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In this season of love and matters of the heart, it’s important we don’t forget to love and care for our bodies.  Self-love and preservation do not mean you have to be perfect, but we can feel a keen sense of accomplishment if we understand the dynamics of incorporating a Wellness Lifestyle.

A Wellness Lifestyle is a mind, body and soul commitment for a life-changing experience.  It’s a declaration that you will make changes that improve not only how you look, but how you feel for your mental and physical well-being.  When you feel good, your confidence level elevates, which helps you to incorporate positive changes that enhance your life.

Turning your mind to the concept “It’s All About You” is not selfish, it’s self-care. This involves making an allegiance to go within and discover an inner you who appreciates him or herself.

If we lack the confidence to see ourselves healthy, take a journey through memory lane and reflect on a time when you loved (or liked) your body, at least some parts. Hair, breasts, waistline, legs, eyes, hips, there was something you appreciated about you. As you reflect, replace those thoughts with your heart, your mind, your body, your strength and you will find a deeper loving of yourself. While some physical features may be buried in the past, don’t allow your body changes to dictate your health and happiness.

Consider these self-awareness questions.

1.    What do I love about my body?

2.    What don’t I love about my body?

3.    Can I make changes about the things I don’t like?

4.    Am I willing to put in the work to make those changes?

5.    Am I willing to change my Attitude?

Making a decision that supports your health and well-being will create a more successful, vibrant and balanced lifestyle.

Your divine light will shine regardless of the physical evolution of our bodies. Don’t be a prisoner to society which contributes to mental stress and takes you further away from loving you.

Make a declaration today, “I Love My Body and I’m Falling in Love with My Body, All Over Again.”

 

By Sheila L. Agnew

Step Up to Fitness

http://www.sheilaagnew.com

 

A Cup Full of Confidence

A Cup Full of Confidence

A few weeks ago, one of my social media followers asked me, “How do I get started?” I responded, “Take the first step and then you have to make a decision. Will I keep going or will I stop?”

Taking the first step is not always as easy as it sounds.  It takes a lot of courage to do something you are not comfortable with or have never done before.  Many of us are experiencing these situations, particularly with the world health crisis, quarantined at home and in some cases isolation where we could use a confidence boost.

We are faced with having to consider undertaking activities for which we are not familiar. For the first time, we are challenged beyond our imagination.  These are times when we may have to decide who is going to be the victor, our winning attitude or our negative self-conscious. I am hopeful your decision is to be victorious and have faith to take steps necessary to move from complacency to action. 

Obstacles will try to block your vision and blur your path.  Some obstacles are, too scared, lonely, too old, no one cares, not smart enough, not healthy enough or whatever a negative mind will concoct to keep you from fulfilling your goals, dreams and desires.

My mom, who is ninety years old and lives in a different city has never gone to drive-thru banking prior to COVID-19.  She was determined to figure out how to bank a new way without assistance from my sisters who live close by.  The first attempt, she was so nervous she drove through without making the transaction.  Not to be defeated, she decided to give it another try a few weeks later.  This time she managed to stop at the teller station, but was too short to reach the deposit tube and had to get out the car to complete the transaction. Her biggest concern was the car behind her had to wait, but she was proud that she took the ultimate first step.  I’m pretty sure I won’t convince her to do online banking, but independence is important to her and the completion of that goal was an assurance she could perform a new task.

Both positive and negative experiences can boost your confidence.  Don’t allow the current health crisis to be a road block to the possibilities that lie within you. Be determined to spring forward in spite of the circumstances.

If you rely on divine order to operate and take control of your life, you can arise above obstacles and make what may seem as the smallest step become a huge accomplishment.  Your goal does not have to be big, it just needs to be meaningful to you.

The person who asked me how to get started revealed that she had health issues, but was determined to start moving instead of sitting in a chair feeling sorry for herself.  She had to change her attitude about her physical condition in order to move forward.  Changing your attitude will change your life.  All you need is a cup full of courage. 

A few Confident Boosters to consider are

-          Tap into your imagination

-          Adjust your focus

-          Disconnect from distractions

-          Open your mind to possibilities

-          Practice self-love

-          Stay energized with exercise, healthy diet and rest

-          Be patient

-          Pray

Sometimes we just need A Cup Full of Confidence.

Sheila Agnew McCoy is a personal trainer, senior fitness specialist, author, actor and commercial model. Her website is http://www.sheilaagnew.com

Money Won’t Cure Coronavirus

Even if money falls from the sky, it would not be enough to stop the spread of coronavirus. While scientists, health officials and other experts are working diligently to eradicate this deadly virus, the most significant action we can take as individuals is to become environmentally aware and take the recommended precautions to prevent the spread.

A healthy environment plays a compelling role in our physical health.  The importance of following recommended measures to help prevent the spread of the virus by washing hands, covering our mouths with tissue when we cough or sneeze and staying home when we are sick, cannot be over emphasized. In fact, these are practices we all should incorporate on a daily basis regardless of an outbreak.  

There’s a lot to be learned from the global coronavirus crisis and knowledge is powerful. Money may help, but humans are the most capable source to prevent these types of outbreaks.  We have a choice. We can make this a life sentence or we can begin to realize that what we continue to put into the air is what we will get out.

Core Exercises

Working with Senior Citizens on their Fitness Goals

can be rewarding.  Many cannot do floor exercises so I use a Bosu Ball to elevate them.

7 Ways To Fall In Love With Your Body Again

If you are beyond the first seventeen days in the New Year and in a slump, with little or no movement or progress towards your fitness and health goals, don’t feel alone.  Millions are struggling right about now and need a boost to continue or ever get started.  Consider this, “Are you in the same place now as you were last year or even years before?”  If the answer is yes, you may be a prime candidate for a “triathlon awakening”, a renewal of the mind, body and soul. 

Athletically, a triathlon is a contest of strength and endurance in three levels often associated with swimming, cycling and long-distant running.  Whether an athletic or not, our minds and bodies need similar types of endurance disciplines to navigate successfully through our challenges, and focus on creating a healthy lifestyle.  This is the race of life.  How we care for our bodies has a direct result on whether we will go a short or long distance.

We all have an opportunity to experience a healthy lifestyle.  All we need do is carefully prepare and train with exercise, fitness and proper nutrition.   The analogy of implementing disciplines similar to an athletics’ training, is to highlight their passion and dedication to whatever their desired goals and the measures it takes to achieve them. The healthy development of one’s body will create a direct flow of energy to the mind for a soul-satisfying experience.

Even though we are pass the beginning of 2016; you can still experience the excitement of achieving success in your health and fitness goals.   Here are a few tips triathlon athletics incorporate that can be useful for anyone desiring a transformation lifestyle.

Set Goals - Goals are important to provide a road map to guide you on your journey. Your goals must be clear, precise and realistic. Write down your goals in journals or create a vision board.

Periodization - Refers to a process in which athletics divide time into manageable blocks designed to produce specific fitness and performance results.  Set your goals so they will be manageable within the time frame you have on a day-to-day basis.  A desire for fast results may soon become discouraging.  If you assign specific blocks of time for each life change objective and pace yourself, results will be more long-standing.

Motivation - Make it personal.  Why do you want to have a transformation lifestyle?  Do you want to shed pounds for a specific event? Do you have a physical challenge or want to look and feel better for a lifetime?  Consider things that will fuel your motivation for achieving your goal.  We should all strive for a lifetime lifestyle.

Measure - How will you measure your results? Give yourself specific parameters such as losing inches, reducing body fat, quit smoking.... Remember, a healthy lifestyle is more than losing weight.

Time Frame - Give yourself a defined period of time to achieve your goals.  If you wish to lose 30 pounds, determine how and when you will achieve the goal.  For example, I will lose 5 pounds a month over the next 6 months by planning my meals and implemented a workout regimen suitable to to help me reach my goals.  Each time you meet your goal, you will get excited about the next interval. Don't set a goal to lose 30 pounds in one month. It may be too much too soon.  Be realistic.

Challenge - Goals should be challenging.  Keep your meals interesting by trying new, healthy recipes. Get your family and friends involved in sharing healthy dishes.  Diversify your fitness routine by experiencing different workouts.  The same workout everyday will eventually bore you. Register for marathon races, run/walk events for charity, or join group fitness classes.  You can also start your own challenge among family, friends and colleagues, which helps to motivate you and others by making it fun.  Be creative.

Envision - Can you see the pounds dropping off, the positive doctor's report, the beautiful outfit in your closet fitting you or crossing the finish line? How would that make you feel? The wonderful thing about vision, it helps you to see what the future can look like.  As mentioned before, create a vision board or simply create a vision where your goals are firmly planted in your mind.

    

     Don’t give up because you have not begun the program or reached the goals you so eagerly resolved to do in 2016.  You can always start anew at any time realizing each day is a new beginning.  Once you start, if you fall short, pick up where you left off and begin again.  We are all in the race and everyone has an opportunity to cross the finish line. Love yourself enough to care about your health.

Sheila L. Agnew McCoy is a author, entrepreneur, speaker and personal trainer @2016