Are you ready?

I am and I’m not.  I love Christmastime and what it’s all about – the real meaning of Christmas but as for the commercialism, the shopping, the advertising, it can all just disappear!  It amazes me when I watch television and see some of the suggestions for Christmas gifts.  I mean, seriously, a Mercedes – a BMW???? This economy has affected so many people.  Many people are doing “without” for the first time in their lives.  Some will be lucky to have a Christmas dinner and they are showing commercials portraying Santa delivering Mercedes and BMW Vehicles to everyone…wouldn’t that be nice??

But it’s not reality…

The most difficult part is protecting our children.  They are hit from all sides during the holidays!  It seems the commercials on television take up more airtime than the actual cartoon.  The convenience meals advertised by all of the fast food companies trying to entice our children to buy, buy, buy; the new latest and greatest doll, truck, video game, even cellular phones are portrayed as a “MUST HAVE ITEM” and our children don’t know any better.

Well, in my opinion, this is the Season to Give… so I will be sharing articles that I am providing to my 25 Days of Fitness clients throughout the month of December and into the New Year.  Hopefully, these articles will equip each of you with the tools necessary to make a real change in your life.  This, to me, is the best gift you can give yourself and your family, a healthier you!!  You will have more energy to play with your children or grandchildren, your self esteem will improve, you will feel like you are accomplishing something that you never thought possible, your clothes will fit better, and many existing health ailments could possibly disappear by simply adding a nutrition and exercise program…

The articles will begin next week.  I hope you enjoy them.  Feel free to share them with family and friends.  This is my gift to you…

Until next time….

The holidays are upon us and I don’t know about you, but it allows me to reflect upon my life, previous holidays, family, friends and all of the things we are Thankful for.

There are so many things we can be thankful for! Friends, Family, Health, Food on the Table, A Roof Over Our Heads, The Fact That We Reside In One of the Greatest Countries in the World, Freedom to Worship our God, oh there’s so much more!!

I also tend to think of family traditions.  My family has many traditions for Thanksgiving but many of them left when my folks were divorced – somehow the holidays just aren’t the same.  But there’s still Mom’s famous pies, Turkey and stuffing with mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and cranberry sauce that no one eats – oh and the black olives, we can’t forget those.  But as time has gone on, our family sort of does our own thing, mostly because my sister and I live on opposite coasts and my Dad is sort of in the middle.  Obviously, there is the rare occasion that one or the other is able to fly out but what with the expense…

So, for my sister, Mom’s famous pies have been replaced by her own – and they are just as delicious and she’s established her own traditions.  My Dad usually spends the day with his wife and her daughter and kids.

As for us…. well, my husband’s folks used to have a gathering with his uncle and his family but most have all passed on though we occasionally see the cousins, but not as previously.  One Thanksgiving in particular sticks out when his parents had already passed away we went to a French Restaurant for dinner.  It was fine dining at it’s best with waiters serving each course and the service was absolutely amazing.  The funny part is, a relative from the other side of their family had business with some gentlemen that week from China who joined us and they didn’t speak English. We dined with them, as well as his wife who was bi-lingual (spoke Chinese and English – Translating for all of us), and my husband’s Uncle and his kids.  It was quite an international experience and as bizarre as it sounds, it was one of the most memorable!

This year, as usual, it is sort of fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants as far as planning anything.  This year we are actually thinking about just eating dinner out.  Is that bad?  I don’t know but with a lousy oven and only four of us these days, Myself, Hubby, Son and my Mother, is it worth going through all the trouble just for one meal?  Of course, my Mother will still make her pie(s) but should we do the dinner?  Hmmm…

Yeah, the oven is an excuse. Two years ago I cooked a 14 lb. Turkey and it took ALL DAY!! We planned on eating at 2:00 and didn’t eat until something like 7:00!  My oven works only when it wants to…usually when I plan for it to not work, such as using the maximum time for recipes because it cooks slow, but it decides on that particular day to cook fast  and BURNS everything! Grrr…

So for now our plans are up in the air as they usually are 1 week before Thanksgiving – lol.  I’ll let you know what we’re doing next Wednesday, k?

Thanksgiving is known for high calories – overindulging – and laziness.  Why not try something different this year?  Get up early and have a nutritious breakfast such as oatmeal and egg white pancakes with light syrup and cinnamon, get in a vigorous workout or go for a hike or a long walk/jog.  Come back refreshed and energized and go ahead and prepare all of your traditional favorites but how about cutting the unhealthy recipes in half?  Then, prepare an extra large vegetable tray, a delicious salad, and fill up your plate with healthy greens.  Go ahead and enjoy the stuffing, potatoes, and all the fixings, but limit yourself to a tablespoon of each of the “Unhealthies” and fill up on the white meat and greens.  Have your meal EARLY so that there’s time for a workout or a brisk walk outdoors, then partake in a small sliver of pie – EARLY.  Try to limit your evening meal to something light and filling such as another small slice of Turkey Breast and a salad.

One Solution to Overindulgence….

I am offering a fitness boot camp for the holidays – “The 25 Days of Fitness“ to help keep our bodies fit during these holiday festivities. I hope you will consider joining me!  It runs throughout the holiday season and includes a T-shirt and a food journal.  What a great way to kick off the New Year!!!

Click Here for More Information:  25 Days of Fitness

I hope you will join me!!

I’d love to hear some of your Thanksgiving Traditions, Struggles, or just share what your plans are for this year!

Until Next Time….

Today is one of those unique days each year that our Country can actually come together and agree on something……that we must honor and thank our Veterans, past and  present, for their unselfish service to our great nation to protect and preserve our freedoms.

Freedoms that are often taken for granted.  Freedoms that have made our Country the great nation that it is and the freedoms that are the original foundation on which this Country stands.. and freedoms that offer opportunity and hope to other countries around the world…

May we take a moment to think about the history of this Country, the United States of America, and Thank God that we can be a part of something so amazing – a Country that, thus far, has been truly blessed by God.

A Sincere Thanks to All of the many young men and women who have gone to war to fight for a better world and a better life…

Thank you to all of the Armed Forces for your dedication, service, and sacrifice that you have given to your Countrymen, past, present and future…

6 STEPS TO FINDING BALANCE

By Holly Binkley – Fizik Fitness

Woman Housework

Balance is crucial for our total well-being and that’s why I have selected to share this topic in my blog.

In today’s society, we are constantly on the go. There are so many things demanding our attention; family, work and extracurricular activities.  With all of the technology you would think that things would be a bit simpler, but it’s just not so. In fact, personally, these ”convenience” items add more stress because now I have to check for texts, email, phone messages, snail mail, it becomes correspondence overload!!

We must take steps to prioritize all of the “things” that are cluttering up our lives.  It may take some sacrifice, perhaps giving up a few bad habits, but it is a necessity.  One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is we must learn to occasionally say “no”.

I have included a few steps to help you find balance in your life.

1. Check Priorities – This may take some time and some weeding out but definitely worth the effort! You must determine what it is that is eating up your minutes each day.  Are you surfing the web too long?  Have you included your children in too many activities?  Do you have time to work out?  Are you stopping too often at Fast Food Restaurants because “it is convenient” and you’re lacking the time or energy to preparing a healthy meal for your family?

2. Be Honest. If you aren’t honest with yourself as to the true time-wasters in your life, things cannot change.  My recommendation is to keep a journal for a week or two, writing down EVERYTHING that you are doing each day.  Then be honest with yourself and decide what is truly necessary.

3. Organize. Once you have listed your priorities, re-write them in order, starting with yourself. No…putting yourself first is not being selfish; it’s enabling and empowering and gives your family the BEST YOU that you can give.  Also, organizing your household, your office, your car, everything can make your life run smoother and more effective than trying to sort through clutter each time you need a document, book report, school bag, uniform, etc.

4. Include Yourself! Include a hobby, craft, or service group to your schedule, whatever it is that helps you feel fulfilled. Again, it’s not being selfish, it’s so you can keep your sanity. It’s so you don’t lose yourself while caring for others, whether it’s a craft, music, reading, cycling, whatever!

5. Schedule EVERYTHING. Your meals, your workouts, your laundry day, everything! This takes work but it definitely will help you find balance. I like to use a desktop calendar that I can carry with me.  That is my main source, but I also have a wall calendar in the kitchen where I write important tasks for family members.

6. Stay on your schedule. BUT – if you miss something, for instance, your scheduled workout, don’t let it disrupt your entire schedule, life happens. Remember the old saying, don’t sweat the small stuff? Well, don’t sweat it!! Just continue on with your routine and if you find some extra time somewhere, perhaps you can makeup that missed cardio session.

Again, just a few small steps can help you make BIG gains in changing to a life of fitness and well being.

Well, sort of…

I’m taking a different approach to everything now and am hopeful that all of my friends and family will be patient with me.

It’s not easy starting a business, especially in today’s economy.  I tried opening a new fitness studio based on public feedback, only to discover that it was yet another excuse to NOT workout.

Consequently, not enough income coupled with the Utility Company’s outrageous requests for HUGE sums of money to simply turn on the lights/phone/gas etc., resulted in my husband and I making an educated (and simple) decision, to close the studio and return to square one.

Being a fitness trainer has always been my dream and I will not let it die that easily.  So I am returning to the most logical choice of small-group training in my home or yours, one-on-one training, and a single boot camp on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings as well as a free boot camp on Saturday mornings.

All of this will start soon and I will announce it via email or facebook.

Thanks again for sticking with me.  Lets bypass all of the excuses and get fit for our King.