Exercise Keeps You On Top Of Your Game ~ And It Keeps Me Sane!

Exercise keeps me on top of my game. Keeps my mind sharp, helps me to stay in good health and good spirits. In fact, I think I might just crawl up into a ball and cry myself to sleep if it wasn’t for my regular endorphin rush. Sound a little extreme? Well, this is my personal blog – and I can give you my personal experience, right?

This healthy addiction to exercise began at around age 16 with a desire to be fit and beautiful ~ as most young women strive to be. Thankfully I really liked food, so starving myself was never part of my regimen. Instead I studied healthy eating and began to exercise regularly. At 18 I would drive over to Philadelphia to go into the dance clubs and dance from the time they played the first song to close. I’d dance for 4 or 5 hours straight ~ drinking nothing but ice water and riding the endorphin rush.
Sound wacky? Don’t care ~ this is MY reality.

Throughout college I kept sane by hitting the gym a few times a week, and hitting the trails behind the campus. I know these workouts helped to keep me from gaining a ridiculous amount of weight – cause remember… I like to eat!

There is a good correlation between those who regularly exercise and a healthy diet as well. If you are hitting the gym and running, you KNOW you must fuel your body properly. You feel absolutely horrid otherwise.

So fast forward to Mom of two and gonna be 35 in just a few hours… and I can tell you that if it wasn’t for my workouts I would not be where I am today! I’m home, self employed, living life by design.

Today, I head to the gym 4 or 5 mornings a week to do some sort of fun exercise like Zumba, kickboxing, and even the not so fun womens strength training. I often head in there with racing mind and a body that is holding onto the stress of the day before. By the time I am halfway through I feel the endorphins flood in, and the happy thoughts begin to flow. The creative problem solving part of my mind kicks in and divine inspiration begins to download into an open, happy mind. Some of my most profitable ideas were conceived while in the middle of a Zumba class … who woulda thought?

I’m still dancing…

If I sit in front of my computer, my mind and creativity begins to stagnate. If I workout, I return to work enthusiastic about the task at hand.

My point of this long, personal post about why I simply must workout, or my life falls apart???
To inspire you ~
If you feel that the words ’stagnate, blue, depressed, bored, or unhealthy’ resonate with you and your current lifestyle ~ try incorporating some exercise into your life.

The human body is not at all designed to sit ~ to be lazy. It is meant to move and do physical work. Our entire physiology was created in such a way that if we do gentle exercise and eat healthily, we can live an optimum life.

If you know you are on the other extreme, start with moving some – on a regular basis. If you are eating junk ~ its because your mind really craves the endorphin rush and you are getting it from the foods you are eating. If you give it the endorphins in a regular workout – you can begin to SHIFT your diet to one that will actually add years to your life, instead of killing you slowly.

Why do I care? Because I truly do want to see all people fit, healthy and happy – as we were designed. Your potential really is squashed if you aren’t exercising – and you were designed for greatness.

Hey, its almost my birthday. Give me a present and tell me you have committed to getting in shape. You don’t have to be like I was at 18… dancing hours on end. But commit to something. Cause You Love You

Originally posted by Melanie Milletics at: Strength training

When Does a “Challenge” Become a Habit? Body By Vi Changes Lives

In undertaking the ViSalus 90 Day Body By Vi Challenge, I expected to undergo changes. Changes to my weight, my body shape, my cardiovascular health and strength. But one thing I hadn’t expected was that the “Challenge” that I had begun would become a HABIT that I am unlikely to break for YEARS to come.

I have always done regular exercise 3 or 4 times a week. I prided myself in being ‘pretty fit for a mom of 2′. I wasn’t overweight by any standard formula… but I knew what I weighed before I had baby #2. I knew it was possible- but had no real reason to push to lose those last pounds and inches… Until the Challenge.

As part of my Challenge I made the decision to work out a full 5x per week and increase the amount of weight training in my exercise regimen.

If you look at the earlier posts on this blog, you will see that I was incredibly excited to take on the Challenge, and I blogged and took abundant videos. It was exciting to spend this time on ME and my Transformation. I wanted to document this journey from beginning to end. But about a month into the Challenge what I was doing stopped being new and exciting and became the ‘norm’. It became a part of my everyday life – a Habit.

I think ViSalus Sciences knows that the Challenge will result in really healthy habits for YOU. Ones that will improve the quality of your life, and ultimately increase your longevity.

My new habit is to hit the gym at least 5x a week. To hit the weights at least 2x a week and incorporate sculpting into my workouts most other days. On days that I don’t hit the gym, I am cognizant of the fact that I haven’t exercised. My muscles feel different, like they want to MOVE. I find myself dropping to do push ups, sit ups and dips in my living room. I lace up my running shoes and head out the door. My habit is a STRONG, energetic body. I sleep incredibly well and feel fantastic. I am a better ME. The Challenge has made me a better me!

Others who have joined me on the Challenge have spoken about other healthy habits that have formed since beginning their challenge, and I couldn’t be happier for them.

You see, the Challenge is as individual as the people who will embark on it. As you look at the before pictures and goals of the thousands of people who have undergone the Challenge in the ViNet, you will see every health goal imaginable. There are people who have goals to lose 60 pounds, drop their cholesterol levels, lower their blood pressure, manage their diabetes and more. There are also incredibly fit people who have goals to lower their BMI or do a couple of triathlons. There is incredible variation in the goals – but a common thread of determination runs through the posted pictures, videos and blogs. They have the strength of an entire community behind their health goals, and because they are plugged into the ViNet community they are far more likely to achieve those goals than if they were to try to move forward on their own.

The support of the “Body By Vi Challengers” goes beyond that of the other people on the Challenge in the ViNet. ViSalus also has a Body By Vi Facebook Application so that people can ask their own friends and family to support them in their health goals. With their goals posted and their update photos up for all to see, they are far more likely to stick to the Challenge. If everyone is watching, its the ultimate accountability!

Gratitude abounds for the Body By Vi 90 Day Challenge and the healthy habits it will help people to instill all across this nation.

What are you willing to take on as a Challenge, that will ultimately become a habit? Post your intentions in the comments below.

Click on the banner below to learn more about the Visalus Body by Vi Challenge now!

Originally posted by Melanie Milletics at:Body By Vi

To Have the Success You Seek, You Must do the Work You Have not Done

There is really no way around it. If you want things to change, you must change things! That is, you must change the way you behave and think.
There is a saying that goes something like “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result”. Have you heard this saying and ‘blown it off’? Take a minute to think about it, truly…

My message to you on the way to Strength Training on day 18 of the ViSalus Body By Vi Challenge this morning…

Are there areas of your life that you are unhappy with, but you have done nothing at all to change them?

How are you doing financially? If your answer if ’struggling’, then what are you doing to change the situation? Are you simply living under the stress and hoping something will change??? Thats insanity…
You really will have to get out of your ‘comfort zone’ and do work you have never done before if you want to improve your financial situation. Yes, I said it takes WORK. Work under the mentorship of successful people who have gone before you. People who can tell you exactly how to make the money you need to make to change your financial picture for the better!

Are you overweight, or out of shape and really unhappy with your looks?
What have you done to change that? Seriously?
Have you considered that what and how much you are eating could be contributing to the mess you find yourself in? Most people do not eat right, and that why a full 7 out of 10 Americans have at least 15 lbs of weight to lose!

Do you feel vibrant and strong? No? Well, what have you been doing to change that? Are you active? Our bodies were made to MOVE! We are designed for work that we no longer do… how do you keep your body strong and healthy?

Please, don’t let your answer to the two questions above be ‘gone to the doctor’. That is not a solution. The doctor will only treat the symptoms of the disease you have brought upon yourself… and which you can relieve yourself of too!

Resolve now to eat better and become more active. You will undergo a transformation that will overflow into so many areas of your life!
If you can commit to getting healthy, you can commit to being successful in other areas as well.

Just the same way as you check off ‘complete my workout’ from your to-do list, you can check off the tasks that will help you to succeed in your business.

Personal development is a master key that will help you in all areas of your life. It will help you to find a power within to do amazing things in life. To know that your childhood dreams were meant to be your reality.
If you have been living a less than vibrant life, get started as a ViSalus rep today and dive into the personal development training that is included in your training. You have a full library from Success Magazine available to you!

Personal development is crucial to your making a change in your life – plug in to win!

Click on the banner below to learn more about the Visalus Body by Vi Challenge now!

Originally posted by Melanie Milletics at: Body By Vi

The Weight Loss Challenge of the Weekend… Prime time temptation!

Its Thursday night, Day 17 of the Body By Vi Challenge, and I’m contemplating the challenge that the weekend poses. You see, Monday -Thursday there are great classes at the YMCA. Monday is Zumba, Tuesday Kickboxing, Wednesday Strength Training and Thursday is Zumba again. But then Friday morning comes and I really wanna slack. I mean, I worked out 4 times this week already… and Friday is strength training again and if there was one class I’d love to sleep through… that is IT!

So, will I sleep through it and promise myself that I’ll do a water workout later???
I mean, its Friday after all.

Then, of course thee is the question of sticking to healthy low calorie intake over the weekend. Whats with Saturday and Sunday that just invite overindulgence? All across the world people are packing more calories into those 2 days than they should be eating all WEEK! It true, and you know it!

I’m a home based entrepreneur. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are really just 3 more days that I choose to do as I like.
And this weekend, I resolve to stick to the Challenge!
I still have muscle to gain, and fat to lose.
I have a strength training class tomorrow to wake up for, and a healthy diet to stick to on Saturday and Sunday.
I can and will still eat yummy ‘weekend’ foods, just smaller portions!

When you have a plan, you will not deviate from your goals!
Make your plan to start the challenge, map out your action steps to reach your goals. Plug into the community forum for support-
and totally get FIT!

Click on the banner below to learn more about the Visalus Body by Vi Challenge now!

Originally posted by Melanie Milletics at: KickBoxing

Do women need strength training to lose weight? ViSalus Body by Vi Fitness Challenge

Do women need strength training to lose weight? Yes, if you want it to happen quickly! And lets face it, when it comes to weight loss, we women want it off like, yesterday! Lifting weights is one sure way to increase rate at which those unwanted pounds fall off.

How? Because muscle burns more calories at rest than fat. So even as you are sitting at your computer right now, you could be burning off those extra calories that you ate today… IF you had done some strength training to build up muscle!

Let Denise tell you some of the benefits of strength training for women:

I could do a cardio workout every day – its alot more FUN and it gets those endorphins pumping. I don’t find my weight lifting sessions fun. In fact , they HURT. They hurt when Im doing them, the day after and even worse on the 2nd day… but its SO worth it!

As a mom of 2, I find that if I dont strength train and keep myself reasonably strong, I can get really soft quickly. My metabolism slows, and I start to blow up – even if Im not eating more food.
Does this sound like you?
Are you overweight, feel sluggish and weak? Then get on the challenge, drink your shake a day and get active! Include strength training in your regimen and watch the pounds fall off much quicker, as you watch your body transform.

A strong woman is a slim woman- and a woman who moves forward to achieve her goals is unstoppable!

You want to feel strong, fit, and accomplished, don’t you? Join the ViSalus Body by Vi Challenge!

Originally posted by Melanie Milletics at: Mom Weight Training

90 Day Body By Vi Challenge Day 2! Strength training, really!

Day two of the challenge almost didn't happen.

You see, I'm a home based business owner and have a major aversion to alarms. Don't like em, don't use em. No alarm clocks, don't wear a watch - you get the picture. I prefer to wake with my kid's smiles, or on my own time...

Well, this morning 'my own time' was 9:26 and I needed to leave the house by 9:40 to get to my class ON TIME.

I got up, kinda showered and got dressed - in 8 minutes.

Then I made my Vi-Shake in the blender in about 3 minutes (you cannot say you don't have time for this!)

Blueberry Banana Super Energy Shake
1 cup plain almond milk
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 frozen banana
2 scoops Trim Slim Shake mix
1 Banana Energy Charge Shape-up

Yum!

Hopped in the car and...

Watch here.

I totally made it through a 'body flex' class at the YMCA.
It's a full strength training class that targets every major muscle group in one hour.

Did a little swimming in the afternoon too, for good measure.

Fantastic day!

Tomorrow... Zumba! Lovin it!



Originally posted by Melanie Milletics at: ViSalus Body By Vi 90 day challenge