Hi there, my name is Scott Tousignant, friend of Lynn Terry and your guest blogger here at Clicknewz for the next five days. I'll be helping you adopt a new healthy approach to Internet Marketing and guiding you along the way of transforming your business, fitness, and life.
To encourage you to participate in this process I am going to randomly select a winner from the comments shared on my posts this week. The winner will receive my Fat Loss Quickie home office fitness program and all the bonuses that come with it. So don't be shy with your comments 😉
During the journey of bringing your online business ideas from start to profit it can become all too easy to focus exclusively on business while putting your fitness and life on hold. Have you caught yourself thinking, "Once I complete this project and get some money rolling in I'll have more time to spend with my family and begin a fitness program."
How has this way of thinking affected your health and relationships with your family members? Have you gained a bit of weight? Is your partner beginning to feel distant from you? Are your kids upset that they only get to see the back of your head while you sit at the computer?
Focusing solely on your business can cause a great deal of stress on you mentally and physically, doing more harm than good toward your online success.
Astonishing as it may sound, your level of fitness plays a much bigger role in your business than you ever imagined. Your health truly is the #1 asset in your online business. You can't afford not to take care of it.
Internet Marketers are a unique breed and as an Internet Marketer you deserve a unique fitness approach that suits your lifestyle. Today I'm going to show you how easy it is to incorporate fitness into your workday starting with these simple desk exercises that you can perform as often as possible throughout your workday.
Home Office Fitness Tips
Did you have to go into the attic, closet, or kids play area to pull out the stability ball you purchased ages ago and swore that you were going to use? If you don't already have a stability ball I highly recommend that you get yourself one. They are inexpensive and incredibly versatile in what you can do with them. You can pick one up at WalMart for just over $10 or find one at Amazon as well.
You may still be thinking to yourself, "What exactly does fitness have to do with business?" To answer this question all that you have to do is take a look at what BIG business and corporations are doing. Pick up a newspaper, listen to the radio, or watch your local news and chances are that you'll hear about the measures corporations are taking to improve the health of their workforce. Everyday my Google Alerts are filled with articles about corporations placing more focus on workplace fitness.
It would be nice to think that they are doing this out of the kindness of their hearts and that they truly care about your well-being, (Some corporations may feel this way.) But the bottom line is... it's all about PROFIT!
Corporations are looking to do everything that they can to lower their expenses and increase revenue. Adopting a workplace fitness program is one of the few things that can do both. The #1 reason that many corporations are taking great initiative to get their employees more active is to reduce their health care costs, which is a huge expense. Other reasons are; reducing absenteeism, sick days, stress, and lost productivity.
The great news is that a significant number of corporations have been reporting positive feedback about the impact that workplace fitness having on reducing their expenses.
Workplace fitness can have an even greater impact on increasing the revenue of these businesses through increased productivity, focus, energy, improving quality of work, time management, mood, and creativity, just to name a few.
When you have a workforce that can get more done in less time, rarely call in sick and are happy, confident, and proud... your business is going to succeed.
Even in these tough economic times corporations have been pouring more money into workplace fitness because they are recognizing the impact that it has on their business and profits.
But you are a home business and don't have any employees, what does this have to do with you?
Everything! You are the president, CEO, manager, and employee of your business. If you're sick, depressed, have low energy levels, can't focus and easily get distracted, you are costing your online business money. Yet if you make simple changes to embrace home office fitness and incorporate it into your workday you can expect to see the same positive impacts that corporations see in increased revenue and profits.
This isn't a huge monumental task. You don't need to spend hours at the gym each week and you don't need to starve yourself or follow some crazy diet plan. Like I said, as an Internet Marketer you are incredible and unique and you deserve an approach that suits your lifestyle and is easier to stick with for the long term.
Over the course of the next 5 days I'll be demonstrating some fast and fun ways for you to incorporate home office fitness into your workday. I challenge you to follow along and report the impact that it has on your online business. I know that you can do it, especially with the support of the amazing community that Lynn has built here.
With this being Thanksgiving week and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season here, there is no better time to adopt a more active and healthy lifestyle. Take charge of your health and create the quality of life that you deserve. This isn't something that you want to put off until tomorrow. Start today!
You ROCK!
Scott Tousignant
PS Lack of time is no excuse for putting off your health. During the next 5 days you'll discover how home office fitness will actually give you more time in your day so you can do the things that you enjoy most in life.
Welcome Scott - I'm so happy to have you as a guest blogger here this week! That frees me up to eat lots of pie 😀 Just kidding! -lol
This is such a good topic, and I can't express just how important it is. As you know, this is my 13th year sitting at a desk and in front of a computer screen... and I've had my share of issues over it.
Lack of energy and weight gain are bad enough, but let that go on for very long... and you'll experience RSS (repetitive stress syndrome), lower back issues, joint pain and more.
I am only 36 years old.
Get up and move! While you still can 😉
It took me getting to a place where it was harder to get back into it, to motivate me to do it. Scott has really inspired and encouraged me to get back into a daily fitness routine - and take better care of myself overall.
Looking forward to more posts from you this week!
p.s. I'm getting a stability ball today! One for me, and one for Elvis.
You'll love the stability ball Lynn! It's kinda like playing while exercising.
I've been doing Scott's program since September and I've lost 20lbs so far. I also totally agree with Scott on how important it is to focus on fitness first and have seen and felt a huge difference in adding exercise to my home business day.
Yay Angela! You totally ROCK! It's great to see how the Fat Loss Quickie program has helped you adopt a balanced lifestyle where you take care of your health, spend time with your little boy, live life to the fullest, and transform your business.
I'm honored to have you as a friend.
Scott Tousignant
Thanks Lynn! It's really great to be here. Having been an avid reader of your blog for nearly two years it sure feels great to see my information being shared at Clicknewz.
Don't worry about eating pie... just don't go crazy 😉 I enjoyed some fudge and tasty treats on Saturday. We're not striving for perfect eating.
It's amazing the toll that working from home can have on your body. I put on over 30 pounds in my first year online and I know better 😉
I can't wait to share more helpful home office fitness tips with you and your readers this week.
Scott Tousignant
You put on 30 pounds in your first year? HAH! Lightweight. I put on 15 pounds in my first two months! Oh wait...that's not supposed to be a good thing 🙂
I've been on a medical leave of absence due to repetitive stress syndrome in my arms (I believe the layman's term is "Tennis Elbow") and I went from a really physically active job to doing nothing (still hurts to lift more than 5 pounds).
Unfortunately, my appetite didn't accommodate the need for less....
- Jeffery
Love my stability ball!
And I totally agree that it's very important that you take time to exercise especially when working from home because most times you'll find yourself sitting around and you just want to keep working to get things done but you will be more productive and find your mind works a lot better if you exercise!
Great guest post, Scott!
Just a suggestion, for those of us who have slow internet connections so video takes forever to load, if you could give a brief written version of the video (even if it's a link to another page to keep your posts short) that would be helpful.
That being said, I watched the video and I know it'd be hard to explain what you're showing in the video, but I think the ability to print it out as a reminder of how to use the ball would be most helpful.
Just a suggestion.
- Jeffery
Hey Jeffery, thanks for the comment. It's definitely a challenge to get the picture across in written words and even pictures when it comes to demonstrating exercises. It simply could not do justice and I fear that people would perform the exercises incorrect and end up hurting themselves.
For example, tomorrow I'll be sharing some exercises such as the inchworm, suicide planks, and reach-ups. It's very difficult to explain these movements and most people would have no idea what they are.
With that being said, I believe there is a solution. I'll provide a download link for the videos so you can watch it on your computer instead of online.
Would that help? I'll get that to you in the next hour or two and post it in a comment here.
Thanks again Jeffery. I'm glad that you mentioned it.
Scott Tousignant
I really enjoyed the video. In fact, when I sent my son out on errands this morning I told him to swing by Wal-Mart and get me a stability ball and a set of hand weights.
Can't wait to get started!
A download link sounds like a great idea. That way I don't have to reload the video on the internet each time I need a refresher, and I totally understand your concern about people hurting themselves if they do it incorrectly.
But with names like"suicide planks" I don't know if I want to do that one correctly 😉
- Jeffery
Soooo... I've been using my Stability Ball as a seat while I work on my laptop so seems like I need to break out into workouts every 30 mins or so.
Especially since my bottom starts to hurt sitting on it for an hour or more without moving. I think I'll also need to purchase a timer of sorts to remind me to break out into a ab workout.
I like!
Andy D.
Hey Andy, it's great to hear that you've been sitting on the ball while you work.
There's no need to purchase a timer. You can download a free timer from this blog post. It's called The DOT. I use it when I'm on my PC. Unfortunately it doesn't work on my Mac.
http://fatlossquickie.com/blog/30-day-home-office-fitness-challenge-day-16/
Scott Tousignant
Hey Scott. You are my inspiration. Although i practice yoga each morning, I still sit way too much. BP is getting too high, weight is to high, and I'm getting cranky. Whenever I think about it, I remember you and get up and do a few pushups or lift my dumb bells. Thanks man!
Thanks Steve. I'm planning on giving yoga another try soon. I could use a little more flexibility and it's a great way to clear my mind.
Any tips or recommendations for me?
Scott, I have a quick question: are the moves you showed today doable/advisable for a 70 year old? I think my mom would love one of these balls, and this would be a perfect gift for her upcoming birthday this Friday. She exercises every morning, so this would give her some variation in her routine.
Absolutely Adriana! I have an 89 year old client, an 87 year old client, and an 82 year old client who all do those exercises and a great deal more on the stability ball.
Check out the 89 year old in action here http://fatlossquickie.com/blog/youre-never-too-old-for-a-quickie/
You're Never Too Old For a Quickie 😉
Scott Tousignant
Here's the download link for the video of the exercise demonstrations above. Lynn, could you post it directly under the video as well?
http://www.fatlossadvantage.com/ballexercises.mov
Enjoy!
Scott Tousignant
Yay! Zack and Whitney got me all fixed up. Your blog post really motivated me to "get on the ball" -lol
HA! You crack me up Lynn! Way to go! I'm really proud of the way that you are getting your kids involved and making health a priority for your family. Keep it FUN!
Whitney is Zack's girlfriend - we're going to try to add her to our family membership at the gym. My kids are awesome for helping me out around here. Zack did the shopping and got me all set up. Even brought me a set of 5 lb weights!
p.s. I'm sitting on the ball now, and LOVING it! 😀
There are some parallels with IM and Fitness. I'll point out just one that came to mind. Imagine the untouched and dusty IM training manuals, programs, or ebooks that are lying around chock full of information needed to for the owner to achieve the success they desire.
Same goes for fitness plans, exercise routines, diet books and equipment. We all can recall the unopened PX90 or Tae Bo DVDs, South Beach Diet books in the wrapper or that seldom used elliptical machine in the garage.
Success in fitness and Internet Marketing both require the same thing for us to achieve the success whether it be financial freedom or weight loss.
TAKING ACTION!
Looking forward to your week of blogging!
Todd
This is so true. We have the same issues in the fitness/weight loss market as the online business market. Lots of hype, lots of wishing, but only the top percent actually taking action and making it happen.
Typed from atop my new stability ball, of course 😀
Scott,
Great tips with the ball. I enjoyed watching Bill, (the 80+ yr. old
gentleman who has been training with you for 8 yrs. How wonderful!
I have an exercise ball but had not thought of all those different ways to use it. Thank you for the info.
FYI, 10 minutes of bouncing on the ball helps your lymph system work better. You may have already known that.
Hollye Clardy,RN
You're absolutely right Hollye about the ball bouncing being great for your lymph system. Thanks for mentioning that as one of the benefits. I really appreciate it.
Very interesting post. I really enjoyed it. It's always hard to implement fitness into your daily work life, especially when you are working from home. Sometimes it's easy to think that you will be able to make time to do it, but there are many times that it just is not possible. I wasn't able to watch the video though. It wouldn't play for me 🙁 I'll have to come back after while and see if it will play then
Hi Kristy,
Oh boy... You didn't just say, "It's always hard to implement fitness into your daily work life." ALWAYS... Really? That's a self imposed limitation, because many of us are having no problem at all because we have chosen to make it a priority in our lives because we recognize the impact that it has on our business and family life.
My motto has been to "Schedule your day around fitness instead of trying to fit it in."
Sometimes life happens. I'll give ya that much. But ironically it's those times that we need fitness even more. If something has gone wrong where it's 'impossible' to workout it's usually because of a stressful event. During those events a quick bout of exercise is exactly what the body needs to handle it.
Lack of time is an excuse. Especially when all you need is 10 minutes. Waking up 10-minutes early is not a big deal. Stepping away from the computer for 10-minutes is not a big deal.
When you consider that the increase in productivity and focus from the workout helps you get more done in less time during your workday... you are actually losing time by not working out.
My wife and I both work from home. Often times our kids are crawling on us while were doing it, or someone spilled some milk and needs help right in the middle of my workout... Life does happen, and believe me, I keep it real in my videos. You see life happen to me and Angie. There's not perfect staged setting.
I posted a link where you can download the video so you won't have to worry about it stalling online. Here's the link: http://www.fatlossadvantage.com/ballexercises.mov
How much value do you place on your health? What are you willing to do in order to preserve it and improve upon it? How bad do you want to live the quality of life that you deserve?
There's time... trust me... there's always time.
Scott Tousignant
Good points, Scott. I can relate to how Kristy feels though. I used to feel the same way. But the fact is... we'll make time for the things we want in our lives. I know I do. And that's what finally got me moving - first at home, and then with a family gym membership.
Still, I find it's just as hard to create a new good habit as it is to break a bad habit. Two weeks ago today I quit drinking diet soda (and I've been a heavy soda drinker ALL my life). I'm on a mission to make some serious positive change - for my health, for my lifestyle, for ME.
You're right Lynn. And I think we can all relate to how Kristy feels. I know that I locked myself in the basement for three months when I was creating my first info product. I thought that I had no time in my day to work out. That was a point in my life where I did nothing but sit at my desk, eat Snickers bars, and drink ROCK Star. That's when I put on 30 pounds.
I really did have the time. I was so unfocused and not productive. Exercise was exactly what I needed. If I would have stuck to an active lifestyle I would have completed my work a lot faster.
New healthy habits are a challenge to create... but that's what makes it so rewarding when they do become a habit. It's a great sense of accomplishment that does just as much good to your confidence and self esteem as it does for your body.
That does it. I've been "thinking about" getting an exercise ball for over a year now but never seem to get around to it. At the same time, I've been getting stiffer and stiffer as time goes by. Not a good thing, especially since I spent several years of my life on dance teams until I tore three ligaments in my ankle and got a frozen shoulder at the same time. UGH. So thanks for the inspiration!
Same here Rasby, even after my mother and my chiropractor mentioned it numerous times - not to mention Scott and other friends talking about it online.
As you can see from my comment & pic above, yesterday I just did it and I am really loving it! I thought it would be uncomfortable as an office chair, but it's definitely not... and I can really feel it working.
I got started excercising since I was 18... off and on, and I can't imagine going for a long period of time without some sort of physical activity. I often take time off (a few weeks and some times a few months) to dedicate more time to other projects, and I see my energy levels decrease substaintially as time goes on. Getting back on track keeps getting harder as I get older, but the same routine seem more effective after I period of inactivity.
Keep up the good work, Lynn and Scott
Stability balls are so great for excercise. I do push ups off my of it and crunches. Crunches are great and best of all you can pretty much do them whenever you want, and while using a stability ball you don't get those lower back problems.
Great blog! Keep up the good work.
Hi Al Mangones.
me too. We had the same stituation.
Gees Scott... you've just described me in this post. I have a stability ball just sitting in the spare room that I bought years ago, and you've just made me aware that I can start using it again. I used to use it a lot, but just stopped, and it is now a nice big blue feature in the spare room...if only it served another purpose than using it for exercise, then it would have been a sound investment, but it doesn't. So I need to get back into using it..:-)
I also loved the fact that you pointed out by not staying healthy and fit, can affect your productivity and mood...this is what I find happens to me most of the time, and even though I know exercise helps, I do it sparadically. I should be doing it consistently!
Thanks for bringing this all back to the forefront of my mind and I am now going to make it a priority to get back into action!!!!
Cheers.
I've had not two but three different stability balls (sizes) for a long time and only now, thanks to Scott, am I using them regularly. It was especially helpful to learn that just sitting on it at the computer on and off during the day, would improve my posture and help my back stay strong. I'm not 36 but may be nearly twice that so it is even more important for me to stay in good shape while I'm sitting at this computer. Thanks Scott for all your tips and how to use the equipment that I've always had to its fullest potential.
Thanks Scott, Lynn
"Lack of energy and weight gain are bad enough, but let that go on for very long… and you’ll experience RSS (repetitive stress syndrome), lower back issues, joint pain and more."
I thought that I was having the problems with my back,but didn't know exactly what it was. Ever since I started sitting in front of my computer and teaching my self IM and AM and everything that goes with it, I've gained weight and the stresses that goes along with it. Just hearing that others are going to do something about their situation motivates me.