Circuit Express is pleased to announce the winners of the AUGUST achievement awards…

Congratulations to Arlene Nicol for the highest weight & inch loss of the month. Arlene lost an amazing 6.2lbs overall weight, 4.81lbs body fat & 4 ¼ inches!

Very well done Arlene from Cheryl, Debbie and Carol.

And the highest attendance of the month goes to Marguerita Crisp with a total of 29 visits! - We all need to follow your example Marguerita, well done!

Prizes can be collected next time you’re in the gym.

Surround Yourself with the Positive

You can accomplish anything by putting yourself in a positive frame of mind.

If you can clearly see your goal, see that it’s within your grasp, there’s nothing to stop you.

That’s why surrounding yourself with positive images and visual reminders can help you succeed.

Your inner voice may already be telling you that you can succeed and reach your goal. But sometimes, your inner voice can be distracted, a little discouraged or even intimidated. Sometimes, it lacks conviction. Sometimes, you need an external voice to tell you the same thing, reinforcing your confidence and determination.

Thankfully, the opposite is just as true. A positive mental attitude boosts your spirits and keeps you motivated.

What you repeatedly think and say is what you get. Your inner conversations, words, thoughts and feelings determine the kind of life and reality you experience.

If you occupy your mind with negative thoughts and expect difficulties and problems, you will draw them into your life.

If you constantly think of success you will achieve success.

At some point on the journey to reach your goal you may waver. Don’t be discouraged. Here are a few actions and tips to help you develop the power of positive thinking:

• Before starting with any plan or action, visualize clearly in your mind its successful outcome. If you visualize with concentration and faith, you will be amazed at the results.
• Use pictures and positive images. With a visual nearby, your goal is right there. It’s clear what you want. It’s clearly within your grasp. You have the power to reach out and just take it.
• Always use only positive words while thinking and while talking. Use words such as, 'I can', 'I am able', 'it is possible', 'it can be done', etc.
• Try to disregard and ignore negative thoughts. Refuse to think such thoughts, and substitute them with constructive happy thoughts.
• Associate yourself with people who think positively.

Follow these tips and suggestions, and prove to yourself of the reality and power of positive thinking.

Handy tips for all recipes

• Substituting Spray light for oil will reduce total amount of calories
• The main ingredient is interchangeable e.g. Beef can be substituted with another meat of your choice, chicken for fish etc.
• Use herbs of your choice to change flavors
  

Health Eating Tip of the Month

Powerful Reasons to Eat Slower by "Leo Babauta"

One of the problems in our daily lives is that many of us rush through the day, with no time for anything … and when we have time to get a bite to eat, we gobble it down.
That leads to stressful, unhealthy living.

With the simple but powerful act of eating slower, we can begin to reverse that lifestyle immediately. How hard is it? You take smaller bites, you chew each bite slower and longer, and you enjoy your meal longer.

It takes a few minutes extra each meal, and yet it can have profound effects.

Here are some reasons you should consider the simple act of eating slower:

1. Lose weight. A growing number of studies confirm that just by eating slower, you’ll consume fewer calories — in fact, enough to lose 20 pounds a year without doing anything different or eating anything different. The reason is that it takes about 20 minutes for our brains to register that we’re full. If we eat fast, we can continue eating past the point where we’re full. If we eat slowly, we have time to realize we’re full, and stop on time. Now, I would still recommend that you eat healthier foods, but if you’re looking to lose weight, eating slowly should be a part of your new lifestyle.
2. Enjoy your food. This reason is just as powerful, in my opinion. It’s hard to enjoy your food if it goes by too quickly. In fact, I think it’s fine to eat sinful foods, if you eat a small amount slowly. Think about it: you want to eat sinful foods (desserts, fried foods, pizza, etc.) because they taste good. But if you eat them fast, what’s the point? If you eat them slowly, you can get the same amount of great taste, but with less going into your stomach. That’s math that works for me. And that argument aside, I think you are just happier by tasting great food and enjoying it fully, by eating slowly. Make your meals a gastronomic pleasure, not a thing you do rushed, between stressful events.
3. Better digestion. If you eat slower, you’ll chew your food better, which leads to better digestion. Digestion actually starts in the mouth, so the more work you do up there, the less you’ll have to do in your stomach. This can help lead to fewer digestive problems.
4. Less stress. Eating slowly, and paying attention to our eating, can be a great form of mindfulness exercise. Be in the moment, rather than rushing through a meal thinking about what you need to do next. When you eat, you should eat. This kind of mindfulness, I believe, will lead to a less stressful life, and long-term happiness. Give it a try.
5. Rebel against fast food and fast life. Our hectic, fast-paced, stressful, chaotic lives — the Fast Life — leads to eating Fast Food, and eating it quickly. This is a lifestyle that is dehumanizing us, making us unhealthy, stressed out, and unhappy. We rush through our day, doing one mindless task after another, without taking the time to live life, to enjoy life, to relate to each other, to be human. That’s not a good thing in my book. Instead, rebel against that entire lifestyle and philosophy … with the small act of eating slower. Don’t eat Fast Food. Eat at a good restaurant, or better yet, cook your own food and enjoy it fully. Taste life itself.