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

Tony Robbins motivational speaker from a while ago now is back in my world. Daily Magic is the name of the cd and like magic it appeared again after nearly 18 months of having been missing…grrr..It was frustrating.  This week it magically appeared and was immediately downloaded on to my IPOD. The exercise guru is back in my life and spurring me on to great heights. You know, he or Tiger Woods or Lance Armstrong are really not talking to you directly but wow it is hard to tell your brain that it isn’t real. The “Congratulations! You just ran your fastest mile” DOES do something to your confidence and energy level.  “Come on pick it up!” spurs you on yet again as the knees start to ache.

Lesson Learned this week:

1. Music makes the journey more enjoyable and helps you keep the pace up. You have got to keep music and joy in your life to maintain the pace of life.

2. Encouragement from any source spurs you on. Nike may have paid them big bucks but I know they did it just for me!

3. The family of Quails crossing your path should be savoured (not eaten but enjoyed). I have never seen quails in the wild around here in Newcastle, but this week about 3 or 4 of them scampered across the beach boardwalk as I thundered (well tripped along) on one of my runs. I was blown away by them as I watched them disappear into the undergrowth.   Seeing little things like that makes me remember to savour each moment of the day…Tony says to too…..and what Tony says…I do….he is the voice inside my head..

4. Diet and exercise have to go together. Those delicious choc chip biscuits have so many calories and after 5Klms I only burned about 300 calories…ripped off.  That metabolism has to be boosted.

These following ebooks offer some incredibly interesting ideas to help with the understanding of the metabolism and getting healthier day by day.

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

http://digitalebooksunlimited.com/diet/boostmetabolism/

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

My Metabolism seems to be metabolising.

2nd Day into my 3rd week.

Hal Higgdons training program is starting to look pinker as I highlight each day completed of my training. I am loving this. My right knee is feeling it as is my butt when I sit for too long but oh my goodness I can not begin to say how good I am feeling about myself and my goals reached each day.

The breathing with Tony Robbins 4 short – in through the nostril and 4 out through the mouth really is lifting my “state” as he says although the old sinuses are in a state after the first few times initially!

I ran 3.5m or 5.6 Ks  today and really felt great and pleased with  myself. One of the things I noticed was after eating my large breakfast, I really wasn’t too hungry the rest of the day. I actually felt that my metabolism, supposedly slow due to HRT, is starting to pick up.

I have a good book on my website which goes through the whole benefits of boosting your metabolism.

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

It is really in line with what I have been discovering myself but really offers some sound advice. Check it out!

Let the race begin!

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

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

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.

As a 50 year old woman with three grown daughters and grandmother of three beautiful granddaughters, I recently found  I needed to get well and healthy. Diet, motivation, fitness, health these were all words I didn't like but was familiar with. I had to make some changes to my life and well being. I have always been conscious of not putting on weight as I have a family history of obesity but needless to say as the 40's came and went so did the kilos or pounds. Last year I was told by my doctor, "You're too fat! Loose weight or expect a heart attack." I had not considered myself obese but according to the weight scales for size, age and sex I was obese!! What to do? After listening to many self help books, tapes etc. I discovered I needed to make not only a diet change but a mental change. Diets keep you on a merry-go-round of weight loss and gain. So I decided – I was not going to diet but would change my thinking about health and fitness and in effect change my lifestyle. Anybody out there hear what I am saying about the struggles of weight loss!!