Positively Pay it Forward

I've made a conscious decision to be positive.  I often wondered why it has always seemed easier to complain about things rather than see the goodness in any situation. 

When I am angry, I don't feel well and I feel stress.  Stress hurts.  Anger leads to stress.  Stress gives me anxiety.  Anxiety causes me to overeat, be silent and directly affect those around me.  When I'm negative, people don't want to engage in conversation with me or be in my presence.  It's an endless and vicious cycle that I prefer not to participate in any longer.

Positivity creates an adverse effect.  It feels good.  I feel lighter, healthier, happier.  People smile back and want to know me.  I want to help, encourage and support.  My smile can cause someone's heart to swell, who might otherwise might feel broken.  My kindness can uplift a stranger's spirit, who might otherwise feel lonely.  My compliments can change someone's outlook on themselves, who might otherwise feel insecurity.  My genuine gestures of gratitude might encourage a stranger to do the same for others.

So here is my assignment.  Designate Friday as Positively Pay it Forward Day.  Make a conscious effort to pay your positivity forward and see how your actions affect random people around you. 

• Pay a stranger a compliment.  Make it sincere. 
• Randomly buy someone a coffee.  Take note of how they react.
• Share your story with others and encourage them to spread the positivity.

You are in total control of your emotions and reactions.  You can choose to find the good in any situation or you can choose to complain about it.  Be aware of how your attitude affects those around you.  You never know how the simplest gesture can impact someone's life.

Make a choice to be POSITIVE!  Pay it Forward!

 

Isn't it Time?

I had an assignment this week to post a video about my success with Beachbody.  Not only have I had great results, but I have truly been able to inspire so many people and that to me is how I define success.  I hope this motivates you!  Isn't it TIME for YOU?

Be What You Want

Living is Dallas definitely has its advantages.  It doesn't ever get too cold, it's culturally diverse and the cost of living is relatively low.  Sports and fitness in Dallas has treated us kindly lately.  Not only have we had the distinct advantage of playing host to this year's Super Bowl, but the city has been host to many celebrity fitness trainer events. 

Last night Chalene Johnson was here to share some motivational thoughts and to lead a serious Turbo Kick workout.  If you haven't ever heard of her, she is the woman behind the Turbo Fire craze.  I haven't really ever done her workouts so I had no expectations as I entered the hotel where the event took place.  But I learned VERY quickly that I failed miserably in the selection of my attire for the night.  I'm a Shaun T girl.  Give me a sports bra and some capris and I'll knock out 10 power jumps.  Turbo Jam girls...not so much.  They don't just come for a workout, they come for a fashion show. 

Shaun T girl....

Turbo Jam girl...

As I made my way to stand in line for registration, my deep-rooted insecurities started to make their way to surface of my skin.  Combat boots, glitter belts, baseball caps cocked sideways, leopard print pants, full makeup!  I was so out of my element.  I contemplated leaving and sacrificing the registration fee I had already paid. I started to look for the easiest escape route. 

But life for me today is about experiences, trying new things, getting out of my comfort zone.  So I took a few deep breaths, stripped down to my leopard print tank and made the best of it.  And I'm SO glad I did.

I will say that Chalene Johnson is one DYNAMIC woman.  Her energy is electric, her attitude is completely positive and her desire to teach and inspire is infectious. I went from feeling extremely insecure about not fitting in to getting my groove on and shakin' my booty Turbo Fire Style.  I mean not just 'groovin and workin' it out' but more like 'someone slipped two glasses of wine in my water beforehand' workin' it out!

She left me knowing and feeling that I can do anything I want to do with effort, determination and persistence.  She explained the power of positive attraction and accomplishing things by following the examples of those you emulate.  I know what to do now.  And I just might get me a pair of those leopard print workout pants while I'm at it!

More Insane Results

I'm so proud to write about my latest success story.  Shelly have known each other for years, went to high school together and now through the magic of Facebook have reunited several years later.  Back in May of last year, she made a comment on a picture I posted.  I had no idea at the time, but I've learned that when someone asks for help, it pays to listen!

Shelly leads a very filled life.  She's a busy mother of two young boys and is an accomplished graphic designer.  Yet, rather than make any of the obvious excuses, she made a very resolute decision to get in better shape and to prove that she had the strength and tenacity to do it.  After a couple months of conversation, I finally convinced her to give Insanity a try.  She was eager, nervous and excited.  I had no doubt, based on her determination that she would be successful. 

Although initially hesitant, she was so kind to allow me to share her before and after pictures.  I believe they are source of motivation for anyone who wants to do something but hasn't had the courage to make it happen.  Shelly proved that if you want it, you can make it work.

Below is her transformation and the thoughts that transpired throughout the 60 days.

Start of Month 1

I was excited and scared to death to start. I was feeling a bit like "frump girl" in these pics! My journey began...

I'm excited to get more into this...like a week into it and see how I'm feeling!
I'm ready for the challenge!

She reached the halfway point and was getting frustrated by not seeing the physical results she had hoped to see.  The workouts were challenging, but she didn't quit.



 

End of Month 1 - Frustration almost got the best of me, but determination held strong as I began to finally see and feel a change...

I keep thinking...you know this probably isn't really going to change my body. I've tried just about everything to get into better shape and tone up...I felt pretty good last week and this week I feel more down?

The workout tonight was HARD! And I kept thinking...can I really do this?? Boy my body is hurting tonight!  Whew!

I started to notice a change in email tone after about 40 days.  She seemed more confident as the physical changes started to happen.  She proved that results do not happen overnight but the daily efforts eventually pay off.  She continued to stick to the plan, despite her busy schedule and gradually the changes she was seeking started to happen.  I was so encouraged by how she was starting to love the workout.

Insanity is still going strong! The funny thing is I really like it. I've needed a challenge.

A couple weeks ago she sent me her final photos and I was blown away.  Not just by the physical transformation, but by the confidence she gained.  She looks simply beautiful and I am just so proud of her for sticking to it when it was tough and she wasn't seeing any results.  I knew they would come and I kept telling her to be patient.  I have no doubt she will continue with her efforts.  She has set the foundation for success.  Once that is in place, there is really no telling what one can accomplish!

End of Month 2 - I did it! I completed INSANITY and loved it!! It’s not just the change in my body, but in all aspects of my life. This was NOT easy, it was a process of finding out about what I was made of and what I could push myself to do-in everything. Thanks for being such a great inspiration “Coach” Rhonda!

Calves: lost .25"

Thighs: lost 1" (that's huge for me!)

Hips: lost 1.5"

Waist: lost 2.25"

Arms: 1" (another huge for me)

Chest: let's just say it got smaller:)

Weight: starting 123.5 ending 115.5 = 8 lbs lost

Way to go Shelly!  You inspired me!

Keep Your Thoughts Positive...

As children we're often told that we can be whatever we want to be. The sky is the limit. Shoot for the stars. Tie a lasso around the moon! Ask any child what they want to be when they grow up and most answers are sure to be pretty spectacular. An astronaut, a doctor, a professional football player, a firefighter!

Fast forward twenty years and those same "dream big" children are now often disgruntled, living day to day, struggling and blaming the world for how much they hate life. What is the difference? What happens to change that
"I can conquer the world" attitude?

Life doesn't just happen. We make our lives happen. We have the power to either thrive or survive and unfortunately most of us choose the latter because we believe it's the only option. Instead of making the decision to thrive, it is easier to complain, blame others, and feel stuck without an option to free ourselves. Despite any circumstances, good, bad, challenging or rewarding, wouldn't life be so much better if we could face adversities with a positive approach?

Keep your thoughts positive,

because your thoughts become your words.

Keep your words positive,

because your words become your behaviours.

Keep your behaviours positive,

because your behaviours become your habits.

Keep your habits positive,

because your habits become your values.

Keep your values positive,

because your values become your destiny.

~ Gandhi ~

This concept has not always been easy for me and it hasn't been until recently that I really started to grasp the simplicity of it. I decided to remember those dreams I had as a child and seek the things I really wanted in my life. I'm learning that when you project a positive energy, the things you seek in life will come to you.

Tonight I witnessed my son and husband practicing yoga in our living room. A year ago, I wouldn't have imagined where my life is today. When I made a very distinct decision to change the way I viewed things in life, things that I never imagined would happen are starting to happen.

Will decision will you make today to improve your life?

Turning Priorities into Goals

I've been doing a boot camp for the past month.  Not the type that you might suspect when you think of me.  No blood, sweat or...well, there have been many tears.  It's a boot camp for personal growth and development as a Independent Beachbody Coach. 

I can honestly say I've had more self improvement in the past eight months of my life than I have had in probably the past 15 years prior to that.  I have always had a desire to do great things, but I had no idea how to implement my dreams into realistic goals.  I thought setting a goal meant saying I wanted to do something.  I didn't really think in terms of daily, monthly or God forbid yearly goals outside the realm of fitness.  I lived day to day, frustrated, hoping things would change, but not having any kind of plan of action to make the change I desired.

One of our homework assignments this week was to write down five goals for ourselves and where we wanted to be in one year.  I got so excited at the thought of this assignment.  In the past, this meant throwing out dreams and wishes of what I thought I wanted and then waiting for them to magically happen.  I wanted more money, I wanted to travel, I wanted to be super fit.  When it didn't happen, I would get more and more frustrated and I loved to blame others for why it wasn't happening.

Now, I have the tools to properly set realistic goals, yet when I achieve them, I will pretty much knock the socks off a lot of people. I've learned that before I can set any kind of goal, I have to figure out what my priorities are in my life.  Oh my gosh.  This is really harder than you would think.  But the more I really thought about it, it became very clear to me.

My priorities in life:  family, health, security and inner peace

Now that I know what I desire in my life, it makes setting my goals a much simpler task.  It took me about 30 minutes, but I set five very realistic, yet wowing goals for the next year.  I've already shared my fitness goals.  As much as I would love to share the specifics of the others, I'm only sharing mine with a few select accountability partners.  As much as I believe in the power of projection, I actually do still feel some things are best kept private.

What are your priorities and how you will develop your goals based upon them?  Think about them.  Then write them down and share with someone you trust.  Now go get it!