Building Routines Equals Building Self-Confidence

In my life, I've found nothing more life-affirming than building new skills. To gain a skill, you must perform the task habitually. You don't aim for perfection, but you should aim for excellence. When you are first doing the task, one may feel awkward, even foolish. You view other people who are already skillful at it & shake your head in wonder, knowing that you're a rank amateur, thinking you can't possibly master this. And yet you end up doing just that, maybe even becoming a teacher someday yourself. Think of all the things you've accomplished in your life which at one time were seemingly-impossible tasks. Learning to walk, drive a car, use a computer, write a thesis, craft a business letter...the list goes on, and varies from person to person. But we have all become a success at something. Remember that experience right now. I want you to feel the pride in knowing that you became a master at something. I then want you to take that attitude & apply it to something that you're struggling with making a routine today.

Whether you're having trouble remembering to make your bed every day, work out each morning before work, spend more time with your kids or cleaning out your closet. All of us are almost always in the process of trying to gain some new skill, or at the very least remain masterful at what we're already doing. It's not easy to take the first steps. It's hard to watch others who seem to do things so effortlessly while you're huffing & puffing. Who wants to be the one struggling with learning the steps of an aerobics class? Who wants to be rebuked by a teacher for giving the wrong answer in class or missing an important sentence when reciting a monologue? No one does. Absolutely no one wants to be seen as a failure. But there's a big difference between being a beginner & being a failure. It's interesting how many of us confuse the two! The important thing to remember is this- you aren't a failure if you keep trying every day to accomplish something. You may find after a time that you're not meant to do the task you've attempted. Maybe it just doesn't suit your natural talents or you have no enjoyment in performing it. There may be someone around you who does the task with great ease and/or enjoyment, and you're meant to do something else. But you'll never know for sure unless you attempt the task to begin with! Attempt to do the task. Try it a few times. Take notes. Learn what you can from others who have gone before you & mastered the job. You'll know then- and only then- if it's not for you. Step away from the fear of being seen as a beginner or from making public mistakes. No one who ever walks out of their comfort zone experiences success at all times. You'll have skill sets that you'll find you just aren't meant to take on. There's nothing wrong with this. To a great extent, we should go with our natural inclinations, our natural talents. But every one of us has tasks which we simply have to do, whether we like it or not. If it's a task that you have to do in life anyway, then research how to do it as smoothly, quickly & joyfully as possible. Seek out the methods of success in the skill that will shave off time, increase your efficiency & minimize your messes. Never be afraid to ask someone who's gone before you how to to do things correctly. Most people are glad to share what you know. Look around for a mentor, and I can almost certainly promise you that one will appear. Most people have not because they ask not.

I was once a clueless housekeeper. My home looked like a tornado went through it by the time it got to weekly housecleaning. I was so depressed & frustrated because no one had ever taught me the habits of maintaining a neat home. I tried very hard to clean well when I did take out the tools of the trade, but I lacked knowledge of how to make it easier. Not until I began reading from mentors, people who had walked the path before me, did I start to get a clue. I had to acknowledge that I wasn't an expert, first of all. That I had something to learn (well, a lot of things, actually). But then I had to do the tasks myself. I had to perform the suggestions over & over again. Through my own trial-and-error, I learned what worked for me. I became my own expert. I even developed my own new methods eventually. This can happen to you, too. In fact, you should expect it if you stick with something long enough. I did not start out on the path feeling bold & confident about my abilities. I wasn't sure that I could master being a good homemaker. I believed that I was lazy, unstable or irresponsible- after all, I'd certainly been told more than once that it must be a character flaw causing my lack of success in homemaking. It wasn't that at all, though. It was a combination of having no mentor, no practice & no real resources, not some horrid immorality I possessed. You may have been told your whole life that you're messy, unsuccessful or incapable. You may have had it far worse than I did & possessed a parent or siblings who undermined your confidence at every turn. You might have been told that you could never amount to much in life, naturally inept or stupid. If I can do anything today, I hope that it's release you from that mental bondage. Because those words of negativity which were spoken are just flat-out lies. You can build new habits at any time, and be astoundingly successful at them! Will it happen instantaneously, this mastery? Not likely. But I know that it can happen, because I've lived it! I know now how to keep an organized binder for school. I know how to clean a house from top-to-bottom thoroughly in two hours or less. I know how to keep my house looking nice with an hour's work or less a day. Yet ten years ago, I had not one of those skills & would never have believed that it wasn't my own immensely flawed brain to blame. But it wasn't true! There was nothing wrong with my brain. I just didn't know the steps to take, and I hadn't practiced the steps yet. That's all. I no longer live in condemnation. If you're struggling with confidence in this area, feeling bad about yourself, I want you to know that you're not alone. But I want you to have hope that it doesn't have to be that way. We don't have to live under that guilt.

I started my journey years ago by reading Elaine St. James' "Simplify Your Life", which was a huge help in turning the corner for good. The more minimalist you become, the easier keeping a home will become automatically. I highly recommend reading FlyLady's work at www.flylady.net. Do what she teaches for awhile, even if you're unsure if she's right. Just give it a try for a month- believe me, when the need arises for you to adapt her teachings to your lifestyle & home, you'll be able to do so. You don't have to buy anything new or subscribe to anything if you don't want to- her program is free & you can just use what you already own to get started. Peruse every book you can on the subjects you're struggling with, be it weekly housecleaning, becoming a better student, organizing you desk or de-cluttering your closets. Review different books on Amazon to see what might be a good addition to your library. Read "Speed Cleaning" by Jeff Campbell if you don't know how to get weekly cleaning done in a speedy, efficient, thorough manner. Google topics that you need answers on to improve your organizing skills or whatever else you need help with. Ask questions of online writers like me if you have questions along the way- that's what we're here for. Most important of all, don't give up on yourself or your goals. 

Here's to being a happy organized minimalist,
Liz 

Create a Daily Cleaning Caddy and/or Apron

*There's something that I have to address here to a few naysayers. (The following comment is not addressed to my regular readers.) I laugh when people who don't personally know me read this blog title & automatically think that I'm a "scary" Stepford wife-type. And I have literally been called scary by a few critics recently who apparently a) haven't read my actual blogs & b) don't realize that I'm a single, childfree-by-choice college student who utterly loves her freedom & independence. If anyone tried to make me a mousy, timid, seen-but-not-heard lady, they'd quickly find themselves getting a smackdown. I adore strong-willed, fiercely independent, tough women who speak their minds- and that's what I grew up with for role models. I've never demanded for a second that anyone live as I do, or become a full-time homemaker if they don't want to be. I'm not even a full-time homemaker, wife or mother! I love finding solutions to organizing quandaries- because I want to spend less time cleaning & searching for stuff, not more! What I'd really love to ask my critics is why they find it so "scary" to be an organized person or to talk about the subject with others? To make it clear, I'm not a believer in the philosophy that says women are only meant to birth babies, worship their spouses & clean house, and nothing more. However, if that is what you love to do in your life & it fulfills you completely, more power to you. If you're someone who wants to spend a lot of time on their career instead though, great. This blog isn't written just for one type of person. And not all blogs will apply to everyone, which I've said all along. The only thing that I believe in firmly is focusing your life on activities that you love. It's that simple for me.

The last time that I checked, wearing an apron was just a way to protect your clothing & keep items on hand which you reach for constantly. Caddies & toolbelts are used by artists, plumbers, carpenters, painters & lots of other workers every single day- and these are hardly people that could be considered frightening human beings void of individualism. I hold up no feminine or masculine ideals for people, because that's not what I write about. I'm not going to apologize for what I write about, period. I'm not going to change blog titles or keep information from readers that I think might help them just because a few people out there mistakenly think that I want women to go back to some proverbial Stone Age. Nothing could be further from the truth. I want everyone who keeps a home- which would be all of us who weren't lucky enough to be born with a personal maid, including men- to have every tool at their fingertips to get their homes clean & organized. I write this so that hopefully they can move on to doing whatever it is they love spending time on when the housework is finished. When someone reads this blog, I want them to have the intention that they'll develop themselves to their full potential. And nothing does that better than a clean, functional space to reside or work in. Almost no one can thrive in clutter or excessive dirtiness. There is never meant to be anything political in my blogs- every one of us just has our areas we have to maintain & care for. If I can simplify anything for my readers, then I'm going to try & help them reach their goals.*

One of the kindest things that you can do for yourself is to create daily functioning "tools" which will prevent that sense of running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. There are many reasons for this problem- your own mental distractions ("Where the heck did I leave the glass cleaner?!"), kids or pets carrying them off to some unknown place (in which case you know you'll need to hide them up high in the future) or the bad habit of not putting things back in their proper place when they're done being used. Another frequent misstep in daily maintenance is not having assigned a home for all of your daily cleaning items in the first place. This is why I recommend that you allot a particular caddy or some other storage container for daily (and weekly, for that matter) home cleaning. These are typically not the big guns of cleaning that you need to carry around. Rather, they're simple "touch-up" items that help keep your home smelling & looking a little fresher each day. Anything that you can do daily to keep your house just a little bit cleaner will make your weekly or bi-weekly housecleaning go a lot faster. It will also leave you feeling more confident about the state of your home each day. I don't expect everyone to share my zeal about daily homemaking, but I know that I want to avoid that feeling of embarrassment which arises when my home looks to others like a hurricane blew through it. I want to know that my home smells nice & looks presentable (not perfect...just passably clean!) If you're a homemaker, you may have had the thought that you shouldn't need such daily helper tools, because after all, you have all day to clean. Right? Wrong! I want you to abandon that mindset. It should never take you all day to clean, especially when you consistently keep up with daily maintenance & a thorough weekly or bi-weekly housecleaning. Just because you have most of the day to spend around the house doesn't mean you don't deserve to purchase, make or organize items so that they can be found & used with lightning-speed. The faster you get these items together & used each day, the more time you have to do things that are really enjoyable- playing, cooking or baking with your kids...sewing that quilt you've wanted to get to for so long...taking a walk or working out...calling or writing an email to an old friend from school...reading a novel without guilt hanging over your head...meditating or spending time in prayer or Bible study...playing bridge or Bingo with friends...volunteering out in the community. You get my drift.  I take my caddy around the house every day as I go from room to room & straighten up. Here's what's in mine, to serve as an example:

1) Earth Friendly Stain & Odor Remover (for carpet stains & such)
2) Old white hand towels, two or three, for cleaning up carpet stains or little spills around the house
3) Two to three dusting cloths, in case I run into dusty spots while cruising through my house that got missed on my weekly cleaning (you can use a feather duster instead if you like, in place of dusting cloths)
4) Tealight candles for my candleholders- I use tealights during blackouts or in rooms where lighting is a bit low. I prefer tealights to votives because they seem to let off a little less soot & they burn out relatively fast. I don't need to worry too much about them being a fire hazard, especially because I burn them in votive holders.
5) Febreze Fabric Refresher- pretty self-explanatory
6) Either Lysol Disinfectant Spray or Febreze Room Spray, also self-explanatory. I'll admit, I use both daily. The Lysol is best directly applied to surfaces, like toilet handles, light fixtures, etc. Febreze is nice in the air, and I like their anti-microbial version for spraying sheets, upholstered furniture, bathroom rugs & cloth shower curtains daily. My mom's a diabetic with a low immune system & I cannot be too careful about killing off any microbe in the home that could make her ill.
7) A brush to get fur off of upholstered areas where my kitty takes her naps, like the rocking chair & top of the recliner
8) Pledge Multi-Surface Cleaner or a similar product, if you have a lot of surfaces where kids and/or pets leave marks each day as they blow through the house like a tornado. This will clean up fingerprints, paw prints, potato chip crumbs, etc. (This need obviously won't apply to everyone.)

The best caddies have a handle, don't tip over easily & stand upright at all times no matter how they're loaded. I use a caddy from The Clean Team which has three separate compartments to it. These caddies can be found in any janitorial cleaning supply store, online at www.amazon.com & many other places. Mine looks very much like the one below:

http://www.amazon.com/Akro-Mils-Plastic-14-Inch-18-Inch-9-Inch/dp/B00021LQ0U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1349121131&sr=8-3&keywords=blue+caddy

I've recommended wearing an apron around the house before, especially if you're likely to be home all day. It can carry many items at once if it has sufficient pockets & weight distribution. Buy an apron that allows adjustment around the neck, and has long enough ties around the waist & more than one pocket. If you're a full-figured woman or a big guy, purchase an oversized apron. Trust me, it's worth the slightly-higher cost to buy an apron that'll fit you grand. Most aprons come with pockets, and I say the more pockets, the better. There are a variety of sizes, styles & lengths of aprons out there. If you cook or bake a lot, tend to splatter things on your shirts or use bleach often in cleaning, I recommend getting a bib-style apron that covers most of your torso. This can save you a lot of heartache caused by ruining good shirts (as well as money spent on pre-treater for when they get thrown in the washing machine...) Otherwise, a simple waiter-style one without the bib might work for you just fine. If you have any neck or upper back problems, too, an apron that ties around the waist alone & has no weight on your neck via a bib is probably best.

http://www.amazon.com/Kay-Dee-Designs-Striped-Oversize/dp/B004ZYVH1S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349122442&sr=8-1&keywords=oversized+apron

http://www.amazon.com/Augusta-Sportswear-Oversized-Waist-Maroon/dp/B004OROBI2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1349122442&sr=8-2&keywords=oversized+apron

http://www.amazon.com/Augusta-Sportswear-Oversized-Medium-Length/dp/B004ORN0BQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1349122442&sr=8-3&keywords=oversized+apron

If you don't carry your cell phone on a belt clip, an apron pocket can be a great place to stow/protect it. Here's some idea of what I keep in my apron...again, just to serve as an example for you:

1) A small pad of lined paper (you can use Post-it notes or a memo pad, as well), a highlighter & a black pen or a pencil. This is great to make notes with about repair jobs that need to be done around the house later, places that need paint touch-ups, etc. If you carry your phone with you, a pad of paper like this is a good place to take down phone messages or make notes from a business call. It'll come in handy many times.
2) A tube of lip balm.
3) A packet of Kleenex pocket tissues.
4) A small tube of hand lotion, a pot of cuticle balm, a couple of individually-packaged Purell wipes & a 2 oz. container of Purell gel. Housework is rough on the hands. When I sit down for a break throughout the day, I like to put on a little cuticle balm and/or hand lotion to help keep the dry skin and hangnails at bay. Sanitizing gel or wipes is great to carry around if you handle something a little icky but can't get to a sink and soap right away.
5) A packet of gum or mints (great for after lunch!)
6) A couple of Band-Aids. (I cut myself on envelopes, while cooking dinner or in some other dumb manner at least once a week it seems. But then, I am a klutz!)
7) My FlyLady timer.
8) A cleaning cloth spritzed with some glass cleaner before I head off to touch up the mirrors/glassware house.
9) A polishing cloth sprayed with a little furniture polish to touch up any dusty wood furniture.
10) A special cloth designed to clean flat computer and TV screens, spritzed with Philips spray for those specific surfaces. (I don't polish these every single day, though- I do this maybe twice a week.)

You can also keep an additional caddy or basket of items under each sink so that your time is cut down considerably in cleaning up each day. Under my kitchen sink, I keep the following items:

1) Cascade Dishwasher Detergent.
2) A small bottle of Clorox bleach (I put a splash of bleach in every dishwasher load to sanitize everything completely- to be clear, I do this at the last minute, right before the dishwasher starts running).
3) Lysol Kitchen Cleaner Spray, for daily counter & stovetop cleaning/disinfecting.
4) Seven white cleaning cloths or microfiber cloths (one for each evening, when I wipe down the counters & stovetop after dinner).

Under my bathroom sinks, I have a caddy filled with:

1) Windex Multi-Surface Cleaner, for wiping down the mirrors, vanity, sink, the outside of the toilet (everything but the bowl) & the floor around the toilet. These surfaces don't necessarily need to be cleaned in full each day- just see where it's needed each day & spot-clean those areas.
2) Seven white cleaning cloths or microfiber cloths (you guessed it- to be used with the Windex)
3) Lysol Disinfectant Spray to use on the faucet handles, doorknobs, light switch & toilet handle
4) Lysol Complete Clean Multi-Surface Cleaner, to clean the bowl with a toilet brush daily (I always wash the floors with a generous splash of the same cleanser twice a week, too)
White cotton or linen cleaning cloths are terrific for me because they're reusable & washable. I bought Caldrea's Lint-Free Cloths (they're available on www.drugstore.com & www.amazon.com), and they're really nice. Gently-used white cloth napkins (either pure cotton or linen) also work great. You'll want something with stitched edges & cloths that are big enough to give you plenty of cleaning surface space. I personally like that I'm not using up paper towels for environmental reasons & that I'm not putting money out for them over and over. I wash the cotton cloths by themselves in hot water & powdered detergent, then dry them in the dryer on high. White cloths can also be washed with a little Clorox bleach. I fold them up immediately when they come out of the dryer so they're always ready to use. Some people like to just use white vinegar and/or baking soda for cleaning, and I think that's perfectly fine. I can't stand the smell of vinegar & admit to a pretty strong dread of germs that can't be killed by vinegar or baking soda. I may be over the top when it comes to eliminating viruses & bacteria, but everyone has their faults. :D Microfiber cloths are also great and if you don't buy cotton or linen white cloths, then these should be your choice. Microfiber is absorbent, shines items well, scrubs with great ease and stay lint-free so long as they are also washed alone. No matter what type of cloths you use, washing them in a mesh laundry bag and hanging them to dry will extend their life. (Just don't pack them all too tightly in the bag together or they won't get cleaned completely. There should be some "wiggle room" for each cloth, even in the bag.) If you dry your cloths in the dryer, they will come out less wrinkled than if they hang-dry. It's entirely up to you. Never use fabric softener on the cloths regardless, and always be sure all detergent is out of the cloths before you get them out to dry.

Use your imagination when it comes to aprons and caddies. An old bucket, basket or Sterilite container may be hanging around that you can use as a new cleaning caddy. You may sew well enough to make your own apron. (I hold no such skills, believe me!) Please consider your personal needs, your family's lifestyle & what you continually find yourself wishing you had easily at hand when designating items for your caddy & apron. A little pair of cuticle scissors, a nail file, fingernail clippers or a pocket-sized book are some other items that can be good to carry around. Carry whatever will increase your confidence that you can handle little issues as they come up, thoughts as they come to your mind & to take a bit of time throughout the day for yourself, too.

Here's to being a somewhat-sane organized minimalist,
Liz

Minimalist Strategy: Don’t Organize Your Clutter « miss minimalist

Minimalist Strategy: Don’t Organize Your Clutter « miss minimalist

Awesome Ideas for Creating the Workout Space of Your Dreams

I like a lot of the ideas (especially the inspiring phrases put up on the walls) that are used for this gym makeover. Right now I'm redoing my own exercise space, because fitness is one of my big-picture goals.

http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/2012/01/home-gym-reveal-and-giveaway.html

If you're like me, you've been trying to make at-home fitness a part of your life for years. You desire to get up early, get that workout in before the rest of the world wakes up...and yet you keep sleeping in. Or other things get in your way- physically & otherwise! Your workout space is uninspiring, even hard just to get to. Laundry baskets, clothing, books, piles of papers...you name it, many items can take away from your focus & fitness if placed in the wrong area. Evening workouts seem no easier- by then you're exhausted mentally & physically, that's if you even have a spare second to work out during p.m hours. Going to a gym, for a number of reasons, is just not feasible for many people. A poor economy, kids to take care of at night, a spouse to tend to, a demanding job that requires overtime...all of these make commuting to a gym either difficult or impossible. I get it!

Tonight I realized that I had to redesign my own workout space to the best of my ability. I moved my bed & two nightstands over a couple of feet to make room for a "laundry zone". I put my three laundry baskets that were previously in front of my dumbbells & step underneath my bedroom window instead. I knew that I had to keep my bedroom broken up into clear-cut zones (unfortunately, I don't have separate rooms for my workout gear or my laundry stacks). Zone one- bed & nightstands. Zone two- laundry baskets. Zone three- dresser. Zone four- vanity table & chair. Zone five- workout equipment. Everything had to be separated. I still had to keep room to move around in, stretch out on the floor to my full height (including arms overstretched), leaving space to do aerobics & hoist dumbbells. I succeeded. Thankfully, I live in a home with a big bedroom, and I'm a minimalist when it comes to furniture. I set up my folding bookcase to be my workout "Mecca" (albeit a poor woman's version...) On the top shelf is my DVD file folder, my DVD player & one of my fans (I run hot, I mean like roasting-on-a-spit-hot, all the time). Second shelf holds my workout wear for tomorrow. Third shelf holds my extra-thick yoga mat. It looks clean & simple. Right now I have a beautiful painting that my grandmother did above the bookcase. Ideally, I'd have inspiring images of women who push me via their own great looks to try & achieve some greatness of my own. And maybe that design will come in the future. For now, though...I'll just be happy that I achieved a another big-picture goal, and that is making health & fitness come first. Now my bedroom shows that I mean business. I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a good photographer. But my pictures below demonstrate the clean, simple & very functional space that I've created to achieve my goal of putting workouts first in my life.

 

What do I think that you need to get started? Well, it depends upon your goals. My favorite thing to do is aerobic-weight-training that finishes off with athletic stretching. But for variety & on active rest days, I've always liked Hatha Yoga or Pilates for a change. These three workout types are the easiest to accomplish without spending a ton of money on equipment. Treadmills & other single-cardio-workout-type machines are fine for the gym, but they usually won't help a person really achieve the body that they want used exclusively. And they're typically quite expensive to invest in. Aerobic weight-training is the most demanding of the three exercise types that I'm going to list financially, but for me it also gives the greatest rewards. And once you've invested in the workout DVDs, yoga mat (for safe stretching on the floor, you need some joint cushioning, IMHO), a few sets of dumbbells & an aerobic step, they're yours essentially for life. It's very common to think, "I need more gear!" If you're a minimalist, this mindset must be guarded against, but I do understand the sentiment quite well. Equipment updates can bring body changes, so I'm not entirely against it. It depends upon how much you want to invest in your workouts. There's no right or wrong to it. I've been working out for twenty years, sixteen of that with a workout series called The FIRM. Now, don't get me wrong here. I'm no poster girl for the workout system. While I have plenty of muscle, I also have plenty of fat, and that is due to my own genetics & lifestyle. With cleaner eating & better focus, I'd have a nicer body. So the system works, but I am an imperfect follower, so don't look to me as any sort of icon in terms of looks!

Aerobic Weight-Training
Three sets of dumbbells are required (light, medium & heavy is the best way to think of it)- my recommendations vary depending upon general fitness level & gender. Most men (because they usually have twice the natural strength of a woman in their upper body) & very fit women can start with five-, eight- & ten-pound dumbbells. Moderately-fit women or overweight, out-of-shape men should instead start with three-, five- & eight-pound dumbbells. If you are an overweight and/or out-of-shape women, start with one-, two- and three-pound dumbbells. This all sounds very light but when you are doing aerobic weight-training, they get heavy fast! Visually, I recommend that you buy identical-looking sets in terms of style when purchasing dumbbells. I prefer a solid metal on the outside as opposed to the bright colorful dumbbells sold, but that choice is entirely up to you (if I had it to do over, I would have skipped buying colorful ones last time). Dumbbells can be very cheap (especially if bought used) or extraordinarily expensive, so do your research before investing. Also, regardless of your weight or fitness level otherwise, if you have never worked out with actual weights before, do at least your first workout (and up to your first ten workouts) without any dumbbells. You need to get the hang of the movements, the speed & your own body's alignment before adding weight. I used very light dumbbells for several months when I started years ago as a beginning weight-trainer. I'm already very big, so my extra weight automatically adds poundage to whatever exercise that I am performing! Eventually I got used to utilizing heavier weights, adding a twelve-, fifteen- & twenty-pound set to my routine. Once in awhile I'd work out in a professional gym & could use some heavier weights, then do some exercises a small home set-up doesn't allow for. But your own body, home & very little else can be just about you need to get fit. Some women go much heavier than what I use, but for the average woman doing aerobic weight-training at home, I don't think you'd go much beyond forty pound dumbbells on this workout type. That also takes years for most women to get to using with good form, as we are genetically weaker in our upper bodies than men (generally speaking). Aerobic weight-training at home is fairly fast-paced & doesn't require all of the weight equipment that you see at a gym, either.  Here are my favorite workouts of all time (I have many faves, but here are three of them anyway):

http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Total-Body-Super-Cardio/dp/B0000639G2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pdT1_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=V27VRMJKGBZ&coliid=I3QFD2HDQZ1MVD

http://www.fitnessfavorites.com/The_FIRM_Tough_Tape_with_Tracie_Long.php

http://www.fitnessfavorites.com/The_FIRM_Better_Body_and_Buns.php

An aerobic step which has multiple risers, including incline/decline risers, is another set of pieces that I recommend to get the most from an at-home workout. While stepping is hard on the knees, ironically the step can also be the trick needed to get the leg muscles around the knee strengthened to such a degree that they're no longer painful joints. Not everyone experiences this pain, but when the adductors (inner thigh muscles), abductors (outer thighs), quadriceps (frontal thighs) & hamstrings (leg bicep) are in proper proportion in strength, knee pain can drastically increase. It usually takes more than just weight-training & stretching (supplements & diet can be important to knee health), but steps are usually helpful in achieving the goal of getting or keeping strong knees if they are started on correctly. Lunges done on an incline step, for example, can be far easier on the knees than traditional ones just performed on the floor. And they're also a way for beginners to get a deeper range of motion more safely when performing lunges. Here is the best step that I've found, both in support & versatility:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Step-F1011W-Original-Health/dp/B0007OWSXQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346765413&sr=8-2&keywords=aerobic+step

The step above also has extra risers & incline/decline risers which can be bought separately to get even more power from a workout:

http://www.amazon.com/Additional-Risers-Original-Health-Blocks/dp/B003QNDDPW/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_7

http://www.amazon.com/SPRI-Slanted-Riser-Original-Club/dp/B0011EE5DC/ref=wl_mb_hu_m_12_dp

Here is another, more basic but still high-quality step to choose:

http://www.amazon.com/Stamina-40-0005-Aerobic-Step/dp/B003QT53RM/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_4

You're relying on your own body weight, good form, circuit-training speed & mental focus to power through challenging workouts. But you aren't going to end up looking too muscular- it just isn't possible with using that low a weight. Forty-pound dumbbells or barbell plates & less just won't give you massive amounts of muscle- it's really not possible, because it's too hard to build. You have to lift much heavier poundage typically for years on end, have a high level of testosterone (or take illegal steroids) & eat a ton of protein to get the kind of muscle you see on a professional bodybuilder. Genetics also play a big part in how your body is going to look & grow, and which muscles would be your best & worst. Some people have great biceps naturally, for example, while other women have to train them twice a week for growth. I recommend reading the following books if you are interested in weight-training even slightly:

http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Rules-Lifting-Women/dp/1583333398/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Life-Cynthia-Benson/dp/0767901754/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346764920&sr=1-1&keywords=firm+for+life

http://www.amazon.com/New-Encyclopedia-Modern-Bodybuilding-Updated/dp/0684857219/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346856026&sr=1-1&keywords=the+encyclopedia+of+bodybuilding

If you're interested in clean eating & fitness in general, the following two magazines are the best that I've found (and the only ones I subscribe to, because I am not one to clutter my life up):

http://cleaneatingmag.com/The-Magazine.aspx
http://www.oxygenmag.com/Home.aspx

For beginner steppers, or those just getting back into it, this can be a good (aerobics-only) addition to your collection. It helps one to learn the basics AND get a great workout at the same time on the step, safely & efficiently.

http://www.amazon.com/Everybody-Steps-guide-step-aerobics/dp/B0009WIY4S/ref=wl_mb_hu_m_3_dp

Eventually, I recommend that you also buy either a body bar (they come in different poundages) or a barbell with plates. I like body bars because of the evenness in weight throughout & the minimalist look they possess. Ankle weights are optional & debatable in this day and age, safety-wise. If they help you & you're pain-free, use them. If they're painful or make the exercises impossible to perform with good form, don't use them. NEVER use them for walking- they are for help on certain leg exercises in weight-training. Period. Your joints will thank you later for heeding this advice.

Pilates
As an absolute beginner & as a minimalist, all that's really need is a good book or DVD, a mat, a comfy outfit to work & stretch out on the floor in & maybe a set of very light dumbbells (5lbs. a piece max). Believe me, Pilates is so challenging to your core that you won't miss the weights! The first time I tried it, I was astounded at how few reps I could do & how much I had to modify- me, the girl who'd worked out since I was twelve years old & could bench press 400 lbs.! It didn't matter. New movement to your muscles- no matter how well-trained & fit you are in other areas- will make you feel like a beginner all over again. And there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, I find it exciting.

http://www.amazon.com/Pilates-Body-Strengthening-Lengthening-Body--Without/dp/076790396X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346768047&sr=1-1&keywords=brooke+siler

http://www.amazon.com/Pilates-Body-Motion-Alycea-Ungaro/dp/0789484005/ref=pd_sim_b_1

http://www.amazon.com/Pilates-Anatomy-Rael-Isacowitz/dp/0736083863/ref=pd_sim_b_2

http://www.amazon.com/Element-Pilates-Weight-Loss-Beginners/dp/B001AYWY6I/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_25

http://www.amazon.com/Element-Total-Body-Pilates-With/dp/B0058UHRCG/ref=wl_mb_hu_m_2_dp

http://www.amazon.com/10-Minute-Solution-Pilates-Beginners/dp/B003QLEAQU/ref=pd_cp_mov_3

Yoga
Yoga, as with Pilates, requires little equipment & only a moderate amount of space to implement a program. A yoga mat, good book or DVD, maybe a yoga strap and/or block, and you're good to go. Some people like looser clothing during yoga, while others like to strip down- it's all personal preference. I like workout Capri pants & a supportive but comfortable sports bra. As with Pilates, bare feet are needed. You need to be able to grip your mat. I fully believe that Yoga at home can be just as rewarding, challenging & blissful as a studio practice with a teacher. Some disagree with me on that, which is okay. I love doing Yoga alone. For me, it is a time of reflection during even the most difficult postures. Some people consider it little more than athletic stretching gone Eastern or mere acrobatics, and I guess occasionally that's true. But for me, it instantly becomes tune-in time to both my body & mind. It is so vastly different from aerobic weight-training. Neither is better or worse, they are just two completely separate worlds. In aerobic weight-training, you must focus on the movement. Everything else but your body & following that instructor falls away- your mind takes a vacation from your deadlines & job. In yoga, thoughts about anything & everything will come up because it is much more reflective in nature. At least for me it is, without an instructor (which is what I prefer). I don't follow a DVD when it comes to yoga. For a few years I read books & subscribed to "Yoga Journal", which was invaluable, but it wasn't something I needed to view forever. Once I "got" Yoga, it was permanently imbedded in my psyche. Again, I know that Yoga teachers have immense value & I'm not knocking going to a gym or studio- but it can be done alone, and very successfully. Follow your own instincts & inclinations.

http://www.amazon.com/Prosource-Premium-71-Inch-Exercise-Carrying/dp/B005BE2X4G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346767828&sr=8-2&keywords=yoga+mat

http://www.amazon.com/Pack-inches-Yoga-Blocks-Saver/dp/B002WCHSUY/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_34

http://www.amazon.com/YogaAccessories-Cinch-Buckle-Cotton-Yoga/dp/B000HZE7IY/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_9

http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Anatomy-2nd-Leslie-Kaminoff/dp/1450400248/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346767896&sr=1-7&keywords=yoga

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Yoga-B-K-Iyengar/dp/0805210318/ref=pd_sim_b_2

http://www.amazon.com/The-Key-Muscles-Yoga-Scientific/dp/1607432382/ref=pd_sim_b_3

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Yoga-Strength-Flexibility-Workout/dp/0020583516/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346767998&sr=1-1&keywords=beryl+bender+birch

http://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Stress-Relief-Essential-Inflexible/dp/B001HAO8NM/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1346767944&sr=1-1&keywords=yoga

http://www.amazon.com/Rodney-Yees-Yoga-Beginners-Yee/dp/B001F76OKC/ref=pd_cp_mov_3

http://www.amazon.com/Element-Hatha-Flow-Yoga-Beginners/dp/B005QUQRDS/ref=pd_cp_mov_2

My Favorite Workout Clothes & Shoes

http://www.amazon.com/Glamorise-Womens-Full-Figure-Sports/dp/B001ELL6HA/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1346768202&sr=1-1&keywords=glamorise

http://www.amazon.com/Glamorise-Womens-Bounce-Support-Sport/dp/B002RAEVJW/ref=sr_1_4?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1346768202&sr=1-4&keywords=glamorise

http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Within-Leggings-Stretch-Heather/dp/B005GVIJ1A/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1346768234&sr=1-1&keywords=woman+within+capri

http://www.junonia.com/149364-Bksol-1x.html

http://www.amazon.com/Wrightsock-Womens-Coolmesh-Athletic-Socks/dp/B007P2976Y/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=V27VRMJKGBZ&coliid=I3RDDSUM7CYDHR

http://www.amazon.com/New-Balance-WR520-Fitness-Cushioning/dp/B002JVW420/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_7

http://www.amazon.com/New-Balance-Womens-Cushioned-Running/dp/B003UESQRC/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_10

No matter what you choose as your method of working out, remember these rules:

1) Keep your equipment in good working order. No ripped-up yoga mats, dumbbells with peeling metal flakes, aerobics steps that feel unsturdy to step up on, treadmills with a broken handrail- you get my drift.
2) Make sure the space stays clean, especially if more than one person uses your equipment (i.e., you share it with a spouse or some other housemate). Wipe your dumbbells, step, or whatever other equipment you have down whenever they get dusty or grimy. Vacuum or mop the floor at least once a week in your workout space.
3) No clutter allowed! Clutter includes any broken items, unused-after-more-than-one-year items & dirty towels.
4) Your space must be welcoming & inspirational to you. I'm not talking religion here, I'm talking about actually being inspired to exercise when you look at the space. Professional gyms & yoga studios know this fact- they put out gleaming equipment, framed photographs of buff chicks & guys on the walls & yogis doing poses in perfect form to set the tone for their space. These establishments are using interior design to their advantage with shape, color & style. You'll often see clean white towels for patrons rolled up in a basket or cube (depending upon how spa-like or hardcore your gym is), for example. I highly recommend that you learn from the pros in this arena. Yogis often love to have an incense burner with incense going & other sacred items in their space as a reminder of why they do yoga in the first place. Working out, no matter what method you choose, should be a nourishing event for you. You should come away from it feeling refreshed mentally, even if you're tired-out physically. Some people like real minimalism & having no pictures up at all IS inspiring to them, which is fine. But do whatever works for you. Remember that maintaining any exercise regimen over the long haul is most often accomplished when people don't focus so much on short-term goals (like fitting into a dress that's currently too small by a certain date), but on the long-term goal of being fit for life. Fitness has to be a chosen lifestyle. If you're a fence-sitter about it, you'll be unlikely to make the commitment needed to stick with your program. Some people love setting new goals for themselves to work on all the time (like running in 5K's, 10K's & marathons). If that works for you, terrific. It's especially good if the goals are NOT all related to how you look. I think a lot of us are better-served with getting weight loss or dress size out of the fitness equation entirely & just focusing on the long-term advantages of exercise. When the latter is focused on, working out becomes an actual part of our legacy. We have a chance not to just "hit the weights" privately (as an example), but to really show others what a continuing fitness program can give a person. It's wonderful to be at our ideal weight or to pull on our high school jeans & have them fit, don't get me wrong. Just don't lose sight of the future or of the deeper elements exercise offers to a soul. All of us know someone who eventually lost their independence because they got too weak physically to live alone. They could no longer lift grocery bags, take a shower safely, dress themselves, get in and out of a car- things that most of us take for granted when we're young. These "effortless" things, though, actually take a measure of physical fitness to perform. All of us who can do so should remember this loss of independence can often be avoided if we put time & energy into staying strong from the time that we're relatively young. Think of all the lifestyle goals you have for working out- for most people, looking good is not their only goal when it comes to exercise (especially as we age). An idea- put up pictures on a whiteboard of people having fun playing with their kids, building a home with Habitat for Humanity or anything else that serves as a lifestyle goal reminder for you. These main lifestyle goals are different for everyone. For me, my main lifestyle goal is maintaining my mobility, as I've got fibromyalgia & there's osteoarthritis in my knees & hands. I also want to stay strong enough to clean my own home, do my own shopping, take out my own trash & perform all the other household must-do's for the rest of my life independently. People going out for a walk, kneeling down to pick up dumbbells or doing lunges (which take knee flexibility) are inspiring for me for this reason.
5) Take down any pictures or paintings which are uninspiring or worse, self-berating. This is not a place to put up "guilt" pictures. You know the ones. Putting up hated pictures of yourself at your heaviest weight is the most common style of what I call "faux inspiration". Faux inspiration is something that makes you feel bad, but you think it'll give you extra impetus to get a dreaded activity done- in your own mind, you may think that this bad feeling will keep you exercising. I think this is a horrid method of self-punishment & usually turns exercise into something that's deeply resented in no time. Would you do this to your daughter- put up a picture she hates of herself & say, "You're going to work out & look at this picture every single time you do, because you need some serious work done on your body!" I hope that your answer is a resounding no! If you wouldn't do it to someone else, don't do it to yourself.
6) Preparation is key. After dinner, fill your water bottle(s) for tomorrow & put them on the fridge door. Make sure on Sunday that all of your workout outfits are clean for the following week. Check to see that you have a clean towel for wiping your brow the next morning during your workout. Lay out your exercise outfit the night before. If applicable, put the DVD you'll be working out to in the player or out on your media table. If using a portable DVD player, make sure it's charged completely. When you go to the grocery store, stock up on clean eating items that will fuel your busy, active life for the next few days or week- old-fashioned oats, blueberries, protein powder, fresh vegetables, organic free-range chicken breasts, etc. Pack your lunch bag the night before if you brown-bag it for work. The more prepared you are, the better your chances of sticking with your health goals. You'll also lower your stress levels by having things like this done in advance. Read articles & books about clean eating, supplements (especially if you lift weights) & about your chosen method(s) of exercise. Replace your workout wear as needed, choosing items that motivate you when you wear them. Don't ignore any pain that comes on during exercise & lingers for more than a couple of days. While exercise is terrific for our bodies in many ways, it does have some occasional side effects (as does any movement in life). Plan to take at least one & preferably two rest days each week from exercise to prevent burnout. If you have a day of heavy physical activity planned (such as doing hours of major housework), consider taking a break from working out that day. Have alternate activities planned if you're too tired, the weather turns bad or anything else happens which makes your regular workout impossible to perform. Buy a workout DVD focused on stretching or floor aerobics for days like this. Changing activities up regularly helps prevent overuse injuries, as well. If you always do step aerobics, go for a walk outside one day a week instead. If you always do total-body circuit-training with your weight workouts, try a workout focused on two to three body parts only for awhile (example- back & biceps on Monday, legs & shoulders on Wednesday, chest, abs & triceps on Friday). If you do Ashtanga yoga three days a week, try adding on a Pilates class once a week to give some different muscles a wake-up call. 

Here's to being a fit organized minimalist,
Liz

Date Your Spices & Dried Herbs When You Buy Them

I simply put the month & two-digit year on a blank spot somewhere on the bottle. If no blank spot exists, then write it on a small label & place that label on the spice jar somewhere. Keep that spot consistent from jar to jar, like on the top of the lid. The maximum time to keep a spice is about eighteen months. Spices never go "bad", but they lose fragrance components over time & eventually become faded in aroma + flavor. When they no longer smell fragrant & potent, out they go- believe me, you won't get the desired flavor from them otherwise. This takes all of about one minute when done even on a once-a-month basis. I made it a part of my weekly kitchen "boogie" to check my herbs & spices for their date- if it's been more than 18 months based on date & the aroma is no longer potent, then out the spices go. Whole spices usually fade before ground ones, as well. For single-note spices like nutmeg, I actually would say that nine or ten months tends to be the maximum duration for full flavor, and that's with buying decent stuff to begin with. However, paprika & curry powders, as well as seasoned salts, seem to last quite a bit longer. Your nose is always your best judge, but if you have see-through glass jars, you can also tell if the color in the spice has started to fade (another sign of losing flavor components).


Keep dried herbs & spices in a cool, dry part of the kitchen cabinets or drawers- I use the upper cabinet next to the stove, not right above it. For storage, I like to use those expandable shelves that look like a set of three small stairs & non-slip turntables best inside of cabinets. I've never stored spices in drawers, but there are nifty organizers that do just that these days. As always, measure first just to make sure your space will support the organizer you buy- and with spice bottles, unless you just own four or five of them, you really do need some kind of organization. I cook every night & bake occasionally- I own two turntables of spices & dried herbs (I have a lot of spice blends, because those really "make" a dish). Wall-mounted storage is an option, as well, though a drill or a handyman who owns one will be required.

http://www.amazon.com/Copco-2555-0187-Non-Skid-Cabinet-Turntable/dp/B0036OQWT0/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1346673130&sr=1-3&keywords=turntable

http://www.amazon.com/InterDesign-Linus-Stadium-Corner-Spice/dp/B002A2QWL2/ref=pd_sim_hg_58

http://www.amazon.com/Madesmart-14-1-Expandable-Shelf-Organizer/dp/B000KG05VI/ref=pd_sim_hg_8

http://www.amazon.com/Dial-Expand-A-Drawer-Spice-Organizer/dp/B001IYK714/ref=pd_sim_k_87

http://www.amazon.com/Organize-It-All-Wall-Mounted-1812/dp/B002ES1SRU/ref=pd_sim_hg_33

http://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-Pull-Down-Spice-Rack/dp/B0000CF37W/ref=pd_sbs_k_16

http://www.amazon.com/Youcopia-Spicestack-27-bottle-Spice-Organizer/dp/B002N3NTVY/ref=pd_sim_k_7

I buy all of my dried herbs & spices from www.penzeys.com, and have for twenty years now. They also sell four different extracts & five or six different soup bases, all of which are very high in quality. The spice blends that they sell are unique, plentiful & have myriad origins- Thai, Chinese, German, Russian & much more. Prepare to have fun making dips, lean protein, vegetables & much more new again if you've never tried their blends. Their double-strength vanilla extract is the only vanilla that I will EVER use in my baking. There are also Penzey's Stores across the U.S.- check their website to see if there's one near you.

Here's to being an organized minimalist,
Liz