S.O.S. Blog #7 - 06/04/10

Today I had my first session at Curves. It was time (past time, really). My body fat ratio is off the charts and all the fun has gone out of shopping for clothes. When I left, the owner said, “See you next week.” Apparently, 45 minutes of exercise hadn’t done the trick. Suddenly, I realized that I would have to make a time commitment to my health - something I logically believe, but actually rarely do. So, I now have workouts on my calendar and will be devoting 30 minutes three times each week to Curves. Maybe with a lot of dedication my body will develop its own curves (in the right places for a change).....

Positive Spin Tip #6: Okay, we’ve discussed the first 5 steps in the G.I.G.G.L.E.™ process: GET MOVING, IDENTIFY, GROUP, GIVE IT A PLACE, and LABEL. Now we’re ready for the last step, ESTABLISH A ROUTINE. Habits are subconscious shortcuts. First, decide on one new habit you would like to develop, such as doing stretching exercises twice a day. Then, find two ways to remind yourself of your plan (i.e., leave sticky notes on your bathroom mirror or computer, and set an alarm or timer). Commit to a specific time to begin your new routine (7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 8th), and schedule a date to check your progress (Tuesday, June 29th). Finally, tell someone about your plan. Sharing your goal can be an incentive to keep going when the novelty wears off - and it’s nice to have a cheerleader along the way. It takes about 21 days to establish a new routine, so be patient. In three weeks you’ll find yourself stretching without even thinking about it! Need help applying the G.I.G.G.L.E.™ process in your home or office? Just contact Susi@MessDistress.com. It will be a slimmer, healthier me answering your email:)

S.O.S. Blog #3 - 01/30/10

Can January already be almost over? Time goes by so quickly. Sometimes I feel like I’m finally ready for the holiday before last, but certainly not the current one. Stores have had Valentine’s Day displays out for a month and -I hate to admit this - I still have Christmas decorations waiting to be packed up. Before I put them away, they need to be sorted into “Keep for Next Year” and “Good-bye” boxes.
In my defense, I went to Arizona for a week to visit my dad and watch daughter Jami, her boyfriend Dave, and niece Renee run in the Phoenix half-marathon. So, what was the positive side of walking a quarter-marathon from and to the parking lot (okay, slight exaggeration) and standing around in the sun for hours waiting for everyone to get to the gathering spot? First of all, it was exciting to watch Jami run by - for the split second I could see her anyway. Plus, they ran their best times yet and were deservedly proud of that achievement. Most importantly, it was an opportunity to share a new experience with my family. What a great day to be a mom!
Now it’s time to buckle down and focus on clearing off the Christmas collection table. My goal is to get everything stored before February 14th. Time to G.I.G.G.L.E.!

Positive Spin Tip #3: As you heard in PS Tip #2, the G.I.G.G.L.E.™ process helps you to organize just about anything. The first step (G.) is to Get Moving, so I will start by checking my calendar and scheduling a time to start. It’s important to make a commitment by putting a task on your calendar or planner (a To Do list is really just a Wish List). Using a timer can also give you a boost when trying to get started. Set the timer for 10-20 minutes - or the time you feel you can dedicate to the task. Then, stick to the job until the timer goes off. You can always reset the timer if you’re motivated to keep going, but allow yourself a reward for sticking to your plan: Take a walk, have a snack, read one article in a magazine, or call a friend (set the timer again). Christmas decorations, here I come!
Next: Blog #4 will introduce the “I.” step of the G.I.G.G.L.E.™ process.
Enjoy Today!
:)Susi