Feel Great Coaching
Wellness Blog
Feel Great Coaching Wellness Blog

Feel Great Cafe radio show 6/17/09

If you missed today's radio show you are in luck. You can still
listen to it. I have posted a player below
...<< MORE >>

We Are Live!

The much anticipated arrival of the renovated web site and the unveiling of my new "My Ideal Life Program" is up and now available!

The new and improved Feel Great Coaching web site is now live! Please take a moment to visit the site to see all of the changes. And while you are there please check out the
Products and Services page so you can look at the new "My Ideal Life Program" description.
<< MORE >>

Free Informational Tele-Class Tonight

As a follower of Feel Great Coaching, I wanted to personally invite you to a free conference call I am hosting this evening (4/29) at 7:00 p.m. EDT. This call is going to give the details of the exciting new program I am about to unveil this Friday, May 1st. Email me now (Steve@FeelGreatCoaching.com) to get the telephone number and the access code so you can participate in the call and get an extra bonus for being on the call.

Here is a sneak ...<< MORE >>

Free Call to Get Inside Information on the New Program

As an avid follower of Feel Great Coaching I want you to be the first to know
about a new and exciting program that will be offered come May 1st. This program
is guaranteed to change your life and give you the life you desire and deserve.
 

What is this program?
...<< MORE >>

News From Feel Great Coaching - 10 Days!

The one day you don't want to be away from your computer -
...<< MORE >>

Your Support is Requested


As you may or may not know, I recently lost my mother to breast cancer. With that ...
<< MORE >>

Wellness & Relationships Tele-Class

Last year my newsletter was specifically focused on Wellness. I discussed many different categories and their specific relationship to wellness. One of the topics was Family Life & Wellness; and with this I discussed the relationship you have with your family members and how it effects your wellness.

Well now I am offering a free tele-class on how to find and/or improve your relationships; any relationship. The information is below.

WHAT:
Emotional Magnetism & Your Ideal Relationship Tele-Class

WHEN:
Tuesday March 3rd at 8pm EST, 7pm CST, 6pm MST, 5pm PST

LENGTH OF CALL:
30 ...<< MORE >>

Lose Weight, Feel Great!

It is finally here! The long awaited and
anticipated eBook on how to lose weight without dieting!



Lose Weight, Feel
Great!

3 Easy Steps to Achieve Your Weight
Loss Goals Without Dieting



I have been working on
...<< MORE >>

The Key to Being Successful in 2009

In this Blog post I am going to reveal to you the secret to being successful in
2009.  And the secret is just one word.

Are you ready?

The
word is...
...<< MORE >>

2009: Your Year to Shine!




Happy New Year!

As you may remember, I deemed last year as "2008: The Year to Feel Great!"  I hope it was a great year for you and you worked on making your life better; whether it was physically, mentally, socially, or however. I know for me it was a great year and as you know; if you focus on something, you're going to get it. I focused my newsletters on wellness and how you can improve your wellness in 13 areas I identified. This year the focus of my newsletters will be on motivation. The area of your ...<< MORE >>

Life Coaching in the Workplace


Forget gym memberships and parking spaces – corporate high-flyers
are now demanding a LIFE COACH as part of their salary package.


Excerpts from an article written by Sarah Marinos…


You’ve got a personal assistant to steer you through the million-and-one tasks you have to do at the office. You’ve got a personal trainer to help you keep fit. Ah, but do you have a life coach?


A growing number of savvy executives in the USA and ...<< MORE >>

Changing your mind can change your body, too

Some "experts" are finally coming up with results that I have been talking about for years; how your thoughts can effect your actions / attitude about exercise.

I have placed the beginning of an article I found on MSNBC.com's Health page below and then I provided a link to the full article if you're interested. I hope it helps you.

Changing your mind can change your body, too
Destructive thoughts can wreck your workout efforts, experts say
by Jacqueline Stenson

     "Change your mind, and you just might change your body, too. Psychologists say our “self ...<< MORE >>

What's good for the body is good for the spirit as well.

As people grow older, it is very important to keep motivated, to say to yourself, "I can do it."


Regular exercise is even more important for seniors than other age groups since the risk of disease and lost mobility is greater and the positive effects are realized more quickly. But, as we all know, the hardest part is getting started. . .


Tips for getting started:



  • Look for daily opportunities to exercise in work and play. Force yourself to walk by parking your car several parking ...<< MORE >>

100% Attitude

As you are well aware from many of my previous posts; I believe that ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING.  In fact, it is so important that it has been said that "Your Attitude, Not Your Aptitude, Will Determine You Altitude in Life."

I came across this fun little puzzle type email that actually proved that your Attitude is 100% responsible for how far you will go in life.  Take each letter of the alphabet and assign a numerical value to it (A=1, B=2, etc.; see chart below).





...<< MORE >>

We can let circumstances rule us, or...

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY
FROM NIGHTINGALE.COM

"We can let circumstances rule us, or we can
 take charge and rule our lives from within."

- Earl Nightingale 


These words are very true. In this economic climate we can let the poor circumstances control how we live our lives or we can take charge and rule our own lives. We create our own destiny.  What is your destiny?

Do you have a plan?  Where are you heading?  Where is your business going?  Where is your ...<< MORE >>

Thomson Reuters Study Says Telephone Health Coaching Reduces Health Risks

Below is an article I found that supports the Corporate Wellness concept and how it has a 1.17 to 1.0 return on investment (ROI). This just re-emphasizes the need for companies to institute a wellness program for their employees. It is not often that a company can invest in a program for their employees that actually saves the employer money. This is truly a "Win-Win" situation for all. For more information on the Feel Great Coaching wellness program click here.

SOURCE Thomson Reuters -September 9, 2008


Thomson Reuters Study Says Telephone Health ...<< MORE >>

Ryder Cup Captain uses Life Coach to help Win

Life Coaches aren't just for executives any more.
Every day we see more and more the impact that a Coach can have not only on
executives, teams, and athletes; now maybe it's your turn.

Read this
article that was in the Saturday edition of the Wall Street Journal on how a
Life Coach helped the U.S. Golf
...<< MORE >>

Endurance Training Produces Younger Heart

Last week in the class I teach at West Chester University one of the topics was Exercise and Older Adults. I spoke of the multiple benefits of exercising. Coincidentally, I received an email from my father about an article he just read in the "Heart Advisor" about exercising. So below I will give you the information from the "Heart Advisor" and a summary of the information I gave to my students. I hope you enjoy it and benefit from it.

Heart Advisor article:
Older adults who walk, run or bicycle 3 to 5 days a week, for about an hour ...<< MORE >>

Feel Great Club

Feel Great Club


The Feel Great Coaching web site is adding new information every month. By joining the
Feel Great Club you will be informed whenever something new is added to the web site, any promotions that are happening, and any teleclasses or classes / seminars that I will be  hosting. If you already are ...<< MORE >>

How Long Will Your Body Last?

As part of a way for me to keep up to date with what is going on in the world of motivation I visit the Nightingale-Conant web site. I found this great article titled How Long Will Your Body Last? and I thought it was perfect for this Wellness Blog. I hope you like it.

How Long Will Your Body Last?
By Dr. Eric Plasker
Link to web site version


If you knew you’d live to 100, how would you change your life? Would you eat healthier, exercise ...<< MORE >>

3 Adult Education Classes

Once again this Fall I will be teaching 3 adult education classes for the Chester County Night School (The courses are listed below.). So those of you living in the West Chester, PA area have the opportunity to meet me personally and take on or more of these informative classes. To register for a class just go to http://www.chestercountynightschool.org/ and click on the Register button. I hope to see you there!

Lose Weight...Feel Great!
Steven Uhlenbrock, M.A., M.Ed, instructor
Learn the right way to lose weight by increasing your metabolism and exercising properly. No diets! No diet ...<< MORE >>

2008 Olympics

Now that the 2008 Olympics are over it is time to reflect on what our athletes have accomplished. The United States walked away with 110 total medals; that is the most ever won in a full-participation olympics. There were many stand outs but to me the 2 most notable were Michael Phelps and Nastia Liukin.

Like many of the athletes, these two athletes had something in common. They each had their own personal coach. In fact, Michael Phelps and his coach wrote down their goals on a piece of paper and wouldn't share it with anyone until the competitions ...<< MORE >>

Corporate Wellness Coaching Paying Big Dividends

Wellness Coaching in companies is finally getting
recognized as an investment in the company that yields high returns. Companies
used to think of the investment as a way to just reduce healthcare costs and
number of sick days. Now they are realizing that the return on this investment
is much greater.
...<< MORE >>

H2-No

I found this great article from the Nutrition Action newsletter web site.  It is on many of the different flavored waters that we tend to drink more of in the summer.  I started the article here and then if you wish to finish it, just click on the link below.

I hope you find this information refreshing! ;)


"The beverage industry has made a killing with bottled water. Thirty years ago, we drank virtually none. In 2006, it accounted for 29 percent of the beverages we buy. Now the industry has contrived a new way to ...<< MORE >>

Investment 101

A couple of quick questions before I get to the heart of the matter.
1. Do you invest in a retirement plan of some kind? (IRA, 401K, Stock Market, etc.) If not, you should.
2. If so, why do you invest money for your retirement?

Think about the answer to these questions before you go on. Why do you invest in the future?
Let me throw out some possible reasons for you.
1. You want to enjoy your retirement.
2. You want to have peace of mind for your retirement.
3. You want to be able to do what you want when you ...<< MORE >>

Walking a Little Can Go a Long Way

Here is another great article telling us of the benefits of an activity that nearly everybody can do; and it's low cost.  I found this article on CNN.com and thought it would be beneficial to you.  I basically highlighted the article, but I did put a link to the entire article at the end of the post. I hope you enjoy it and find it useful. As with all exercise programs, please consult your physician before you get started.

Walking a Little Can Go a Long Way
By Lambeth Hochwald


What if there was something simple you could do ...<< MORE >>

I Feel Great! Video

Wow! I found this video on You Tube and it is as if it
were made for me.  I takes my "I Feel Great!" mantra and combines it with
the Law of Attraction principles AND is on Wellness. How did I ever find
this?  I guess I attracted it. Watch and enjoy!
...<< MORE >>

Motivational...Period!

By now you know my philosophy is all about having the
right attitude and giving that 1 degree of extra effort. Well, this short video
encompasses both of my criteria. Simply put, this video is awesome!
Please take the time to watch it and I hope you enjoy it. We all can take
something from this video and incorporate it into our lives. Whether you
are looking to lose weight, become healthier, eat better, exercise more, be a
better athlete, etc.; there is always a little extra you can give to
...<< MORE >>

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Progressive Muscle Relaxation is a technique that involves tensing specific muscle groups and then relaxing them to create awareness of tension and relaxation. It is termed progressive because it proceeds through all major muscle groups, relaxing them one at a time, and eventually leads to total muscle relaxation. Below is a link to a recording of the entire process that you can download and listen to over and over on a daily basis. The total process takes less than 7 minutes, by the end you should start to feel the relaxation process begin.

http://feelgreatcoaching.com/progressivemr.html


...
<< MORE >>

Revised & Improved

I am very excited to announce that the Feel Great Coaching web site has just been revised and has more information and is more user friendly than ever before.

Here are some of the changes.
Home Page:
A totally new look to it (not color, but layout).
Services Page:
This is a new page and has lots of information on the types of services I offer.
Resources Page:
 This page is new too and has things for you to download, a survey you can take, and lots ...<< MORE >>

Coming Soon

Coming Soon
An exciting new
eBook...

Lose Weight,
 Feel Great!
...

<< MORE >>

Synergy is when 1 + 1 = 3 or more.

Synergy is when 1 + 1 = 3 or more. You may be asking yourself if I have lost it by now. Give me a few minutes and I will explain how this is.


The American Heritage Dictionary defines synergy as - - The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

So what does this have to do with Wellness Coaching? That is easy. When you enter into a coaching relationship with the right coach, you form ...

<< MORE >>

Stay Hydrated

Now that the warm temperatures are becoming more consistent, it is important for you to remember to stay hydrated. 60% of the body is made up of water and nearly 75% of our muscles are made up of water. If you are looking to lose weight or even build muscle, staying hydrated is very important.

Here are just some of the things that water does for our body:
*Water moisten tissues -- such as those around the mouth, eyes and nose
*Water cushions our joints
*Water regulates our body temperature
*Water helps our bodies get nutrients
*Water flushes out waste products

How do you know if ...
<< MORE >>

Seminars and Workshops

Below are a list of several Seminars and Workshops that Feel Great Coaching is available to do for you or your company. Some of these can even be done over the telephone for individuals. Read through the list of presentations to see which ones suit your needs. All of these seminars and workshops are interactive so that you will get the most out of your time; besides, the interaction helps make it more fun and easier to retain.

Seminars and Workshops

I Feel Great! Do You?
Do you wake up in the morning saying "I Feel Great!"? ...
<< MORE >>

Wellness Coaching in the News

I have been writing about Wellness for almost a year now. And for those of you who have been reading this Blog regularly, you know that I am a Wellness Coach. Well today there is great support for what us Wellness Coaches do in an article on MSNBC.com. It is titled "Targeting Muscles-and Lifestyle".

I have copied the opening paragraph here and then set up a link for you to read the entire article from their web site. For those of you considering coaching or questioning the benefits, please take time to read this article.




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Do You Want a Healthier Life?

Face it, the reason you read this blog and the reason you are reading this post is because you are looking to become healthier. After all, this is a Wellness Blog; why else would people read it if they didn't want more "wellness"?

Whether you are looking to lose weight, increase your fitness level, reduce your risk of illness, or whatever; I have a new and exciting program for you. I am actually offering 3 separate programs; one for individuals, one for groups of 4 or more, and one for companies.

Click on the link(s) below for more information for ...
<< MORE >>

Whole Grains Fight Belly Fat


I found this interesting article on WebMD and felt I should share it with you.

Study Shows Whole-Grain Diet Good for the Waistline and the Heart

By Jennifer Warner - WebMD Medical News

A diet rich in whole grains may help fight your belly bulge while lowering the risk of heart disease.

A new study shows people who followed a weight loss program incorporating whole-grain breads, cereals, and other foods lost more body fat from the abdominal area than those who ate only refined grains like white bread and rice.

In addition, those on the whole-grain diet experienced a ...
<< MORE >>

The Law of Attraction Trainer

My new Blog (The Law of Attraction Trainer ) has brought some direct inquiries to me about the Wellness Blog. This Blog will continue to run as it has. I will continue to make 2 to 3 posts per week regarding health and fitness, as well as wellness issues.

As long as the readers continue here, I am happy to continue to write about topical issues. The new Blog is just for people interested in the Law of Attraction. I have recently studied how to teach it and have made this another niche area of mine.

So don't worry, ...
<< MORE >>

Exciting News!

I have some exciting news I would like to share with you. I have just started my second Blog! This new Blog will be different than this one. The new Blog will be strictly on The Law of Attraction. I just finished a training program on How to Teach the Law of Attraction and I am very excited about the new opportunities this will lead to. As you know from reading this Blog, I have talked about the LOA for quite some time now. In the future, all posts that are related to LOA will strictly be on ...<< MORE >>

Are You Coachable?

This Blog has been up and running for just over 9 months now. I am positive that some of you are interested in coaching but are either unsure what coaching is or you are unsure as to whether you would benefit from coaching. So, to help you with this, I have put together a quick little 10 question survey. The first two questions are for your name and email address so that I can send you your scores; once I do that I will not use the information for anything else. If you wish to leave these answers ...<< MORE >>

BONUS!!!

Bonus! Today is "Leap Day", which means we get an extra day this year to exercise, appreciate our loved ones, catch up on things, and just plain old enjoy life! Isn't this great?

With "Leap Day" being a Friday this time around I think everyone should do something special today; whether it is for yourself, you significant other, your children, your friends, etc. Make this day memorable. Hey, look at it this way, you get to spend an extra day this year at your current age. It means your birthday is pushed off one whole day! Isn't that awesome?

Think ...
<< MORE >>

CAFFEINE: Good or Bad for You?

Many of us coffee addicts rely on the caffeine to get us going, especially those of us who are up at 4:30 a.m. We have all heard that caffeine is a diuretic and that too much caffeine is not good for us. Well there is new information out and I am going to sum up as best I can the potential good news and the potential bad news about caffeine as per the March 2008 issue of Nutrition Action.

POTENTIAL GOOD NEWS:
1. There is fairly convincing evidence that people who drink caffeine regularly have a lower risk of developing ...
<< MORE >>

The Wellness ECMS Program

The Wellness ECMS Program

Wellness ECMS

stands for Wellness
Education…Coaching...Motivation...Support.

The
Wellness ECMS Program is exactly what it sounds
like.

You receive:
Education…on numerous
wellness topics; such as weight loss, stress reduction, exercise,
etc.
Coaching…to assist you in staying focused so that you
can accomplish your wellness goals.
Motivation…to keep you
energized and on track.
Support…for you from a nonjudgmental
person who has only your best interest in mind.

Everyone has heard of ...<< MORE >>

How Old is Your Body?

You know how old you are chronologically. But how old is your body? What is your body's real age?

The "age" of your body can be negatively affected by numerous things; smoking, drinking too much, not enough sleep, not enough exercise, eating poorly, etc. It can also be positively affected by numerous things; healthy lifestyle, getting proper sleep, exercising regularly, having low stress in your life, feeling great, etc. This all ties in with your wellness. If your body is actually "older" than you are chronologically, you may be in for a difficult older life; you may not even live ...
<< MORE >>

The Bucket List

Last night we went out and saw the movie The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Great movie! I won't give any part of the movie away, but I do want to share with you quickly the premise of the movie. These two gentleman create a list of things they want to do before they "kick the bucket"; hence the name Bucket List.

So this got me thinking; this is right up the alley of coaching. In coaching we help people do what it is that they want or accomplish things in life that they really want ...
<< MORE >>

Motivational / Inspirational / Heart Wrenching...

By now you know many of my posts are meant to be motivating for you. Today's post is not only motivational but inspirational and heart wrenching; not to mention it being about giving that 1 degree of extra effort. The link below was sent to me from one of my students in my Exercise Psychology class. In this class we talk about motivation, inspiration, 1 degree extra effort, etc. and relating it all to getting people to exercise for healthy reasons. It's good to know that they actually do listen AND "get it." Please click on the link ...<< MORE >>

Snow Shoveling Tips

YIPPEE!!! A snow day! Well, at least it is for us here in the Philadelphia area. So with that in mind I want to post some snow shoveling tips for you so that you won't injure yourself. Also, shoveling snow is a great way to exercise and to have fun at the same time. If you do it right, it can be an enjoyable experience and you won't get hurt; which would take away from your other exercise activities.

Be heart healthy and back friendly while shoveling with these tips:

• If you are inactive and have a history ...
<< MORE >>

Valentine's Day

Today, February 14th, is Valentine's Day. As far as I can tell it is celebrated in North America and Europe. It is a day that lovers and sweethearts express to one another their love for each other through poems, cards, love letters and by giving gifts of chocolates and flowers.

I would like to add one thing to this list. Tell all of the people in your life how much you appreciate them and how grateful you are to have them as family, friends, co-workers, clients, etc. As I have mentioned in a previous post, appreciation and gratitude are ...
<< MORE >>

Keeping the Fire Going

No I'm not talking about romance here (but maybe I should since Thursday is Valentine's day). And believe it or not I am not talking about a fire in the fireplace; although I will be referring to it.

This morning I was training a couple and we were talking about eating several small meals throughout the day as opposed to just 3 larger meals. The male client is diabetic and I said if he ate periodically throughout the day it would help keep his blood sugar levels up and would help prevent him from "crashing". The other benefit is ...<< MORE >>

Q: Can Diet Soda Make You Fat? A: YES and NO

Can diet soda make you fat?

According to a new study that I saw on Good Morning America today the answer is YES. Here is a link to their web site with the results and discussion of that study (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4271246&page=1). But before you take the results of this study as gospel I want you to read another study and read my thoughts on this below. The second study is called Artificial Sweeteners Helpful in Weight Control and can be found here (http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_releases/study_artificial_sweeteners_helpful_in_weight_control).


My thoughts on this topic:
First I would like to summarize and give my interpretation of ...
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Oprah Winfrey and "The Secret"

By the title of this post you probably think I have gone off of the deep end. What do Oprah Winfrey and "The Secret" have to do with wellness? First, for those of you not familiar with the movie "The Secret", I will just tell you quickly it is about the Law of Attraction and how to use the Law to get what you want in life.

Yesterday the theme of the Oprah Winfrey show was The Secret Behind The Secret. To me it just reinforced how great the Law of Attraction is and how you can get it to work ...
<< MORE >>

A Great Time of Year!

Today is the beginning of Lent. Lent, in most Christian denominations, is the forty-day liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. I am not asking you to fast, but traditionally this is the time of year where Christians "give things up" to show their sacrifice.  So this is a great time of the year for you to give up the one thing that would impact you the most with regard to your health and fitness. And no I am not saying for you to give up exercising. I want you to give up some kind of food ...<< MORE >>

Celebrating 100 Entries (**Giveaway**)

This entry is officially my 100th Blog Post! When I started last June 5th (exactly 8 months ago) I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to keep up with it or if people would read my posts. Well I am happy to say that I have kept up with it and my Blog has had over 17,000 hits since the beginning!

I have enjoyed writing about Wellness and I know from some of the comments I have received, that the information has been valuable to you. I am committed to continue to write for you and I ...
<< MORE >>

How F.I.T. are your workouts?

The way you approach your exercise session is critical to the results you get. An acronym to go by is F.I.T., otherwise known as Frequency...Intensity...Time. How F.I.T. are you workouts? Let me break this down.

Frequency: This is the number of days each week you do that activity (i.e., walking on the treadmill). The frequency of your work outs is very important. As far as cardiovascular exercise goes, you should be getting 3 to 6 days a week of cardiovascular activity. When it comes to weight resistance exercise it is another story; it all depends on what your goals are.
<< MORE >>

Waist to Hip Ratio and Heart Attacks

The ratio of your waist-to-hip measurements offers the best predictor of your heart attack risk, says researchers with the Interheart study. From information on more than 27,000 people from 52 countries, they found that the higher your waist measurement relative to your hip measurement, the greater your heart attack risk, even if you're not overweight. Fat cells in the abdomen affect the pancreas and liver, increasing heart risk, while fat in the hips and thighs does not, say the researchers.

Women with waist-to-hip ratios of more than 0.85 are at increased risk. Men with waist-to-hip ratios of more than 1.0 are ...
<< MORE >>

Reverse Fly

As always, before beginning an exercise program you should consult with your physician and have someone experienced (like a personal trainer) there to help you with your technique the first couple of workouts.

The Reverse Fly is great for both the rear shoulder and the upper back.  This exercise is not only good for helping develop the posterior deltoid (rear shoulder muscle), but it is also good for working the upper back muscles and assisting with good posture. It is very important not to start with weights that are too heavy; improper techniques and too heavy of weights could lead ...
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GOALS

Today is January 22nd. It has been 3 weeks since most of us have set our New Years Resolutions/Goals. How are you doing? My hope is that you are still moving in the right direction and are on track with your goals. But what about the group of people who didn't set any goals? You know them, "I don't set New year's Resolutions because I never stick to them." Well I have a few things I would like to share with that group; and it is beneficial for those who have set goals too.

Here is some food for ...
<< MORE >>

Height loss in men could be sign of a sick heart...

I came across this interesting article in the Cleveland Clinic Heart Advisor and I felt it was important enough to share with you. It is just another good reason why we should continue to exercise as we get older. I am doing something different here; I am writing the last paragraph of the article first and then I will start the article from the beginning and then I created a link to take you to their web site where you can finish the article.

I hope you find this informative. If you have any questions about what you can do to ...
<< MORE >>

Good Quote about Attitude

"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." - W. Clement Stone

They say attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching? Make a big difference in your life today...have a positive attitude. Besides, it's not fun walking around being miserable and negative. Is it?

Tell yourself, "I Feel Great!" today. And when someone asks you how you're doing, don't just say, "fine." Say, "Awesome!" or "Fantastic" or "I Feel Great!". And then take a look at their response. Trust ...
<< MORE >>

Cardiovascular (Aerobic) Exercise

Cardiovascular (CV) exercise is also known as Aerobic exercise. Aerobic means "with oxygen". The opposite of aerobic is anaerobic; which means without oxygen. Types of anaerobic exercise would be a sprint, weight lifting, most sporting events (baseball, football). Anaerobic activity requires quick bursts of energy. Aerobic activity requires you to perform sustained exercise over an extended period of time (i.e., marathon, certain swimming events, exercise classes, etc.).

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) defines aerobic exercise as "any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously, and is rhythmic in nature." It is a type of exercise ...
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Dehydration and Blood Sugar Levels

A question came up today with one of my clients who has Adult Onset Diabetes (typically known as Type II Diabetes). The questions was, "Does dehydration cause blood sugar levels to increase?". My initial response was, "Yes." I figured if you are dehydrated it would make your blood thicker and make the sugar levels more concentrated. But since I am not a doctor (although I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night) I wanted to make sure my answer was correct.

So here is what I found out from several different resources...
- Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that ...
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Abdominal Crunch on Physio Ball

Nearly everybody wants tighter abdominals and nearly everyone hates doing abdominal work. There is no short cut to getting tighter abs. You must do 3 things: eat right, do plenty of aerobic exercise, and do your crunches. Believe it or not, I am not a proponent of the gadgets and gizmos you see on TV that say, and I paraphrase, just wear this around your waist 20 minutes a day and you too can have a 6 pack. Trust me, it's not going to work. One of the best ways to work your abdominals is to do your crunches on a ...<< MORE >>

Law of Attraction Slide Show

As most of you know by now, I have posted several times on how to accomplish your goals using the Law of Attraction. Today I have put together a short (4 minute) slide show to help you with this...<< MORE >>

Resolutions vs. Goals

Yes, it is that wonderful time of year when nearly everyone makes their New Year's Resolutions. And inevitably the resolutions are broken in a matter of months, if not weeks. So what exactly is a resolution? One definition I found says it is "the act or process of resolving." When you resolve something it must mean their was a problem to start with. A goal on the other hand is defined as "an end toward which effort is directed." So are you making Resolutions or are you making Goals? Are you "fixing" a problem or are you making an effort ...<< MORE >>

Symbolism

I hope you don't mind me mentioning another learning experience from my vacation to Disney World. Inevitably while in Disney someone will ask you who your favorite character is. When it came to me there was no doubt who I would pick. In fact, before I could say anything someone interjected that it should be Tigger; and they were correct. Why Tigger? Well let's take an in depth look at who Tigger is.

...
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Simply Magical

Happy Holidays to you on this day after Christmas! I have returned from my vacation and I want to share with you that it was Simply Magical! We took a family vacation to Disney World in Orlando, Florida and had a great time! The weather was great, the company was great, and of course Mickey and Minnie were great too!

While down there I realized that going to Disney is like getting a refresher course on what Coaching is all about. By that I mean the positive attitude of the entire place along with their philosophy is just incredible. ...
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Holiday Spirit

As the song goes, “Tis the season to be jolly…”  We all know that this is supposed to be one of the merriest times of the year.  The question is, are you merry?  Do you have the holiday spirit?  Or are you too wound up trying to get that perfect gift for your child? Are you stressed out trying to figure ...

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2008: The Year to FEEL GREAT!

2007 is almost over; just 25 days left. We all know what happens come January 1st...New Year's Resolutions. Well I have deemed 2008, "The Year to Feel Great!" This is your year! It's time to put aside any issues and any problems of 2007. If you gained weight, if your health deteriorated, if your goals weren't attained; this is going to be your year! It all starts with attitude and it ends with success!

...
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Whole Grains or Heart Failure...You Decide

I found this information from a couple of resources (WebMD and Nutrition Action Health Letter). I hope you find it beneficial.

"Starting the day with whole-grain cereal may lower the risk of heart failure in the long run.

A new study shows men who eat whole-grain breakfast cereal regularly are less likely to develop heart failure than those who eat it rarely or never.


Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood as effectively as it should. The risk of developing heart failure is about one in five for the average ...

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The Day After

Alright everyone, you had your big feast yesterday and most likely you ate more than you do on a normal day. That's okay, Thanksgiving comes once a year. But now you need to watch out for those leftovers. Today is not Thanksgiving part II. And tomorrow is not Thanksgiving part III. If you want to maintain your weight you must watch your portion sizes. (For more on this go to my post called Size Does Matter.) Do not overfill your plate like you did yesterday. Besides, if you just eat small portion amounts, it leaves more ...
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Trust

Trust is defined as "the confident expectation of something" (Dictionary.com). So what does trust have to do with wellness? Let me keep going and we'll see if it becomes clearer for you.

Have you ever heard the phrase, "I have complete trust in you" before? I ask you this...Is there any other way to have trust in someone? Can you have partial trust? Isn't partial trust an oxymoron? You either have trust or you don't. For example, in relationships you need to trust your significant other will be committed to you and will never stray. If you say, "I trust ...
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Want to Enjoy Your Workout?

If you are like many people, including my clients and... well I will leave that one alone, you don't really enjoy working out. So if focusing on all of the benefits of exercise (increasing aerobic endurance, increasing bone density, reducing health risk factors, reducing anxiety/depression/stress, etc.) isn't good enough, I have a "Feel Great" idea for you. And the best part is it probably won't cost you any money.

Here it is...
Put together a 60 minute audio CD of your favorite upbeat / feel good (or Feel great) music and play it whenever you exercise. The up tempo beat alone will ...
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Depression and Exercise

Question: Are people depressed because they are sedentary or are they sedentary because they are depressed?

Answer: Being sedentary does increase the risk for depression, but is not the cause of depression. Also, depressed people are more sedentary than non-depressed people; symptoms of depression are more likely to occur among individuals who report little or no leisure-time physical activity.

Depression can be caused by traumatic events such as; death of a loved one, loss of self-esteem, chronic anxiety, or chronic stress.  And someone who is clinically depressed has an increased risk of suicide.

At least one-third of all individuals are expected ...
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Sports Performance Coaching Options


                           
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Tips on Keeping a Healthy Mind and Body Over the Holidays

As we all know, this time of year can be critical for our mental and physical well being.  With all of the holiday parties, cookie trays at the office, food gifts, eating out while shopping, etc.; it is very difficult to keep ourselves balanced.  As a Wellness Coach and Personal Trainer I try to instill in my clients that you must not restrict yourself from indulging but you must also not over do it with your food choices.  It is okay to enjoy the festivities of the season, just know your limitations. 
 
Below are a few tips as ...
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Talk About the Right Attitude...

As you know by now from reading my posts I am a big believer in having a positive attitude, looking at situations in the positive instead of in the negative, seeing the glass as half full, etc. Well yesterday I saw a video on YouTube that blew me away. It is about this gentleman who is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and only has "__ months" to live. His attitude about life is amazing. He is an inspiration to me and hopefully will be to you also. I have placed a link to the video below. It does take ...
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Anxiety and Exercise


About 17% of adults aged 18 to 54 in the U.S. experience anxiety each year. Anxiety disorders are more prevalent than any other type of mental disorder except substance abuse.

Exercise has been shown to reduce levels of anxiety in small to moderate amounts for all types of anxiety disorders. And both acute (short term bouts) and chronic (regular) exercise have been shown to be beneficial. The reduced anxiety post-exercise lasts somewhere between 4 and 6 hours. Studies have also shown that exercise can be considered at least as good as other commonly employed anxiety treatments, and exercise ...

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Cancer Risks Affected by Weight...

ABC News has reported today that "after five years of reviewing 7,000 medical studies, a team of top scientists from around the world has concluded that diet and weight directly affect whether you'll get cancer. The researchers cite "convincing" evidence that excess body fat can cause six different types of common cancers, including those affecting the breast, bowel and pancreas. The research, which also links consumption of alcohol, red meat and processed meat to an increased risk of cancer, has spurred debate among nutrition experts over whether the conclusions of the report are particularly earth-shattering."

Here are the recommendations:

1. Limit ...
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Size Does Matter

How would you like to lose weight, save money, save
time, reduce the number of meals you cook, and not have to give up any of the
foods you eat? Does this sound too good to be true? Well it’s not. There is a
simple formula for this successful weight loss plan. Before I tell you what it
is I must give you some background information.
...<< MORE >>

The Rocking Chair Test

The next time you need to make a moderate size
decision, maybe something that will impact your life (like a healthy lifestyle),
try the Rocking Chair Test. What exactly is the Rocking Chair Test? Here it
is...
...<< MORE >>

Mind Power

If you are a frequent reader of this Blog you know I am a believer of the Law of Attraction and the Power of Positive Thinking. Well, I want to give you a real life example of how it has just worked for me.

Yesterday (Sunday) I was sitting around the breakfast table finishing my coffee and my
fiancé was talking about how her neck and upper back was very stiff. Suddenly, without any warning or movement, my low back started to hurt. (I must explain here to those who don't know me, I have had a ...
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Love Your Body Day (10/18/07)


Tomorrow (Thursday 10/18/2007) is Love Your Body Day. What exactly does that mean? Well, to me it means you need to take time to appreciate yourself for who you are. Stop trying to be like the airbrushed men and women on the magazine covers. Stop trying to be a size "0". Stop trying to build your muscles up so much that you can't even straighten your arms out. You are a unique person. Love yourself! Look in the mirror and say, "Damn I'm good! I'm unique. There is nobody else in the world that looks like me! (unless ...

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What is Your Driving Force?


Whenever we make a decision it basically comes down to one of two things, pain vs. pleasure. Let me give you an example. You want to buy a new 46" HDTV for your family room. The television is going to cost you $2200.00. Which is greater, the pain of parting with the $2200 or the pleasure you will get by having the new HDTV? If it is too painful (and I am not talking physical pain here) to part with the money, then you won't buy the HDTV. However, if the pleasure of watching your shows and sporting events ...

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Life Satisfaction

As I approach another birthday I am for some reason analyzing where I am in life. By that I mean physically, emotionally, spiritually and professionally. Middle age will be creeping up on me soon enough (I've pushed it off because I'm going to live to at least 100, not the typical 76 for most men.) and I want to be able to enjoy my last 50+ years.<< MORE >>

Circuit Training

What is circuit training?

Circuit training is a mix of strength training and endurance training. In a circuit-training workout you do a group (or circuit) of exercises with little or no rest in-between. Usually, one circuit consists of 10 to 15 exercises. My experience, and preference, is that each exercise is performed for a specific period of time before moving to the next exercise (usually 1 minute). For example, you might do lunges for 60 seconds, rest 30 seconds, and then do bench presses for another 60 seconds followed by the other exercises. Depending on your fitness level, you might do one ...
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October Newsletter

Tomorrow (Wednesday 10/10/07) at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time the next edition of the Feel Great Coaching Newsletter will be delivered. If you haven't signed up for it yet (it's free), just go to my web site and subscribe. My web site is www.FeelGreatCoaching.com ...<< MORE >>

Ordinary to Extraordinary (written & audio versions)

Former NFL coach Jimmie Johnson once said, "The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra." And if you have read ...<< MORE >>

Response to previous post's comment

Martha -
You are so right! It does take motivation to be successful at this; and I think it takes both external motivation and internal motivation (or as I have said in a previous post - inspiration). There are 2 other things necessary for this success: willpower and waypower (again, see previous post on waypower for more details). ...<< MORE >>

Stress (part 2 - Exercise and Stress)

Does Exercise Reduce Stress? YES!!!

Exercise causes the brain to release endorphins, which are opium-like substances that ease pain and produce a sense of comfort and euphoria.

It also encourages ...<< MORE >>

Stress (part 1)

Stress is a part of everybody's life. There are two kinds of stress; bad stress (distress) and good stress (eustress). That's right, I said good stress. A certain amount of stress is good for the body and for our performance, especially in sports and the work place. Too much stress is not a good thing, but a certain level of stress (which is different for everybody) can improve performance and help us to keep focused on a particular task.

Stress can be defined as bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium.

Effects ...

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Lat Pulldown

This week's exercise is the Lat Pulldown. This exercise is typically performed at a gym, but can be done at home if you have the right equipment. The Lat Pulldown is a great exercise for strengthening your latissimus dorsi (upper back) along with your biceps and posterior deltoids (back shoulder muscles). As always, before beginning an exercise program you should consult with your physician and have someone experienced (like a personal trainer) there to help you with your technique the first couple of workouts.

A common technique error is to grip the bar with a wide grip and bring the bar down ...
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Attitude

I was putting together a motivational / educational presentation today for West Chester University's Women's Rugby team and I came across some great quotes on ATTITUDE. I have written before how important it is to have the right (positive) attitude if you want to be happy and successful. Well, since I am doing some Sports Performance work with this team, I decided to make sure their attitude was in the right place. Below is a list of the quotes I shared with them and I would like to share with you. I hope 1 or 2 of them ...
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Dealing with Anger

Why am I blogging about anger? Isn't this a Wellness Blog? Yes it is. And when I think of wellness I think of total body wellness; ranging from physical to mental. So here is my post on ANGER.

Anger is defined as a strong feeling of displeasure (Webster Online). Anger is one of many emotions that we can and do feel. Anger sometimes takes over our better judgment and leads us down a path we might not typically take. ANger can also give us the energy and desire to overcome a problem.

So the question I throw out ...
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Insulin Resistance and (Pre-) Diabetes

AddedBodyStart

Type II Diabetes (formerly known as Adult Onset Diabetes) is becoming more and more prevalent with the obesity crisis we are facing here in the United States. In fact, the reason it is now being called Type II Diabetes as opposed to Adult Onset Diabetes is because obese children are now getting this disease. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse has put out an 8 page PDF document on ...<< MORE >>

Don't Doubt...Allow (written & audio version)

When using the Law of Attraction it is important to understand the art of ALLOWING. Many times people say, "I have made my requests but they aren't being answered or they aren't being answered quick enough." The problem is that these people do not fully believe in the process...they have doubts. Sometimes they even doubt that they deserve what they are asking for. And when you say I hope this comes true; the word hope is leaving room for doubt. DO NOT HOPE FOR SOMETHING - EXPECT IT!

Fully ALLOWING is the absence of doubt.

DOUBT is a negative feeling or ...
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A 2% Investment Can Yield High Returns

The cartoon below says it best. We Need To Exercise!

...
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You Control Your Journey


My apologies to my Newsletter subscribers that are seeing this for the second time. But since I received such positive feedback about the newsletter, I decided to share it with my Blog readers too. If you just read my Blog and aren't subscribed to my newsletter, you might want to sign up on my web site and take advantage of some special offerings. Hereis the article...

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Healthy Football Snacking

Fall is all about football, sports, activities, tailgating, snacking, grilling, and various beverage guzzling. Here's how to kick out the calories and make healthier choices this fall.

Tailgating

Calories add up fast when tailgating. High-fat bratwurst sausages, burgers, and
BBQ ribs are loaded with calories. Chips, potato salad, peanuts, and beverages round out the list. A four-hour game can be a marathon of constant snacking. Choose lower-fat items, leaner cuts of meat, and fruits and veggies as snack items. Use lower fat mayo and reduced-calorie sauces ...
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What to do about High Blood Pressure

A few of my clients and people I know have either high blood pressure (hypertension) or they are close to having high blood pressure (prehypertension), so I decided to write on this topic. The average adult's blood pressure (BP) reading should be 120/80. If it reaches 140/90 it is considered high BP. If it is between 120/80 and 140/90 it is considered prehypertension. There are several lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent high BP and/or lower it.

They are:
-  Lose excess body fat.
-  Eat less salt.
-  Exercise (resistance training and about 30 minutes a day of aerobic exercise). ...

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A Step In The Right Direction

Long Live The King! Burger King that is. What's this, a Wellness Coach & Personal Trainer supporting a fast food company? Am I out of my mind? No, not yet. But have you heard about the healthy choices Burger King is going to roll out next year? And I think the big key here is that they are doing it in a clever marketing way. Read on and see what I mean. ...
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Newsletter Gets with the 21st Century

On Tuesday, Feel Great Coaching is taking the "next step" in the digital world. FGC has been sending out Newsletters for 1 year now, and to be sure that people who are receiving the Newsletters are people who actually want to receive them, I have enrolled in an "opt-in" service. This means that you won't receive the FGC Newsletters unless you go through the process of "opting-in". It only takes 1 minute to do so. Also by "opting in", you will receive a complimentary copy of Turning Negative Self-Talk into Positive Self-Talk by me!

What you do is go ...
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Pelvic Thrust

This week's exercise is the Pelvic Thurst. This exercise can be performed at a gym or home; all you need is a comfortable mat or floor to lay on. The Pelvic Thrust is a great exercise for strengthening your low back along with tightening  your glutes (butt). As always, before beginning an exercise program you should consult with your physician and have someone experienced (like a personal trainer) there to help you with your technique the first couple of workouts.

Lay flat on your back on a mat with your knees bent pointing up to the ceiling and your arms at your ...
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Happy New Year!

I know today is September 4th and not only is it not the beginning of a new month it is not even the beginning of a new season. But, yesterday I was watching a local news station and they had a piece on how the day after Labor Day is like a new year. And it hit me that it is so true. All of the schools are back in session and the students are starting a new year in their education. The summer vacation rentals end on Labor Day and a new football season is upon us.

The ...
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Triceps Kick Back (photo illustration)

This week's exercise is the Triceps Kick Back. This exercise can be performed at a gym or home; all you need is a dumbbell that gives you enough resistance and a bench or a chair. The main muscles used in this exercise are the triceps (back of the upper arm). As always, before beginning an exercise program you should consult with your physician and have someone experienced (like a personal trainer) there to help you with your technique the first couple of workouts.


Starting Position: Lean forward with the non-exercising hand resting on a bench or chair for support (let's ...

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Summarize Summer

This is the last week of summer. Labor Day is just around the corner and then it is back to school for the little ones. How was your summer? Did you have goals set in the beginning of summer of what you wanted to accomplish? Did you vacation a lot and have lots of fun? Or was it the same old thing, just a different time of the year?

I can summarize my summer in just one word ...
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Vitamin D, Calcium & Cancer

It appears that the articles I post on vitamins are very popular. With that in mind I decided to find some more information with regard to the benefits of eating healthy and vitamin supplementation. I have already posted a couple of times on the benfefits of vitamin D and calcium; it appears the benefits are ever increasing, this time with the combination of calcium. I found the following information in the September 2007 issue of the Nutrition Action Health Letter. I thought it may be useful information, so I am posting it for you.

"Vitamin D and calcium seem to ...
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The Standing DB Shoulder Press

This week's exercise is the Standing DB Shoulder Press. This exercise can be performed at a gym or home; all you need are dumbbells that give you enough resistance. The standing db shoulder press is a great exercise for anterior and medial deltoids (front and middle shoulder muscles) and the triceps (back of the upper arm). You can also do this exercise seated if you wish on a banch or a stability ball. Doing the press standing demands that your torso muscles (abs, lower back, obliques, spinal stabilizers, and transversus abdominis) work harder in order to help stabilize ...
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Incorporating Exercise in the Treatment of Eating Disorders

Well the jet lag from my flight home from San Francisco has finally resided and once again "I Feel Great!" It occurred to me that some of you may be interested in the topic and some details of the paper I presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) conference. As I wrote in an earlier post, the title of the paper was Incorporating Exercise in the Treatment of Eating Disorders.


To summarize, we looked at a group of females in an in-patient facility that were suffering from a variety of eating disorders. We wanted to see ...
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Two Choices

I am back from my trip to San Francisco! And am I ever glad to be home. Not that we didn't have a good time, I just didn't enjoy the traveling. We had delays going and delays coming back. But one thing I realized was that having a positive attitude makes all of the difference in the world. Take for example our flight home; it was delayed 6 hours because our plane "broke". At first I was upset but then I realized I would rather it break before we took off then when we were in the air.

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Work Vacation

I am heading out shortly for a work type vacation to San Francisco, CA. I am presenting at the APA Conference a paper I wrote a few years back. It is titled Incorporating Exercise in the Treatment of Eating Disorders. ... << MORE >>

Glucosamine - Does it work?

This one's for you  Pete...

Recently a friend of mine screwed up his knee by "4-wheeling". After surgery and months of rehab he is finally back to attempting to golf. While we were golfing last week he asked me about glucosamine. Apparently his doctor is recommending he take the supplement. I told him a client of mine was in a University of Penn study a couple of years ago where they had patients on glucosamine,chondroitin, glucosamine with chondroitin, celebrex and a placebo. The results showed no significant difference between the groups (slightly better for glucosamine with chondroitin)[For a copy of that ...
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Appreciation...Gratitude...Thanks

Thank you. I appreciate you. I am grateful for you.

These are 3 short sentences that aren't spoken enough. I understand many people say thank you, but do they mean it or is it just a "knee jerk" response? And what about the other two sentences? How often do you say them to someone in your life?

"I appreciate you." Wow! What a powerful little sentence. Imagine what that would feel like if someone said that to you. "I appreciate you." You can even stretch the sentence out and make it more specific. "I appreciate you for cooking dinner tonight." ...
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3 Steps to Setting Great Goals

In the past I have written about replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts and ideas on how to get what you really want. Today I am going to write about Goal setting and how to use this tool to help you get what you want. Realize that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit, so if changing a bad habit or reframing negative thoughts are part of your goals you need to be patient. ...<< MORE >>

Study Links Diet Soft Drinks With Cardiac Risk

I found the following article on line at www.healthday.com and thought I should share it with you. It is something that could potentially affect a good portion of the readers of this Blog. I know I have met some people who drink a diet soda for breakfast and then have one with lunch and then later in the evening. In fact, Coca Cola has a new diet soda out that is enriched with vitamins; I think it is called Diet Coke Plus. My suggestions is to switch to water and put a lemon wedge in it or ...<< MORE >>

Announcement

The newly upgraded Feel Great Coaching web site is up! Please check it out when you get a chance and let me know what you think of it.

I owe a lot of thanks and gratitude to my web designer and web coach, Signa Strom. She did a tremendous job working with me to get this site to look just how I wanted it. Signa worked with me several sessions to find out exactly what I wanted and needed in a site. She listened to me, took my thoughts and opinions into consideration, and the next thing I knew ...<< MORE >>

Experts work out guidelines for exercising

I found the following article on line at www.ytlcommunity.com and thought I should share it with you. It is an update guideline on exercise recommendations. I hope you find it interesting and you take the advice to heart.

August 1, 2007

WASHINGTON - Adults should engage in moderately intense exercise for at least ...<< MORE >>

Good Enough?...Not For Me!

Answer this question and it will tell you a lot about yourself and where you are right now. Is "Good Enough" acceptable for you? If so, you won't get any further in life than you already are. If so, you won't push yourself to make the changes you want to make. If so, then stop reading this Blog and other self-help literature that is probably piling up in your office.

My guess is that "Good Enough" is NOT acceptable for you or you wouldn't be reading this post. My guess is that you are tired of "Good Enough" and you ...<< MORE >>

Exercise and Metabolism

METABOLISM! It's a nasty word as we get older. It controls our bodies. It decides to slow down on its own as we hit the 30s, 40s, 50s and so on. This is when we need our metabolism to speed up. It's hard enough to stay at a healthy weight with all of the fast food options, Starbucks frappacinos, Maggie Moos, etc. So what are we to do about it? ...<< MORE >>

Vitamin D and Insulin

I found the following information in the July 2007 issue of the Nutrition Action Health Letter. I thought it may be useful information, so I am posting it for you.

"If you have high blood sugar ...<< MORE >>

Triggers

What is a trigger? A trigger is a stimulus that causes a response, whether it be positive or negative. Why am I writing about triggers today? Because of the questions I have received from some of my clients and friends around the past few "Change" blog posts.

The question I am getting mostly is, "How can I change my thought process if something is going wrong for me?" The answer is all based on triggers. It took a negative trigger to put you in this bad mood (i.e., the dog messed on the carpet). If you are like most people ...<< MORE >>

CBS News Story on Life Coaching

Life Coaching hits the big time news with this CBS news story. I believe this story was even aired on the CBS Sunday Morning Show. ...<< MORE >>

4 Steps to Getting the Results You Want

Today I would like to blog about the 4 steps to getting the results you want. ...<< MORE >>

1 Arm Row

This week's exercise is the 1 Arm Row. This exercise can be performed at a gym or home; all you need is a dumbbell that gives you enough resistance and a bench or a chair. The main muscles used in this exercise are the latissimus dorsi (lats), biceps, and posterior deltoids (rear shoulder). As always, before beginning an exercise program you should consult with your physician and have someone experienced (like a personal trainer) there to help you with your technique the first couple of workouts.

Starting Position: With a dumbbell in your right hand stand next to a ...<< MORE >>

Fish, Fish Oil, & Omega 3 Fatty Acids

So much has been in the media about Fish, Fish Oil, & Omega 3 Fatty Acids that I decided to do some research. Here is what I found out from the American Heart Association. "Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people, and those at high risk of -- or who have -- cardiovascular disease.<< MORE >>

What is it that you REALLY want?

What do you want in life that you don't have? Before you read on, take a minute and really think about this. (THINK TO YOURSELF NOW)...<< MORE >>

Those Dreaded Inner Thighs

I can't tell you how many times over my career I have been asked, "What can I do about reducing my inner thighs?" If it's not that question, then it's "What exercise will reduce my inner thighs?"

The sad truth is there is not 1 exercise that will reduce your inner thighs. Spot reducing is a myth and cannot be done. What you can do is target or isolate certain muscles that you wish to tone or develop. But, you cannot spot reduce. When you lose fat it is reduced throughout your whole body evenly. The body contains a ...<< MORE >>

Something to Think About

This afternoon I am leaving an audio message for you. I could type it out, but I feel it is more effective as a verbal communication than a written one. I hope you like the message. Just click on the play button below and you will hear the message.<< MORE >>

Calcium

Calcium is important to men and women, the young and old, and the non-athlete and the athlete. It is important to keep our calcium levels where it needs to be in order to build and/or maintain our bone density. With that in mind I did some research to find out how much calcium we need and if/when we should take a calcium supplement. I found the following information from the Department of Health from NY and from the Mayo Clinic.

"Why is calcium important?

Calcium is a nutrient that is essential for ...<< MORE >>

Inspiration

Have you ever been inspired to do something? What is inspiration and how is it different from motivation? As talked about in a previous post, there are 2 types of motivation: internal and external. I look at internal motivation as another term for inspiration. If you are inspired to do something, than you are internally motivated to accomplish that goal. You can get inspired in several different ways; watching an athlete on TV can inspire you to ...<< MORE >>

B-complex

The other day my fiancé was taking her vitamins after breakfast and informed me of all the different vitamins she was taking. When she got to B-complex I said, "Stop right there, you don't need that vitamin, you are already complex enough!"

I'm guessing you just finished groaning and are hopefully still reading this post. The B-complex vitamins are actually a group of eight vitamins, which include: thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), cyanocobalamin (B12), folic acid, and biotin.

These vitamins are essential for:
-The breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose (this provides ...<< MORE >>

Motivational Slide Show (click here to enter)

Motivational Slide Show

...<< MORE >>

The Abdominal Crunch

Today's exercise is one that is needed yet dreaded by almost everyone...the abdominal crunch. If you are one of the many out there that always finds an excuse not to do your crunches at the end of your workout, I suggest you do them in the beginning of your workout. Just get it over with and you will be glad that you did it.

There are many different types of abdominal crunches. I will describe the basic crunch here which targets your rectus abdominus (abdominals). As always, before beginning an exercise program you should consult with your physician and have someone ...<< MORE >>

Getting Rejuvinated

You have heard it a thousand times, "Take a vacation to rejuvenate yourself!". Well it is true. Do it! We just returned from a 9 day vacation (that is why I haven't been blogging) and I Feel Great! We went to Sunset Beach, NC. The weather was beautiful and the company was even better. It is amazing how getting away with the very same people you live your every day life with, can ...<< MORE >>

Fiber Up

As many of my clients know, I believe it is very important to get your required amount of fiber each day. In fact, I push for my clients to eat whole grain cereals and breads as part of their regular diet. The article I found in Nutrition Action Healthletter supports my belief. This article was written in the November 2005 issue.

"Whole-grain fiber may slow artery clogging, according to a study of more than 200 postmenepausal women with heart disease.

Angiograms showed slower artery clogging over three years in women who consumed more than six servings of ...<< MORE >>

Momentum and Coaching

One of my coaching clients (I'll call him Joe) today used a great term to describe what is happening to his process of change. Joe said, "I have some great momentum going on right now and I want to keep it going!" After thinking about the session, I knew this was the topic for today...Momentum.

Momentum is defined by Merriam Webster as a strength or force gained by motion or through the development of events. This is exactly what happens in coaching - a strength gained through the development of events. What strength is Joe gaining? He is gaining confidence, a more positive attitude, ...<< MORE >>

Push Up

I was inspired to do a write up on the push up today by one of my clients. He commented to me that he had never been able to do push ups, even when he was in the military. Guess what? We are now going to focus on push ups for him; even though he is in his 50s.

This exercise is a great way to strengthen your pecs (chest), anterior deltoids (front shoulder), and triceps (back of upper arm). As always, before beginning an exercise program you should consult with your physician and have someone experienced (like a personal trainer) there ...<< MORE >>

Stay Motivated using Sport Psychology / Wellness Coaching for Weight Loss

Has trying to lose weight been a losing battle for you?  As a client of mine, Bill, told me on his initial consultation, "I've probably lost 250 pounds over the last ten years.  The problem is, I've gained 275 pounds."  Does this sound like you?  Are you tired of diets?  Has it been difficult to stay motivated with an exercise program?  Perhaps what you need ...<< MORE >>

Working Out at Lunch? Here's How to Eat to Recover.

I came across this article while perusing the internet. I though it might be of interest to you. I hope you like it.

"Since squeezing fitness pursuits into an already busy day isn't easy, it makes sense to use the lunch hour for double duty. Work out, then eat. Trouble is, there's not much time for both. So save time by preparing a quick, high-caliber meal the night before.

Three key elements come into play when replenishing the body post-workout: fluids, carbohydrates, and protein.

'It's tough for muscles ...<< MORE >>

Should I Walk or Should I Jog?

Great question; and one that you should look at when designing your exercise program! However, for me to give a complete answer the question needs to be completed. There are two ways the question can be looked at; “Should I Walk or Jog 1 Mile (or any specific distance)” and “Should I Walk or Jog for 30 Minutes (or any specified amount of time)”.

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One Minor Adjustment Can Make a Big Difference

A quick story if you will let me… I like to golf as a means of getting fresh air, spending time with my fiancé and friends, and just for the enjoyment of the competition (against myself). I am not a good golfer. In fact, I got rid of my driver many years ago because all I did was hit the ball 225 yards to the right or left; rarely did I hit it on the fairway. So I switched to using an iron instead ...<< MORE >>

Interesting New Term --- "Waypower"

It is most likely that everyone has heard the term "Willpower" before. If not, it means having the strength of will to carry out one's decisions, wishes, or plans. Today I heard for the first time the term "Waypower" and I just had to do some research on it. Waypower is the ability to find paths to reach your goals, or the ability to create an action plan to accomplish your goals. I found this new term to be very appropriate in the coaching and wellness world because in both arenas people (or clients) need to set goals and find ...<< MORE >>

High Cholesterol and Memory Loss

The tendency to build up high cholesterol may run in families, but excessively high levels are usually the result of a poor diet high in saturated fats and calories, combined with little or no exercise. It is commonly known that high cholesterol, particularly LDL, builds plaque in your arteries and can lead to heart trouble, But did you know that high cholesterol could lead to memory loss? I found this article to be quite interesting and I thought it may be helpful to you.

"Memory loss is a common complaint among people as they age. Roughly one in ten older ...<< MORE >>

Chest Fly

The Chest Fly is a great exercise for the pectoral muscles; it really helps develop them and give you cleavage (men and women). In addition, the anterior deltoids (front shoulder muscle) are also used as an assisting muscle for this exercise. It is essential that you do this exercise properly and I highly recommend you having someone assist/spot you; the last thing you want is to drop the dumbbells on your head. As always, before beginning an exercise program you should consult with your physician and have someone experienced (like a personal trainer) there to help you with your technique ...<< MORE >>

Energy...Motivation...Success and Coaching (part IV)

Putting It All Together

Many people have goals they want to accomplish, dreams they wish to realize, and/or changes they want to make but they just don’t have the energy or motivation to do it. In Coaching you become energized because the coach keeps you accountable and focused on your task at hand. You will start by taking “baby steps” and having small successes; these small successes energize and motivate you to keep going and to have bigger successes. Eventually, before you know ...<< MORE >>

Energy...Motivation...Success and Coaching (part III)

Success

What exactly is success? How many types of success are there? What does coaching have to do with success?

Success – Accomplishing a favorable or desired outcome (Merriam-Webster).

How many types? There is really only one type of success, but there are many different meanings of success, depending on who you are speaking with. Recently I did a little survey of some family, friends, and clients on what “Success” meant to them.  The overwhelming response was related to achieving ...<< MORE >>

Energy...Motivation...Success and Coaching (part II)

Motivation

What exactly is motivation? How many types of motivation are there? What does coaching have to do with motivation?

Motivation – A driving force or stimulus (Merriam-Webster).

How many types? There are two types of motivation; intrinsic and extrinsic.

Intrinsic Motivation is basically self-motivation or motivation from within you. A person that is intrinsically motivated does things for the joy of accomplishing the task at hand and to feel good inside.

Extrinsic Motivation is motivation for “outside” purposes (i.e., winning a ...<< MORE >>

Energy...Motivation...Success and Coaching (part I)

Energy

What exactly is energy? How many forms of energy are there? What does coaching have to do with energy?

Energy – There are many definitions of energy, but here I will define it as an exertion of force or a healthy capacity for vigorous activity (Merriam-Webster).

How many forms? Technically there are just two types of energy; potential and kinetic. Although some people may break it down to atomic energy, electrical energy, heat energy, food energy, etc. I am going to ...<< MORE >>

Vitamin D & Blood Pressure

I found the following information in the June 2007 issue of the Nutrition Action Health Letter. I thought it may be useful information, so I am posting it for you.

"Getting too little vitamin D - whether it is from sunlight, food, or supplements - may raise the risk of hypertension.

For four to eight years, researchers tracked roughly 600 men (health professionals) and 1,200 women (nurses) who didn't have high blood pressure. Roughly 5% of them had low blood levels of vitamin D (less than 15 ng/ml) when they entered the study. After four years, those people were roughly three times more likely ...<< MORE >>

Front Stationary Lunge

The Lunge is by far one of my favorite exercise for the lower body. It does a great job of tightening and toning the legs and especially the glutes. This exercise is highly recommended to those who want to tighten, tone, and shape their glutes! It is essential that you do this exercise properly or you could hurt your knees. I recommend starting slowly with this exercise. In the beginning I wouldn't do the full lunge because you will really feel it the next couple of days. You should start off with 3/4 lunges and don't use any resistance ...<< MORE >>

My Qualifications to Blog on Wellness

Some people may want to know how I am qualified to Blog on Wellness/Fitness/Health. With that being said, I am going to give some bullet points on my background and qualifications.

- I started working in the fitness industry in October of 1984.
- Graduated from Temple University in May of 1986 with a B.S. in Exercise Science and Leadership
- Graduated from Temple University in May of 1996 with an M.Ed. in Exercise and Sport Psychology
- Have been certifed as a Personal Trainer since 1998 from the National Strength & Conditioning Association
- Graduated from West Chester University of PA in ...<< MORE >>

Philosophy

My Philosophy...

My philosophy about life and happiness can be summed up in one sentence – It’s All About Attitude. And my attitude can be summed up in three words that every single one of my clients can attest to – I FEEL GREAT! Whether I am working with a client at 6:00 a.m. or at 8:00 p.m., I Feel Great!

Your life and your happiness can be reshaped by your attitude. My attitude is that a positive outlook will lead to positive results; and a negative outlook is just self-defeating. If you truly want something bad enough, you need to have ...<< MORE >>

Welcome

Welcome to the Feel Great Coaching Wellness Blog. In this blog I intend to keep you up to date with the latest in health and fitness trends, give you tips, and help motivate you to achieve your wellness goal. If there is anything you would like me to write on or help you out with, please let me know and I will do my best to get you the information as quickly as possible.

Thank you for visiting. I hope you have a great day!
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