AmyJoHines.com

Mary Kate at Baby, Toddler and Beyond asked the question Where were you four years ago and where would you like to be four years from now? What a great way to look forward past our to do lists.

Four Years Ago I was had just had my second son, David (on February 11, 2004). Its true when people say adjusting to having two children is as hard as adjusting to having the first. I don’t even remember it being a leap year!

Four Years from Now I want my business to take off and provide real income. My husband should have his college degree. I also hope to buy a house and adopt a daughter within the next four years. My boys will be between 9 and 5.

My martial arts instructor was telling us a few months ago that we tend to focus to much on “What I can do this year” and to little on “What can I do in five years”. So what were you doing in 2004, and where do you want to be in 2012?

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Some days you just don’t want to workout. Is it your willpower, or is your workout boring? Making changes to your workout not only motivates you, it can bring physical improvement by challenging your body in new ways.

1. Get involved in a sport.
2. Listen to music. MP3 players are inexpensive. Be sure to stay safe.
3. Spend time alone.
4. Join with a friend.
5. Get the whole family involved. Play active games and make it fun. Bonuses include time with your family and leading your children to have healthy lifestyles.
6. Take your dog for a walk or jog. If you don’t have a dog, borrow one. Depending on the dog, you may also be able to bike with your dog. Remember the same common sense rules you use for exercising apply to dogs.
7. Listen to a podcasts. Learn while you workout, again be safe.
8. Link fitness to another fun activity. Be creative. You can even workout while you play computer games.
9. Compete in a race or charity event. Being signed up to run a 5K in a month means you better start training now.
10. Do your workout in a new way. Instead of a whole body strength routine, try a split routine.
11. Add a new activity.
12. Relax. Take away goals and just enjoy the activity.
13. Make a bet. Have a fun (or crazy) bet with a friend that you will achieve your goal.
14. Reward yourself for completing a goal.
15. Be accountable. Ask a friend to review your progress daily, and help you stay on track.
16. Change the time or location of you workout. Spring is coming, maybe its time to get outside.
17. Set a big, hairy, audacious goal. As Brian Littrell said: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
18. Re-evaluate your goals, change them if you need to.
19. Answer questions like “Why?” (Why am I getting in shape?) and “What?” (What are the benefits of achieving this goal?).
20. Plan your workout in advance. Then Just Do It.
21. Multitask. Work fast and bring your everyday chores an aerobic level workout.
22. Slow down. Be aware of the signs of overtraining.
23. Hire a personal trainer.
24. Evaluate why its not working, then make changes. (e.g. - If you dislike being cold, dark and alone, you goal to jog at 6 AM in winter will be very difficult to achieve.)
25. Simplify. Chose one area to work on now and later you can emphasize a new area.

My Plan

Last summer I rejoined Big Sky Martial Arts, after being away for seven years. I had attained a red belt previously, just two levels below black belt. My only fitness goal this year is earning my black belt in Taekwondo in November of 2008. This is a big goal, involving Taekwondo, self-defense, running, sit-ups, push-ups, Jujitsu / Hapkido, teaching and community service. Last month I took a Jujitsu class. Currently I am working on my endurance by running with my dogs.

How do you plan to have fun and be fit at the same time?

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Wordless Wednesday

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My name is Amy Jo Hines, I am a mother, wife, Christian and a WAHM (work at home mom). Read more about me.

A Balancing Act

On this blog I will be writing about personal growth and self improvement for parents. (I define a parent to include foster parents, grandparent, aunts and uncles, anyone who is responsible for the raising of children.) Parents have to balance their needs with the needs of the children, an unending quest to do your best in the 24 hours you have each day.

Leading the Way

I believe to give our best to our children, we need to continue to grow ourselves. Regeneration, fitness, faith, education and enjoyment need to be continued after we become parents. Its “Sharpening the Saw”. Becoming better people and also better parents. Being a good example for our children is worth much more than a “Do as I say not as I do” attitude.

To me, having children is the biggest responsibility of my life. It permanently changed how I achieve my goals, but it didn’t stop my quest for self improvement. I hope that in this blog I can help and encourage other parents as we achieve dreams and conquer challenges.

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