Self Help ebooks and audio programs to improve health, wealth, happiness, lifestyle, fitness, diet and how to thrive during pregnancy and motherhood.

My body type was screaming at me! Remind yourself again. Why was I doing this? It had been suggested previously that my body type doesn’t like running! So why was I here?

It was a gorgeous day! The crowds had gathered over 3000 people to be exact and we were off with the crack of the gun. The wind was impressive to say the least and created such a head wind it wasn’t funny. Standing still was a challenge. I was strapped like Tutenkamen’s mother as my knees and ankles had been giving me heaps all week. I had yogaed my way through the previous day to ensure I was stretched in all the right places.  For some reason I hadn’t slept well the night before. But I was prepared as well as four weeks preparation gives you – with injuries. The run ran on and even though my body screamed at me at the 7km to stop, I was determined I would crawl across on hands and knees, if need be to finish the 10.5ks. Who added that last 500 meters? It was only supposed to be 10.2ks…Some sneak. Anyway I did it and have the t-shirt, medal and the photos to prove it.  Was it fun…nahhh.  But was it satisfying…yep…sure was. Came in 35th (out of 56)  in my age bracket.  We won’t mention the 90 year old who passed me and came in a few minutes ahead of me.

I learned some really valuable lessons this week but particularly on the day.

1. Don’t change how you have trained. I drink only water normally – I added gaterade and paid with pain in the stomach after the race… I sip every 15 mins – there were only two drink stops (with cups) that spilled out both sides of your mouth and the stopping slowed you down. I was wrapped up more securely then  I had been before and overheated my feet. There were a couple of other little changes that were only slight but which didn’t help with getting and staying focused.

2. Stay focused. This is lesson I have to keep learning – I had the music and the coaching ringing in my ears but sight was much more powerful and I was constantly distracted and lost momentum.

3. Its your race not someone else’s race. I was constantly feeling good as I passed someone and then let down when they would go past me. I shouldn’t have been swayed either way. It was a distraction.However there was a conflict of attitude when the 90 year old (well maybe not 90 but definitely in the 80’s) passed me. There was complete admiration and despising at the same time. Beaten by an octarian! But congratulations to him and congratulations to me. I did it! He did it too!

4. Don’t give up! Oh that last 500 meters sucked. I thought the start line was the finish line until my husband cheering me on yelled, ” not far now just up to the lights around the round- about and then back down to the finish line”…Oh that hurt and I felt the pain in my knees screaming. But I was determined to finish – and did too. There was a lot of cheering from the side line for me..even the announcer commented. I don’t know who you were but thanks. Even if I didn’t smile at the time (another thing I didn’t do that I normally do in training – it actually does help the psyche) – I was smiling on the inside.

5. Savour the moments of victory! That I did do, although a Rocky lift of the arms would have been fun – if I could have lifted them at that moment!  I hugged my friends, my husband and my granddaughter and then ran for the drinks and oranges. Oranges have never tasted sweeter.  It was a fulfilling moment.

6. Get the next challenge up and going! Don’t loose the momentum. Enjoy what you have accomplished. Have a rest – but then get up and get moving again.

7. Get to a doctor and find out what is going on with the legs! I am determined to continue so will remove all obstacles.

8. Don’t ignore the advice about body type but still do things that challenge and excite you.

Have fun as you explore other great books from my site to ensure you get as much information to transform your life and get the life you really want.  I am woman and want to be the healthiest one I can be -for myself and for my family. Come on and join me! Read up and get dressed and lets go!

http://www.digitalebooksunlimited.com/diet/exercise

http://www.digitalebooksunlimited.com/diet/bodytype

http://www.digitalebooksunlimited.com/self-improvement/lifewant

http://www.digitalebooksunlimited.com/women/womens-health

I turned 50 last year in case you didn’t know that. Of course you didn’t why would you? Most 50 year olds  want to go to bed and pull the blankets over their heads but for some strange reason I wanted to run towards it. Turning 50 – maybe I am being delusional or in denial. However, for me 50 has been a turning point in my life. Health and wellness have become paramount for me. Maybe the sagging b’s – butt and b___ (biceps!)…spurred me on but really I think it was dragging myself around the house with a bouts of severe flu and whiplash, that has prompted this sudden surge of seeking wellness and fitness.

I look at the photos of my mother at my age and see an old woman. Oh my goodness – is that what I look like. Thankfully no. The new 40 is definitely 50 as you see women who look after themselves much more now days.  I read somewhere this week that because of the fact that we are much more health conscious and healthy means in a few years time old people are going to die of “nothing”. Interesting comment. What are we seeking by wanting to be young again…eternal life…defying death? That is possible but not through fitness.

However, while I am on this earth in this body, I want to live until I die. Having parents who were ill most of their lives I am challenged to encompass this next 70 years (I want to live until I am 120 if Christ hasn’t come back before then!) with health and wellness.  Well back to the board walk tomorrow…have a great day and here is to your health and wellness. These ebooks have a lot more information that can help you achieve those goals  you can start to set to build a healthy lifestyle now…go for it.

http://www.digitalebooksunlimited.com/wellness/better-health

http://www.digitalebooksunlimited.com/women/womens-health

As a mother you know you influence (good and not so good) your family but this week I had the joy to see the planet Mars in all its glory at 5.30am running in the dark with two of my family. I think I have motivated them to get up and get physical but perhaps they were just as tired of themselves as I have been of myself.  It was not a pleasant thing to not be able to see the road (I don’t think I will do that again) or to in fact be able to even see your jogging buddies due to the darkness of the hour. However the pleasant experience was to think that by my taking the initiative and starting the training my family then were (shamed?, coxed?) encouraged to get motivated.

The lessons learned this week:

1. Get up and keep going! The jeans are still not fitting! but that is not what you are doing this for…health is my WHY. I actually examined this closely this week. Why am I wanting to run? Just to do a fun run of 10Ks so I can say I did it – Or to loose weight – or to defy the age of 50. Although all of those are ok answers I honestly came to the conclusion I really like the feeling of feeling well, achieving a goal, and knowing I am doing good by my body. Regardless of the other side benefits which are not enough to continue to motivate especially when the bones are aching, and the mornings are miserable.

2. Enjoy the moments! Mars is a once in a lifetime experience. Enjoy it! I loved seeing my grandbaby being dragged out of bed by her mummy with sleep still in her eyes, to see this phenomena. The sunrise on the beach with the incredible lights and colours….can’t find that in a gym. Enjoy the feeling of muscles firming up. Even if the scales tell a different story..

3. Stay the course!  Work the Plan. The training program is great. By following it and be willing to change my technique I am less sore and feeling more positive without loosing motivation. Usually I would run a day or so a week and then get side tracked. This plan gives me room to live and work while keeping me on track.

4. Employ your own masseur! Oh girls I do have a good man. He is great in supporting me but also being practical. He ensures I turn out the light before I leave! Seriously though he did help this week by giving me the best leg, feet, and toe massage. Oh my goodness – let me tell you it certainly made a difference! He also challenged my technique which has helped with the leg pain.

So nearly at the end of this week and I am happy to report – the bones and muscles are doing good, the family is great and Mars is great in the morning!

Health and fitness to you all!  Check out these links to discover the secrets to a better you and yours.

http://digitalebooksunlimited.com/wellness/better-health/

http://digitalebooksunlimited.com/wellness/get-healthy/

http://digitalebooksunlimited.com/self-improvement/betteryou/

Back again after a long interlude. Today I start my diary of my “jalking experience” – running and jogging for health. Two years ago I was involved in a car accident. My injury was severe whiplash. After a lot of visits to chiro and massage and some good hits of Valium I was good to go – but found something distressing. I couldn’t walk far. A few minutes meant a day or two in bed from pain. So started my bed exercises. Some old stretches learnt from the Readers Digest many years ago called Joe’s Back started to strengthen my back, legs and tummy muscles all while lying in my bed. Pilates, yoga and stepping to music started my exercise regime. It took me quite a few months to strengthen and tone muscles that hadn’t moved that well for a long time. Well then 50 rolled on and I decided two things – I didn’t want to diet ever again and I wanted to run. Close your eyes and imagine yourself running down the beach in slow motion. That’s what I started to see. The beach beckoned and I started to walk each day at a quicker pace and for longer distances…Oh how I hated watching the back of “that” 30+ girl with legs that came up to her neck, jogging off down to the next beach some 10 kilometers away. She looked like a gazelle while I felt like an elephant. Or “Miss Pink” the 20 something who in the middle of winter had a singlet top on and tight butt encased in black shorty things, make up and smelt great. I checked my heavily ladened shadow out and wondered if I would be mistaken for the abominable snowwoman. But I persisted. My first 3 kilometer part jog was a time for celebration. Ecstatic I told my Saudi homestay student my good news. I “jalked ” 3 kilometers today I happily told him. “You Joked?” he said in his new language.  I laughed and said no but I looked like a joke…and so now I “jalk” – jog and walk. I have gained weight since the death of my mum a few months ago but I love one of my books http://www.digitalebooksunlimited.com/diet/weight-loss which has a really common sense approach to weight loss and health. Again I realized I needed to get the shoes back on regardless of excuses. So regardless of weather, pain I was off. Hear is an account over the next few weeks of how I have done it, and how I am progressing. I am passionate about staying healthy to see my grandbabies walk down the aisle and even have their own babies and explore their worlds…can’t do that from a nursing home bed. Come on follow me and lets do health and fitness together. http://www.digitalebooksunlimited.com/diet/weight-loss get the info and lets get started.

How to overcome depression naturally perhaps homeopathy or do I start taking drugs?  That was a question that engulfed me as depression crept up on me with the speed of a freight train. Having suffered from depression – at one time crying for three days straight and unable to get out of bed – I know only too well the black tunnel that engulfs you and threatens to smother every light of hope or feeling of joy that you should expect to enjoy in life.

Would you recognize symptoms though? As a counsellor I “knew” the symptoms but still failed to recognize that I was totally on the brink of clinical depression. As a counsellor I fortunately had the tools to help make a full recovery. These are some of the questions this new ebook asks and answers. A must have for any family – teenagers and children are not exempt and more and more are going the drug therapy route before looking at other solutions.

What is depression?

What are the causes of depression?

Do you know someone or could you be suffering depression and how do you know?

Bipolar Depression and 6 other types of depression and how to recognize them?

Cognitive Therapy as a tool to fight it

Homeopathy and how it works as an alternative to Drug Therapy

How to overcome depression and live a happy, healthy life?

Check out alternatives before taking the drug route.

Battling depression can be like fighting fires! You think you have it conquered and then it springs up again on another front. Australian Bush fires and floods, earthquakes, other natural disasters, victims of violent crimes or accidental death, unemployment, financial hardships from world economproblems, illness – all of these things can produce incredible depression and depressive episodes. How can you deal with depression using alternative methods and could Homeopathy methods work? Depression is an illness that all of us face at sometime or another whether or not it is clinically diagnosed as depression or you have periods of depression as we all do. There is help for you! Personally as a counsellor I have seen many cases of diagnosed and undiagnosed depression and I have seen many “remedies” undertaken to cure people. I am happy to offer a book that is offering an alternative method to the usual pill popping solution offered by the medical profession. As a counsellor I do recognize the need occasionally to bring balance back to your system but it is no easy matter to then separate yourself from the “drug” and its symptoms once you are feeling better. Check out the Homeopathy option!