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12/29/11 2:54 P

I love this one! You know, if we spent more time loving ourselves "as is" and enjoying every aspect of our existence, life would be such a hoot!

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12/9/11 8:26 A

Agreed!

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12/8/11 10:47 P

5. (By Jennipher Walters, Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor)

Enjoy Now
Why wait for to reach your goal to be happy, wear that dress, or take that vacation? Life is too short. Feel good about yourself today and give yourself the permission and freedom to be completely happy with yourself and your circumstances right now. Try to be present in the moment as much as you can and appreciate life for what you do have. Love where you are and who you are. Don't wait for tomorrow or until you reach that goal to appreciate where you are. You're worthy and good enough right now, today.

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12/7/11 5:53 P

I hate to sound all mystical or anything, but even though there isn't a map, I think there is definitely a recommended route. Problem is that we often don't know we're being guided until we get there. I believe in serendipty and synchronicity. Things not only happen for a reason; they happen at specific times for specific reasons and we are often much farther down the road before we realize why we had to take a certain detour.

As you did with your injury, Mela, I have also pushed past the pain and ended up having a huge set-back. (Mine was a shoulder problem that I made worse by not laying off the upper body strength training.) I really didn't like taking that path, but at least I learned something from it.

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12/7/11 11:11 A

4. Go with the Flow -- By Jennipher Walters, Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor

Life is a journey that doesn't come with a map. You can't always see the destination or every curve, dip or detour along the way, so you might as well enjoy the process (and the ups and downs). So you didn't hit your weight-loss goal this week because the weather prevented you from your daily walks? It's time to get creative. Rent a fitness DVD at the library or devise your own home-based workout. And always be sure to keep that sense of humor and see the opportunity in the problem. When life gives you lemons, don't just smash them. Instead make yummy (sugar-free) lemonade and savor every sip!

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12/7/11 8:58 A

So important!

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12/6/11 8:20 P

3. Respect Your Limits (By Jennipher Walters, Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor)

I learned this lesson hard during and after my marathon training. Despite a nagging hip ache, I kept running and stuck to my training schedule. Then, for the entire marathon, I didn't just endure 26.2 miles, but 26.2 miles of pain that sidelined me for weeks after the race was over. I learned the hard way that listening to your body is so important. If you're really fatigued, take a day off. If you're sick and have no energy, rest. Pushing through physical pain, emotional pain, and fatigue is never a good idea. Listen closely to what your body is telling you, and treat it like you would your best friend. Be loving, kind and respectful.

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12/5/11 5:59 P

You have no idea how hard this is for me to do, but I'm working on it!

Janet, sounds like you've got a great plan!!

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12/5/11 2:02 P

2. Don't Force It
By Jennipher Walters, Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor

You can't force things to happen. No matter how much you want something or how hard you work to make it happen, sometimes you just have to wait it out. Whether it's your perfect job or those last 10 pounds, life is a process. Instead, try to trust that you're on the right path, and keep at it. Slowly but surely, you'll eventually get there. Don't work harder, work smarter—and figure out how you can get to your goal without risking your sanity or well-being. You know what's not productive? Burnout.


Edited by: MELA1953 at: 12/6/2011 (20:21)

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12/5/11 1:52 P

I wrote into my new plan that I will not do a typical workout on Sundays. It's my choice to either skip it completely or take part in something that is recreational.

Since I do most of my writing on weekends, I don't really take a full day off from working. I'm either working at my job or working at my writing. Most of the time, even when I take a vacation day from my real job, it's so I can either do something related to my writing or so I can catch up on household chores. However, I do limit my Sunday writing to no more than 3 hours - which I usually do in the early morning hours.


I've noticed that I push myself so hard sometimes that when I do get some "down" time, I find it hard to relax. So, I've also incorporated into my new plan 2 things that should help with this: 1) At least one of my workouts each week will be a full yoga practice with a minimum of 15 minutes of meditation following. That's the only way I ever accomplish REALLY getting rid of the "chitty gritty" thoughts out of my mind. 2). I am scheduling a minimum of 30 minutes of non-work-non-writing-related reading time every day. I try to have this be the last thing on my agenda so that if I read myself to sleep, I'll be in bed when I do. ; )

Replenishing our minds, bodies, and spirits really is very important. Thanks, Mela, for this awesome post that makes us all more mindful of that!

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12/4/11 1:16 P

That is so very true.
I have been taking Sundays as my day off.
It is a great way to refresh for the next week.

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12/4/11 11:36 A

Saturday is my down day. No workout & eat a nice meal out!

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12/4/11 10:20 A

1. Take Time Off-
By Jennipher Walters, Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor

All work and no play doesn't just make Jack a dull boy; it also makes us sad, unhappy and less productive individuals. In order for you to reach any goal, you need to take time to recharge those batteries and relax. That's why employers offer vacation days to their workers! Whether it's a night off from the gym to go see a movie with a friend, or a long, hot bath and the end of an even longer day, be sure to take at least 15 minutes each day to do something just for you. If you're the primary caregiver in your house, this may seem impossible, but it's true that you can't take care of anyone unless you take care of yourself, so block off some me time and have some fun! Also remember that even the most dedicated exercisers and athletes need to rest and recover, so build downtime into your workout plans if you hope to take your fitness to the next level.

Edited by: MELA1953 at: 12/6/2011 (20:21)

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