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?

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.

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

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!