|
|
|
|
The Missing Link to Lasting Fitness |
|
|
|
AN OPEN LETTER TO MIDDLE AGED WOMEN
THE MISSING LINK TO LASTING FITNESS
By: Mary Velez, C.F.T., Founder and CEO of MUSCLES FOR MAMMAS
I am not a professional writer. I am a Grandmother, fitness expert and certified trainer who is dedicating the second half of my life to the education and fitness of women over 40. What I have to say to this group of women is so important that I decided to sit down to write this message the best way I know how. Lately I’ve had numerous ladies ask me about not only HOW to get in shape but HOW TO STAY IN SHAPE. I’ve tried and tried to write eye catching, effective articles and a website about the MUSCLES FOR MAMMAS movement. Writing is not my forte and I’m wasting valuable time getting this information out to women while trying to hone my literary skills. I have finally decided to share what I know with you as if we were sitting down for a cup of coffee.
Too many of us “baby boomers” have worked hard raising families and working full time only to find ourselves sadly unfit and depressed at the time of our lives where we should be reaping the benefits of our efforts. Menopause, uncontrolled expanding waistlines, hairs popping up in the worst possible places, osteoporosis, uncontrolled emotional swings are just a few of the surprises aging brings and some of us aren’t handling it well. We deserve and have the right to abundant physical health, vitality and high energy. We can look attractive and fit. We should be capable of participating in any activity we so choose. It is wonderful when we have positive emotional and mental attitudes fostered by being healthy.
It is sad, but true that our society through the media looks at women under 30 as sexy and desirable; 30 to 40 as “middle aged” and those of us over 40 downright matronly! Is it a wonder that there is such a high rate of divorce with husbands taking up with younger women? Why are aging men looked at as distinguished while women over 40 are fading into the limelight? Whose fault is all this? Who is to blame?
Books have been written in several layers of psychobabble as to why these conditions exist in today’s world but most of us wouldn’t be interested in the deep seated causes of our conditions. The analysis would probably take us even deeper into our depression and denial. My mission here is not to analyze and present scientific facts but rather to give you proven and simple solutions for your life and body. At this point in our lives it’s not important as to why we’re in the shape we’re in, but rather what we’re going to do about it!
My darlings, the answers are easy, direct and your new self can be started this minute! First of all, understand that the MISSING LINK TO FITNESS AND STAYING THAT WAY BEGINS WITH A DECISION. Yes, I know you’re shaking your head saying to yourself, “Right sister, I’ve decided more times than I can count to lose weight, exercise, get motivated, and it’s worked BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN IT’S BACK TO THE SAME OLD ME, but even flabbier!”
Something is missing in most of our lives and that is our ability to gain control of our thoughts and perceptions of ourselves. We don’t know how to turn desire into physical reality. We have incredible powers of our own yet no manual as to how to access these universal gifts of creation and infinite knowledge. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP AND THE MISSING LINK TO TOTAL FITNESS AND WELLBEING. We must train our brains to control our thoughts. We CAN AND WILL convince ourselves into becoming the women we desire to be!
GETTING STARTED
TOTAL MIND AND BODY MAKE OVER
1. MAKE THE DECISION TO GET FIT.
A decision is a thought. Thoughts are things. Get this through your head. Do yourself a favor and read “As a Man Thinketh” by James Allen. Look into “Neuro Linguistic Programming” pioneered by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. NLP as it’s called presents a terrific insight into the psychology of human behavior and communication. In these two books and so many more you will find treasures of knowledge about “self talk” and the power of positive thinking. I’m not here to rewrite the science behind these proven therapeutic methods. I’m here to challenge you to THINK AND GET FIT! It’s so true. You’re in charge of your head and its thoughts and feelings. Your brain can only hold one thought at a time. It can be negative or it can be positive. You DECIDE. This takes practice. Let me explain and you go to work and make positive thinking your new discipline until your brain shifts gears. Trust me, you’ll be a lot happier and will attract a lot more positive energy with upbeat thoughts than self-defeating ones. Have you noticed that negative individuals gravitate to you when you’re being obnoxious? Like energy attracts like energy.
Let me make this perfectly clear; controlling your thoughts is not going to make you lean and gorgeous. What it will do is allow you to set the wheels in motion towards creating your new self. Controlling your perceptions of yourself and your body image will make the getting into and staying in shape a much more pleasurable and lasting undertaking. You will learn to think positive, eat smart and exercise effectively. No magic pills, but serious, direct and quick results. The body you dream of can be achieved.
2. EXAMINE YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF YOURSELF.
Be honest with yourself. Do you expect yourself to be happy, healthy and fit? Do you believe that you CAN achieve anything you put your mind to? Do you expect to get up each morning feeling energized, ready for a healthy meal and some physical activity or do you EXPECT to moan when the alarm goes off, down three cups of coffee and a cigarette to get kick started before you begin another monotonous, negative day? Do you expect stiff painful joints and therefore accept them and continue to get worse? Do you expect the scale to continually add a few pounds until you claim you don’t care anymore? Do you expect others to believe you when you say you’re satisfied with your weight and body? Do you go on a diet and EXPECT to think of nothing but how hungry you are and how you’ve always failed in controlling your eating before. Do you expect your workouts to be tedious, painful and embarrassing? I can go on and on. You get the point. You get exactly what you expect. Whatever thoughts and expectations you put out into your unconscious mind is exactly what will dictate your behavior and results. If you see yourself as fat, lazy, unhappy, doomed to a life of regret and sickness; then your thoughts will provide you with the means to accomplish your vision.
Now is the time to train that head of yours to think differently and causing your body to change directions internally which will then be followed by external behaviors and changes.
3. DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT YOUR FITNESS, WEIGHT, HEALTH AND HAPPINESS GOALS ARE and put them in writing.
Write down EXACTLY what you want as far as your personal health and body image goals. Write down how exactly how many pounds you want to lose or gain. Write down what areas need toning and increased strength. Write down WHEN you will reach these goals. Write down WHY you desire these goals. What will this new you do for you emotionally, physically and spiritually?
4. PRACTICE HOLDING ONLY POSITIVE THOUGHTS BACKED WITH DESIRE, FAITH, ENERGY AND CONFIDENCE IN YOUR BRAIN.
Tell yourself out loud and over and over your exact desired image of yourself. This is the “self talk” or “auto-suggestion” aspect of your FREE, self-imposed therapy. Put positive feeling into your thoughts. Speak to yourself in the NOW. Say I AM lean. I AM healthy. I AM confident. YOU ARE WHATEVER IT IS YOU DESIRE. Close your eyes. Before drifting to sleep SEE this image of yourself. Your subconscious mind will work out the needed behavior for you to accomplish your goals. When waking in the morning repeat vision goal. Feel energized. Close your eyes again and SEE yourself in your new body! Loudly and enthusiastically say your I AM GOALS. Now, do you want to smoke a cigarette, have four doughnuts and drag yourself into your day or do you want to take action to fulfill your mind’s new truth about yourself?
Soon you’ll discover that the negative emotions of doubt, fear, jealousy, anger and such will be unable to enter that newly trained brain of yours. This is your brain building workout. As the NIKE ad says, “JUST DO IT.” Do it until positive thinking becomes a habit. You will experience the joys of being happy, hopeful and energized even before the physical results are visible. Getting and staying on your new path is now achievable.
5. TAKE ACTION NOW!
OK, you see yourself in your new-found body. You’d better make your new truth a reality! The difference this time is that you’re convinced, excited and confident of yourself. You feel it. You experience it. YOU ARE IT! Take ACTION! There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for not taking the initial steps towards looking and feeling fantastic. You can begin walking; quickly please, using your arms and squeezing your butt as you go up hills. You can learn about portion control, healthy eating habits and fuel your body accordingly. You can buy a set of resistance bands and learn how to use them. There’s endless workout videos of every level available to you. Join a gym. I hate to tell you, but nobody of any worth cares what you look like or how you work out. You’re the only one worried about your looks. Remember, your appearance is one of the reasons you’re in the gym. The price of a monthly gym membership runs about the cost of a decent lunch for two. Leave the calories at the restaurant and burn them off on a cardio machine or group class. Feel dumb? Hire a personal trainer or subscribe to an online, personalized training program. Interview the trainer assigned to you. You’re paying good money. You deserve results in an environment you can stomach. Make sure this trainer is as interested in you as you are and has the qualifications you require. Do your research. You know you can find answers to any questions you have. There is endless support for anyone wishing to improve any aspect of their life. Learn from those who have the bodies and attitudes you desire. Stay away from the naysayers. Be brave. Have fun. Work diligently. Make time. Trust and believe in yourself. Take a chance! You’re only one this planet once. Make the most out of it. I guarantee that once you’ve experienced the benefits of being fit, you’ll never turn back. It will not only become a habit, it will be an addiction worth having.
|
|
|
|
|
