What's stopping you?

I'm on my Team FitWisdom facebook page so often, that I forget to blog on here. At the end, I'll add my "After" Asylum pics (although they're posted on Facebook).

So today, I want to ask you a question: What's stopping you? What is it that's stopping you from being the BEST you? Not just the healthiest/fittest you, but the best YOU you can be? The top 3 things that pop into your head are most likely going to be kids, work, motivation--at least ONE of these is going to be your excuse.And yes, that's what it is--an excuse. Let's hit these one at a time...

Kids
Kids, kids, kids. Lovey little things, that often feel like they're sucking out our very souls. Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you two things are certain: 1. I ADORE my kids--love them completely with every inch of my very soul. 2. They drive me insane and I feel like they take up every bit of my time.

Well, this is how I USED to feel. Don't get me wrong--statement 1 still holds true! But number 2 has changed drastically--how? I MADE time for myself. Many parents use the excuse, "I can't take time for myself--I HAVE no time! I'm dealing with the kids every waking moment!" You have to MAKE time. I have worked out numerous times with kids under my feet. I'm not saying it's always the best workout, but it's better than sitting on my butt doing nothing. As far as "me" time--I try my best to have the kids tucked in for the night by 930pm. Yes, that's late--the little one doesn't get home from gymnastics until 830-ish 3x a week (then we have to snack/shower/etc.). But I know, at 10pm, my butt is going to be downstairs, in my comfy chair, with my husband. Often, we'll watch one of our DVR'd shows together, and sometimes, I'll play on the Kindle. It's all good--it's ME time. Bottom line: If you DON'T make "me" time, you're ultimately going to regret it. You'll be better off, and your kids will be better off if you take time for yourself! As far as fitness goes--30 minutes a day is practically guaranteeing you a healthier and longer life.

Work
If you work fulltime, you know how hard it is to get in a workout. Believe me, I deal with it every day. I am blessed in that i get to work from my home office--so I can just wander into my workout room when I can catch a break. If you work in an office, it's a bit tricker. When I DID work in an office, we had an onsite gym. I worked out every day. I literally blocked off my calendar from 1130-1230 and went to the gym. If you DON'T have a gym, it gets even tricker. My husband used to get up at 5am to run/workout, or, he'd run when he got home. When he runs now, he runs after work. That is HIS time, and he needs it. Make the time, people. Not everyone that works full time is overweight and unhealthy--it CAN be done, so figure out how YOU'RE going to do it.

Motivation
Man, I usually take an extended break from Thanksgiving until New Years. And by 'break,' I mean I don't work out much, and don't eat as clean as I should be. But, I do this fully knowing that a) i'm probably going to gain 5lbs b) I'm going to bloat from eating white flour/sugar and c) it's going to be hard to get going again. By setting those losses out in the open BEFORE I go on break, I know what to expect when I start again in January. I also know that NOT starting is NOT an option. I know how easy it is to NOT workout. I know how easy it is to make excuses. Start telling yourself, "I'M MAKING EXCUSES FOR MYSELF." You hate it when people make up excuses to you, so why in the world would you make excuses to yourself? I was once one of those people. Instead of getting up at lunch and working out, I would sit at my laptop and make excuses: "Someone might email me," or "What if my boss pings me?" Yeah, what if? EVERYONE takes lunch. They'll get over it. Also, if i left my computer, I'd say, "Oh, I'll DUST during my lunch break." YES! Can you believe?? So many excuses being I was too lazy to put forth the effort to make myself healthy. You know where that got me? Go check out my 'Before' pics on the facebook page!! Taking that first step is HARD. But do it. MAKE yourself workout 4 days this week. Do it, and you will feel better. Soon, you won't need to motivate yourself--you'll be motivating others!!

Don't let anyone or anything stop you. YOU are going to be your biggest downfall or your own biggest cheerleader. Cheer yourself on. Don't sell yourself short. You are worth so much more!!

Steph

[As promised--my "After" Asylum pics]

New Years resolutions...coming up quick

Like i said in my previous post--it's almost that time of year. Not only for going overboard on food, but the time of year when people start making resolutions (and not sticking to them). I mention this for two reasons:

1. This year, you're going to make some resolutions, and you're going to stick with them.
2. If you're interested in becoming a BeachBody coach, then THIS is the time to do it!

Let's hit #1 first:
For how many years have you said, "I'm tired of being overweight!" "I'm tired of having no energy!" or, simply, "I'm just tired." How many January's have you started a 'diet,' an 'exercise program,' a 'new and improved you' program?? If you're anything like me, you've started quite a few. It seems that every year, I start January with a new vigor for life. I decide, like 90% of the population, that THIS year i'm going to lose weight--THIS year, i'm going to take better care of myself--THIS year, i'm going to make some "me" time. And by the end of February (usually sooner), I'm back to my December self. I get it. I've been there, and i've done that.

It really is time to take control. It's time to make YOU time. It's time to improve your self-esteem, your health, and your life. It's time that you throw the excuses aside. I've heard them all, because i used to say it, too: I'm too busy, I have no time, I'm just so tired. Listen: what do you hear? I hear EXCUSES. MAKE the time. MAKE. THE. TIME. If you don't know me, let me fill you in: I work full-time as an account manager for a marketing firm. Because I have a smartphone, I essentially work 24/7. I am at my desk from 7am-5pm. I usually don't take lunch until 2 or 3pm. At 5pm, we start our running around.

I have 2 little girls. We have piano on Mondays, gymnastics on Tuesdays, theatre on Wednesdays, gymnastics on Thursdays, and Fridays are our "free" evening--which usually turns into the "let's run all the errands we couldn't run during the week" day. Oh, and let's not forget the regular stuff too: laundry, cleaning, making dinner/lunches, etc. It's all there--you do it, I do it. This is what mom's do. We juggle constantly. But, when you look at all we do, there's ONE thing we leave out of our hectice schedules. ONE thing. Can you guess what it is? It's US. We leave OURSELVES out of our schedule. You know, I don't even get to take a SHOWER by myself. For the sake of time, the girls shower with me--one at a time. I'm used to shaving my legs over a 7-year old's head. So, where is MY time?

Last October, I just decided that I had had enough. I was sick and tired of letting MYSELF go for the sake of my family. Believe me, running myself ragged wasn't doing them any favors. I was never "put together," I wasn't healthy, I always felt short-tempered and, to be honest with you, bitchy. And i just felt like....well, crap. I wasn't eating--i honestly didn't have time--or, I wasn't MAKING time. I was running on Diet Coke and granola bars. Seriously--i'm not kidding. My daily diet was 2 cups of coffee, 1 Diet Coke, and 2 granola bars. WOW. I look at that now and think, "HOW did I function?"

I wasn't functioning, really. I was just going through the motions.

I ordered P90X, and started the first week of October. It hasn't been the same since. I MADE time for myself. Even that--that 1 hour a day--improved everything for me. Working out--getting my body moving and my blood flowing--improved everything for me. If you didn't get it: EVERYTHING IMPROVED FOR ME. All of a sudden, I was thinking about eating. I was HUNGRY. What did I WANT to put in my body for fuel? I started making wise choices--eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Drinking more water. Fast forward to August of this year--I made a HUGE change: I started eating "clean." No more Diet Coke; no more enriched, white flour; no more preservatives. I allow myself 1 cup of coffee a day. And you know what? It was easy. It's because my body didn't/doesn't need that stuff to survive any longer.

I'm happier, my kids are happier, my husband is happier. Starting Beachbody has not only changed me and MY life, but it has changed the lives of my family. Cheesy? Yes. True? Absolutely, 100%. My kids see me healthy, energized, and happy. My husband sees me healthy, energized, and happy. :)

Wow...nothing like telling a long story long, eh? :D

And now, on to #2:

If you're interested in becoming a Beachbody coach, now is the time to sign up. I spent so many years wanting to do something that made a difference, but didn't know what. THIS is it. Now, i make a difference! I'm helping people to get fit! I'm offering them support, encouragement, and a pat on the back! It's an awesome feeling; I love it. And, the bonus....you can bring in some extra cash doing it. What does it take? A great attitude, and the willingness to share and talk about what you do. I have NEVER made a "cold sell" to anyone. All of my sales have come from people asking me about P90X/Insanity/Shakeology. I simply tell them what these things have done for me. That's it. You don't HAVE to sell this stuff--it sells itself. Have I made thousands of dollars off of being a Beachbody coach? Nope. Do I want to? Eh, it would be a nice bonus, but it's not my goal. It CAN happen though! My FAVORITE part of being a coach, is helping people to acheive results they didn't think were possible. I think that's awesome. I'm my own client, for goodness sake! I'm a picture of the results you can get if YOU make the time for yourself. In essence, i'm my own advertisement. If you use BeachBody products, sign up to coach! You get a discount, and you're sharing the wealth of health. http://bit.ly/FitWisdom

Take care!
Steph aka Coach FitWisdom