Get Fit with These Great Resources

We are going to do things a little different today. Normally, we try and touch on topics that are perfect for getting you more motivated for the day. Today, we are going to share with all of you some really cool resources that are easily accessible. We recently came across these websites that are awesome in getting you fit, outside more, and meeting new motivated people. So check them out!

Active.com - This is an online community for people interested in running races, team sports and recreational activities. You can search by city to see schedules of race events, or even start online training programs.

Yougodo.com - This one is pretty cool. You type in basically what you want to do for example "learn something new" and leave the location blank. The results will include learning vacations all over the world!

Mapmyfitness.com - If you run, hike, bike, walk or participate in triathlons, here is a social networking site just for you. You can exchange routes with other people.

Trails.com - If you dig the outdoors - you'll dig this site. With 40,000 routes throughout the United States, you're destined to find a few new ones you haven't been on!

Meetup.com - Meant to get you off the internet and find groups that interest you.

Zootoo.com - If you are a pet owner and lover you'll definitely want to check this one out. Connect with other pet lovers and find out about events regarding your pets.

i-neighbors.org - Provide your zip code and this site gives you info about your community.

Reserveamerica.com - Search for a place to camp based on your preference of tent, cabin or RV. Narrow search results down to get the exact location you want to go to.

We hope you enjoy these cool resources. The internet is a great way to learn of fun events within your community. Have fun - and get fit!

The Secret Weapon

There's an excellent article in this month's issue of Success Magazine. It's called The Secret Weapon to a Sharper Mind and Better Business. Let us sum it up for all of you in case you haven't had the chance to check out the article.

A doctor named Dr. John Ratey just released a book called Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. In this book the Dr. talks about a high school in Naperville, Ill., where they approach physical education a little differently. In my high school, P.E. was all about pick up games in basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, and pretending to act tough in the weight room. Well, this high school does things a little different, the students wear heart monitors and are graded on the amount of time they are able to keep their heart rate in the optimal aerobic range for their body type. What?!!! I think in my high school, P.E. would have gone from most guy's favorite class to don't ever take that dumb P.E. class...

Due to this intense P.E. class, the standardized test scores of the entire student body have jumped. In math, the school placed sixth in the world. On the science section, they placed first in the entire world!

Dr. Ratey has proven that when you exercise, it changes the physical structure of your brain. It increases your speed of processing, your memory. Basically, science has proven that exercise primes your brain for success and makes you smarter. That's not all however, Dr. Ratey also says that if you want to think clearer, beat stress, put the damper on your depression and boost your confidence, you only have to do one thing, and that's exercise!

As a Man Thinketh

"All that a man achieves and that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts...His condition is his own, and not another man's. His suffering and his happiness are evolved from within. As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains."

- This is an excerpt from one of the best all-time classic inspirational books As a Man Thinketh.
James Allen deeply stresses the importance of positive thinking, and how it has an effect on one's character. Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results. Think about that. If one can stay true to that principle, negative thoughts could never take over his mental frame of mind, for his positiveness would have already repelled the negativity away, long before it had a chance to damage his character.

We as humans understand this law in the natural world. Nothing can come from corn, but corn. When a cow gives birth, another cow comes out. Yet we struggle with it in the mental and moral world. When we are negative, we generate negativity all around us. This effects not only ourselves, but others. It has a ripple effect. This results in one way or another to us suffering. Flip this entirely around and you have a recipe for joy and happiness. Choose today to let your positivity repel all thoughts and temptations of negativity.

Life is 10 Percent What You Make it and 90 Percent How You Take it

"Life is 10 Percent What You Make it and 90 Percent How You Take it" - Irving Berlin

Adversity is not something we can avoid. If it is coming our way, we can't say - "ahh, I don't feel like having to push myself, life is good - just go away okay." We WILL face it. It WILL hit us. How are we going to respond? How will YOU take it?

We came across an awesome video clip that Mac Anderson put together. Check it out. It's very powerful. Here it is: Finish Strong.

The Daily Dozen

John C. Maxwell is one of the greatest writers/motivators in our day. We encourage all to take a look at his books, he has written a handful of helpful guides on encouraging success and reaching ones full potential. His website is here John Maxwell.



One of our favorites is Today Matters: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrows Success.



In it, he gives us 12 daily practices to guide us in the right direction of achieving success. Here is The Daily Dozen:

1. Attitude: Choose and display the right attitude daily.
2. Priorities: Determine and act on important priorities daily.
3. Health: Know and follow healthy guidelines daily.
4. Family: Communicate with and care for family daily.
5. Thinking: Practice and develop thinking skills daily.
6. Commitment: Make and keep proper commitments daily.
7. Finances: Earn and properly manage finances daily.
8. Faith: Deepen and live out faith daily.
9. Relationships: Initiate and invest in solid relationships daily.
10. Generosity: Plan for and model generosity daily.
11. Values: Embrace and practice good values daily.
12. Growth: Desire and experience improvements daily.

Doing all 12 of these on a daily basis can be overwhelming at first. We suggest you pick 3-4 practices that you find to be the most difficult for you to do. Once you have mastered those, pick another 3-4 and so on until you naturally are integrating all 12 into your daily regime. Can you imagine how much more motivated and driven you would be if you did all 12 of these on a daily basis? We encourage all to start now. Remember, if you don't start today, you'll never start tomorrow!