We love bragging up our members. Kecia moderates our “Get Moving” forum, and is a real energizer bunny. She shares a couple of her favorite (and very easy) toning moves.

This [song below] is one of my favorite songs to do my wall pushups to – they go by fast and before you know it 180 wall pushups have come and gone.

Also, heel lifts have become a daily exercise. They’re easy to do, and you can do them anywhere. I stand with my feet in ballet style and lift up and down 100 times. This keeps my ankles strong and my calves toned.

Have a great day!

~ Member Kecia

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Yes, you.

Don’t let a negative attitude about exercise keep you from doing any exercise. Sometimes you have to fake it ’til you make it. Put on some uplifting music, force a bit of an attitude adjustment, and get going.

Here’s a new song to help you face your exercise and your day with a smile.

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Member Renae shares some of her favorite exercise music today.

This is Bon Jovi’s newest hit and it’s called We Weren’t Born to Follow… meaning we are born to be leaders rather than followers. It’s the theme music for this season’s major league baseball commercials on TBS, perhaps you’ve heard it? It has a great beat and message and it is a favorite of mine for exercise. I love to do my own thing at my home. That is how I exercise. I don’t enjoy public places and I don’t like to exercise out doors, though I know many do and enjoy it.

My exercise tip is do what you love to do! Do it to the music you enjoy because it makes the experience even better. When the time goes by pleasantly, then you have more of an interest in repeating it and hence the methods work!

~ Renae, Marilu.com member

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Do you ever have one of those days that you’re just so happy that you bounce everywhere? You have that extra spring in your step, that extra flourish in every movement. You feel joy, but it’s wrapped in a layer of fun.

Make today one of those days. (Why not? Everybody can use a little fun.)

Did you know that gentle bouncing on a mini-trampoline can help improve your health? There’s a short-term increase in white blood cells and increased immunity. If you have a chronic illness, gentle bouncing may be a helpful part of your therapy – it only takes 10-15 minutes twice a day.

In the meantime, bounce through your day. Here’s a song to get in your head that just may help with that.

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Do you have a personal goal?

Maybe it’s for weight loss.
Maybe it’s for your career path.
Maybe it’s for a special relationship.
Maybe it’s for your holiday party.
Maybe it’s for your fitness.

Whatever your goal is, don’t put off the action required to make it happen. Do it today. Start now.

Maybe this will help you get going…

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…GHOSTBUSTERS!

Because it’s a logical choice today, don’t you think?

Bust a move with the Ghostbusters. If you have little ones in the house, it will help them release some of the pre-celebration energy. If you don’t – well, it’s just fun to dance.

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Here’s a fun song to start the week.

Find a way to stay active today. The current recommendation for children is 60 minutes of active play each day – that’s exercise, or team sports, or just plain running around with the goal of having fun.

How can you make that happen for yourself?

(If you have kids, of course, you can play with them! Just make sure you’re really participating in the fun.)

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It’s alright
There comes a time
Got no patience to search
For peace of mind
Layin’ low
Want to take it slow
No more hiding or
Disguising truths I’ve sold

~ Alice in Chains, No Excuses

Exercise music with a slower beat is good for strength training, when you want to focus on your muscles and how they’re contracting and relaxing.

Get on the floor and try some crunches. Do them to the beat, slow and steady. After you do 20 basic crunches, do 40 to alternating sides (working the obliques). Then lift your feet in the air and raise your hips for 20 reverse crunches.

Don’t use your neck, legs, arms, or shoulders to do the crunches. Focus on contracting your abs. As they contract, the rest of your body will move.

Also? Get to the NO Excuses class, starting today. All members have received the Day 1 class email. If you’re not a member, join today. There’s no excuse – this is the time to search for peace of mind, and to create the life you want for yourself.

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Get out and enjoy the fall weather – take a hike around your neighborhood or in a local park.

Try something different and invite a couple of neighbors to join you. Enjoy each others’ company while you get some fresh air and get that blood flowing.

Get home from work too late to think about walking? Invite some co-workers to join you, and walk around your “work neighborhood” during a break. Even a 10 minute walk is better than nothing.

If you’re walking alone, here’s a song that will keep your body moving and your mind can stay kind of mellow.

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Years From Now was a bonus track on a store version of Rob Thomas’ Cradlesong album. You can get a different version of the album here.

…to get you moving.

An oldie but goodie.
A standard.
A classic.

It’s the same way we feel about walking. Classic exercise. The gold standard. Always available. No excuses.

Even if all you can do is walk to the end of your driveway, you can walk.
Even if you need a walker or a cane for balance, you can walk.
Even if you have to take your kids along – in a stroller or on their bikes – you can walk.
Even if it’s raining, you can walk.
Even if it’s at the mall, you can walk.

Get outside for some classic exercise. Listen to some classic music.

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