OK, I thought I was doing OK, but this last week I felt the pain. Diane has added some new stuff – like squats – and OMG – my legs. But I have raised my heavy weight to 5 lbs and my light weight to 4 lbs. I am doing it. I even think I may have lost some inches – yeah!

So, how do I say no to all the goodies floating around this time of year – and yes – they are sugar plums floating through the air – don’t they float for you?

The first thing I think before I put that goodie into my mouth is, “Is it worth it?” If it isn’t worth it – I don’t pick it up. But say I first think, “Yup, worth it!” and then find it doesn’t taste as good as I thought it would. Easy! I don’t eat the rest of it. I throw it out -

and then pick out something that tastes better! Have a good and tasty one!

You might wonder why as a coach am I writing about Boomer Boot Camp. It is really very simple. I coach myself to go and workout – it is not something that I get all excited and can’t wait to do. I have to tell myself all the wonderful things about working out. I coach myself into remembering how good I will feel in not only my body, but about myself once I follow through and go to the gym.

And when I am there and working out it is not like I am all “yippee” inside. I check the clock every once in awhile to see how much torture time is left before I can go home, shower, and relax. I am not one of those who exercises and gets high on adrenalin – I am more the lazy butt who wants it to be over with.

But, I am getting stronger. I am still sore – no doubt about it – but I am sore in a healthy way rather than that sore and tired feeling when I haven’t moved around enough and been sitting in front of the computer for too long. And I am remembering how very flexible I am – well in my legs – the arms not so much – but it feels good to move those areas again. I am determined that my fingers will once again touch when I reach behind my back. From the last post you read that I ended up a huge negative there.

So, this is why I am including BBC in my blog – it is to let my readers know that you are not alone when you moan and groan when it comes to putting on the tennis shoes or bathing suit or snow shoes and getting some exercise. Some part of our reptilian brain would rather curl up and sleep – but together we can support each other to get out and move. One great way to support yourself is to include rewards. When you get home – no do reward yourself with a chocolate chip cookie – but maybe with a warm shower and a look in the mirror that says, “you did it!”

Well I have made it through 8 weeks. I have to admit I have missed a few sessions here and there. I do feel a bit stronger, but my right should and elbow have been aching. I think it started when I went to the 5 pound weights. You may recall I started with 3 pound weights.

Anyway, today we did our “Fitness Testing.” I didn’t do too bad.

Chair Stands (This is when you sit and stand, sit and stand over and over for 30 seconds with your arms crossed over your chest.) I did 19 which for my age is in the 85%.

Arm Curls (Using a 5 lb weight you do as many arm curls as possible in 30 seconds.) I did 21 again in the 85%

2 Minute Step Test (this one they marked where the middle of our leg is between the hip bone (difficult to find) and knee. They then put blue tape on the wall and for 2 minutes you march getting your knees above the blue line.) I did 121 (only count one knee) and was in the 90% – yeah!!!!!

Chair Sit and Reach (This is sitting in a chair, stretching one leg out and bending over and touching your toes or beyond). I went 6 inches beyond my toes which was considered really good – but was only the 85%. I could of gone further!!!!

Back Stretch (Where you bend your elbow and reach behind your back and the other bent under and try to touch your fingers.) Yikes! I have some tiiiight shoulders. I was -4.5 inches for a 15%.

8 Foot Up and Go (Sitting get up – run around a barrel – sit down). I did it in 3.34 seconds for a 95%.

So, all in all – not too bad. And if I get someone to scratch my back, it will be great!

OK, I am now finished with week 3 and I can see why Dave’s comment means so much – work out buddy or at least someone to keep me for sabotaging myself. So, I don’t believe in confession, but I am keeping myself and my followers honest – so I have to admit, I did not go on Tuesday. Why? Well, I was tired – really tired and feeling like I was getting sick. So, instead of BBC I ended up taking a 2 hour nap.
On top of this I have missed 3 weeks of my yoga class.
My head falls in shame.
But – I did go to BBC today and my ass was tired. OMG, she works us so hard. I mean the class starts out boom with moving around in a circle. Then the weights, bands, ball, push-ups – yikes! The good news for this week is not only did I make it to class tonight, but I also went up in weights. My heavy weight was a four pounder and I believe next time I am going to a five pounder.

So, where did you self – sabotage this week? Any place?

Oh my God! My poor aching body! I don’t think there is a spot left that isn’t sore.

I have now gone only 3 times – once last week and two times this week.

Sunday I had gone for a 7 mile bike ride around Hillsboro. Now for those who know me – you need to know I stayed on my bike. I set out with the intention I would stay on my bike and not fall off. I almost only fell twice – but stayed on. I felt great. That was Sunday.

Tuesday was back to bootcamp and I felt OK. Today, I ache!!! But this is a good thing – right – it means I am working some areas (upper left thigh and hip)that haven’t been worked in a while. When I was working out myself – I guess I missed certain areas that my dear instructor is finding!

So weights! I have graduated to my heavy weight and medium weight as 3 pounds – hey no laughing – I started with 2 pound weights. Next week I am going to 4 pounds for heavy, 3 for med and 2 for light. I am slowly moving up. You wouldn’t want me to hurt myself, would you.
So, comments – where have you pushed yourself this week? Hummm?????

I missed the first day of Bootcamp because of still being sore from my bike accident. However, I did make it to the second class today. I was able to do it, just kept the weights light and had some trouble following all the steps – but I know I will make it.
So are any of you in an exercise program to undo the years of not doing? What is it like? What keeps you motivated?

OK, tomorrow I start Boomer Bootcamp. It is an intense workout program to get my out of shape bod into shape. So, here I am 60 years old and ready to start an having someone direct me how to work out. My body is scared. Two days a week! Doesn’t help that I fell off my bike today – again!
OK I will post again tomorrow.

OK, the time of complaining and making excuses is over. It is time to start putting some action out there. One way is to make new choices and one of those choices can be to live without fear!!!
I am starting a new Fearless Living course next month – September 18th. It will end right before the holidays. Those wonderful, horribly, awful holidays when all the family goblins come out of hiding.
Maybe this year you can escape the family tradition of upset stomach, foul moods, and gossip about old Uncle Henry and weird Aunt Ruth and instead experience joy, love, and contentment – yeah it is possible.
It is a choice! Make it a good one. Check out Fearless Living on my website and see if it might be just what you are looking for.

The Wabi-Sabi Way

As I read the magazine about the “way,” I asked the same question I am sure you are asking now – What the heck is The Wabi-Sabi Way?

Well, it is the “way” I plan on being and thinking from now on.

Wabi-Sabi is when you realize that you are not going to be perfect, your life is not going to be perfect, you are never going to look like Paris Hilton (that’s if you wanted to look like Paris Hilton). It’s also when you realize that your spouse is not perfect, that your kids will never be the genius that discovers the cure for why men go to war, and that you will not keep up with the Jones no matter how hard you try.

The term has Japanese origins and basically describes, “the beauty to be found in that which is incomplete or imperfect.” Wow!!!

So, now I knew what Wabi-Sabi was – but what does it look like? According to the article, an old weathered barn is Wabi-Sabi, as is that old worn t-shirt that you can’t give up, and that comfortable beat up chair from Fraiser. All Wabi-Sabi! In Japan an artist will make sure an art piece has one mistake in it just remind people of the concept of Wabi-Sabi. I guess I can call my dropped stitches in knitting as Wabi-Sabi – I will just pretend I did it on purpose.

But what would happen if we went through life deciding to NOT be perfect and instead to allow our imperfections to shine – our personal Wabi-Sabi? How would life become easier – less stressful – less complicated? How much would our blood pressure decrease if you said, “Oh, it’s OK – It’s Wabi-Sabi!?”

Wabi-Sabi is authentic and simple. It is a natural beauty. As we grow older, Wabi-Sabi allows us to be OK with the parts of us that change. A wrinkle becomes perfect imperfection.

Wabi-Sabi doesn’t mean we don’t try to do better, it simply means that we are at peace with things as they change. You never know how that change may work to your advantage. For example, when I lost my job a few years back I thought this is awful, devastating. But then I discovered coaching – and nothing has been the same since. It completely changed my life for the better. It didn’t happen in one day – it took time – Wabi-Sabi!

How can you make The Wabi-Sabi Way a part of your life? How will it change the way you see things? My suggestion, make Wabi-Sabi a conscious decision and enjoy the journey of life with all its imperfections.

Blessings, Judith Auslander

It’s April and it’s My Birthday!

OK, we all have birthdays – but this is a special one for me – today I turned 60. I remember turning 50 and how very difficult that was for me. But 60 – well, it feels OK. I actually waited until my 60th birthday to write this because I wanted to be 60 when I wrote it. I wanted to see if I would feel anything different than what I was feeling, which has been and still is OK!

I believe that 60 is OK because I am happy – and I am happy because I made a choice to BE HAPPY! And yes, it is a choice – a choice we make everyday. I could choose to be disappointed, or sad, or old or numerous other things – but I have made a personal choice to be happy – happy with life, happy with who I am, happy with the things I am doing, happy with friends and family.

So, what happens when we make a choice to be something or to see something in a certain way? It happens! It is that simple. Our mind is a powerful tool that we can use to create happiness or sadness. If we only truly understood what a powerful tool our brain is – how are thoughts can literally create change – we would think a lot more about – dare I say – what we think.

We know that when someone is miserable, angry, or sad and they walk into the room – we can feel that energy around them. Our body and nervous system immediately respond. Now, what happens when someone enters a room filled with joy and happiness – we respond to that as well?

We really do have super powers – we have the power – each one of us – to bring joy or sadness into a room. How will you use your super powers?

And here is the fun part, if you walk into the world with joy, the more joy will come to you. Just as the reverse is true – if you walk into the world with anger, hatred, or self-pity – you will attract more of that. What do you want to attract?

In my case, I made a conscious decision about 4 years ago to change my thoughts, to change my way of looking at my life and the world. I decided to go toward the light and away from the darkness. I am not going to say that it was immediate – but I will say that like any habit, that the more I practice it – the more natural it seems – and thus the more the opposite just no longer works.

So, how do you walk out into the world? Make it a choice.

My birthday gift is that I wish each of you Blessings and more Blessing!

Judith Auslander,
Wise Heart Coaching