I’m excited…my New Moon Abundance Checks story is in the new book by Patricia Sheehy “Dancing Under the Full Moon – 101 Ways to ATTRACT MONEY into YOUR LIFE.

She sent me an autographed copy. We started reading the book, and it’s great! We decided that each week we’re going to try one of the strategies talked about in the book. That should take us out about two years.

This week we’re working on de-cluttering.  That’s a great one as we live in a small two bedroom place, and things have a  tendency to accumulate and pile up…especially at our desks!

Anyway, you’ll want to check out the book. You can order it here: http://budurl.com/2jc9

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

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P.S. If you’re getting value out of this blog, you can do me a favor by linking to us and mentioning my Run Over To Ellen’s fundraising project to friends and co-workers. Here’s the link information for this particular article:
Title: Wall Sits Video
URL: http://runnerinsight.com/2009/07/27/wall-sits-video/

P.S.S. You’ll want to check out my Run Over To Ellen’s fundraising run. We only need 30,000 people to donate $1 each. When you get your donation in and get your private access to the donor’s only daily updates, you’ll want to go check out the video blog because we love to do give-aways to our donor’s.

P.S. If you’re getting value out of this blog, you can do me a favor by linking to us and mentioning my Run Over To Ellen’s fundraising project to friends and co-workers. Here’s the link information for this particular article:
Title: Another Simple Strength Exercise Video – Hindu Squats
URL: http://runnerinsight.com/2009/07/24/simple-strength-exercise-video-hindu-squats/

P.S.S. You’ll want to check out my Run Over To Ellen’s fundraising run. We only need 30,000 people to donate $1 each. When you get your donation in and get your private access to the donor’s only daily updates, you’ll want to go check out the video blog because we love to do give-aways to our donor’s.

How ’bout it?
-Vision Runner

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Here are a handful of simple  and quick core-strength exercises you can do while doing everyday chores like brushing your teeth or waiting for the water to boil on the stove, standing in line or even talking on the phone. 

I have a SoniCare Toothbrush, and it has a two minute timer and every 30 seconds it beeps so you can change the side you are brushing.  So, for a full two minutes while I’m brushing my teeth, I balance on one foot and every 30 seconds I change feet. 

Just lift your knee so that your upper leg is at a 90 degree angle to your body, and parallel to the ground.  Hold it, balancing on your (non-lifted) leg using the counter or a wall if necessary to keep from falling over.  Then switch feet.

I made a video to demonstrate:

Another good core-strength technique is wall sits.  Just squat down with your back against a wall, like you are sitting in a chair.  Your back against the wall and your bent legs are holding you in place. Hold for as long as you can, and increase each time you do it. 

Another exercise that looks very simple and is, will surprise you at how much you feel it working!  They’re called Hindu Squats.  With your feet shoulder length apart, act as if you are going to jump.  Squatting then springing up with your arms, swing back then forward as you stand again. Your feet never leave the ground.  This motion of basically pretending to jump is amazingly effective and a lot of fun.  But don’t try to do too many the first time, or you will pay for it with very sore thigh muscles.  Like any exercise, start out slow and build up your endurance.

These are just a few ways that we use to move in the direction of becoming stronger and healthier while doing everyday chores that we’re going to be doing  anyway.

Watch for videos of the other ones coming soon!

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner        

P.S. If you’re getting value out of this blog, you can do me a favor by linking to us and mentioning my Run Over To Ellen’s fundraising project to friends and co-workers. Here’s the link information for this particular article:
Title: Core Strength Tips
URL: http://runnerinsight.com/2009/07/17/core-strength-tips/

P.S.S. You’ll want to check out my Run Over To Ellen’s fundraising run. We only need 30,000 people to donate $1 each. When you get your donation in and get your private access to the donor’s only daily updates, you’ll want to go check out the video blog because we love to do give-aways to our donor’s.

What’s more important than your health?  Oh I know there’s probably not one of you out there who would disagree with the concept that your health is your most important asset, but how many of us truly live by those words? 

Think about it like this:  Remember the last time you were really sick? I mean really feeling-crappy-death-melted-on-toast kind of sick.  Maybe you had the flu, or a 4 day long debilitating migraine.  Perhaps it was a bout of sciatica with lower right back pain (oops, …that one was me.) Or … you fill in the blank.  We have all been there. 

Now, answer me this. At that particular point in time – in between the moaning and wailing and feeling sorry for yourself, and wishing that the agony would end – were you thinking about your bank account? I know when I’m not feeling well, even just a little under the weather, all I can think about is wishing I felt better. That’s it: just aching to feel better.

All the money in the world does you no good if you don’t have your health.  So why do we ignore our health and put it off for another day? 

I know, I know. I understand all the human psychology stuff that indicates that we’re more motivated to avoid and alleviate immediate pain, and not much inspired to do things that involve work in the short-term, but result in long-term benefits.

Mostly, as a human race, we are motivated by what we see that is immediately in front of us…the bills that need to be paid, that pressing seminar we just can’t miss, the phone call we need to return, and the seventeen other things on our desk that need our immediate attention Right Now. 

I’ve heard it said that when you find a big enough why, you will make the changes necessary to propel yourself into your better healthier life-style. Think about how you feel right now.  If you feel pretty good, then why not be proactive and take the steps to insure you will continue to feel good tomorrow and next month and next year?

If you are suffering and have no energy, why not just start to take the baby steps to move you towards a better place in your healthier life?  Doing nothing at all guarantees that someday you will be asking the question, “Why didn’t I take care of myself when I had the chance?”  It truly doesn’t have to be that way.

Remember to take a moment to evaluate what is important.  We have a tendency, all of us – and I’m just as guilty of it as the next person – to focus on the financial aspect of things as if it’s the most important thing I need to be worrying about.

A friend of mine recently was so caught up in the spinning of her wheels trying to move forward in her business that she was neglecting her health. While she wasn’t literally sick or unhealthy, she wasn’t doing anything to maintain her health. She was just sitting at her desk all day every day trying to make things happen.

She was struck one day with the thought that it didn’t matter how successful she ended up being in her business if she wasn’t taking care of herself physically. She’s now made the commitment to doing some kind of physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, whether it’s going for a walk or yoga or putting on the Latin Dance Workout DVD or whatever. And she feels that she can have the same amount of financial success, or even better, by investing at least 30 minutes a day in her physical well-being. The business and financial success will come, but your health deserves your attention and focus.

Even if you’re feeling okay, you could be doing even better. If you are sick, you can’t do all the things you deem important right now.  And you can have fun while getting healthy.  Find an activity that resonates with you and go for it.  Remember it’s all about baby steps. No one is saying you have to go out and run a marathon this year, or even run at all.  Just start moving!  Do things a little at a time.  Be gentle with yourself and start out slow. And celebrate all the baby steps! Hey if it’s more then you were doing just a day ago, it’s all forward progress. 

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

www.RoadID.com

www.RoadID.com

]]> http://runnerinsight.com/2009/05/25/many-choices-of-road-id-video/feed/ 3 http://runnerinsight.com/2009/05/22/hic-up/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hic-up http://runnerinsight.com/2009/05/22/hic-up/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 09:57:32 +0000 Vision http://runnerinsight.com/?p=1799

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Hic-ups…one of those pointless, annoying spasms that we all get to suffer from at some point in time…usually when it’s most inappropriate and embarrassing, like at a funeral or when your boss is raking your whole team over the coals in the main conference room. And don’t you hate it when you can tell the folks sitting next to you are annoyed and wish you would stop, while at the same time they’re kind-of relieved that it’s you and not them drawing unwanted attention to themselves.

Over the years I have used several different tricks to get rid of the hic-ups.  When I worked at the airport and would get the hic-ups, I would simply walk over to the lounge and ask the bartender for a shot of bitters and lime.  Boy that stuff tasted awful, but it sure did the trick.  But what was I supposed to do when I wasn’t near a bar? 

Well a friend told me about this technique.  Get a glass of water.  Put it on the floor in front of you.  Then bend over and with your head between your knees take a sip of water.  Repeat several times.  A warning though: you must do this before your hic-ups go on too long.  I don’t know why, but if you can catch it right away, this usually works.

The simplest and most amazing remedy I have ever used was taught to me by T, who learned it in junior high school from her science teacher.  Are you ready?

When you have the hic-ups, close your eyes then have someone else (preferably someone you trust) place their pointer finger gently on one eyelid in the center, and their immediately adjacent long finger on the other eyelid, like they’re holding the “peace” sign on your eyelids, but not touching any other part of their hand to your face.  The gentle pressure should be steady and consistent, but not hard.  Hold like that for 30 seconds, or a bit longer. I’ve never been able to make it work by doing it on myself, but with a partner doing it, this amazing technique works about 90% of the time for me. I’m not sure exactly why it works, but I suspect that there is some nerve or something behind your eyeball, and the gentle pressure placed on your eyelid must… I don’t know…maybe calm or relax the nerve somehow?

 Whatever makes it work, you’ll want to give it a try next time you are plagued with the dreaded hic-ups! It’s simple, it’s quick and very effective. Can’t you just picture it? Asking your boss to pause for a moment during his tirade while you have your co-worker place their fingers on your eyelids to alleviate your hic-ups for you? 

How ‘bout it?

-Vision Runner   

P.S. Just a reminder: As a part of my 1,222.25 mile Run Over To Ellen’s Fundraising Project, everyone who has donated $1 or more by Sunday May 24th will be in a donors drawing for a special, limited edition Vision Runner “Dare To Envision A New Reality” retractable ballpoint pen. Less than 10 in existence! Sure to be a collector’s item…We only need 30,000 people to donate $1 each for Guide Dogs for the Blind…so get your donations in today. You can make miracles!! $1 at a time! Click here: Run Over To Ellen’s Fundraising Project

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FYI Everyone: You’re going to want to donate your $1 if you haven’t done it yet…special giveaways announced at the end of this post!! Go to www.FirstGiving.com/VisionRunner to get your donation in for Guide Dogs for the Blind and be entered into the special giveaways that will be happening for donors only!!! As you know, we only need 30,000 people to donate $1 each. There really is a power of synergy at the grassroots level. Every one of you donating $1 and telling everyone you know can do miraculous things in the world…Let the miracles begin!!

And now, on to your regularly scheduled content!!

Chocolate Milk

Imagine you have just run 8 miles: you’re hot and sweaty and the thought of eating a high carb and protein meal does not interest you in the least.  In fact it’s the last thing on your mind. A shower yes, but eating no! 

But you know that eating within the first 30 minutes after a hard workout is essential to start the recovery process, and for replenishing your glycogen stores. In fact, the faster you get nutrition into your body, the faster and more completely you will recover from your run.

Now imagine a cold frosty glass of chocolate milk. Yep! Chocolate milk!  This quick and delicious drink can start the recovery process minutes after you finish a run or workout.  Not only does it have the carbs you need, but it has the protein as well: both in one easy-to-tolerate glass of chocolate milk. And when I put it in a chilled glass, it gets frosty almost like a milkshake!! Mmmm, mmmmm.

But remember: it’s just the first course in your recovery meal.  Make sure you follow it up with a more substantial meal, such as a turkey sandwich or other high carb and protein combo within the next hour.  And yes, that part can wait until after your shower!

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

P.S. Don’t forget to donate your $1.00 at www.FirstGiving.com/VisionRunner if you haven’t donated yet. All donors from the beginning through (Sunday) the end of this fifth week of my 1,222.25 Virtual Run Over To Ellen’s Fundraising Project will be in the drawing to win a special limited edition Vision Runner ink pen…It says “Dare To Envision A New Reality.” How’s that for daily motivation and inspiration right there at your fingertips?!! And we had less than 10 made up, so they are very rare…and soon to be a collector’s item, I’m sure!! Again, special giveaways and promotions and private access to the daily video updates and the donors only area is available to everyone who’s donated $1 or more!! So take action now and click on this link right here:  Vision Runner’s Run Over To Ellen’s Fundraising Project

Thanks!

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Without being excessively rigid about any of it, over the past few years we have been working at practicing everyday healthier habits.  Our latest endeavor was sparked by my chiropractor.  He was discussing the health benefits of drinking water and he recommended that every day we drink half our body weight in ounces of water. He said 1/3 of your body weight in ounces was a good place to start, but working up to ½ was better for you. I had heard this before regarding the health benefits of drinking water, but hadn’t really internalized it. But this time, since I was recovering from lower right back pain which turned out to be sciatica, I was in a place in my life where I was more willing to take on the challenge. 

While I was mentally prepared and ready to do it, my problem became finding a safe and convenient drinking container.  I had a couple of stainless steel water bottles, but they made the water taste metallic.  We had been buying a case of water every week in the disposable plastic water bottles, but if we were going to increase our consumption that much, using that many throw away plastic water bottles was a really bad idea, environmentally speaking.

So, we found a BPA free plastic water bottle with built in straw that holds 32 ounces, and bought four of them.  We then dug out our Brita water filter pitchers.  By having two Brita water filter pitchers of cold water, and 4 BPA free plastic water bottles, we always have fresh cold water on hand, making drinking it easy.

So that’s nice, but how does drinking water save us over $1,000 a year? Well, let’s calculate…

We had been consuming (conservatively speaking) two 12 packs of Diet Coke at an average of $3.50 each for a total of $7.00 per week.

We were drinking a little over a case a week of Talking Rain juicy flavored beverages at $10.00 a case. (And yes, it had the artificial sweetener in it: not very good for us.)

And we had been buying a case of bottled water a week at $6.00 a case.

That’s $23.00 a week on cold beverages! Cutting them out saved us $1,196.00 per year. When I added it up, it astonished me how much we were saving by switching to water. And that’s with just two of us in the household. How much more could you save if you have more than two people in the household making the change? Even if you can’t get your kids to completely eliminate the sugar and artificial sweetener-filled fruit flavored beverages and sodas and Red Bulls, if you could instill in them the health benefits of drinking water and get them to cut their consumption of those other calorie-laden and sweetener-filled beverages in half and replace it with water, think how much healthier they will be.  

At our house, we have always taken baby steps when making these healthy changes, and we did the same with drinking more water.  We still buy milk and orange juice of course, but other than that, we weaned ourselves off of all of our other cold beverages, simply by buying four BPA-free water bottles at $4.00 each. And it took less than a month to make the change-over. 

Doing something healthy for your family and saving over $1000 bucks a year…what’s not to love? And why don’t you take one of those dollars and donate it in that little green-bordered FirstGiving box in the right-hand sidebar? We will thank you with lots of special secret surprises and private access to our Donors Only page at www.RunOverToEllens.com…

How ‘bout it?

-Vision Runner

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Clearance Racks? Honestly, I never paid much attention to ‘em.  If I wanted something, I’d just go buy it.

T on the other hand, has a built-in radar for them.  The bright yellow or red signs blazing like a beacon call to her and draw her in.

Having grown up in a middle class family in Illinois where stretching dollars was a necessity, it was a valuable tool in the tool belt of an incredibly skilled and thrifty shopper, and she was taught by the very best…her mother.

And why not? Who wouldn’t want to have brand new merchandise at a significantly discounted price? Especially in this economy!

So T’s skills were put to the test this past winter when I wanted a new winter coat.  I was very specific about what I wanted, and knew she didn’t have a snowball’s chance of finding it…at least not on the clearance racks.

I should probably know better after this many years, but being skeptical and practical, I didn’t “waste time” at the clearance racks. I kept looking at all the full price racks of coats, while she was off in search of the brightly colored signs indicating bountiful treasures to be had. 

I could not find a single red mid-length winter coat to save my life. I scoured the racks and racks of coats. Still probing the racks, I heard a squeal. Nope it wasn’t an unlucky innocent non-red, non-mid-length, non-winter coat experiencing the wrath and frustration of Vision Runner. 

Moments later I was being summoned over to the clearance rack of coats.  There in hand, she was holding what looked to be the perfect coat! 

Heavy enough for winter use? Yep

Red? Yep. (Easier for me to see with my low vision.)

Mid-length to cover my butt when I’m walking in the winter? Yep

Shell made out of some sort of water-resistant fabric? Yep.

Exactly fitting my list of requirements, the only question was, would it fit?

I tried it on, and, yup you guessed it: a perfect fit for about one third of the original cost! 

Vision Runner in Red Coat

 

 

Now whenever we go in seach of, well…anything, the first place we check is the great and powerful clearance rack.  Did you notice the “we”?  I’ve been converted!

And don’t worry, the skill is still being handed down through the generations…our teenage nieces Hillary and Megan are also well-trained and highly skilled deal-finders!

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner