A Little Break

The past few weeks, I've kind of felt "blah." So I decided to take a little break. I still worked out every day and ate healthy, but in a more relaxed fashion. I ate more carbs at night and didn't watch my protein/carb/fat count as closely. It was nice to eat whole wheat pancakes at night! They're one of my favorites! It was such a good treat! At the end of my little break, I was actually ready to clean up the diet again. I was pumped because I only gained 3 pounds during this period.

I've decided I am ready for another challenge. I am going to try to lean out a bit more. I still have some extra pounds that I want to shed. My goal is to lean out by the end of March. It's challenging right now because I'm totally sick of winter and the gym. I just want to go for a run outside, get some fresh air and maybe even see the sun for once! I'm literally counting down the days until spring on my calendar at work!

Impatiently waiting for spring...
H

Resist Temptations

Hope everyone is staying warm. It is freezing outside!! So cold that I don't even want to get out of bed in the morning to hit the gym. Although the snow is beautiful, I'm ready for spring. I always have a tendency to want to eat more and workout less when it's cold and dark out. Guess it's times like these when I need to dig deep and be disciplined. Gotta resist those temptations!! That is what I need to put on my fridge! HA...I don't really ever eat anything that is unhealthy, but just eat more than my body needs. So even though it's healthy, it's still extra calories. I always do better when I get a good nights sleep so that is what I'm going to do tonight. Tomorrow, I know I'll be 100% on my nutrition plan!

Train Hard -
H

Encourage Yourself

I love it when someone encourages me. It makes me feel good and lifts my spiritis. I've also experienced times when I've needed that encouragment, but everyone around me seemed too busy to even notice I could use a little lift. That is the very reason I had to learn to encourage myself.

There won't always be someone around to encourage you when you need it most. You need to dig deep, remind yourself of your goals, and encourage yourself. Everyday you wake up, focus on the positive things around you and give yourself a pep talk. Your desire and passion for life must come from within. This isn't something someone else can give to you. If you're miserable today, change your situation. Change your job, change your workout or nutrition plan, change whatever it is that is making you unhappy, and most importantly...change your outlook on life!

Learning how to encourage myself has been one of the best things I have done for myself. Now when things seem gloomy, I look to myself to change it versus waiting for someone else to come along and lift my spirits.

Find it from within -
H

Quote of the Day

"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want now."

This is one of my absolute favorites!! I always ask myself "Will this help me achieve my goals." If the answer is no, then I don't do it. Don't give in to short term gratification; it will lead to long-term dissatisfaction.

Stay Focused -
H

Need a Little Pick-Me-Up?

I've had several people ask me what I take for supplements before I workout. My favorite pre-workout supplement is Ascential Energy2. It is a powder that I mix with 8oz. of water, and I drink it on my way to the gym. This product is amazing - it has the BCAA (Branched Chain Amino Acids), provides mental focus and clarity for 3-4 hours, and it's loaded with vitamins and minerals. On top of it, Ascential Energy2 contains NO artifical colors, flavors or preservatives. This product helps me have long, intense workouts and provides me with a steady level of energy! I absolutely LOVE it! This is my #1 recommendation to all my clients.

Train Hard...
H

A New Year. A New Start.

Happy New Year's Everyone! Many of you may have set out goals you'd like to accomplish this year, which is awesome. You won't get anywhere with out a goal in mind. However, a goal without a plan is only a wish. Having a game plan is equally as important as having a goal.

Keys to a Successful Game Plan

• Write it down
• Break it down by monthly, weekly and daily tasks you must do
• Create milestones along the way to reward yourself
• Plan for set-backs. As we all know things change and it is easy to get off track without realizing it. Therefore, knowing what steps you'll take to get back on track when this happens is a must.

The most important thing you must do is believe in yourself and encourage yourself. No one else can do this for you. It's up to you and only you!!

Here's to a new YOU -

H