I'm so sorry for the poor quality of the video, but I can't afford a camera, and for my many mistakes. I hope I get better as I do this more.
Oh, and please excuse my general dishabille. It's been a long day.
For those of you who do NOT wish to watch the video, here's a quick overview of it:
This blog post is to address the fact that there are some things in life we should change about ourselves, i.e. the things we don't like, and then there are things we shouldn't change at all. And since I've spent so many of my blog posts discussing what I don't like about myself, I thought it'd be a nice change of pace to list the positive things I find in myself.
And today was a great example of that.
I went out with a friend today. She recently was injured at work, her head being smashed between two objects. Because of that, she lost her memory. That's right, I know someone with amnesia.
In a single swoop, this girl lost everything she had ever known. The very idea sends a chill down my spine. I can only imagine how much she's suffering right now.
When someone at work was bad-mouthing my friend the other day, I surprised myself by speaking up for her despite the fact that it meant confronting someone. I don't do confrontation, but in the case of defending my friend, I did it, anyway.
And that surprised me.
But not as much as my actions today surprised me. When a car was coming toward my friend while we were crossing the street today, I instinctively stepped in front of the car, blocking her from harm. And I angrily stared down the driver of the vehicle, daring them to try to get through me to hurt her.
Life had hurt this girl enough as it was. Enough was enough. If someone had to be hurt in that moment, it was going to be me. She was not going to have to suffer something else on top of all she's already going through.
That amazed me. I never thought of myself as the type of person who stands up for justice or righteousness. But I did it. Right then. When the moment came, I did it.
And I'm awe-struck by that fact.
Do you, too, have something about yourself that you actually like and find positive? If so, list it in the comments below and tell us all about it.
Two Announcements:
1.) I will be integrating my diet change and cooking healthier alternatives into my schedule beginning Thursday, April 11th.
2.) I will begin jogging 3 days a week from now on, eventually moving myself to a 5 days a week regimen.
Thank you so much for listening if you did, and for taking the time to read this, even if you didn't listen. Have a good one and don't forget to get out there and do something!
Daily Stats:
- Exercised, stretched, meditated, and worked on my writing twice today. Jogging day #1.
- Wrote in my journal, kept on budget, and wrote a poem today.
- Posted on my blog. Video blog post of week DONE.
- Made my bed and cleaned my car out.
So, if you read yesterday's post, you're probably convinced that exercise is a worthwhile use of your time. But how do you exercise? There's literally hundreds of ways, but here are some good places to start:
1.) Walking.
Sure, it's pretty anticlimactic, but walking is honestly one of the greatest exercises we have available to us. It's easy on the knees, and if you power walk over long distances, you'll be amazed by the calorie burn you're capable of just by this simple exercise.
It's also dirt cheap. An important consideration if you're as broke as I am.
2.) Jogging or Running.
Is walking too tame for you? Then maybe you should try jogging. You'll burn more calories, and feel amazing to boot! Another interesting plus: if you're ever attacked by a knife-wielding madman, you might be able to outrun him.
This is another dirt cheap option on your exercise list.
3.) Strength exercises at home.
Push ups, pull ups, crunches, planks, etc. The list of potential strength exercises you can do from the comfort of your own bedroom is practically endless. Each one is a great way to build strength, and many sustained reps of them are a great means of creating muscular endurance.
This option can get expensive if you decide to use more than your own body as your exercise machine. Pull up bars, dumbbells, and even private bench presses can be purchased to make this option even easier if you want. This can literally be as cheap or as expensive an exercise as you want.
4.) Yoga.
An amazing exercise that improves flexibility and breathing. While I recommend the flexibility, and even recommend that you should use meditation, some warnings: a lot is said of the weight loss and strength training capabilities of yoga. While yoga is truly very healthy for you, less evidence has been found for these effects beyond flexibility and general well-being.
This one isn't as cheap as the other options. While you can study and train yourself to do yoga with library books, it's a lot easier to sign up for a class or get a DVD. Which involves spending money.
5.) Join a gym.
This one is obvious. You can join a gym and use the facilities there, all dedicated to the very subject you're interested in: exercise! I have a lot of friends who have jumped on this means of exercise.
There is no cheap option for this one. If you want to join a gym, you're going to have to fork over some dough. Sorry.
6.) Swim.
If you have access to a pool, this can be an amazing means of exercise. The risk of injury in the pool is much less than running, cycling, or sports. And it works the muscles of the body to an amazingly thorough degree.
If you already have a pool, this is another free means of exercise. However, if you don't, you'll have to buy one, get a membership to a gym or public pool, or schmooze over someone to let you access one regularly.
7.) Skiing/snowboarding, surfing, or skateboarding.
Wherever you live, there is probably snow, waves, or pavement to shred. These can be a really fun way to get active, and may even make you feel like a kid again!
Not too expensive an option. Unless you feel the need to move somewhere you can catch waves or snow drifts, that is. In which case, this option might just break your bank.
8.) Playing a sport.
Basketball, baseball, football, tennis, whatever. Any sport that makes you get up and move is a means of exercise and it's well worth the effort. Plus, it can be really fun!
This will be more expensive than just walking, but not quite as expensive as joining a gym...unless you have to join the gym to get regular access to these kinds of facilities. But usually a local park can do just as well.
9.) Bicycling.
As the days get warmer, we're all going to see more people out on the road with their bicycles. And why not? It's a fantastic way to kill two birds with one stone. You're getting to places you want to go, AND burning calories as you get there. What's there to lose in that scenario?
This is one option that is going to cost money. And it can get VERY expensive the deeper you get into it. A good bicycle can cost you close to $1000! But you can buy cheaper ones at your local Walmart to start for around $100.
10.) Dancing.
Going to your local club, while bad on the calorie intake (beer is a heavy hitter), can be a great way to exercise. The constant movements and sustained exercise you do while dancing is a real calorie eater, and you can have a LOT of fun with this one.
This can be as cheap as listening to your radio from the comfort of your own home to as expensive as signing up for professional training. And there are a lot of things in-between there. Usually there are a few cheap dancing classes at your local community center or gym, and DVDs are prolific. But if you want a free demonstration, you can always google it and watch the YouTube videos.
Whatever way you exercise, it's important that you do it often and safely. Listen to your body as you go, and don't overdo it just to impress anyone or in the name of "health". Injuries are never good for your health, and improper exercising is an accident waiting to happen! Research the safest way to do whatever activity you choose before you do it, and you can minimize these risks.
But, most of all, have fun!
Daily Stats:
- Exercise, stretched, meditated, and worked on writing twice today.
- Wrote in journal, kept to my budget, and wrote a poem today.
- Posted on my blog.
- Made my bed and picked up around my room.
We all know we should exercise. But why should we exercise? Knowing that, and keeping it in mind each day when it's time to sweat through your clothes, makes you that much more likely to do it.
1.) Exercise combats health conditions and diseases.
If there was a pill we could take that could magically reduce our risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, metabolic syndrome, depression, certain types of cancers, arthritis, and falls, we'd all take it, right? Well, that pill exists. It just isn't a pill. All it takes is a little exercise each day to prevent major health conditions that could permanently alter your world as you know it.
Isn't that worth a little sweat and burn?
2.) Exercise improves mood.
Exercise sends off all those nice endorphins in the brain, making you feel good. Plus, regular exercise has been shown to improve your self-image and confidence.
Having troubles with self-esteem? Maybe you should just take a walk...every day for a month. See how you feel.
3.) Exercise boosts energy.
This one is a deal-breaker for me. I have struggled with meeting goals and making things happen in my life for years. Exercise has helped me push through on my goals and start making things happen in my life.
It's really no mystery. Regular physical activity delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. If your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you're going to have more energy for the other activities in your day.
4.) Exercise promotes better sleep.
As long as you don't exercise too close to sleep, you'll find that you'll fall asleep faster and sleep deeper if you exercise often. And of course, the more deep sleep you get, the more energy you'll have the next day.
Deeper sleep has also been shown to combat health problems. Want better health overall? Exercise is the magic pill!
You just have to take it.
5.) Exercise controls weight.
Well, most of us know that. But have you ever REALLY thought about it? Each day, you ingest copious amounts of fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, as well as a host of other chemical compounds. And you have to do that, just to survive. But what happens if you do nothing to offset this intake? If you take in more than you work off, you're going to gain weight until you're the size of a whale.
Or just dead.
But regular exercise means that you're subtracting as much (or more) as you're adding in. It's simple math. If you want to change your size, you have to make the numbers work in your favor. Exercise is the only reasonable means you have of subtracting more than you take in. There is no other way (diet is reducing the amount you add; but it doesn't really subtract anything).
6.) Exercise makes you smarter.
Or, at least, it makes you more capable of applying your intelligence. Studies have shown people who exercise are more able to focus, are faster at reacting to problems, have better memories, and better cognitive function in general.
So, exercise really is a no-brainer.
7.) Exercise reduces stress.
Had a hard day at work? Try a quick run. A little exercise can help you unwind from that confrontation you had with a coworker or the mean customer you faced today.
And everyone knows that stress today is killing us. The more you reduce your stress, the better you're going to feel.
8.) Exercise improves your sex life.
Well, of course. Sex is a physical effort in and of itself. So improving your, erm, performance will improve your sex life. Not to mention, self-esteem and confidence are great at improving anyone's sex life, and we've already mentioned how exercise improves you there!
But there's more to it than that. According to MayoClinic.com, regular exercise leads to enhanced arousal in women. And men who exercise are less likely to have problems like erectile dysfunction. (Check out the article here)
9.) Exercise keeps your bones strong.
As you get older, osteoporosis is a real danger. You could lose the ability to run, walk, even stand! But with a little exercise each day, you could keep all of that from happening, increasing your chances of independence into your old age.
And how many of us actually want to live in a retirement home if we can help it?
10.) Exercise is actually fun!
It's true! Exercise can be a source of enjoyment in and of itself. And not just for health nuts (no offense). So-called "normal" people can enjoy exercise, too.
The key is finding an exercise you actually like doing. Swimming, kayaking, skiing, there are a lot of options out there. And anything that gets you moving is worth it. Heck, they even have Wii games that get you going, if you don't want to experience the real thing. Just find something that fits your likes and dislikes, and get going! You might be surprised by how much you like it (I certainly have been).
Does anyone else have any other reasons to exercise? What motivators have you found that work for you?
Daily Stats:
- Exercised, stretched, meditated, and worked on my writing twice today.
- Wrote in my journal, stayed on budget, and wrote a poem today.
- Posted on blog.
- Made bed, picked up in my room, and organized my desk.
An object in motion stays in motion. But an object at rest, stays at rest.
You may recognize Newton's first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia. Why am I mentioning it here?
Because this blog is all about changing your life. And the only way you can change your life is if you have the energy and ability to achieve your goals. Exercise is your body in motion. Once it begins to move, it'll continue moving and you'll lead a productive day.
You stay at rest, sitting in front of your television set or computer screen, however, and that's where you'll stay. Stuck. For the rest of your life.
A chilling thought, don't you think?
I exercise, not for the body I hope it gives me. Not for the desire to lose weight. I do it for my health. I do it for my goals. I do it to become a stronger person who can achieve anything.
I do it to stay in motion.
Daily Stats:
- Exercised, stretched, meditated, and worked on writing twice today.
- Wrote in journal and did NOT stay on budget.
- Posted on my blog.
- Picked up in room, cleaned out purse, and threw away trash on bed.
