Saturday, March 28, 2015

It's all about Me


Me Time is an abstract concept that means not a whole lot of anything.  It’s a myth, really, just something we like to say to make ourselves feel, for a moment, that there is more to us.  We use the term as if it means that it is possible to have time that is just ours and no one else’s.  
So, we can continue to talk about and seek out Me Time, and we can grab lunch with friends or get a pedicure or go to Starbucks and read a book. I think all of that is fine and probably advisable, because when we do those things we feel refreshed and energized for the tasks of life.  But, Me Time isn’t the glorious missing piece in our lives.  Life actually isn’t all about me, as some would have us believe. There is no such thing as Me Time.

By all means, today you should take a few moments for breathing deeply, drinking water or even going to get your nails done.  But, don’t wish away your days by dreaming of some mythical idea of important time spent by yourself.
Me Time isn’t an essential of living.  And, someday, when we’re older, we will have lots and lots and lots of Me Time.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Touch Means So Much?


I know people don’t like being touched by strangers. I don’t like it one bit, unless I’m in a certain setting. It seems like there are only a handful of places it’s OK for a stranger to touch you. One of them is what I do for work. Fitness studios. Touch there is welcome...most of the time. There is definitely a more personal connection you get with your students by being able to relate to them physically with your hands or feet or whatever you’re touching them with. It brings a relationship into the mix that is a little more primal. I know I walk a fine line of just how personal you can get. Everyone is different and learning just how much I can touch is something I am constantly learning.  I am used to touching people at any given point on my day-to-day basis, so if I do touch anyone in a sensitive area, say the low back or the place in between the shoulder blades just to get their attention, sometimes people are quite startled. All of the sudden I get nasty responses and the respect for me is lost. I am startled by this every time. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to people barking at me. Hey, when I talked to you before class and asked you if you had an injuries or if touching you was off limits, that might have been a good time to speak up. Most people respond with ‘Oh, a stranger is touching me and it feels nice.’ It’s good to have a physical connection with people. That’s the real power of touch and energy and human connection in general. Especially in a city that’s so full of people, and still so lonely.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Why Group Workouts are Awesome!


Yes, I love to workout. Duh! I do it alone though. I take group classes like it’s going out of style but rarely do I schedule a fitness date with a friend. The reason: It seems like not alot of people can’t keep a date with friend. Geez, NYC is awesome but I swear some of the flakiest people live here. I’m not about to put my fitness fate in someone else’s hands, so I go at it alone. And, I like it! I do like the group setting. I love exercising with people. I know I’m not the only one who loves working out with many people. So why exactly are so many people jumping the 'lone wolf' ship to work out with others in a group setting? What is the big attraction?

Accountability

Without signing up and paying for a fitness class most people aren’t going to do it. Fitness is not cheap so the fact that I am paying $40 for a single class will get me to jump out of bed in the AM. Most of the people I take class with agree. That's one of the great things about the group setting. You are held accountable. You must show up or you will pay for the class. Many people who attend a class will show up exhausted from the ups and downs of everyday life. But once they join the group, they become re-energized. Plus, there's the friendly instructor who has your name on a list, and keeps track of your tardiness or your cancellations.

Group Camaraderie

We all love to be social. Hello, look at all the social media platforms that exist today.  Humans love to laugh, joke and have fun. This is one reason group workouts are so amazing. Nothing brings people closer quite like misery and physical suffering. If you've ever done a boot camp or similar class, you'll understand what I'm talking about. Knowing that other people are experiencing the same feeling of being uncomfortable as you makes it better.
Joining a workout group can keep you motivated, hold you accountable and help you develop a sense of group camaraderie.

Finally, in a world where we've become so dependent on email and texting, working out with a group offers that human interaction that is slowly disappearing. We can do just about everything today virtually without ever talking to a person. That is outside of a group fitness setting. With group fitness, you have to get involved. You can try to hide in the back  but a good instructor will integrate you into the group whether you like or not. Technology will never replace the good 'ol fashioned group workout.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Stop Overeating and Cut Calories with MealEnders. My review.



The battle of the bulge has been a long drawn-out process, hasn’t it? It’s waged on for years now! It’s just a constant battle and any product that helps us win is a good thing in my book!
We’ve all heard about the latest new products that claim to help fight our hunger cravings . . . drinking the new latest, greatest shake . . . or “sprinkling” our food with a fat blocker before we eat it. But, when I heard about MealEnders, it was a new one on me. 
MealEnders are lozenges that claim to beat overeating, master portion control, and curb snacking so that you are able to lose weight. 
(Intrigued yet??)
MealEnders are backed by scientific findings and behavioral psychology. The scientific side took care of clearing cravings from the “mind” and the psychology side took care of clearing cravings from the “mouth”. The lozenges are stimulant-free and claim to help you fight the urge to overindulge when eating.
I assume we have all eaten out at our favorite restaurant and felt full and satisfied but found that we continued to stuff ourselves because the food looked and tasted fabulous, right?? MealEnders suggests that, instead of eating more than your fill, you simply pop one of their “signaling” lozenges in to your mouth. At this point, the “scientific” folks behind the product assure you that, instantly, any cravings you had will be cleared from your mind and mouth. 
Pretty amazing, huh?
Of course, I had to try this product out. It seemed just too easy – and too good to believe! 
I wanted to try this product when I was truly craving something to see if it would stop those feelings. The moment came when a friend offered me some home-baked cookies. I ate one and it was delicious! So good, that I wanted another. Instead, I popped a MealEnders lozenge in to my mouth. I savored it and let it dissolve completely. Then I took another look at those cookies.
Did I really want one?
Ummm . . . . . the answer was “no”.  I didn’t.
I don’t know if it was the fact that I had cleared the delicious cookie taste out of my mouth with the lozenge or the fact that I had taken a moment to think about something other than my craving but, whatever the case, I no longer craved another cookie.
And, it wasn’t that they didn’t still look mouth-watering (because they did!) . . . I just didn’t crave one anymore.
Wow . . . what a wonderful product!
MealEnders come in 25-piece packs in four different flavors: Cinnamon, Citrus, Mocha, or chocolate mint. The cinnamon flavor has a coating that melts into an apple cinnamon center. The key lime flavor has a sugary, candy-like coating and a nice citrus center. The Mocha flavor is perfect for all the coffee-lovers out there! My favorite is the chocolate mint flavor as it’s delicious chocolate outside with a crisp mint center . .  . yum!
The thing I like most about MealEnders is that, it is not only for those trying to lose weight, it’s also a great product for those simply trying to maintain it. It promotes healthy eating by stopping our cravings for something that we really shouldn’t have. It’s certainly okay to indulge, but the issue for many of us is when to stop. MealEnders makes that much easier and it will be something I carry in my purse for those times when my willpower needs a little help.
I am giving away some samples of this great product. The winner will get four packs of MealEnders (one of each flavor) so they can try them all! 
This is a great product that will surely help you win the battle of the bulge . . . finally!!
Leave a comment to enter.
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