Get a massage!

I love massages, and I don't care who knows it!

I got a free 15 minute massage last Friday - courtesy of work....ahhhh it was great! Honestly it made me just want to go back home and sleep instead of going back to my desk (that's what I get for doing it first thing in the morning -- lesson learned).

I wouldn't say I'm an EXPERT massage-ist (is that the right word? :) ), but I've had quite a few in my short life. Every experience except for one has been absolutely wonderful. What's the "one", you ask? *sigh* it makes me so unrelaxed just thinking about it.

The Turkish Experience

How I Stay in Shape by Marilyn Monroe

Hello my lovelies,

In an effort to combine my favorite era with one of my favorite activities...exercise... I think Marilyn Monroe's workout routine is the most fitting place to start! While I definitely agree with being active every day, I'm not so sure I'd follow her eating habits.

How I Stay in Shape

"FRANKLY, I've never considered my own figure so exceptional; until quite recently, I seldom gave it any thought at all. My biggest single concern used to be getting enough to eat. Now I have to worry about eating too much. I never used to bother with exercises. Now I spend at least 10 minutes each morning working out with small weights. I have evolved my own exercises, for the muscles I wish to keep firm, and I know they are right for me because I can feel them putting the proper muscles into play as I exercise.

Is Your Desk Job Killing You?

Hello my lovelies,

     If you're like me, you sit and stare at a computer screen all day...isn't it exhausting?? I've never been more aware of how much I sit until I moved to this office. Sure, I sat in all my other offices too, but it's really magnified this time. Why are we always in a rush to sit? We rush to the car to sit in traffic...we rush into work to sit at our desk...we rush back home to sit on the couch and watch tv... It feels good sometimes, but we're damaging our bodies far more than we thought!

     It wasn't until the past 2-3 years (when I started getting into working out) that I realized just how bad sitting for hours upon hours is for us. Like a lot of people, I thought my minimum 30 minutes of exercise was enough to make up for sitting all day. Turns out I was wrong! The pros recommend getting up EVERY HOUR and moving around for at least 10-15 minutes. That doesn’t mean you have to go jog around the building (though please do if you feel the urge!), but simply standing up at your desk and doing a few stretches will do the trick. BOTTOM LINE: KEEP MOVING THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
 

     For those of you concerned about the impact a sedentary lifestyle has on you and for ways to combat this “disease”, please keep reading…I’ll try to make it as concise as possible!

What happens when I sit?

 

Immediately:

Yoga You, Yoga Me

     Well I suppose I can't use the excuse of "I'm in the middle of a move" anymore as to why I haven't been posting. To answer your question, no...I haven't been moving since February (my last post--about motivation of all things). And no, I still haven't settled yet either. Do you know how hard it is to write about [insert topic here] when you barely have time to think about it? My September resolution, since New Years is too far away, is to follow through with this! Why did I ever stop? 

     Anyway, here we are. I'm lounging with a glass of wine reading about harmful effects of certain everyday chemicals. If you've never done that before, I highly recommend it. That's slightly sarcastic but I'm also kind of serious. If it doesn't light a fire under you then I don't know what will! That's why I've thought up a new approach...fitness isn't just about the physical aspect. It needs to be holistic [I hate using that word]. Body, mind, spirit, ENVIRONMENT <-- thanks to my aforementioned chemical research.      

     I want to be honest with you right now. I started this particular post in July. JULY! But I never got around to finishing it. While it might not encompass all of the above Pillars of Fitness (I just came up with that and I'm not going to Google it to see if someone else thought of it first!), YOGA does focus on the body/mind/spirit aspects. So here we go...

     I always liked the idea of yoga without actually liking yoga. It seemed really great when wealthy, beautiful TV characters could while away a morning by going to the yoga studio followed by a mimosa-filled brunch. Well I decided I would make that my life! Minus the mimosas and brunch in the middle of the week unfortunately.

Unless it's a mimosa...

How to Get AND STAY Motivated!

Whether you're just starting your workout routine or you're a fitness expert, sometimes it can be difficult to motivate yourself to maintain the program. Like most things in life, what works for someone else may not work for you. If you need motivation, it's up to YOU to figure out what will work for you. Read the tips below to help you get started!

1. Track Your Progress

A daily tracker can be a good source of inspiration once you find your drive to be waning. Tracking your workouts, nutrition, and accomplishments will allow you to see how far you've come. Seeing your results weekly will make you more amped to work out.

WWII Fit Test

Kids and Kittens,

Ever wonder how you would stack up against the WWII GIs? Try out the test below!

I stumbled upon this article on The Art of Manliness page, and it's just fantastic! (Though I don't agree with the form pictured for squat jumps.) I think we should incorporate more of this type of workout into the current military tests. What do you think?

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