Cristina Hodgson

Happy New Year!

It's time for the January sales.

• I have grouped together with some very talented authors to offer you some amazing freebies.
• I'll share with you a truely moving, real-life story.
• I'll also share fitness tip nº4 with you, perfect if one of your New Year's resolutions is to get into shape.

I hope you've all had a great start to the year. I've started my New Year by changing the cover art of my short story Simply Anna. I hope you like it! You can get your FREE copy here: 

 *LINK TO MY FREE SHORT STORY: Simply Anna

*If don’t have an Amazon account, don’t worry! Just reply back to this e-mail and let me know which file type you need and I'll personally send to you. (EPUB, MOBI, PDF)

Now for fitness tip nº4. 

For those who've signed up recently I usually give out easy peasy fitness tips, if you've missed the first three, you can check them out here:

• Fitness tip nº1  
• Fitness tip nº2
• Fitness tip nº3

Now for fitness tip nº4. (You should do each session at least two or three times a week and finish with some simple stretches. You can find some easy stretching exercises here: Easy Stretches For Beginners )

Remember, though you may sometimes struggle to keep to your goal, remind yourself of the health benefits. Of why you want to lose weight /get fit. Nobody said it would be easy, but the key is to keep focused and not give up.
Believe me, everyone has bad days, days when you want to give up. Expect to have small setbacks, just don't make them a reason to give up altogether. You only fail when you stop trying.  

Split your goal into a series of time-based steps. Give yourself rewards for achieving your each step. Every time you accomplish a small milestone in your journey, congratulate yourself. Break the journey up, this way and it will become more enjoyable. (Example in week: 12 below). 

If you skip a session, don't do double in the next session, continue as normal. An extra day off now and again isn't a problem, but it becomes a problem if you give up altogether.

So are you ready to pick it up from where we left off? Remember you should do each session at least two or three times a week. I'm only asking for about 20 - 30 minutes each session. What's 30 minutes in a 24 hour day? (And not even every day!) Nothing! But it's enough if you do it right.

*Week 10: 5 minutes walk warm-up. Then (3 minutes run : 1 minute walk/  2 minutes run : 1 minute walk / 1 minute run : 1 minute walk) x 2. Finish with a 5 minute walk to warm-down.
*Week 11: 5 minute walk warm-up. (3 minute run : 2 minute walk) x 3.   5 minute walk warm-down.
*Week 12: 5 minute walk warm-up. 10 minute run. 5 minute walk warm-down. CONGRATULATIONS!! You have just completed a 10 minute run without stopping! Go celebrate! Feel proud of yourserlf, send me a victory picture! I'd love to see how you're getting on. 10 minutes may not seem a lot to some, but believe me, for someone who isn't used to doing excersise at all, this is a huge step...keep going!
*Week: 13: This week we'll take it a bit easy again. If you're fitting in 3 sessions in a week, for the first and last just do a 25 minute walk. In the middle session do: 5 minute walk warm-up. (1 minute run : 1 minute walk) x 5, finish with a 5 minute walk.

Research suggests that by alternating bursts of high-intensity work with complete rest (or low-intensity movement), interval training can supercharge fat-burning, boost metabolism, and improve cardiovascular fitness.

*If you think the above work-outs are too easy for you, increase the intenesity of your effort during the run time. If, to the contrary, you feel that it's too hard, you can do it all walking but make sure there is a change in the pace of your walk. Instead of running just walk faster.

Meet me back in my February newsletter to take your runs and fitness up to the next level.

*This Newsletter isn't intended to substitute informed medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.

A True Story: In my last newsletter I asked for someone to share an inspirational letter about where they want to see themselves in five years time and the importance of having long-term goals. Thanks to everyone who sent me an e-mail. I'm sharing this one as it touched me and I want to thank the person who sent it, for her brave and inspirational words:
“19 months ago I lost my husband. He suffered from a heart attack whilst out on his mountain bike, I was with him. I won't go into details as it's still too painful. My only relief, if there can possibly be one, is that I was able to hold him in his final moments. My life has been on standstill since then. Part of me died with him. He was the most important person in my life. We were also unlucky in that we were never blessed with children. The months have passed and I've lost a lot of weight, I don't even recognise my reflection in the mirror. But I've also realised that I'm surrounded by wonderful people who have reached out to me and helped me. Life can be bitter at times but it can be beautiful too. I feel that in another life I will see him again just as I believe that he is willing me to live my life now without him and sending me his strength. I've gradually resumed mountain bike riding again and walking, which I find helps to cleanse my soul. I don't want to spend my life behind a closed door, I've done that for the last 19 months and now it's time to find myself again. To bring out the woman that my husband fell in love with. I find reading is helping me too. I escape into a dream world when I have no other place to go. What are my long term goals? I can't think that far ahead because I have seen with my very eyes how fleeting life can be. So my goal now is just to live every moment as if it's my last one. For the first time in 19 months I feel strong. The woman I used to be is slowly returning and I owe it to her to laugh, even when I feel like crying, to run even when I feel like collapsing. To live, because despite the pain, I have been blessed with life, my husband was taken too young (he was only 49). I owe it to him to treasure every breathing moment. Simply live, and live simply, because that's what life is about.”

I hope you all find inspiration from this true account, I certainly have. Beautiful, moving words. Thank you!

Now Back To Reading:

After the Christmas mayhem, you probably all want to relax with some great reads, for a very limited time click on the links below for these FOUR promotional treats.

1. New Year Romance Giveaway
2. Hot & Steamy Reads
3. Peepshow. Teasers and Sneak Peeps
4. Heartwarming Romances (This promo is for today only!)

Let's meet two talented authors:

Chloe Fischer: Her steamy Hard Insticts is on sale now!

Rose Chapman: Click here for a FREE copy of Romantic TakeOver

­What people are recently saying about

A little of Chantelle Rose

"A Little of Chantelle Rose" is a fast-paced romantic comedy that will keep the reader in stitches.  Author Cristina Hodgson has an engaging writing style; the dialogue is crisp, the settings are engaging, the plot is perfectly paced. The characters are memorable and they will pull one right into the story. Chantelle is a delightful protagonist with a "take no prisoners" attitude and the reader will root for her throughout her struggles.” InD'tale Magazin

Buy link: mybook.to/chantellerose

Happy Reading!

Cristina.
xx

P.S: If you enjoy my debut novel or my short story, please leave a review on Amazon and remember to tell your Friends ; )

For some more silly pics and fun blog posts just click on the FB / Twitter symbols below and follow me.