Process Analysis - How to be motivated in exercise?

When it comes to exercise, it’s so hard to stay motivated. What can we do to stay motivated? It can be tough to discipline yourself to exercise, especially when you have little or no interest in it other then wanting to look good or needing it to stay healthy. You don’t have to do it all the time or make it overly obstinately but by walking or doing a certain activity 30 minute a day will do the trick.

The first thing to do in order for you to be more motivated to exercise is to change your mindset. You will need to mentally prepare yourself by acknowledging that you want to exercise. It is a good idea to repeatedly say to yourself that “I want to excise.” Mental commitment is very important.  Next, you probably will want to invest in an IPod or MP3 player. It is a great device for exercising. It’s an entertainment that will keep you focused by blocking out distractions in the outside world. Following, you will need to plan a routine. Somewhere in your day, you will have to plan at least 30 minute to spare so you can do your walk. I usually do my walk during my 15 minutes breaks because I’m not doing anything during that time, why not walk. My two 15 minute breaks equals out to 30 minute. 

Lastly, put yourself in a position where you can walk, either by going to work, school, or home. It doesn’t necessary have to be by walking; you can very well bike too. Park your car further from school, work, or home. The more often you do this the more easier it will become as you get used to it. These are just some of my thoughts of how to become more motivated, there are so many more that can be mention but if you follow these easy steps I’m sure it will help you. 

Illustrative Blog - Should all workplace have a fitness facility?

“It is health, that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” Quoted by Mahatma Gandhi. Health is number one when it comes to taking care of ourselves. So if this is the reason, why don’t workplaces offer a fitness gym? I often question this because I currently work at a work environment that offers a gym facility, and my employer actually pay us three hours addition each week for just using the gym. This is definitely a big benefactor because I notice that a lot of people whom surrounds me are really healthy and fit.

America is known as one of the biggest obese country in the world and the reason for that is because of our rich and delicious fast food restaurants. I believe that if every work place in America offers a gym facility it will be a great benefit for everyone. How many people have an hour lunch and don’t have anywhere to go but sit around the lunchroom or in your car? I know I do that sometimes. The gym is such a great value as it helps me be in shape and it gives me motivation to be healthier.

In conclusion, every workplace should have a gym because it’s a great advantage for our body, mind, and soul. Having the gym is a place for me to release my stress. It is especially great for the wintertime. When people are healthier, less people call in sick. If all workplaces have gym facility available to their employees, I’m sure everyone will feel and look a lot healthier.

Descriptive Blog - Hike through Hixon Forest

Yer Vue

Instructor Kirsten Moffler-Daykin

Descriptive Essay

10/8/13

As I make my way up the trail I can hear the woodchip cracking beneath my feet. The branches are creaking, my feet are shuffling through the soil and woodchip, squirrels chattering, leaves rustling, and the birds singing. It’s been a long 4 years since I’ve gone hiking. I’m determined to reach the top of the forest and return back in 45 minutes.

I push and push and make my way up to the half-way point at the top of the forest. I rest to listen and observe what surrounds me. I can hear the wind whistling and the insects humming. I lifted my face open to the sun and it beams down on me, letting the light and shadow dance across my skin. I can smell the odor of my sweat and taste my salty lips. As I look to the right I can see that a spider has woven her home around a patch of fern to the right of me. I can see a big satellite dish and what seems to be a radio station about 50 yards from me. I see twigs and branches lying on the ground, and I make sure I step over them so I don’t fall. I reach the end of the trail that leads me back down to the beginning.

         As I start to jog down the trail, I can see rocks beneath my feet.  I lift my feet high enough so that I don’t trip. As I make my way down, I breathe in and out slowly, saving my breath so I can make it all the way down. I notice that the light was fading, creating new shadows and dark patches around me. I was getting intimidated, so I began to fun faster and faster. I can hear the wind softly disappearing and the crickets chirping. My heart pounds harder and I just want to go home. Then suddenly see the clear pathway, and I know I’ve made it back. I slow down, looked at my watch, and realize that I did it. I beat my goal. I was overjoy and pleased. I let out a little laugh. It paid off with all the trainings that I’ve been doing.  I did my hike in 40 minutes. Next time, I am determined to do it in 35 minutes.

Narrative Essay Draft "30 Day Chicken Diet"

Exhausted and unconscious, I’ve awoken at the hospital. I hear movements around me. All I can see is the white walls surrounding me, and the light beaming directly into my eyes. I could hardly open my eyes. The nurse had requested me “stay lying down and do not move.” I grasp for air and cry out, “where is she?” “Is she ok? Kal, my husband came and stood on the side rail and whisper to me, “ She’s beautiful and healthy. I’ll have the nurse bring her in.” I’ve just had a C-section and have not gotten a chance to see my daughter. The nurse brings in my baby girl and holding her for the first time was an experience that I would never be able to describe. I felt bless and excited, but really overwhelm altogether.

After holding my daughter for what seem like only 10 minutes, my mother walks through the door. On her left hand I see a blue cooler with a white lid on top and on her right hand holds stainless steal thermo mug. She immediately lays them down on the table. She then came up to my bed and sat down on the side of my bed, she took Scarlett and held her in her arms. She then looked at me and ask me “Are you ok?” I replied, “Yes, Mom.” She then conveyed to me, You need to eat honey, you look really pale.” I responded back yes. She handed Scarlett to Kal. She went to the table where the cooler was sitting and took out the freshly made warm rice and boiled chicken with herbs. She commanded me to eat so I can get my strength back. I think to myself, “Great, here starts my 30 day chicken diet.”

In our tradition Hmong culture, Hmong women follow a very strict diet after childbirth. It consists of freshly made warm rice, boiled chicken in broth with herbs and lemon grass, and of course warm or hot water. The herbs are not your usual herbs like cilantro, basil, rosemary, etc. They are special herbs that are planted and used solely for this purpose. The only seasoning is salt. Cold water is not recommended. Icy cold water is a big No-No. Women should eat 3 meals a day made freshly from the hot stove and she may not eat anything else. The warm food and herbs is supposed to help cleanse the uterus of the leftover blood, thus making a woman heal faster from childbirth and will help with the body once getting older. Many Hmong women have followed this strict diet for hundreds of years. A woman is required to follow this chicken diet after she has a baby for 30 days.

After arriving home and eating the chicken diet for the first week, it was easy. I was fine. I was too worried about the baby to really eat. All my concentration was on the baby and healing myself from the surgery. The second week was intense but I push myself everyday, trying to keep the tradition. I often talk to myself, “No, you got to keep it up, just push hard, force yourself.” The third week was dreadful. I was always hungry all the time. I would skip a meal because the chicken was tasteless to me. My stomach rumble a few times wanting more food, but disciplining myself I told myself not to cheat. My friends and family would come over to visit and would scold at me to eat more chicken throughout the day.  I look at them and think to myself, yeah right. Let me see you try. Everyday I would look in the mirror and I can tell that my weight is shedding off slowly, but I was so pale and didn’t look strong at all.  I wanted to eat more but I knew that I would break the tradition. I also wanted to lose the weight so I concentrated hard.

The fourth week was tremendously cruel.  I did a count down. I couldn’t eat any more chicken. I pull out the white flag in my head and told myself that I surrender. The thought of boiled chicken made me sick to my stomach. I wanted to vomit when I had the boil chicken in front of me. All I ate was the rice and the warm chicken broth that last week, I didn’t even touch the chicken breast. My mind was playing tricks on me. I wanted to cheat. I felt trap and depress. I wanted to scream. I question myself several times telling myself that I didn’t have to do this to myself. Why am I torturing myself?

Day 27 comes around, did I cheat, yes I did. I had chicken nuggets’ from McDonalds the last three days of the chicken diet. Through this month process of eating chicken I had weigh myself and I actually lost all my baby weight. I was back to the same size before I had my baby. I was happy but of course I didn’t feel well. I felt drained, wipeout, and exhausted.  I question myself, “If I would do this again?” 

About myself

 

A bit about myself: My name is Yer Vue. I'm 25 years old. I’ve always been the athletic girl, who was in shape growing up. After I graduated from high school, I weigh 117 pounds. I got married and ended up working full time right afterwards. My job consists of me sitting for 8 hours staring at a computer screen. At my job we have a gym, but I didn’t really take advantage of it to the full potential. I thought to myself that I was already skinny and didn’t care. Over the next course of the year, I somehow gained 20 pounds. I weigh a little over 150. I was unhappy, my clothes didn’t fit me anymore. I went from a pants size 3 to pants size 11. I felt like I was a monster. I was curious as to why I gain so much pound in that year. I went in for an appointment for a physical exam. I found out that I have Hypothyroid. Hypothyroid is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain important hormones. It causes fatigue, depression, weight changes, and muscle or joint pain. My doctor told me this was probably one reason why I had gain weight so fast. I was morbid and sad. I was put on medication and will be on medication for life. After this I shortly got pregnant and had a baby girl. 6 months after that I found out that I was pregnant again. I didn’t even get a chance to really lose any baby weight off from the first baby. I stayed at 150 after my two kids. . I didn’t go out after the babies due to a lack of confidence, I kept making excuses that I didn’t have time. I wanted to look good again and feel good about myself so I decided that it was time I stop making excuses. I know I need to make changes and I'm motivated to do so, just need some extra push sometimes. On April 8^th,  2013, I went on this hardcore exercise and healthy eating spree and I went down from 150 to 130 in a matter of months. I haven't ever felt healthier than I did at that time. Right now I weigh 126 pounds and I want to keep going to reach my goal. After reaching my goal I want to stop and tone out my body. I want to be healthy and fit because I know once you get older it’s even harder. I want to wake up and don’t have to go through my entire closet to find something to fit me. Right now I’ve never felt healthier, I’m using my gym at work to the full potential and also using Snap fitness as well. A huge part of losing weight is having confidence in one self and realize that it is not going to happen overnight.  Never give up is my goal in life.  I know it will work out for the best.