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Monday, February 29, 2016

THAT won't work

Seems like the story is always the same...BUT the common factor?
"Oh I tried that diet years ago..."
"I did that too...and it worked for a while but..."
"I used to have time for that but..."
"My metabolism stopped at 40 but I used to look and feel good..."
"I've been fat my whole life...guess it is what it is"
"I have horrible knees...I ran track in high school and now they're toast"
"I had surgery on....so exercise can't happen for me anymore."
"I looked great before I had kids...that life is over now"


So what if we find a different perspective?
A different path than what OTHERS do?

Does your NOT BEST have to be ENOUGH??
It shouldn't be.

Some argue that it's better and easier for me because I look, feel and am healthier than I ever was...
I went from unhealthy to healthy, so that's EASIER??  Really? Not quite.  The only positive thing about being unhealthy for most of your life is that you knew your rock bottom, felt your worst and lost all hope in changing the way things were.  THAT feeling and experience helps carry me far beyond my expectations. But for those that knew healthy and fit yet lost touch with that lifestyle for some reason, they have THAT feeling to push toward.  They know what good felt like and now compare it to that blah feeling that has become day to day life.  THEY can push toward the way they used to feel.  So both have pros and cons.  

Truth is, nobody's journey is more or less important than your own.  
Yours is YOURS.  Simple as that.

Stop comparing "apples to oranges".  Not to magazines, models, people younger or older than you, taller, shorter...you get the idea. I am not you and you are not me.  YOU ARE YOU so focus on being the best YOU that YOU can be :) nothing more...

STOP surrounding yourself with the WRONG types of people.
It may come as a shock to you, but sometimes people hang around those at the bottom to feel better about themselves...as soon as you become MORE, you are seen as a threat and they move on. 

This journey is no different than any other obstacle in life.  If we want something, we work for it....and if you're one of those that want and it magically appears, please sign me up!!  I'd love that and so would everyone else!  Ha! 

Lately when life seems not so perfect, I find that staying true to my exercise routine and healthy eating habits makes all the difference in the world!
Try it.  It works.
It can be your normal when everything else seems less than normal.  

It helps that I have an extraordinary support system.  You should have one too.  Find it.
I have my husband, my boys, a strong family-they have believed in me all along, great friends that are TRUE friends...this matters more than anything.  We don't want or need fake people in our lives that always NEED something from us.  We should surround ourselves with REAL friends, ones that can relate to us, be there for us when life gets hard and ones we can lean on when it seems everyone is out for us to fail.  THIS FACTOR IS SO IMPORTANT. Watch this one carefully because many times those that want us to fail or that aren't there for the RIGHT reasons will only show their true colors once in a while...pay attention.  

Being healthy means ALL aspects of your life so communicate your feelings, don't be afraid to speak up for what you want or what you need.  Find a workout that inspires YOU.  Is it running, biking, group fitness, dance classes, hiking or swimming?  Find it and make it happen as often as possible!!

DO NOT TRY TO BE PERFECT!  It's not about perfection, it's about BALANCE.  Trying your best to move often, to fuel properly most of the time, to drink plenty of water and less sugary soft drinks, more whole foods and less processed junk!!!  BALANCE.

Willing to give these things a try??  Then you're ready for success...

LETS DO IT!!!  Promise you one thing...you'll NEVER regret it!  











Monday, February 1, 2016

makeover your mind FIRST

This is Mishell. 
She's been a local Move It Momma since August 2015. 
She has lost over 41inches and 30lbs since the start of her journey!

The first day that we met, she was a different person than she is today.
She felt broken and weak but to see her strength and determination today it is nothing short of inspirational. 
What's changed?  EVERYTHING.
Her body, the scale, her blood pressure has decreased and so have her medications, her endurance, her muscles, but above all else...HER MIND.




The picture below is a comparison of her changes since November!!!!

She shows up every day willing to work hard for what she wants.
She comes when she doesn't feel great, when it's hot, cold, wet or windy.  She modifies when she needs to and helps others in the process.  She owns who she is and where she's at on this journey.  She pushes hard.  We all do.  We push hard because we can.  We are able.  That's a gift...a precious gift that many take for granted and that saddens me so much.  WHY if we have these bodies, these minds and and this life would we CHOOSE to enable it?  Makes no sense, does it?  But we do it...I did it and so many others do it as well.  Do we hate ourselves THAT much?  Do we think we deserve to be in pain, miserable and unhealthy?  I'd like to say no for all of us, but sadly I think some prefer to live in that self-pity.  Those that choose to rise above show they strength, their heart and their determination.  THAT is true strength of character and it will shine to all that meet them!  Their children will see it, spouse, friends, family...EVERYONE.  It helps inspire others to take that first step.  Inspires others to finally believe, well if she can maybe I can too??!  THAT IS A GIFT.  A gift I'll cherish EVERY DAY! 
A gift I hope Mishell treasures as well, even if she's unaware of all of the lives she's inspiring each day!  It's incredible.
Some days I even feel I don't deserve to be put in this position.  Almost like it should be someone so much greater than myself.  I'm just a girl that's lived in Texas her entire life...nothing too exciting but I do have the passion and desire to help women be healthy and for them to feel good and I'm starting to think that's ENOUGH!  We are all enough! 


What amazes me the most is how she keeps referring to the biggest makeover was of her mind.  
It's true.
She's taught me that about myself as well.  

When I'd set out to "start" my journey I'd allow what others said dictate my failure or success.  We both struggled with having people in our lives say we were "bigger, fatter, slower...etc" and WE CHOSE to let that define us.  

NOT anymore.

THAT'S what changes the most.
A different attitude that says, I'm taking my life back.
I'm in control.
I want to be better because I CAN. 



It may sound cheesy and a bit over the top but it's what we need day to day to keep us going  It's repeating to that little voice in our head that wants us to stop because we were used to stopping and quitting for SO LONG...we just talk that voice off the ledge over and over again until it goes away or it becomes more faint.  That voice of doubt will always be there, but we've learned to push it further back in our minds!  YOU CAN TOO.  

You have to want it with every inch of your body and mind and until you're ready to FULLY accept that mind-changing step, you just aren't ready.  

My hope is that you don't wait so long that your "ready" never comes.  
It's NEVER too late to beat your best but if your health declines further and further, you are just making that mountain harder and harder to climb...NEVER IMPOSSIBLE, just bigger.  Bigger is okay too.  Bigger is what makes you stronger.  I believe that I faced my challenges with weight for most of my life to help change others and beat my best every day!  It was for a purpose and while it was hard and is hard every day, it is still far better than how I used to live, trapped in my mind that failed me time and time again.  

Do me a favor.  

Set a goal to see what it feels like when you BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN do something!  
Anything.

Run a 5K.
Run a mile without walking.
Walk a mile without stopping.
March in place for 1 min without stopping.
Sign up for a race.
Join a workout group.
Join a gym.
Set a goal to walk as a family 3-4 days a week.
Ride a bike.
Possibilities are endless....so what's your goal??

Aim high and remember, it's YOU against YOU...nobody else.  
One step at a time and remember if your mind quits, you quit. 
Train your mind to be on your side, no longer against YOU.  

It's what will get you over that, "I wish I could" mountain and onto the "I know I can" mountain.  While both are tough to climb, they ARE POSSIBLE if you believe that you can!