The Power Within… Just Change Your Mind

No Theme, Just Some Thoughts

So its a New Year! How are your resolutions going? Im not sure if it is the fact that I am getting older or maybe its that I am becoming wiser, but I sure find myself happy that the holidays are over. I find myself eager to be done with the eating and socializing holiday and comforted with finally being in the New Year. The New Year always brings a motivation that is different than any other time of the year, a motivation to get back to normal, whether its the same ole normal from last year or whether it has a tweaked new motivation with some new changes.

I was scanning through the half dozen magazines that are sitting on my desk right now; every single magazine has just about identical articles. This Belly Fat, Flattening your Tummy craze that we are in continues to just amaze me. This topic continues to be on the front cover of too many magazines. All the quick fix articles also ridiculous! If only our health and fitness routines were really that easy to fix! Finally, weight loss success stories! Im not trying to be a New Year scrooge and its not that Im not happy for these individuals, its just enough already!

Its all the same; every one of these articles has an identical base concept. Eat less and exercise more, two of the hardest things to do! Yes, its just that simple. Yes, I know that exercise is hard and in fact most of the time its pretty boring as well, but it needs to be done. Same with eating properly and doing all the basic things that we need to do in order to remain healthy. Im sure that every one of the individuals featured with their successful weight loss would agree with me, the difficult task of losing weight, exercising regularly and then maintaining it. They chose to do it, to work hard and success came to them, just like it will to everyone who makes that decision. Guess what? If you eat less and exercise more, Ill bet you that youll have a flatter belly as well, with less belly fat!

Im feeling a little stressed this New Year and I dont think Im the only one feeling this way. The financial craziness that is happening all around us is enough to put all of us on edge. I was reading something recently about how the stresses of economic hardships affect people so differently. Are you tightening your financial boot straps a little more this year? Looking for ways to burn off those worried thoughts and concerns going through your head? I know that my exercise saves me when I begin to feel the stress. Its amazing how exercise has a way of clearing and calming the mind. It also is able to reduce the tension and pain that stress can physically manifest in your body. Exercise also has a way of giving you an energy that can be used to make things better, an energy that is used to do more, feel more, be more and make more of every situation.

I learned something new last year. I took a class and started studying the art of meditation and self hypnosis. Yes, believe it or not, I never practiced meditation because I always felt that Id just fall asleep and youd just find me snoozing 4 hours later. Its been good for me, Ive found that Im able to take a deep breath and use it therapeutically to clear out frustrations and encourage my brain cells to focus and snap back into working order. We all know how important it is to breathe properly and take the time to rest and relax not only our bodies but also our brains.

So these were just various thoughts of mine today, as I put this article together. Sometimes an article just comes together with a central theme and other times not. I hope you are finding your own way of making 2009 O.K. for you. Remember, no matter what choices you make, what goals you set for yourself and what stresses you are under, exercise can and will help!

Deborah Holmes

January 13, 2009