How Does Your Light Shine?

Good day! Happy Monday!

I hope all of you had a lovely weekend. Yesterday was gorgeous in this area! My boys wanted an "at home" day. I can understand that. I was trying to go out and do some things with them and J.T. kept saying "I just want to be at home". He's gone at school all week and busy days, homework and he had a busy Saturday soooo...he just wants to chill at home. Having a long work week, I feel you my sweet boy! :) 

Sleep and exercise are amazing things. I am telling you from personal experience, they are healing, kick ass things! Nothing makes me feel better than a great workout and a good nights sleep. And lots of snuggling with my boys of course. They all release good, healing "stuff" in the body. I am taking a break from the gym today as my lower back is a bit "tender" and one thing I've learned is to listen to my body, especially my lower back! I was in the emergency room a couple of years ago due to my piece of crap back!! It's tough though, as I love a good sweat! I will focus on stretching and some strength moves today. Maybe a nice walk with my boys this evening. Planks are my friend as I've mentioned before. They are easy on the back too. ;) 

So why is cardio so important? I know this is a "duh" type of comment. But I think many people who are trying to be healthier incorporate it knowing it's good for them and helps with weight loss but beyond that some may be stumped at what exactly it does. 

First, your heart is a muscle and with any other muscle it needs to be worked out or it will grow weaker. Mine is pretty strong at this point!! It actually takes a lot at this point to raise my heart rate up. That's why I work out for a long time at high resistance. Increasing speed and duration during your cardio can help with weight loss too. 

Also, doing a lot of cardio creates a stronger circulatory system which means more nutrients delivered to your cells all the time. The "delivery" system is large with nothing blocking the way. 

Cardio means less stress. Isn't that awesome? Despite outside influences trying their hardest to cause stress, you can sit there with a calm smile, feeling serene! :) 

Cardio keeps your brain younger. If your heart is weak it cannot transport the blood very easy and this means less oxygen and nutrients getting to your brain and it ages faster. And tied into this, cardio also helps you to think better. When we move fast and even better at intervals, our brains have to process that information at the same time, quickly. A study showed that when overweight children started to exercise, their math and thinking skills improved. Cardio helps your brain to learn to process that information. 

And ladies, cardio increases bone density!!! This is for everyone obviously but women especially suffer from osteoporosis. 

If you suffer from depression, cardio releases endorphins to help to enhance mood. I have been doing regular cardio for several years now, through a rough patch in my life and I am truly balanced out. My mood, etc..is fine. I do feel very calm and peaceful and serene on average despite life trying to create constant problems. I really think the only time I can say I was truly depressed was the year or so following my mothers death in 2000. I just wasn't quite myself. That hit me pretty hard and I made some strange choices but I came out of it. I have never been medicated for anything and I certainly don't need it. When I start to feel "Blah", I exercise!! Or hug my boys! Or talk to a friend or listen to music or watch a movie or read a good book. And I'm good! :) 

Sleep. Cardio helps you sleep. Half the world's population suffers from sleep problems. I have very rarely had this issue. Usually when I was pregnant and uncomfortable. I do have a clear conscience too though. That always helps!! haha! A study showed that people who suffer from chronic insomnia and who incorporate cardio in the evening fell asleep faster and slept longer. On cardio days it's all I can do to stay awake some nights. I have fallen asleep just before Game of Thrones which airs at 9! That's because Sundays are always big cardio days. Yesterday I burned 1551 calories. :) I did stay awake for the finale though it was tough! 

Doesn't this make you want to get up and go sweat?? Sure it does. Go sweat! A great workout followed by a nice shower feels so fantastic! One of my favorite things! Sweat, shower, yummy smelling body butter and a tank top and shorts in the evening and climbing into bed with clean sheets. Ahhh, you know you love it too!! All together now...AHHHHHHHHH!!! :) 

Alright, time to get this show on the road. Have a lovely day! It's another snuggle snuggle mommy day. Love it! 

Last night, my J.T. asked "Mommy, can I have more blueberries please?". It really warms my heart! The influence of nutritious foods I'm having on them and his use of please!! Earlier I had eaten an entire carton of raspberries. He's a boy after my own heart. Sammy on the other hand is a tougher sell with the berries. I'm working on it though!! 

Love this song. Puts me in such a good mood. Not a care in the world. Wooo!! Wash away my troubles. That's how it feels when you get a good sweat followed by a great shower! hehe! :) My light shines fo sho!! Plus it's on one of my favorite episodes of Lost. Miss that show!!! 

"What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise" - Oscar Wilde. 

xoxoxoxo
Tam