Sunday, February 27, 2011

My Why

Have you ever asked yourself , what is my passion? What drives me? What motivates me? What is something that I am so passionate about that I could work endless hours and still have desire to keep going? What is my Why?

My passion is my Beachbody business and my drive comes from being healthy and fit. I know how good that feels and I have an unrelenting desire to help others achieve a quality level of health for themselves. I strongly believe the foundation of everything, including my very own happiness begins with health. My why? My family. They are what bring it all together for me.

People know that I work very hard physically. I run marathons, I do crazy Bikram yoga challenges, I bust my booty with my Insanity workouts.  I make very conscious decisions about what I eat.  But my real dedication is to build a solid home business with Beachbody. With a full-time job, family and my own workouts, the time I can dedicate to working on my goals is the evenings. Every evening. No television. Minimal distractions. I utilize every minute I have to pursuing my goals.

I believe we must live in the moment and take advantage of every minute we have with our kids.  I also believe that if you really want something bad enough, you will make small sacrifices along the way.

I sacrificed a lot this year and thanks to one of the most supportive husbands a girl could ask for, I have been working at turning my passion into my full-time 'career'. I've missed some things this past year. I no longer take my son to school, which was the highlight of my day. It hurts me to give that up. The guilt overcomes me often. 

Small sacrifices open even larger doors.  I know that by next year, I will not only take him, but I'll be there at the end of the day to pick him up. This is something I have never been able to do.  He is my why and I won't let him down. Could you?

Ask yourself if you are truly happy with where you are in your life? Are you happy physically, financially, emotionally? Are you earning a living doing what you love or are you paying the bills and living day to day? When is the last time you achieved a goal? When is the last time you wrote down a goal?

I know I'm going to achieve my goals and be successful. Why? Because my priority is to help people first and my mission is to create healthier lives for those around me and for those that come into my life.

Whether you want help in getting healthier, want to join my cause or simply want some inspiration, I would love to hear from you!  It doesn't just start with me or you, it starts with us!  Email me!  WHY are you waiting?

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Unplugged

I did something a little out of my box this morning.  It was a little outside my comfort zone and a little bit uncomfortable for me. I ran unplugged. I wore Apollo on my wrist like a security blanket, but we didn't communicate with one another.  I ignored him. 

I listened to nothing but my breath and constant pitter patter of my shoes hitting the pavement.  I relied on my own perceived exertion rather any devices or music to push me through my tempo run.

I changed up my workout ritual quite a bit this week.  I started off the week by sleeping through my alarm.  I rarely get upset when this happens. The message is always clear.  I need to honor my body and sleep is the one thing I often neglect.

I accepted the circumstances and adapted to them by switching to an evening workout.  My energy levels are not the same at night and it's hard for me to work at the same intensity as a crack of dawn session, but as I got into my Insanity, the more I enjoyed it.  It was a welcome change and feeling the sweat dripping off my body at night was surprisingly energizing.

It is so easy to get into a ritual rut.  Doing the work may not always be enough and sometimes it just takes a simple change of circumstances to allow us to not only break out of the rut, but to break through it. 

The result of my "unplugged" run?  I ran faster than I have in weeks.  As much as I rely on technology to tell me my pace and music to motivate me, it's okay to listen to my body and let my gasping breaths dictate my pace. 

It's okay to sleep through my alarm and cherish the extra sleep rather than waste my energy being upset by a missed workout.

Adapt to change. Embrace the different circumstances.  Try something new.  Step outside your comfort zone.  See mistakes as opportunities and just run with it...or without it!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

A Delicious Way to Jump Start Your Day

Shakeology is my favorite meal of the day!  It's like drinking the most delicious chocolate shake except it's naturally healthy!  Shakeology is made with 70 all-natural ingredients derived from whole food sources with proven benefits that include: improved digestion and better regularity, weight loss, higher energy levels and lowered cholesterol.

Today, I took a little diversion from my regular shake and made these delicious oatmeal bars. 
3 cups Oatmeal
1/2 cup Natural Organic Peanut Butter
1 cup Almond Milk
Dash cinnamon
Splash of vanilla
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
4 scoops chocolate Shakeology

Mix all dry ingredients, then add milk and vanilla to blend.
Add peanut butter and mix w/ hands.

Put mixture in an 8×8 pan, press flat, refrigerate for 2-3 hours and cut into squares!

Per serving:
170 calories
5.5 g fat
16 g carbs
6.5 g protein




Next Monday, I will start another 3-day cleanse.  The last time I did this, I didn't feel hungry and felt re-energized and rejuvenated.  The cleanse is a great way to get started right with Shakeology and get back on track with your nutrition.  What makes this different from other cleanses is that the Shakeology 3-day cleanse focuses on caloric efficiency; getting the most nutrients possible out of the fewest number of calories.  Although weight loss is a definite benefit, the purpose is aimed at fueling your body more efficiently.



Contact me if you're ready to jump start your fitness and shed pound quickly, efficiently and in a healthy manner.  I have packs like the one above available to get you started and on your way to optimal health!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Have you ever OD'd?

Today my son came home with an "Oops" note.  In the world of a first grader, an oops note is not something to be proud of and he is very aware of that fact.  It doesn't happen often, but as the mother of a fairly well-disciplined
6-year old, I have to admit, the first oops caught me a bit off-guard.

Much like the first time I read his daycare had served him Fruit Loops (gasp) as a baby, I wrote a one-page letter to the teacher expressing my concern after the first oops came home.  I assured her we would take care of the situation and that it would NOT happen again.  As in the case of the Fruit Loops, I assured the daycare he would NOT be served them EVER again.  I've learned to relax a little over the years.

I find the Oops notes to be very effective.  What's even better, or really sweet, is that he will always tell me in advance before I have the chance to find the notes for myself.  Perhaps to spare himself being further disciplined, but I like to believe he is learning to become accountable for his actions.

It's hard for me to be mad at this one... 


And really hard for me NOT to laugh at this one...

  
Most kids want to be active.  As adults, many of us get sedentary and inactive.  Imagine if we were held accountable each day if were not being responsible for our health, we would have our own "Oh Damn" messages.  I can't help think of what my very own "OD" notes would look like some days. 


Or lately, as I long for to get back to those marathon training days....

 

How are we holding ourselves accountable for lack of inactivity.  It seems like a juvenile system, but maybe if we have our own Oops system, we might think twice before consuming a 1000 calorie lunch or be more motivated to get our daily exercise.

Think back to the past week.  Where have you OD'd and what can you do to be more accountable for those actions?

Monday, February 7, 2011

My Confession

A confession.  I don't always practice what I preach. 

I admit it.  Sometimes it's really hard for me to have the positive self image I teach you to embody.  It's something I have battled since I've been a chubby little girl.  And for the past couple  of weeks, I have been struggling. 

I try not to get caught up in the numbers game and I rarely stray from my workouts.  Self discipline has never been my issue.  Self image on the other hand is often a difficult pill for me to swallow. 

I admit that I stare relentlessly at times at myself in the mirror before I enter the shower, sucking in that, tucking under this.  It's a practice I'm not proud of, but I would not be honest if I said I never struggled.  I do.  Often.

And right now, I'm in one of those 'struggles'.  With the recent ice storm that hit our area and not being able to run for over a week, I feel at times like I am living outside of the body I know and have slowly learned to grow and love.  A different Rhonda has been invading my space lately and I don't like her.at.all.

I have been thankfully able to do my Insanity workouts at home, but this round is much different than when I first did it last summer.  Then, I took weekly updated pictures and I was so proud of my progress.  This time I'm not seeing or feeling those changes.   Perhaps it's because I'm not working hard enough or not as inspired or maybe I've just plateaued.  Whatever the reason, I'm ready for a change.  I will always love this workout, but it's time to put it on the shelf and try something new for a while.

I won't quit.  I'm not a quitter.  I'll finish the next 18 days and then I'll completely start something new, something fresh.  Something different to shock by body back to where I'll be excited take those weekly pictures again.  Perhaps I just might take that P90X plunge afterall and make it a perfect complement to my running.

So that's how I get through these slumps.  I make a plan, I allow myself a little self-pity (it feels good) and then I'll get back to where I need to be.  A slump is NEVER a time to give up on yourself and that is hardly in my plan.  I just need a little mental restructuring.  The physical will come.

Until then, here's my favorite shot taken last summer when my little Jackson kept sneaking in the pictures without my knowledge.  It makes me laugh and gives me inspiration to move forward and progress.  I want to look this again.  He's my inspiration and this is my accountability.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Another Inspiring Success

I'm so proud to share another success story.  Mariah's story is so encouraging to the thousands of women that feel stuck, unbalanced and unappreciated.  I'm a firm believer that the core of everything that signifies life begins with health. Thank you Mariah for taking control of your life and health and for sharing your story.   You're an inspiration!  You're beautiful!

*******************************************************************************************

Two years ago, in December 2008, I wound up in a psychologist's office.
Her question..."So why are you here?"

My answer...."I hate my life..."




I worked all of the time. I hated my job. I commuted far, I never saw my husband and children, and I never had time for myself. It took me 2-3 strong cups of coffee to wake up in the morning, 2-3 glasses of wine to get to sleep at night, and I had constant heartburn and acid reflux. I craved time with my children. I craved time with my husband. I needed balance. I wanted a job in which I felt appreciated, and made the kind of money I needed to make.


I didn't even know where to begin.

At the advice of my therapist, I began reading the book, Codependent No More by Melodie Beattie. In a nutshell, I stopped trying to change the world around me, and I instead asked myself one question..."What do I need to do to live a fulfilling life?" The answer was simple...

I need to get healthy so that I can feel good, live a long healthy life, and feel confident and sexy again.

I need to somehow come to a sense of balance so that all of the priorities in my life get the attention they need and deserve (my children, my husband, myself).

I need to find a career that is rewarding, utilizes my intellectual capacity, has a high degree of flexibility, and has a high income potential so that I'm not living to work, but working to live.

All three of these objectives came together. My approach was very different than the normal dieter...it began deep inside my soul. It came from this feeling of everything spinning out of control and me feeling like my life was passing by. Within two years time, I quit my job and my family moved back to my hometown. I'm back in school and studying both psychology and nursing. I spend more time with my children and husband, I'm learning material every day that I directly apply, and I am back down to the weight I was at years ago.

Last year, I began a fitness and nutrition blog that marries the psychology behind our unhealthy habits with our weight loss goals. I find that everyone tells us how to eat to lose weight, and how to workout...but nobody digs deeper to find the cognitive behavioral reasons why we do what we do. I believe that until those are addressed, weight loss is only temporary and addictions other than food are sought out.

In September, I began P90X as a natural continuation of my health journey, and in December I completed it along with my husband and workout partner. I loved the intensity, appreciated the diet and nutrition recommendations, and cannot wait to do another Beachbody fitness program.


Mariah today
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