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Welcome to all our new subscribers, and I extend my appreciation to everyone who forwards this newsletter to friends. If you know anyone who might like it, please forward this newsletter to them or send them this link: http://www.FitnessMovtivatorNewsletter.com. One friend telling another is how we grow, and I deeply appreciate your support.

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It is finally starting to feel like spring! That is saying something, since it should feel that way most of the winter in south Florida! However, the worst is over for us and most of the country.

The weather is invigorating and since the daylight savings time change, we can be outside later at night. I see a lot of people enjoying the weather by taking walks. There also seems to be more people at the gym, too.

We need to take advantage right now and get moving, while we are inspired to get in shape for the summer!

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Working With a Personal Trainer

by Rita Ballard, C.Ht.

Since I am a person who is NOT fond of exercise, I never thought I would work with a personal fitness trainer. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy riding a bike, swimming, walking through the park, and other outdoor activities. But as far as formal exercise goes, it’s never been something I chose to engage in. I never had to worry about the shape of my body when I was young, since I used to be naturally slim.

I’d been considering starting some kind of a fitness program for a few months, and had been talking to my younger sister about it (she is a personal trainer). For my birthday this year, she offered me two months’ worth of training. Since she lives in Colorado, I have to admit I was curious, so I said sure, I’d give it a go.

And—I can hardly believe I’m saying this—I’m glad I did. I started working out on December 28th, just a month ago. I started out telling myself after every workout, “I’ll never be able to do this.” “This is for the birds!” But the next day, I was back at it. I have been faithfully doing my routines six days a week; in that month, I’ve only missed 2 days. I can hardly believe this is me!

I’ve noticed a couple of important changes. First, my entire attitude has shifted, somehow. Instead of dreading it or looking for excuses not to exercise, I now think of it as a necessary part of my day. There is no emotion involved; I neither look forward to it nor try to avoid it. I just do it.

Another thing that is changing is the shape of my body. A sedentary lifestyle does not combine well with advancing age! I was beginning to get paunchy, had very little energy, and I had lost strength. I didn’t feel good about how I looked. Clothes just didn’t fit right.

Since I started working out I’ve lost an inch around my middle, and have gained muscle mass in my thighs. My legs are more muscular. I have more energy and I like the changes I’m seeing in the mirror!

What about my weight, you might be wondering. First of all, I haven’t let go of any pounds. And I didn’t go into this to do that, specifically. I know that over time the weight will fall away as I redefine my eating habits and continue working out. My priority was to become more fit.

Here’s how it works:

Becky, my trainer, began by doing an assessment, which involved my answering questions about my lifestyle and fitness goals. From that information she designed a program that would work for me. She sent me emails containing the exercises, with instructions on how to do them. She increases the reps and sets periodically, and adds different movements.

Now she has begun to include mini-videos that show me exactly how to perform each exercise. These are so helpful in mastering the moves, since I have such quick and easy access to these videos. There’s no forgetting from one day to the next.

This is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I never imagined that it was possible to work so well with a trainer who is far away. Distance training is an excellent idea! I get more personalized attention than I ever would in a gym, and my program is tailor-made—and frequently adjusted—for me and my goals. I am planning on continuing my program even after my birthday gift is used up. I think it will be money well spent.

If you want to learn more about how to work with Becky, you can visit her blog, A Fit Life, at www.a-fit-life.blogspot.com. You can also email her with your questions: chappbj@comcast.net. Her rates are so reasonable that you really can’t afford NOT to do this!

About the Author:

Rita Ballard, C.Ht. is a hypnotherapist with a practice in Chehalis, WA. She has enjoyed showing clients how to use their subconscious mind to reach their goals since 1997. To learn more about how hypnosis can help you, please visit Rita at www.AwarenessHypnosis.com

Back to Table Of Contents

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"To insure good health: Eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life."

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Read a review and see why you shouldn't wait any longer to get a Vita-Mix! Order the Vita-Mix® 5000 today, get FREE shipping and receive 4 free gifts.

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Is Your Diet Colorblind?

Next time you have a meal, look at your plate—what colors do you see? If it's mostly white and brown then your diet might be colorblind!

In order to have a healthy diet you need foods from all the food groups and that means a colorful plate. Just eating meat and potatoes won't provide you with the essential vitamins and minerals you need to stay in your best health - you need to add in colorful fruits and vegetables!

If you want a good balanced diet, here's some colors you might want to see next time you look down at your plate:

Green colored foods like peas, kale, spinach, honeydew melons, kiwifruit, dark leafy lettuces, and leafy greens contain lutein which helps maintain good vision and can help reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.

Another green group includes broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, swiss chard, brussels sprouts, rutabaga, turnips, cauliflower, and watercress. These foods contain indoles, which can help reduce the risks of cancer and reduce tumor growth in cancer patients.

The yellow orange colored food are high in bioflavonoids, which work in combination with vitamin C to help reduce the risk of cancer and heart attack. They also contain powerful antioxidants and help maintain healthy skin, strong bones, and good vision. The foods in this group include oranges, tangerines, pears, lemons, nectarines, grapefruit, peaches, apricots, pineapple, pineapple, yellow raisins, and yellow peppers.

Blueberries, purple grapes, blackberries, black currents and elderberries contain
Anthocyanins which can reduce the risks of heart attack, cancer, diabetic complications, Alzheimer's disease and age-related memory loss. Dark purple foods contain phenolics, which are powerful antioxidants and can help to slow the effects of aging.

Dark orange foods like pumpkin, sweet potatoes, apricots, peaches, carrots, cantaloupes, mangoes, and butternut squash contain beta-carotene, a powerful antioxident that can help keep your immune system healthy as well as maintain good vision and can even aid in reducing heart attacks and cancer.

Tomatoes, guava, watermelon and pink grapefruit are all red colored foods. These foods contain lycopene which has been much publicized lately as helping to protect against prostate cancer. In addition, these foods can help reduce the risk of breast, and skin cancer as well as reduce the risk of heart attack.

Red onion, cherries, kidney beans, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, beets, red apples (with the skin), and red cabbage contain anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that can help control high blood pressure as well as reduce the risks of cancer, heart attack, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes complications.

One way to get a colorful plate at every meal is to try to fit in 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Try to include food from all these color groups at least once during the day and you will be surprised at how much your health improves.

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"Health is the vital principle of bliss, and exercise of health."

~~James Thomson

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Articles & Web Sites Worth a Look

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Purium Health Products for weight loss, anti-aging and muscle building.

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"Find fitness with fun dancing. It is fun and makes you forget about the dreaded exercise."

~~Paula Abdul

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If you need more motivation and some group support, feel free to subscribe to the Exercise Your Willpower mailing list. We have a great group of people who help motivate each other. To get more information, visit our website at: http://www.exerciseyourwillpower.com

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March 2010

Volume 10, Issue 3

Working With a Personal Trainer

Is Your Diet Colorblind?

Articles & Web Sites Worth a Look

Exercise Your Willpower Support Group Mailing List

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