Category Archives: My Ramblings

October 3, 2018 · 12:30 PM

#Last90Days Challenge

Instagram is a place I spend a lot of time.

I have made a lot of friends, found a lot of empowered people to learn from, I’ve found motivation, and I’d like to think I provide some value and motivation to those who take the time to double tap and hopefully read the mini novels I sometimes (Okay…quite often) write under my photos.

Don’t follow me on Instragram? You can by clicking here & hitting that FOLLOW button!

Earlier this year I read the book Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis and it really spoke to me. It made me stop and think about my life… like REALLY stop and think about things.

It’s something I’ve been focused on this year and there has been a lot of change taking place behind the scenes of my writing and posts. It’s a bag of mixed emotions cause let’s be honest, facing your shit and owning up to your actions isn’t the easiest thing to do in the world but as Rachel Hollis says in her book…

If You're Unhappy That's On You

So when I was scrolling my feed and saw a lot of people joining the #Last90Days challenge that Rachel Hollis and her husband where hosting, I thought why not?!

(What more info on the challenge? Click here)

I started out Day 1 by reading the e-mails, watching the videos and listening to the podcasts listed. I felt fired up and began reflecting on one of the quotes and topics from the book Girl Wash Your Face…

Never Break A Promise To YourselfEver stop to think about that? Cause I hadn’t since I read the book.

If a friend or family member made a promise to you and time and time again broke their promise or left you hanging would you trust them anymore?

The answer to that is most likely no, yet we break promises to ourselves ALL. THE. TIME.

  • “I’m going to start eating healthy on Monday.”
  • “I’m going to start going to the gym.”
  • “I’m going to make time to read.”
  • “I’m going to make time to relax.”

Any of these sound familiar? I’m sure they do and I’m sure there is stuff on this list that you made excuses NOT to go thru with because it’s easier to grab fast food, lay on the couch watching Netflix or put everyone else needs before your own.

It’s time to stop flaking on yourself and make yourself the priority you deserve to be!

I am sooooo guilty of breaking promises to myself and I am determined to stop doing that. I am going to use the next 90 days (well 87 since it’s day 3 as I’m writing this) to get my shit together and start treating myself with the respect that I deserve.

If you struggle with any of this stuff I encourage you to join the #Last90Days challenge, connect with me on Instagram and end your year STRONG!

Which promise are you most guilty of breaking to yourself? Drop a comment below and let’s chat!

 

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September 10, 2018 · 9:00 AM

Adventures in SoCal

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Wanderlust is something I feel in my soul. There is a very strong, burning desire to travel within me and I have a list a mile long of places I want to go.

For over 5 years now I have been wanting to visit Southern California again. I had only been there once in my life and I was 13 years old, so I didn’t appreciate anything.

I’ve felt this strong pull to the west coast for the last 3 years. Most of the people I’ve been meeting on-line, clients I’ve been working with and opportunities to learn and grow have all stemmed from the west coast. It’s like the Universe has been trying to drag me there and like the stubborn person I am, I kept coming up with reasons not to go.

I mean who does that?!

Thankfully I removed all of my excuses a few weeks ago and I finally boarded a flight to LA for 5 days.

From the second I saw the California mountains from my window seat on the plane, I was in love. (and the 5 hours of being kicked by the little kids next to me and behind me, who were headed to Disney with their family, all faded away.)

Cali from the sky

Yeah, there was smoke from the fires that poor California seems to battle every year, but there was something about the landscape that just filled me with happiness.

In true East Coast fashion, as soon as I landed I had to head over to In-n-Out to find out what all of the fuss was about. Let me tell you something… this burger did NOT disappoint. I was told I had to order the Double Double Animal Style and it was amazing. The fries were meh and I was warned I had to eat them first because if they get cold you might as well just throw them out, this piece of advice was spot on…In-n-Out needs to up their fry game!

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After I stuffed my face in true foodie form I headed to the coast and just took in the views  for a bit. Never in my life have I sat somewhere and felt the calmness and sense of peace that I did while taking in this view. If would have sat in this one spot for all 5 days, I would have been happy. How could you have this view and be unhappy?!

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To be honest, there wasn’t a single beach I visited that didn’t make my soul happy and make me feel like I needed to come up with a plan immediately to relocate. There is just something about the vibe out there that made me feel like I was home.

I didn’t take nearly as many photos as I should have. For once in my life I found myself not reaching for my phone and just enjoying the moment. It was such a refreshing feeling to be unplugged and relaxed.

We should probably all try doing that more often.

Below are some photos that I did manage to snag during the trip…I really need to bring my DSLR with me next time and have fun documenting.

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Amazing mural I spotted while driving around the Huntington or Newport area.

Newport Beach

Soaking up the SoCal sun on Newport Beach

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Santa Monica Pier

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Santa Monica Pier

La Jolla

View from La Jolla, San Diego

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Redondo Beach

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The Cinnamon Roll French Toast was legit at Barney’s Beanery

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View from The Queen Mary in Long Beach – The final stop on my 5 day SoCal adventure

Sunrise heading east

Took the Red Eye home and caught the sunrise over PA.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t heartbroken as I boarded my flight home to the incredibly humid east coast. SoCal definitely stole my heart during our 5 short days together and I can’t wait to go back and be reunited.

 

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July 20, 2018 · 9:00 AM

There Is No Perfection

perfection doesn't exist

There is no perfection on this journey. The only thing that matters is consistency.

If you focus on being perfect all the time, you will rob yourself of joy because there is no such thing as perfect…we are all perfectly imperfect.

Failure is part of the journey. It’s where you learn the most about yourself and it’s not really failure unless you stop trying.

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There is about 17 years and so much failure I can’t even count, between these photos. The reason why I have a before & after is because I never gave up!

I failed, I cried and I got mad at myself but I always kept pushing forward…and so can you!

You just have to be patient and remain focused on what your goal is.

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October 6, 2017 · 12:15 PM

I’m Still Alive!

still_aliveWow…it’s been a hot minute since I’ve sat down and shared anything here.

In one of my previous posts I mentioned that life threw our family some curveballs last year. My father-in-law, who lived with us, passed away last January and things began to go downhill for me while he was in the hospital. From no time to workout, to stress, to meals from vending machines and people bringing up bagels, sandwiches and others foods I didn’t normally eat, the weight began to creep on. After the funeral, things just felt weird. The bad eating became a habit and that habit left me feeling unmotivated and tired. ALL. THE. TIME. I would say “that’s it, it’s time to get back to basics” and begin a program only to fall off the wagon after a week. Sigh…

Team all of that up with my son’s anxiety hitting an all time high (if you follow me on Instagram you already know a little about this) I had to stop working and begin doing homeschool with him because it was so bad he couldn’t go to school. Talk about stress and the perfect excuse to say “fuck it” right?!

Yeah…I totally called bullshit on myself there. If you know me, you know I don’t sugar coat anything…even when it comes to myself. I believe the only way to be successful at changing your habits is to acknowledge that they are fucked up to begin with. You can’t blame anyone for your problems. Yes, they may create them and sometimes you have no control over what happens in life, but you ALWAYS have control over how you handle and react to them.

Last May I turned 40 and as a gift, my good friend signed us up for the Hershey Half Marathon. I know, you’re probably thinking, “Why does your friend hate you?” but she knew it was something I’ve been wanting to do and she herself had completed her first half marathon a few months before so we thought let’s do it together. Training for it actually helped me to get back on track and I began to enjoy running again…until it got hot out. That’s when I began to hate it and questioned the decisions I make in life. Our race was in October and thanks to my amazing luck, I injured my foot and was not able to run it. I contemplated walking the 13.1 since I’m a fast walker, but we were leaving for Disney the following weekend and I didn’t want to hurt myself any further before the trip. Instead, we still went to Hershey and had a fun friends weekend, which was pretty damn awesome.

Of course I used my injury as an excuse for the next few months. I started my on again off again relationship with workouts and meal prep but thankfully I didn’t gain more weight. This continued until just recently when I started walking and doing some turtle running along with some meal prep and home workouts, but something still didn’t feel right. There was no real motivation and I found myself coming up with reasons why I could put my workout off… or I just wouldn’t put any true effort into them. I was just going through the motions and let’s be honest, theres no point in doing that at all.

About 6 weeks ago I started working again and I made the decision to join the gym. Gasp! I know… I said I joined the gym. I couldn’t even bring myself to go into the gym to join, I did it on-line! Talk about lame, right?! But I’ve been going and I found a gym lover to help me get over my fears and feel comfortable there, which has been awesome! I even made the decision to give Keto a try, so it’s been an interesting week of fasting and learning how to not eat carbs and embrace fat as my main food source.

Soooooo…. I know that was long and if you’ve gotten this far, thank you for actually caring enough to read. I’m hoping to share more of my gym journey here as well as some of the Keto recipes I find try so I won’t be such a blog slacker anymore.

Have you ever fell into a fitness rut? If so, I would love to hear about how you were able to overcome it and find motivation again!

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December 1, 2015 · 9:00 AM

Fitness Finds: The Mills at Jersey Gardens

I am the first to admit that I loathe shopping for clothes. I love jeans and t-shirts, but shopping for them makes me stabby. Dresses and shoes…um….no thank you. Make-up?! Bwahahahahaaa….no way!

So when the opportunity to team up with The Mills at Jersey Gardens presented itself I was hesitant, because as I said, I don’t like clothes shopping and I’m a jeans and t-shirt kinda girl. I know nothing about style trends, make-up and the hot color of the season. Why would I do this?!

Well…I do love shopping for new running shoes and workout clothes. This made me think and my hesitation went away as soon as I saw how many athletic stores they had. I then realized that the New Year was almost here and people would be gearing up to get healthy. That’s when excitement set in! I could actually shop and share fitness apparel finds for those who are planning to get started with a health & fitness routine in 2016!

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I thought about getting fancy for this shopping trip and then I realized it just wasn’t me, so I tossed on my jeans, a sweatshirt and a pair of Chucks and headed out to shop with my husband Mike, who happened to be off that day.

You can take a personal trainer out of workout clothes, but don’t mess with her jeans and Chucks!

In all honesty, I had a ton of fun shopping and I ended up shopping for more than just fitness attire. Don’t worry, I don’t see myself becoming a fashionista anytime soon, but I do see myself returning to The Mills at Jersey Gardens again for some holiday shopping!

Want to see some of my recommendations for fitness attire to get your New Year’s Resolutions started off right? Be sure to follow along on Instagram as I take over @MillsAtJersey!

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November 30, 2015 · 11:08 AM

Holiday Survival: Essential Oils Edition

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I think it’s pretty safe to say that we have all heard of essential oils or know someone who uses them or is a distributor of them. Being the skeptic that I normally am, I didn’t buy into this hype at first, but I finally caved after ending up in the hospital with terrible headaches last year.

A friend of mine sent me some Young Living essential oils samples, I gave them a try and they worked!

(Note: If you receive samples, be very careful when opening the tiny packets. I was not and spilled Lavender oil EVERYWHERE. It resulted in the entire family having the best night of sleep they’ve every had, so I guess it wasn’t the worst experience ever.)

As we head into the holiday season and the winter, I thought this would be a good topic to cover, so I spoke with some friends who swear by their love of oils and put together a short list of how essential oils can help you to relax, destress and just flat out survive the holidays!

Plus they apparently make good stocking stuffers too!

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Lavender: Can be diffused for a calming and comforting scent. You can add a few drops to Epsom salts for a relaxing nighttime bath. They can also be added to lotions or use with a carrier oil to apply to skin to soothe and help promote relaxation before sleep. You can add a few drops to distilled water in a spray bottle and spray on pillows and sheets as a linen spray to promote sleep.

Frankincense: Can be diffused or inhaled directly to increase spirituality and inner strength, lift mood and help balance emotions. I have also heard that when inhaled, it has been shown to reduce heart rate and high blood pressure. It has anti-anxiety and depression reducing abilities, but unlike prescription medications it does not have negative side effects and does not cause unwanted drowsiness. (This is not proven…just personal accounts from people I have spoken to.)

Peppermint: Peppermint has many uses that can come in handy for the holidays. It can be added to herbal tea to help soothe upset stomach. Some people also use with a carrier oil to rub topically on the stomach for stomach issues or use it topically to help with muscle stiffness and pain caused by shopping marathons again.

While I am not tied to Young Living Essential oils, I know that they can be used in recipes requiring peppermint extract. Substitute 1/8 tsp of Young Living peppermint oil per teaspoon of extract. After that a drop at a time can be added until desired taste. (Note: Check the labels before using other brands of oil for ingestion. Many oils are compromised with synthetic materials and I would not recommend ingesting that.)

Thieves oil:  A proprietary blend developed by Young Living but it has been duplicated and I have seen it elsewhere. Thieves essential oil blend was inspired by the legend of four 15th-century French thieves who formulated a special aromatic combination composed of clove, rosemary, and other botanicals they used while robbing the victims of the plague. Amazingly they did not fall ill. Therefore Thieves oil supports healthy immune function.

There are so many oils that I couldn’t possibly cover them all, so I found a neat little chart for you instead!

Essential Oils

How to use oils: Apply directly on the desired area according to dilution instructions. Always use a carrier oil, which is a non-essential oil used to dilute the essential oils. This also makes your oils last longer. Some examples of a carrier oil are: coconut oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil and olive oil.

-Research has shown that Essential oils quickly penetrate the skin. because of this ability, essential oils can affect the cells of the human body within minutes. Suggested areas for application: feet, behind the ears, wrists on the front of neck, and base of the skull.

Aromatic use: Diffuse oils with an ultrasonic diffuser. Putting a drop in your cupped hand and inhale slowly for 1 minute. Smell it directly from the bottle. Put a couple drops on cotton balls near air vents at home or in the car. Essential Oils containing sesquiterpines have the ability to pass the blood brain barrier making them an effective alternative in enhancing mental clarity and memory, while also promoting calmness and peace of mind.

 So, as you can see, essential oils can allow you to take control of your own health and wellness while keeping your environment free of toxic chemicals. They can help to reduce some stress and take the edge off of the holidays season without turning to nighttime cocktails while wrapping presents or driving from store to store.
For more information, contact your local Young Living or other independent essential oils rep and see how they can help you!
Already using oils in your daily life? Share your favorite oil and how you use it in the comments below!
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**Disclamer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products ideas and techniques mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This is not a sponsored post. I did not receive any compensation to write this. They are just my thoughts and opinions.

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October 1, 2015 · 7:01 PM

So Long Comfort Zone: Periscoping With Purpose

Hey everyone! Thank you for stopping by blog and for checking out my latest Periscope: So Long Comfort Zone: Periscoping With Purpose. I’m just guessing that there is where you came from since I just finished Scoping about this. While I’m at it, thanks for the heart love…cause you give show me heart love, right?!

As I mentioned in my scope, video is not my thing.

I avoid it like the plague, even though I know that it is a key component to my business and I could help more people by having an active YouTube channel. Typing that out actually just made me feel kinda selfish, because my goal is to help people with their health and fitness goals, but I let my issues with video stand in the way from doing that. Whoa. Sometimes being human totally sucks!

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the jail I’ve locked myself in to with all of my fears. It’s not a cool place to hang out at all. Fear keeps me from doing things I would like to do. It keeps me from trying new things and reaching goals that I have set for myself. Now more than ever, I want to break free of fear and see what’s on the other side of my comfort zone. Is this a scary thing, hell yeah! However it is necessary and I know that now.

If you believe in higher powers or the Universe guiding you through life, then we could totally hang out. I’m not a religious person at all, but I do believe that people come into your life and things happen for a reason.

Recently, I had someone come into my life who introduced me to “Ooola Life” via a post on Facebook. Upon some conversation, she told me about their website and I was in love as soon as I checked it out. I even ordered their book and devoured it in about 48 hours. (I’m currently on the worksheet section and feeling more inspired than I have in a long time!)

I began following them on Periscope and something they spoke about struck a cord with me. They spoke about fear and how it’s just a feeling that you need push through. How you need to take a deep breath, process the feeling for 20 seconds and just push forward. This Periscope got me thinking about my fear of video and made me realize that I need to get over it. I began thinking that Periscope was the perfect place to start, despite being a live broadcast with no second chance. The reason why this was appealing to me? It’s not permanent. It’s not up forever for people to see. It’s there for 24 hours and then it’s gone! I like that. I’m not 100% sure why just yet…but I do and I’m going with it.

Fast forward a few hours and I was scrolling around Pinterest when this graphic caught my eye:

Periscope With Purpose

I immediately clicked on it and read what it was all about. Right then, right there, the Universe was guiding me toward what I needed most. A guide to conquer my fear of video. I no longer had the excuse of “I don’t know what to Periscope about”….it was all right in front of me.

With a click of a button and a little bit of typing, I signed up for the challenge and saved the graphic so I would be able to plan out some scopes. Not bad for a first step!

Today is the official kick-off date for the challenge and I’ll be doing a scope shortly, but it’s not my first scope! The other day I couldn’t get the thought of Periscope out of my mind and I had just finished a chapter from the Oola book on fear, so I decided to just hit broadcast and go for it!

It was a terrifying 5 minutes for me, but I am so grateful for the friends who hopped on to the broadcast, showed me some heart love and commented in support of my first scope!

I know this post doesn’t have much to do with health & fitness in the nutrition and exercise sense, but conquering fear is part of mental health and I am ALL for that! As a matter of fact, it’s something I have been really been working on myself and will be posting about more often. But don’t worry, I’ll be sharing lots of recipes, more updates on my journey and other fitness related info soon. If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter. It’s the best way to stay in the loop about new groups coming up and other specials!

Are you on Periscope? If so, please let me know what your username is and I’ll stop by to see your most recent scopes! You can find me here.

Not on Periscope yet? Check it out and maybe join me in 31 days of Scoping! I promise you we will not die from talking on video (even though we might feel like we will). I’m sure I will flub, lose my train of thought or totally bomb on a scope or two, but you know what…it’s okay. It shows that I’m a real person. I’m not perfect, I don’t have my shit together, I have fears, I’m a little weird and I sometimes forget what I was doing and as I watch more scopes I’m realizing I’m not alone!

So head on over to Blog Clarity to sign up for daily reminders and tips to go along with this challenge…then comment below to let me know if you’re in!

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November 30, 2014 · 6:44 PM

Tips For Clean Eating During the Holidays

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The holidays are a time of year that are filled with family, dinners, parties, cocktails, cookies, shopping and of course the stress of trying to get it all done. Don’t let the holidays derail you from your fitness goals. It takes a little effort, but you can avoid the weight gain that is oh so commonly associated with this time of year. Check out my tips for clean eating during the holidays and start your new year off ahead of everyone else.

1. Eat Breakfast: Eating a healthy breakfast everyday sets the tone for your day. If you try to skip it and opt for a trip to the local coffee shop for a sugary mega-super-ginormous latte, you’re setting yourself up for overeating later in the day. Having breakfast and eating small, clean meals through out the day is also going to be your key to success on the days you have parties or events to attend. You’ll keep your energy high and your blood sugar stable, which will result in less cravings for caffeine, sugar and fatty foods.

Bonus Tip: If you skip breakfast because you are always short on time in the morning, consider making these Healthy Egg Muffins or adding a nutrient dense smoothie to your morning routine.

2. Be Prepared: On days when you’ll be running around shopping, make sure that you carry healthy snack options with you so you can avoid becoming hangry. A piece of fruit, some homemade trail mix, a nutrition bar or some raw nuts are all great, portable options to keep on hand. Long lines and crowds can be energy draining, so it’s important to have healthy energy boosts on hand. The last thing you want is to be tempted by the candy options while on line to check out.

Bonus Tip: Slow cookers can be a life saver during this time of year. You can find lots of Clean Eating Slow Cooker Recipes on my Pinterest board.

3. Manage Portion Sizes: When attending cocktail parties or buffets, opt for the smallest plate option available. Doing so will keep your portion sizes in check and it will reduce your chances of  over stuffing yourself. Having a smaller plate will also force you to get up to refill it. This will give you time to truly think if you want more and if you do, you’ll at least get a little bit of activity in the process.

Bonus Tip: Carry sugar-free mints or gum with you to holiday parties. The minty flavor will keep you from picking on foods.

4. Indulge Wisely: Don’t overdue it on foods you can have anytime of year. Save the splurges for foods that you only have access to during the holiday season, like grandma’s pecan pie or the first batch of cookies for the season that your children helped to make. By doing so, you won’t feel cheated or like you can’t enjoy the foods that may be linked to childhood memories. When you head into the holidays knowing that these special foods are okay, you’ll reduce the risk of feeling like a failure which can result in binge eating. Strive for balance, not perfection!

Bonus Tip: Make a list of the foods that you only have around the holidays and make sure you balance them out with healthier options. Remember, just because you give yourself permission to have these special foods doesn’t meant it’s okay in gorge yourself on them. 

5. Make It Yourself: If you’re invited to a dinner party, don’t be afraid to call the host or hostess and ask if you could bring a dish. Many times this is very appreciated and it will give you an opportunity to ensure there is a healthy option at the gathering.

Bonus Tip: On days you know you have a special event revolving around food, make sure you get some exercise in. From a 30 minute walk to a short yoga season to help you stay calm and collected. Exercise can help you make wiser food choices.

The holidays don’t have to undo all of the hard work you’ve put into health this year. Just look ahead at your week and make a plan! You may even inspire someone else in the process.

For some more holiday tips, be sure to check out this past post: Here Comes the Holidays

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November 4, 2014 · 9:46 AM

Goal Crushing Holidays – Don’t Fall Into The Trap

goal crushing holidays

Halloween is the kick off to the holiday season. It is the start the of the goal crushing holidays and the “treat” temptations that will become a everyday struggle from now until New Years Day.

Right now, many of us have homes full of “fun sized” candy and I’m sure we’ve all dipped into it. Those fun size treats then get us feeling down about ourselves and instead of saying “I can turn this around” we end up making more poor choices, this time with our meals or we’ll skip our workouts because we’re having a sugar crash and lack the energy to due them. Where exactly is the fun in this?

Next we begin to use Thanksgiving as an excuse and say “We’ll, I’m not going to re-start now, I’ll be eating and over indulging on Thanksgiving, so the Monday after will be my start date.” Thanksgiving dinner turns into leftovers the next day, followed by hours of shopping and more poor food choices because you’re on the go. (Do you really know how many calories are in the sugary, blended frappe topped with whip?! It’s scary!) By the time Monday rolls around you’re too tired to workout, so you decide “I’ll just start on January 1st.”

The problem with this is that we let “being busy” stand in the way of our goals. (You do have your goal written down where you can see it, right?! If not, you should read yesterday’s post.) From holiday parties, to cookie swaps, to drinks with friends, and crazy nights of shopping & wrapping, we allow each and every one of these events to become more important than our goals…and that shouldn’t be the case.

Every time you allow everything else to be more important than your goals, or you allow a slip up to get the better of you, it gets easier and easier to slip back into old habits. The same old habits that took you months to change can come back in a weekend if you allow them to. (Crazy right?!) Before you know it, all of the progress you’ve made is gone and it’s even tougher to start over.

This holiday season, I don’t want to see that happen to myself or any of you! Don’t be the average and allow those 7-10 holiday pounds to creep onto you. I know the holidays are hectic, but I also know that we can all carve out 30 minutes a day to get our workout done and we can all make smart food choices 80% of the time (I know you all have time to check Facebook and scroll Instagram so decide what’s more important). These small decisions can be a goal saver during the holidays and they still allow you to have your favorite food and treats during the season…just in moderation.

What I am asking of you right now is for complete and total honesty…not with me, but with YOURSELF. Where do you want to be come January 1st? Restarting and losing the weight you had already lost again, or feeling a sense of confidence and pride because this is the first year you didn’t let the holidays bully you into hating the way you look and feel?

I know this is not an easy time of year and I’m not asking you to do this on your own. As a Health & Fitness Accountability Coach, I can help you find a program that will fit your lifestyle & goals and I can also provide you with a private group of like-minded people to help you stay accountable, share you struggles and celebrate your achievements, as we conquer the holidays together!

My next group will be starting on November 17th and I would love to have you join me. For more information, please comment or message me on Facebook.

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August 24, 2014 · 12:48 PM

Chase Your Dreams

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Once again I have been a slacker when it comes to writing here and honestly, I’m okay with that, because I’ve been busy chasing my dreams.

I was feeling a little bit lost in my life and what direction it should take, but I’m feeling much more focused now. I suppose it’s something we all go through at some point in life. When I lost my job a year and a half ago, I knew I wanted to switch my focus towards my passion, which was health & fitness. I spent some time deciding how I wanted to go about doing it and eventually decided to begin studying for my NASM Personal Trainer certification, as I’ve mention here before. I’m proud to say I completed it, however once I did, I didn’t know what I wanted to do next. I was never comfortable being in a gym and that is where most people start out once they are certified, so I sucked it up and went to meet with someone at a local gym about shadowing and learning the ropes. While I was there, I knew in my gut it wasn’t for me. NOTHING about it felt comfortable and after speaking with the trainer there, I knew in my heart I wasn’t going to be happy following that route. So I went home, cried and questioned everything I had been doing to this point.

That is when clarity took over and I realized that the answer had always been in front of me. I had taken steps down the path toward it in the past, but always got scared, worried about what other people were going to think and talked myself out of it.

You see, back when I completed my first round of P90X 4 years ago, I tried Shakeology for the first time and really liked it, however I really couldn’t afford it. I saw the nutritional value it offered, but I couldn’t get past the price tag. That is when my coach introduced me to Beachbody Coaching (Yes, I said Beachbody Coaching…please don’t run away now) and how I could get a 25% discount on Shakeology. I was very skeptical at first and I asked a million questions to everyone I knew who was doing the program on Twitter and I eventually decided to sign-up. While I was told I was inspiring and motivating by many people I met at that time, I wasn’t comfortable coaching anyone so I just enjoyed the Shakeology discount and if people asked me what I was doing to get in shape I would tell them, share a link and make a little extra money by doing so.

From time to time I would attend a local Beachbody event, because I loved the programs. Coaches I met there would try to talk to me into “working my business” but I refused to “drink the Kool-Aid” so I would just smile a nod. In all honesty I was intrigued by it, but I was also scared of it. I wasn’t a fitness professional and I was still trying to figure out all this fitness stuff on my own. How on earth could I possibly help other people reach their goals when I hadn’t even reached mine?! When I look back on this I was stupid and I was just scared. I was scared of leaving my comfort zone, scared of what other people would think and scared of failing. Now I know that failing at things is the way to grow in life. If we just sit back in our comfort zone, we aren’t living life to it’s fullest, and we certainly aren’t being as happy as we could possibly be.

Over the course of 4 years I have toyed with the idea of actually following this path and coaching others, on and off. I always allowed the fear to stop me but I never quit. I thought about it many times but for some reason I never called and cancelled my coach account and I never fully gave up on the idea of doing it. Why? I’m pretty sure it’s because the Universe wants me to pursue this. I know … I know… the Universe?! Yeah, well… I’m not religious but I do believe in a higher power. I wholeheartedly believe that we have a path we are meant to follow in life, and that people and events come into our lives to lead us to this path. When we ignore the path things will keep happening to redirect us towards it, and that’s what kept happening to me with coaching.

So, as of this month, I am officially applying myself with my coaching! I am chasing my dreams of helping others and paying it forward. I am no longer running from this opportunity to touch other peoples lives and pass along the knowledge that I have gained over the course of my 5 year weight loss journey. I was able to change my life and I know that YOU can too. If you have been scared to start, I want you to know that it is normal and it doesn’t mean that you can never do it!

Now that I have  finally, openly, talked about what it is I do, I hope that if you are ever up late watching TV and an infomercial comes on for P90X, T25, 21 Day Fix, PiYo or any other Beachbdoy program, you will wait to order it and come speak to me first. If you already own one of these programs but have struggled with them or never even got started, I would love the opportunity to coach you,  find out what your goals are and help you to reach them!

It’s time to chase your dreams and make them a reality!

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