Posted by Monica Bautista on Wed, May 05, 2010 @ 09:13 AM
How often have you felt unmotivated, lethargic, or even downright grumpy after being cooped up inside at home or at work for a long time? An interesting new study from the UK shows that even five minutes a day of "green exercise" goes a long way to improve people's moods, self-esteem, and mental health. "Green exercise" is activity that is done in the presence of nature.
How often have you experienced being refreshed and rejuvenated after stepping outside, enjoying the sunshine, and breathing in fresh air? Just look at kids and how happy and energetic they are when they are outside, running around and playing. If you have kids of your own, you may wonder like I do sometimes...where do they get all of that energy? Now, research has shown that being outside and moving around in nature creates this positive effect.
So, I encourage you to leave the treadmill, elliptical machine, or stationary bike behind today and Get Moving outside! Click here to download Full Life's Outdoor Workout...challenge yourself and reap the benefits of "green exercise".
To read more about this study, click here.
Posted by Natalie Deangelo on Fri, Apr 23, 2010 @ 09:07 AM
Happy Friday, fighters! I hope everyone has had an amazing week. As many of you know, I ran the Boston Marathon on Monday, so I spent most of the week recovering! Wow, do I love the Boston Marathon. Whether you run it or simply watch it, it is truly a moving experience. That's why today, I decided to give you a bit of inspiration in the Friday Fight.
For anyone looking for inspiration to exercise, go out and watch a local race. There are so many people of different shapes, sizes, ages, and bodies. And they're all running for a reason - maybe they're running in memory of a family member or friend...maybe they're running to relieve stress. Maybe they're running because they don't know what it would be like not to. You don't have to be an advandced runner to appreciate a good race. Because the beauty of running is that you can go at your own pace and find inspiration from anyone, at any level. One of my favorite shirts I saw during the race was one that read "There is a stronger you inside."
With that in mind, I have to share the "Why I Run" section on Boston.com. This is a forum where ANYONE can post their stories and favorite reasons to run. It truly brought tears to my eyes. Here's just one of the posts:
"Running is my unicorn pursuit. Doing it makes me feel I can accomplish the impossible. It satisfies my yearning for adventure, my insatiable sense of inquiry, and my desire to experience the world in ways inimitable. Running gives me epiphanic moments of clarity otherwise unreachable, and it makes me a fantastic wife, daughter, sister, and friend. Running will alleviate the world's ills, and, in the process, make all of us better, stronger, fitter, faster people. There's nothing quite like it."
Want more inspiration? Check out more stories here: http://www.boston.com/newsprojects/whyirun/#/story-214
What inspires you?
Posted by Alicia Leeds on Sat, Apr 18, 2009 @ 05:36 PM
Yesterday, I ran into someone who dumped me in high school, someone for whom I thought my unrequited love would last.
It didn't (as luck would have it) the love of my high school life was - well, pretty much forgotten, after a semester or two at college. Time is wonderful that way! ... and since then I have been around the world and back, not to mention...25 years! that have passed... and well, imagine my surprise... when out of the blue - there he was.
Steve? (not his real name) Oh my God! Is that you?
(Oh My God. OH MY...holy...)
Freeze frame. Full Stop. This is the moment. Forget about the weddings and the graduations and the vacations and the birthdays and the whatever other event you find yourself on a diet for. The three week countdown so you're jogging, running stairs and doing a hundred crunches morning and night, eating celery sticks and baby carrots and - you're almost in the white shorts from last summer...forget all that...Really. Hit Play.
Oh My God, Alicia? You look fabulous! (I do? I do.)
Well...WOW, Steve...It's good to see you, too.
This is a rewarding moment in a life well lived. One answer to the big why... All the morning walks and broccoli, yoga classes and veggie burgers, personal training and HMR shakes; this is a moment that makes it all worthwhile.
Neither of us has escaped the signs of 25 years gone by. We've aged. There's no getting around that one. But in this moment, I am so glad that I have done my best to do it well, gracefully, healthfully.
Are there any moments in life for which you don't want to look, feel, and be the best you can be? Are there any chance encounters with an old flame which wouldn't be enhanced by knowing that through the years you've done the things you have to do to be healthy, look good, feel good?
I never really was too upset about the breakup, certainly never out for revenge...but after we caught up for a few minutes and then we said our - "so good to see you"'s... I have to admit, there was a sweet taste in my mouth after all.