Our thoughts have a great impact on our lives and shape how we see our past, present and future.  We often times do not realize that we can control our thoughts and help ourselves live in the present moment. Being mindful is a practice that is difficult for most people in western culture who are used to running full steam ahead from one thing on their check list to the next.

As humans we also have a tendency to dwell on past events or emotions causing us to relive the feelings we had during that time. Additionally, we can focus on stressers we foresee in the future. This can cause us to participate in unhealthy behaviors such as over-eating, not exercising properly, and not sleeping well.  When we do not know how to control our thoughts, we become stressed and use these unhealthy practices to cope with our emotions.  As we know, this does little to help us and sets us back further from our health goals.

I am going to mix it up a bit today and throw out some great websites that I love to visit, and I think they will help you with your health and fitness goals. And just for fun, I have included in a a quick, easy and very healthy recipe for one of the best spinach salads you will ever eat!

Must-Visit Websites

• NutriMirror.com:  Learn how to track your meals with amazing ease.
• CrossFit.com:  Have you hit a workout plateau? Check out this site and power through if you are feeling bored with your workout.
• OxygenMag.com:   I love to scour this site for great recipes and fitness tips!
• DailyOm.com:  If you need a little inspiration, this site is perfect for keeping you in the present.

Healthy & Easy Recipe

Spinach and Pear Salad

• 6 cups spinach
• 1 cup toasted pecans
• 1/4 cup gorgonzola cheese
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The first day of spring is March 20, 2010. That's less than a month away, but there is plenty of time to revamp your workouts and your diet to make sure you feel your best come springtime. If you are planning to move your workouts outside when the weather gets warmer, there may be a few tweaks you can make to your routine now to get ready. 

• If you plan on walking, biking or jogging outside, make sure you are adding those exercises to your cardiovascular routine indoors too. Make sure you are not spending all of your time on the elliptical trainer.  If you build your endurance up inside first, you can push yourself when you move outdoors without a large risk for injury. The outdoor air is invigorating, so why not get your muscles ready so you can use that energizing air to help yield results!!

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Every year people sign up for the gym on January 1st  and by Valentine's Day the gyms are back to the normal numbers. Why? Most people make their resolutions to lose weight and use that goal as the motivation to get their workouts in. Well, that may not always work. Weight loss takes time and sometimes our bodies will resist for as long as they can. There are plenty of exercise benefits that happen fairly quickly. So try to focus on these benefits to get you to the gym on those tough days when you feel like you just want to stay in bed.

1. Cardiovascular benefits of exercise will be on of the first things to improve when you start a workout routine.  You will notice that each cardio session is easier than the last because your lungs and heart are becoming stronger and more efficient at pumping blood to the large muscle groups you are using. Within a week of starting a program, you should see a difference in your cardiovascular health.