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Monday, January 24, 2011

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:
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:
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:
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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5 comments:

  1. YES!!!!! I'm SO proud of you! I'm SOOOOO excited you are doing this!

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  2. OH MY! I can't believe it! You are so going to like massages, I sure do! They are more than just a treat, they really do relax you!

    Let us know how you LOVE it! ;)

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  3. Thanks for the encouragement Jess!

    I know Jac! I can't believe it either. But, after reading all the health benefits, I think I'd be crazy not to try it. It will be a great treat. I will certainly let you know how it goes. BTW, thanks for always commenting and engaging - it really is another way of encouraging. I really, really appreciate it!

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  4. I cannot believe you have never had a massage. I try to do one a month. I would do one a week if I could. If you want some suggestions or a coach to go along with you for moral support, just give a shout... I would sacrifice the time.... you know, I might could use one myself, haven't had one a few months.

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  5. I know Lisa! I am just letting out all kinds of secrets these day! ;-) I would love to hear your "massage" experiences and suggestions. I know that there are many different kinds and am just beginning my research.

    BTW, I loved your blog post about jumping in with us 52'ers! It will be fun to have your input and to encourage each other! The rest of you guys should check out Lisa's recent post on her blog: http://arklck.blogspot.com/2011/01/ok-ok.html

    Love you bunches!

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