Mind Matters Fitness

Stretching isn't just for athletes. Stretching keeps the body flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in our joints. There are many benefits to stretching: better circulation, decreased stress, improved posture, can help calm the mind, can help to decrease tension headaches, etc. But I think that one of the key reasons to stretch is this - lift your arms up over head and reach up imagine you are touching the ceiling, now slow...ly bend over and touch the floor. Now get down and sit on the floor legs in front and reach towards your toes. If any of these is difficult or causes a feeling of tightness for you NOW, at your current age... how is it going to be when you're 70? Stretching keeps us mobile and it keeps us independent. The ideal time to stretch is AFTER doing activity. But even if you don't hit the gym on a regular basis, don't let that stop you from doing a daily stretch. One way to get your stretch in is to schedule it directly after your shower while your body is still fairly warm. If you haven't been active or if it isn't after a workout, you might want to start with a few dynamic stretches, with proper form and then move to static stretching with proper form. Try not to bounce and never overdo your stretch. Hold each static stretch for 15 - 30 seconds.

We have become instant gratification junkies. We have instant access to information, people, items. However, our instant gratification addiction has made us lose logical perspective on the normal course of many things. Sometimes things just take time. Sometimes you just have to practice patience and consistently put in the work. If you do not see instant results when you start to exercise and eat right it doesn't mean that it isn't working. Try to think about your short-term... fitness goals as a part of a long-term larger plan, the plan is to regain your health and stay as healthy as possible for the rest of your life. Understand that it may take some time to see some physical results, but know that what you are doing is great for your overall health. Most importantly, STICK WITH IT! Little things done repeatedly over time lead to big changes.

Have you ever gone on vaca and ate whatever you wanted the whole time (and it tasted great) but after awhile you just felt like garbage? Stomach messed up. Heartburn. Tired. Headache. Dehydrated. Your skin starts to break out. You actually start craving a salad... Have you ever ate waaaay too much Chinese food, it tasted great, but then you felt full, bloated, dehydrated, got a headache? These are typically once in a while events. Most people don't eat that way all the time. ...But there is some learning here. Your body doesn't respond well to this type of eating. It lets you know that it is not happy. So if you generally feel like you have low energy or are constantly tired, or maybe you have a headache on more days than you don't *yes, you might want to see your Dr.*, but a simple start is to look at what you are regularly putting into your body. Be honest. What do you put in your body every day? Does it help to nourish your body in order to support it to function at its best? Or is it mostly full of salts and sugars and artificial ingredients? Where are some small changes you that can make? Do you agree? Comment below!

How are those New Year's Resolutions holding up? Instead of trying to overhaul your entire life through sheer willpower alone, how about trying to change things one step at a time... Make it easy! Pick tiny, practical changes that you can do consistently until they are habit. Small wins will keep you going. Instead of trying to do too much at once, decide what you can consistently do. Be honest with yourself!! If you know realistically that you're not going to get to the gym every day, don't make that your goal, instead make it your goal to go twice a week... but then stick to that every single week. Keep it as small and simple as possible. Keep going.

Tried the cold sesame noodle meal prep bowl recipe from Sweet Peas and Saffron. I give it allll the stars.

Weather is NUTS sorry boxing is canceled for today. Please stay safe.

Stretching isn't just for athletes. Stretching keeps the body flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in our joints. There are many benefits to stretching: better circulation, decreased stress, improved posture, can help calm the mind, can help to decrease tension headaches, etc. But I think that one of the key reasons to stretch is this - lift your arms up over head and reach up imagine you are touching the ceiling, now slow...ly bend over and touch the floor. Now get down and sit on the floor legs in front and reach towards your toes. If any of these is difficult or causes a feeling of tightness for you NOW, at your current age... how is it going to be when you're 70? Stretching keeps us mobile and it keeps us independent. The ideal time to stretch is AFTER doing activity. But even if you don't hit the gym on a regular basis, don't let that stop you from doing a daily stretch. One way to get your stretch in is to schedule it directly after your shower while your body is still fairly warm. If you haven't been active or if it isn't after a workout, you might want to start with a few dynamic stretches, with proper form and then move to static stretching with proper form. Try not to bounce and never overdo your stretch. Hold each static stretch for 15 - 30 seconds.

We have become instant gratification junkies. We have instant access to information, people, items. However, our instant gratification addiction has made us lose logical perspective on the normal course of many things. Sometimes things just take time. Sometimes you just have to practice patience and consistently put in the work. If you do not see instant results when you start to exercise and eat right it doesn't mean that it isn't working. Try to think about your short-term... fitness goals as a part of a long-term larger plan, the plan is to regain your health and stay as healthy as possible for the rest of your life. Understand that it may take some time to see some physical results, but know that what you are doing is great for your overall health. Most importantly, STICK WITH IT! Little things done repeatedly over time lead to big changes.

Have you ever gone on vaca and ate whatever you wanted the whole time (and it tasted great) but after awhile you just felt like garbage? Stomach messed up. Heartburn. Tired. Headache. Dehydrated. Your skin starts to break out. You actually start craving a salad... Have you ever ate waaaay too much Chinese food, it tasted great, but then you felt full, bloated, dehydrated, got a headache? These are typically once in a while events. Most people don't eat that way all the time. ...But there is some learning here. Your body doesn't respond well to this type of eating. It lets you know that it is not happy. So if you generally feel like you have low energy or are constantly tired, or maybe you have a headache on more days than you don't *yes, you might want to see your Dr.*, but a simple start is to look at what you are regularly putting into your body. Be honest. What do you put in your body every day? Does it help to nourish your body in order to support it to function at its best? Or is it mostly full of salts and sugars and artificial ingredients? Where are some small changes you that can make? Do you agree? Comment below!

How are those New Year's Resolutions holding up? Instead of trying to overhaul your entire life through sheer willpower alone, how about trying to change things one step at a time... Make it easy! Pick tiny, practical changes that you can do consistently until they are habit. Small wins will keep you going. Instead of trying to do too much at once, decide what you can consistently do. Be honest with yourself!! If you know realistically that you're not going to get to the gym every day, don't make that your goal, instead make it your goal to go twice a week... but then stick to that every single week. Keep it as small and simple as possible. Keep going.