lose the excuses fitness approach & G.O.Y.A!

Recently as my life, activities and responsibilities grow, I’m realizing more and more that as new opportunities come to be, there are always going to be new ways to grow, learn and improve.

Right now, I’m working on my health and fitness goals (always a challenge in the winter time so happy that Spring is on its way!) . Anyone in NY, or who watches the news, knows that in NYC we got our fair share of snow, rain and frigid weather. What that means for a “summer baby” like me? Hibernating and turning to warm, filling, winter foods and snuggling up indoors as much as possible. What that means for my waistline? Well…we won’t go there. Bottom line, I know I’m not alone is saying that as quick as the winter weight came on is as quick as I’d like it to come off.

Now for some of my (lame) excuses for not getting to the gym and making it the priority:
- Its too cold out
- I’ll go tomorrow
- after keeping up with my busy schedule, and focusing a lot of my energy on motivating others, getting to the gym to motivate myself was the last thing I had energy for?

However, here are things I also know to be true:
- I love being active
- when I work out, I feel happier, more relaxed (and able to ACT instead of REACT) and less stressed
- losing the extra lbs makes me feel strong, healthy and confident and who doesn’t want that?

So I had a few choices…and here’s what I chose, that’s WORKING (and working WELL)!

1 – Create Accountability: About 2 months ago, I enlisted the support from a friend with similar fitness goals. We vowed to keep each other motivated and in check. We also committed to a Monday night spin class + weight training class (2 hours!) and promised to text and encourage each other on Mondays. BONUS: having a gym buddy held me accountable each week, I didn’t want to let her OR myself down by bailing. Committing to a class also helped me view working out as just as important as any other appointment on my calendar.

2 – Enlist a Professional (or personal trainer in this case): As someone who is extremely busy juggling MANY different projects at once, the LAST thing I want to do at the gym is THINK. This may sound silly, but at the end of the day do I really want to PLAN one more thing? No! So, I enlisted the trainer of my trustee personal trainer Derrick, and let him give me a run for my fitness money and do the thinking FOR me. He know what my goals are, he knows how to push me (a step further than I would on my own), and he is invested in my success. Win – Win!

3 – GOYA! (Watch my Get Off You’re a**! Video): The NUMBER #1 most important thing that you can do to reach your goals (especially fitness goals) is CONSISTENT ACTION. Get Off Your….you know how it goes! The key to fitness success is consistency and repetition. Going to the gym ONE time will not give you the results you are looking for. But frequent exercise, and a healthy diet will.

These are just (3) of the ways that I was able to kick my fitness goals in high gear over the past few months. I am feeling stronger and more empowered as each week passes, and I want the same for you! Point: There is nothing more attractive (in life, romance and business) than a healthy, radiant and confident person. So, go out there and G.O.Y.A.!

A Recent Grad Searches Within to Save Her Job Search!

As you know, I’m a BIG fan of yoga. I like to integrate it into my life, if only a weekly basis, in order to add more balance, strength and flexibility in my life. Yoga, for me, is one of those things that helps re-charge you from the inside out. Not only is it a GREAT workout, it is always one of those things that you can do on your own with a video (more on that later) or in a group setting. There are so many varieties out there as well, you can really pick and choose until you find a style that is JUST RIGHT for you!

This week, I would like to introduce you to Lindsay who has written an inspiring peice on Yoga. This is Lindsay’s first appearence on the Create Your Great Life blog, so please join me in welcoming her with open arms!

A Recent Grad Searches Within to Save Her Job Search!

By Lindsay Jacobsen

As a recent graduate on the job search, my experience as a “post-grad” has been unsettling to say the least. I am an optimistic, creative individual who would never have expected a stunt in the job market to bring me down. Alas, it has. In order to occupy myself, I have frequently attended the local New York Sports Club for some stress-busting cardio. Straying from my routine, I decided to jump into Vinyasa Yoga class one day.

I had done yoga before, but I was no expert. Walking into the dark classroom, members silently stretching on their mats, I have to say I was nervous. This class is described on the scheduling as “vigorous,” and I was on my first Vinyasa initiative.

Needless to say, when our instructor walked in, I was immediately relieved. A muscular male figure appeared in the dark room wearing glasses and a bandana. He said, “when you are here, you are focused on your mind and body…” he continued “all troubles, worries, pressures behind you…”

SO relieved. Was he speaking to me? He had to have known I was nervous.

The rest of the class continued in the most relaxing, elegant way possible. The weight of the world lifted gently off my shoulders. I had separate goals that hour: flexibility, muscle strength, positions, balance, meditation, and focus.

And that is why Yoga has been my first movement to a great life. Of course, this is one small step to create “my” great life, and no one should do Yoga if it isn’t an interest of theirs.  But one step is all it takes. Now, I have used this spirituality to connect with my friends on a more sincere, honest level. It’s like, if you eat healthy for breakfast, you’re more inclined to eat healthy all day. With Yoga, I have taken one aspect of my obsessive compulsive workout behavior and created something beautiful, something raw and passionate. It’s fun to create your great life in a way most would see as a meaningless hour of stretching.

I have attached a video of Vinyasa Yoga for those who are interested in checking it out. Like I said, Yoga is not for everyone. We all have our own niche in the journey to living life. It takes one simple blip in the routine of every day to stop, take a deep breath and walk an alternative path to discover your individuality.

Try this video at home & for FREE!!

The Best FOUR Letter Word You’ve Ever Heard!

I guarantee you’ll never look at a can of GOYA black beans the same way again…but gosh, what a good reminder the pantry will be! Have a wonderful day, and I look forward to hearing from you in comments, tweets and more!

Share your thoughts below….or catch me on Twitter @DeeLynn!

Wednesday Wisdoms'

This week I am sitting here in Miami, Florida for the @EntMagazine Growth Conference 2.0 and to visit one of my very best childhood friends! I am enjoying my stay and the wonderful warm weather, and hope that where ever you are you are having a wonderful week! Here are the TOP PICKS for this week! The best in articles, blogs, books and videos! Click on any of the titles to read the articles! For more GREAT resources, check back to other Wednesday Wisdoms’ post from the past weeks! And be sure to comment with some great articles, blogs or videos that you’ve read or created! Have a GREAT day….enjoy!

Home and Organizing:
Top 10 Tips For Selecting Paint Color For Your Home by @RealSimpleMag

Lifestyle:
Why is it SO Difficult being Human? Guest Post by Sethgodin via @FlowerDust

Wellness:
Forgiveness & Reconciliation by @FlowerDust

Business:
Organize Your Business by @JanetSlack Systems are essentially a step-by-step process written out for each aspect of your business.

Social Media:
Practical Social Media Measurement: Awareness, Attention, Reach by @AmberCadabra

Health & Fitness:
Get Over the Hump Day: See What You Eat by @FitSugar

Money:
Recap of the 3-week Course on Earning Money by @Ramit

Relationships:
Making Difficult Decisions that Improve Your Relationship by Coach Jack Ito, PhD

Fun:
Nine Powerful Social Networking Sites for Women Entrepreneurs via @nataliemacneil

Thanks for stopping by! Let me know what you think and share your GREAT links to articles, blogs and videos below! Enjoy the rest of your week.

Weekly Wednesday Wisdoms

This weeks BEST and BRIGHTEST in blogs, articles and books! Enjoy! Leave comments on your favorite reads, or link other GREAT articles that you’d like to share in comments below! Have a GREAT day!

Health:
Feel great all year! By @ SelfMagazine Your month-by-month guide to a happy, healthy 2010. Get these reminders by email!

Business:
10 Challenges for Your New Year by @EntMagazine How to make 2010 a successful year for you and your employees.

Career:
What are you doing with your time? By @MsCareerGirl In economics, the principle of scarcity says we have a limited amount of time and resources. What are you doing with yours?

Wealth:
Earning more money: How to turn your skills into services that people will pay for! By @Ramit

Spiritual:
Finding Time For You by Dr. Rob of MindBodySmile.com

Random/Fun:
Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien Poke Fun at Their Plights by @PeopleMag

Wellness:
It’s a New Year…Start Breathing: Part 1 by @WomenonBusiness

Just some Darn Good Paperbacks of the Week:

Love/Relationships:
Crash Course in Love by @SteveBWard and @LoveAgent As seen on @VH1’s Tough Love Series. You can have the love you want…but first you have to do your homework!

Fitness:
Master Your Metabolism by @JillianMichaels The 3 Diet Secrets to Naturally Balancing Your Hormones for a HOT and HEALTHY Body! *Great Read*

What are your favorites blogs, articles or books this week? Why are they GREAT? Share your thoughts by COMMENTING below! Cheers!

Getting Back in the Swing of Things

Creating Healthy Habits for Fall after a Summer off Your Routine

This summer I was surrounded by endless amounts of company, barbecues, beach days, lazy mornings, sunset-watching, bike-riding, late nights with friends and wine, celebrations and more! It was truly a fantastic summer that I feel very blessed to have had. The memories made from this summer will truly help keep me positive as the weather starts to turn a little colder.

However, in all of the summer’s fun times, I definitely let my routine slip. I’ll admit it…I didn’t go to the gym as often as I would have liked. Some days I chose to roast marshmallows into S’mores (my favorite summer treat) instead of reaching for a healthy snack. And, there were definitely nights I stayed up too late, and morning I slept in too long. But, with all of that said, I am ready to get back into the swing of my routine, and create some healthy habits for fall that will help catapult my personal, professional, spiritual and financial goals to skyrocket levels this season.

If you are anything like me, growing up in New York, you let the four seasons symbolize quarterly benchmarks that naturally keep you in line and on track. With that said, farewell to Sweet Summer and Welcome Fall.

Use this simple exercise below to help you THRIVE in changing times and STAY ON TRACK with your goals for lasting, outstanding success this season!

1. SET A GOAL: Identify your main goal by answering a few simple questions.
1. What do you want more of in your life? (time, energy, money, health, fun, free time, etc.)
2. What do you want less of? (stress, negativity, fatigue, etc)
3. How do you want to feel on a daily basis? (energized, happy, fulfilled, joyful, positive, productive, etc)
2. FOCUS. Streamline your thoughts and decide how you will focus your time and energy.
3. TAKE ACTION. Identify ONE action that you will take immediately and ONE action that you will take daily towards reaching your goal. For maximum success, identify ONE action that you engage in right now that can potentially hinder your success. Focus your time and energy on the positive daily actions and thoughts to combat potential negative ones.
4. TRACK. Decide how you will track your success while you are staying on track and achieving your goals. Some people like to write it down in a small journal. If you work best on a deadline, it sometimes works well to set a date. You decide what will work best for you.
5. ACCESS and ADJUST. How will you know when you have met your goal? What will it look like? What will it feel like? What will your day entail? What daily, weekly, lifestyle changes have you made? How will you make sure your healthy habits stick?

Remember that reaching your goals is about THE PROCESS: taking stock of where you are in life, identifying simple daily actions and small changes, taking action and holding yourself accountable, and then accessing your progress/success and celebrating YOU!

xo, DeAnna Lynn Englezos

Have your cake, and eat it too!

“Creating Your Great Life” is about total wellness, including but not limited to physical health, mental health, financial prosperity, creative outlet, spiritual nourishment, supportive relationships, living in the present, attracting things into your life, committing to service and feeling fulfilled, abundant and purposeful on a daily basis. It is also about achieving these things in an effortless fashion, while fostering positive energy and capitalizing on the strengths that you already possess.

Staying in great physical shape is something that is really important to me and that I believe has a tremendous positive effect on many different aspects of your great life. Physical fitness not only gives me tons of energy, and helps me maintain the shape that I feel at my best, but it is also an essential part of my mental well-being. When I get lost in a workout, a great bike ride, or even a walk/hike, there is a great synchronization that happens between my inner self and my outer self. They become one, and I am able to release tension, allow the creative juices to flow, strategize, clear my thoughts, feel healthier and enjoy the physical benefits of being in great shape

.

But let’s face it, our lives are VERY busy and there is not always time for a great workout at the gym, or to pound the pavement for that nice long run. In order to save you time, keep you on track with your fitness goals and support you in being on top of you’re game, I’ve found a GREAT at-home workout that is quick-and-easy. I’ve been using it a few times a week when I can’t fit in a workout at the gym and I already feel much better. I was also able to eliminate the guilt that I previously felt when splurging on sugary treats (soft-serve twist with chocolate sprinkles) on days that I could not make it to the gym, because now I’ve got a great at-home workout in my “toolbox.”

Having a great life does not mean sacrificing the things that you love and enjoy. It is about finding the healthy balance that works for you. On the scale of life, you CAN have your cake…and eat it too!

Got a great fitness or health tip that you’d like to share? Leave a comment below. We’d all LOVE to hear from you. Thanks and be well!

CIRCUIT WORKOUT

From: http://www.fitnessdiet.info/homeworkout.php (@fitnessdiet on Twitter)

1. Pushups 10 repetitions (full or modified-keep body straight from knees to shoulders)

2. Squats 25 repetitions (feet wider than shoulder width, toes pointing out)

3. Ab Crunch 25 reps with knees bent to 90 degrees followed by 25 with legs straight in air

4. Standing Straight Leg Raise 25 reps each side (lift leg out to the side)

5. Ab Crunch (same as above)

6. Stationary Lunges 15 reps each side (keep front knee directly over your toes)

7. Standing Calf Raise 25 reps each (keep legs straight & hips still)

8. Dips 15 reps (using a chair, hands next to hips)

9. Ab Crunch (same as above)

10. Stationary Wall Sit 1 min. (knees bent to 90 degrees)

11. Low Back Extensions (lie on stomach with arms and legs straight in superman position, lift both arms and legs about 6 inches off floor, pause, lower and repeat)

Regardless of how many laps you do of the home workout, only perform 1 set of the low back extensions at the very end of your workout. This is to minimize the risk of back injury. For fit individuals this workout may seem a little less intense than their regular resistance workouts but remember that something is better than nothing. This home workout will prevent significant loss of muscle strength and endurance while you are away from the gym. Others may find this home workout to be quite a challenge. Start slow and don’t give up on yourself. Keep trying and within a half-dozen workouts you will notice huge improvement.

xo, DeAnna Lynn Englezos

What Does Yoga and Business Have in Common?

On the surface, not a heck of a lot.

However, what if you approached your business like a yoga class? That is my question to you today.

Let me explain.

This morning in my Bikram (Hot) Yoga class, I got to thinking about business. In Bikram Yoga, there are 26 carefully selected poses that consecutively focus on different muscles, organs and systems within your body, sandwiched between intentional breathing exercises. The class is meticulously constructed to allow the body the complete optimal benefits of each pose/position. The instructor is careful to lead you through each position and educate the class why and what is benefiting from the actions you are taking. He articulates the importance of focus on the specific body part being used and the idea of letting all other energy from the rest of your body hone in on that body part in order to get the full benefit of the position. In between each pose is a “Savasana,” or “Corpse Pose” which allows for a resting period to bring your body back to a homeostatic feeling and gear you up for your next intense pose.

“Maximum exertion, to total relaxation. In order to reap the full rewards of your hard work in each position.” – Says the physically fit and calm-toned Yoga Instructor.

What does this have to do with business? You ask.

Well, if you take the principles from the disciplines of Bikram Yoga and apply them to your business, your business will start to function like a whole and healthy yogi (a toned, strong, cohesive unit reaping full benefits while gaining maximum energy and momentum = higher profit and more success). Let’s say you broke down the facets of your business and looked at them like the human body, you could literally compartmentalize your entire business. Look at the sum of the parts from your core product/service as the heart of your business, marketing as your outer physique, business development as your muscles, internal operations and your organs, accounting, and so forth. Then, look at yourself as the oxygen that fuels the business.

Now…structure your week as you would a yoga class. Break down all of the areas of your business and work through them for a 2-4 hour time slots at one time (no more) …think = MAXIMUM EXERTION in that area of your business. Then, put it all away, close up the project for another day and take a rest…think = TOTAL RELAXATION. And then move on to the next sector of your business. When you are working on that project, give it your ALL. No matter if it is the “pose” or area of business you like the most or the least, think of it as ABSOLUTELY necessary that it gets all of your energy and resources for the time being (especially if YOU are your business).

Slowly, move through all of the areas of your business doing the same methodical practice…..a 2-4 hour chunk of time devoted entirely to that one task, MAXIMUM EXERTION of time/energy/resources to TOTAL RELAXATION. Total relaxation has to be a complete switch off of your brain power….take a coffee break, read a magazine, go to lunch with a friend, take a bike ride…you get the point.

Now, the first and last steps to Bikram Hot Yoga are breathing exercises. These are VITAL to your success in the class, as well as after the class because these exercises clear your body of toxins and oxidize your cells with new and fresh air, nutrients and energy. This is the SELF CARE aspect of your business. In any career and position, if you are not taking COMPLETE care of yourself FIRST and LAST to any other priority, you simply cannot be giving the job, task, project, etc, you’re ALL. I want you to SCHEDULE IN “Self Care.” This is an activity that is done JUST FOR YOU and no one else…could range from taking an uninterrupted candle lit bath, to taking a dance class, or scheduling a guitar lesson. This activity is anything that will fulfill your personal and unique desire and/or passion and recharge your energy.

You get the point. Some of us in our busy schedules between work, extracurricular, errands, exercise, family, and friends, significant others and responsibilities, forget to schedule the most important “ME” time. The time that will keep you healthy and happy and moving forward to your success in order to devote all of the time and energy to your other responsibilities.

Your challenge:

Schedule some “ME” time everyday this week. I’m talking guilt-free, judgment-free YOU time. I want you to write in your planner, schedule it in Outlook, and write in on your chalkboard, at the top of your shopping list, whatever it is. And…TAKE IT, RELAX and ENJOY!

NAMASTE!