We All Fall Down...and FIT TIP (#113)

Texas, a huge pile of autumn leaves, and 3 little dudes.
Good times. Better than good. **Stone, Dallen and Gavin**
Well worth picking leaves out of hair and clothing the rest of the afternoon.
Thank you November...you were a blast!


2011 Fitness Strategy--borrowing win-it tips (#2) from top athletes

FIT TIP (#113): Picture Victory
Visualization is the key to getting your head into the game, according to many top athletes. Mentally going through the motions accustoms our body and mind to how something is done.

Try this: What is it that you want to accomplish? Find a comfy spot where you can sit for five minutes every day. Next, imagine the action in detail. The more senses involved, the more the image will be etched in your brain.


Words for the Week
{11.29.2010}
"The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things." -Henry Ward Beecher

Self-Adjustment...and FIT TIP (#112)

Just a little to the left, right?
Right. No, left.

Sometimes it's necessary to take things into your own hands...

...even if you are being closely supervised!

Just rediscovered this pic of Stone from last Thanksgiving, and it cracks me up. The guys were installing a doggy-door and Stone couldn't resist the toolbox.

**my personal** FITNESS STRATEGY for 2011:
borrowing win-it tactics from top athletes to improve FITNESS ...and other areas that might require toughness, diligence, and grace under pressure.

**starting with** FIT TIP (#112): Strategize
Winning athletes don't go into practice, let alone competition, without a plan.
Breaking down a large goal into smaller, doable steps is the key to an athlete's success in:
--remaining focused
--marking progress
--staying motivated

Try this: Make your first steps so easy that you can't fail. This will give you the momentum and sense of achievement you need to keep going.



Words for the Week
{11.22.2010}
"Reflect on your PRESENT blessings of which every man has many, not on your PAST misfortunes, of which all men have some." -Charles Dickens

Close, but No...and FIT TIP (#111)

In celebration of Mr. R's birthday
we cheered for the Suns from awesome seats.

The game was as close as we were but,
we lost to the Spurs **my favorite NBA team to cheer against!** by a bucket. **remember this?**

Got very close to Manu Ginobili **of the Spurs** a few times.
And even closer to having a **celeb** crush on him. He was so dang sweet **to us Suns fans**.

Then a week passed...and I'm over him.

The Spurs are still my most favorite team to cheer against. Followed closely by the Lakers, whom we beat in their home on Sunday. Woot-woot!



FIT TIP (#111): Chasing the Blues
#1--Practice Daily Acts of Gratitude--Everyday, pause and list 3 things and 3 people to whom you are grateful. **one of my November goals...love starting my day this way**

#2--Look at Your Present Through the Eyes of Your Future--

#3--Be Happy in Spite of Unhappy Events--When we're young and emotionally immature, we're happy because of what goes right. When we grow older and more mature, we can learn to be happy in spite of what goes wrong.

#4--Try a Power Thank You--Unexpressed gratitude is a terrible thing to waste.



Words for the Week
{11.15.2010}
"Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live." -Jackie Windspear

Fit Tip (#110) First...and Skinny Flinny!

First today...FIT TIP (#110)
GRATITUDE CHASES BLUES AWAY

People who feel gratitude have better lives than those who dwell on disappointments.
**according to a survey of psychotherapists**
People with the best lives **and least regrets** not only feel grateful, but express their gratitude to those individuals to whom they are thankful.

In fact, it is impossible to feel grateful and bitter at the same moment. It is also impossible to express sincere heartfelt gratitude to another person and not feel like a good person yourself.

Four **easy & fun** CHASING TIPS coming soon.


And now...a few words on Men & **super** Skinny Jeans. Why?


Come on guys...unless you are one of these brothers...
you really shouldn't. Really.

I have been **patiently** waiting for this trend/fad to run it's course
and be done already. Please!

I feel **super** confident stating that my sons
**including, and probably especially, my son-in-law...not pictured**
have not and will not be actively participating in this **super** Skinny Jean trend/fad.

Although, I can **possibly** picture Jordan **on the left in above picture** wearing this less Skinny version. **much better...don't you think?**
And that may have something to do with a pair of Skinny Wranglers that he rocked for about 4 hours his junior year in high school...in Texas.

Or, it may have something to do with seeing him in similar jeans recently.
Not sure.
**He sometimes reads this...maybe I'll finally get a comment from him.**

And if the Look of **super** Skinny Jeans isn't reason enough to STOP, maybe this is--

Reports the Wall Street Journal:

Doug Black has found himself in a tight squeeze more times than he cares to remember. One day, he got caught in the rain without an umbrella and was unable to run. When his colleagues sat in a circle, the 23-year-old English teacher from Portland, Ore., couldn't cross his legs. And when he tried to jaywalk, while in Beijing for work, he couldn't hop the median divider with his friends. “I had to walk half a mile down the street on my own to use the crosswalk,” he says.
This poor fellow has obviously never seen the episode of “Friends” where Ross’s skintight pants left him trapped in a bathroom because he couldn't get them back on. That can happen to you, too, buddy.
Yet, guy wearers of skinny jeans seem to remain manfans as they clearly have little issue with the emasculating styles, high price, and sacrifice for fashion over comfort. Assures Doug Black, “Discomfort comes with the territory.”

P.S. My daughter & daughters-in-law look fantastic in their Skinny Jeans!!!

Grace & Gratitude...and FIT TIP (#109)

for November I aspire

to live each day with more
love, grace and gratitude.


"Happiness cannot be traveled to,
owned, earned,
worn or consumed.

Happiness is the spiritual experience
of living every minute
with
love, grace and gratitude."
--Denis Waitley


For these 30 days **of November**
first thing in the morning
**before I get out of bed**
I think of 3 things & 3 people
I'm grateful for.
My heart swells immediately and
stays full all day long.

Counting blessings...awesome day-starter!

FIT TIP (#109): Chill Out
For a natural energy drink, blend grape, acai, or pomegranate juice with crushed ice. Nutrients are absorbed into your system faster via a beverage that's cold versus one at room temperature.

Words for the Week
{11.8.2010}
"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." -William Arthur Ward