Reflection Pool

As 2011 was coming to a final close I took the time during my last cardio session of the year to reflect on everything I had accomplished. I realized that I had come to terms with things that were making it even more difficult from getting to that final goal. And I also decided that what I want is far more important than dwelling on the things that I can not change. So a brief synopsis will follow in this, my last blog of the year.

I woke up this morning Dec 31st, after only a few hours sleep and met with Sandra. While there I also had the great pleasure of spending some quality conversation time with Jimmy Mentis. If you have never met this man you are truly missing out. He is a Plethera of USEFUL knowledge and a really funny man too. These 2 together are like a tag team in my life that know what and when to say things that I need to hear. They have both been vocal in different ways to me over this year. Jimmy is more the strong silent type but when he speaks I highly suggest you listen!! Sandra carries a bullhorn.... just sayin' :)  I am grateful for everything that they have done for me and that they have opened my eyes to experience this year. I do not ever take for granted the opportunities that have been given and blogging for BeautyFit is definately one of them.

I have an album full of pictures on my facebook profile entitled 2011... All about me 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150374902765252.614176.902505251&type=1&l=0cb81ee8db  This is not all of them either. I have a full album on my Blackberry too of ones that I haven't posted. But it is an idea of how things went through the year for me.

 

So what have I accomplished you ask? I have posted most of them through out my blogs but here is the short list...

 

1. Stepping out of my comfort zone and starting BeautyFit BootCamp, completing every session till the end of the year and introducing many of my friends and family to why I love it so much. Opening their eyes to something new and awesome!

2. Quitting smoking after 23 years

3. Warrior Dash !!!! 5km of mud and obstacles and running with my mentor and trainer encouraging me the whole way with my husband supporting us and waiting for us with open arms and a big smile at the finish line for us.

4. Not taking the easy way out walking the flat path and deciding to hike up the side of the mountain and loving every minute of it.

5. 5km Run for the Cure in October with the BeautyFit Beauties.

6. Found my happy place in my job by changing it and finding peace, joy and laughter in every shift

7. Realizing that there are so many things out there that I want to do and my "Happy List" keeps growing and growing.. ( Read my next blog for what I will be striking off that list for 2012 )

8. Embracing change and allowing myself to welcome new and different

..... The list is long and plenty I could again go on for EVER!!.. LOL

 

I also want to put in here a few things that I emotionally struggled with. I am only human and we all have things that happen in our lives that throw us off our game.

 

My grandmother had an aeortal dissection in May and eventually passed from complications a few months later. My sister, her husband and my nephews moved to Ft. Mac Alberta. It is very far away and I miss them very much. Thank goodness for technology. On my wedding anniversary I was diagnosed with a blood clot in my head. I have spent months since then on blood thinning injections and pills and medication to subdue and supress the pains in my head. These have made it so that I could not reach that final goal I wanted this year but ... I'm over it ( as my son always says ). 

 

I do not have ANY regrets this year. I have overcome so much and I am ready to embrace the next year and the challenges that will come. I am ready for Bootcamp to start Jan 10th. It will be nice to be back into a routine and to also have the Beauties there to push me and vice versa. I have big plans for 2012.. BIG BIG PLANS!!!

 

So I leave you with this.... As we say goodbye to 2011 go forward into 2012 with this thought .... Your internal conversations determine the outcome of your mood desire and drive..... Happy New Year!!!

 

Achieving Greatness

Ok so the old saying goes if it ain't broke don't fix it which would therefore mean Ignorance is bliss. Right? Well no! Not really. It just means that some people love to make the excuses to justify those 2 statements. The year is almost over and I have learned so many things in the last 347 days. Not only about myself but about the people that I surrounded myself with then and whom I choose to now. So before I head in to 2012 with my new journey I would just like to share some of my old thoughts that are now modified with the new ones. Grab a pen and paper and do your own list. I bet you have more than you thought.

Old vs. New

1. I can just eat till the pain goes away
>>> Food will never take away the pain. There is always a deeper reason as to why I turned to the Doritos.

2. They are my family and my friends. They will always tell me the truth
>>> Truth is they were the ones that lied to me first by skirting around the subject so as to not "hurt my feelings". Take everything at face value and process it clearly to decide how to proceed. I choose who I want in my life. I will define me, they will not. They will not hold me back from where I want to go.

3. Change scared the crap out of me!!
>>> Bring it on! I am ready for new changes in my life. I know that when I put my mind to it I can accomplish anything in front of me. Remember the Warrior Dash in June?? Ya.. scared the crap out of me.

4. Going because we were invited to events was almost an obligation out of guilt
>>> I would rather not be invited at all to something than to be invited as a last pick. I am NO ONES second choice.

5. I can't because I am not able.
>>> I can because I am willing. I can because I want to. I can because I say so and I'm gonna prove you wrong. ( ps it has been 6 months and 2 days that I have quit smoking. So to those people that didn't think I could do it I say.. and WHAT?!?!?! )

6. Change rooms are just public cublicles to cry in when you have to try on clothes.
>>> Stepped out of my comfort zone and wore form fitted dresses with not a care in the world. Bring the one woman in your life that you trust and respect the most for her honesty. Grab coffee and have fun trying stuff on.

7. Some of my closest friends walked away. What did I do?
>>> I decided to change my life direction which changed my physical appearance. I no longer fit in to the mold that they wanted for me. Sad yes, but I have learned it is reality and there is no going back.

8. I have a gym membership.
>>> I am a member of a group of people dedicated to changing their lives and achieving greatness in it. I am noticed because I actually feel like I belong and am welcomed in with open arms. I am achieving greatness in my life which I am passing on to my children, new friends and to people that I have not yet met.


I really could on and on with this list but you get the idea. It was all about first changing my thought process, taking a leap of faith and putting my complete faith in one person to lead me to where she knew I could be. I have battled many obstacles this year with my health but at no point did I say I quit or I give up. What I did do is keep on going and found a new way to achieve my goals. It may have taken me a little bit longer to do it but I did it.

2012 is just 16 days away and that brings a whole new chapter in my life. I am so very excited to fill you in when the time comes. I have enough confidence in myself to say that I AM going to do it.....Not IF but WHEN.

So be ready to join me next year and follow along with my journey....!! With visions of clear heels dancing in my head I say Happy Dreamtime and to all a good night. ( I never said I was a great poet.. LOL )

Movin Movin Mooooovin!!

Winter is finally here. Well weather wise anyway, so what does that mean? It means that we get to spend the next 5 months inside trying to stay warm. And for some of us that means that we get a new winter coat... or rather a new layer of winter pudge. This doesn't have to happen though. There are so many options available out there now that really we barely even have to leave the house. Frankly I don't like being cooped up all winter so I actually enjoy the social time at the gym. The gym is not always an option though if you can't afford the membership fees.... BUT.... How many of you have a home gaming system? Like a Wii or a PS3 or an XBox? All 3 of these systems now have interactive games available so that you aren't just sitting there with a remote in hand. You are up dancing and jumping and swinging your limbs around.

Last year we got the Kinect system for our XBox. Well let me tell you how much fun that was and still is. I have almost mastered Poker Face on the easy version.. LOL.. Not only did we dance but we were sweating and muscles were sore too. We also laughed A LOT which is heart healthy! The benefits totally out weighed the cons ( cons being you look like a fool dancing and jumping around in your living room trying not to pee yourself ). We also get to spend some quality time with the kids. Who doesn't want that? Busy schedules for everyone and passing each other in hallways just stinks! ... ooohhhh and let's not forget the friendly competition that emerges rather quickly! No one wants to lose. I know I don't!!.. LOL

 I have been watching the commercials and I also did some in store research and they have come out with so many new ones over the last year. Here are just a few http://www.xbox.com/en-US/Kinect/Games
With the Christmas season approaching these are great gifts to think about giving or asking for yourself. But really who has the time or the money to go out this month?! Sooooo, why not have a BeautyFit girls night in. Invite your gal pals over, make up some healthy snacks and laugh and chit chat while dancing together. You can even do it in your jammies ( and we all know how I feel about flannel **LOVE**). Rub on the BeautyBum, Take your BeautyFuel and see how many calories you burn that night. Before they know what hit them you will have already mastered a song or 2 :)

Remember.. all you have to do is move. Just get up and move and keep moving and before you know it, it will become second nature and you won't want to sit around anymore. You will reach out and find new and more fantastic things to do next time.

Here are just a few ideas...
1. Indoor rock climbing
2. Hot or regular Yoga
3. Indoor BeachVolley Ball
4. Pole dancing... here in my town there is a great studio that offers it http://www.impactmovement.ca/
5. Kick Boxing
and last but NEVER least!!!....
6. BeautyFit Bootcamp which starts up again Jan 10th.... all the information is listed here ( https://www.beautyfit.com/bootcamp.html )

What are you waiting for? Go! Move!

See you on the dance floor :)

Fear Factor.. More than just a TV show

I sit here at my kitchen table still in my sweaty gym clothes as I am typing this out. Tonight many things are running through my mind. One of them is, Where has this year gone??? I have had lots of things going on so I guess I just was oblivious to the date. Today for me has been a time of retrospect over the year. I have become so numb to how others make ME feel through this whole process, but what I did think over the last few days was .. How do I make THEM feel? I said when I started all this that I would not back down. I will not fail! I refuse to allow myself to fail! And it was brought to my attention a long time ago that I have put myself out here to all of you and that alone is confidence enough right?!?! No one wants to fail to people they know or don't know in the end.

So why am I talking about failure? Because it is reality! We all have thoughts that we are going to at some point. Mine is right now. Maybe because it is fear that the end of the year is only 47 days away and that is the end of my year. I am scared. I'm not gonna lie. I am scared of making it to the end of all of this and not hitting the goal I wanted. I am scared of failing people that have put so much faith and trust in me. That have given me an opportunity of a lifetime here. I am scared of failing me.

Let me be very clear though about this... I still have 46 days and 20 minutes left to prove that I can complete something. Left to prove that no matter what emotional struggle I am dealing with I can make it through. To prove that tears are just sweaty eyes. To not only prove to myself but to everyone around me that says that they believe in me that I am worth their faith.

I told you in the very beginning that I am just a normal everyday woman here. I cry like all of you and I laugh no one!! I know for a fact that some of you have had self doubt moments in the last 6 months because I have received emails about it. So I just wanted to share mine.....

46 days 11 minutes... This is more than just a blog about my year... THIS is my LIFE!!!

Growing Pains

I am 37 and I am still getting them but in a WHOLE different way. This time I am growing stronger mentally and physically and yes sometimes it is pretty painful. But in a good way.. LOL...

Alt Laterals with Dumbbells.. Ya they hurt

My wonderful 17 yr old son also trains like a champ and he pushes me just like Sandra does. He tells me to shut up and do it. He tells me YES YOU CAN Mom. He will not let me quit, even as much as I want to when I think that the bar is going to fall on my face and smash me in to little pieces. Having a teenager and trying to find things to do together that you both enjoy can be tricky. I found what works and it is the gym. He high 5's me when I complete something and is proud to call me mom. ( and he even ... AND What's me when appropriate ). We are both learning, growing, laughing and crying in pain together. But to be honest there really is nothing better than having someone spot you that understands what you are going through. What you are feeling and just exactly how much you want to punch them in the throat if they tell you.. one more!

My SONshine... we are growing together

 

 

I really didn't have any pivotal or major thought provoking moments in the last week. But what I did have is a special "MOM" moment. In all of this life change I am still a mom. I am still a friend. I am still a wife. It doesn't matter how much weight or how many inches I lose because in the end I am still me. I am the one that ugly cries when I am sick, frustrated, tired or sad. I am also the one that will hold your hand when you need it, Laugh and cry with you and also support you in your journey.

We all have growing pains. Have you found out what yours are? Mine are meaningful moments that will forever make me who I am.

Legs are the Roots of your Tree!!

It's just a machine, right!? It looks scary but really it isn't. It is called a Smith machine. I use it for many different exercises. Squats, weighted lunges, weighted split jumps, calf raises (when the other machine is in use) and also for my flat bench press when I don't have anyone to spot me so I don't hurt myself. But I'm going to focus just on why this machine and using weights on my leg days are a benefit to me and you as we are trying to lose weight, tone up and keep our metabolism going through out the day. As a woman it is always scary when we hear anything about lifting weights. First thing out of our mouths usually are, " I do not want to be all muscle and bulky ". Truth of the matter is you won't be.

Here is a few of the Top reasons why you SHOULD pick up weights and use them..

• It increases your resting metabolic rate so you burn more calories, even while at rest.
• Makes you lean and slim--muscle takes up less space than fat so, the more you have, the slimmer you are
• Strengthens bones and connective tissue, which can protect your body from injuries in daily life
• Enhances balance and stability
• Builds confidence and self-esteem  

Now that we have your fears covered... let's talk about my legs. Only because they are fabulous and I take pride in the strength and the design of my legs. They are the trunks of my tree :) They hold me up so why not make them as strong as I can. Using the Smith machine helps me with my core balance. I have no fear of falling over or falling square on my butt when doing squats ( My routine is 4 x 12 reps ). It also helps me to correct my form and not compensate by doing it incorrectly. I can really feel the push in my muscles in my quads, hamstrings and even my glutes. And YES some days it really IS all about the ass .. LOL. If you are unsure if you are doing it correctly just ASK! Someone there either member or staff will always help you. Better to be safe than sorry.

Stiff leg dead lifts with a barbell are no joke. There may be no weight on that bar but it is not light as a feather. Keeping your chest proud, shoulders back and your back straight bend over as far as you can so that you feel the pull in the back your leg ( your hamstring ). My routine includes 4 sets x 10,12,15,12 reps (dropping weight when inclining reps)

 Calf raises are important in my leg training days. The muscle definition when I put a pair of heels on lets me know I am doing a good job. Next time you walk upstairs stop at each step and do 10 calf raises. With each step change the direction of your toes.. Feet straight, next step toes out (ballerina style), next step toes pointed pigeon toed. 

So tomorrow, before you do 30 min of climbing on the Stairmill, challenge yourself and do walking lunges with 20lb weights in each hand instead of 10lbs. The only thing you have to lose is fat so GO FOR IT!!








 

BeautyFit weekend of Black and Pink

Dress shopping didn't go nearly as well as I had expected purchase wise, but I had a blast. I had my trusty Sandra Compton by my side to lead me in to a direction that I had not really ever gone. Sure I had bought dresses in my time but not really something that accentuated the assets of a newly changed body in an appropriate 37yr old way ( yes I am 37 ). Off we went to Le Chateau. The walls were covered with beautiful shimmery dresses. I was in AWE!!! All I could think was dang there is no way I am ever going to fit in to any of these and feel comfortable. Oh boy was I wrong! She put me in this beautiful green and black dress that made me open my eyes to how awesome I looked. And yes I can say that cuz I did :) And then the shoes came.. Black Stiletto Jessica's. My body changed again and my bum went POP! Oh and so did my calves. One day those shoes will be coming home with me. Unfortunately, I seem to have chosen one of the most expensive dresses in the store. Lesson learned though? Yes... Don't be afraid to walk in and try something on just so you can finally see what really works for your body instead of what you have been settling on.

My theme of the night was to feel comfortable in what I was wearing so I ended up finding a cute little top and pulling out a pair of black dress pants that I haven't worn in a few years comfortably. This is what the final product was........................

We laughed, danced and had so much fun that night. It was an awesome time spending an evening with women whom you love unconditionally and respect. BeautyFit Beauties come in all shapes and sizes (which we change with hard work and dedication) but one things remains the same. We work hard and we play hard and we do it together.

Two days later we joined hands and hearts to Run for the Cure for Breast Cancer. It was downright cold that morning but we wrapped up layer upon layer to stay warm before the 5km started. Some beauties walked and some ran. I ran... Oh FOREST I RAN!! 5km in 33 min. no walking.. Just running. And I could not have done it without 2 beauties Tammy and Jax by my side. We started together and we crossed that finish line hand in hand. We don't leave a WOman behind EVER!

You can never go wrong when you have your gurlz with you.

These ladies amazed me beyond words.







Last weekend was full of fun but Monday came and that meant back to training. Weights will always be my nemesis but I know there is a good reason for using them. They make me mentally and physically stronger.. Stay tuned and I will tell you how. Until then, Find a good cause and donate your time. It doesn't have to be a charity. A good cause could be a friend in need that just needs your hand.