Be Energized – Part 3 of Spring Cleaning for the Soul

Okay, I have to be honest with you, I am really writing this post to myself more than I am to you.  And for those of you that know me personally, you know this is true!  Since I have been home from the mountain, I have not done ANY exercising at all…nada….zero, zip, zilch.  Why, you ask?  It seemed like the perfect opportunity to keep a great thing going, right?  Well, I can give you a gazillion reasons why, the same ones I’ve been giving to myself for the past few months, but they are just that, excuses.  Silly little excuses I have used to justify my unwillingness to experience the discomfort that comes along with change.  Change is never comfortable, is it?  Yet, change is a choice that has fringe benefits beyond all the silly little excuses we can give.  In this case, to go along with my series Spring Cleaning for the Soul, the change I am referring to is exercise, which translates into ENERGY, and who couldn’t use more energy in their day, right?

The statistics explain themselves and we have heard it so many times before…exercise has benefits not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well.  And I don’t know about you, but I am ready to give change a chance again.  Life is way too short to waste another day.

For you, it may be reaching a weight loss goal, or overcoming a past sports or training injury, whatever it is, choose to make a change, and then do it  ~  Today!  I have been looking into a few ideas that may help inspire us to “get off the couch and into an activity”…maybe one of them is perfect for you!

1.)  Join a gym.  Having a gym membership may inspire you to actually go and use it since it’s costing you money.  Plus, with the plethora of classes, equipment and trainers available, chances are you will never get bored with your workouts!  While I was training for the mountain I really enjoyed going to the gym, except for the fact that my classes were before daylight…but if this option will motivate you to exercise more, research the gyms in your area and find one that’s right for you!

2.)  Start the Couch-to-5K program.  I have investigated this one and I really like it!  This is the one I am choosing to do because I have a goal of becoming a runner one day.  Plus, it starts you out with baby steps (ones that you can actually accomplish), it gets you off the couch and at the end of 9 weeks, you’ll be able to run a 5K!  Click the picture above or HERE for the link to Cool Running’s website, the creators of this awesome program, and learn how to implement this program today.

3.)  Get walking.  If you work in an environment where you sit most of the day, try taking walk breaks.  You can add 30 minutes of walking every day if you structure them right.  Or at lunch, instead of eating in the break room, try eating your lunch while taking a brisk walk outside (not only will it get you moving, but I bet you’ll eat less too!)  You may even be inspired to start a “walking club” with some of your co-workers which will not only make walking more enjoyable, but also provide you with great accountability partners.

4.)  Play with your kids.  I love this one because the benefits are so long-term ~ everyone will get healthier and you’ll build a special bond with your kids!  You can play basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, tag, hide-and-seek…it’s endless!  Mix it up and play something different each time.  A fun idea is to get together with your kids and make a list of all the different activities you can play together, then cut them up and stick them in an “Exercise Jar”.  When the time comes to exercise, stick your hand in the jar and whatever comes out is what you have to do.  The anticipation of not knowing makes it that much more exciting for the kids!  Just be careful because this one is easy to quit doing.  Make a plan and stick to it…and be active at least 3 times/week.

In addition to whatever plan you choose, you need to be sure you are also eating healthy and drinking plenty of water to insure maximum results.  These changes, which initially can be uncomfortable, will have such a lasting impact and long-term effect.  You CAN choose to Get Energized and I promise that if you do, you will not only feel better physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well.  You deserve it, and so do your loved ones!  So, my challenge to you today is this….Get off the couch and GET ENERGIZED!!

Happy exercising!