If a 101 Year Old Woman Can Do This, Can YOU?

I recently visited a Senior's community in Sun City, Florida. I have a friend who spends her winters there to escape the cold of the great white North. She took me on a tour of the Club House which included a visit to the gym. Well, I was astonished and amazed at the big poster up on the wall that featured photographs and bios of some of the oldest members of the gym who go there to do their daily workouts and physical activity.

The oldest member, get this, is 101 years old. This little old lady works out in the gym every day. She even had a face lift at age 85. Her secrets to healthy aging include a balanced diet, weight control, regular physical activity and a positive outlook on life. I then started looking at all the other photos and bios on the poster and they were all men and women over age 90 who work out regularly lifting weights and building their strength. How could you not be inspired? And they all had those same healthy aging factors in common. They all believed in balanced eating, healthy weight control, regular physical activity and a positive outlook. A few even added in things like fun and laughter.

It was extremely validating for me to see this because these are the same healthy living and healthy aging factors that I promote to my weight loss coaching clients and through my book, The A List: 9 Guiding Principles for Healthy Eating and Positive Living. I'm telling you that to see these photos and to look around the gym and see all kinds of seniors on treadmills, lifting weights and looking fit and amazing not just for their own age, but for any age, I was in awe.

It just goes to show that you're never too old for healthy living and healthy aging. If they can do it, so can you. No matter what your starting point is, you can renew your own commitment to your own healthy aging starting TODAY. Start slow if you need to, but just start. I know that from what I saw, I am more motivated than ever to continue my own healthy eating and positive living practices.

Taming Your Tension Tiger

A few weeks ago I went on a 4-night 5-day cruise from Tampa to Cozumel. It was my first cruise ever and definitely won't be my last. One of things that helped to make it my best vacation ever was that I purposely chose to leave my laptop at home. I knew that if I brought it with me I'd be at risk of spending more time working on my computer than necessary. My mission was to totally immerse myself into a world of fun, relaxation and letting go. I spend so much time on my computer for my work in my day-to-day routine, that taking a break from it can sometimes feel like a challenge. It's so much a part of me and what I do, but I decided that to practice what I preach I would need to let it go so that I could have this time to just "be" and tame my own tension tiger. What do I mean by this? How can you tame your own tension tiger? Keep reading.

When tension strikes, it can be like a tiger jumping on its prey. When your tension tiger is biting at you for prolonged periods of time, it can take a chunk out of you physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This can leave you with headaches, digestive problems, a lowered immune system, sleeping disorders, heart problems, some forms of cancer and more. It can also lead to weight problems as you medicate your health issues with your favourite comfort foods that give you a sense of safety and protection.

I've learned through my own and others' experiences that to tame the tension tiger within, we need to learn to let go, have more fun, stop worrying about what others think of us, stretch ourselves beyond our self-imposed limitations and live life fully. It means releasing the weight of your fears and insecurities and just reaching for your dreams. It means feeling good about yourself and doing whatever you need to in order to feel better if you're not feeling that great about yourself to start with.

If your tension tiger is about to strike and sends you to your favourite foods for comfort, safety and protection, if it's causing you to lose sleep, experience stomach problems such as bloating or heartburn, skin problems or other stress-related health issues, or if it's causing you worry, anxiety, panic or depression, then you need to get out that whip and tame that tension tiger within you. You need to bite back, put it in its place and show her/him who's boss.

YOU are the boss of your inner tension tiger and you need to be in good shape to keep it where it belongs. This means improving your diet, incorporating regular physical activity into your routine, getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated and enjoying a more positive outlook toward yourself, others and the world around you. You have to make time for fun too!

I know we can't all go on cruises every day, but who says you need to go away? You can take time for yourself every day and go on a mental, emotional and spiritual cruise. Let go and create a space and time in your day where you can relax your body, calm your mind and soothe your soul without unhealthy foods or other unhealthy vices.

If you need help taming your inner tension tiger, then let me help you. For more information, contact me today at info@roslynfranken.com or call 1-877-852-5852.