What a great time of year.  Time to put the winter coats, gloves and warm clothing away and bring out bright new colors.  It’s a time to feel alive, happy and vibrant.  I know what you might be thinking, “how can I move forward and be happy in a time of economic turmoil?”  Well, let me challenge you on this one.

First, stop watching the news.  It is filled with depressing, misguided information.  No, I do not deny many of the people who are truly suffering with financial instability or loss of jobs.  I feel for you and pray that things will get better soon.  But for those of you who still have jobs, don’t act as if you don’t. 

It’s a time for opportunities.  A time to truly figure out what it is you are meant to be doing in your life.  Reflect on who you really are, who you want to become, and what opportunities are right in front of you that you may not be seeing.  Step out in faith and know that it is your God given right to succeed, no matter what the circumstances.

Decide that you really want to be successful.  And I don’t mean just ‘kind of want it’.  I mean declare it.  Declare it to your family, friends, and the Universe!  This will put the wheels in motion.

There is no room for doubt here.  Once you have decided that you deserve to win, move forward along that path.  Create a vision of your future.  It is helpful to create a vision board, something physical to focus on each day.  Don’t limit your thoughts.  What is it you truly want?  You can have it, but first you need to decide that you want it!

Next, take action. It is not enough to dream.  To see these dreams to fruition, we must take the necessary steps to fulfill them.  Now one thing to keep in mind is that you will not see the entire process.  You will, however, see the first step, and as a warning, the steps won’t always be easy.  They will require you to change and cause discomfort.  Discomfort is a good place to be when living your purpose.  It means you are stretching your boundaries and growing.

If you are not growing you are dying.  We can only move in two directions.  Forward or back.  We cannot stand still.  Make the choice to move in the right direction, for it is here that success will come in abundance. 

Many women know the importance of education on the road to success, they have all the tools necessary to move forward but lack the mindset to skyrocket themselves into abundance.  Ultimately many put the brakes on and stay grounded at a certain level, never to allow themselves to see their true value.

Your belief system dictates your path.  Believe in yourself and the amazing things you can do.  If you are struggling with success, find a mentor or coach to help you work through this part of the puzzle.  We work with women, mostly moms, to help them break through the old, deep rooted beliefs that have dominated their subconscious.  You see, the subconscious controls our destiny.  Our subconscious mind controls 85% of our thoughts and actions.  When you begin to tap into this arena, you will see phenomenal results.

Don’t settle for less.  You are acutely aware of your inner strengths and potential.  Move forward on the path to an awesome life today!

JoAnn Manzella is a lifestyle and wellness coach for mom entrepreneurs looking to achieve ultimate balance in their lives.  JoAnn teaches her clients how to become laser focused on their goals and visions by providing the knowledge, support and motivation they need for success.

Sign up today for a F*R*E*E* telephone lifestyle assessment by sending an email tojoann@jumpstarttofitness.com or visit our website at www.jumpstarttofitness.com

The person you are today was created based on the choices you have made in the past.  Yes, it’s true, you are exactly where you are because of the culmination of each and every choice you have made up to this point.  The good news is that you can change the direction you are headed by making new choices and decisions beginning now.

We have all been given the gift of free will.  This is the ability to choose what it is we want in relation to everyday occurrences.  We have the ability to choose right from wrong, to say yes or no, to live the life of our dreams or settle for less.

Many times we make decisions based on our feelings at the time.  If we are acting out of a lack mentality, meaning fear, sadness, anger or loneliness, our emotions lead our choices and we find ourselves limiting our potential. When we are in this state, we often miss opportunities right in front of us that if acted on, would place us on the path of abundance.  We end up settling for less because it feels safe at the moment.

In order to make better choices, you must remain in a peaceful, loving mindset. Most people find this difficult due to the relationships they find themselves in, the things they watch on tv or read in books and magazines, and the challenges we face each and every day.  Living in a spirit of harmony allows you to make the choices that best serve you.

So you are thinking, ‘easier said than done,’ well not really.  We are in control of three things in life, the thoughts we think, the things we visualize and the actions we take.  Make a conscious effort to think and remain connected to your higher self, visualize the person you want to become and do the things necessary to stay on track to become that person.

Choose the best that life has to offer and settle for nothing less.  The universe will always bring you what you need when you need it.  Be grateful for everyone and everything you encounter, even the things that may seem irritating or negative.  Learn from each situation as it comes.  Ask yourself, “what can I learn from my relationship with this person, what can I take from this seemingly bad situation.”  Be honest with yourself and learn from each situation.

Realize that you are surrounded by abundance and it your God given right to live the life you desire.  God wants you to be prosperous. He wants you to be an example of love and generosity in a broken, distraught world.  He has given you special gifts that no one else on the planet has. It is your responsibility to be the person He created you to be.

Step out in faith, become the person you know you are, and know this is exactly where you are meant to be.

JoAnn Manzella is a lifestyle and wellness coach for mom entrepreneurs looking to achieve ultimate balance in their lives.  JoAnn teaches her clients how to become laser focused on their goals and visions by providing the knowledge, support and motivation they need for success.

Sign up today for a F*R*E*E* telephone lifestyle assessment by sending an email to joann@jumpstarttofitness.com 

Looking for a variation in your workout?

If there is one piece of equipment you want to add to your fitness arsenal, it’s the stability ball.  This large and inflatable ball is a heavy duty piece of equipment capable of handling 600-700lbs.  The ball is comfortable as well as versatile when it comes to strengthening the core.

Here how it works: The ball becomes challenging because it puts your body in an unstable environment and requires muscle activation for stabilization.  The second you sit or lie on the ball, your legs and abdominal muscles contract in order from keeping you from falling off. Now let’s add an exercise to the mix and watch the level of intensity rise.

Using the stability ball in your training program is definitely one of the best methods to improving strength in your abs and lower back.  It also improves the functional strength, balance and flexibility of the body.

And guess what? It can be used by anyone.  That’s right, no fitness level is required.  It’s in fact, it’s so safe, it is used by physical therapists everyday to strengthen their clients in all areas.

Test drive one of these inexpensive balls and put it to work for you today.  As always, consult your health care provider before you begin a strenuous fitness program.

JoAnn Manzella is a fitness consultant and group fitness instructor specializing in small group training and boot camps.  JoAnn provides her clients with the knowledge, support and motivation necessary to get them to the next level of physical as well as mental and emotional fitness.

Sign up today for a telephone fitness assessment by sending an email to joann@jumpstarttofitness.com 

A friend of mine asked me a serious question the other day and I think it is a question that many of us have thought about especially lately when it seems that money is tight and prices are only going up.

“Why does it cost so much money to live a healthy lifestyle?”

“That is a good question. What do you think is so expensive about living healthy?”
“Well”, she said, “the cost of joining a gym, hiring a personal trainer and buying healthy foods.”

Well, let’s take a closer look at this.  I asked her if there was anything she had given up as a result of her new lifestyle.  She responded with, “well of course, I stopped drinking soda, I don’t stop for coffee in the morning, I bring my lunch to work instead of eating out everyday and oh yeah, I have quit smoking.” 

Wow!  Let’s think about this in monetary terms.  She said she probably spent about $3 for 2 sodas, $10 for lunch out, $4 for her Starbucks Late and a pack of cigarettes which adds another $6 onto the equation.  That’s a whopping $23 a day of unhealthy habits.

One month of these unhealthy habits equals an amazing $690 (I cannot believe it myself) and this is just the cost factor, what about the health part?

We all know the phenomenal benefits to those who quit smoking. Your chances of living longer and disease free go up incredibly with each day smoke free.  Ridding yourself of the other bad habits have similar benefits. 

We now live in a country where obesity is considered an epidemic, diabetes is on the rise, and individuals are looking to surgery to cure all there medical issues, instead of committing to preventative medicine.  Exercise Is Medicine.

Sometimes we forget about the things we do all the time to sabotage our health.  Changing eating habits will save money on medications, doctor visits, and essentially the food bill.  So the next time you begin thinking that it is just way too expensive to live healthy, think again. Figure the cost and health factors and I guarantee that you will be able to maintain that healthy lifestyle and even save money.

Call today to set up a phone consultation 732-241-9187 or download our free report  “7 Common Mistakes people make when trying to lose weight.”  And How to Avoid them.