It has been more than rewarding to have my Visibly Fit program in my life.  I love the freedom it gives me.  Whether I'm traveling, at home, hanging with my son or whatever - I can do these exercises without needing to go anywhere or spend lots of time. 

Recently, I was chatting with a friend and he proceeded to tell me that he's been working out a lot and it's been great.  I asked him how long he spent at the gym and I think my jaw dropped.  Two and a half hours!!!!  WOW - that's a big chunk of the day.  I asked him why he spent so much time there and he said that if you don't go often enough then you have to get everything in when you're there.  He doesn't go for a couple days after because his muscles are too busy trying to repair themselves and they feel really sore. I found this way of thinking to be quite interesting or odd, not sure which adjective I should use. 

It would be so much easier and he would see better results if he just carved out 20-30 minutes a day, everyday, to do a workout.  Here is my thought...if he went to the gym twice a week and put in two and a half hours each time he could have technically worked out fifteen days straight at twenty minutes a day.  This would be less strenuous on the body and his body would respond in a more positive way.  Are you a slave to your gym? 

--Wendie Pett, Fitness and Wellness Coach, www.wendiepett.com

I just returned from helping teach and participate at a retreat in Siren, Wisconsin.  There were about 80 wonderful women that gathered in fellowship.  I had never been to Siren, but the town of 900 was in the news non-stop on June 18, 2001 when a tornado came through and literally flattened the town.  It was a devastating storm and 3 people were killed.  As I drove into town you could still see the debris of broken and torn trees in piles along side the road.  With this as a reminder of what happened six years ago I couldn't help but think of all the lives that were affected.  I couldn't help but wonder about the people here - did they move to another town or did they have the courage to rebuild.  Did they find their photos and special heirlooms that trigger memories in all the remains?  Did they find a new lease on life?  Or did they allow the storm to blow their spirits away?  I do not know how these people felt, I can only imagine how I would feel if this were my town. 

I actually found it to be symbolic that we would have a retreat in this town at a newly built resort, which was gorgeous.  A town where so many people reached towards their faith, family, and friends, to help them get balanced again. By definition, retreat is a period of time where a group of people withdraw from worldly activities to e.g. a monastery for spiritual recollection under instruction and discipline.  Just imagine how empowering it would be to truly withdraw from the chaos of trying to find everything that was left behind and to realize that your everything is all that you are.  I believe that sometimes when things or people are torn down and flattened it only makes way for the new and improved!

--Wendie Pett, Fitness and Wellness Coach, www.wendiepett.com                                              

Recently, while traveling from Indiana to Minnesota, I had to make a quick connection in Detroit, Michigan. When I say quickly I mean that I only had thirty minutes to get from one plane to the next. That would have been doable if we would have landed on time. Instead, I had a window of time that was so short that I don't think even Wonder Woman could have made it. With four, yes I said four, minutes to get from the last gate of concourse B to the last gate of concourse A. I laughed as I thought this was a joke. Waiting for someone to jump out and say, "You've just been had. You're on candid camera!" But no, as many of us filed off the plane in a state of panic hoping to make our connection I noticed that some people were struggling as they tried to run to the next concourse. 

Now, I've only been in the Detroit airport one other time and I had forgotten how big and spread out the airport was designed. Nonetheless, after waiting for one woman that was clearly not in the healthiest of conditions she finally said, "You go ahead - you'll make it". At first I felt awful for taking the lead but I knew that I had to get home for my son's baseball game. I wished her well and ran as fast as I could in high-heel sandals in hopes that they would hold the gate for me. As I huffed and puffed and ignored the new blisters on my feet, I finally arrived at the gate - ten minutes late! Knowing that they probably would have the gate closed, I approached the agent to see about getting out on the next flight and at the same time coming to the realization that I would miss my son’s first baseball game of the year. The agent said, "You must be Wendie. We were waiting for you and two others and can only wait three more minutes!" I was thrilled! I made the flight that day, but thought about the sweet woman that I left behind and how she didn't make the flight due to her lack of functional fitness.   

So often we think of physical fitness by aesthetics (how we look) alone. Someone walks by and they look healthy and fit, which is nice to look at, but it's so much more. The functionality of being healthy and fit is even more important than how nice it looks. It could save you time, save your life, and give you freedom to do the things you want or need to do. Physical Fitness = Functional Fitness. Make the connection!!!!

--Wendie Pett, Fitness and Wellness Coach, www.wendiepett.com                                                                                                                      

Tax time is officially over and spring is here. It's time to step away from the paperwork, the computer, and the telephone and start stepping outside. It's amazing how a few minutes of fresh air can change your mood, your mind, and give your body a new boost of energy. If you have time, go for a walk around the block and absorb the beauty that is anxiously awaiting to bloom all around you. Nature is constantly growing and changing just as we are daily. Take notice and give thanks - it could make your day much brighter!

Feel free to share thoughts and ideas of what gives you energy throughout the day.  Don't forget to do your 7X11 for an ultimate energized day!

--Wendie Pett, Fitness and Wellness Coach, www.wendiepett.com