I just read a great blog article on the Best Year Yet blog (http://bestyearyet.wordpress.com/) about the game that we sometimes play with ourselves. She called it MTH (Making Things Hard). You may recognize this game ... I will take care of myself after my kids are taken care of ... or I will join the exercise program after I lose some weight. This one always gets me. Did you ever think that the exercise program may help you lose weight?
I see this game sometimes with martial arts. Parents watch the kids classes and want to join, but won't because of some reason they are allowing to hold them back. Quit playing the game, get out on the floor with the kids and do class. In the last week I have had three or four people say something to me along those lines. Guess what? Martial arts will help you lose weight, reduce stress and just have some fun. Punching and kicking on bags and targets does wonders for the stress level. Come in and try it out sometime.
Martial arts is one of few activities that you actually can do with your kids. Many martial arts schools offer family classes just for that purpose. It was something my family did together. My two daughters obtained their black belts at age 12 and my wife and I both obtained black belt as well. Get busy, do martial arts for some great exercise.
Stan Shields
5th Degree Black Belt
ATA Family Martial Arts and Krav Maga
www.kicks4all.com
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Taking it Slow
Statistics would show that over 85% of the people reading this blog are now struggling to keep their focus on their New Year's resolutions or the goals that were made at the beginning of the year. It happens every year. With great intentions, on January 1st we make our yearly lofty goals. We are excited about them and diligently do everything we need to do to progress. Around the middle of January we begin to weaver in our determination. Suddenly, that goal was never achievable inthe first place so we lower the exprectations. A few weeks later we are focused on other things in our lives and our goals have went off to Never Never Land to be rehashed the following year.
You ask yourself, "What went wrong?" "Why can't I stick to my goals or resolutions?”
First, let me state that I do not have all the answers. However, as many of you know I am very goal oriented. I usually achieve almost everything I set my sights on as long as I create a plan and write it down. I live for goals (and achieving them). Although, I don't believe you have to be like this to achieve your goals (although it does help sometimes!), I do believe there are three secrets to achieving goals. The first secret is to write your goals down and put them in a place where you can see them every singe day. The second secret is to have a buddy that will keep you accountable. And the third secret is to take it slow.
Way too often we try to change ourselves too much too fast.
I want to exercise an hour at the gym every day
I want to lose 2-3 lbs. a week
I want to eat a low fat, low carb, and low salt healthy diet
I want to drink 8 glasses of water every day
I want to eat 6 servings of fruits and vegetables
I want to do all of the above right now! (yep, been there, done this one. Failed miserably)
In 2007 I made a goal to lose enough weight to get down into my "healthy" weight range. After losing 35 lbs. over 6 months, I realized that the only way I was able to accomplish the lose was to take it slow and concentrate on one SMALL change very few weeks. I started out with exercising 3 days a week. Then it was shooting for 3 fruits / veggies a day. Then came lowering my salt intake. Then it was lowering my carb intake (I was diabetic at the time). Each change was incorporated into my daily life and only then did I take on another change.
It is unrealistic to go from exercising on hour every other week to an hour every day. Start with the goal of 1 or 2 days a week. Then once that is comfortable, shoot for 3 or 4. Maybe start out with only 30 minutes a few times a week and work up to 45 minutes.
It is unrealistic to go from eating a fat filled, salt crusted, carb intensive diet to a low carb, low salt, low fat diet over night. It is better to focus on one aspect and get comfortable with that change then move on to the next aspect. Some things (like carbs for me) may take many small changes over time to achieve.
I believe that only by making changes gradually do you have the best chance to making those lofty changes permanent and sticking to them instead of having your goals or resolutions fall by the waist side.
What do you think? Do you have any secrets on how to stick to your goals and resolutions?
Ms. Topping
You ask yourself, "What went wrong?" "Why can't I stick to my goals or resolutions?”
First, let me state that I do not have all the answers. However, as many of you know I am very goal oriented. I usually achieve almost everything I set my sights on as long as I create a plan and write it down. I live for goals (and achieving them). Although, I don't believe you have to be like this to achieve your goals (although it does help sometimes!), I do believe there are three secrets to achieving goals. The first secret is to write your goals down and put them in a place where you can see them every singe day. The second secret is to have a buddy that will keep you accountable. And the third secret is to take it slow.
Way too often we try to change ourselves too much too fast.
I want to exercise an hour at the gym every day
I want to lose 2-3 lbs. a week
I want to eat a low fat, low carb, and low salt healthy diet
I want to drink 8 glasses of water every day
I want to eat 6 servings of fruits and vegetables
I want to do all of the above right now! (yep, been there, done this one. Failed miserably)
In 2007 I made a goal to lose enough weight to get down into my "healthy" weight range. After losing 35 lbs. over 6 months, I realized that the only way I was able to accomplish the lose was to take it slow and concentrate on one SMALL change very few weeks. I started out with exercising 3 days a week. Then it was shooting for 3 fruits / veggies a day. Then came lowering my salt intake. Then it was lowering my carb intake (I was diabetic at the time). Each change was incorporated into my daily life and only then did I take on another change.
It is unrealistic to go from exercising on hour every other week to an hour every day. Start with the goal of 1 or 2 days a week. Then once that is comfortable, shoot for 3 or 4. Maybe start out with only 30 minutes a few times a week and work up to 45 minutes.
It is unrealistic to go from eating a fat filled, salt crusted, carb intensive diet to a low carb, low salt, low fat diet over night. It is better to focus on one aspect and get comfortable with that change then move on to the next aspect. Some things (like carbs for me) may take many small changes over time to achieve.
I believe that only by making changes gradually do you have the best chance to making those lofty changes permanent and sticking to them instead of having your goals or resolutions fall by the waist side.
What do you think? Do you have any secrets on how to stick to your goals and resolutions?
Ms. Topping
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Xtreme Dodgeball - Friday, Feb 4 - 6:30 PM
- Dodge ball in the dark with glow in the dark balls and glow bracelets
- Xtreme dodge ball throwing (you have to come to learn what this is)
- Xtreme team dodge ball ... four teams against each other
- Everyone against everyone in the whole school with obstacles
- Use your imagination for even more games
Grab your best friend and register now for this SUPER fun night. Use this link to register online: Kicks4all Store
If the link doesn't work, go to www.shop2cart.net/store/ki
See you there!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Martial Arts Festival Week
On Tuesday, December 21 we had Krav Maga day at our school for our Martial Arts Festival week. We do this week after our December testing for the days remaining before Christmas arrives. Our students like this week because we do something during those weeks that we don't normally do in our Taekwondo classes. Sometimes we will bring in outside instructors to teach some martial art different than what we teach.
This year Tuesday night was Krav Maga night and we got all ages involved in the action. We worked on VIP protection and ground defenses with the students. One of the parents caught this video of 5 year of Hudson protecting me in the VIP protection drill. I love it! This kid got it, and was awesome. He will be protecting his parents soon!
Go Hudson!
Stan Shields
5th Degree, Chief Instructor
This year Tuesday night was Krav Maga night and we got all ages involved in the action. We worked on VIP protection and ground defenses with the students. One of the parents caught this video of 5 year of Hudson protecting me in the VIP protection drill. I love it! This kid got it, and was awesome. He will be protecting his parents soon!
Go Hudson!
Stan Shields
5th Degree, Chief Instructor
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Insight Seminar - Awakening The Heart Introduction
This Wednesday, December 8 at 7:30 PM we will be hosting an Insight guest event to introduce the Insight concepts. Won't you join us? We will be at ATA Family Martial Arts, 5170 E. Arapahoe Road, E2, Centennial, CO 80122. Call (303) 220-5956 to RSVP.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=103617586368553&oid=115811858477283&comments&ref=mf
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween is a fun time for kids, but it is also an important time to be extra vigilant for possible safety hazards so that your children have a fun and safe Halloween. Some tips to make Halloween safe include:
Costume safety
- choose a costume made of flame retardant material
- costumes should be short enough so that they don't cause your child to trip and fall,
- for good visibility, add some reflective tape to the costume or bag he is using to carry candy or make/choose a costume made of bright material that is visible in the dark
- masks should fit securely and allow your child to see well and not hinder visibility
- if using face paint, make sure it is nontoxic and hypoallergenic
- knives, swords and other props should be made of a flexible material, so that they don't pose a hazard if fallen on
Follow this link for the remainder of the article visit http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/autumn/halloween_safety.html. There is more good information on this site.
Stan Shields
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