Day 20 - Monday Morning Motivation

It is another Monday and I just realized that tomorrow will mark by 21st day of my commitment to getting my body back, one pound at a time. YAY!!! They say it takes 21 days to create a new habit. So, I will take that and say, I am on my way baby! As I have shared, I have been consistently losing my 1 pound a week (actually a tad more) by introducing small weekly changes into my daily habits and choices, that I can implement into permanent lifestyle changes. So far, it has been very exciting and motivating to see the results. HOWEVER, I got to thinking, maybe an extra reinforcement in my motivation would be a wise idea to help ensure my long term goal is met.

So, I thought I would create an added incentive, a reward if you will that is non-food related, of course. ;-) I wanted to come up with something that I could give myself at the end of each month when I had reached my accumulative goal for that month (4 pounds lost). I was thinking that it needs to be something that I do not "ordinarily" do for myself. Coming up with something was a little hard for me at first. But, then I thought - what about a massage? It is something I have never done before and I have had lots of people tell me how wonderful it is. And, it is also suppose to have health benefits to boot! =)

Honestly, I think one reason I never got a body massage is that I have felt a little awkward about the whole thing. The thought of someone seeing my body, much less touching it, kind of freaked me out. But, I have done a little research on it and I think I am going to go ahead and jump off and do it! Here's some cool stuff I found out about massages and the benefits of having them:

The Benefits Of Massage
What exactly are the benefits of receiving massage or bodywork treatments? Useful for all of the conditions listed below and more, massage can:

• Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
• Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
• Ease medication dependence.
• Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.
• Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
• Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
• Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.
• Increase joint flexibility.
• Lessen depression and anxiety.
• Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
• Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improvingcirculation.
• Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling.
• Reduce spasms and cramping.
• Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
• Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.
• Relieve migraine pain.

A Powerful Ally
There’s no denying the power of bodywork. Regardless of the adjectives we assign to it (pampering, rejuvenating, therapeutic) or the reasons we seek it out (a luxurious treat, stress relief, pain management), massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regimen.

Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. While eliminating anxiety and pressure altogether in this fast-paced world may be idealistic, massage can, without a doubt, help manage stress. This translates into:

• Decreased anxiety.
• Enhanced sleep quality.
• Greater energy.
• Improved concentration.
• Increased circulation.
• Reduced fatigue.

Furthermore, clients often report a sense of perspective and clarity after receiving a massage. The emotional balance bodywork provides can often be just as vital and valuable as the more tangible physical benefits.

Profound Effects
In response to massage, specific physiological and chemical changes cascade throughout the body, with profound effects. Research shows that with massage:

• Arthritis sufferers note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain.
• Asthmatic children show better pulmonary function and increased peak air flow.
• Burn injury patients report reduced pain, itching, and anxiety.
• High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.
• Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and cramping.
• Preterm infants have improved weight gain.

Research continues to show the enormous benefits of touch—which range from treating chronic diseases, neurological disorders, and injuries, to alleviating the tensions of modern lifestyles. Consequently, the medical community is actively embracing bodywork, and massage is becoming an integral part of hospice care and neonatal intensive care units. Many hospitals are also incorporating on-site massage practitioners and even spas to treat postsurgery or pain patients as part of the recovery process.

So, here's my new monthly "motivation" reward. At the end of each month, as long as I have lost accumulatively 4 pounds for that month, I am going to gift myself with a massage. I will report back to you how it goes. I am just so excited and hopeful. I want to continue to do everything I possibly can to encourage myself and keep myself motivated towards getting my body back, one pound at a time.

Happy Monday!

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