FINISH STRONG

Be honest….how has this year gone for you? Have you done everything you wanted to do? Met all your goals, or on track to meet them by the end of the year?  I will admit that there are some goals that I have CRUSHED this year, but there are others that not only have I not met and have actually slipped further away from.

WHY?

I can come up with a lot of reasons why…family issues, career issues, health issues…I have at least 20 excuses. But if I really am COMPLETELY HONEST with myself, I can tell you that I lost my focus. My fire flickered and I didn’t feed it with the appropriate kindling. Its not that the fuel didn’t exist or wasn’t accessible to me…I JUST DIDN’T PICK IT UP. 

It happens. I am human and so are you. I am not going to be down about it or beat myself up over it. I’m just going to move forward.

SO….I am recommitting. I want the last quarter of this year to be AMAZING. And it will be. How do I know? BECAUSE I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN MAKE IT THAT WAY.

What are you going to recommit to in order to FINISH STRONG for 2013?

Celery is a Superfood?

This week we got the most gorgeous petite bunch of celery from our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) . If you don’t know about CSAs, Local Harvest explains the concept and has a tool to help you look for one in your area. If you want organic veggies, a CSA is much cheaper than buying from a larger chain. And its really fun to get a big box of produce every week and have to figure out what to do with some of the unusual things you might get in your box.

My CSA is Riverbend Roots Farm, in Alton, IL, owned and operated by Stacey and Kris Larson.  They are incredibly dedicated organic farmers and I love the fresh veggies I get from the farm, as well as the knowledge that I am supporting a sustainable local organic farm.

So–back to the celery–its super fresh and the flavor is much stronger than the celery you buy in the grocery store. Its one of my favorite snacks, because its lo-cal and nice and crunchy. But I bet you didn’t know that celery has fantastic health benefits as well! Each stalk of celery, along with its seeds and leaves, contains vitamin K, folate, vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C, and molybdenum. It also contains a hefty dose of a unique compound that has been shown to enhance cognitive function in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.  Who knew?? 

source for celery facts: Life Extension Magazine : http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2012/nov2012_Time_Celebrate_Celery_01.htm

I Don’t Have Time To Work Out!!

TIME. That’s the biggest obstacle to fitness that I hear every day, and its one that I have to admit that I struggle with EVERY DAY. Believe me, if anyone gets it, its me. I’m a busy mom with a demanding career, and a second job as a coach. I volunteer at the school, am a Girl Scout Leader, and am very active in my professional organization. My work has me on the road at least once a month, and some months more. I am BUSY. And tired. And stressed out sometimes. Sometimes I feel as though I am on one of those hamster wheels–the faster I run, the faster I have to run to keep up!

Sound familiar?

But here’s the thing. If you wait for there to be time to work out, you will never get to that big goal. You’ll never get into that bathing suit in time for the cruise or that dress in time for the wedding. You will never know what it feels like for your clothes to fit loosely. You’ll never know the feeling when you push yourself to the limit during a workout and you are done and exhausted and feel STRONG, like you can take anything that this life throws at you and YOU ARE IN CONTROL. When you realize that is when it will all change, for the better.

Want to get CONTROL of your life? Make the time. Take the Challenge. You won’t regret it.

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June Beachbody Sale–ONE WEEK ONLY!

Just have to share with my friends--this week only--all products pictured on sale, while quantities last!! Last time TurboFire was on sale, it sold out in 24 hrs. Product info: Ultimate Reset: Was $199-- NOW $129!!! I have done this twice and have had great results. Its now a twice a year reset for me. I lost 12 lbs the first time, and 9 the second time, and, more importantly, it lowered my cholesterol by 20 points, helped me sleep better, and made me so much more attuned to how the food I eat impacts how I feel. Energy & Endurance Formula $47.95 This is a must for super intense workouts like Insanity or Asylum. It gives you that extra boost to get through the workout. RevAbs Only $39.95! If you are looking for a total abs solution, this product is it. Do the workouts and follow the meal plan to lose that spare tire and show off your abs at the pool or beach this summer! The P90x Chin-Up BarNow $39.95. I admit it. I was the girl who could never pass the Presidential Physical Fitness test because I couldn't do a chin up. NOT ONE. But that's not me today! If you want to get your upper body buff to show off in tanks and strapless tops this summer, do some chin ups. And get the bar while its on sale! Its easy to install at home and you won't regret it. Brazil Butt Lift Master Series only $29.99!! BBL (as we fans loving call it) is NO JOKE! When I first heard of this program I thought it sounded too 'girly' and I wanted no part of it. Then I tried it and can't decide if Leandro is a genuis or a sadist because my glutes have never burned so much as when I do one of his workouts. The music is fun and I dance my way through it, feeling the burn all the way. He's going to get you that hot bum-bum (pronounced boom-boom) and you will have fun doing it. Body Gospel only $17.95! If you are looking for a faith-based fitness product, you have found it. Donna Richardson Joyner has put together a program with motivating music and message, reminding you of both your fitness goal and your higher purpose. This might be the right combo for you to finally get it right! And talk to me about how to get a fit club going at your church and inspire your friends and family to lose weight with faith! Fitness Step $59.95 kick up those workouts by adding a step. Great for aerobics or combined weight/cardio workouts. TurboFire NOW $53!! Chalene Johnson is SO inspiring and motivating, and TurboFire is a program that consistently delvers results. Upbeat dance and cardio kickboxing moves, with high intensity intervals (HIIT) that reamp up your metabolism like you would not believe. This workout is in my regular rotation. Even if I don't have time for a workout, a 15 minute TurboFire HIIT will burn up to 500 calories and start my day out right. This product always sells out when on sale so get it fast!

3.9, Impatience, & Feeling Badass

3.9: That’s the number of pounds I gained on a 10 day vacation.  Add to that the 3 lbs I was already over due to 8 weeks in a row of business travel and exercise slack and you have…yup, you guessed it…muffin top! Its a little muffin top but baked goods are not in the plan for the new year.

So January is about kicking myself back into high gear and focus. Its off to a great start and I am looking forward to three things this month that will move me forward in my fitness–

First–I’m hosting a challenge group this month with some of my favorite friends/customers to help everyone start off the new year on the right fitness foot. I host challenges every month, but there’s something about a January Challenge that fires me up a bit more.  I LOVE being surrounded by people who are excited and working towards a goal. Its so much fun to help people reach their goals–all of us motivating and supporting each other. and it seems that the more I help others the more motivated I become myself and its just awesome.  I can’t wait to see where everyone is in 30 days!

Second–I got a really cool christmas gift (though it hasn’t arrived yet, and its still not here today, no matter how many times I open the front door to see if there are any packages). Bowflex Select Tech weights: I have been drooling over these weights for a year, ever since I first did ChaLEAN Extreme (my soulmate workout). I always go to the gym on weight days during this program because I have only a couple of wimpy 3-5 lb weights and even though you CAN do it with bands, I feel so much more badass when I’m lifting weights (and its all about feeling badass, isn’t it? well, that keeps ME motivated, anyhow!). I don’t have room right now for a home gym, but I can keep these in my living room without a problem. I’m hoping that they will arrive soon, before the 9th when I start on the third thing I am looking forward to this month…The Ultimate Reset. 

The Ultimate Reset is a 21 day detox and cleanse that reclaims the body’s natural balance, releases any harmful toxins, and restores the system to its maximum health.  I did it once before, in August, and had fantastic results, and plan to do it twice a year from now on. It provides more energy, better focus, weight loss, and improved digestion and overall health.  It balances your PH and reduces inflammation. It’s NOT a starvation diet, or a harsh laxative or colon cleanse. Its whole fresh foods and supplements combined with a mindfulness program that leaves you feeling amazing. Oh, and did I mention that you aren’t allowed to exercise during the Reset? Only light yoga or stretching, or light walking are allowed.  No weights.

So, UPS guy, I know that the package is heavy and I am really sorry but….HURRY UP!!! I’m starting in a week and I want to feel badass NOW or I will have to wait 3 weeks!!!!

New Year, New Beginnings…

A FIT LIFE–physical fitness, spiritual/emotional fitness, financial fitness…these are my goals for 2013.  This is going to be a BIG year. I’ve got BIG goals and a plan to get there, and this blog will chronicle that journey. I hope you find it interesting, amusing, and/or instructive!  I’ll be posting regularly, and I’m sure I will learn a lot about blogging in the months to come.

First step–I am doing Chalene Johnson’s 30 Day Push Program. I’m really excited for this program to help me to redefine and refocus my daily habits in alignment with my goals. Chalene is a fantastic trainer (ChaLEAN Extreme is my soulmate workout!), and her book PUSH made the bestseller list last year. I have joined this kind of program in the past, but have not been great in my follow through. This year will be different…You will not get different results unless you do something different, right? Stay tuned…