Commit to Fit! (Day 2) Try “Callanetics”! My favorite exercise video from high school!

Okay, so before I type another sentence, I’m going to get up against the wall and do my plank.

Did it.

In fact, I did both. The plank and the wall sit, and while neither are enormous acccomplishments of athletic performance, there is a sense of achievement I feel within. At least I did THAT much.

I feel so good when my body is strong and fit. So much more confident. Last night I was in the subway station when I asked Mika to count to 90 for me. While I sat there turning red in the face, I recalled my favorite workout DVD from high school. “Callan Pinkney’s” video “Callanetics”. What a riot! Remembering those workout clothes from the early 80s. I did that video so many times, I’m sure I have the script memorized by heart.

A little google search brought some great results, Ladies. I found some excerpts from it!!

Since we’re doing a 10-day commit to fit adventure, I thought I’d try and find a couple little things we could add to our 90-second fitness routine. Check out this Callanetics Intro video. This is the first few minutes of that beloved video I used to play every night! (I couldn’t count the number of times that I fell asleep listening to that music while doing the final poses!)

This first video will give you a sense of who she is and what cool 80s make-up and hair job she had. If you’ve got a few extra minutes, listen to this. The truth is it was all about having a great shape. It’s about getting the nice lifts and curves. There are moments in the other sections of the video (not in the intro) when she shows different images of women as they progress through the exercises. The lifting and tightening, etc. It’s a hoot!! If you have a few extra minutes, definitely watch the intro.

If you’re tight on time, then I suggest you do the Warmup section! (It’ll take about 10 minutes.)

I found the mostly complete warm up section here. Just do these first few exercise. While I’ve been doing the plank and wall sits, I’ve been CRAVING these arm exercises. The second warm-up exercises on this video are the ones I’ve been CRAVING! Try them and let me know what you think.

Oooh! I just did a little

Last night I went for a decent bike ride with the kids. (I’m always so impressed with how they keep up.)

JJ Virgin & Pete Cerqua Help You Shape Up & Slim Down for Summer

Greetings Gorgeous!

I’m feeling flabby from one too many hours behind this computer screen, but summer is here and it’s time to shape up and slim down for summer, so I’ve decided to do something about it.

On the WISH blog this month we’ve invited celebrity fitness coach, JJ Virgin to come and give us a boot in the right place.

JJ Virgin is known as the fitness coach and nutritionist to the stars. That’s why we wanted to bring her in to give YOU a few tips for trimming up this season. We had a fabulous interview. It started with her in the bathroom (the gardeners were making too much noise) and ended up with her wriggling about under her son’s bed doing some de-cluttering. That’s the life of multi-tasking, single-mothers and self-employed dynamos like JJ.

The shocker on this call was learning the effects of what JUST ONE NIGHT of insufficient sleep can do to pack on the pounds and cause you stress. You might think it’s all about barbells and pushups, but as you’re about to learn, there are a few other things to put on the priority list before you start busting a move to lose a few this summer.

Here are a few of the things that came up in this call:

• Women under stress are 10-years older than their non-stressed counter parts?
• Discover what just ONE night of insufficient sleep can do to your sleep, stress, eating habits and weight gain potential.
• How stress can cause you to become weight loss resistant (meaning you cannot lose weight!)
• The first thing to do to get sexy, slim arms is definitely NOT what you’d expect!

You can access the call HERE.

Now,  since JJ’s got tips for overall heath and a hot upper body, we decided to get Pete Cerqua to join us for a quickie.

Pete is a no-excuses fitness expert and if you can’t get fit in 90-seconds, then you’re not doing it right. Join us for an upcoming teleseminar with Pete next Monday. The call will be broadcast live at 3pm Eastern on June 21st, and you’re invited to send in any of your questions. Pete was one of our special guests for WISH this year.

Pete Cerqua owns and operates the 90-Second Fitness Flagship Studio in New York City. He has been helping people get stronger and lose weight since 1985. Peter is the author of the hot new best-seller The 90- Second Fitness Solution, a how-to release weight, improve mood and memory, eat and sleep better in minutes a week. We’re invited him here to inspire busy women like you to fit fitness in more easily this summer.

You’ll be able to ask him all your questions and listen in for a no-excuses fitness boot camp when you click the link here. Be sure to take note of the time of the call and we’ll catch you on Wednesday! If you’re catching this late, YOU CAN ACCESS THE CALL HERE.

Next week I’m committing to getting in shape. To burst training, to squatting, sitting, crunching, crawling my way to feeling tight, toned and ready for bikini season. Care to join me? There’s nothing like the power of print to put intention into action! Make your commitment below for next week’s fitness targets and join me in a flabby arm-busting, bun-loving boot camp!

Squeezin’, squatin’ and smilin’,

Tera

Slim Up for Summer with JJ Virgin and Pete Cerqua

Greetings Gorgeous WISH-Makers.

Summer is here and it’s time for tank tops, short skirts and bikinis.

*gulp!*

It’s time to reveal the arm flab, belly blubber and cellulite you’ve been sitting on! Let it out and let it go!

While we love all shapes and sizes around here, I have to admit that it feels great to be fit and after one too many hours behind my computer screen this month, I’ve decided it’s time for some inspiration to slim up for summer! We’ve invited celebrity fitness and nutrition expert, JJ Virgin and WISH 2010 special guest, Pete Cerqua. for some sleeveless summer lovin’.

JJ Helps Us Get Sleeveless and Sexy in Six Weeks

JJ Virgin is known as the fitness coach and nutritionist to the stars. That’s why we wanted to bring her in to give YOU a few tips for trimming up this season. We had a fabulous interview. It started with her in the bathroom (the gardeners were making too much noise) and ended up with her wriggling about under her son’s bed doing some de-cluttering. That’s the life of multi-tasking, single-mothers and self-employed dynamos like JJ.

The shocker on this call was learning the effects of what JUST ONE NIGHT of insufficient sleep can do to pack on the pounds and cause you stress. You might think it’s all about barbells and pushups, but as you’re about to learn, there are a few other things to put on the priority list before you start busting a move to lose a few this summer.

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I hope you enjoy this interview as much as we enjoyed chatting with each other. You can learn more about JJ’s programs and her newly released book, Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy: The 5-Step Plan to Sleek, Strong, and Sculpted Arms here.

JJ talked a lot about burst training and other important tips for overall health and metabolism. We don’t necessarily share the same point of view on food,;-) but she’s got sound advice for staying healthy and is a smokin’ hot example of the sleeveless and sexy lifestyle she’s trying to teach.

We’ve Got the Arms Covered, Now How ‘Bout Those Buns!

I wouldn’t let you go out in bikini season with toned arms and a flabby caboose. Pete Cerqua is back to give us some quick fitness tips for summer. The thing we love about Pete is Read more »

When kids don't listen

Kids get a bad rap!  They are constantly accused of ‘not listening’ or ‘not paying attention’ when nothing could be further from the truth!  Kids from the age of 0- 5 barely understand the concept never mind know how to do that. 

You see, at that stage of development, they just don’t have any filters.  EVERYTHING goes in.  This means that your kids aren’t trying to shut you out- they couldn’t even if they wanted to- and believe me, they don’t want to.  Our kids and men for that matter are very much like dogs- they WANT to please us!

What actually happens is this:  because they lack the psychological software necessary to erect barriers, they are absorbing everything in their immediate environment on a very deep level.  And they become completely engaged.  So if they are playing, or looking at a bug, or seemingly ‘staring off into space’ they are actually so absorbed in their own thought processes which are directly tied into their whole being that they literally can’t hear or see anything else that may be going on around them.  See the truth is they have incredible focus!  It is 100%.

Understanding this gives us a different perspective and appreciation for those moments when we want their attention…we need to learn how to approach them.  What I recommend is to use your discretion.  For example, when they are staring, or equally absorbed in what they are doing, please avoid jarring them out of their concentration with a fast movement like grabbing them to pick them up, or with some loud directive.

Research shows that in those moments kids are literally creating brand new nerve synapses in their brains – they are getting smarter!   Instead, watch them for a moment, and then when you are ready, carefully approach in a gentle way respecting their space as you would anyone else who was concentrating on something.  Get down to their eye level and see if they notice you first so you don’t actually have to interrupt them.  Then say softly, ‘Hi there.  Its time for…” and do what you need to do once you have brought them back to reality.  Like I said, use your discernment- obviously if they were in some sort of danger you wouldn’t worry about interrupting them to do whatever you needed to for their safety.

For kids a little older, around 5-10, what works really well is to let them know what is on the schedule in bite size pieces (not the whole pie! ie:  “First we are going to the bank and then to shopping and then the post office and after that to pay a parking ticket and then…” A simple ‘we are leaving to go shopping and run errands” is enough.  

TRANSITION TIMES like leaving the park, or stopping play to come and wash hands for dinner, etc, can cause alarm in small children…Why?  Because it may be unwanted, but actually more so, it is unexpected.  This can create anxiety.   Children feel secure when they know what is coming.  Give warnings of about 5- 10 minutes just before the transitions.  So if you are somewhere and its time to get going- that is NOT the time to tell your kids.  Five to ten minutes prior to that is what works best whenever possible.  Kids are so focused on what they are doing they FEEL it in their little bodies and it is so unpleasant for them to be ripped away from being in ‘their zone’ without a little notice. 

Just give a friendly reminder, “In 10 minutes we are leaving so begin to pack up…” Then in 5 minute let them know they have a few more minutes and now is the time to finish up. Refrain from just ‘telling’ them.  Go and do it with them and ensure they are ‘hearing’ you.

For things like school, or other events that happen regularly, what is helpful is to plan ahead.  The worst thing is to be rushing around in the morning – it sets the wrong tone and can throw everyone off balance for the entire day.  So the night before, just before bedtime, begin the process of teaching your kids what clothes work best together by doing it with them until they get the hang of it.  Every kid learns differently, so you have to gage when it is appropriate to initiate this and when to hand it over to them. 

But the main thing is you are modeling a success strategy called ‘BEING PREPARED’.  It is a skill for life.  So set aside a few minutes every night for this important ritual.  (In a near future article I will give really powerful tips for how to get your kids to bed and off into dreamland peacefully)   Once the kids are settled for the night, you need to do one more thing to prepare for morning. 

Make sure your kitchen is clean and tidy and you have decided what breakfast will be.  By doing this last step the night before, you are creating in advance a beautiful start to the day.  Some moms even put the placemats and bowls and spoons on the table the night before so the table is all set for morning. 

You might make their lunches now too, unless you are an early bird who functions best rising early before everyone else. I never did that, but I did make sure night dishes were put away and sinks and counters were clear of clutter – I might even put a little spray of flowers that we had gathered that day from a forest walk, or a little stone or leave in the centre of the table, perhaps beside a little candle- anything to make the table and therefore the whole kitchen look cheery and welcoming for us all in the morning.  

So remember, approach focused children with respect and reverence for their learning, use 5 minute warnings for all transitions, prepare whatever can be done in advance to avoid rushing at the last minute, and then smile inside knowing you are ‘creating the space’ for your loving, harmonious home. 

For MORE GREAT TIPS go to: www.rawmom.com/raisingchildren/index.html

SHANNON LEONE is a Mom, Artist, Writer and WELLNESS COACH with 20 years experience in Natural Health whose background includes: Assistant Fitness Director of the Parkview Club in Toronto, Licensed Aestitician and Colon Hydro therapist, Raw Gourmet Chef, Director of THE LITTLE FRIENDS FOUNDATION, Creator of THE FRIENDSHIP FLAG GAME for kids age 1-100, and Filmmaker RAISING CHILDREN RAISES US- a DVD on Conscious Parenting. 

Shannon has appeared on TV’s Woman to Woman, Daytime, Body Mind Spirit, International Radio and many Magazines.  Find Shannon also at rawmom.com.

For personal or group Coaching and Seminars: 1-866-LEONE-11 sjkleone@yahoo.com