1.) I work harder and am more productive when I exercise and workout, which gives

me more free time in the long run.

2.) I am motivated and energized, which allows me to use that energy to help

others get what they need out of life, in turn making me feel fulfilled!

3.) I am a VERY happy, stable and reasonable person when I eat right and sweat

everyday!  This helps me fight any anxiety and stress that is waiting right around the

corner because of my hectic, full schedule.

4.) I am able to handle more because exercise and eating well keeps stress levels

down.

5.) I am more fun to be around because l am not stressing over all the things I did not

get done and how bad I feel about myself.   When your body is healthy so is your mind

which means I do not bring any negative, self inflicted drama into my life because I am

miserable and want  those around me to be miserable too.   When you are healthy things

are in perspective  and are getting accomplished!  No more sweating the small stuff!

6.) My relationships are better because I love myself.  When you are happy with who

you are, you are able to truly focus on others and see all the good things they have

to offer.

7.) I get to say GOODBYE to jealousy  because I like who I am and what I

have to offer.  Eating healthy and working out makes you learn to love yourself and your

body.   It helps give you the energy and motivation to find what you are meant to

be doing with your life!  Most importantly, it teaches discipline and appreciation.  You lose

the attitude of an entitlement and realize what you put in, is what you get out of life, period.

8.) It helps with any seasonal blues and blahs I’m dealing with!  Even when there is no sun,

negative temps and I am trapped indoors, I know that if I go get a great workout in no

matter how miserable, sad and mopey I am, I will feel like a million dollars afterward!

9.) The feeling of overcoming a negative attitude, a bad day, choosing the healthy food,

not drinking, getting good rest, choosing the high road, ignoring “Debbie Downer,”

getting a workout in a crunch is better than I can even put into words.  The rewards

start rolling in after you have made a healthy lifestyle a habit.  It is never easy, but

being a miserable person is a hell you create by yourself.  I don’t know about you but

I am not gonna live there!  I know being disciplined is the key to a lasting, happy life.

10.)  I never have to listen to myself say “Poor ME!” Or “Why does he/she get everthing

handed to them?”  Working out,  eating right and being very disciplined makes

me very aware of how blessed I am to be alive.  I have a clear mind and I am very

rarely crabby or tired.  This helps me realize that I am the creator of my life,

destiny and happiness.  No one can give this to me besides me, not even my

friends or loved ones!  I have to love me before I can love anyone else.  Being

happy draws good things to you, whether it be job opportunities, friends or

reaching your dreams!

This takes time and discipline but I know you too will have the same benefits!  I hope you

find the same peace and happiness I have found when you put your best effort in.  This will be a

life long endeavor and I will tell you it is worth all of the blood, sweat and tears!

Thanks for listening,

Lori Harder

If you’re siting there saying I’m crazy, then read on, because this blog is really for you!  Too many of you set out each year saying, “I’m going to work hard doing the same old thing, and hope that it amounts to something decent this year.”  This is already a failing approach.  No different from running a fundraiser, or working out, you cannot start out without a firm goal in mind.  If you’re single, this is a good exercise for you and your budget, and if you’re a couple, this is even more powerful of an exercise, because you will hold each other accountable to delivering on your “number.”

I’ve done this my whole working life, and now Lori and I do this every year, and you know what?  It works!  It works because all of your energy and focus goes toward hitting this number.  You simply choose what you want to make in the upcoming year, and the start working it backwards to see how you’re going to get there.  Now, I know what many of you are thinking; “I have a salary, I don’t get to choose, my employer chooses for me.”  WRONG!  Your full time salary, if that’s the position that you’re in, is just one of the pieces of the puzzle.  Here’s how it works:

1.  Choose together.  If you’re a couple, both of you must be bought in and committed to this.  And for God’s sake, think big!  Don’t sell yourself short, it’s time to get ahead!

2.  Think Monthly.  Meaning, determine your monthly outgo, then add some savings and a nice cushion to it.  A real fluffy cushion if you want…but without being unrealistic.  Take this number multiplied by twelve months, and you’ve got “your number!”

3.  Now, take your number, and start subtracting your income sources below it.  First, your guaranteed income (salary, pensions, etc..), then, your likely income (bonuses, commissions, side jobs). If you were ambitious enough in choosing your number, this should leave you with a balance yet to make up.

4.  Next, to fill this remaining income gap, have fun and get creative.  List new ways you can create additional income.  Perhaps this is a second job, maybe join a network marketing company, or turning a hobby or a talent into new income.  There is always something you can do extra if you really want to.  The key is to make it something you enjoy or are interested in.  Think outside the box, and have confidence in yourself. You can accomplish more than you think!

5.  Write this plan out, put it up somewhere visible, and start working it immediately.  A plan without action is not a plan at all.  Refer back to this plan, and tweak it when necessary, but never lose site of it, never giving in. You will hit your number if you’re committed to it year round.

Let me spell out an example for you.  Pretend your “number” is $120,000 a year.  Monthly, that’s just $10,000 per month.  You know that you have a salary of $60,000 annually, and that you’re likely to get a 10% bonus of another $6000 that year, totaling $66,000.  Your spouse has a $36,000 salary and receives no bonus.  You now total $102,000 per year in guaranteed and likely income, leaving you with an $18,000 gap.  Sound like a lot of money?  It’s not, if you break it down monthly to just $1500 per month.

Now the fun part.  You love Yoga, dance or bootcamps, and could get certified quickly.  You teach 3 classes a week, splitting the class revenue 50/50 with the studio.  Assuming your average class is just ten people at $15 per head, that’s 50% of $150 per class that you keep.  Take that $75 per class times three classes per week, times four weeks per month, and you just added $900 per month to your income, leaving your gap at just $600 per month.  Where could your partner find that $600 per month?  A second job of just fifteen hours per week?  Network marketing? Serving or bar tending? It’s out there if you look!

The more you do this, the better you’ll get at it, and it works no matter what your number is!  You’ll start to become excited, and even addicted to your number!  It can be one of the most fun, and even healthiest exercises you’ll do as a couple. Imagine the stress you’d eliminate if each of you knew you were carrying your weight on your way to a financial surplus?  Incredible feeling! Single?  Then choose a friend to do this with for accountability.

The bottom line is this. If you read this and say it sounds like too much work, then that’s your problem.  Enjoy another year of financial hardship and mediocrity. If you say you’re not interested in money, fine, but I know you’re interested in more freedom and less stress.  You must call your shot!  You must do some planning, and you must put some work in, and if you do, you then have earned the right to expect all the benefits that come along with it!

As I write this on my porch, a gentleman in his black Lamborghini just drove by.  I assure you he chooses his number, and you can too!  I hope this exercise brings even a couple of you more happiness and freedom this upcoming year!

Happy planning,

Chris

My name is Kristi Youngdahl; I am a proud mother of three beautiful children and a wife to my high school sweetheart and best friend, Todd. I am passionate about life and inspiring others to create, live and love their life. I make a each day to be a positive person and to radiate a confidence that inspires others. My friends are important to me and my family always comes first. God has blessed me in so many ways. I am very thankful for the person I am today because it didn’t come easily for me. I didn’t always have this outlook on life; I was actually the complete opposite. At one point I was 85lbs heavier and miserable. I often felt like life was too much work and I was exhausted!

I became a wife and a mother at a young age. My body changed DRAMATICALLY! My perception of myself had also changed as I started to lose sight of who I was as an individual. The depression started to set in. I felt as though I was the only person on the planet and that the world was going round and round without me. I was breathing but not living. It took me a few years of barely existing and surviving each day in a strange large body, feeling sad, lost, embarrassed, and tired. I remember literally forcing myself to get out of bed to face each day. Deep down I had this burning light that wanted to embrace and love life. I dreamed about having the confidence to allow myself to use that light. I wanted to dance in every storm and make a difference in this world. I knew a better life existed. I had a greater purpose. I stood in front of my full length mirror and had my moment. It had been awhile since I recognized myself on the outside but when I realized I was beginning to lose sight of the person I was on the inside, I knew it was time. I set out on a new adventure. In the past I searched for my purpose in life by outside sources and I read a lot of books. I realized that the purpose of my life wasn’t something I would discover by searching outside of myself. The purpose of my life was something that already existed deep inside of myself but was buried under a layer of negativity and lack of confidence. When I started living my life and taking the time to care for myself, I discovered that I was living in a way that inspired others. This sparked even more fuel for my mission; my desire for a purpose began to be fulfilled. I took control of the power of my thoughts and started exercising at my local gym. As my body began to change the better I felt, and I loved everything about it. I began reading and researching health and nutrition as well as exercise science. Understanding that through proper nutrition, exercise, and positive affirmations my mind, body, and spirit changed. I discovered a passion for teaching, training and inspiring others. Most importantly… I found me!

It has been over nine years since my transformation. I am truly thankful for the few years I spent “lost”. Those years helped shape me into the women I am today and gave me the knowledge and understanding to help others. I will not say that I never had a rough moment, as I have had plenty. Each time I stumble, I get back up and as my own mother taught me, I put my big girl panties on and take control! Always take note and learn from your stumbles, they will only make you stronger and more successful in the future. Be aware of your weaknesses and have a plan. I still find myself saying yes to often and becoming overwhelmed with my to-do list. I havelearned the importance of a schedule, balance and preparation. When you take control of your life others become inspired, this is a great time to start a blog, a website or support group. I have found that leading others by setting a positive example makes me work even harder. I believe that your body is a vehicle in which you must nourish mentally, spiritually, and physically. You are in complete control of your life, your dreams and your happiness. No dream is to big and always listen to your heart. Let go of anything and everything negative especially let go of past hurts for which we cannot change and have no control over. Accept what you don’t understand and change what you have the ability to change. Believe in yourself and your dreams. Create, live and love your life. It all begins with health and wellness through nutrition, exercise, and positive affirmations.

May you all embrace your inner light and have the confidence to share it with the world!

Blessings, Kristi Youngdahl

I love the Optimist’s Creed! I have been reading it daily for many years. These are truly words to live by.

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself …

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

I have positivity as a strength – at work we use these lengthy assessment tools to figure out how we fit in the organization and in my top 5 is positivity. I am able to see situations and find a way out of them, to put a positive spin and to get my team to an outcome. I am very proud of this strength especially in the corporate environment. But just because I have positivity as a strength does not mean that my life has been uber happy and candy-coated. As Lori has taught me, I choose to be a positive person. I choose to see the positivity in life and I choose to make my experiences those that I can learn from, feel from and be impacted from.

I say all these things because while I talk about being positive in my posts, about pushing through your hard times, I want to acknowledge that I do know it is easier said than done. But while it is easy to say and difficult to do – it can be done and you can do it.

Like all of you -

I have loved.

I have lost love.

I have seen life.

I have seen death.

I have felt happiness and joy.

I have felt pain and sorrow.

I know what it means to soar

But I have also fallen so hard.

I have laughed

I have cried and

I have survived it all.

Most of these life experiences have happened regardless of how my body looked. It’s life. I know we all have our stories, our once upon a time – the things that make us unique, that give us our battle scars from this rocky road we are traveling on but what I do know is that – IT IS ALL of these experiences that shape our lives.

I’m not here to compare my experiences to your experiences, but to share with you mine and hope that there is something that you can take away from them, something that makes you see something differently, that inspires and challenges you to be true to yourself. My best friend was a musician – he loved music more than anything in this world, he lived for it and he never apologized for it. He said to me constantly, “I am who I am and will not be anyone else. Take me or leave me.” While I can hear him saying these words to me, even at his lowest points of discouragement,  I still would challenge him that while this is true, we can all be better.

Being better is relative to you and your journeys but to me – while my focus has been on my physical self – it’s also been a long battle with my mental self too. Being better is not about fitting in a size 4 and not feeling any of the pain and joy about getting there. It’s about putting myself first, taking what the universe gives me and seizing it, about looking forward and not looking back and really living in the moment because the moment that you stop and feel sorry for yourself – you lose. Pity is negative, it drives you down, like tying weights on your feet, throwing yourself into the ocean. You sink and it feels impossible to get up.

Regardless of what happens in life or what doesn’t happen, I think it’s about keeping your mind at the present, and your heart at the future. I recommend that all of you read the Alchemist – it reinforces this idea that if you really want something – that the universe will conspire to help you achieve it. But you have to be self-aware, you have to be self- accepting and you have to work in positivity to get it.

For the first time in my life, I feel free. I feel free to feel, to live, to love and to be – and there is no better feeling than that. I hold onto that it during difficult times because yes I do have them. It’s amazing the power of freedom and the power of positive thinking – it’s part of the equation that has led me to where I am today – 8 dress sizes down, and 6 pant sizes smaller than a little over year ago.

So even when the road gets hard and you want to pity yourself, I want you to take a moment to remember the present, remember that you will survive and you will get there. Because even though everything happens for a reason, the power of your positive thinking will help you get through it no matter what.

Meredith

7 Principals Guaranteeing Your Partners Success

Do you want to do something HUGE in life? Leave a real legacy of some kind? Leave your “mark?” I do, and I canʼt imagine a life without such aspirations. I also canʼt imagine a life without Lori, my partner in crime. I firmly believe you need someone else whoʼs significant in your life to reach incredible success. Iʼm not talking “ooh I had a good day success.” Iʼm speaking of REAL BIG success. Doing something incredible. Achieving some large goals. That kind of success.

Now, Iʼm not saying it has to be a “significant other.” While it certainly helps if it is a spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, partner, etc. because youʼre around each other so much, it could also be a close friend, mentor, or even a hired coach that gets you there.

So, after quite some thought, Iʼve put together a few of the reasons why Lori and I have been able to really bring out the best in each other, and what it takes to really be a good team.

1) Hold each other accountable. We all need someone to hold us accountable, even the best of us. Everyone has an off day occasionally, and thatʼs when you can count on your partner to give you that extra push, and make sure you stay on track. I canʼt tell you how many times I havenʼt wanted to go to the gym or run around the lake, but we still make each other go, and my love-handles thank her for it! We always feel so much better for it when weʼre done!

2) Set aside time to talk every day. Yes, every day. This can be in any form you like. Ours happens to be our walks that we start every morning out with. One hour of uninterrupted planning, motivating, listening, or dreaming. Many times weʼve woken up on the wrong side of the bed, but by the end of our walk, weʼve gotten each other straightened out for the day.

3) Be open to Outside Advice. If you only rely on yourself, or even just the two of you for new ideas, youʼre never going to grow outside of your own paradigm. Some of the biggest advancements in our careers have come from outside advice. Plenty of people have already been where youʼre trying to go…so seek them out!

4) Give HONEST feedback every time. This is the toughest of them all. No one wants to hurt each otherʼs feelings, but even the hardest things to say can be well-received if delivered in the right manner. Ever have to tell your wife that her self-tanner makes her look like an Oompa-Loompa? Yea, thatʼs a toughie!! Itʼs all in the delivery, (boy have I had to learn this!!) And if done correctly, youʼll help each other stay on track and reach your goals that much quicker. Youʼre not doing anyone any favors by letting them think theyʼre doing well when theyʼre not. Donʼt forget that positivereinforcement is also part of honest feedback, and will always mean that much more when your teammate knows itʼs sincere!

5) Be ready to make sacrifices. If youʼre going to be really successful, youʼre going to have to make many sacrifices. Be it time, money, friends, or whatever, youʼre not entitled to “get” everything you want AND achieve everything you want at the same time. Itʼs that simple. Once you accept this, the tough decisions get easier. In addition, if youʼre making a sacrifice for your partnerʼs goal, you better do so with a great attitude, or instead of helping, youʼre really just setting them back that much further!

6) Be into each others goals. I mean really get into them. You donʼt have to like them at first, but if youʼre not fully bought in to your partners goals, then youʼre probably not the right partner for them. Never tell them their idea is too big. In fact, challenge them to make it bigger! Youʼd be surprised how many ideas I didnʼt like at first, but once I gave them a fair shot and really listened to the merit behind them, I saw how exciting they could be once they became a reality. Furthermore, itʼs way more fun to be involved when you make their goals your own goals. The best part? Most of them have turned into the greatest moves weʼve ever made. We even have a new idea that I was reluctant to hear at first, but now may be the biggest and best move weʼve ever made yet!

7) Celebrate each otherʼs success in a BIG way!! Really do it up! After all that hard work, if youʼve achieved what you set out to do, then make sure you really enjoy it! Thatʼll be the only reason to do it all over again!

Some of the points above might seem obvious, and you might have even heard many of them before, but itʼs the consistency that you do them with that matters. These really are the principals that have guaranteed Lori and I success over and over again, and in some pretty big ways. They take work to implement on a regular basis, but if you really work to keep these points in the conscience part of your mind, I can just about guarantee that you and your partner will achieve anything you set out to!

Good luck, Chris

As I reflect on our friendship, I think about my own journey this year – the strength that I have found, built, sustained through the ups and downs, and the mental challenges from  implementing my new lifestyle. I sometimes get emotional thinking about it- the start of this and now where I am. I had tried so many times to lose weight – because when I finally felt good about myself, all of my other accomplishments may shine a little brighter, and I would just feel better.

I always wanted it and tried to obtain it – but I think for me the missing part was me not owning it. I have reiterated several times that the most difficult moment for me was trusting that if I changed my mentality and my lifestyle – that my body too would change.  To me that’s what owning this is – having it really be about you and because I didn’t do that, well it enabled more frustration, more crash diets, and more inconsistency.

So what I’m getting at here is that it’s ok to get emotional about your body, your lifestyle. When I run, I sometimes think about all the negative I have experienced, the times when I felt so sorry for myself and it makes me run faster, push myself harder.  If you care about someone – then you want them to be happy. Well the same is true for you, if you care about yourself then you want yourself to be happy. We all define happiness differently – but I define happiness as being at peace with yourself, having love surround you and you truly embracing life. Use your strengths to get where you want to go.  I now use my emotions to fuel me, to push away the negative, to remind me that we all have fight inside of us and we should fight to exceed our goals.

I read somewhere once that happiness is a choice. It’s true and we should all make the choice to be happy about our lives and instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, we should challenge ourselves. Because in my experience, emotion can help you, but it can hinder you too. I had to find that balance – to stop over thinking it, start doing it and feel good about it. Commit. Do. Be – that’s how I have owned my journey and regardless of the journey you are on – I think it’s about choices – your choice to be accountable, your choice to be committed and your choice to be happy.

These past few weeks have reiterated to me that it’s not about the destination but the journey – that journey even with all those twists and turns shape our lives.  As you reflect on your journeys, I hope that you are able to find what has made you happy and that we can all continue moving together.

So until next time, happy trails….

Meredith

Lately I have been wondering about the shift in thinking, in terms of people trying to lead a healthy life.  In the past people seemed to be looked at with concern if they were rapidly gaining weight or not taking care of themselves properly.  As of late, I’ve noticed a completely different trend.  It seems that you are the odd man out if you prioritize your health and go out of your way to make sure you are getting exercise and eating healthy food.  Now, I do understand that there are extreme measures that can be looked at as obsessive, but in my opinion we have veered so far away from healthy lifestyles that anything above bringing a lean pocket to work is considered abnormal.

Clearly with the state of our health in this country, and at the rate which obesity is increasing, something has drastically switched over the years.  Is it our thinking, our habits, our education about food, our accessibility to unhealthy food, our culture, our attitude, our impatience, our issues of entitlement, or all of the above?

I come from a family that has always struggled with weight.  For a long time I thought I was over weight because of my “bad genetics.”  After years of reading and educating myself I realized I was unable to lose the weight because of my “bad habits.”  This was hard for me to grasp since I knew letting go of those habits meant letting go of the few things in my life that I felt were giving me happiness.  My entire life revolved around food and truly felt I deserved to be able to eat what I want, when I want. To me food meant fun, bonding, love, happiness, gratitude, acceptance, rewards and above all comfort.  Little did I know that it was my love affair with food that was also giving me feelings of self loathing, weakness, embarrassment, lack of energy, sadness and loneliness.  I remember starting these thoughts at the tender age of eight.

Talking with my clients, and from my own experience I realized people are given a hard time whenever they try to make a healthier lifestyle change.  For many this is because people do not want to be reminded of what they should be doing or they don’t want to lose the reliable lunch, drinking, gossip, care taker or whatever buddy they have come to rely on.  If all is status quo, they never have to change or feel bad about the choices they make.  That is, until one day when someone breaks up the pack and decides to pursue health and tries to better themselves!  The person who has decided to set these goals has the best intentions in mind, but for some reason some people around them feel as though they are personally being threatened by having their environment CHANGED!  Questions pop in their head like, is he/she judging me on what I am eating? A: NO.  Is he/she thinking I am lazy? A: NO!  Is he/she thinking she is better then me now because he/she has will power?  HECK NO!  HE/SHE just wants to try to feel better and be happier!

If you have set healthy goals for yourself, AMEN!  It’s the only way to get what you want out of life!  You are one of the few who has found the missing link to being happy, content and healthy.  We are not born this way!  It is a lifelong endeavor and search to continue to better yourself and remain disciplined in order to continue to gets life’s rewards that are waiting for those who work hard.  The only answer to this huge problem is to start with yourself and your own family.  Stop all the blaming and justifying,  and learn about what you should be doing and eating and take action.  Be and set the example you want for others.

Leaders will always be criticized in the beginning and that is what makes them stronger.   If you are thinking this sounds too tough and unrealistic then you have already chosen your future.  It all starts with your thoughts and attitude.  A healthy life is right around the corner and the smallest of steps make a difference.  Don’t rely on others for happiness and remember, the road is long but in the end it is better than you can even imagine.  Do it for you and your loved ones and start living your best life possible!

Set your goals high, never apologize for them and don’t stop until you get what you want!

~Lori Harder

Eating clean is a lifestyle and the way I  live because it provides your body with fuel, it makes you feel better, gives you energy, enriches you with vitamins, minerals and the things that your body really does need.  Since I have started eating clean and sustained eating clean, I have lost weight, have more energy, and feel great!

I remember the day Lori and I talked through my LHF meal plan – she handed me a crisp white binder and while I had doubts that my body would actually change, I moved forward with the mindset that this was my new lifestyle. Now it’s second nature – like any discipline, new routine – it takes time for you to work out your growing pains, to figure out how to individualize it and to make it really fit. Thanks to Busy Girl recipes – my transition to clean eating was not stressful, but super helpful and inspired me to explore more clean recipes!

So now I do the same things over and over again but I expect the same results. I use mostly Busy Girl recipes throughout my day and while I love my routine, I alternate my meal options weekly. My philosophy for eating clean is to keep it simple, be a little creative and be prepped. Lots of you have asked what my week looks like – here’s one at a glance!

Sunday – is prep day. Busy Girl Secret to Healthy Eating – is to always be prepped. Prepping your food sets you up for success all week long. I love having all of my food prepped on Sunday because it’s in there ready to go – with the convenience of a store bought processed food but with all the benefits of clean eating. So what do I prep on Sundays?

• Busy Girl Biscuits – one of my favorite breakfasts- I grab them as I walk out the door for work!
• BGHL Italian Wedding Soup – you can make a batch of this and freeze it. It’s been one of my favorite this winter too.
• Santa Fe Chicken Salad

I start my morning with a cup of a coffee and Busy Girl biscuits. I then have a fruit – I love apples and grapefruits. For lunch I enjoy a delicious bowl of Busy Girl Italian wedding soup. I have two favorite afternoon snacks – cottage cheese and mixed berries or broccoli slaw with cottage cheese and a splash from a Ranch seasoning packet (blend cottage cheese and ranch seasoning.) Then for dinner – I love salads. Lately I have enjoyed eating Santa Fe chicken salad with lettuce, hot sauce and sometimes a slice or two of avocado. Sometimes depending on my day and timing, I’ll another small meal – like fruit or veggies.

Want to try some more recipes? I encourage you to get a little creative in the kitchen too. I deconstruct some of my recipes and make them clean. For example, my mom makes this wonderful chicken salad – I called her up, talked through the ingredients and experimented with ways that I could make it clean. It turned out great! Busy Girl Tip – you can replace mayo with no fat Greek yogurt.

Clean eating is not hard, it’s just about choices and it’s about being prepared, being determined and persevering.  I honestly do not keep any food in my apartment that would enable me to make bad choices – I think that has helped me stay on track too because there are always triggers and cravings but for me – sticking to my lifestyle was way  more satisfying than caving for craving.

My celebrity crush, Bob Harper, hits it home when it comes to figuring this whole thing out. He said,  ”Believe in yourself, trust the process and change forever.” I know I’m changed forever because eating clean isn’t a fad diet, but my lifestyle, just like my workouts. Thinking back to the beginning of my journey, it’s amazing to see and feel where I am now. It’s almost like I can’t remember what it felt like to think the way I once did about food. I am not saying it’s easy or it’s gone forever, but bottom line is if you really want to change something, you’ll do every thing in your power to do it.

So I’d like to say thank you to Lori. Thank you for enabling me to believe in myself, to trust the process and to change forever!

Until next time Busy friends, get prepped, keep it simple and try having a little clean fun!

Meredith

What do you do to stay centered, to remember what you’re truly about, and why you started out on this path you chose in the first place?

For me, although I have a very sunny disposition, there are times I get hit by an unforeseen storm.  No matter how beautiful of a place we have set ourselves up to live in our minds, we can only control so much.  With that being said, the only thing we have control over is battening down the hatches and riding out the storm, or in these cases, how we react.

I will be the first to admit that I am not perfect, so clearly my first reaction to moments of serious stress is tears, anger, bouts of hysteria and manic phone calls to loved ones so they can sympathize with me.  Am I right?  Once I realized that route was only sending me and the poor soul on the other line into a tizzy, I try a new plan that can actually fix the problem.

Since I know that no “outside” guy can do an “inside” job, I have to stop and take a moment of reflection when stress hits.  Now, I’m not trying to get all crazy on you but the truth is that nobody knows you and your intentions but you, and at the end of the day the only thing that matters is if you are okay with how you reacted, and also if it fit in with your belief system, whatever that may be.

In moments like these the majority of the population runs, hides, creates drama or turns to food or drink.  All of these sound like great choices if your willing to gain weight, be depressed, create a bigger problem and go nowhere fast.  This leads me to option B.  Time to put my big girl pants on grow some thicker skin.  Take a while, think it thru, then suck it up and get it together woman!  Everyone is dealing with big issues in one way or another and we are lucky just be alive.

Whatever form your “El Nino” takes I have a few things to try to remember.  Your problem feels bigger than it really is at that moment.  Sometimes all it takes is some good rest and exercise to clarify an issue.  Don’t over dramatize the situation because it could ALWAYS be worse.  Try not to bring others into it unless you have to, and even then don’t beat a dead horse.  You are strong and can handle more than you think (and then some).  The best lessons I have ever learned have come from what seemed to be the devastating moments of my life.

Life works in mysterious ways.  Be true to yourself and let go of any resentment, stress or fear and practice forgiveness of others and yourself.  There are no highs without the lows.  Have faith in yourself and don’t let any moment of stress rob you of living the life you deserve.  Clean it up as quick as you can and move on to the good stuff.  Happiness is seeing past the stresses and knowing we choose our battles.

Here is to a “healthy” stress free spirit,

Lori

Twenty something years later, I experienced déjà vu. While training one afternoon with Lori, she invited me to attend a Savage Sunday Session. As she talked about the “killer workout,” my eyes widened, a mix of fear and excitement overcame me- making me want to point and smile all over again.

I attended my first Sunday Session. I pretty much wanted to toss my cookies the entire time – maybe from the intense workout, but more so from the nerves and the awkwardness that I felt stepping into a room full of confident, positive, strong, in-shape women. I knew at that moment it wasn’t love at first sight. As I moved across the studio, survived each exercise, I like so many times in my life felt so different from everyone else. I made it through the session, sans puking, and while that accomplishment gave me a notch on my fitness belt – I realized I still needed to feel better about me.

I kept attending sessions, bonding with the women there, forming friendships with them and slightly and slowly that self-inflicted outsider feeling started to fall away.  Because even though Lori told me about the positivity and the bonding that comes from these sessions, it’s so awesome to experience it.

In the most recent Sunday Session, something truly amazing happened. Finally, after years and tears of not feeling like I fit in, or rather feeling like I stood out, something changed.  It was that day in the middle of a burpee, squat, push-up set up combination (yes it’s as complicated as it sounds) – I looked in the mirror, then looked around the room, and thought to myself for the first time –  I fit.

Let me step back because I definitely made this moment seem more casual than it was for me. I think when you do not love your body, do not really believe in it, then you have to find ways to be better in other aspects of your life- away from yourself. Since I was not losing weight at the time, I threw myself into other things – my writing, my relationships, my education, my work.  I pursued more education at times in my life when I did not feel like I had control, I changed my roles at work when I felt too comfortable and I read and read and wrote and wrote to improve my craft, because well, a pen and paper never called me fat.  I think when something is “off” we find things that make us feel better momentarily or forget about the fact that not being healthy is nagging in our mounds and eating us up.

Just like that day that I fell in love with figure skating, I’m in love with being this active, healthy, positive force. As we, Busy Bloggers have individually reiterated, it’s really about balance – EVEN and especially  when you have a passion and love for something. I still have passions for many things and many people, but I think that my passions are more inspired and more genuine because I realize what balance I need.  I feel so much better in tune and more connected with myself. It’s pretty clear that the benefits for living a healthy lifestyle are more than physical attributes, but I’m emphasizing that today because sometimes it takes us seeing things to really believe in them.

It was only a few weeks ago, that I saw the new physical me. Even though every day of this journey I have felt better, I think a part of me still felt like that heavy girl that stood out. I had my ah-ha moment in the mirror a few Sundays ago and now I can proudly say that I’m definitely not that girl anymore – inside or out. I fit in and have fit all of this into my busy more balanced healthy life and you can too!  Have faith and know if you put in the energy and hard work, your moment is waiting.

Here’s to falling in love again and finding a good “fit!”

~Meredith