Owner: Deja-Fit Lifestyle Fitness Coaching for Women URL:http://www.deja-fit.com Join Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2007 10:27:35 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: DÉJÀ-FIT, Lifestyle Fitness Coaching is a weekly blog which is published to address the issues which effect women in their daily lives. Such issues which have been discussed vary from the effects of the media on body image to the benefits of exercise and Site statistics:Click here
Something to think about 2007-03-01 06:52:00 A few weeks ago, I found myself in a quaint yet colorful café in Washington, DC with a good friend whom I had not seen in about 2 years. As it goes with long-time friends, you talk about the changes which have occurred in life and you share your thoughts about maintaining balance. As we continued discussing, our minds raced from one decade of our lives to the other and the various experiences that we had had (some wonderful and others a hard lesson) until we realized that we were guilty as possibly many others for always looking for that “quick fix” for solving problems. We never really took the quality time with ourselves, to look inward for the answers. Being faced with a problem, we often try to find the resolution to the dilemma on the surface, when the actual cause lies within, deep within our structure. For example, I had a dream not too long ago where I saw a house which had a crack in the foundation and to solve the problem, the house was moved to another location; the int Read more:think
Dance Benefits 2007-02-22 08:52:00 Have you ever felt a little down at times, so you decided to put on your favorite song and move with that music? How did you feel following your “dance encounter”? Did you feel somewhat better? Well, there have been plenty of research to support the fact that dance has great benefits not only for your physical body but for your mind as well. Dance
is known to be one of the best forms of exercise and there are many cultures in the non-western world that promote and encourage dance in their daily lives for staying fit, stress free and happy. In addition, dance which includes stretching and cardio is considered by many to be most acceptable exercise for all age groups; young and old alike. Everyone has the ability to dance, it just takes confidence in your ability and when it relates to your health, your preoccupation with having the “right” moves should be of no concern. The benefits of dance towards your health should be noted as well as celebrated. Following a good dance sessio Read more:Benefits
The Power of Thoughts 2007-02-15 14:00:00 We often arrive at times in our lives where we find that our ability to progress towards achievement, i.e. promotion, new career, health or happiness is at a stand still. We ponder our goals which are obtainable at arms length but there is something which holds us back…. ourselves.The negative words spoken upon us during our lifetime in regards to our abilities are often given life, the power to manifest, through our own self-doubts. In actuality, one could say that our thoughts and beliefs in our abilities shape our realities and the results of these realities can be positive or negative.In a recent article by Kathryn Yarborough, Know What You Do Want from the January/February 2007 edition of On Purpose Woman Magazine, she discusses the topic of manifestation, the process of transforming your desires into reality. She says that to manifest your desires, you must know what you want and then truly believe that you are experiencing what you want to be, to do, or have at this moment. Ka
4 Points of the Benefits of Exercise 2007-02-07 01:46:00 Exercise is a natural part of life i.e. walking, although these days we have to consciously include it in our daily routine. If you are beginning a new exercise program or maybe you are a veteran in fitness, you may already be aware of the great benefits of what a few minutes of exercise a week can do not only for your body but also your mind.Here are 4 points of the benefits of exercise:1. Exercise can help combat stress and potential illness. When someone is under stress, adrenaline pours into the blood stream as part of our “fight or flight” response and muscles throughout the body tense in anticipation of a challenge. Immediate effects can range from a short temper to difficulty sleeping; long-term effects can be even more dangerous.“Regular physical activity can help counter the potentially damaging effects of stress on the body and may help prevent stress-related illnesses.” “These activities provide a natural way to release tension in the body and will often lead to an Read more:Benefits
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The Media and Body Image 2007-02-02 16:37:00 Women are often bombarded by fictitious media images about their lives and bodies. We often find ourselves subscribing to a lifestyle which only relates to a small minority. We are aware of these impossibilities yet we continue to strive to be 5’10”, legs to there, and a size 4.In the book, The Body Wise Woman, co-authored by Judy Mahle Lutter and Lynn Jaffee, brilliant examples of how society has shaped our body image are described. For example, in some societies, a robust woman is viewed as being fertile and therefore admired. In the North American culture, however there exists an obsession to be thin and fit. “Thinness is associated with high social class, with success, and with the ability to attract a man. The standard of white female beauty has become more narrowly defined and restrictive, making it nearly impossible to be thin enough, fit enough, or young enough.” Society sets such high and unrealistic standards that no one can really fit the mold of the ideal beauty.I f Read more:Image
Mature Women’s Body Image: What Influences? 2007-03-08 06:23:00 As women in today’s society, we often find ourselves overwhelmed with images of beauty standards which are not representative for the whole but only a few. Young girls who are barely out of their teens are the chosen representatives, the spokeswomen, the ambassadors for beauty and form. Following the response from the blog, The Media and Body Image
posted on February 02, the effects of media propaganda and its effects on the way that we as women view ourselves was discussed. This week’s entry will look at body image from the perspective of the larger population….. the 50 plus age group. Studies conducted by the Melpomene Institute for Women
’s Health have shown that women who were 50 years and older felt underrepresented in the media. In a study a few years ago by the institute, it was found that the suggested weight for a woman 5’4” in height and under 19 years was 113 lbs and 120-122 lbs. for women 19 and older. This is hardly realistic and healthy for older women. The pro
It’s Not About Diet…… 2007-03-15 04:58:00 Every time we look up there is always a “celebrity” endorsing a new diet and wonder pill to lose weight. They share their miracle stories of how they lost 20lbs. in 2 weeks or even better, how they lost an enormous amount of weight 5 days after giving birth. Of course these are exaggerated examples of what the “non-celebrity type” woman hears everyday in regards to dieting but the simple fact is that healthy eating and regular exercise are the keys to keeping us healthy and fit.It has been suggested by numerous readings that the best idea to have when considering dieting is to forget calories and think instead about healthy eating. Remember the four food groups? Well, it has been reformatted to 6 food groups in some articles; the reason given is that each food group provides some but not all of the essential nutrients. A healthy diet includes foods from all groups with especially 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. It has also been found that a low intake of f
Learning the Basics 101 2007-03-22 07:48:00 As you may have read in my blog biography, I work as a Lifestyle Fitness Coach meaning that I come across various types of people with interesting stories. The clients come from diverse backgrounds but with a similar theme, they want to improve their lives by working to achieve the maximum potential to learn new life skills. With permission to share this story with anonymity by a former client, you will see how one woman’s desire for independence and a career taught her something more important than her doctorate degree….. she learned the simple and practical things in life.“Maria” as we will call her, was a married woman, with one child, Harvard educated but always struggling to find her purpose in life. She had the mentality which permitted her to solve the most difficult equations but when it came to the basic necessities in life, she was lost. “Maria” was a great partner and mother; so she thought until one day, unsuspectingly, her husband told her that he had enough an Read more:Learning
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Finding the Motivation to Exercise 2007-03-29 05:40:00 Finding the motivation to exercise can be difficult at times. Whether it is going to the gym or simply going for a power walk, some women often feel the lack of support to get started.In a casual conversation with a close friend, she expressed her frustrations for not frequenting the gym as she did in the past. When asked to go a little deeper to help me have a clearer picture of what she was experiencing, she said that her first concern was the amount of weight that she gained over a period of 3 years. Since gaining weight, she said that she developed feelings that she was being judged by others based on her appearance. She said that now when she looks at photos from a few years ago, she now realizes that she was actually a great size, contrary to what she previously believed. In addition, my dear friend said that she sometimes has thoughts of not “being worthy” which is connected with society’s image of “body beautiful”. Although in the past she led an active lifestyle atte Read more:Exercise
The Voices of Readers 2007-04-05 08:14:00 The media is a power vehicle which can be manipulated and shaped to reach an audience. I have written a few articles which have discussed the influence of the media on women’s (young and mature) body image and how the images are not representative of the whole. Since the first blog was published a few weeks ago, I have received numerous e-mails expressing their feelings and perspectives on this topic. Hear what other readers have to say.Enjoy!________________________________________________________________________Ms. H (Cincinnati, Ohio)I went to your blog spot. It was excellent. I especially liked the first part of the blog that explored the various ways we can be our own worst enemy. We really have to believe in ourselves before anyone else will believe in us. I truly believe that people are able to reach great heights when they are confident and know that they are able to achieve their dreams; this confidence shines to others, and they have no choice but to believe in you as w Read more:Voices
FitnessWise: Fitness Program for Seniors 2007-04-12 08:51:00 Over the Christmas holidays, I took the opportunity to volunteer my services and time as a movement instructor at the Anderson County Senior Citizen Center in Lawrenceburg, KY. I met with the center director to discuss implementing a light exercise course for the participants to offer the experience of having an activity exclusively designed for their needs. I now call this program The Déjà-Fit: FitnessWise Program
for seniors. The program was specifically designed for the Anderson County Senior Citizen Center to provide physical activities for seniors and to initiate the awareness of healthier lifestyles through light fitness movements.Two important factors which made this program a success were my assessments and the ability to gain the trust of the attendants. I did an assessment of each possible participant with the assistance of the director to find out any medical conditions or movement limitations which could cause complications for the seniors. Based on each person’s file, Read more:Seniors
Eating, a Learnt Behavior 2007-04-18 11:29:00 Take a look at what you are eating. If you enjoy cooking, look at how you prepare and cook your meals. Have you ever asked yourself why you cook the way you do? If your style of cooking has been handed down from generation to generation, is it best suited for today’s lifestyles? It is true, we learn many things from our environment at an early age and those learnt behaviors, whether good or not the best choices, do affect our lives as adults. Take for instance eating; what we eat and how we eat are acquired tastes, and in some instances, there are health issues that go along with these foods. We hear everyday, too much salt and fast foods are not good for our health, yet we continue to ignore warnings from our doctors and our bodies. Ask yourself this question, what would it take to make the change in your life?There have been numerous stories of people who have found themselves in a life threatening situation due to their eating habits and lack of exercise. And often, it is this fri Read more:Behavior
Creative Writing and Coaching 2007-04-26 15:14:00 Writing is an excellent way to bring forth healing, i.e. the use of metaphors, poetry, and journaling. I have always utilized writing with my clients and have found it to be an extremely enlightening experience not only for the women who attend my coaching sessions but for myself as well. By expressing your feelings and thoughts on paper, you truly begin the process of solidifying what you are experiencing at that moment; it brings what is on the inside to life. For example, the use of personal journals with my clients is highly recommended because it allows them to actually see their progress or short-comings from session to session. It provides another way of participating in their treatment.A recent client wanted a more creative approach to her coaching sessions and asked that I write a poem with elements and references to God since she considered herself to be a strong believer. Her assignment for the following week was to write about her thoughts from this “creative” session a Read more:Creative Writing
Simple Exercise Routine 2007-05-04 02:39:00 It is difficult at times to find the motivation to exercise and to keep a regular routine, so I have found a few suggested exercises which may be beneficial. See how you do. Start your exercise period with a warm-up jog or brisk walk for around 10 to 20 minutes. Remember, though, this is a warm-up so don't push yourself too hard. Bench Step-upsPlace your foot on a bench and with alternate legs stand tall on each step. Do three sets of 25 step-ups. Bench Dips Sit on a bench and place your hands on the bench by your side. Bend your arm at the elbow and bend your legs on your heels. Do three sets of 25 bench dips.Toe TapsPlace one foot on bench at a time, and use alternate legs. Do three sets of 25 toe taps. Push-ups Place hands shoulder width apart, and move your hips and chest together. Keep your knees on the ground. Do three sets of 25. Squats Keep your feet shoulder width apart. Bend at your knees but not with your back. Do three sets of 25. Calf Raises Place your toes on a step, and Read more:Simple
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What are the Characteristics of Effective Lifestyle Coaches? 2007-05-10 12:00:00 The field of coaching is relatively new, so here are 7 characteristics which will help identify an effective coach:1-Personal Congruence- What the coach communicates nonverbally is consistent with his/her verbal message to client.2-Empathy- The coach must be able to put aside personal references in order to understand the world of the client, and then communicate back to the client that his/her information has been understood.3-Versatility- A requirement to learn new skills based on a growing knowledge of differences and an exploration of how different people are likely to perceive the coach’s unique diversity.4-Genuineness- This refers to the sense that a person is authentic and is not “acting out” the role of their profession as a coach.5-Respect for others- How much does the coach value the person in which he/she is working not simply because of the client’s profession or status?6-Competency in communication- To be seen as a competent communicator, a coach needs to convey, b Read more:Coaches
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