{"id":164,"date":"2008-08-05T07:50:42","date_gmt":"2008-08-05T07:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/ourladyofweightloss\/2008\/08\/mental-fitness-a-guide-to-revi.html"},"modified":"2008-08-05T07:50:42","modified_gmt":"2008-08-05T07:50:42","slug":"mental-fitness-a-guide-to-revi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/ourladyofweightloss\/2008\/08\/mental-fitness-a-guide-to-revi.html","title":{"rendered":"Mental Fitness: A Guide to Revitalizing Your Brain Circuits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nine Nimble Steps to a Svelte and Willowy Mind<\/strong><\/big> by Janice Taylor<\/a>, Life & Wellness Coach, Author, 50-pound big-time-loser<\/em>
\nAs the natural aging process slowly yet steadily sets in<\/strong>, our mental and physical functions can, in time, become impaired. However, there are fun ways to keep your mind nimble, svelte and willowy!
\nHow to slow this process?<\/strong>
\nIn addition to a well-balanced and healthful diet as well as physical exercise, neurobics can aid the anti-aging process.
\nWhat are neurobics?<\/strong>
\nNeurobics are my kind of exercise. They are aerobic workouts for the brain that help activate new brain circuits, which enhance the brain’s production of neurotrophins (natural growth factors). Neurotrophins help the brain’s ability to combat the effects of the mental aging process.
\nAccording to the Department of Neurobiology in the Duke University Medical Center, you can keep your brain nimble, quick and ready for new challenges with neurobics. Neurobics help stimulate the brain’s activity, change the patterns of activity in your brain and create new connections in areas that process sensory input.
\nNeurobics can be done just about anywhere and at anytime. The trick is to utilize your five physical senses (see, hear, taste, feel, smell) and your emotional sense in unconventional ways. In order to WAKE UP, you want to shake up and break up your mental routine!
\nHere are some fun neurobic exercises.<\/p>\n

Our Lady of Weight Loss’s
\nNine SHAKE IT UP and WAKE IT UP Aerobic Exercises for the Mind<\/strong><\/big><\/div>\n

1. Upon waking, use your non-dominant hand<\/strong> (if you are a righty; use your lefty) as you comb your hair, get dressed, brush your teeth or make coffee. Allot for extra time!
\n2. Close your eyes<\/strong> as you shower and use your sense of touch<\/strong> to locate your soap and wash yourself. A calm way to wake up the mind!
\n3. Sniff mint leaves<\/strong> (or any strong smelling herb) while calling<\/strong> your mother (or whomever you like), to help you remember the number. You’ve linked task and smell and created a moment of awareness.
\n4. Play “smell and tell”<\/strong> (not show and tell!). Have friends or family members close their eyes, sniff an aroma<\/strong> held under their nose, and let them tell you what it is that they are smelling. Imagine all the deviant fun you can have?!
\n5. Turn the pictures<\/strong> on your desk or shelves upside down.
\n6. Rearrange<\/strong> your living room or office furniture.
\n7. Take a different route<\/strong> to work or shopping.
\n8. Eat a meal<\/strong> with your family in silence<\/strong>. Use only visual cues. (Alternatively, if they insist on speaking, wear ear-plugs.)
\n9. Listen to music<\/strong> while you smell the roses<\/strong> (or the flower of your choice). Another pleasant pairing of the senses: sound and smell.
\nWow, I’m exhausted.<\/strong> I strengthened the synapses between my nerve cells, and now my brain cells are busy making growth molecules. Technically speaking, it takes energy to fire those neurons. I wonder how many calories I burned.
\nChange your brain NOW! Neurobicize!
\nSpread the word, NOT the icing!
\nJanice<\/em>
\nFollow me on Twitter<\/strong>! @ourlady<\/strong>
\nFree Our Lady of Weight Loss E-Cards<\/strong><\/a><\/strong>! What better way to spread the fun weight loss word!
\nFor more motivation and inspiration, join the Kick in the Tush Club: Beliefnet Chapter.<\/strong> <\/strong> <\/a>
\nPick up a copy of Janice’s latest: All Is Forgiven, Move ON ~ Our Lady of Weight Loss’s 101 Fat-Burning Steps on Your Journey to Sveltesville<\/strong><\/a>!
\n” . . . . kooky genius<\/strong><\/big> ~ see if her idiosyncratic diet plan will work for you.” ~ O, The Oprah Magazine<\/em>
\n\"ART<\/span> <\/a> about Janice<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nine Nimble Steps to a Svelte and Willowy Mind by Janice Taylor, Life & Wellness Coach, Author, 50-pound big-time-loser As the natural aging process slowly yet steadily sets in, our mental and physical functions can, in time, become impaired. However, there are fun ways to keep your mind nimble, svelte and willowy! How to slow…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[103,12,1],"tags":[455,3821,3822,6,3823,3826,3827,76,452,3834,453,454,3825,3817,8,248,208,163],"class_list":["post-164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-exercise","category-health","category-weight-loss","tag-brain-power","tag-diet","tag-diet-coach","tag-dieting","tag-health","tag-janice-taylor","tag-kick-in-the-tush-club","tag-lose-weight","tag-mental-fitness","tag-mental-health","tag-neurobicize","tag-neurobics","tag-our-lady-of-weight-loss","tag-weight-loss","tag-weight-loss-coach","tag-weight-loss-tips","tag-well-being","tag-wellness"],"yoast_head":"\nMental Fitness: A Guide to Revitalizing Your Brain Circuits - Our Lady of Weight Loss<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/ourladyofweightloss\/2008\/08\/mental-fitness-a-guide-to-revi.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mental Fitness: A Guide to Revitalizing Your Brain Circuits - Our Lady of Weight Loss\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Nine Nimble Steps to a Svelte and Willowy Mind by Janice Taylor, Life & Wellness Coach, Author, 50-pound big-time-loser As the natural aging process slowly yet steadily sets in, our mental and physical functions can, in time, become impaired. 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