Bootcamp For Your Mind

How Shannon lost weight by blogging!

I always tell my clients that the best way to make sure you do what you say you’re going to do is to have someone to be accountable to.  I usually recommend that family, friends, co-workers or life coaches play the role of “butt-kicker”…but, what if you were accountable to the 100 million people in the world with access to the Internet?

That’s what Shannon Foster of Clinton, Iowa has done by creating a personal blog that chronicles her mission to lose weight and improve her health.

Using the website www.sparkpeople.com ,Shannon has created a place to keep track of her weight loss program, monitor her progress and share experiences with anyone who logs on. 

When you think about it, what could be a better way to stay accountable?  For example, if you don’t post regular updates to your blog, people are going to know something is up and wonder if you’re slacking off!  You’re going to have to stick to your regimen in order to please all your new “virtual coaches” who visit the site.

I love what Shannon is doing here – not only is she using the blog to give herself extra motivation, she’s inspiring others by broadcasting her personal journey throughout the web.

Visit Shannon at http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=SFOSTER

Click here to visit Amy's site, Bootcamp for your Mind!

Watch movies to get happy and healthy

People who are depressed often find themselves in a vicious cycle: things in life aren’t going the way they want, so they begin to live in the problem.  They listen to sad songs, watch depressing-as-hell movies and the local evening news, all to confirm that their outlook on life is correct – bleak and ugly.  STOP IT! 

If you want to feel better about yourself and life in general, you need to release some serious endorphins!

Endorphins are the body’s all-natural way of creating good-feelings.  Releasing endorphins provides a state of well-being that helps improve your mood and even relieve pain.  The best ways to release these endorphins and enjoy their effects are through exercise, laughter, and sex.  Not too shabby… 

So if you’re feeling depressed, and can’t shake it, I strongly recommend you do the following immediately:

1. Start exercising for just 30 minutes a day.  Take a brisk walk in the morning.  Get your heart up and release the magical endorphins!
2. Watch funny programming: TV, movies, anything that invokes laughter.
3. Grab your partner for a little afternoon delight or nighttime rendezvous.  20 minutes is all you need to get your endorphins flowing.  It’s all natural, great exercise, and helps improve your mood.

Endorphins make you feel better, and the actions that release endorphins are fun and healthy.  Talk about a win-win situation!

Click here to visit Amy's site, Bootcamp for your Mind!

Supercharged foods to help you get things done!

I ask a lot of my clients.  To help them achieve an amazing life, I give them assignments and challenges that sometime push them to the limit.  (Hey, it’s the only way I know to get real results!)  And to help my peeps get more done, I always tell them they need the right “fuel” – super-charged, all-natural foods that give them a burst of energy when they need it most.  Here’s a look at some of my favorite foods to help get things done (and stay healthy)!

• Blueberries and Strawberries
• Citrus fruits
• Mangoes
• Cantaloupe
• Beans
• Spinach
• Sweet potatoes
• Low fat dairy products and Soy milk
• Oatmeal and whole grains
• Salmon
• Nuts
• Tea

It’s also very important to remember that no matter how busy you are, you should NEVER miss a meal.  Your body and mind just won’t operate at peak performance unless properly nourished.  Try to keep these foods handy at all times, whether it’s in your purse, at your desk or in your car.

Click here to visit Amy's site, Bootcamp for your Mind!

From the blogosphere: 10 reasons to work out that have nothing to do with a sexy bod

If you’re in a committed relationship, and your partner repeatedly tells you that he or she LOVES the way you look (don’t change a THING), it’s easy to lose motivation to stay in shape.  Same deal if you’re in one of those phases where you’ve sworn off men/women “forever” and are content to stay at home with Netflix and Pinkberry every night.

But there are plenty of good reasons to stay healthy and in shape that don’t include getting some.  As this article eloquently states, you need a great exercise and diet plan if you’re going to take on the world and accomplish all the goals you’ve set for yourself.

Check out 10 Reasons to work out that have nothing to do with a sexy bod at Pick The Brain and see for yourself.  Then get off the couch and act on it!!!

Click here to visit Amy's site, Bootcamp for your Mind!

Four ridiculously easy ways to improve your health at work

Just because you spend 480 minutes a day in your cube doesn’t mean you have to be Jabba The Hut.  When it comes to staying healthy on the job, a little goes a long way.  Try these sure-fire solutions for maintaining awesome mental and physical performance at the office.

Take walks. Put down the mouse and get yourself up!  Trim time off of your lunch hour and use those extra minutes for some short walks outside.  Do it just one or two times a day for 20 minutes. The cardio and the fresh air will both do you a world of good!

Snack healthy.  I know how great that vending machine down the hall looks, what with all those pretty colors and shiny packages. Fill your desk with the good stuff that you love to eat.  Bring fresh items like almonds, hard-boiled eggs (pop out the yolks and fill them with hummus – YUM!), peanut butter and celery from home and store them in the office fridge. Every time you feel like popping four quarters for some Skittles, reach for your healthier options instead.

Manage your stress.  Getting too stressed out about work just doesn’t make any sense.  The conflict that can result from your feelings is not good for you or your co-workers. When you’re upset at work, the most important thing to do is NOT say anything to any of your co-workers.   It’s a much better idea to go for a walk or find a private place to blow off some steam.  These few minutes of getaway time will help you calm down and ask yourself some important questions:  What is the result you want out of the stressful situation? On a scale from 1-10 (with 10 being the most stressful) is this an 8, 9 or 10?  If it is not, then why aren’t you finding a way to let go?  Ask yourself what you need to communicate in order to fix the problem at hand.  By putting things in perspective this way, you will make better, more clear-headed decisions that alleviate the stress you are experiencing.

Watch your attitude.  Those who maintain an upbeat positive attitude and choose to focus on what WORKS in their life, rather than dwell in their problems, experience better health and well-being.  Those who complain about their job and their co-workers are “living in the problem” and experience depression, an unhappy state and are often passed over for raises and promotions.

Click here to visit Amy's site, Bootcamp for your Mind!

Eat only those things you can pronounce!

When it comes to grocery shopping, less is more, as in the number of ingredients found in what you buy.  For example, if you’re faced with the choice between Doritos (ingredients that looks like the list of chemical compounds found at Chernobyl) and store brand plain corn chips (corn, oil, salt), please pick the latter. 

As a coach, I help my clients make better choices – and show them how the right decisions (even seemingly simple ones) can lead to a happier, healthier life in a variety of ways.   The choices you make in the aisles at your local supermarket may not seem important, but they greatly affect your health and well-being, and the folks over at Divine Caroline have got the whole shocking back-story for you. Read it and then run (do not walk) to the nearest organic foods stores to stock up on this week’s groceries.

Seriously scary chemicals at divinecaroline.com!

Click here to visit Amy's site, Bootcamp for your Mind!