Lets get Motivated!

Workout boredom, plateaus, and injuries can all sidetrack your fitness training. But with the right inspiration, you can work through those barriers. When obstacles threaten to keep you from working out, try some of these quick and easy motivational tips to stay on track. These instant motivators will rekindle your passion for working out--the greatest motivator of all.

1. Know the benefits of exercise. We are more motivated to do things that we'll benefit from. The more we benefit, the more motivated we are. For example, if I told you I'd give you a million dollars to take a 30-minute walk tomorrow morning, would you do it? You bet you would! The benefits of exercise aren't quite that compelling, but they are pretty motivating! You will benefit tremendously from consistent exercise. For many people, that's very motivating!
2. Create your personal "reasons list." Keep a piece of paper and pen handy for a couple of days. Jot down EVERY reason you can think of that you want to get healthy/get fit/lose weight through consistent exercise. Real life example: I could only think of a few reasons to why ... after keeping my pad of paper with me after a few days I had LOTS, such as:
   
   
   
   • more energy to play with the kids all day and still be able to head out at night
   
   
   • to be able to fit into all the clothes in my closet
   
   
   • to be able to live a long, healthy life and to enjoy time with her children, husband, and grandchildren (eventually ... ya I know a LONG time for me ..lol )
   
   
   • to not be uncomfortable in public
   
   
   • to look as good or better as my mom THIS summer
   
   
   • to be able to do "active" things with her family and friends
   
   
   • to be able to do the "Try a Tri" this year
   
   
   • to be able to go shopping for NEW CLOTHES
   
   MY list goes on, but you get the picture. Make a long, extensive list. This may not seem important, but it is critical to be able to read this list when your motivation to exercise is waning. It's a powerful way to quickly get "re-motivated"!
3. Exercise with a friend. Statistics tell us that people who exercise with a friend are more successful at exercising consistently. You can keep each other accountable. Knowing that someone is waiting for you to exercise with them can be great motivation to show up and get it done!
4. Exercise first thing in the morning, every morning. Folks, if you're really serious about this exercise thing, then get serious about it. Our bodies were made to be active on a daily basis, and when we are, all sorts of wonderful things happen. We even get healthy and fit! People who exercise 6 to 7 days per week first thing in the morning are much more successful at exercising consistently than those who do the 2 or 3 day thing. It doesn't have to be a huge workout everyday. Get out there and take a 30-minute walk.
5. Train for a local 5K or 10K walk or run in your area. This can be great motivation to exercise on a regular basis. I've seen many people transformed from couch potatoes to lean, mean, exercising machines because they decided to enter and train for a competition like this. Don't think you can't do it...YOU CAN!
6. Reward yourself! Real life example: After reading a post from another writer I decided to reward myself with $3 in a "JAR" every time I exercise. I give myself the freedom to spend this money on things I normally wouldn't buy for ME.  Usually I end up with more than $70 per month!
7. Keep records. Write down your exercise time (minutes) each day. Keep a running total for the month and year. Calculate your average exercise time per day. Set some lofty goals! :)
   
   BONUS TIPS
   
   
   
   • Make your exercise as enjoyable as possible. For example, if you're a walker, you may want to get a good ipod to listen to music or books on tape, etc. If you're exercising inside, set up a TV so that you can watch it while exercising. On the other hand, you may just prefer peace and quiet. Do whatever makes exercise most enjoyable for you. You are much more likely to exercise consistently if you enjoy it.
   
   
   
   • Wear good shoes that are appropriate for what you're doing. Injuries seriously affect your motivation to exercise. Most people, especially walkers and runners, wear their shoes far too long. Worn out shoes will make you much more prone to injuries. 
   
   
   
   • See results and get compliments. That's really motivating! GO FOR IT!

Cycle your carbs, lose fat

Eating Clean is ultimately the best way to lose weight and MAINTAIN the weight loss, but you may still hit that dreaded plateau.

Carb Cycling is all about restoring your fat-burning hormone levels. Leptin is a hormone that keeps your metabolic rate up and hunger down.

Many fad diets like Atkins and South Beach, are low carb. Going very low on carbs forces the body to turn body fat for fuel, however, staying on a low carb diet for too long can cause your leptin levels to drop. When leptin drops, so does your metabolism, and your hunger increases. By alternating periods of low carbs with higher carb intake, you can prevent drops in leptin levels, which keeps your metabolism steady and prevents your hunger from getting out of control. High carb days also bring muscle benefits because carbs stimulate insulin realease, which refills the glycogen stores in muscles to promote growth.

There's actually a psychological impact to eating this way. Unlike traditional low carb diets, which encourage low carb intake as a lifestyle, carb cycling doesn't restrict you from what your body needs for optimal function. All carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which is the brain's fuel source (this is why you feel foggy and tired on low carb diets) but just because carbs are the easiest way for the body to get glucose doesn't mean that they're the only way. In fact, if you could turn off your brain's insistent begging for carbs, you could subsist quite nicely without them and you lose weight. This is the beauty of carb cycling. Knowing that you'll be able to eat carbs again in a few days, makes getting through the low carb days much more manageable.

LOW CARB: YOUR BODY WEIGHT (LBS) DIVIDED BY 2 = ________GRAMS OF CARBS

HIGH CARB: YOUR BODY WEIGHT (LBS) X 2 - 3 = ________GRAMS OF CARBS

MODERATE CARB: YOUR BODY WEIGHT (LBS) = _________GRAMS OF CARBS

*On Low Carb days EAT MORE FIBROUS VEGETABLES (aparagus, broccoli, cucumbers, cabbage, celery, leafy greens, squash, bell pepers) EAT MORE HEALTHY FATS (salmon, tuna, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, avocados, vinaigrettes, red meats) and EAT LESS STARCHY CARBS

*On High Carb days EAT MORE STARCHY CARBS (brown rice, oatmeal, whole wheat bread, beans, white potatoes, tomato sauces) EAT MORE SIMPLE CARBS (fruit). EAT LESS FIBROUS VEGETABLES AND HEALTHY FATS.

*On Moderate Carb days EAT CLEAN (lean protein, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats). EAT LESS REFINED CARBS, PROCESSED FOOD AND DRINK.

Here's how you do it:

SUNDAY-Low Carb
Monday-Low Carb
Tuesday-Low Carb
Wednesday-HIGH Carb
Thursday-Moderate Carb
Friday-Moderate Carb
Saturday-Moderate Carb

Print this out and use as a quick reference. I want to hear your feedback. Of course you still need to exercise! The plan's effectiveness stems from its ability to reboot your metabolism into fat loss mode without turning you into a cookie-craving maniac. The fat loss benefits have long been a best kept secret among fitness models and body builders, but carb cycling can be used by anyone.

PH Balance - Get Your PH Balance In Order

PH Balance - Get Your PH Balance In Order

Do you feel tired or exhausted no matter how much sleep you get? Are you always feeling worn out or are constantly getting headaches? Do you suffer from body aches or have trouble losing weight? If so, it could be because your body's PH Balance is out of kilter. The above are just a few of the most common symptoms that a person may experience when their PH balance is off center.

PH balance is a scale used to determine the acid and alkaline balance in your body. On a daily basis your body is pulled back and forth between acid and alkaline levels. When one or the either takes control and becomes the dominant element in your body you will begin to experience the symptoms detailed above. That is why it is vitally important for these two elements to be level at all times.

How Does A Person Lose Their PH Balance? 

The majority of people who suffer from a PH balanceissue, suffer because of their own unhealthy lifestyle. Due to the way that you work, the things you eat and the activities that you take part in, you could be the source of your own PH balance issues.

If you maintain a diet that is overly acidic you could cause your bodies acidic levels to become overly dominant. This could result in dire consequences for your overall health. Stress can also play a major role in the increase of acidic levels, along with toxins that you place into your body as a result of chemical medications that you may be required to take.

How Can I Get My PH Balance In Order? 

The optimal PH balancenumber in a person's life should be 7.4. You can begin to balance out your PH levels by first off making drastic changes in your general diet. By obtaining a PH balance Food Chart, you will discover the count and levels of all foods which are ranked on a point system 0-14. By balancing out the levels of food that you eat based on these points, you can slowly begin to get your PH balance back in shape.

A more PH balanced diet will also include eating more greens and drinking more water! In fact, the consumption of water is one of the most basic and easiest manners in which a person can go about getting their PH balance in order.

You will first need to determine what your PH balance is. There are a variety of PH balance tests that you can acquire. These tests generally require you to urinate on a stick which will then determine your PH balance. If your PH balance is high or low, you will need to make lifestyle adjustments in order to correct and balance your PH levels.

Additionally, there are a variety of supplements and diets that a person can turn to in order to ensure the effectiveness of their PH balance. 

Here's my favorite link:

Best pH Balance Suppliments