no title because my brain won't come up with one

Hidey-Ho! Thanks for swingin' by to read my blog!  For the loyal 3 fans that read when I post regularly, my apologies for being so absent lately!  I have honestly been wrapped up in my new jobS and reading and prepping for work and working out! 

As for the New Year, New Ideas post (followed by Beets and Avocados) - those ideas are still on track!  Just on hold, for right now.  The beets, as a matter of fact, are in the veggie drawer in my fridge and I have a recipe picked out . . . just haven't made it yet! 

Perhaps more importantly, I haven't been writing to hold myself accountable for exercise!  I have been working out daily (with perhaps one lazy day) for the last two weeks!!!!  My body feels stronger and more flexible and I am sleeping so soundly.  *(Sleeping has been amazing since I moved back to Minnesota . . . my DIStress level has been nearly non-existent and my mind and body have felt very peaceful.)  Back to exercise, I've been able to attend one or two group exercise classes per week, leading an exercise class once per week in which I partake (soon to be two), walk dogs daily (anywhere from 10-40 minutes) and yesterday, I did yoga in my living room before work!  I've been more mindful about why I am exercising and how my body feels both before and after activit[ies].  My 'plan' and hope is that if I am more intrinsically motivated to move than I am extrinsically motivated (because lets be real, external motivators will never be nonexistent!), I will remember to be mindful, patient, and persistent in how/how often/when I exercise.

Of course, I have goals of completing another sprint triathlon, completing a half-marathon, and participating in a Tough Mudder and a Warrior Dash, I know my body and mind - if I try to do too much to quickly, my body reacts with pain and my mind becomes discouraged when I miss workouts or "don't feel" like exercise. 

As I am writing, my words don't seem to me like they flow - like I am forcing this post.  I'm not!  But I wanted to get back into writing more regularly . . . both to work on my writing, chronicle my thoughts, hold myself accountable for exercise, & provide some motivation and reality for my clients and readers -- all of those things.  I hope :)

Until next time (hopefully within a week!) - Be Well !!! :-)

Stress Affects/Effects

Heeeey! :)


Welcome back to the reading of my writing of my narcissistic all-knowing and definitely all-telling (because if I KNOW it all, why wouldn't I TELL it all, too?  Sharing is caring, right?!)  Thanks to my loyal readers that stalk check in somewhat regularly to see if I have any interesting words of wisdom to pass along :)

Today, I am sitting at the library, ostensibly working, and needing to be working on a literature review OR an evaluation proposal OR studying for a finance exam >:-O Rawr.  I have been drooling over Canyon Ranch for the last 30 minutes (not to mention applying to two more jobs with them) and need NEED need to focus on my homework.  So, what do I do?  Check my email, of course!  And I find that my goodie Stacy has sent me a neat link to a Mindfulness Center website and a link to an article that I will post here --> Treating Depression with Prescription to Exercise <-- :) :)  Which prompted me to open my blog and get to saying, "HEY! Guess what?  I would prefer not to be sitting at the computer right now but I am and I'd rather be sharing exciting stuff with YOU than trying to regurgitate other people's research into another paper!" 

I've had the next link for quite a while just waiting for the right 'post' to set it free into the world of blog-readers. . .and today is the day . . . I'm not sure if it is because I complain often about my growing belly size (aka 'food baby') or if it is because of all of the recent chatter about the holidays+food+impending-new-years-resolutions-to-eat-healthier-and-exercise-more.  Either way, the next little piece is from Dr. Oz: A little info about how stress[ors] physiologically affect the body and literally have a role in weight gain - not just a foo-foo, willy-nilly, you-just-want-an-excuse-to-eat-more-so-you-say-you-are-stressed-so-you-stress-eat ~ no, no!  This is real, folks!  And I do NOT say this or share this because I think any of us need another lame excuse for our ridiculous reliance on food and quick-weight-loss solutions.  I say this because it is real, and stress has *REAL*HORMONAL*PHYSIOLOGICAL*MANIFESTATION* within the body!!  Check it out.  And-you don't need to buy any of the products that the website is advertising.  But check out 'cortisol' and 'stress' and how they are associated.  Pretty interesting. 
Next time you are feeling stressed and want to eat a big bowl of ice cream, maybe going for a walk or doing some meditative breathing is more likely what your body needs. . . :)

Have a wonderful weekend!  Turn on some tunes while you clean house or rake your neighbors leaves or take your dog to the dog park and walk around while your doggy plays!  Find new ways to move :)



http://alwayssick.com/2011/02/19/the-dr-oz-belly-fat-cure-how-stress-and-cortisol-affect-belly-size/