Brain Exercises

Just as you need to exercise your muscles to keep your body in shape, you need to exercise your brain to keep your mind sharp. I am always looking for new ways to keep my mind fresh. I have the memory of a steel trap and I want to make sure it stays that way! :-)

Health Day News reports, that one technique called neurobics (a play on the word aerobics) uses one or more of your five senses in novel and unconventional ways that are meant to engage your attention and add an unexpected element to a routine activity.

The result? Brain cells become more active and stimulated. The brain will actually creates new connections in areas that process sensory input. To keep it simple: your brain will recharge.

Duke University researchers say if you do these simple exercises regularly, you'll keep your brain nimble and ready for new challenges.

Health Day News describes five neurobics exercises:

* Use your non-dominant hand as you go through your morning rituals, such as combing or styling your hair, getting dressed, brushing your teeth, and making your breakfast.

* Close your eyes as you shower and use your sense of touch to locate your soap and wash yourself. Your brain must then rely on your other four senses to complete the task.

* Turn the pictures on your desk or shelves upside down.

* Experience new sights and sounds by going to a new ethnic or farmer's market or bakery.

* When you travel abroad, immerse yourself completely in unfamiliar surroundings. For example, go to a small town where no one speaks your language, try new foods, and stay in a local bed and breakfast.

Other neurobics activities you can do that break up your mental routine include rearranging your living, office, or desk space or even take a different route to work.

Have fun getting smarter!

Project: Train Ja-Nae

Hi Everyone!

I'm a little behind on converting my journal entries to posts. Here is one of my latest entries:

1/15/07

I'm amazed at how one can view exercise as if it is the devil spawn. Of course, I have been one of those people. It's not that I don't like ALL exercise. I love dancing, yoga, swimming, making love. However, most cardio is never fun. It could be that as a child, whenever I ran during a game of tag and someone yelled, "Hey, Fat Ass!" has ultimately scarred me for life. Or I've been using that childhood B.S. to keep me from achieving my goal. Who knows, who cares. Let's move on.

Well, Helen has done a great job of keeping me motivated. Being the Alpha Female that I am, it is the strength training and the last minute adrenaline that I thrive on. So, she capitalizes on that and incorporates cardio intermittently. It's really working out well.

I even do exercises at home now. Since I have a ball and some weights, Helen has shown me what I can be doing at home when I need a break from the computer. This is great because, I can do 30 crunches and then go back to working on the computer. Then I'll do 10 jack rabbits and go back to work. This type of low anxiety workout fits well with my lifestyle and I love.

Now........getting ready for Miami and my bathing suit.........this will be fun! LOL

Love,

Ja-Nae

Guess who has a trainer????

Tomorrow I start working with a trainer. This is something that I've wanted to do for a while, but have made up a ton of excuses as to why I shouldn't or couldn't do it. Well, I'm finally tired of the excuses. I'm tired of looking at myself (with clothes or without) and wondering, "What the #$^%^% have I done to myself?" So now, I'm taking responsibility for my body.

Let's see how this goes..............