Stop the Insanity!

How many times have we said, “If only I weighed 105lbs, I would be happy?” Only to find ourselves opening the fridge at 11PM looking for something other than veggies and fruit. Or, “If only I fit into a size 3-4 I would be confident.” This kind of self talk, fed by the media creates very unloving distortions of what a healthy person should look like. At the same time we are convinced that we need to be “skinny” we are fed messages that we don’t have enough.

In  an economic down turn one thing people can justify spending on is…food. So major marketing campaigns bombard us with $1 cheese (cow) burgers and $5 MSG subs.

But don’t worry….a miracle program comes out and says you will lose 30lbs in 30 days and it’s only one payment of $19.99. “Thank Heavens,” you think. This is what I really need to get on track. When the program arrives, (if it gets opened and taken out of the box) you decide to start on Monday. Monday comes and you manage to stick to the diet for four days. You feel a little hungry, but you are determined to do this. By the time Thursday comes around, your starving, you had a stressful day at work and you run to the drive through on your way home. This time you grab two or three of those juicy (cow) burgers. Why not, you were “good” all week, you deserve it right? When you get home you put on the TV and we are back to square one,  beautiful skinny women wearing lingerie implying that if you were like them, you would be happy. You wander unconsciously back to fridge, almost by hypnotic suggestion, ” YUM, there’s the ice cream,” and the cycle goes on and on.

Stop the Insanity!

Tips for Getting off the Fad Diet Wagon.

1. Define what success means to you. Do you want to be thin, healthy, athletic?
2. Stop watching TV at night.
3. If you are going to watch TV at night be sure top be doing it on our treadmill.
4. Practice self care, during the evening.
5. What are three things you could do for free besides watching TV and snacking on the couch?
6. Don’t quit, even if you do get those juicy cow burgers when your car just drove to the drive up on its own:)
7. Vigilantly watch your self talk.

While change takes time it is possible, get the support you need to be successful.

Contact Us at 1800.707.9580 if you have any questions on how to get or stay track.

I won’t ask you to do anything I won’t do myself.

Today at the Healthy Eating Seminar, I realized that I can and will not ask anyone to do something I myself will not. There has to be a better way to bring about change than counting every single bite of food.

Intuitive eating is one idea that is becoming very popular. It is based on the premise that if I am hungary, I can eat what ever I want. I have yet to hear of someone who became overweight from eating when they were really hungary. Have you?

At Active Wellness we have shifted our focus from quick fixes to quick wins. Let’s face it, we all want instant gratification, we are conditioned that way. One of the first things a baby does after being born is go to their mother’s breast for milk. Two factors are coming into play, the first is physical nourishment, and second is the relationship / nurturing love.

I believe most of us don’t have as much time as we would like to create nurturing, loving relationships that support our best selves. I also believe that if we had that nurturing, loving support we would have less of a reason to reach for food.

How can we receive the support we need in our lives? What people can we call on during a time of stress to support us? How can we generate supportive relationships to nurture our spirit?

I would love to hear your thoughts or comments!

Time for Pleasure….

How do you create moments of pleasure  or enjoyment in your life?

What are things you find pleasurable or enjoyable?

When was the last time you savored a moment, a sunrise, a hug, a walk, a piece of fruit (or chocolate for that matter)?

When there is only worldly enjoyment, there is no release.  When there is only release, there is no worldly enjoyment. But both worldly enjoyment and release are in the palm of the hand of those who are devoted to Higher Being.          KAULARAHASYA

Today I am committed to savoring one moment.

What is it about running races that is so exciting anyway?

Have you ever been with over 1,000 women excited to make a change in the world? It is powerful.

Today Active Wellness Running 101 Team ran the Red Dress Run for Womens Heart Health. At the start line I was pumped. When it was time to go, I ran my heart out. Throughout the run my mind went blank,  all I could do was breathe,  it felt exhilarating. On my way to the finish line, I began to become overwhelmed with gratitude for all that has happened in my life over this past year. I was grateful to be part of something that was going to help another woman. It was so rewarding knowing that my team was behind me.

This post is dedicated to creating heart health in all human beings.  Through positive thinking and the right support, change can and does happen.

I am privileged to have had the opportunity to witness some of your first races. I hope it is a memory that lasts forever in your heart! It will in mine!

One change at a time!

Weight loss?

Over the years I have worked with many clients who have lost weight! Some were beyond a shadow of a doubt, ready to make a change and began taking action immediately. Each week was a new success! Today most of my clients who have lost weight are keeping it off! They have also come to love exercise, and live a healthy lifestyle!

When thinking about weight loss consider a few things: Am I ready to become an observer of my own behaviors around food? Am I willing to get the proper information about weight loss? Am I willing to lose weight in a healthy way? Am I looking for a quick fix? How will my environment have to change? How will my relationships change? How will I have to change? What supports will I need in place to help with the change? What new behaviors will I do to produce the weight loss I desire?

I have also worked with clients who were not ready to make a change in terms of weight loss. Even though weight loss was not a priority making a lifestyle  change was!

I want to congratulate my clients that have made significant lifestyle changes! Sticking to consistent strength training, cardiovascular training and flexibility training program is a huge accomplishment! We live in a mostly sedentary culture and choosing to be Active is a big step! Mindful eating and choosing more servings of fruit, veggies, lean protein and whole grains are also major changes! They add to greater health by decreasing your risk for developing heart disease, cancer and diabetes! These self caring behaviors also lead to greater happiness! We take care of the things we love!

I invite you to ponder this quote by Marianne Williamson, ” We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

The light in me honors the light in you! – Namaste

What ever it takes!

Sometimes in life we sacrifice. We decide that there is a dream in our heart worthy of dedication. When we hold on to that dream with faith, we create new possibilities that if nurtured become an amazing life. Thought: How I can I live more authentically each day?

Don’t have time for Meditation?

Dear Friends,

When we are moving (exercising), creating mindfulness allows us to become one with the present moment.  When we are one with the present moment, three things can occur according to Eckhart Tolle author of, The Power of Now.

1. We experience enthusiasm for what we are involved in.

2. Experience enjoyment with what we are involved in.

3. We experience acceptance of what we are involved with.

According to Tolle, some things in life will not be enjoyable, and at that point we must experience acceptance. If we can’t accept what we are doing then we might want to do something else that we can accept. Thus saving ourselves from creating a toxic environment. Imagine a world where everyone in it was in one of these three states, how delightful it would be. I suppose that is why he wrote the book, A New Earth.

According to author and medical doctor Michell May, there are two reasons why we eat: hunger, and then everything else. Her idea being, if I am eating for a reason other than hunger why would I stop when I am full?

Putting Tolle and Mays ideas together we go back to the idea of choice. Our life is made of a series of choices and at times we are unconscious of what we choose. We can be driven by past conditioning and impulses. By becoming present, we can open up our world to greater possibilities for enjoyment and enthusiasm, allowing us to feel in-charge and empowered.

If we can stay present when we exercise, not only are we achieving the benefits of greater neuromuscular facilitation, creating a more toned and sculpted physique,  but we are creating more peace in our world.  All forms of exercise can be a moving meditation.

In light and love,

Christina & Drew

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Filling up on Love

Good Evening.

I just had a chance to spend time with my partners mother and his 7-year-old niece. They came over because “Santa” bought her a mini-donut maker and she need to use our microwave. She has wanted it for the last two years but never asked for it.

About two weeks ago we took her to the store and asked her to go through the isle and make a list. She had to put a star next to the two most important toys she wanted.

(Kind of what we do when we make our Wellness Vision Plan)

We told her we would mail off the letter to “Santa”,

(adding an element of Faith, Acceptance, and Patience)

and on Christmas day she got her Crazy Donut maker.

(Manifestation)

Today we made the donuts with her, which totaled to be about two one inch circles each.

(The best portion control I have ever had.)

In the back round her grandmother was pruning the plants and talking with Drew about the magic in life. I felt  a still calm presence. We put candles in the donuts and sang to a Happy New Year.