There’s been a lot of excitement around the APOGEE Challenge – and with just so many more days left in April, we’re pumped to find out who our first winner will be. Then, it’s on to May’s challenge.
Now, we know there are some people who were on the fence about signing up to try their hand at 28 days of exercise – it’s not exactly an easy task. But we also know a little motivation can go a long way for next month. With the right mindset, you can accomplish anything.
That’s why we want to hear from you. We want to know how you stay motivated to keep moving in this busy world. And, because it’s still our birthday month, one participant will receive a $50 credit to use at the Apogee White Plains Spa. We think you deserve it after all you do – now let us know how you do it!
It doesn’t have to be about exercise, although if you’re a challenge participant we’d love to know how you keep going! Maybe you finally finished that book that’s been sitting on the coffee table. Or maybe you just found the time to sign up for night classes – whatever it is, we want to know what drives you.
For some it can be as simple as a line of poetry or a favorite movie scene. For others, it’s family and friends that keep them motivated. So do us a favor, spread the motivation and post pictures, type out your favorite poem or link to a video on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
The key to life is happiness and the things that make us happy are what keep us moving. So why not share what drives you and win a $50 spa credit in the process? We can’t wait to see what you got. We’ll get things moving with this:
Motivation is a funny thing. We can find it in the most obscure places. Sometimes we can’t find it at all. But when we get right down to it – all the motivation we need is already inside us. We just need to let it out.
Enter the Apogee Challenge – a dig deep competition of the willing. On the first of each month, participants can register at either our Bedford Hills or White Plains location to take part – All you have to do is sign in and exercise 28 days out of the month.
Easy right? Well for a little extra motivation, (not that you need it) participants who complete the challenge can even win a $200 Whole Foods Gift Certificate just for sticking it out.
Aside from the obvious physical benefits, consistent exercise can also reduce stress, increase creativity and brain function, allow for better relaxation and build self-confidence. So, if you’re looking to step up to the challenge, here are some easy ways to stay motivated:
Have a Goal – No matter how big or small, having a goal will help keep you focused. This can be done both in a daily goal and a monthly objective.
Surround Yourself with Motivated Peers – you know the saying, “Birds of a feather . . .” well, the same holds true for motivation. By surrounding yourself with positive energy and a little healthy competition, you’ll be creating a better environment to reach your goals.
Reward Yourself – Don’t be afraid to indulge after reaching one of your objectives. After all, that’s one of the perks!
Continue to Challenge Yourself – As you move on, you’ll find certain things you love and some that you’ve even mastered. Great! Now move on and face the next challenge. Keep your body, mind and energy fresh.
Now it’s time to step up to the Apogee Challenge. And, if you think it’s not for you, we want to challenge you to create a mini competition of your own. Set a goal and go for it! Only ours has a $200 Whole Foods Gift Certificate. Either way, you’re on your way.
If you’ve made a resolution for 2011, it’s time to take action. You can increase your chance for success by talking to yourself about your goal in a positive way. “When you change the way you talk to yourself, you change your brain and your physiology,” says Michael Ellner, a certified medical hypnotist working with APOGEE. Here’s how to make your resolution successful.
Focus on what you want. “Say, ‘I’m going to…’ rather than, ‘I’m not going to,’ or,’ I’m going to stop,’” says Michael. Focusing on what you want is motivating. Focusing on what you don’t want inhibits success. It’s as simple as saying, “I want to be smoke-free,” rather than, “I don’t’ want to smoke cigarettes.”
Make it meaningful to you. “If your resolution is personal, it’s more powerful and captures the things that motivate you,” says Michael. You and your co-worker may share a resolution to take a cardio class three times a week, for example, but your co-worker may want to drop a dress size, while you want to feel stronger and more confident at social events. You don’t have to announce it publicly, but your self-talk should focus on your personal goal.
Reinforce every action with positive self-talk. Every time you engage in behavior that contributes to your goal, remind yourself of the benefits. “Get emotional,” says Michael. “Create associations that that reinforce why you’re taking the action.” Maybe you’re choosing extra veggies at lunch or heading to your personal training session: Every time, tell yourself how great you’re going to feel and look when you do this regularly; picture yourself glowing and healthy. By taking that step, you’re achieving success and you should celebrate!
Michael Ellner will be leading two Hypnosis for Weight Loss workshops at APOGEE this month– in White Plains on January 22 and in Bedford Hills on January 15. The workshops include a group lecture and one-on-one meetings with Michael.
If you’ve noticed fresh, new flavors at the APOGEE Café, you can thank Danae Sintalis. Danae is a well-known local chef who has been serving up healthful fare as a personal chef and food vendor for 35 years. Now, she’s creating salads, sandwiches, wraps and soups for APOGEE. “My food is green and healthy; no preservatives or additives,” says Danae. She uses mostly organic ingredients, locally produced when available.
In a just a few weeks, Danae’s chicken curry wraps and black bean burgers have become favorites of APOGEE members and staff, who grab them for a nutritious, long-lasting meal after a workout. “I’m passionate about the quality of my food,” says Danae. “I breathe it, eat it, smell it! Food is my passion.” Danae is cooking for the APOGEE Cafes at White Plains and Bedford Hills.
Danae comes by her culinary skills naturally: Her parents owned restaurants in Athens, Greece and Alexandria, Egypt. “I was born into it,” she says. Over the years, she has created healthful versions of international favorites such as chicken chicken soup and grain salads, collaborating with nutritionists including Dina Khader, who worked on the bestselling book, “Eat Right 4 Your Type.” Danae’s café at the Sawmill River Club earned the Best Café in the County award in 2007.
It’s a good time of year to recommit to your goals: With kids in school, summer long gone and some down time before the big November and December holidays, these autumn weeks are an opportunity to invest in yourself.
We’re here to help with a new juice cleansing program. Fasting with juice gives your digestive system a rest and allows your body’s natural cleansing system to take over. A juice cleanse can deliver real health benefits. “Not only does fasting rest your overworked gut,” writes Woodson Merrell, M.D., APOGEE’s integrative health advisor, “but especially if you introduce maximally healthy nutrients (with vegetable juices, probiotics, fiber, etc.) fasts can promote detoxification, reduce inflammation, improve overall health and dramatically increase energy.”
A juice fast that includes healthy nutrients also means that you won’t suffer from deprivation. When you drink fresh, natural juices at regular intervals during your day, you will supply your body with easy to assimilate calories so you’re not staggeringly hungry. Even better: A juice cleanse can help sensitize your body to blood sugar, so you may be more in tune with your body’s energy needs after the cleanse. And of course, fresh vegetable and fruit juices supply your body with the enzymes, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients it needs to clean out and detox while it’s resting from the regular input of big meals.
Our Nourish Juice Cleanse, which will be available by Nov. 1, is a line of fresh, hydraulically cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juice combinations. We will provide you with six sealed juices for each day of your cleanse. You can choose from a one-day, three-day or five-day cleanse, or schedule a month of Monday cleanses and pick up a one-day supply of juice on four consecutive Mondays.
Of course, like any health tool, you’ll want to approach a cleanse mindfully and with awareness. Here are some tips to make it work for you.
–Drink one juice every two hours. Take 15 minutes to finish the entire bottle; swish it around so you can savor the flavor. Mixing it in your mouth also starts the digestive process. Our juices are blended for taste and nutrition, so enjoy each one.
–Drink a lot of water. Each day of your cleanse be sure to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water, plain or with lemon, or non-caffeinated herbal tea. This can help lessen side effects such as dizziness, fatigue and even bad breath.
–Stay quiet. On your cleanse days, dial back on vigorous exercise, socializing and even media consumption. Focus inward; keep a journal to write down your thoughts—use this time to be more aware.
Also, please contact your doctor before you begin so you know if a juice cleanse is good idea for you, with your specific health history. Let your doctor know that juice cleanses can change the way over-the-counter and prescription drugs act in your body; your doctor may want to change your dosage during the fast. There are health conditions, including pregnancy, diabetes and cancer, with which you should not do a juice cleanse–please review the list here.
A place for the growing APOGEE Pilates & Wellness Centers community of teachers, members, experts and staff to share their passion for wellness and healthy living.
