Kim's Fitness and Nutrition

I know it sounds simple enough, and really it is. However, most of us have quite a bit of trouble remaining focused on feeling only joy. There are so many reasons why we get pulled off our joy path, the biggest one being ?what is.? What is in our immediate reality seems so solid and permanent, it is often difficult to take our eyes from it. Of course, in the moment we allow it to capture our attention ... bam ... our vibration is then a match to that and we are suddenly creating more of that. If ?that? does not feel good when focused upon, then our energy is split and we are now giving vibrational mixed messages to the Universe. This may be a little tricky at first, I know, but once you begin to see the evidence that comes from working at this, and that you truly are in 100% control of what comes, your faith will become unshakeable. It does require an adamant, determined, relentless approach, and if you are vigilant, the rewards are miraculous. Here are a few guidelines that I have found to be very helpful.

A week rarely goes by without my having a conversation resembling the following: Client: ?I am hardly eating anything at all and I am stuck. My weight isn?t budging, and if anything, I have somehow managed to gain a couple pounds. I don?t get it. I am really barely eating at all. How can I be gaining weight?? Kim: ?Tell me what your daily intake of food is, bite for bite.? The client then proceeds to tell me that they are eating one egg, a dry piece of toast and 2 cups of coffee for breakfast, that is if they even eat breakfast. Nothing solid may even enter their bodies until 1 or 2 p.m. Lunch is a salad with grilled chicken eaten with oil and vinegar dressing and a large unsweetened tea. Nothing in the afternoon, and then dinner at 7 p.m. when they eat 4 oz. of meat, a cup of steamed vegetables and a couple glasses of wine. Most people viewing this day?s diet would say that was certainly a food program that would cause weight loss. This client only consumed 1100 calories if they actually ate breakfast. Everyone knows it?s like a bank account, RIGHT?? Calories in and calories out. They had to have easily burned 2000-3000 calories that day, even if they sit at a desk. Do the math ... they should be dropping weight like crazy. Why are they slowly gaining? Wrong thinking that is resistant to change is the cause.

When we do any type of physical activity that puts a degree of demand on our muscles that is beyond what is the norm, it is likely to create soreness. I am often asked just how much soreness is appropriate? I must say that the amount of soreness is a very individual thing. Truthfully, there are plenty of people who want to feel sore. Being sore represents the fact that they have had a really good workout, and that's really okay ... for them. It is not, however, necessary nor is it indicative of having had a good workout. Research has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that our bodies do not require "soreness" in order to successfully grow stronger. The real truth be known, our bodies tend to progress faster if we limit the degree of soreness to a minimum. Also, psychologically, we as humans will tend to have better adherence to our programs if we do not get unduly sore. You see, over time we begin to dread those workouts if we are keeping ourselves in a constant state of discomfort.

I have been spending a lot of time wondering what is the very best way to maintain alignment with my Higher Power. A dear friend of mine and I had a terrific conversation around this subject, and I experienced an "aha" moment. For years I have meditated, on and off, and have taken classes, read books and attended seminars trying to perfect the art. I can't tell how many times I was told to simply follow my breathing, and when my mind wandered off, gently notice and bring it back to the breath. So I did, but I was never told to become aware that when you are noticing that your mind has wondered, there is actually someone else who is doing the noticing. I mean my mind/thoughts or what I am calling my Ego wandered off away from the attention to the breath. Therefore, when I "catch myself" wandering, who is that who is doing the catching? I have heard tell of the "silent witness" or the "observer," but silly me, I had never put two and two together until now.

If you are anything like me, I tend to ask for help or certain things to come into my life or possibly be taken out of my life, over and over and over again. It is as though I think the Universe has not heard me or maybe needs to be reminded. I usually go along doing this for a while, and then thankfully, I remember ... the Universe never needs reminding. I truly believe that, but like many thoughts that are not yet deeply ingrained, I forget. It seems that forgetting is a human trait, not a divine one. Funny how we think that Source, God, All that Is, must be just like we are. As human beings we are unique creations of the Omnipotent one. It is so much more, and frankly, we are so much more than this little self we so often identify with. However, that is a subject for another day.

Summer is winding down, and although we will certainly continue to have plenty of beautiful weather, the cold season is on its way. I know from my experience that many people go into "cave time," spending much more time curled up at home in front of the fire. Typically, soul food becomes the body's desired food. That is, heavier foods such as stews, chili, pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy, etc. There is nothing wrong with going with your body's natural rhythms; in fact, I recommend it. However, this is where a lot of people get off track with their fitness programs and then have a terrible time getting back on. May I offer a few suggestions?

Many of us have an ongoing concern for how things are looking back there. Vanity is behind most of that concern, but I want to interject an even more important reason. Our buttock muscles are THE muscles that give us the capacity to get up out of a chair, get out of our vehicles, get off the toilet, and climb stairs, hills and inclines. As these muscles atrophy or grow weaker, our bodies are so smart that they begin to compensate by automatically asking the arms to assist. Without conscious thought, you may have already begun to use your arms to assist yourself to a standing position. If you are, try to thoughtfully raise up from the couch, your dining room chair, or off the toilet WITHOUT assisting with your arms. Can you do it?