefits by not releasing body chemicals that develop strength and healing. ( something like that). Mind body connection. The instructor was a certified yoga therapist. Great experience !

Gotta go

Ciao