Natures workout: 5 Reasons to try it!

I'm excited to share our "outdoor exercise" but first, you gotta know, I have one space decorated in our new home! What space is it? Not the two story tall walls. It's the desk space I'm working from now! Don't ask me why this space has been so fast to come together and don't ask to see it just yet. I'm holding out til' next week.

Ok, let's talk Nature's Workout.

If you're the outdoor type it doesn't matter where you are or which season it is... Nature has a workout for you! And if you're not exactly the outdoor type I'm giving you a few reasons to try it for your next workout.

This weeks major workout was all cardio and a little strength (ahem, baby on my hip). Nature gave us underground tunnels, a little cheat of an elevator and 224 steps. It even offered an additional 1 mile loop or 3.

Considering it was just me and my two boys, we stuck to the populated areas and are saving the wooded miles for when Lucas can join us.

We took on some serious hikes in the year we lived in Hawaii and were beyond excited to learn of all the options in our new backyard of Colorado Springs, starting with Seven Falls. During the years we lived in Virginia we hiked a few trails of the Blue Ridge Mountains but tamed most of our outdoor adventures to parks, primarily due to pregnancy and little mans first year of life. Infants are a bit of a game changer, toddlers however can hang so we took our outdoor exercise up a couple notches! I've also found my new running trail and ran my first race here!

5 Reasons to give Outdoor Exercise a try...

Scenery
Like music, scenery keeps you going. Bridges over rivers, historic parks, mountain sides and coastal lines. You think it, nature's got it. Beautiful, changing scenery can actually help you workout for longer!

Adrenaline
You'll be amazed at the natural energy you get just by being outdoors. Wind and Sunshine do a lot for a good mood and adrenaline boost. Take on a fear of heights, climb mountain side for even more of a boost. Join a race, host a race, just run a race! Try something new, set out and accomplish a new workout you've never done before. ie: swimming, tennis, golf, outdoor yoga, beach running...

Customizable
Like the gym, you can customize your nature workout! Most trails offer benches for rest, take advantage of those, rest there and move on OR customize your workout by using it as a marker to turn back around. Most parks offer exercise stations to change up an ongoing cardio session. Trails by stair offer landing points for breaks or u-turns. Our mini hike this week even offered an elevator, consideration for all levels. Nature is beyond accommodating, it can challenge the strongest and comfort the weakest.

Convenient & Fun
Lezbehonest some days you don't want to go to the gym. You just aren't feeling a "workout". When a killer playlist just isn't enough, nature helps a workout feel like fun!  Trust me, by being more active outdoors you may not think it but the workout WILL catch up with you! Nature is all around us and always open. No need for memberships, fees, or passes. Or bulky equipment either!

Do what inspires you! 
Do what gets you excited and keeps you revved. If you aren't feeling the gym circuit, don't have the convenience of child care, whatever the reason leaving you blah or in a notivation rut try turning to nature for your next workout!!


What's your favorite outdoor exercise?
Which do you rather? Indoor or Outdoor exercise?
Happy Friday loves!! Get yo' weekend on!





Linking with 5 on Friday, H54F, Workout Wednesday


...happy to have Merrie with me this month...

The Number on the Scale is JUST A NUMBER.

Yesterday I had my annual you know what visit, but of course before any matters can be handled they direct you to the scale. Wellllll, life's been a vacation these past 4 weeks and I haven't exactly been in the front row of any group fitness classes so I basically cut the scale an evil eye and almost questioned the need of scribbling my weight into the chart.

I mean, it's just a number...

I've wondered while sipping on a delicious, cold, refreshing Strawberrita if I was gaining any weight. I thought for sure, that certainly, I had gained a pound or two when I caught an unflattering picture of myself at the beach this past weekend. And I was positive that my bikini bottoms were on backwards one of these past pool days. Then I just laugh at myself. It is what it is. This bum is not quite the toned tush I had last summer.

It's evident that not consistently working out, not logging 30+ miles of running each month will effect your appearance and even your mood. But sometimes the trade off seems worth it. I've definitely chosen to spend my time a bit differently over the last four weeks due to the bittersweetness of our move. Relocating to a new duty station brings a whirl of emotions for any soldier, military spouse, and of course children. So to say that I'd rather be at a summer evening cookout than a 5:30 step and body pump class is an understatement.

Back at the doctors office, I stepped on the scale and literally exhaled every last ounce of air. Some time ago, I once laughed at an article stating, "exhaling will lower the number on the scale" yet I was doing it the moment my foot landed on the scale.

In my mind I pictured the digits I've maintained over the last year but in front of me, the flashing LED screen was threatening a new number. Memories of BBQ in heaping amounts, second helpings of donuts for breakfast (breakfast ?? really, Kristine?) and the Dorito salad for dinner (<---- that is devilishly good!)
... I almost laughed to myself for holding any hope of maintaining my weight.

The mirror and our clothes should really be the markers for our image. The number on the scale resembles something but not much. We all know muscle weighs more than fat, we all know that each of our bodies distribute the same amount of weight differently, you might even know the golden rule of 100 pounds for 5 foot women plus 5 pounds for each inch after 5 foot... but really, there is so much more than that number between our feet.

So much more.

The screen settled into a 3 digit number. No higher than it's been over the last year. According to the scale nothing had change. The lady scribbled the digits into my chart and mentioned that it was the same as last year's visits and pointed me to the chair for a blood pressure reading.

Now.I.Could.Really.Exhale.

All that worry over nothing. Well, nothing according to the scale.

If we put too much value on the scale's story we may be fooling ourselves. The scale does lie.
The scale wasn't showing my everyday a Saturday style as of lately. And it definitely wasn't reflecting my lack of hard work in the gym. So this being the case.... why should we weigh that number so heavily during other times when we ARE working hard on our fitness and physical improvements???

Get where I'm going with this?
a little screw the scale attitude

We should always be honest with ourselves regarding our own activities and commitments. Know our weakest links. Set goals custom to our own needs and desires. And, just be all the way strong creating our own little paths within healthy and fit living. Never doubting what is beautiful and beyond measures of a scale.
Because really, a number is just a number. Nothing more and nothing less.

Agree?

Linking with Desire to Inspire, Bloglovin Hop

...happy to have Jordyn with me this month...

30 miles in 30 days update!

I'm happy to be linking up again with Nikki for 30 miles in 30 days!
Awesome thing about running (solo, in a crowd or with a buddy) is that the run feels like it's all about you. It's time to filter and work through thoughts or relish and cherish in the good stuff of the day. Just you, your own pace and rhythm... and a little Krewella, Selena, and JT.

My knee has been cooperative all week. It has it's pangs but I'm trying to be more preventative and careful. I'm continuing the KT Tape, foam rolling, pressure strap and icing. Seems really high maintenance but it's totally worth it. If you ever find yourself miles from home with a knee that won't bend you'll want all those "security blankets" to keep it from ever happening again!

Last weeks recap had me at 22 miles. This week I competed participated in another race, this time with my hubby! We did a filthy muddy 5K along side the James River and loved every minute of it! The trails start after this pedestrian bridge over the river. We had an awesome time with it and scored ourselves a few celebratory drinks. Richmond (where I live, run) was kinda a big part of the Civil War, this whole area is packed with historic value and stories. It's now a hot spot for sports enthusiasts, sun bathers, and festival goers.

Monday night I hit the gym, "stepped" by booty off for an hour. I love when they rotate instructors, Monday nights choreography was all new and all challenging. I was actually sore the next day. SCORE! Wednesday, I met up with my friend for a run back at the river trails. Clearly I'm a bit obsessed with this new to me running path :) We had all intentions of nailing the 3.5 miles but it seems knee pain is contagious... her knee started aching a mile in. No beuno. I gave her my knee strap and we walked our happy, out of breath butts back to the car. I'll be running this evening to make up for that!

This weeks mileage:

Saturdays Filthy Muddy 5K = 3.1miles

Mondays Step Class = lets just call it cardio this week, no mile count

Wednesdays River Trail Run = 2 miles

Total so far for May:
27.1 miles!!!!

All The Way Strong!
I want to know how you're doing this month!
Do you call your run "me time" like I do?!
Found a new path that you're lovin'?






...happy to have Max with me this month...

From Flab to Fit....

I love reading your stories of fitspiration and I love sharing mine with you. Today Ashley is sharing her FITstory with us. She admits it hasn't always been easy and shares with us the reasons why making a change to a healthier you is worth every side cramp. You may be following Ashley already but if you're not.... here's your invite! She's one of kind. I'm SO grateful to have met her in this bloggy world :)

From Flab to Fit: My journey so far

Hello pretty Heart Shaped Sweat readers. My name is Ashley and you will usually find me blogging about the randomness that is me over at It Is What You Make It. When I first made my blog, the name just seemed right and as time goes on, it describes my blog and me pretty well. It is what you get out of it...whether you are reading about my weekends, my sometimes disastrous DIY crafts, or posts from my heart... you get out of it what you want. Recently though, I've been overloading my readers with running updates. Let me explain.

I don't know what it was about that Tuesday evening in April that made me decide "This is it, today is the day I start getting fit" but it happened. I had recently signed up for a 5k and had run (no pun intended) across Kristine and my friend Nikki's blogs, both encouraging their readers to do something, anything to be active. I read it and thought to myself, surely I can do this. So I put on my clean running shoes, downloaded the Run 5k app, and took my first steps to a healthier me.

That first night was brutal. My side was cramping by the first jog that only lasted 45 seconds and I kept saying that there was just no way. When I got home, my usual Dr. Pepper and chips for dinner just didnt seem appetizing after I worked so hard to finish a 1 and a half mile jog/walk, so I ended up downloading the MyFitnessPal app and set out looking for what I could do to give myself more energy. Little did I know that was the beginning of a new me and I was beginning a new journey.

37 days later and I'm sitting here fitter than I have felt in a very long time, more energized and happier than my body is used to, and I just finished a light choice sirloin dinner with a glass of water. That my friends is a long way from drinking a Dr. Pepper for lunch and dinner, snacking on 3 musketeer bars all day long, and eating McDonald's for dinner pretty much every night. And I couldn't feel better. I can tell in the mornings the most. Although I still hit snooze a couple of times before I roll out of bed, when I get up, I'm excited and ready to start my day, which is what my 22 little first grade friends deserve from their teacher.

One thing that has come from my new journey that I wasn't expecting was that my husband decided on his own to join me. I was on week 2 and he said "well, I have a fitness test coming up, maybe I should go with you" and off we went. With his schedule it gets difficult for us to do it together but it's awesome to have someone pushing, encouraging, and motivating you to do a little more or keep going when you don't think you can.

Some people say it takes 21 days to make a habit but for me it's not about the repetition, it's about the desire and the outcome you are looking for. Setting goals is an obsession of mine so from the beginning I've had goals I'm working towards. Although most people's fitness goals would include loosing weight, I knew better than to expect that because I know my body. I wanted to work toward goals I could see and some that I could feel. I took before pictures, wrote down mileage goals, and continue to work and strive towards those goals. Has it been the easiest thing I've done? Nope. But has it been more beneficial to me than I ever thought possible? Absolutely.

Have you recently made a change in your habits, whether that be workout habits or eating habits? I would love to hear from you on how you stay motivated and what you've done differently that I could try. I hope you all have an amazing day. As my Grandmom always says, "be happy".

*********************************************************************************************************************************

Isn't she just the sweetest?!! I love keeping up with Ashley. She is always so motivating and cheerful. Her outlook and determination are both so inspiring. I'm really liking her perspective on "habit forming". I hadn't thought of it that way. She's right, all it really takes is a constant desire and eyes on the goal!

Go say hi and make friends!

Linking with Healthy Tuesday, Take Time Tuesday, Anything and Everything



...happy to have Max with me this month...

30 miles in 30 days update!

I'm excited to finally be linking up with Nikki for 30 miles in 30 days!
I've been doing my best to log miles for the month. I had some knee trouble this month and still kinda do but I'm working on with it. Resting my knee and doing less impact sports made a huge difference. It was hard to be told not to run but listening to that advice, paid off. Rekita even told me "let those knees rest". You were all right! And really, this too is a part of "Being All The Way Strong".

Last weeks recap is here, it explains how I got miles even though I wasn't running that week. Then Saturday finally came. Saturday was a 5K race that I had signed up to do with my friend. It would be her first ever race and my first run in almost 2 weeks. I panicked and was a nervous wreck for at least an hour before the race. But to my relief, all went well. I even PR'ed that night! Then today, I met up with her again and we took on more of a scenic, terrain route. It was alot of fun and being more adventerous like that made the running seem easier and the time faster. But let me be honest.... the trail was b.r.u.t.a.l. Temps were in the 90's, rocks, roots, fallen trees, railroads, bridges, bikers, sunbathers, and probably a group or two of tokers were along the 3.5 mile trek. It was incredibly fun despite the hard work and we decided that's our new thing each Wednesday! We will master that trail and improve!
If you notice I started my Runkeeper late and stopped it early?! My friend did hers right, that's how we know the total distance!

Thanks to a lot of KT Tape, rest, and a knee strap I feel like I'm back. I feel strong enough to run again and am doing it with very little pain afterwards! Good thing because hubs and I are signed up for a filthy muddy 5K this Friday night... you bet there are obstacles and mud pits and a cold beer or two involved!

This week's mileage:

Saturdays Neon Glow Run 5K = 3 miles

Wednesdays River Trail Run = 3.5 miles

Total so far for May:

22 miles!!!!

I want to know how you are doing this month!

If you signed up for the Summer Kickoff Virtual 5K....
welcome emails went out yesterday!!!






...happy to have Max with me this month...

5K Playlist. 40+ minutes of music!

Remember cassette tapes and bulky walkmans? The big headphones? I loved mine, it was yellow and gray and constantly played my own mixed tapes of Madonna and En Vogue. I loved my boom box. Every morning I would record songs between talk shows and each night I'd play it back. This was the 80's people.

Playlist are a must have to my workouts. They offer motivation and keep me going when I feel myself getting tired. Some songs are chosen just for the beat, some for the lyrics but each make you want to move.
I've used Pandora set to fun fitness a few times, loved that. I haven't tried Spotify yet. Have you? And I'm definitely not one who can listen to podcasts or nothing at all. I can not hear myself breathing. If I hear myself breathing, I totally psych myself out. I sound like I'm on mile 20 when I'm barely clearing two.

I shuffled songs around to find a 40 minute playlist and since we must always have some JT action, there's an 8 minute cool down. 40 minutes of music will get you through a 12 minute mile 5K. The beat/tempo of these songs may encourage you to run around a 9 minute mile. Hope you like some of these songs!

I just found out about this Lolo App and it sounds amazing! You can use the music it has available or import your own music into the app. From there you can adjust the tempo! So if you're in love with a particular song but know that it's far to slow for your cycle routine, elliptical run, etc. this app lets you speed it up. All the reviews are great and it sounds like it comes with a "trainer" who reminds you of key things like shoulders down, belly button in, chin up. I'm thinking about giving this app a try. It's priced at 3.99.

Have you heard of this app or tried it before?
What songs are must haves in your playlist?


P.S. There are now 40+ of us signed up for the virtual 5K! I was so excited to see that! WooHooo!!!




Linking up with
Just Because, Anything & Everything, Healthy Tuesday, Take Time Tuesday

...happy to have Max with me this month...

Summer Kickoff 5K Virtual Race!

Let's do this! 

Start your summer the healthy way with a virtual 5K race!

It's called a race but there is no winner, no looser. You can walk it, you can run it, you could even bike it. Go solo or team up with friends and family. Hit the streets, the track or the treadmill. Jogging stroller and dogs are permitted :) Just get out and get moving!

We'll do this together during the week of June 1st thru June 7th and then meet back for a link up!

So sign up, pick a day and time, snap a picture of you, your route, anything that symbolizes your part in the virtual 5K and know that we are all cheering for you and kicking off the summer with healthy efforts!

25 people have already signed up! Won't you join us?

An email will come your way soon welcoming you, another email will follow soon after with your race bib!
Remember you don't have to be a blogger to sign up! If you want a button, grab it!


<a href="http://http://www.heartshapedsweat.com/2013/05/summer-kickoff-5k-virtual-race.html"><img src="http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l194/krferrall/VirtualRaceImagebutton200x200_zps42f1abd5.jpg"/></a>




...happy to have Max with me this month...

Rollin' with the Foamies, told by Max!

I got my massage today! It wasn't the typical spa-like massage. It was the gritty, massage kind found within sports medicine. And it was amazing! Actually I wanted to cry many times but every "trigger" point and tight band was released. Apparently I need to foam roll for longer amounts of time. I had hills not just knots that needed kneading. womp,womp.

Foam rolling is a self massaging technique that helps release and relax tight muscles. A few weeks ago Max gave me few tips on how to "roll" it's been so helpful. I feel like everyone should be foam rolling! Lucky us, she's here showing off her hardworked self and foam rolling tips!

                                                       ****************************************************

Hi!! I'm Maxine but since we're friends you can scratch the ine and just call me Max. Sometimes the baristas at starbucks get carried away with their cursive and yell, "May... May.... here's your coffee."

May I take my $6 coffee? thanks.

Now that we got that out of the way, I blog over at MAXOUT where I write about anything and everything. I originally started blogging to share my CrossFit beginner experiences, but after the third hand rip, I made the smart decision to switch gears for a little bit realizing talking about CrossFit all day is annoying.

I'm now several months in, and I've come a long way since I first started. Double Unders? no problem. Strict pull-ups? You can get one out of me, and most importantly, Olympic lifts? well, let's just say, they're no longer awkward or uncomfortable.
Along with learning a lot about strength and conditioning, I've also come to terms with how I treat my body outside of CrossFit. Eating clean is one of them and so is foam rolling.

rollin' with the foamies...

If you're ever wondering how my mind works, this should explain it. When my boyfriend first introduced me to foam rolling I immediately thought of Clueless. As if. Whatever. Cool closet that rotates. In other words, I had no idea what he was talking about (him being in the Air Force, my mind typically tends to wonder when he talks pilot to me) and this was no exception.

What do you mean FOAM rolling? Where are we rolling to? I mean I can put my hair in hot rollers and it looks like my 4th grade dance recital, but that's besides the point. I refused to let my already sore muscles be tortured by this "foam" roller.

helping soreness since 2013

Well, after months of complaining of soreness, he decided to layout his foam rollers and said "pick one." I went with the softest, most appealing roller and he helped me find my trigger points. I haven't looked back since.

Enough with the writing, and let me show you some proper/helpful foam roller movements that you can do at home or at the gym.

Sidenote: I'm not camera savvy (as seen below) so excuse the blurriness and awkward faces.

calves 

middle back

I just ran a half marathon on Sunday.
You can obviously tell by this picture that I hit a trigger point.

thighs

I just realized that I haven't exactly explained what foam rolling is. In simple terms, it's a form of stretching to relax your muscles (like a massage) It helps you find your trigger points and once you do, keep the roller on the point for 30-60 seconds. It helps minimize tenderness and soreness.

At first foam rolling is painful and uncomfortable, but it's worth it if you're working out several days a week! I promise! Get to rollin'

-Max-

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She's right, at first it is a bit painful but you control the movement, you control the pressure applied.
If you're not a fan of deep tissue massage at the spa then support your body and use less weight/pressure while foam rolling and if you dig the deep tissue stuff then rest right into the roller. I've read that foam rolling prior to exercise/racing is as beneficial as the after. Because foam rolling increases circulation it can have a warm up effect or a cool down effect. Give it a try!

And definitely go say HI to Max!
Start here with her sweet and funny all you need to know section or dig in with a lil' crossfit story, move on to  a half marathon recap, smile and cry over her sweet homecoming story and go back to laughing with some adorable Emily, puppy love.





Linking with Just Because, Anything & Everything, Take Time Tuesday, Healthy Hop


...happy to have Max with me this month...

Be All The Way Strong

You can have it all. It just takes a lot of work. But hard work always pays off. Remember the days of pulling all nighters and studying your face off? And while getting that good grade, another one dropped? Spending the following weeks to raise that grade only to find another one suffered? Maybe that didn't happen to you but it happened to me year after year. Eventually I got the swing of things and evened the kilt. I learned how to balance the work load so that each class represented my hard work and each class scored a high grade at the same time. It's the jinx effect. When all things happen together.

I believe in being fit. I believe fit means strong. I don't think strong always shows. I think strong holds many levels to its definition. The girl or guy with bulging/cut muscles may have the strength but maybe not the endurance. The girl/guy with a layer hiding the hard muscles may not show a lot of strength but will blow your mind in his/hers endless endurance abilities. Standing trackside cheering on my sons track team brought this kind of scenario into full perspective. The girls lined up, ready for 30some seconds of bliss in the 100m dash. Each girl kneeled, hand on track, eyes on finish line, perched and ready. Each trim in size except for one. Upon a quick inspection, judging the book by it's cover, all bets would lead to a particular winner. But after the count and horn blast all those bets would be lost. The girl who created the largest of shadows also created quite the ruckus. She had the strength, the endurance, the all the way strong to win the race. She stood tall and ran. The power in her in eyes matched the power of her stride.

It's important to be strong in your mind and soul. We can lift and squat, run and spin all day, every day but at the end of the day if we're feeling defeated in our thoughts and aspirations for all else in life then what good is the smaller size, the tighter skirt, the flatter belly? It makes me think of the word superficial  No one wants to live a life coated in happiness and beauty. Happiness and beauty should shine outwards from within.

I'm dedicating the month of May to Be All The Way Strong.
It's best fitting for me. I work hard on my outward appearance and physical strength. My mind is rolling during the time I spend running, lifting, stepping, dancing, TRX'ing. My mind challenges my body in ways that I should challenge my soul in moments of chaos, in times of grief and stress. In decisions of quitting bad habits and properly allotting time to tasks. And so much more.

If I can control my thoughts and push out the "quit now" feeling during hard workouts, long races, and resistant training then why not work that same muscle (the mind) to push out temptations to leave the laundry piled, wash dishes after the next meal, blog another posts, read another blog, or raise my voice in a moment of stress and chaos? Believe me I am no saint. I have my faults and yet I am still an amazing mother, wife and friend. We live in peace and show much respect to each other but like in the fit-world there is always room for improvement.

If I can center my energy to better discipline all parts of my life not just gym time how much of a better person would I be? How much more confidence would shine through my every step? How much more love could I share and how much more peace could be felt in the stillest of moments as well as the most rambunctious?

So I challenge myself to Be All The Way Strong. And as always I totally invite you to join! There's a fancy button, a hashtag of # allthewaystrong and more posts to come. You may find there are thoughts that counteract your fitness time. I see so much passion and drive in peoples faces when I look around the gym yet I wonder if they'll carry the same strength on the beach when in much less clothing. I see high fives and hear cheers at races but maybe there is solemness in their homes. Working the mind, body and soul/spirit/core whatever you call it will hit a different sore spot for each one of us.

You'll see me challenging myself in lifting heavier, speed training for the fun of it, and picking up spin classes. 3 fit-world things I want to focus on this month. I may post less, I may post more during the month as I truly open my heart and look deeper for any ways I can be stronger in mind and soul. With an upcoming cross country move, a transition back to the regular army, terrible twos occurring in the most public of places and yes, a tween boy moving through puberty... I could use a little more mental strength and inner peace.


I want to the most beautiful person I can be. 






Linking with Just Because, Anything and Everything, Take Time Tuesdays,

Race Costumes and Other Reasons to Laugh...

When I get my moment of "being funny" it is typically more of an airhead moment, a blonde moment, a beginners luck kind of moment. Or a bitchy moment. I just didn't get that funny gene, nor have I worked at it. And that's ok. I'm just grateful so many of you out there are so naturally sassy and funny! Laughter is of the best medicine, we need a good dose of it everyday....

Since I have no cooooool outfit to share and am on a "race" kick these are the must see's from Saturdays 10K. They kept us entertained and caused me to loose breath when really I was trying tomaintain.... some we followed, some we passed and some we high fived at the finish line.

None of them were photo'ed by me, all of these and more can be found here.

How they ran all 6.2 miles dressed this way still escapes me!

And that is Richmond Monument Avenue 10K costume competition at it's finest!
Can you imagine running in one of these costumes? Which one's your favorite??


And this my friends is Rebecca at her finest!!!

                                                                     
Hi y'all!!
My name is Rebecca and I blog over at Caravan Sonnet. I am thrilled to be here today mostly because I simply adore Kristine! When I first met Kristine I was matched with her with the "Bigs & Littles" blogging network. I think I literally had 2 followers (my sis and one of my best friends *smiles*) and was wanting to build a community of friendships. I was a little nervous when I saw how well Kristine wrote, her amazing followers and community that she had, and just how awesome she is! In addition to this I am a swimming/pilates gal (in other words I hate running :)) and Kristine can whip out many many many running miles each week still looking beautiful. My nerves though lasted as long as five minutes when I received the sweetest email from her and immediately realized that she is as awesome as her blogging posts. :) One of the things that I love about Kristine is her attention to good health which is also important to me as I struggle with some health issues.

Recently I have been reminded again how important laughter and joy are to our health.

Right after I was diagnosed with my chronic illness I went to work reading many different books and doing tons of research (which I am sure everyone does!). One of the books that people kept recommending was Norman Cousins book called "Anatomy of an Illness" so I definitely made a point to read this book. I was inspired and amazed by his story and would definitely recommend it. Cousins was diagnosed with a debilitating disease where his body would literally fuse together. It was incredibly painful and incurable. Cousins shared that doctors only gave him a 500 to 1 chance of recovery. DESPITE those odds Cousins implemented his own "treatment" and eventually recovered. In his book he discusses the entire method of what he did but one of the things that he spoke about was the influence that laughter had on his healing process. Cousins (after he obtained his doctors' approval) chose not to stay in the hospital but he stayed in a hotel room (near the hospital) and in addition to his diet and vitamins he gave himself (as he termed it) "laugh therapy". Cousins watched and read anything that would bring him laughter. Overtime he started to see that for every ten minutes of laughter he would have a couple of pain free hours.

Now, BEFORE I receive a ton of emails stating that this is not physically possible (I will share some scientific evidence) I do want to say that I understand when you are in pain and not feeling well it is sometimes hard to find the laughter. I do understand. Seriously, I do. But as I read the following statistics and information again I was convinced again about the importance of finding joy in all of our circumstances....

Doctors say that laughter:
1 - can distract attention away from illness or pain
2 - can reduce tension
3 - can change a persons expectations by encouraging a different outlook
4 - can increase the production of endorphins which is the bodies natural pain killers Some hospitals around the United States have even incorporated "laughter programs" to help their patients heal. There was an article years ago about a Catholic hospital in Texas where nuns told funny stories to patients on a daily basis so that they would feel better and heal more quickly. Laughter is truly an important process of the recovery process. Honestly, I do understand how difficult some days can be when you are hurting and sick or sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. But did you know that it actually takes more effort and energy not to smile then it does to smile and laugh? It takes forty-three muscles to frown but only seventeen to smile. WOW!

So what are some ways that you can find laughter ~
especially on days where it feels like that is the last thing you want to be doing?

* rent funny movies (don't forget about the old ones! Last spring I rediscovered some classics!)
* read funny books - read the comics - read funny blogs (seriously, some are hilarious!)
* find the joy in simple things.
* I actually have chosen to not watch anything that would cause stress, tension, or negative thoughts to go into my life. (Am I the only one or are some of those lifetime movies just downright scary?!?)
 * Try not to take things so seriously. I am preaching to the choir on this because with being ill it can be difficult not to do this. I have learned though that if you look for the bad you will find it but if you look for the joy you can find joy.
* keep old emails, article clippings, letters, etc. that bring joy and laughter to look at often.
* laugh at yourself. I recently  shared my endometriosis story and to this day I will never forget a situation that happened during this time period. My mom and I were in a very populated mall when I received the phone call that the surgeon (from across the country) would accept me as a patient but would not be able to have an appointment available for an additional three months. This might not sound like a big deal but at the time it was and my mom and I sat down and bawled our eyes out right there in the middle of the mall. As we realized that people were staring at us we started to giggle and then couldn't stop laughing. To this day we laugh about this incident. Don't be afraid to step out and laugh!

Where do you find laughter?

Thanks so much for spending a few minutes reading today!
I would love to meet you so please stop on by and say" hi"! I hope y'all have a wonderful day! :)

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She's the sweetest of them all! 

Always cheerful, always motivating, and so caring :) 

And, she's given us yet another excuse to snort, clap and laugh our hearts out!

It's unbelievable the power laughter holds!! 

Be sure to stop by her blog! 

And tell me have you ever worn a costume for a race???

I'm NOT feeling the porpoise costume...

but maybe one of the pinky, inky, and blinky costumes ;)

Linking with Random Wednesdays, Walkabout Wednesday, GFC Bloglovin