This is part of a series I’m writing called Motivated Mondays.  In order to be able to provide service to others including animals, we need to feel good about our bodies and keep them healthy.

When you schedule routine times to exercise it has many benefits. These include

It is on your schedule so you are less likely to set up another meeting for that time.

You may start seeing the same people at your gym or where ever it is that you work out.  You may make a new friend or client.

Your body will begin to anticipate work out times.  There may be a time in the future when some part of you does not want to work out, but your body will crave exercise once it has become used to working out.

Saving animals and establishing humane laws takes money.  Therefore, I’m dedicating every Friday to Fiscal Fitness.Many smart people I know have all their money deposited into their savings account and then once a month they move the amount of money needed for the month into their checking account to pay bills and pay themselves an allowance.  This optimizes interest earnings on savings and encourages saving.  If you leave all overages in your savings account you might build up a nice nest egg.

Kate’s book, “Anyone Can Make a Million Investing in Real Estate” has many more practical tips on ways to save money and increase earnings.  $10 will buy either an ebook or a paperback copy (while supplies last).  Click here.

This is part of a series I’m writing called Motivated Mondays.  In order to be able to provide service to others including animals, we need to feel good about our bodies and keep them healthy.

Most Americans including myself would agree that Julia Roberts is a beautiful woman.  Just like this “ideal” image, Julia is tall, thin and curvy, and she fits the American ideal of what a healthy woman should look like, but to many other cultures she does not have an ideal physique and in fact may be considered undesirable.  Bombarded by media, we continually see this ideal Hollywood physique.  But do you know only 10% of the population is capable of maintaining that thin appearance.  The rest of us need to understand our ideal may be a woman who is 5’4” and 140LB’s.  Or maybe, if you are tall and muscular like me your ideal may be 5’8” with a weight range of 170-180LB’s. 

Starving yourself to fit a Hollywood image of beauty is harmful to your body and it takes away time that could be better spent enjoying life and being of service to others.  God made you perfect.  Instead of trying to look like someone else, figure out what your personal best is.  No one can top that!   

Saving animals and establishing humane laws takes money.  Therefore, I’m dedicating every Friday to Fiscal Fitness. “Oh my God, where did my money go!”  If you find yourself thinking or saying this, there are two possibilities.  One is that you are compulsively spending money on junk you don’t need.  The other possibility is that you may not be monitoring how much things really cost.  An easy way to monitor this situation is to have a small notepad with you at all times.  Every time you spend any money (even if it’s a penny) you write it down.  At the end of the week tally up your categories, i.e. meals out, gas, coffee, etc.)  You may be shocked to see how much money your spending on little items like coffee and gum.  Track your spending this way for a couple of months.  Reassess what you are spending money on.  Is this the best use of your earnings?Kate’s book, “Anyone Can Make a Million Investing in Real Estate” has many more practical tips on ways to save money and increase earnings.  $10 will buy either an ebook or a paperback copy (while supplies last).  Click here.

This is part of a series I’m writing called Motivated Mondays.  In order to be able to provide service to others including animals, we need to feel good about our bodies and keep them healthy.

We all know according to Steven Covey we are supposed to begin with the end in mind.  When it comes to fitness may people select an ideal number they would like to see on the scale.  Personally, I think this practice sets us up for failure and may not be the best way to care for your body.  For example, let’s say you weight 220 right now and you look at a weight chart and determine you should weigh 165LBs.  You begin working out and eating right but become very disappointed when your body stabilizes at 178LBs.  Despite the fact that you look great and you are in better shape than ever, you may be disappointed that you cannot get down to 165.   Unaware that muscle mass weighs more than fat, you begin to starve yourself so you can get to 165.  Whether you make 165 or not, starvation practices deplete muscles including the heart and can cause serious damage to your body.

Why not set kind but challenging goals such as I will eat three moderate and healthy meals with nothing in between and I will work out three times a week.  Then see what your body does.  If you are still not satisfied with the results after three months of serious efforts, see a dietician or work with a trainer.

Saving animals and establishing humane laws takes money.  Therefore, I’m dedicating every Friday to Fiscal Fitness.Many people in our culture avoid their feelings.  Frivolus spending which can lead to compulsive spending is one of the most acceptable addictions.  Feel bad because your alone, buy some shoes, just broke up, buy a sweater, work stinks, buy a bunch of books or music.  If you feel powerless to stop spending money compulsively get some professional help.  Whether you use food, alcohol, drugs or compulsive spending, addictions and compulsive habits never get better unless you can get help.  Knowing what causing compulsive spending is not enough to make it stop.  You will need to find or create new skills to help you deal with the anxiety or fear that caused you to hurt yourself with reckless spending.

Kate’s book, “Anyone Can Make a Million Investing in Real Estate” has many more practical tips on ways to save money and increase earnings.  $10 will buy either an ebook or a paperback copy (while supplies last).  Click here.

Dream Big!  Most years, I set goals and write them out.  Then I post them and frame them in an area I’ll see each and every day.  With few exceptions, I meet my goals each year.  So often in life, I find it’s easy to settle for less than greatness.  Think big and figure out what steps you need to take to achieve your dreams.  Thanks for being a part of my life this past year. I wish you great joy and much abundance in the year ahead! 

This post is part of a series on self-care Kate wrote to help you through the holidays.

The following is from a series on self-care to help you through the holidays.  So here’s wishing you a cruelty free Christmas or joyous holiday!

Make a difference in the New Year. 

Almost every night when I lay my head down I thank Creator for my many blessings.  I often think about and pray for many beings that suffer while I lay down peacefully in my bed–the senseless use of animals being used in research, homeless people and animals, refuges, exploited children, people entrapped as slaves, the poor, animals in factory farms, and the ill and the lonely.  I ask for wisdom and willingness to use my gifts to serve the greater good.  I also ask God to give me a reprieve from my self-centered fear and greed.  As you think about the year ahead consider the many humanitarian organizations that strive to improve the lives of people and animals through-out the world.  How will you make a difference this year?

The following is from a series on self-care to help you through the holidays.  So here’s wishing you a cruelty free Christmas or joyous holiday!

Rejoice!  This is a time of year to celebrate the good.  What are you thankful for?  Who has blessed you this year?  What did you accomplish?  I’m sure you have many things that changed over the past year.  Perhaps some of your goals were unfullfilled.  Be grateful your still here to bring in a new year with all it’s possibilities.  Let the lesson of the Christ Child fill your heart.

The following is from a series on self-care to help you through the holidays.  So here’s wishing you a cruelty free Christmas or joyous holiday!

Honor a Loved One.  Perhaps this Christmas is your first year without your parent, a partner or a grandparent.  Holidays can be very painful when someone you love is no longer here.  As you gather around the table, perhaps you can honor your loved one by having each family member tell what they most appreciated about that person.  Another great way to honor someone is to give a gift in their name.  It could be anything-flowers at a church, a monetary gift, a present or book for a stranger, or something as simple as shoveling your neighbors out when the next snow storm hits.  I find when I celebrate the life of my departed family and friends the grief is easier to bear.   Today’s blog is dedicated to my father, Dr. John Garvey, veteranarian.  Who would you like to remember today?