Kim's Fitness and Nutrition http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/ en-us Nucleus CMS v3.64 � Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com//nucleus/nucleus2.gif Kim's Fitness and Nutrition http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/ Why not go for it? http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=385
So, what is preventing you from fully expressing yourself, from being all you came forth to be? It doesn’t have to be anything grand, in fact you may very well be doing that which you are here to do at this very moment and yet, you may feel unfulfilled. What if you are exactly where you are supposed to be and didn’t know it? If we spend all our time reaching out into some imaginary future where, when we ‘someday’ arrive, we will be happy…life is wasted and unappreciated. Did you know that happiness and peace are to two main reasons anyone ever does anything…they believe that__________ it will ‘make’ them happy. In truth, happiness is available to us right here and now…it’s a choice. Okay, then what is it that you haven’t believed you are actually capable of doing, having, being? Hog wash!!! You are powerful beyond measure and the only thing stopping you is you…the thoughts you continually play between your ears. STOP IT! You must wake up and you must know. The world is waiting, no, it is in need of whatever you have within you to bring forth. Please stop playing it small and get on with whatever it is you truly desire. There is no time like the present and this particular point in time is poised and ready for all of us to take that leap of faith and ‘go for it!”

Begin each day by stating out loud, “Today I am ready to bring forth my unique gifts!” “I have nothing to lose and everything to gain by being the best me I can be.” “I choose love and release all fear!” Repeat these truths throughout your day, put them up on post it notes in your car, on your bathroom mirror, on your refrigerator… everywhere. When the fear comes up, laugh at yourself for having believed all this time that ‘it’ had any power over you…it doesn’t…only the power you give it. Know and know you know that life is, always has been and always will be on your side, supporting and sustaining you every step you take. Be kind to yourself and all others and keep choosing love moment to moment no matter what tries to pull you off course. You are bigger, more powerful and wiser then you often remember…but you are and can be whenever you choose. The same is true of everyone so honor each person for the path they are on and know that by modeling the truth you give them permission to remember their own. Allow yourself to go for the gusto shinning your light brightly so as everyone, including yourself have the eyes to see. May you choose the highest and best, moment by moment, allowing yourself to truly LIVE!!!
]]> General http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=385 Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:44:07 -0400 We Are Powerful Beings... http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=384
We came forth into our bodies clear, awake, conscious and fully connected to our Source. We were powerful and commanded everyone’s undivided attention. As time went by we lost our way, conditioning, programming and a need to conform threw us into a deep state of amnesia. Many of us remained there for decades unaware of our truth. We are free will beings gifted with an outstanding guidance system (our emotions) capable of incredible success, fulfillment and contribution. Finally, there came a point when we asked ourselves, “Is this all there is…work, sleep, survival, existence?” “Where’s the joy, when do I get to have fun and be happy?” Fortunately, if we were open and seeking truth, we discovered a ’God spark’ deep within our hearts and began to remember who we really are. This is what happened to me and what has brought me to my present endeavor. As a born teacher, one who loves to inspire and uplift, I am now guided to teach what I most needed to learn…empowerment.

The question begging to be asked is, “How does one go about regaining their power and what does it mean to be empowered?” It, like most things, is a process and there really is no right or wrong way to approach it. My experience was to begin by tuning in, taking time for inner reflection, quiet time/meditation and asked myself a couple simple but difficult questions. First, “What do I REALLY want?” To my surprise the first 5-8 things I came up with were deflections, superficial, fairly insignificant and upon deeper contemplation, discarded and I continued digging. What most people finally get to, shockingly, is that a state of being is what they want. Not a person, place or thing. Most of us simply want to be at peace, happy and serene. With initial review, one might think well, that’s easy enough but if it were, wouldn’t everyone be joyous and free? The second question I asked was, “Do I have a conscious, intimate relationship with my Higher Power?” I thought I did but when I looked at this critically, I realized I was just giving it lip service. I wasn’t connecting on a heart level daily, hourly, moment to moment with Source, no instead, I was doing some quick, “Pleases and Thank you’s, a couple minutes of prayer work,” and then I was off with my day never giving IT another thought. After all, we are spiritual beings having a human experience and as such we are primarily vibrational and energetic by nature. It stands to reason that if we are buzzing through life like little autotons, unconscious, disconnected, we are reacting to life out of subconscious programming rather than responding. It’s easy to see how we would ultimately feel unsatisfied and dead inside.

The pathway back to the joy filled, confident, enthusiastic way of being, re: empowerment, which is usually left behind with your youth, is a path of remembering. Innately you ‘know’ who and what you are but it can take some effort to uncover it from beneath all the conditioning and lies, and limiting beliefs. Journaling is an excellent tool and even if you just write couple sentences each day, you will find yourself wending your way back to your truth. You will soon discover beliefs that you have long ago out grew and once you are aware of them, you can let them go replacing them with the truth for you. Next, delve into your imagination and allow yourself to day dream and explore creative outlets. Paint, draw, play with clay, bead or anything that takes you out of your left brain and gives you the opportunity to strengthen your right brain activity. Research has proven that Monks and other people with extensive meditation practices spend the majority of their time functioning out of their right hemisphere. This is where we can excess thoughts and feelings of our oneness, our connectedness and our sense of belonging. Learning to develop that side of our brains creates an easy excess route to our Higher Power. Meditation is also designed to quiet the left hemisphere and settle us down enough to hear our inner guidance. Truly, your heart will always accurately guide you as you take time to check in and feel your way. Less thinking and more feeling…this will help tremendously.

Take out your daily planner and block out time for YOU!!! This is key to regaining your power…you have to matter to you; you must become a priority and remember how to feel worthy. Write in time for spiritual practices, meditation, journaling, creative endeavors, relaxation (time to just ‘BE’ like candle lit bubble baths). Chances are there is very little if any of this going on for you and if you don’t decide to plan, do the work and the self-care, frankly, no one is going to provide it for you. No one can actually do this for us; we must choose to do this work for ourselves. Remember, the goal is empowerment, inner peace and an overall sense of well-being. These can not only be accomplished but it will bring you back to the truth of you. When you are tuned in, tapped in and turned on, living from your truth, following your heart, life is wondrous, exciting and an amazing journey.

Wishing you clarity, and a happy, mind, body and spirit now and forevermore.
]]> General http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=384 Thu, 8 Mar 2012 11:32:47 -0500 What is and how do we achieve optimal health? http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=383 From a Personal Trainer perspective optimal health is about having a healthy, strong, energetic and capable physical body but many of us Trainers have come to realize this is a seriously inadequate description. Humans are complex creatures who, in my humble opinion, need to ‘feel’ and ‘think’ healthy, as well as, cultivate and maintain a spiritual connection in order to enjoy optimal health. A body, mind and spirit approach to well-being has been my strategy for many, many years and has been the only formula I found for true success. The question than is, “ How does one go about achieving optimal health when there is so much to take into consideration?” Answer, “Chunk it down and create a plan and work the plan.”
I like to break it down into the above three categories beginning with ‘mind.’ Starting here is important because with each thought we think, good, bad or indifferent, affects the body and spirit. Tied into our thoughts in a kind of boondoggle are our emotions. The feelings we experience are directly linked to the thoughts we are consciously or unconsciously thinking. This can be tricky to sort out but the good news is it can be made pretty simple. Does the thought you are thinking feel good or does it make you feel bad? Honestly, if you pay attention to how you are feeling, you will be able to identify the corresponding thoughts. Once the connection has been made you can then make a conscious choice to continue those thoughts or choose to focus elsewhere. Without exception every client who has ever come to me with specific fitness goals, they all had one and only one real goal, to feel happy. In fact, my belief is that we only ever have one reason for doing anything; we believe or at least hope it will make us happy. Happiness truly is an inside job though and it can be anyone’s experience right now if they stop and direct their thoughts to something slightly more pleasant. Depending on just how deeply negative you have become on each subject as it arises, depends on how long it will take to turn yourself around. One thing is for sure, no one can leap from pessimism to joy; it simply defies law. We can gradually, continuously reach for thoughts that feel somewhat better though until after some time we are in fact, in a better, more positive place. This can sound too easy or too good to be true but if you give it a try you will see how this works. Making happiness last…now that’s quite different and takes clear desire, conscious choice, practice and determination. The point is, our minds have an enormous impact on our physical health and so it is crucial to entertain thoughts that best serve us. Step one. Become willing to watch your thoughts. Just watch and notice the general attitude that you run most of the time. How does it make you feel? Is it optimistic or negative? Are you looking for solutions or dwelling on the problems? It all boils down to choice. We are powerful beings and yet we forget that our minds and our thoughts are ours to control, choose and carefully select. We are always at choice moment to moment, day in and day out and we can change our attitude by choosing to care about how we feel. By feeling good most of the time our bodies function much better and the chemical/hormonal production becomes one of health and ease verses distress, toxicity and corrosion. I don’t know about you but it makes sense to want to feel good no matter what the cost. In other words, if it means admitting I’m wrong, agreeing to disagree, well, that’s okay particularly when I remember that approach contributes to my wellness instead of my illness. Step two, practice, practice, practice.
The next article will tackle the category ‘body’ and the one after that, ‘spirit’. That way I can give more information and focus more in depth than if I were to attempt to jam it all into one article. Thank you for you continued interest. Wishing a year filled with optimal mind, body and spirit fitness.

]]> General http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=383 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:06:21 -0500 What is “The Awakening” all about? http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=382 The greed, selfishness and lack of compassion that has had the world by the throat is at last weakening its hold on humanity and THAT is a large piece of the awakening. IT actually is not releasing its grip willingly however; we are making it do so. We (the people) can no longer stand idly by and watch while 7/8 of the world’s population suffers needlessly. We have pulled our heads out of our daily grind long enough now that we can clearly see we are being used as pones in a deadly game where none of ‘us’ win. “They’ on the other hand, those large corporate families that have had us believing for decades that they had our best interests at heart, have nothing of the sort. What they do is their business however, we too can also choose and, many of us are choosing to no longer play their heartless game. The people want ‘all’ of us to thrive and frankly, with all the wealth and resources available on this magnificent planet, there simply is no reason why that cannot be our NEW reality. Thankfully, we still have our freedom and that means we can make choices every day that take the power away from those ‘in power’ and give it back to the people. Start today becoming very conscious as to what you support via what bank you choose, what fuel you buy, what foods you purchases and list goes on. The more we can pool our resources into the ‘local’, small town businesses and the more we can grow our own foods or buy from our local farmers, the more we can stop feeding into supporting ‘the grid’, the better for us and the worse for them. Mind you, I wish the powers that be no ill-will; trust me, they will forever be fine, I just believe it is high time that they stop growing fat at our demise.
An even larger and much more important piece of the awakening is the role each of us plays on an individual level. Making peace with ourselves and our many aspects, this needs to be priority one. Awakening to all the diverse parts of ourselves, getting to know them and ultimately accepting and loving them; this is the work which is crucial and needs precedence. As we truly learn to forgive, love and release judgment within ourselves, we are then free to expand that out into our families, communities, countries and the world. THIS work is where each of us can genuinely make a difference right NOW.
Regardless of what faith you follow, which spiritual path you walk or if you walk one at all, this is irrelevant. Choosing to love yourself unconditionally (under any and all conditions) and those in your immediate world is a practice that is long overdue and that I believe is finally arriving on our planet. THAT is the shift which has begun and we are all here to participate, contribute and expand along with it…or not. As always, we are free will beings that are at choice in every moment of every day with every thought we think, action and choice we make, we impact ourselves and all that we touch. We are born lovers who have simply become lost, overwhelmed, complacent or whatever but as we re-awaken/ remember and begin to BE who we came forth to be, harmony, peace and well-being will also return and not just too a infinitesimal few, but to us all! Blessings, love and optimal health within your mind, body and spirit are my wish to you all.
]]> General http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=382 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 16:49:51 -0500 Research from 2011 is in… Exercise improves and lengthens our lives! http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=381
First and foremost, the obvious outward symptoms of aging where dramatically slowed, in some studies, halted completely. Muscle loss, neuron size and function, hair loss, greying, and gonad shrinkage were all positively impacted or abated. The heart and other major organs size and function were improved, cognitive acuity increased, just to mention a few of the markers. It was so obvious and undeniable that it really is insane of us to not jump into our running shoes and head to the gym daily. Ah but the truth is, even with this information being broadcast on all levels and in all forms of media people will, for the most part, continue to be sedentary. I ask myself regularly, “What will it take to inspire people into taking responsibility for their health?” I do not have an answer yet however, I strive to find one. Actually there are probably multiple answers to that question but I think it comes down to one of two.

My best guess boils is, ‘old habits really do die hard.’ We humans get into routines and to break free it usually takes something really major shaking us to the core. Heart attacks are a good example, along with cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure diagnoses. Often though, even these things are not enough. A new habit takes 30-90 days of regularity to become ingrained and most people give up long before the new habit takes hold. In fact, most simple resign themselves to the plight and begin a drug regiment choosing to remain the victim; which brings me to the second suspected reason…passivity. Yes, its work and it requires a conscious decision to be proactive and most of all, to love and honor ourselves enough to care. Later, tomorrow, next week are all forms of procrastination, denial, rationalization, victimhood and are all the enemy. Our society has become comfortable blaming things outside of ourselves for everything, even our own well-being. The cat is now out of the bag and the time has come to wake up and smell the coffee.

My life, my job! This is the wake-up call necessary to make my existence the best that I can. That is the message we need to hear, accept and embody this year and if not now, than when? Everyone is in charge of their own destiny and it simply cannot be ignored any longer. I plan to be a vital, contributing member of my community when I am 80, 90 and even 100 years old but if that dream is to be my reality I have to be willing to do what it takes AND I am. The question is, “Are you?” I advise everyone to take a hard look at the choices that they are making when it comes to food, exercise, daily water intake, quantity of sleep and time allotted to spiritual and recreational endeavors. This human body and life came with a price and that price is responsibility. Decide today that you are going to start with small improvements in all these major areas of your life. Add 5 minutes of walking a day, one more piece of fruit, one more 8 oz. glass of water, 15 minutes more sleep, 5 minutes of meditation and 15 minutes of an activity each week that you find relaxing and creative. Small steps consistently over time add up to an entire new way of living, feeling and experiencing your life. The joy and peace that is your birth right will come back and you will feel your renewed sense of empowerment. We came forth to be creative, joyous beings and to live long and vital lives but our bodies, minds and spirits must be cared for and tended to regularly. Be the good steward of yourself and watch your life transform around you, as well as, around the lives of your families for they will ‘get it’ through your example. Make 2012 the year you reclaim your personal power and take charge of your health and I promise 2013 and years to come will be lived with vitality and optimism. Happy and healthy fitness trails.
]]> General http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=381 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:56:35 -0500 A New Year-A New Perspective-A New YOU! http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=380
To begin ask yourself a couple questions. First, “What is it that I REALLY want?” This seems like a simple question that anyone should be able to answer relatively quickly but, truth be known, very few people can actual articulate, off the top of their heads, a definite answer to that question. In other words, most of us need to dig into our thought processes and contemplate deeply to render an accurate answer. After you have distilled out your clear and precise desire then the next question is, “How do I get there from here?” The answer to that question is, one thought at a time, one inspired action at a time and slowly but surely. You will need to watch yourself closely and ferret out the old thought patterns that tell you it isn’t possible, you aren’t smart enough, you aren’t wealthy enough or you aren’t, whatever it is that creates the resistance responsible for keeping it out of your reach, enough. Those are the patterns that are holding you where you are or you would already be enjoying your desires. So, listen and watch closely. Next, never, ever, ever beat yourself up for catching yourself in the old patterns. Especially in the beginning, you will slip back. We are creatures of habit and though you are well on your way to creating some positive new habits and realities, the old ones are usually deeply ingrained and will take perseverance to override. Just make gentle fun of yourself by saying something like, “Oh there you go again, you are doing that thing that limits you and know you are better than that!” Then immediately shift your thoughts to something, anything, that makes you smile and feeling the relief you feel from choosing, purposefully thoughts that uplift you. That is it. That is the process and repetition is the key. As often as you can remember, choose thoughts that bring you good feelings verses those that diminish you and bring you down. The truth is that all your heart desires is already known and available to you and all you have to do is stay out of your own way.

Allowing your new life to unfold is meant to be fun, exciting and ever so satisfying and the only reason we experience something less than that is because we forget, we fall into thinking “less than,” limited, negative thoughts that stop us in our tracks. As you spend more and more time choosing consciously thoughts that are aligned with your true self, thoughts that feel good, amazing things will begin to happen. At first you will think of them as coincidence or accidental but the more they happen and the more you find yourself talking to the right person at just the right time or traffic flowing and lights being green and the inspiration to call this person or go there that ends up being exactly the right thing for you to be doing for that to have happened well, you will become convinced it is you. And guess what? It is.

We are all incredible creators, more powerful, more intelligent and more guided then we give ourselves credit for being however, it all awaits our remembering, our choosing to be awake and aware. Make 2012 the year you empower yourself, the year you decide and consciously choose to be ALL you came forth to be. The world gains nothing from our playing it small so go large, go bright, go confidently into the truth of who you really are and watch your dreams manifest before your eyes.

Happy, healthy and empower New Year to you.

]]> General http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=380 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:48:57 -0500 The New Year is Upon Us! Start 2012 Right! http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=378

Juice Plus has changed my life and the lives of my family.


As a certified Personal Fitness Trainer of 25+ years, I have seen fads come and go. As with any health product I consider, I first try it myself for several months before considering it as a benefit to my clients. I thoroughly researched Juice Plus and my family and I have been taking it now over 6 months. Juice Plus is credible, highly effective and has the science and research to back its claims. My energy level has made it so sleeping in is a thing of the past, my nails and hair are growing strong, thick and faster than ever before and when others are fighting colds and flu, I have remained healthy. My family has also experienced similar results and even our usual bout with fall allergies was nonexistent. My daughter has begun to ask from more fruits and vegetables and has earned a “wellness day” off from school due to her lack of sick days. Now that we are getting the variety of 13 fruits, vegetables and grains, the equivalent to 5 full servings of fruits and veggies in capsule form each day, our immune systems are strong, we sleep deeply and wake refreshed, raring to go. If you are interested in learning more about Juice Plus please contact me by calling 828-734-0305 or visit my web site at www.kimmayjuiceplus.com
A happy, healthy and vibrant life is my wish for you and you can begin creating that for yourself and your family starting today!

You are the only Captain of YOUR life therefore be brave, conscious and clear with your thoughts, words and deeds and you will never have a single regret.



]]> General http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=378 Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:33:04 -0500 Why Hire a Personal Fitness Trainer? http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=377 There are obvious reasons to invest in your fitness program among them, motivation, safety and improved health. Though each of these is an excellent reason to seek the advice of a fitness professional my favorite is inspiration. If we are guided to inspired action, knowing from within our worth and the value of self-care, we are well on our way to being balanced, healthy and fit. Motivation works for a while but stems from ‘should’, guilt and often fear, none of which are impetus for sticking power. After spending 30 years in the fitness industry, I see a dire need for taking responsibility for ourselves and making it a priority. Very few people gift themselves with the time and education necessary to achieve optimal health. Unfortunately health is one of the few things money cannot buy and frankly, without it nothing else is important. Appropriate and lasting reasons for self-care are paramount to success and an experienced Trainer can assist with that.
A certified Personal Fitness Trainer (please check their credentials making sure they have been trained by a reputable organization such as ACSM, ACE or AFFA) is well educated about the body, its mechanics, and efficient, safe ways to get the results you desire. However, experience has taught me that there is much more to well-being then exercise and nutrition. A well rounded Trainer knows that treating the body, mind and spirit as the whole entity it is, creates a true formula for life long success. Depending on what you are looking for of course, but particularly if you are recovering from a surgery, an accident or if you have never been into exercise in the past; if you have been on an endless roller coaster with your weight or, ‘on again, off again’ with your exercise program, basically off, my recommendation is, “Make the investment, you are so worth it!” Take your time and interview several Trainers before choosing one. Remember this, you are the employer here and if you are not ‘clicking’ with your Trainer, dismiss them and move on. Trust and confidence in this person, knowing they genuinely have your best interest at heart, is mandatory.
The blocks to your results and goals lays right between your ears and having someone to be accountable to makes all the difference. We are all masters at rationalization, denial and avoidance but we are only postponing the inevitable. Sooner or later one of two things is going to happen. A real health issue will arise and scare you into action or you will reach the point of being ‘sick and tired of being sick and tired.’ Either way, our lives have the potential to be amazing, full of joy, abundant in energy and vibrant health but it is entirely up to us to make that a reality. The body was designed to move and when we honor that we always feel so much better but getting there is over half the battle. A Trainer can give you the tools to make that happen and make it a lifestyle that lasts. There are an infinite number of ways to utilize a Trainers services. Many require you contract to a preset number of sessions which is a good thing because if you have paid for something you are very likely to go. Inquire though, whether you can control how often you see them because your budget may not allow for three sessions a week but you may be comfortable doing one a week. Remember too that you can ask for homework to do at home between sessions spreading that cost out over a couple months. Personally, I do everything in my power to create a program that is safe, effective and comfortable for peoples budgets otherwise that will become another excuse for stopping. Your Trainer will be dedicated to assisting in every way possible because assuring your success is our job. Your job is to stay tuned into your mind and body listening carefully for saboteurs. When they show up, and they will, talk to your Trainer about them. Together you will find avenues around, over or through those barriers. The way I see it is that we are really all in this together and as we help one another into the healthy, vital states of being we came forth to be, we all win! I wish you all a healthy and joyous mind, body and spirit New Year.
]]> General http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=377 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:29:15 -0500 Winter Doldrums Don't Need to Get the Best of You! http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=376 Goals and reasons for doing what we do are very important; in fact it is imperative to remember ‘why’ we are working out and to keep it foremost in our minds. The amazing bodies we have all been gifted with, are designed to move and when we feed it well, give it the time and activity it requires for optimal health the results are evident...we are illness free and feel great! On the other hand, neglecting to train the body and feeding it poorly is also evident often in the form of illness, lethargy and increased body weight. The moral of the story, we are forever at choice, free to feel our best or free to feel ill. Another strategy that helps is to display a personal photograph in a predominant place, one of yourself while experiencing especially good health, at a time when you were feeling extra good and having a wonderful time. This helps to remind us of what we are working for. The next thing to focus on is longevity. We all want to live to be strong, happy, contributing members of our families and communities. The people who live the longest, most vibrant and independent lives are those who have stayed active, maintained optimal muscle mass and are mentally involved in fulfilling activities. This is a major inspiration for me and one I choose to think about often. Day dreaming about how my husband and I will be hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains and scuba diving in the tropics well into our 80’s is fun, exhilarating and keeps me training. Finally, as a mother of a 14 year old it is critical that I model eating healthy foods and exercising regularly. It is said that words rarely teach but rather it is experience and repetition that are our true teachers. I witness firsthand how the children today prefer to live and sadly, it is extraordinarily motionless. The age of technology has them mesmerized and immobile. At this point children who are 14 and older are basically adults and are therefore at choice for themselves. I can only pray that the example I set has and will continue to make some impact and, that sooner or later it will occur to our youth the deep importance of personal fitness.
This time of the year is known as “cave time” and it is obvious why however, loosing fitness ground, weakening immune system through poor eating habits and feeling low energy are not my idea of a fun way to spend the winter. Again, it comes down to choice, staying conscious verses slipping into denial and being willing to put out a little effort; this is what makes all the difference. Everyone feels better post exercise due to increased oxygen flow, hormone release and that wonderful sense of accomplishment. As your ego attempts to talk you out of your next workout remember this…life is meant to be lived not existed through. Go now, head to the gym, workout and know with each training that you complete you are healthier, stronger and ultimately happier for it. A healthy mind, body and spirit are my wish for you.
]]> General http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=376 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:03:08 -0500 What is your attitude around the holidays and in general? http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=374
Are you one who constantly looks at the problem, for all that can go wrong, sure the reasons why things won’t work out will prevail? Or, are you usually looking for solutions, the silver lining and reasons why things often turn out just fine? Research shows that people who are optimistic live longer, healthier and happier lives. So, the question is,” What makes us choose to be pessimistic, negative or such doubting Thomas’s?” One thing is for sure, there is always a payoff for everything we do…every time, no exception. We may not be consciously aware of it but we always get something out of every behavior we have and though we may not be clear about our choice of behavior, we are continuing to what we do for a reason or we wouldn’t do it. How about we decide to approach this holiday season with a different attitude then in the past and conduct an experiment. Let us consciously choose to focus on solutions, to relax more and to know that the joy of the season will carry us. I believe if we are really consistent we will soon experience more ease, more fun and that our hearts will be open and in the true spirit of this wondrous season. When we release our need to worry, choose to chill out and let go of stress, we increase our chances tenfold of having one of the most delightful holidays ever. Now just how do we go about doing that do you suppose?

It is helpful to first find an area in your life where you can see your negative attitude in action and then ask yourself, “What am I getting out of behaving/thinking this way?” Sometimes but not always it can take some digging, even serious soul searching but my experience has taught me that the ‘payoff’ will become evident. Many times it boils down to habit! Yes, habits are established from an early age and are often adopted from our parents without our awareness. They become mindless states and patterns of behavior we unconsciously float in and out of. Habits thankfully, can be broken and recreated in a new and healthy way but awareness is always the initial step necessary to begin that process. Another surprising reason is that it is simply familiar and comfortable, in that it is a ‘known’ and it feels safe. If our intention however, is to find happiness, ease and a positive outlook during the holidays and from this point forward, then we must be willing to step outside of our comfort zone. Therefore, we must find our way to willingness and keep foremost in our minds the decision we have committed to, to conduct this experiment with the intention of creating a lasting positive change in our internal atmosphere. Remember, our very health and longevity will be significantly positively impacted should we make this a permanent change and that is nothing short of huge!

This is the end of an unprecedented era, one that has been marked in numerous ways with greed and selfishness leading the way. 2012 is beckoning us to begin anew, to choose a different approach to life and create ourselves as the empowered, healthy and positive beings we came forth to be. It begins by working within ourselves first, than that work radiates outwardly into our families, communities and the world as a whole.

May your holidays be filled with joy, love and ease and may that carry over into the New Year and years to come. A happy and healthy mind, body and spirit are what I wish for you.
]]> General http://kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=374 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:45:40 -0500