How Are Your Exercise Goals Coming For 2011?

You will find about me that I absolutely LOVE to exercise. Any kind really when I have the time, but........ it is so easy to quit after just a little while. I have purchased almost every workout dvd collection that's ever been made. About one year ago though I was introduced to Zumba!!! Well that story has changed. We have a couple of people that come to our small little town and provide us with a zumba workout. They turn down the lights, put on some fun lighting and turn up the music. Now this last year I haven't been able to stay as consistent as I would have liked because of some health concerns in the family but I always looked forward to getting back at it when I could. Zumba is a combination of Latin dance steps, other dance steps and just really, really good music. It really makes you want to workout. It's not always easy for everyone to pick up the steps immediately but you will if you keep going. So don't just try it once - you've got to keep going and you'll be a pro before long and you'll be whittling away the little love handles and won't even know it!!!! I googled some information about zumba that I thought you might enjoy reading. Go find a local Zumba class or buy the dvd's or get the workout for the Wii. I recommend ALL of them!!!!

Enjoy the following article from the website www.livestrong.com. Leave me your comments on zumba or what you find is helping you with your exercise goals!!

Have a GREAT DAY!!!!

Laura

Zumba is a dance fitness method based on salsa and other Latin dance moves, performed to Latin and world music beats, and choreographed to allow people of any fitness or dance experience level to enjoy a fantastic workout. If you think you'd like an exhilarating class filled with good feelings and party-like fun, Zumba makes an excellent choice of a group fitness method to support your fitness goals.

Fat and Calorie Burning

At its core, Zumba classes are intended to provide a large calorie burn through aerobic activity done with interval training in mind. Depending on body weight, sex, fitness level and other common physical factors, the number of calories you burn in a typical Zumba class will equal that of any fast social dancing hour, such as salsa, disco or jitterbug. For most people, that can add up to 400 to 600 calories burned per hour. With the classes choreographed to provide intervals of intensity in both pace of music and type of movements, class members' energy expenditure is maximized for fat-burning benefits. Fitness moves are also incorporated within Zumba dances, so don't be surprised if you find yourself moving from a fast merengue beat to a long, slow set of push-ups on the wall, or doing several sets of squats followed by plyometric jumps.

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Full Body Workout

Zumba is both a dance class and a fitness class. Aside from its heart-health benefits, Zumba provides a workout for the whole body. From head and shoulder rolls that loosen up the neck and warm up the upper body, to footwork that strengthens and stretches calves and ankles, this fitness method touches on nearly every muscle and joint. Even those who are just learning the dance steps will find themselves waking up the day after a Zumba class with a definitive post-workout feeling. Hips and abs receive particular attention in the Latin dance style, and as with many dance exercise classes, thighs and butts often end up being sore the day after class. Flexibility is not ignored in a Zumba class either, with warm-ups and cool-downs a regular part of Zumba programming.

Fun for Everyone

Zumba classes are winning over fitness enthusiasts from across the world as Zumba instructors are being certified to teach classes in record numbers. Owing to popular demand, gyms and studios worldwide are offering standard Zumba, Zumba Gold for senior citizens, Zumba for kids and even Aqua-Zumba done in swimming pools. Because Zumba is based on music and dance, it seems to speak a universal language that people of all nations can related to. There is no large learning curve in a Zumba class, either. New participants may receive small-scale steps rehearsals before some longer dances, but in most cases, first-timers can simply jump right into a class and follow along with the instructor. Zumba instructors are trained to explain little with words, and instead use their body and hand motions to indicate which steps will follow, to keep class plans flowing and easy-to-follow. Whoops and hollers are a regular occurrence while the dancers have legitimate fun dancing to infectious rhythms and specialty songs.

Zumba is a dance fitness method based on salsa and other Latin dance moves, performed to Latin and world music beats, and choreographed to allow people of any fitness or dance experience level to enjoy a fantastic workout. If you think you'd like an exhilarating class filled with good feelings and party-like fun, Zumba makes an excellent choice of a group fitness method to support your fitness goals.

Wednesday Blog Hop

Balancing Family, Life And Work

For those of you who don't know, we have a son with severe disabilities that goes to a school about 4 hours away from us. We live in a really small town and he was not getting the services that he needs as often as he needs, like physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and so on. He has been there for 6 years now and it has been GREAT. He loves it there and it has helped him immensely. But in saying that.......... it does cause a lot more traveling on our part as a family. We travel to see him at least every 2-3 weeks. We either visit him there or bring him home for the weekend.

This last weekend was the weekend we had decided to go again. I have not missed a weekend with the family since I sold my CPA practice. That would often pull me away during the winter months, one reason why I sold it. But this weekend for my own sanity I had to not go. It is end of the year and I still have a lot of responsibilites. I still needed to get my own bookwork done for my husband's farming business, the church books, the church donation statements, etc, etc. With the crazy family health problems going in this last year life has been a little behind for awhile. LOL

So I stayed home and it was the best thing I could have done. I was able to get caught up which has relieved A LOT of stress. The feeling of always having so much to do is not a healthy feeling. And it spills over into everything in life. So I took time for me and made myself be in a better place which has helped my family too. Starting out the week feeling refreshed and on top of things was GREAT. It made me have more time to help a friend, make cupcakes with my little one and just be a much better wife and mother.

So take time for you. Do what you need to do to help yourself which in the long run will help EVERYONE!!!!!!

Have a Productive and HAPPY Week!!!!!
Laura

November Fast Track Video Revised Edition.wmv

Congratulations to my entire team for working so hard during the busy November and Thanksgiving Holiday. It's so important this time of year to find that balance of family, work and everything else. This last month I even got to the point that I had to set specific times for me to work. I would even set the timer to work for an hour and then do household things for an hour. So my point in saying that is to make sure that you do what works for you. Find the system and the motivation that works for you. Especially when you work from home it's easy to say I'll do it tomorrow but you need to work every day. Consistency is KEY!!!!!

So I hope some of these pointers help you in the following month. Look for more tips to come soon!!!

Have an AWESOME day!!!!

Laura

A Child's Ten Commandments To Parents

This is something that was posted on the website Seeds of Faith Women. I loved it and wanted to share. This is an excerpt from a book by Kevin Leman entitled "Getting the Best Out of Your Kids". It is called "A Child's Ten Commandments to Parents", and it struck a major chord with me. So much so, that I wanted to share it with you here.

"1. My hands are small; please don't expect perfection.
2. I haven't seen the world; please don't restrict me unnecessarily.
3. Housework will always be there; please take time for me.
4. My feelings are tender; please don't nag me all day long.
5. I'm a gift from God; please discipline me in a loving manner.
6. I need your encouragement; please go easy on the criticism.
7. Please permit me to fail so I can learn from my mistakes.
8. Please don't compare me with my brother or sister.
9. Please don't be afraid to leave me for a weekend together. It's a great way to show me your
marriage is very special.
10. Please take me to church regularly, setting me a good example to follow."

I think I'm going to print this out for myself and post it in several places around the house. I'm feeling gently reprimanded and humbled by the Lord.

Thank you, dear Lord, for these precious gifts that you've given to me in these children. Please help me to raise them as you would have me raise them. Help me to be the mother that You want me to be.

I love these and wanted to share it with all of you - just a gentle reminder as a mom of all that we have in our kids.

Have a GREAT day!!

Laura

H A P P Y A U T U M N!!!

The 7 Ups! 1. Wake Up !! Decide to have a good day. 'This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.' Psalms 118:24 2. Dress Up !! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. 'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' I Samuel 16:7 3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. 'He who guards his lips guards his soul.' Proverbs 13:3 4. Stand Up!! . . . for what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. 'Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good...' Galatians 6:9-10 5. Look Up !! . . to the Lord. 'I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me'. Philippians 4:13 6. Reach Up !! . . for something higher. 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.' Proverbs 3:5-6 7. Lift Up !! . . your Prayers.. 'Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.' Philippians 4:6 A POSITIVE THOUGHT If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem ; not to mention that Friday at Calvary . Face it, He's crazy about you. I thought this was mighty special, just like YOU. and remember . ... God answers Knee-Mail! Wishing you a Blessed day!!!

Sunny Attitude When You're Fighting Unusual Blues!!

I want to share with you that I have been dealing with a little bit of blues lately and really couldn't pinpoint why. Our family has been through a lot lately with some health issues for my husband (which I can now say are really on the mend - Yay) and we recently had a death in the family - an uncle. I also have been dealing with a cold which has not happened to me in about 4 years - which I attributed to all the stressing situations going on. But I still didn't feel "quite right" even after these things were going away and getting better.

So I was picking up our 5 year old from preschool the other day and it HIT me like a ton of bricks. My blues have actually been because he recently started going to school part-time. You see he is the baby of my family and after almost 16 years of having one or the other of our four kids home with me all the time, the realization that next year they will all be in school and I will be all alone hit me. Isn't it funny how you don't realize how your mind works. Well even just acknowledging that fact and realizing that's what it is has made my mood much better. It made me realize I really better enjoy this last year with Braden!!!

So now that I know my disposition has changed but I also just found a link about having a sunny attitude that I thought I would share.

If feeling blue stems from the combination of different causes and conditions, it makes sense that there isn’t a silver bullet to feeling more positive. My own experience is that I have to create a “soup” with a little of this and a little of that to maintain the feeling of peaceful productivity that I so desire. Posted by Kay Allison at PositivelySunny.com

So I'm creating my "soup" and getting through this time, coming to terms, dealing with and making sure I make the best of everything I have NOW!!!

I love my kids and will miss them all terribly when they are all in school!!!!

Thanks for listening everyone!!

Laura

An Excerpt From The Right To Lead

I am reading this book and had to share it on my blog. It's a GREAT read but tons of GREAT information!!!

"Introduction"
An Excerpt from
The Right to Lead
by John Maxwell

What gives a man or woman the right to lead? It certainly isn't gained by election or appointment. Having position, title, rank or degrees doesn't qualify anyone to lead other people. And the ability doesn't come automatically from age or experience, either.

No, it would be accurate to say that no one can be given the right to lead. The right to lead can only be earned. And that takes time.

The Kind of Leader Others Want to Follow

The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go.

As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:

1. Let go of your ego.
The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things."

2. Become a good follower first.
Rare is the effective leader who didn't learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first - and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.

3. Build positive relationships.
Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today's generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.

4. Work with excellence.
No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.

5. Rely on discipline, not emotion.
Leadership is often easy during the good times. It's when everything seems to be against you - when you're out of energy, and you don't want to lead - that you earn your place as a leader. During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion.

6. Make adding value your goal.
When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership - and its highest value.

7. Give your power away.
One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You're meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.

In The Right to Lead, you will hear from and read about people who have done these same things and earned the right to lead others. Because of the courage they found and the character they displayed, other people recognized their admirable qualities and felt compelled to follow them.

The followers who looked to these leaders learned from them, and so can we. As you explore their worlds and words, remember that it takes time to become worthy of followers. Leadership isn't learned or earned in a moment.