Category: Thankful

myMiddle Ageism - Aging Gracefully

5/16/2014

Never say, Never… My 46th birthday is next week and I just washed the grays out of my hair. I am not afraid of aging; however, I do want to try to look the best I can as a middle aged woman. (Did I just say that?! YES – middle aged! Gasp…) I want to head toward 50 in a youthful way. I want to be sexy without exuding sex. This is a tall order, right? I think not – with with a little bit of “help.”
Aging has caused me to revisit a few of my “nevers”… You know… the things I vowed to never do when I was a young taunt 20 something. It is easy to judge and say NEVER when you don’t have cause or a need for change or even if you have a perfectionist vision of your ownness. Personally, the affects of aging changed my view.
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When my hair was long, flowing down to the middle of my back and at times a tangled mess and hard to comb, I couldn’t fathom why someone would want to add more of the stuff by using hair extensions or wearing a wig. Today, with thinning hair (from side affects from chemo), I get it and really enjoy using clip-in extensions from time to time. They make me feel like a superstar in a flash.

Much of my life, I could go bra-less and no one could tell because my girls did look that good. Why would I even consider a boob job or a lift? That’s just crazy talk. Weight loss, breastfeeding and aging made my perky headlights sag, but my new implants fill the space that fat and milk used to take up. I love them and feel like they are mine. Well, they are – I paid for them.

Knock on wood, I was blessed with good skin and complexion. Who needs more than soap and water? Why even consider the craziness of magic creams or putting foreign juices underneath to look 20 again? This is beyond CRAZY, right? Well, I got 7 botox lil pricks that erased the only wrinkles I had on my face (my forehead). Today, I look 37 years old not 20 and couldn’t be happier.

What is my point? Do what makes YOU happy. I’m not trying to reverse aging. I feel honored to be “in it”. I want to be the best version of me I can be – healthy, fit and not look bad for edging toward 50.

I have never had a poor body image even when I was overweight I still thought I looked sexy. I am not a seeker of approval trying to fix something someone else has pointed out. I am not looking for self perfection or a distorted view of whom I used to be in the mirror. I take care of myself and I want to look like I take care of myself as I ride into middle age. Simple.

Own YOU and do what makes you feel good and look good -- just don’t go crazy.

Boobs, Dye, Botox, Extensions rock!

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myGoals Pave the Way

1/6/2014

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My last fitness goal of 2013 was my half marathon in October. Since then I have not had a “tangible” goal that I’ve been working toward. I've been healing from surgery, trying to stay relatively fit and still slip into my size 4 jeans. I can honestly say I don’t like this space. I don’t enjoy working out WITHOUT a purpose. I don’t have the drive I have when I’m working toward something. When I set my mind to do something, I am my own competition and this ignites the drive in me to do better and to push myself. I don’t want self image and the scale/clothing numbers to drive all of my gym activities. Sure these things benefit from my workouts, but I don’t want them to drive my workouts. That is no FUN [for me]!

This time of the year is an excellent time to take inventory, reflect on what worked and what didn't work and make adjustments for the new year ahead. I can honestly say that 2013 was probably one of the best years of my life. I pushed myself and stepped outside my comfort-zone. I achieved things unimaginable like being able to inspire people by sharing my challenges, ups and downs.

Today, is day #1 for me and I feel like it is the first day of the rest of my life not just new year! I started my competition program today and I will execute with precision. In 2014, I will continue to follow my passion to BE and DO better no matter how incremental. I will hold myself accountable to ME. I will do a “pulse checks” often to ENSURE I’m on track. These are my 2014 fitness commitments to MYSELF and no one else.

January – May – train and compete in two fitness competitions
What: weight lifting/cardio
Goal: body fat reduction, muscle development/definition/toning, higher placement than 2013

June - October – train for half marathon
What: cross train cardio (spin, elliptical, running), weight lifting
Goal: run 5k, 10k, 20k and end with half marathon. Beat last year’s times on all races.

October – December – try something new like Insanity or P90X

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHa6sITVebs

myBackground goals:
Increase push and pull up numbers. Focus more on stretching/flexibility.
Complete monthly challenge calendars in the background of workout programs - push up challenge, burpee challenge, arm blaster, ab blaster, etc.

Now that I have a plan in hand with dates/times and goals, I just have to execute to the best of my ability. It is like following a blueprint to a better me.

How can you get and stay goal focused?

1. Don’t talk about what you want to do, do it.

2. Think about what you want to achieve making sure it is realistic and achievable.

3. Write it down. Start to visualize the outcome.

4. Sign up for it. Get it on your calendar. No turning back now!

5. Determine the goal of the outcome. Do you want to be faster, better, smarter, spiritual?

6. Be accountable to you. Your opinion is the only one that matters. Don't let yourself down.

7. Make it happen at all costs.

Last year, after my fitness competition I was in fantastic shape, but I was definitely burned out. It was nice to ALREADY know what I would be working toward AFTER the show and that it was totally different than what I had been doing the preceding months. I was able to maintain my weight loss by swiftly transitioning from contest prep to preparing for my races. In fact, when Shape magazine contacted me, it was months after my competition and had I not had a plan in place, I probably would not have been photo worthy. They called and 5 days later I had my photo shoot leaving no time for quick fixes!

It is good to have a plan to execute.

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myMindset to Losing Weight

12/9/2013

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Having cycled on and off diets for most of my adult life, when I set out to lose weight this time around I knew I had to approach things differently. Otherwise, it would be another dieting cycle added to the host of other unsuccessful attempts. I went in with a different approach:

Make changes I could LIVE with
Find a reason to lose weight not tied to a number on the scale
Make it a lifestyle not a diet
Find willpower

Do this for YOU because YOU want it.

I knew I would not be successful if I made sweeping changes with my diet because in the past it would backfire once I started to reintroduce those yummy forbidden foods. I felt if I could have treats or things I loved from time to time, I would be more successful and I could actually live with it. [I still have to live. I want to be happy. I don't want to feel deprived.] Knowing I would allow treats and alcohol, I put parameters around when and what I could have early in my plan and started exercising!

During my active weight loss period, these things and mindsets kept me on track:

1)   Track calories. There are plenty of smart phone apps and computer programs out there, but I liked myfitnesspal because I could scan barcodes from food packaging and it gives daily nutritional (carbs, fats, protein) breakouts/ratio. I tracked everything that went into my mouth including gum, tasting while cooking, etc. for true accountability. You’d be surprised how mindless eating adds calories.

2)   Commit to daily exercise and keep track. Find an exercise plan you enjoy and something you are truly able to do. Don't set yourself up by planning to go to the gym 2-3 days a week when you KNOW in the past that has not worked. Find something you can really, REALLY do. Know that you don't need a gym membership. You can get in a great workout AT HOME. There are plenty of DVDs and programs on the internet you can use to get started. Make a commitment and STICK with exercising no matter what. I walked on the treadmill 1-hr daily and lost my first 20lbs in 3 months without any other exercise. Afterwards, I introduced weights. Start slow and build. Write down what you do each day – how much time, repetitions, distance, weight, calories burned and work to improve – go further in same time, burn more calories, etc. Keep moving no matter what. Writing things down will ENSURE accountability and improvement across the board. I also noticed when I exercised consistently I had a DESIRE to eat better because I didn’t want to sabotage my own workouts.

3)   Do not drink alcohol during the week. I could have it Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday, but not all three days. No beer, no white wine, no drinks with mixers, juice or soda. Drink alcohol = MUST workout that day. My go-to is red wine or white liquor with club soda and fresh lime.

4)   Do not drink calories. I drink close to a gallon of water daily. I do not drink soda, juice, bottled teas, etc. Luckily, I've never been a fan of these items. I stick with black coffee, flavored teas without sweeteners and my beloved water. Like food, water is ESSENTIAL.

5)   Adopt new food mantra. Must come from a momma or come from the ground. Our bodies know what to do with REAL food/fats that are devoid of chemicals and processed components. I do not eat diet meals. I do not eat 100 calories packets, etc. I make and eat real food. When I eat processed food I feel arthritic, puffy and hungover without a speck of alcohol.

6)   Set goals NOT related to your weight or size. Find a fitness goal to take the focus off the scale. It will help increase commitment to exercise and give you something to work toward. Pick a walk, a race, find a monthly fitness challenge in your community or on the internet that you can print and do in your living room, etc. -- something else to work toward. When you finish, find another one! Setting goals has been the BIGGEST part of my success. I always strive to do better than the last time so races keep me pushing forward for better times.

7)   Stay motivated. Align yourself with people whom will keep you inspired. Be-friending people on social media sites can help keep you motivated. Other people's workout posted motivated me to KEEP moving and they continue to motivate me today. No matter how uncomfortable you might be, SHARE what you are doing. This will actually help to keep you accountable to those following you. Remember why you started!

8)   Try something NEW! Change workouts to prevent boredom. Find a new workout whether it is a DVD program, a website, class at the gym, new running program, etc. Keep your body guessing AND your MIND engaged in the process so that it is exciting and enjoyable.

Today, I still follow these rules with the exception of daily calorie counting.

Consistency with my workouts and setting and achieving my goals were the two BIG things for me. Keep moving and be working toward SOMETHING whether it is big or small. I did not set out to lose nearly 70lbs. I didn’t set out to run my first half marathon. I didn’t set out to compete in my first fitness competition. I didn’t set out to be in a national magazine. I didn’t set out to reinvent myself. I set out to IMPROVE myself. You can do it to! Remember, I am YOU!

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myThankful Heart

11/26/2013

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I think we all have varying degrees of being thankful and various things we deem "worthy" of being thankful for. I believe absolutely everything -- the good, the bad and the ugly are worthy of thanks in some capacity. Living and learning from the parts of life where you are in the "valley" can truly equip you for the climb up to that mountain top if you take the lesson, behold the growth and keep moving forward.

Small every day things are worthy of thanks. For me, it is the BASICS -- the ability to get up in the morning, the ability to hug my child, to be strong enough to exercise the way I do at 45 years old, to have a devoted husband, to feel loved by so many, to feel I make a difference -- I do not take these things for granted. I am thankful for them. I live with an acute awareness of my blessings. I live with a thankful and open heart. I do not focus on the negative, hold grudges, sweat the small stuff nor live with regret because I refuse to waste my life on these things. Why is this so "easy" for me?

I had a front row seat as I watched cancer drain the life out of my mother and my mother in-law and it forever changed my view on LIFE especially since I battle the same disease. However, in all of "this" I've have never said or thought "Why me?" "Poor me" nor felt hopeless. I guess that is called FAITH. I have always been laser focused on moving forward. Without a struggle I could not claim a victory. And with each victory there is ACUTE appreciation and gratitude for what I have overcome and what life has to offer having little to do with material things.

I savor, I relish, I enjoy, and I cherish each and every day. I take nothing for granted. I am eternally thankful for my health; my family and a life I live grounded in faith, gratitude, awareness and appreciation. This is what cancer did FOR me -- it gave me an acute awareness of my TRUE blessings.

Why run those races when I have knee problems? Why do fitness competitions when the odds may be against me? Why not "let up" with my workouts? My answer is simple and always the same, "I do "this" because I CAN." When I say, "I can," I mean it in the most literal form. It is not that I am extraordinary; it is that I am capable. This is what I am thankful for.

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myMiddle Ageism - Aging Gracefully

myGoals Pave the Way

myMindset to Losing Weight

Do this for YOU because YOU want it.

myThankful Heart

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