mind – Page 2 – Personal Euphoria: Pilates & Fitness Classes in CT

Mindful Eating Challenge

Years ago I started doing the No-Sugar February Challenge. It has evolved into the Mindful Eating Challenge. That means if giving up sugar isn’t really beneficial for you—maybe you aren’t the addict I am—you can choose a challenge that fits your needs for the shortest month of the year.

Challenge Suggestions (pick one or all):

Give up sugar (or whatever your vice is).

Make sure you aren’t distracted while eating. Take time to stop and eat. That means no eating in front of the television, Facebook, or while doing the crossword.

Try not to overeat at meals.

Try to include more veggies (perhaps even a veggie at every meal).

Use an app or excel spreadsheet to record everything you eat and watch calories in vs. out.

Try to drink more water, reduce caffeine or cut out beverages with calories.

Select a program like the Whole30, Paleo, vegan or some other food related lifestyle you’ve been interested in experimenting with.

Take a picture of all your food and text it to a friend.

Details:

We started a Facebook group if knowing you aren’t alone is helpful. It’s the Mindful Eating Challenge group with lettuce leaves as its profile picture. The challenge starts […]

Mindful Eating ChallengeMaggie Downie2018-02-14T15:56:37-05:00

Thinking About Stress Differently

Throughout this year, I’ve been working on slowing down. In the midst of this holiday season, it doesn’t feel like I’m achieving that goal, but I have caught myself thinking about stressors a little differently. The poor little Fit. Not feeling so euphoric today.

A few weeks ago my car go rear ended. While I wait for it to be fixed, I’ve driven a rental, used Matt’s car, and borrowed a car from a friend. Each of these cars is a little different. The gas tank is on a different side, the way you open the tank changes, how you unlock or lock the cars is all unique. Everything from the lights to the windshield wipers to whether or not there is an ice scraper nearby is different in each and every vehicle. And the trouble is I notice the difference when I’m in a rush. Heading out for class, there’s a frost, and I can’t find the scraper. Have my arms filled with stuff and realize the car I have today needs you to hold the […]

Thinking About Stress DifferentlyMaggie Downie2017-12-29T19:30:50-05:00

When it Comes to Movement, Your Mindset Matters

Your mindset can make all the difference as to whether or not you stick to a new plan. So let’s try to change some common misconceptions about moving.

I Don’t Have Time

This is never really true of anything. We have the time. It’s about how we prioritize our time, and, in this case, whether we prioritize movementIf you get together with friends you could ask to go for a walk instead of meet up for food or coffee. If you sit down in front of the couch you could get up and march in place. On a phone call at work you could do some exercises. But we often feel embarrassed to move in front of others. Ignore them. They aren’t moving. And if they aren’t they don’t feel as good as you when you move. Most likely they are just jealous that you don’t care. And, you might even inspire someone else to move. And, its highly possible they are so busy they aren’t noticing anyway.

1) As a side note, even if you think you don’t have time, you can tweak little things. Park far away at the mall, doctor’s office or work. Take stairs instead of the escalator […]

When it Comes to Movement, Your Mindset MattersMaggie Downie2018-01-13T16:27:42-05:00

On Death & Mourning: A Little Comfort

Not our typical blog, but if it helps you feel better, it helps you move better.

I went to a funeral the other day. The role of the priest, minister or rabbi is always a tough one when someone dies. They have to console the inconsolable. The priest at this funeral wasn’t great. He kept insisting that the dead person was just sleeping, and that it would be accurate to tell kids the dead are merely sleeping. As a child that would have terrified me. I’d never go to bed again.

But then he said something that filled me with happiness. Ultimately, his words were not overly profound, but I’d never had someone put death quite this way. Full disclosure: I’m not religious or spiritual—a fact people are often surprised to learn. I don’t have that gene. But like Mark Twain, I appreciate people who do. There are moments I wish I could believe in something to experience a glimpse of comfort when tormented by grief, but more often than not I’m happy believing in the fallibility of science.

I’ve heard many people say we should be comforted to know that when we die we will be reunited with the person whose life […]

On Death & Mourning: A Little ComfortMaggie Downie2017-10-25T14:26:32-04:00

Dragon Boat is Over

Dragon Boat is officially over for the season. This is my first Tuesday without practice since mid June. I’m going to miss it. Last week we saw a bald eagle twice. It flew over our heads letting us know it wanted us to get out of its hunting ground. Last week the weather was perfect and it was a fabulous way to end the season. On Tuesday there was steam coming up off the water in mini spirals that looked like small tornados. It was a beautiful. I wish I had a camera.

One of the staff from Riverfront Recapture (who organizes the race and lets us use a boat for practice) reminded us that while some people were starting their day tense, gripping the steering wheel while driving to work, we were calm and out on the water enjoying nature. I love starting Tuesdays and Thursdays with Dragon Boat all summer.

You can’t beat it. It was a fun season. It helps that we raced so well in Hartford. We came in second place, .03 […]

Dragon Boat is OverMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:48-04:00

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