Thankfully Thursday

Dear Universe, This week I adopted the idea of a Gratuity Rock.

The Secret inspired me to find, and use a gratuity rock. It is a pebble that is placed in your pocket or someplace that you see frequently throughout the day. Every time you touch or see that pebble you are supposed to thank the Universe for something in your life.


This week I had a rough one. I felt discouraged about my path in life and I felt like my dreams and goals were being tested. I saw my gratuity rock sitting on my desk today and I realized that being discouraged is not a bad thing. By someone suggesting or telling me that I can't do something, only makes me want to prove them wrong by being the best at it.

I am thankful this week for that discouragement. I love who I am and I know that I am going to make great things happen. I will be the best at what I do because I love what I do. I live, eat and breathe a healthy lifestyle everyday and I know that by being a Fitness Trainer/Life Coach/Healer, I will be able to inspire and help so many other people in my life.

Every second of every day I am trying to find new ways to keep myself inspired and in turn inspire those around me. I am always looking for more information, more knowledge, more experience. I push myself everyday to prove to myself and my future clients that it can be done and that they can do it too.

They can make a complete lifestyle change and stick with it. They can eat healthy, they can exercise daily, they can see the wonderful changes in their life. They can be successful, they can do and be anything they want. I want this for people. I want to help others realize their potential and to grow and be happy.

I am thankful for the rough week I had. It made me stronger.

Thank you Universe for that random pebble in the middle of the floor that I stepped on. Thank you for making me stop in the middle of my feeling bad for myself, and thank you for the tiny bit of inspiration just when I needed it the most.

Light and Love,

FITDAY: Just MOVE... Bitch

Every Friday morning I wake up excited, it is the BEST day of the week and I get to share my passion of health, well-being, and fitness with all of you!!.

However, this morning I didn't wake up in the greatest mood... I will be 100% honest and say I woke up in a super bitchy mood. I don't know if it was a combination of being exhausted from such a busy week, and raging PMS hormones or what... BUT I was in a bad mood and I was completely aware of it. I know myself and I knew that I needed to just let my emotions be. I had to just sit with them and eventually, I would be okay.

After a morning where wrong thing, after wrong thing, after wrong thing happened, I ended up in the bathroom crying over spilling water all over me and my desk.

Yes, I had a total girl moment. After crying hysterically for several minutes, changing my shirt and eating a piece of chocolate, I felt a bit better. I still wasn't in the best mood, but I felt better.

Then came gym time. I really REALLY didn't want to go, but I knew that today of all days was a day I NEEDED to go.

So I laced up my sneakers, threw on my hoodie, grabbed the gym bag and off I went.

Today's running goal was a 5k, and I wanted to make it my fastest time since starting my training over.

I turned my music up loud, to drown out my negative thoughts and started the treadmill at my usual 5.0 pace. Then slowly, at every half mile, I increased the speed. I focused on my body and tried to meditate while running. Breathing in positive energy with every inhale and breathing out negative emotions with every exhale. I used positive affirmations, telling my body that I am a strong runner and running feels good. I hit a 6.3 speed which is pretty fast for me (and my short legs!) and I focused on how strong I felt. I kept telling my mind and body over and over how strong I was. Then for the last quarter mile I ran at a 7.0 which is the fastest I have ever ran in my entire life. My body wanted to quit, but I wouldn't let it. I pushed even harder and had the speed to a 7.3 when I sprinted to the end of my 5k.

Did I beat the time I wanted? No, BUT I still had a Personal Record of 33:30. I wanted to run it in under 30 minutes.... Next time I will!! :)

I was so proud of myself and I realized through my panting-sweat-everywhere-cool-down, that my inner bitch had left.

I turned to my running buddy/Client, Leeann, and said. "I think I ran my bitch out! I feel so much better!"

She laughed at me!!! I really did scare the bitch right out of myself!

(Side note: we both had a personal best at the gym today. I pushed her to over three miles and I am INCREDIBLY proud of her!! She is AMAZING!!  )

SO, the next time you are having a crappy day or are in a bad mood...get up and MOVE!! It doesn't matter how or where! Just move. Get your endorphins flowing and get your positive energy moving. Regular exercise is a happy drug. It is free and available to anyone, who wouldn't want to take advantage of that?

Go for a quick walk to the end of the street, stand up and stretch for a few minutes, do 50 jumping jacks, chase your kids around the living room and tackle them with tickles.

It doesn't matter, just MOVE.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!

Light and Love,

Fitday!!!!

Dear Universe,

I feel fantastic today!!

It is Friday my favorite day of the week!!!!

It is fitness day in my world. I started this week with a goal of going to the gym everyday.... due to scheduling conflicts and last minute birthday parties I have only made it two days. However, both times I was able to go, I pushed myself to my limits.

I ran my fastest, hardest, longest sprint intervals this week. Pushing myself as hard as I could and I almost passed out. (I was a panting, red-faced, sweaty mess!)

It was amazing!

I have always struggled with thinking of myself as a runner. I have showered myself in limiting thoughts and have always said "I can't... I have.....(insert excuse here.)"  I always had asthma, bad knees, my body wasn't built to run, I am not a runner, my lungs hurt, etc... blah blah blah.

I admit I used to get winded walking up a flight of stairs. When I started Insanity workouts (intense at home workout DVD set) I felt like I wanted to pass out just after the warm up. (There is a reason it is called Insanity.)

However I noticed a change last week. I ran my first two miles straight on the treadmill and it felt amazing. I didn't struggle, I felt strong, and my breathing was spot on. I don't get winded walking up stairs and have so much more energy.

Holy crap!!! My interval training works!!!

Since I pushed my interval sprints harder this week I am hoping by next week or the week after to try a solid run again and see how I do.

I repeat affirmations in my head when I run too. Usually something like:
I am strong.
I am a runner.
I feel good.
I can do this.
I am doing this.
I am a runner.
I run because I can.
My body is perfect.
I have a runner body.

Sounds crazy but it works!


I am grateful for the ability to work hard and change my body. It truly is amazing what the body and mind are capable of, and I am so thankful for my strong healthy fit body!!


Namaste,

Fitday!

Dear Universe,

It is Friday and oh yes, Fitday!!

Fitness applies not only to the typical healthy lifestyle and exercise routine, but can also be applied to any part of life.

Being healthy encompasses Mind, Body, and Spirit.

I think this covers it well. <3 Happy Friday!!


Love,

Thankfully Thursday

Dear Universe,

Today I want to say thank you.

Thank you for giving me the ability to recognize what I want in life and go after it.

Thank you for blessing me with the experiences I have had and the people that surround me. They are exactly what and who I need.

Thank you for my past. It has shaped me and taught me just who I am and where I am going.

I am grateful for the creativity and ability to write this letter to you.

Thank you for the chance to sing Happy Birthday to a sweet little girl today, and watch her face glow as she blew out her candles.

I am greateful for the ability to stop at the store and swipe my card knowing that my bank account is full and I can pay for whatever I may want or need.

Thank you for my job. I was reminded today just how much I love having more freedom to work my job around my life rather than my life around my job.

Thank you for blessing me with the ability to work from home.
Thank you for not letting my car break down on me today after my check engine light turned on when I was on my way to work.

Thank you for showing me just how courageous and assertive I can be.

Thank you for allowing me to prove to myself that I am worth it and deserve every wonderful thing in my life.

Thank you for giving me this life. It truly makes me the happiest girl in the world and I am loving every minute of it.



Love,

I Wanted To Quit

Dear Universe,

Today was my first day back at the gym since the accident.

I was excited to go. I needed it after the busy week last week and the even busier week this week. I love putting my head phones in and drowning out the world with some good music. It is my 'me' time.

I have been struggling a lot lately with trying to overcome my eating habits. I have wanted to quit, and give into my cravings.

Thank heavens for good friends who keep me on track and a calorie counter app on my phone to help me stay focused. Plus reading my homework about how the body burns energy helps me to not want to eat ramen noodles...... as much.

Well tonight I decided I wanted to run. I wanted to see how far I could push my body.

The first five minutes felt good. I was feeling strong and my breathing was spot on. So I bumped the speed.

The next ten minutes felt good too. I kept repeating my perfect weight in my head, and thanking You, Universe, for my healthy body.

With about 13 minutes left I started to feel tired... I tried to push myself harder, which I probably shouldn't have done. My back muscles seized up and started cramping. My running stance became compromised. I paused my run for a minute to catch my breath and stretch.

As I stood there panting with sweat running down my face, my back, my chest and my arms, I wanted to stop. I kept telling myself over and over that I could do this.

I started the treadmill back up, but bumped the speed back down to where I started.

I hopped back on and started to run slower. I felt better. My back felt better and I started thinking, I can do this.

Until I hit five minutes left.

I. WANTED. TO. QUIT. SO. BAD!!!

I had to start running positive affirmations over and over in my mind. I am fit. I am healthy. I can do this. I am strong. I can do this. I am doing this. I feel healthy.

With two minutes left I bumped my speed up to the speed I sprint at.

Oh, that was tough. I was breathing so hard and was red in the face, BUT I DID IT!!!!

I finished my run sprinting! I felt amazing, even if I wanted to quit.

I am proud of myself for not quitting and for staying on my healthy path.

I have taken some meds for my back that I know is going to be sore tomorrow and I have ice on my knee, but none of that matters. I didn't quit!

Thank you Universe for my amazing body that is capable of so much. It is strong, fit and healthy and I love it!

Love,

I Am Still Here

Dear Universe,

I am still here!!!

That sentence has a whole new meaning after the weekend I had.

It has been a crazy week that started with a car accident late Sunday afternoon. Spinning out of control and smashing into a cement barrier going 40 mph was not fun. It left us super sore, bruised, and banged up. The vehicle was a total loss and we lost a pillow to the new couch we just purchased, and a booster seat out the back window. Stuff from the front seat ended up in the back and the stuff in the back ended up under my feet and the gas pedal.


I don't even know how we ended up being pushed out of traffic because the engine died on impact.  There definitely were guardian angels looking out for us.


It shook me so bad that ever since I am THAT person that drives under the speed limit, and the thought of driving in a snow storm now scares the crap out of me.

BUT even though it was scary and painful there is always a silver lining.

We have a 'new to us' car that has heated seats!! So nice in this frozen 20 degree weather. It is a lot nicer than what we had before and fits the family much better.

We could have been hurt a lot worse than we were, and looking at the damage now I am shocked that no one had any broken bones.

It reminded us all how fragile life is and my first question before even putting the car in reverse, "Is everyone buckled?" Without seat belts we all would have been thrown from the car.

On top of that it has been a busy week of school, work, and buying a new car.

So yes Universe I am still here. I have not forgotten about you! I was just in bed in a drug induced coma sleeping off my bumps and bruises for a couple days!

Thank you for saving us from what could have been a lot worse. Thank you for letting us all walk away from that awful mess!

Love,