Where's My Wagon?????

It's been a while, and I kind of fell off of it, but damn it! I am getting back on. You would think that, considering I make a living (albeit a very small portion of it) teaching and preaching health and physical fitness that I would be better about taking my own advice.

Truth is, I try to, but sometimes life gets in the way. But, as I always tell everyone else, that is NOT an excuse. I have never gone totally off track. I have just veered a little left of center, so to speak. I mean, I teach class 3x a week, so I am getting SOME cardio in. I do go to the gym, so I am "workin' on my fitness". I am mindful of what I eat, so my diet is not totally deplorable.

But, if you do it all half-assed, problem is, yours (ass) can turn into a bit more than 1/2! I'm not there yet though, and I am determined NOT to reach that destination. Truth is, life DOES get in the way, but that's the thing. It's how you look at it. Life doesn't have to "get in the way" of you doing what you know is best for you. It might create challenges and obstacles, but isn't that what it's about? I mean, if every time we have something get us off track we use it as a reason not to move forward, well, we would all be standing in the same spot as we were yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that.....

So, get on a different track. Go in the opposite direction than you planned, but so long as you are MOVING toward your goal; even if you take the LONG way, you are moving. Get your wagon and jump back in! We can take turns pulling each other. That's some good exercise anway :)

Happy Healthy New Year!

2011 was an amazing year for me.
My Zumba fitness instructor "career" started to slowly take off and now, I am teaching 8x a week.
I have continued to run my quarterly fitness challenge, and each time, I have met more amazing and truly inspiring people.

Today, as I sit in a quiet house while my hubby and son are doing their own thing, I am reminded of 2 things:
1: I almost never have a quiet house :)
2: I have been blessed with friends and family that bring me so much joy and contentment I cannot even put it into words.

My fitness journey continues, every day.
However, each day, I meet someone new who not only becomes a part of MY journey, but allows me to the privilege of becoming a part of theirs.

Don't make a resolution to do more, be healthier, or more active this year.
Make a lifelong commitment to treat yourself the way you deserve, EVERY DAY, EVERY YEAR.
You deserve to be as happy, healthy, and active as your mind and heart has always wanted to be.
You deserve to finally make YOU your 1st priority.

Here's to a healthy, happy and prosperous new year and a fantastic, new and improved YOU :)

Resolutions & Realizations

Of those people surveyed, losing weight is consistently one of the top New Year's resolutions. 70% percent of us will make at least one New Year’s Resolution, but sadly 50% percent of those resolutions will be abandoned by June.

Why? Because a resolution is something that you want to check off your 'to do' list. And, a resolution is more of a task than a goal. A resolution is our way of trying to feel a sense of accomplishment, more out of obligation than personal desire.
Losing weight, eating healthier, and living happier is not a resolution. It's a realization. It's a realization that you want more for yourself and/or your family than what you currently have. It's a realization that you can be a better YOU.
We all say it - this is a journey, not a diet. The same goes for resolutions.

Resolution - a solution, accommodation, or settling of a problem, controversy, etc.

Journey - passage or progress from one stage to another.

What we are here doing is not finding a solution to a problem. We are traveling towards a new phase in our lives.
My point? The New Year is almost here. So, resolve to finally paint that room you have neglected. Resolve to finally get a new car, or start looking for a new job. Resolve to do 'one time' tasks that can be checked off a list. But, don't resolve to do something this year that you really want to do every day for the rest of your life.

REALIZE that you want to be healthy and happy. Don't resolve to be. If you resolve to lose weight, eat better, or exercise more, you will, for a few months, you will check it off your list, and you will forget. Then, come next year what will you do? Resolve again.

Realize that you are worth it and that (for many of us) you have already been doing it, and it feels great. If you MUST resolve to do something....resolve to find a few more friends to take your journey with you.

I wish you all a wonderful and HEALTHY holiday season and a very Happy New Year!

The Measure of Success

When we start our journeys, most of us have our "beginning weight" and our "goal weight", right? We know how many pounds it is estimated we can lose in a healthy manner in a weeks' time (the tools on CC can let you find that out). We know WHEN it is estimated we can expect to lose the weight. So, the countdown begins.

Every day, week, or month (whatever you find works for you) we make that visit to the scale to find out how we are doing in our progress. We are counting our calories. We have cut that 3rd piece of cake out of our nightly dessert. We even cut back on the libations we used to partake so greatly in. Not to mention all the "Sweatin' to the Oldies" and "Turbo Jam" we have done. I mean, we have burned more calories in a week than my husband has burned hotdogs at the yearly barbeque! So, why then, has that scale not budged?

Before you drop kick it out the new Pella window you just had installed, step away from the scale. Take a deep breath, sit down, and think. Think about the WHOLE picture. Don't get tunnel vision. You need to remember that you are in this for the long haul. So, if you didn't lose weight this week, but you know you have put in 110%, you have to look elsewhere to see that it IS paying off. What HAVE you noticed this week, or month? Did you notice that you don't feel the urge to have 'just one more bite' of that cake? Did you notice that you didn't even miss that diet soda you used to have every afternoon?

I bet you didn't even realize that you actually LIKE breaking a sweat when you work out, and might actually even look forward to it now? See, I realize that it's not the same as seeing the number go down when you stand on the scale. However, these new habits will more than likely remain for a long time to come. And, these are things you should be proud of and that can help you to stay motivated and not give up.

If you MUST look for numerical gratification, there is one more place you can go - the tape measure. Find your sewing box, and dig out that tape measure. If you haven't measured before, consider this your "starting" point. And now, in addition to just watching the pounds, you can mind your inches.

See, inches are not always obvious. So, you might get on the scale and not see a difference. But, when you take that tape measure out and realize that you have lost .5" in a month on your arm or calf, or waist, wherever....it will prove that you ARE succeeding. Don't ask me why, but for ME, an inch lost is a greater accomplishment than a pound shed. It just makes me happy. It is MY own personal reassurance that I AM succeeding and that, even when the scale is being "stupid", progress is being made.

So, I guess what I am saying is that everyone is different. You cannot measure YOUR success by the success of others. Our bodies are different. Our goals are different. Our lives are different. The way one person progresses in their journey might not be the same as how you progress in yours. After all, you might be taking different paths. It's not a race. It's a life long commitment to better health, a happier being, and a greater sense of self worth. And, if you can find a scale that will tell you all of that, well... let me know.

Until then.....you need to remember that you DO measure up. Be proud of your successes. I am proud of them!

Long Weekends....

Well, the long, holiday weekend is upon us.
For those who are "dieting" or watching their food, it can be a stressful time.
BBQ's, family gatherings..carnivals..
Fattening, fried, and high calorie foods abound.
However, if you PLAN ahead and account for these "exceptions" you CAN survive AND enjoy these events.

Offer to bring a side dish or dessert so you can control at least one thing that is available to eat.
Eat something before heading out to events and gatherings. If you aren't starved when you get there, you won't be as tempted to make poor choices.

But, above all, ENJOY these events.
Time spent with family and friends is the best time spent. If you indulge more than you should.....realize it and move past it.

When you are given the opportunity to slow down and enjoy life's pleasures you can't waste those moments worrying about what you "could have" or "should have" done.
That is what Monday morning is for. LOL

Happy 4th of July everyone.

Stayin' in Step

Being a lover of work at home DVD's know that often times the biggest concern I hear from others is that there is noone around to show them how to do the moves or choreography correctly.

Well, I understand the concern. However, that is part of the beauty of working out at home. Unless you have a workout buddy, there is noone around to see you "make a fool of yourself" or whatever else reason you might give.
The thing to remember is that if you are MOVING, you are burning calories. Even if you don't get the moves down right away, you are still being active and if you sweat, you are burning :)
(heck, even if you don't sweat...if you are moving you are burning calories).

Now, when it comes to weight lifting or certain exercises I DO understand the concern about form. If you don't have proper form, in some instances you can do harm. However, your body will often times tell you if you are doing it incorrectly.
AND....a mirror will also help you :)
Watch the instructor in the video. Mirror them. If what you see in the mirror doesnt' match....keep working on it.

But at the end of the day that cannot be an excuse not to do something. Good health is something you OWE yourself and you can make excuse after excuse as to why you havn't done something to change the things that make you unhappy, but fear of failure should NEVER be one of them.

So what if you miss the beat? So what if you move to the left when they move to the right?
Are you having fun? Do you feel accomplished when you are done? Yes? Well then, guess what?

You are doing it RIGHT!!!

On FIRE!

So, a few months ago I decided to become a Beachbody Coach since I was back on the healthy wagon (counting calories and working out regularly) and work out to Beachbody programs anyway.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Turbo Jam. Well, Friday is the release date for Turbo Fire!!
It is an insane HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout program.
Is it crazy that I feel like a junkie I am so excited?
I already know it will kick my butt and yet I still want it and am willing to pay money for it :)
(gee...that sounds oddly like other things ;).

Anyway....my business is starting to pick up and I have a feeling that after the release of Turbo Fire it will go through the roof.

I can't wait!
If you have ever considered getting into being a Coach, now is the time. This is going to be a huge business expander.