Exercise - Do I really have the time?

Researching for the Commando Kick Butt Challenge I was again reminded of some teaching I had from Jenny Craig years ago about how to increase your natural activity levels, so I thought that I would share that information with my readers.

Firstly, we've heard most of it before. Use the stairs, park the furthest away from the shopping centre. But the one that I hadn't heard before was a gem that our physical trainer, Geoff Quinsee shared with us on Saturday. That is to move parts of your anatomy when you are sitting. ie shake your leg, move your foot, drum your fingers etc. Anything that will get your heart working harder. Here I was always stopping those around me from shaking their anatomy, only to realise now that I should not have been asking them to stop but actually joining in all the fun!

This is a marriage saving piece of advice that I am giving you here!

Now, if you are a computer nerd like me, you may also want to consider his other advice and that is abandon the chair with the back support and opt for a bouncy ball instead! A fit ball will help you to develop your core muscles (those that run through your abdomen) as you will be using them to keep yourself perched up there on that ball.

Now imagine with me if you will, an oversized woman sitting on a fit ball at the computer. You are allowed to giggle! Seriously, I know I am going to look a picture but if it works, then I say go for it. Imagine if everyone went into work tomorrow with a fit ball in tow and told the boss to throw away the traditional chair. Imagine whole meetings of people bouncing on their fit balls. It really could revolutionise the whole business sector! Imagine visiting your doctor and while you are telling them your woes, they are bouncing away on their fit ball. It seriously could be therapeutic!

Why not join me in the revolution to get fit and healthy?

Day 3 of the Commando Kick Butt Challenge

Well it is day 3 of the challenge and Perth has decided to have a sudden warm snap. Outside today it is 34 degrees and that means that I am going to only venture out if it is absolutely essential!

So what changes have I made thus far?

Well, I decided that Sunday was my day to get myself in order and to clear the decks of those things that have been mounting up to distract me. So I plodded my way through a huge project, I spent time with my family and I positioned myself for a great week. Today I have begun my onslaught on the house and I am going to put in some very high energy spurts throughout the day to bring order out of my kids chaos!

Today I am struggling a bit with the notion that I have to give up some things in order to gain something better. It seems that Diet Coke has a bit of a hold on me, but I am determined! I have decided that I need to do my vision board and was surprised to find some photos of myself that I didn't realise I had. In the photos I look great and I was slim and fit. I am going to make up a vision board with these images on them and start to create some words that will make my vision board work for me. Words like "energetic", "inspirational", "leadership", "success", "determined", "focused", "happy", "life giving" and all those other words that describe the me that I want to release onto the platform of my life.

What are you struggling with today? Do you have an image in your mind of the "you" you are seeking to create. Are you actively pursuing your destiny, your passion and your purpose?

Why not join the Woman of Spirit Personal Challenge Quest and commence a project that moves you towards your goals and your destiny?

With a view like that, why wouldn't you?

It is now Day 2 of the Commando Kick Butt Challenge and my day has begun with some stunning weather. As I look out the window the sun is shining and we are headed for a very warm 33 degrees. It seems like in just a very short time the weather has sprung up from the early 20's to mid 30's.

So what did we do on Day 1 of the Commando Kick Butt Challenge?

On the first day of the challenge we met at my home. There were about 13 of us gathered together to hear Geoff Quinsee, the physical trainer, give us our preparation advice for the challenge, as well as, Anne Charlotte Patrilla, Psychotherapist, our mental preparation session.

I followed this up by presenting a clear picture of what the purpose of the challenge was - to go through a process of change that is more than just a physical change. To connect with others and work together as a team, to bring about the kind of change that will last a lifetime.

Standing in the loungeroom I asked each woman what she felt she needed from me to help her achieve her goals. I explained that the first two weeks are all about mental and physical preparation, then on 1 November, when the Personal Challenge Quest officially begins, so too does the full-on physical component of the challenge.

Having completed all the introductions and having laid the stage for the day, everyone went their separate ways, after having arranged how we were going to connect and support each other. There were offers to go kayaking, swimming, walking, family outings that involved phsyical activity and the gym. I even encouraged them to have a girl's night out dancing!

My first session was with Val, pictured below walking with Sarah, my daughter, and we took our children down to Burns Beach for a play with Dad supervising while we went for our first brisk stroll.

With a view like this, why wouldn't you want to get out and enjoy the sun and the wind and the beauty of the sea?

We were delighted to be able to witness a wedding down on the beach. The bridesmaids were in the most beautiful pink through to orange dresses. Sounds disgusting but they looked like hibiscus lillies.

What I took away from the day was that once again connections between women are powerful. In fact, connections between two human beings, when the goal is for the mutual benefit and enhancement of life, are the most amazing and powerful tools in the world!

I'm really looking forward to getting to know Val and the other girls better as we traverse this adventure together.

You don't have to be in Perth to join us in the Personal Challenge Quest. All you have to do is decide on a project, complete the action planner on our website and forward it to info@womencaninternational.com. The decision you make to "have a go" at life will bring with it a wave of freshness and energy.

Why not pop over to our website and find out more now?

So what is my next challenge? Meeting Anita on Tuesday at Quinns Beach for a walk with the dog, Val on Wednesday morning for a walk by the lake in Landsdale, phoning Linda during the week to see how she's going with her exercise plan and organising the masses for Helen Frost's nutrition session next week.

A process that works with children...

Someone told me that they used to have family meetings with their children, so I thought I'd give it a try. Well, we just had our sixth family meeting, which I run like a business meeting. Each of us has a book and pen and we write down our issues and some praise points. We then discuss the issues and come up with some possible solutions, which they suggest, as well as some punishments for doing the wrong thing. They are way harder than I would be!

We then draw a job out of the hat and everyone gets their task for the week. It's kind of fun, unless you get the kitchen for the third week in a row, which is what happened to my 9 year old who cried real tears of frustration! Suffice to say, she negotiated her way out of the kitchen and into floors. I felt a whole load of satisfaction as she complained about how hard mopping the floors is - she is the worst offender when it comes to messing up the floors! She has pledged to never eat anywhere but at the table again and I am going to hold her to it.

The beauty of these times together is that it is bringing a cohesion within our family unit which was missing before. Also, a cooperative movement forward as a family.

I don't know if you have the same issues as I do in getting everyone motivated, but this business process works. It works in the workplace and it works in the home. Communication is vital to the success of any business and a family is just another form of business run on goodwill!

Pop me a comment and share your family secrets for gaining and maintaining order and cooperation.

Thirty Day Challenge - a Real Challenge!

I'm doing the Thirty Day Challenge, but got a little challenged the first week. Have decided to re-start the challenge once the kids are back at school and I am no longer sick.

Here is what I had to say when I got stuck...