Getting back on the (exercise) horse

So, after feeling sorry for myself for several days now, and fighting a nasty sinus thing, I decided even if I couldn’t breathe, I was exercising. So out came Yoga Booty Ballet Live Cardio Cabaret and I brought the sexy back, in all my sinus glory.

I really can’t tell you how wonderful YBB is, nor can I fully explain the beauty of yoga. There is something so peaceful about, something that makes me feel connect to the world around me.

When I do yoga, I feel like I finally belong. Everything makes sense.

A little eccentric, yes, but, that’s me. I tell it like it is.

It was rather enjoyable to do YBB with my cats, as they have a tendency to join in during the warm up and cool down. They are particularly fond of savasana, though my little man express an interest in the breath of fire this evening, and I have the scratches to prove it. Apparently the rapid motion was too interesting to ignore.

During this brief hiatus, I realized just how important exercise was to my mental health. Simply not doing some sort of activity for a few days sent me into a spiral quick. I began to doubt myself. I began to question everything. I realized that I had been suffering the last few years, going through bouts of depression, all because I wasn’t engaging my mind-body-spirit connection enough. Now that I’m exercising more, I can feel the connection re-emerging and I feel healthier, more whole, more alive.

In my family, exercise has been a side effect of medical conditions. No one really exercised for mental and emotional well being. It was either to lose weight, or keep a disease in control. While I would like to lose weight, I would rather lose the weight of the mental and emotional baggage I’m carrying, rather than lose 25 pounds so I can get a guy to wink at me.

Though I have a sneaking feeling that when the emotional baggage is gone, the weight will be too. Bonus!

I’ve readjusted my attitude. I don’t care about the numbers. I don’t care about the size of my jeans. I care about being healthy, happy and stable. Exercise is not a solution, it is a way of life. It is now my life.

It can be yours too, if you choose.

Yoga Booty Ballet

Finding motivation when there's none there

I admit, I’ve been feeling less than motivated lately. Perhaps I tried to do too much the first week. I was on a roll. It was an awesome feeling. I enjoyed it. But then my body went ‘yeah I don’t think so.’ And I went into a valley of lack of energy and motivation. It happens, but we have to fight through it. I’ve been fighting through it, even if it isn’t at 100 percent, I’ve been sticking to a schedule, incorporating some bit of cardio or weight training in my day in some way.

That’s the key to it.

It also helps to have friends around to help motivate and inspire you. That’s one thing I like about BeachBody, they have plenty of forums for you to join to find people who are going through the same thing as you are. I’ve come to rely on the forums, as a means of keeping me accountable for my actions.

Maybe that’s all that I needed.

http://www.beachbodycoach.com/coachcaro

Shakeology

I really don’t like taking vitamins. I do, but I hate taking the eight different vitamins and minerals first thing in the morning to help me feel better and be healthier. Well I found a replacement, and I love it. Its tasty and refreshing and its so filling. Shakeology is so good, and I love making it into this thick, cold smoothie. It’s almost so filling I can’t finish it.

Okay, now there is a lot of good stuff packed into this one little shake. Anti-oxidants. A great serving of daily vitamins. Loads of fiber and protein. It is after all, the healthiest meal of the day!
If you have a problem with swallowing those giant horse pills, you should try Shakeology. I promise you won’t be sorry.

In addition to the Shakeology, I’ve also started taking BeachBody supplements (yes, I’m still choking down pills, some things just wouldn’t taste right in a shake!!). I’ve added the Slimming Pack and the Joint Renewal to my diet. I have to admit, I’ve been using them for only a week, but I’ve already lost five pounds and I’ve never felt better. My knees, which I have really bad arthritis in those joints, hasn’t bothered me at all. Between the Shakeology and the additional supplements, I have had so much energy and want to get out to work out. I enjoy work outs more, because I do have energy, I don’t have pain and I’m seeing results.

I mean, come on, five pounds in basically 10 days? That’s incredible. I owe it all to BeachBody.