Exercising first thing in the day

The alarm rings, the room is dark, you look at the square red lights on the clock as they read 5:30 and then you hit the snooze button, all of the while thinking of all of the reasons that you should stay in bed this morning.

We should be careful of what we listen to inside of our mind first thing in the morning. Remember, these thoughts come from the same place as the dream that you just had that you were walking down the street naked in your childhood neighborhood.

I know it can be difficult to get up first thing in the morning, especially if you continue to tell your self that (manifesting your destiny). But it could well be the best gift that you give yourself that day. I have been exercising with my girlfriend that last 3 mornings, and though it is difficult, it has an amazing effect on me the rest of the day. As opposed to exercising later in the day, getting your "run on" in the morning gets it out of the way and opens your mind to focus on other things.

My schedule can be a little wacky in that 6 months out of the year i am getting up at 5:30am to coach soccer, so Iam forced to exercise in the afternoon or evening unless I can jump in with the players. On days when I exercise later, it is always in the back of my mind that I have to exercise and clouds up my mind.

But when I get my exercise done in the morning, my mind if free to focus on other things. Not only am I more productive, but my mind is free-er and open to new ideas, thoughts and possibilities.

What really helps me is that my exercise partner doesn't let me off the hook. She'll allow me to hit the snooze button one more time, but when it is time to meet, don't be late. I also told her that I would buy her a tea at Starbucks for each day I don't get up and exercise this week. Though I don't mind treating her to tea, I hate to lose.

To get up early, follow these guidelines:
1. Strong mental mindset in the morning when the alarm goes off.
2. Affirm that you will have a great day
3. Get a partner that will hold you accountable
4. Create leverage for yourself. Some type of pain that force you to rise in the morning.

Tony Robbins says to jump out of bed in the morning, that motion creates emotion. Just move and walk out the door, don't look back!

New outlook on Food

I went camping in Big Sur two weeks ago.

Before I had ever cleansed, I would always pack a ton of food, 2x what I needed. Because I could not live without food. I had fear and insecurity.

But as I was packing and preparing food this time I could look back on the days that I went without hearty foods, and I had the confidence that if we ran out of food a day early, that we would be okay, that we would survive.

I feel so blessed, stronger and a better person for having experienced a cleanse.

Why bother cleansing, when your body does it naturally?

I came across this article this morning and while most of it was interesting, I don't necessarily agree with the last part.

Our body does naturally cleanse itself, it's a beautiful temple that we live in. However, when people keep putting processsed foods, alchohol, cigarettes, caffeine, sugar (which create yeast), etc. into their body, the body does not have time to cleanse itself because our first priority is to break down the bad stuff that we put into our body. (I am not here to judge people, but we should know by now that putting these things in our bodies makes the body do extra work. I know, because I consume a few on occasion.)

Once our body can break down these items, then it can get to work cleansing. But if it is on a 24 hour cycle, which I know very well, then the body never gets a chance to cleanse.

Then the story goes on to say that the body will cleanse itself if we live healthy lifestyles, which I believe true. But most people do not live healthy lifestyles, so for someone to cleanse for three days is at least a step in the right direction. Hopefully, when a person cleanses, they will see the positive benefits, and may change their consumption habits from 1-360 degrees.

And about the gentlemen gaining the five pounds back. The the pain it takes to keep weight off must not have been worth the pleasure that he gets from eating.

Bottom line - Use cleansing as a short chance to rest your body and see if you really can live without the foods that cause you grief.

*********************************************************************************

Maybe not harmful, but not helpful, either

Critics of such cleansing programs say they might not be dangerous in the short term (though still others say three days isn’t enough time off normal eating to be effective) but they aren’t actually helpful either.

Lisa Sasson of the New York University School of Public Health says the programs do little more than “making very expensive urine” and that “our body naturally cleanses itself.”

She says such programs can actually be dangerous if people eat unhealthy foods most of the time and think drinking juice for three days negates the bad effects of junk. Instead, she said, our organs will do all the cleansing we need if we eat healthy diets and have active lifestyles.

For his part, Berman says he lost five pounds on the cleanse, but after going back to his regular eating habits he gained the weight back in a week.
(By Sarah E. White for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)