Welcome to our WOW Fitness Blog

WOW Fitness has created this blog so that we can communicate with you in a fun and personal manner with a variety of subjects from fitness techniques to new products on the market to funny and interesting things we come across in our daily exercise lives. We'll try to keep it light hearted and informative... please feel free to make comments regarding our posts and indeed any thoughts you may have on the subject in discussion. In the meantime we hope you enjoy reading our posts, and be sure to bookmark this page for quick and easy access.
WOW Fitness Team

Saturday, 9 June 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "How's the Training going Kelly from the Blog?"


Hey Sonia,
Yet another great workout with OVERLOAD………
Feeling WOW at the moment watching what I eat and really pushing myself on the exercise front………………BOSS said I am looking lean…….YES RESULT. I am doing two spin classes a week with Sonia plus one personal training session as well as fitting the gym in a couple of times.  My energy levels have increased and most of all I feel WOW.
Still working full time at the minute so it is harder to push myself to get going in the evening but MUST keep focused ………….
Will I be daring to bare over this Summer………………….OH I THINK SO
Looking forward to our next session! Thanks as always Sonia and keep up the excellent workouts! Kel  xx

Sonia Cullington say's "Hello WOW Man, whaaat's happening???"

Stephen R. Covey once said – ‘Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition - such as lifting weights - we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity’
I think this pretty much sums up the last five months for me. It’s been difficult!
Personal challenges, my own opposition to being motivated, disrupting the routine and probably a lot of excuses!
The bottom line is that unfortunately I have put 3 stone on again. I could offer you some great analysis of the reasons for this, but I prefer to say its another journey of self discovery, where for a time I lost the momentum and interest.

 
I can tell you its very frustrating, you enjoy the good comments about your ever reducing figure, you feel better through losing weight, exercising and eating sensible, but goodness you can so easily let things slip.

A few weeks ago I suspected the worse with results of a blood test and health check up. Thank goodness it was a positive outcome, Diabetes still in remission and blood pressure still within the normal range. This was a huge relief, and demonstrated that enough healthy reserves were there.

Putting the weight on has made me feel quite miserable and I don’t like being like this!!!
Sonia to the rescue, the patience of a saint and a bloody nice person too.  We met two weeks ago, she once again gave me the inspiration to start again and more importantly has not given up on me.
So the next chapter of this journey begins – watch this space and the waist line!
Yours in WOW fitness
Paul
Well my WOW man is back!!! Life was full of challenges for Paul and my personal message to him was "YOU never eliminate FAT demons by allowing them the POWER! Be STRONG Mr WOW!" and when he asked me "Does these trousers make me look fat?" my answer was"NO, your FAT makes YOU look FAT!" Watch this space....

Sonia / Chief Wellness Officer WOW Fitness

Monday, 23 April 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "Take the POWER!"

“This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to EXERCISE and exercise with fun & laughter. Take the power to control your own life & HEALTH. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy!"                       Sonia Cullington/Wow Fitness
Take the WOW Power…

If you are looking to recapture and resume your feelings and energy levels which you once enjoyed “Take the Power!” and take a “Vow to join WOW”. The POWER is in your own hands.

WOW POWER will give you:
       ·        The feel good factor
·        The ability to effect change and exercise control
·        Much better self-esteem
·        Weight loss
·        The Mindset to follow your passion
·        Control of your feelings
·        More confidence
If you are trying to lose weight, imagining your life at your ideal weight is an important part of the process. Without making the commitment to eating healthier and incorporating consistent exercise into your life, success will remain elusive, even for the most well-prepared mind. At Wow Fitness Life Coaching we focus on the mental preparation you need to achieve your dream life and weight and we help YOU be the driver of your mind. (Your mind only takes off on its own if you are not telling it what to do.)

Life is supposed to be WOW! When you're WOWING, you feel WOW! Feeling WOW brings the life you want, and taking things too seriously brings a life you have to take seriously.

There are between 50 and 75 trillion cells in the human body. Cell types can be classified by their tissue of origin. However, it is possible for some cells to have their behavior induced by surrounding tissue which brings me to the point - Whatever you believe about your body, your cells believe too. They don't question anything you think, feel, or believe. In fact, they hear every thought, feeling, and belief you have. If you think or say, 'I have a weight problem,' your cells receive 'weight' as a command and they must carry out your instructions and keep your body in an overweight condition.

To him belongs the power forever. Amen.
 1 Peter 5:11

For further information on WOW Power please contact me via email – soniacullington@wowfitness.co.uk  or mobile 07534920666

Healthy regards

Sonia Cullington / Chief Wellness Officer Wow Fitness

Thursday, 12 April 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "Yummy Mummy or Tummy Mummy Kelly?"

Hey Sonia,
Well what can I say the “HEAT IS ON” who will have WOW ABS I am guessing with the determination in us and support from each other it is going to be a close call!!!!
Another fantastic effort I thought heavy weights and OVERLOAD……my body is always changing which is great and I feel more confident the more and more it changes but with these new found abs that we are prepping…….it could be a WOW Summer!!!
Nutrition is key again and I have cut out bread and potatoes and increased the protein……..lots of turkey!!!!
I could do with some pointers in the snack area as I do not want to steer towards the wrong foods…..HELP!!
Looking forward to our next session!
Thanks as always Sonia
Kelxx
Well I have challenged my client Kelly to an ABS competition...all I will say is watch this space, me thinks a pic of each of  our current state of Tum's will be a WOW start! The picture above is what I tempted Kelly with, I keep flashing it during her training sessions...I am also giving her a nutrition programme which will help her with her snacks.

Sonia Cullington / Founder Wow Fitness


Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "Being Always On..."

Being Always ON…
“If the spirit doesn’t move you, sit down and move your spirit.” David Schwartz, The Magic of Thinking Big
Wherever, whenever…instant messaging, blogs, mobile phones, social networking sites e.g  a previous article in the New Scientist talked about research that has determined that being “always connected” drops your IQ about 10 points. It has the same deleterious effect on IQ as losing a night’s sleep or smoking marijuana. (It is a bit ironic that the technology that is supposed to be helping us is perhaps wasting more brain power than it is saving…) This is NOT what I mean by being “ON”.
Being Always ON is when you are engaged in life and embracing its opportunities and challenges with infectious enthusiasm. It’s about getting pleasure and satisfaction out of your existence by being involved and excited about what is happening. Things, people, fitness, events, jobs, pastimes can all be interesting and involving if you decide to be “ON” in your life rather than “OFF”
“Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself…”
If you are “ON”, you are up for it, whatever it is! No hanging about until you are in the mood, you do something about the situation in hand, you engage and act straight away even if you don’t have a plan, readiness means good and interesting things will probably happen. Energy and decisiveness “FLOW” and omit highly attractive vibes…
“Flow is about being completely involved in an activity for it’s own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole “being” is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”
 Mihaly Csikszentmihaly, Flow
In conclusion, Being always ON means experiencing the true power of NOW…and as I always say at WOW Fitness – Start NOW Feel WOW!
 
Sonia Cullington / Founder - WOW Fitness

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "Fab Abs anyone?"

Hey Sonia
Well double whammy for me again this week !!!
MONDAY
So “The Boss” decided it is FAB ABS week and has pushed my abs to the limits and boy oh boy did I feel the crunch!!! So we were concentrating on working that body which meant increasing the weights AGAIN…………………….so OVERLOAD kicked in with the usual reps of 50!!! 
Burn the fat is the only way forward so increasing the weight is the way to do this……………as normal Sonia is watching my back and incorporating the moves to strengthen it at all times.
TUESDAY
OMG “The Boss” means business she looked at me and said “UP” which meant lets add on them weights AGAIN keeping the REPS at 50..................... Burn Baby Burn!!!
Sonia is feeling feisty and she is still going for FAB ABS which guess what that means we all are!!! You do not need surgery or drastic measures all you need is WOW FITNESS..............and if you do not believe me check out my WOW look which I have worked hard to get and am very confident with!!
May have a little treat courtesy of the Easter Bunny !!! (Alright Boss I said LITTLE)
Happy Easter remember MODERATION!!!............................ Nutrition  is key to staying WOW xx
Thanks Sonia!!!
Kelxxx
 I am "upping" the pace with Kelly's workouts...those ABS will be FAB, I have said to her "Let's see whose ABS look better..." The heat is on via BOSS & CLIENT...Watch this space! YUMMY MUMMY OR TUMMY MUMMY? The choice is yours!!!

Sonia/Wow Fitness

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "Dare to Bare Kelly?"

Hey Sonia

Feeling HOT HOT HOT!!!
Well another back appointment yesterday and my back is improving and getting stronger so the exercises you have incorporated into my workouts have payed off......................THANK YOU
Another great session last night working the core.................press ups which I could not do when I started with you back in 2010..................side planks woop woop and a huge amount of fun!!!

I feel WOW mentally and physically and am looking forward to our next session!
Keep up the good work Son and the WOW WORDS OF WISDOM....

I will DARE TO BARE when summer arrives.......oh I did todayJ xx
Kel xx

Kelly is WOWING! She is mentally & physically in the WOW zone and her energy balance is in tune with her life style...WOW WOW WOW!

Sonia - Wow Fitness Health & Wellness Motivator
 

Sonia Cullington say's "Whaaat's happening Hedda?"

Hi Sonia!

Well, its Spring again and I am in a renewed phase of trying to lose more weight and look good, two weddings this year! I need to lose at least one stone before the 3rd June!

I had a really happy day when I went into Marks and Spencer and bought some fitted trousers off the peg and they actually fitted! In the past I have had to rely on elasticated waists, very comfortable, but the choice is very limited.

 Still having trouble losing, mainly due to the fact that I had a four day holiday in Scarborough with my husband, followed by a vile virus that had me laying on the sofa for over a week. I now realise that in order to lose weight, I must exercise!

Back on track now, and spent nearly all day Sunday gardening, the backs of my legs are telling me this was good for me! Thank goodness for Sonia and WOW fitness, for keeping me on the straight and narrow! I am really looking forward to our WOW session this week!!!

Kindest regards

Hedda x

Hedda is fighting fit, she knows what she has to do and when she did put on a bit of weight  recently when she was 'flirting' with food and her husband she soon sharp got back on track...watch this space, we will get another stone off by June!

Sonia - Forever Tracking, Forever Fun, Fitness Forever!!!! x

Sunday, 25 March 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "WOW Fitness PT Client Kelly is WOWING!!!"

Hey Sonia
WOW, WOW and WOW again no slacking for me this morning with the clocks changing another awesome workout!!!! So the BOSS’s words “ up up up with the weights” and we continued with the reps of “50”.................I WANT MORE........... so another session tomorrow can’t wait!!!!
I am burning calories as fast as my body can go at the mo and it feels GOOD!!
Watch the nutrition and work your body and you too will feel WOW!! Keep it FUN......... and I do that with WOW Fitness (Sonia) .......FUN & RESULTS.............. I have lost 1 stone 8lbs (10kg) now and am maintaining this.............BUT there is always room for improvement!!!
The back is easier but Sonia is working the CORE to strengthen it all the time........ which is keeping the AB’S FAB...........
So Son see you tomoz for another blast.....
Kelxx

Kelly is WOWING on every occasion! I keep challenging her body with power workouts and I challenge her mind with Life Coaching sessions, she most definitely has the WOW Factor!!!

Sonia Cullington/WOW Fitness

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "Watch your BACK Kelly..."

Hey Sonia

I did not blog you after my session on the 12th March but it was awesome as normal and we concentrated on strengthening the back following on from my osteopath appointment!! And boy did I hurt on Tuesday morning as I had some kind of bug and did not move off the sofa for two days!!!

However I had another osteopath appointment today and there is improvement all thanks to you Sonia advising me on what I should and should not be doing!!! The lady told me everything Sonia has been doing with me over the last few months the only thing she has done different is flip me from one side of a bed to another and not in a pleasurable way .............
Tonight another great session working the core and maintaining a WOW body which will be hot, hot, hot by the summer.

Keep focused keep it fun and keep listening to the BOSS and watch the results!!
Thanks Sonia as always!

Kelxx
I have been working Kelly's core at every session (our last few sessions have been outside in the fresh air). I have been aware of the pain she has been experiencing in her back and I have only given her moves & repetitions that have been suitable but still WOW...her side planks tonight were  AWE & SOME!!!
Sonia Cullington - Chief Wellness Officer/WOW Fitness

Monday, 5 March 2012

Sonia Cullington say’s “The First Wealth is Health…”

“First health, then wealth, then pleasure, and do not owe anything to anybody.” Catherine the Great



Real Health Wealth, (Hint: Jesse J sings -  It's not about the money, money, money. We don't need your money, money, money. We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the Price Tag
….”) is YOU have  a choice to make.  It is the same choice YOU make every day of your working life. Do you exercise and put your body to the test or do you go to work earlier/  stay later showing  commitment to your employer? In respect it is an easy choice to make, but perhaps more difficult to commit to in the long term.
“Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.” Winston Churchill
I am a great believer in Mind Over Muscle, you need mental strength to power your workout…You feel good when you exercise and you look good and do good! Programme your subconscious to lead you towards success, treat your body like a business proposition… “An ‘easy’ session is a wasted session” To end up with a profit, treat each workout like a meeting: Be punctual and consistent. (That brings me back to the time you can utilise before you commence/finish work. Fit Fitness IN!)

 I like to call it Real Health Wealth because if you are willing to be REAL about your fitness you will become rich in a way that benefits YOU and the people around you, e.g  family, friends, lovers, co-workers, clients etc.  Real Health Wealth is a sense of fulfilment and well-being in any area of your life….



Love yourself physically. To love oneself on the physical level is to take care of the body. Loving  your mind.  Loving your mental machinations is another facet to loving yourself…

Sonia Cullington / Health & Wellness Coach


Wednesday, 29 February 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "What did you call me Kelly?"

Hey Sonia

Well Bitc* or Boss tough question after Sunday and a Monday session....... either way Sonia put the “OW” in WOW.
I have worked hard with the following quotes from the BOSS:

Slow & Low
Wow not OW
I have been sticking with the reps of 50 and this is working the body!!! Burn Burn Burn!!!

Summer is near and this body will look WOW if it kills me!!! Increasing the weights and the reps is making a big difference and I can feel my shape changing yet again!!!
Listen to the BOSS and watch the rest happen!!!

Thanks Sonia as always

Kel
xx

Yes, Kelly was calling me names and it was not Sonia! hahahaha but she felt WOW!!!!  If you would like to ask Kelly or myself any questions , please leave your comments and we will reply.

Sonia (The Boss...)

Monday, 27 February 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "Why do RULES have such power over our minds?"

Rules versus Guidelines- "You're pirates. Hang the code and hand the rules. They're more like guidelines anyway." This line by Kiera Knightley, as Elizabeth in the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean suggests that guidelines can be bent or broken.



"Our ambition should be to rule ourselves, the true kingdom for each one of us; and true progress is to know more, and be more, and to do more." Oscar Wilde
But is there a rule by which you can tell the difference? Yes, but it is a rule that is made to be broken. In consequence, it is not particularly useful. Then again, few rules are useful. The more of these you have, the more transgressions you have to deal with, punish, apologise for or turn a blind eye to.  Most people most of the time assent to a conglomeration of moral rules which they do not bother to question or examine. These rules are usually those we have been taught in childhood and I believe are mandatory e.g "Don't tell lies" and "Bathe" "Brush your teeth" or “Study”…
The first rule of business is: Do other men for they would do you.
Charles Dickens
I have a close friend who is a very practical person but hates the word ‘system’ from the core of his heart. As a human being he has a certain protocol that he follows and he feels he has enough of his own liberty to define his own behaviour, particularly in business, I would call this person a ‘Rule Rebel’.  A business rule defines or constrains one aspect of your business that is intended to assert business structure or influence the behaviour of your business. Business rules often focus on access control issues. So is there a price to pay for being a ‘Rule Rebel?’ Over reacting to the smallest issues, then spend nights working on recovery, only to do the same thing again, swinging to and fro can be draining or exhilarating! YOU choose...

 “Never permit a dichotomy to rule your life, a dichotomy in which you hate what you do so you can have pleasure in your spare time. Look for a situation in which your work will give you as much happiness as your spare time.”  Pablo Picasso

 
So, what do you keep as hard and fast rules and what are more flexible guidelines?
Health & Fitness Rules:
I find that rules are what you need to stick too to prevent your plan from going way off target e.g a rule of only allowing  yourself an alcoholic drink on weekends prevents week night drinking that you are not confident controlling. The rule keeps you safe.
Another example may be more like a guideline, like aiming to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. If you manage to drink 5 glasses, you’ve still made a good attempt and your plan won’t go off track because you missed a couple of glasses of water.
Rules might include; no more than 2 days without exercise, not eating after dinner, or shopping when hungry. You need to keep the rules that keep you on Target. Guidelines are more flexible and help you build a nutrient rich diet.
 My Golden Rule for eating is “Hari Hachi Bu”
 In Okinawa, Japan, elders use this simple statement for their eating philosophy, which translates into “Eat until you are eight parts full” I recommend you follow the 80/20 RULE– make an effort and eat the right foods 80% of the time, and let your hair down the other 20%. Just don’t be surprised if it ends up being only 10% as your energy, health and motivation builds with each consecutive day of healthy eating! Okinawans have the longest life expectancy on the planet, as well as the highest concentration of centenarians (those who live to the ripe old age of 100). Stopping at 80% capacity works because the stomach’s stretch receptors take about 20 minutes to tell the body that’s how full it is.

I could not finish this blog piece without mentioning the Moral Rule...
The Bible begins with the creation. The day Adam was created he was given six moral ethical rules of law and the prohibition of eating from the Tree of Knowledge...

Whilst preparing this blog, different people had different opinions, I would like to share one which made me smile..."Well I heard that Adam was the first man and Eve was the first lady as per the bible's content. But I have never read that they got married before they gave birth to a child, not that I want to sleep with a girl right away, but it's a thought, no offence.(This brings us to one of the biggest Rules - MARRIAGE) OK marriage is a very beautiful thing and it should be valued, but what should I do if I don't like my wife anymore and want to sleep with some other girl" Maybe I should write a big blog piece on this, any comment's ladies? What if we did not want to sleep with our lover, boyfriend, husband anymore...(-_-)

My rule on this...You're coming alive, no longer armed with a set of rules and measurements about how love should be, instead hopefully, engaging in the immeasurable moment.

Your In Fun & Fitness
Sonia Cullington / Founder of WOW Fitness

"If you obey all the RULES, you miss all the FUN!!!!"

Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "Fancy a LOVE Workout Kelly?"

Hey Sonia

Burger King, Pizza, Chicken Lasagne, Garlic Bread, Sweets and Birthday Cake are just an example of the rubbish I have indulged in last weekend!!! Oh and lots of ROSE WINE!!!!  So as you can imagine I need a WOW session today.

So Sonia and I met for a loved up session in the gym to celebrate Valentine’s Day and it was WOW. 
My arms took a beating and yes the big O came into play..........OVERLOAD which was brought on by an extra special treat today, Sonia’s Ex Husband Paul joined us and as England’s Silver Medalist Indoor Rowing Champion, he showed us how it was done. And WOW what a difference when you do it properly the heart was racing and not with love but power!!!!!

I worked really hard and Sonia has been brill as I have been suffering with my back she is working on exercises that strengthen this area which is making a huge difference!!!

Well loving over until Sunday where I look forward to another good session using that rowing machine and who knows we could be going for GOLD!!  Look out Paul!
Hope you all have a WOW Valentine’s Day!

Thanks Sonia as always!
Kel
xx

Valentine's Day certainly was FUN! Kelly had a "Love"ly workout!!! I am looking forward to Sunday morning when we will "row, row, row the boat...." we are concentrating on toning and not moaning!!!! I am very proud of my ex husband Paul for getting a Silver Medal on Sunday 12th February at the Indoor Rowing Championships , when I told our daughter Paula daddy got a Silver medal, her reply was "First the worst, second the best!!!!!" spoken like her mother!!!! hahahahaha

Soniaxxx

Monday, 13 February 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "Love your Life!"

On your marks, get set…It’s “LOVE” this month… Whether the love lasts a week, a month, a year, or beyond, love is the most desired commodity in society today, which is why there is so much said about the subject, so here is my contribution to the subject…which is close to my heart or as others say the ‘key’ to their heart.


Firstly, I am addicted to motivational words and phrases, some have stopped me dead in my tracks and had me pondering about their context for hours, they pack so much WOW –WordsOf Wisdom in a few (sometimes crazy) words… I get energy from words. I glance at them, read them, repeat them and they charm and channel my thoughts in a positive way. It’s also a great way to keep you motivated with your fitness.  
We create our lives with our thoughts and feelings. Love is good for your confidence, wellbeing and even your health. Love is essential for Life… whether it’s through our relationships with family, friends, work, partners, fitness, lovers etc, it is a fundamental feature of our existence. The feeling of love makes us feel happier, more relaxed, sensual and, dare I say … sexier. Let’s face it, a bit of loving with body confidence does us all the world of good and what better way to give ourselves a boost than with a bit of subtle loving.

‘If you want to be loved, be lovable’
Ovid
February 14th is Valentines’s Day, I Looooove this day…Love is all around… Rose petals may be scattered in our bath-tubs or on our beds, anonymous cards may be left through our letter boxes, or maybe strange missives may pop up in our inbox’s? But whatever we receive or give, I am a true believer that wishes can come true.  At this precise moment writing this article, I have the dvd on called “Love Actually” it explores the ups and downs of relationships, between boyfriends and girlfriends, husband and wives, fathers and sons and employer and manager. The jist of the movie is – “because if you look hard enough you will find love actually IS around…”


WOW Fun Fact - according to folk law if a girl watch’s a bird on Valentine’s Day it predicts her future husband. E.g, a Sparrow tells she will meet a poor man. If she sees an Owl, she will remain single. A Bluebird predicts she will find a happy man. A Blackbird tells her he will be a priest or a clergyman. If you see a Goldfinch you will marry a millionaire. Should the bird be a Robin, you will marry a policeman.

A flock of doves is the luckiest of all for you will have a happy and peaceful marriage. Other superstitions say, if an apple is cut in half and the number of seeds inside the fruit are counted, it will indicate how many children you would have. (Hmmm, ladies, well we are known as ‘birds’ to the male species hahahaha…the birds I always take note of are Magpie’s, 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy, 3 for a girl, 4 for a boy etc etc if I see one I salute it 3 times, fellow drivers must think I am totally mad…I actually do this every day)

If you are lucky enough to be awoken by a kiss on Valentine’s Day, this is considered to be lucky.  (Well if I don’t get a kiss in the morning at least by text, email etc I will be most upset! Ha!)

In the middle ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for a full week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means it’s easy for others to know how you are feeling.


WOW even Funnier Fact - On February 14th, the first man’s name you read in the paper or hear on TV or radio will be the name of the man you will marry. To see a squirrel on Valentine Day, you will marry a tightwad who will take all your money from you......
 
"L
ove is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination." Voltaire

I wish you all a “Happy Valentine’s Day” and may all your dreams come true…


February 29 is a date that usually occurs every four years, and is called leap day. This day is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365 days.
Women can propose to men (WOW, a Hand & Some guy may be Lucky, Lucky, Lucky!)
According to an old Irish legend, or possibly history, St Bridget struck a deal with St Patrick to allow women to propose to men – and not just the other way around – every 4 years. This is believed to have been introduced to balance the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way to how Leap Day balances the calendar.
In some places, Leap Day has been known as “Bachelors’ Day” for the same reason. A man was expected to pay a penalty, such as a gown or money, if he refused a marriage proposal from a woman on Leap Day. During the middle ages there were laws governing this tradition.
WOW Fun Fact -In many European countries, especially in the upper classes of society, tradition dictates that any man who refuses a woman's proposal on February 29 has to buy her 12 pairs of gloves. The intention is that the woman can wear the gloves to hide the embarrassment of not having an engagement ring.
I truly believe, whatever you want more of, you have to give away. If you desire love, you have to love others; if it's more money, then give some away. Same with patience: if you want more of it, give someone your time. If you want to be fitter, FIT Fitness IN! This sets up a vibration of positive energy in the direction of where YOU want to go! YOU are responsible for what shows up in your life, including relationships. Everything YOU experience in a partnership (work, love, health etc) is to teach YOU something. Tune in to how YOU relate to others and vice versa - this really will tell YOU a great deal... It is through your relationships with others and the outside world that you get to find out who YOU are, what YOU want and what's important to YOU!


  Enjoy the rest of February, I would love to hear your comments on Love.
Sonia Cullington / Founder WOW Fitness



Monday, 6 February 2012

Sonia Cullington say's "STOP MAKING EXCUSES!"


“Where the heart is willing it will find a thousand ways, but where it is unwilling it will find a thousand excuses…” Dayak proverb
Do YOU find yourself making excuses when YOU do not perform in any area of your life? Shed the excuses and face reality. EXCUSES are the loser's way out. They will mar your credibility and stunt YOUR personal growth.

NO MORE EXCUSE DAYS!!!

5 weeks of 2012 have gone!  So, this week, it's time for a nudge from WOW - to stop and rid yourself of any excuses you make for not eating well, loving well, working well, exercising regularly or making your fitness a priority.

An "EXCUSE DAY" is a day where you've decided to let excuses win and YOU don't eat, live, love, work well or exercise.

In my line of work I think I have heard every excuse on the planet, if I was given a £1 every time someone said to me “I am starting today!” I would be a Millionaire not a Healthionaire!!! Some of my favourite common excuses include;

·        NO time (The one thing we are all equal in is TIME, every single one of us has access to 24hrs in a day, I see people spend ages queing up for a hip & trendy coffee, yet seemingly don't have time for a walk....)

·        BUT I can’t  because…I’m too old (hmmm, too old for what? age is just a number unless you are a bottle of wine! It's not about chronological age, it's about YOUR mental age, i.e how youthful are you in the mind and how much zest and spirit you have in life)

·        I have got to live, I could be run over by a bus (OK!!! That is true, BUT don't you want to look and feel good before the bus comes along...)

·        I have an injury…so I can’t exercise (There isn't any reason on this beautiful planet why anyone should become unhealthy or overweight just because they have an injury, if you can't move your arms, move your legs and vice versa, try reading Christopher Reeve's (actor who was Superman and lived 9 years of his lfe as a paraplegic ) inspirational book "Nothing is Impossible"

·        Big is Beautiful and I am fat and happy ( FAT is NOT ATTRACTIVE!!!)

·        I am only a bit overweight (YOU ARE FAT!!)

·        The kids love McDonalds (Does your child or children have a gun to your head saying " Take me there!!")                                                                                                                                                           

·        I have tried it all before and IT doesn’t work for me (The truth is there is no 'IT' - IT IS YOU' "it will work if YOU do' IT' If you fail to do it, then IT hasn't failed YOU HAVE!)

·        I eat as a response to EMOTION (This just does not wash with me...I could write a whole blog piece on this!!!! Have you ever heard anyone say "I am really pissed off today. I need a grape!")

·        I know it ALREADY… (I love this one!!! Just knowing it doesn't mean anything...what do NIKE say "JUST DO IT!!!)

When you hear these or any other excuses in your head, replace the words with "NO more excuse days".

Doing this will give you a mental kick to make a wiser choice, see results and FEEL WOW!


The next time you catch yourself making an excuse, whether for exercising, for love, for food, the late project, the unmet goal, or the job you work, gently remind yourself - no excuses. Spend your thought time planning your next successful meeting, fitness session, venture etc. Positive thinking becomes a helpful habit. Excuses fuel failure
 
Sometimes it helps psychologically and emotionally to make up a phony excuse for something. We may not want to reveal too much about ourselves (or a family member) to others, and will make up a phony excuse. Other times we will make excuses to help us feel better about behaviors which we are trying to justify.

Being a chronic excuse maker in the workplace or in your relationships is a whole other can of worms. Excuses generally are merely a ploy for shirking duties or avoiding unpleasant situations. Are your excuses getting in the way of leading a responsible life, loving whole heartedly, attaining your goals, or securing that job promotion? THINK about it.
 
Why Do We Make Excuses? 
If you are someone who is a habitual excuse maker it might be a good idea to ask yourself why you deliberately choose to be less than truthful. Do you fear the scrutiny of friends, family, or coworkers? Are you uncomfortable with opening yourself up to others? Are your excuses meant to inflate your worthiness in the eyes of others? The reason why we make excuses is probably not as important as the "feeling" associated with being less than honest. Excuses are meant to hide our shortcomings or give a better light to our failures. Everyone gets that. We can all justify our reasons for making excuses.
Taking responsibility for your actions is the grown-up thing to do. Admitting your failures and accepting that you are not perfect may be hard to swallow at first. But, as you stop making excuses for yourself, you will soon realize how emotionally freeing your life can be. I know it is cliché - but "Honesty (really) is the best policy."
 
Recently I’ve been making a lot of excuses to myself. Reasons not to complete assignments, finish de- cluttering my home see my friends, reply to emails etc And it’s mainly because things have been so crazy lately, lots of other little things have cried out for my  attention in my  life. Have I taken on the role of ‘victim?’ Well, er Nooooooo, “I have probably made EXCUSES!” 
I have always led my life by my values…(as some of you may know them by, “my F’s…”) 
FUN, Family, Fitness, Friends…(to name a few…) 
And yet when my world gets crazy, those things that I know make me Feel Good, Look Good, Do Good are often the first things to go!!!
And so, I’ve decided to turn my excuses into reasons. When life gets crazy, instead of using it as an excuse “not TO”, I’m going to use it as a reason “TO”. I will make sure I DO the things that give me more energy and when I have energy, I pass that on to anyone who comes into contact with me!
 
 “It is easier to find an excuse than to find a reason” Doug Brown, author
 
And so what excuses are you going to turn into reasons this week

Don't make excuses, make good… Now you try... why is today NOT going to be an excuse day?
Sonia Cullington - Founder WOW Fitness