Your Best Effort

"No one can please everyone. Your mental peace is more important. If you are in peace, then others around you will feel peace. So your best effort should be to work on yourself." ~ Baba Hari Dass

 I found this quote this morning on my Bikram Yoga instructors facebook page. Instantly, I knew I had to share it with you guys! 

Not long after that, my entire plan for today's post was out the window. A high school friend of mine had posted on her FB wall that she was ready to lose some weight and wanted perspective of her friends on what routines, dvds, etc. worked and were worth giving her energy and time to... 

 After reading several of the responses (Wii, P90X,etc), one person said 30 DAY SHRED! Instantly I knew I was in on the commentary. I'm a hard core Jillian Michaels fan. I have almost all of her DVDs, I've practically read all of her books while wasting time at Target and get her emails everyday. So, yea... I love her.

She's just a bad ass (and she knows it)! JM doesn't waste your time, gets your heart REEVING, makes you burn in places that burn major calories and best part is, she'll get you ripped! :) 

I digress. Back to my friend...

While we were in High School my friend, (whom I'll keep anonymous since I haven't asked her permission to use her name) we'll call Susie Q., was hit by a drunk driver. To this day she still suffers from MAJOR back issues. She's run the gamut trying to cure her aliment, but so far her MD's think she's "crazy" and no chiropractor will touch her (which I can't blame them). Recently she met with her primary MD and together they both agree that losing some weight will likely help this issue (as do I!).

After exchanging a few messages throughout the day, Susie Q. told me, more or less, that it practically "kills" her to "go out and play with her 2 year daughter". After that, she said that it was because of this (her back injury and pain) that she is overweight. My eyes teared up and my heart got a little gooey. I can't even imagine what it would feel like to not be able to play with your own child...  

ugh, Susie Q.! You are going to do this!! You can! :) You are going to play with that precious little girl of yours just like you want to!!

 

For Susie Q. and anyone else out there with such a limiting factor (i.e. knee/back pain, obesity) on your ability to do certain physical activities/movements this is my "advice": 

FIND A POOL! Go at night. Go in the morning. Go whenever you can. I don't even care if you wear a sweat suit instead of a swim suit (you just might have to ask the pool manager about that though). YOU HAVE TO USE THE POOL!!! You don't have to know how to swim, but if you do, even better. If you have a fear of water, time to suck it up and find someone to help you overcome this fear.... Likely, this water is the only way you're going to save your life! 

Here are a few articles to help you get started and focused: Pool Running Technique ; Check Out This Great Pool Workout!

Total Body Pool Workout 

Also, here's a video with beginner and advanced exercise ideas

 Water allows the body to move more freely and with a little helpful resistance. Water gives the body a little buoyancy that optimizes movement of the extremities and preserving the joints. Research shows that exercising in water improves flexibility while relieving stress. "Water tones the whole body, yet it also relaxes you, so it's ideal for people with injuries and back problems," says Nicole Forsythe, a water fitness instructor at the Delano Hotel's David Barton Gym in Miami.

Of course (what we all already know), any exercise is better than NO exercise - but without some major changes to WHAT and HOW we eat, no one will see the body changes or the pounds drop off like they would like. 

SOOO - For my friends and Susie Q., get moving. Start looking at your food differently and find your motivation. For Susie Q., her beautiful daughter is her motivation. 

Find your focus. Jump in and love your body. Love yourself. 

Good Luck Susie Q.! You're going to be phenomenal. :)

- a.