TurboFire 5-Day Inferno – Day 3

Woke up this morning READY for breakfast! Day 3, hump day. Still feeling great despite a bit of muscle soreness. I’m ok with it though. It’s “good” pain.

8:00am – Breakfast – 8oz lowfat cottage cheese and 2 pineapple rings. I didn’t think that would really fill me up, but a whole cup of cottage cheese is actually quite a lot. And I do believe my body is getting used to smaller portions again. The dinner I had last night seemed like a ton of food!

9:00am – Back to bed for the rest of my 8 hours of sleep. Such a wonderful luxury! Have I mentioned how much I love working from home as an Independent Team Beachbody Coach?

2:00pm – First snack, after being up for about an hour talking to people online. 1 zucchini and 3 small carrots (the plan called for 1 large so I improvised) with 2Tbs. fat-free dressing. I chose Italian because I decided not to buy Ranch since I haven’t really found a fat-free version that I like. My friend who’s doing this with me made her own.

4:15pm – I was busy getting Shakeology samples ready to send out and before I knew it, it was almost time to take the kids to karate. There was no way I would have had time to make the baked potato that was planned for lunch and get to eat it so I decided to have my second snack before we left. Greenberry Shakeology made with 1c. skim milk, 1/2 fresh strawberries (frozen would work just fine, too) and 3 ice cubes. It was pretty good, but I have to admit I will always be partial to Chocolate. I’m really curious and excited to see what the new flavor will be when it comes out this summer!

6:30pm – As soon as we returned from karate I started some quinoa using a method I found on this site. About 15 minutes before it was done I cooked chicken tenderloins in a large skillet with just a quick spray of Pam and some kosher salt. Then I cubed/shredded the chicken into small pieces. I was supposed to use black beans to go with the quinoa, but realized I didn’t have any. I did, however, have some fat-free refried beans which worked just fine, too. Instead of making tacos I used the ingredients, pico de gallo, low-fat sour cream, avocado, those great low-carb whole wheat tortillas and cilantro, to make burritos which were a hit with my kids. (My husband said he already had burritos earlier that day so he got the leftover salmon from yesterday with some of the quinoa…which he ate!!!…and sauted green beans.) I had the quinoa, which was seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic powder, on the side with the beans I didn’t put in the burrito and a little extra pico de gallo.

10:10pm – Once the kids were in bed I started my workout, FIRE55EZ and Stretch 10. This is the same combo from Day 1 and even though it’s not easy, it’s certainly easier than the combo from Day 2. Even still, about 20 minutes in I was thinking about how there’s a provision if you’re feeling really tired to just do 20 minutes of 55EZ. I was tempted. Then I remembered that my friend who’s doing this with me finished the whole thing in the morning and I couldn’t let her beat me. That’s one of the great things about having a fitness buddy. You always push each other to do more.

12:15am – Last meal. This would’ve been lunch if I hadn’t taken that much needed nap. Heaven on a plate. Baked (technically microwaved) potato with 1 slice of low-fat cheddar cheese, 1 Tbs. low-fat sour cream, 1 slice of turkey bacon all nice and crispy, green onion (scallion) and chives fresh from my friend’s garden. She also gave me some fresh rosemary which I will be using on Day 5. When choosing a fitness buddy it’s always nice to pick one with a garden. Just sayin’.

Since I was a bit busier than usual today, I’m posting most of this at the end of the day and don’t quite remember when or how much water I drank. I’m fairly certain that if I have at least another 20oz I’ll be ok. Last night I had some Stash mango passionfruit tea with a packet of Truvia which was basically perfection. Maybe I’ll do that again tonight, too.

If you’d like to see the master shopping list for one person to do the 5-Day Inferno plan it’s here. See you tomorrow!!

Day 1

Day 2

Day 4

TurboFire 5-Day Inferno Shopping List

One of my best friends and I are going to do the TurboFire 5 Day Inferno at the same time so it made sense for us to go shopping together for the food we need in order to follow the eating plan. This is a master shopping list for everything one person needs for the 5 days following the plan exactly. (If you are starting with a lower body fat percentage there is info in the guide on how to modify the eating plan.) Some of the recipes in the guide make enough food for 2 or 4 people so I divided those recipes to get single servings. That way, certain ingredients on the list can be multiplied for different sized families. The list may look a bit daunting, but you probably have a lot of the ingredients on hand already and it covers 25 meals/snacks. If you don’t have Shakeology, contact me on facebook or twitter and I’ll help you out. I’ll be posting my progress and results as I go through the program. Can’t wait to get started!!

Tomato – 1/2 (Day 1), 1/2 (Day 2), 1 (Roma, Day 4), 2 slices (Day 5) = 3

Banana, medium – 1/2 (Day 1), 1/2 (Day 4), 1/2 (Day 5) = 3

Lettuce or mixed greens, cup – 3 (Day 1), 1 (Day 2), 2 (Day 4), 2 (Day 5) = 8

Cherry tomatoes – 5 (Day 1)

Celery, stalk – 1 (Day 1), 2 (Day 2), 1 (Day 5) = 4

Scallions – 3 (Day 1), 1 (Day 3) = 4

Broccoli, cup – *1 (Day 1)

Cantaloupe, cubed, cup – 3/4 (Day 2)

Avocado – 1/4 (Day 2), *1/8 (Day 3) = 1 – keeping the pit in the half you don’t use the first day will help keep it from browning in the fridge

Raisins – 10-15 (Day 2)

Pineapple ring, canned in juice, drained – **1 (Day 2), 2 (Day 3) = 3

Medium head of bok choy, roughly chopped – **1/2 (Day 2)

Zucchini – 1 (Day 3)

Large Carrot – 1 (Day 3), 1 (Day 5) = 2

Medium baking potato – 1 (Day 3), **1/2 (or 1 small, Day 4) = 2

Raspberries (or stawberries, blueberries, boysenberries) fresh, cup – 1/2 (Day 3)

Fresh cilantro, sprig – *2 (Day 3)

Apple, medium – 1 (Day 4)

Orange – 1 (Day 4)

Fresh spinach, oz – **6 (Day 4)

Alfalfa sprouts, cup – 1 (Day 5)

Cucumber – 3 slices (Day 5), 1 whole (Day 5) = 2

Red bell pepper – 1 (Day 5)

Peas, cup – **1/2 (Day 5)

Turkey bacon, slice – 1 (Day 1), 1 (Day 3) = 2

Tuna in water, oz – 4 (Day 1)

Chicken breast, uncooked, oz – *6 (Day 1), *3 (Day 3), 3 (Day 5) = 12

Turkey breast slices, oz  – 3 to 4 (Day 2)

Wild salmon without skin, oz – **4 (Day 2)

Grass-fed lean steak like loin, flank, skirt, oz – **4 (Day 4)

Turkey sausage links (approx 60-70 cals each) – 2 (Day 5)

Lean, boneless pork loin chop, oz – **4 (I don’t eat pork so I’ll sub poultry) (Day 5)

Shakeology, Chocolate, scoop or packet – 4 (Day 1,2,4,5)

Shakeology, Greenberry, scoop or packet – 1 (Day 3)

Walnut halves – 7  (Day 1)

Almond butter, Tbs – 1/2 (Day 1), 1 (Day 4) = 1 1/2

Peanut butter, tsp – 2 (Day 2), 3 (Day 2), 2 (Day 4) = 7

Raw almonds – 10 (Day 4)

Fat-free Ranch dressing, Tbs – 2 (Day 1), 2 (Day 3) = 4

Dijon mustard, tsp – *4 (Day 1), 3 (Day 4) = 7

Honey, tsp – *1 1/2 (Day 1), 1 (Day 2) = 2 1/2

Parsley flakes, tsp – *3/4 (Day 1)

Salt and pepper – to taste

Garlic salt – *to taste (Day 1)

Fat-free Italian dressing, Tbs – 1 (Day 2)

Teriyaki marinade or sauce, Tbs – **1 1/2 (Day 2)

Garlic clove – **1/2 (Day 2), **1 (Day 4) = 2

Sesame oil, tsp – **1/4 (Day 2)

Powdered ginger, tsp – **1/2 (Day 2)

Pico de gallo, tsp – *4 (Day 3)

Balsalmic vinegar, tsp – 1 (Day 4), 1 (Day 5 or low calorie dressing) = 2

Soy sauce, Tbs – **1/2 (Day 4)

Black pepper, Tbs – **1/2 (Day 4)

Strawberry preserves, tsp – 1 (Day 5)

Hummus, Tbs – 1 (Day 5)

Rosemary, Tbs – **1 (Day 5)

Olive oil, tsp. – **1/4 (Day 5)

Egg – 1 (Day 1), 2 (Day 4) = 3

Parmesan Cheese, Tbs – *1 (Day 1), **1 (Day 4) = 2

Strawberry yogurt, lowfat, oz – 6 (Day 2)

Low-fat cottage cheese, oz – 8 (Day 3), 2 (Day 4) = 10

Low-fat sour cream, tsp – 3 (Day 3), *3/4 (Day 3), **4 (Day 4) = 8

Low-fat cheese, slice – 1 (Day 3), 1 cheddar (Day 5) = 2

Nonfat milk, cup – 1 (Day 3), 1/2 (Day 5) = 1 1/2

Whole wheat bread, slice – 2 (Day 1)

Whole wheat tortilla (approx 70 cals) – 1 (Day 2), *1 (Day 3), 1 (Day 4) = 3

Brown rice, uncooked, Tbs – **3 (Day 2)

Black beans, cooked, cup – *1/2 (Day 3)

Quinoa, cooked, cup – *1/3 (Day 3)

Whole wheat waffle (appox 100 cals) – 1 (Day 5)

6-in whole wheat pita – 1/2 (Day 5)

Wild rice, dry, Tbs – **3 (Day 5)

* – original recipe was quadrupled to serve 4

** – original recipe was doubled to serve 2

You can also have tea and coffee sweetened with stevia if desired.

LET’S DO THIS!!!

Fun, Fun, Fun

I didn’t walk today even though it was GORGEOUS outside. I did, however, do FIRE 45 from TurboFire. I was a little concerned that I would DIE because it’s been over 2 months since I’ve done TurboFire and it’s intense cardio, unlike walking. It was challenging (no big surprise), but I made it through. I have to say that Chalene Johnson is a genius. The way she mixed the music and sound effects makes the workout SO….MUCH….FUN!!!!! And, she knows just what to say at the right time to keep me going even though it’s a DVD and I know it’s coming.

Tomorrow I’ll be back to ChaLEAN Extreme Push Circuit 2 which I love for different reasons. There’s something about pushing yourself farther than you thought you could go and lifting heavier weights than you ever thought you could that’s so rewarding…mentally and physically. The bottom line is that if you’re going to stick with something to get results it has to be something you enjoy or you won’t keep it up long enough to reach your goal. Yes, exercise can be fun. You just have to find what works for you. If you want some help with that contact me on facebook. 🙂

The Little Things Really Add Up

As I read a comment on yesterday’s post this morning with a tear of joy in my eye, I was reminded of a video clip on my Turbo Jam DVD. It was part of the “getting to know Chalene Johnson” section and it’s her talking about a phone call she got from a friend who’s pants were falling down. As I watched her tear up as she told the story about such a little thing and how it gave her so much joy to have helped her friend, I knew I’d found something special.

I started doing Turbo Jam when I was at my heaviest, 323.6lbs, and at one of my lowest points mentally and emotionally. Just as much as I needed someone to show me what to do physically, I needed someone who could help me feel like a worthwhile person again and capable of making the changes I needed to in order to get my life back. In that moment when I saw Chalene get so emotional over another person’s success a spark of hope was ignited in me. She was exactly what I needed. (I’m sitting here writing this with tears streaming down my face.)

Now, that little spark has turned into a passion to help others…to pay it forward. The walking group is one of the ways I’m trying to reach out to the people around me. Up until today, the only people who had joined me were friends who don’t live in the apartment complex which is where I advertised the group. But this morning, in response to the flyers that went out yesterday, I got an email from a man who said his “very shy” wife was interested in walking, too. YAY!!! Maybe one person doesn’t seem like much to get excited about, but change happens one person, one decision, one step at a time. I hope to meet her tomorrow morning and that she won’t be too shy to come since it will likely just be the two of us. (As always, scroll over the images for more info.)

It’s really the little things in life that make all the difference. This morning, waking up ten minutes early meant I had time to fix breakfast for my husband and he had time to eat it. It also meant the kids had more time to drink their shakes without me announcing the time every two minutes which normally becomes stressful for all of us. Last night, I forgot one little thing that meant me frantically searching for the camera so I could put the batteries back in and still make it down to the meeting point in time. Turns out I didn’t find the camera, but it could be considered a blessing in disguise because I was forced to use my phone instead which takes better pictures of little things. Perfect since I wanted to talk about little things today.

Though it’s important to be able to see the big picture, it’s the little details that add up to create that big picture. Our lives can be full of joy or misery depending on the details. Take our families. How do we greet each other? Seems like a small thing, but there’s a big difference between being greeted with a smile or a frown. Do we say please and thank you? One or two syllables, but they speak volumes. Any seemingly small thing, repeated day after day, will become the focal point in the big picture. It’s up to us to decide if it will be a thing of beauty or something that makes us want to turn away.

It doesn’t stop at our front door, either. We go out into the world and are faced with thousands of little decisions each day. They way we interact with our co-workers, friends or even strangers makes a huge impact. You may think you don’t have any influence, but you do. Just like one tiny raindrop hitting a puddle makes ripples, a single act of kindness can pass from one person to another, changing the lives of many.

Then, as people join together, looking for ways to make their communities better one person at a time, the effects are even more noticeable.

Then, all those single drops coming together turn into rivers which can bring about huge changes. Ever hear of the Grand Canyon? Of course it doesn’t happen in a day. It takes time, but we all have the same amount in a day. Hour after hour, minute after minute, second after second, moment after moment. It just takes a split second to choose an action that will lead to another and another and another. Sometimes, we only have that split second to take advantage of an opportunity before us so we need to be aware, looking for the chance to make something happen.

Maybe we sometimes think that our attempts are pointless, but we should never give up. Seeds are small, but they can grow into gigantic trees. Buds are small, but they grow into beautiful blooms. It just takes time. We wouldn’t expect a tree to appear as soon as the seed is placed in the ground. We wouldn’t expect a garden to be in full bloom the moment after the buds appear. “Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9 (One of my favorite verses.)

It all starts with one little thing. How far should I go back? Let’s start with my kids. I needed some adult interaction when the boys were little so I joined a MOPS group because of an invitation from  friend I met at church who’s daughter was born on the same day in the same hospital as my son. At that MOPS group, I met another mom who became my close friend and at one point, co-worker. She moved away 😦 and I joined facebook to keep in touch with her. Through facebook, I got in touch with my brother who, if I had ever met him, it was only once when I was a kid and we had basically no contact after that. That led to him coming to visit with his wife and of course, take pictures. Seeing those pictures made me order Turbo Jam which allowed me to see that video of Chalene getting emotional. The motivation I got from her led to me pushing play day after day. My success with that program led me to getting the more challenging version, TurboFire, which I loved and posted comments about on facebook. A coach saw those comments and became my friend which led to her asking me if I wanted to be a coach, too. That decision led to making more friends on facebook, including one who suggested I start posting more stuff on my blog which I started because I wanted to reach more people as a coach. Her suggestion led me to posting my photos from my morning walks which led me to start sharing the thoughts that run through my head while I walk which I hope you are finding helpful. Whew! And that, my friends, is how one little thing leads to another. 🙂

So, what small step will you take today?

P90X will make you look good, but… ha ha ha ha ha

I just had to share my awesome experience this afternoon. A few minutes after finishing Burn Circuit 3, the boys and I headed out to the elementary school so they could shoot some hoops. I decided to walk around the track for a while just to burn a few more calories. As I approached the track I could see a large, muscular man and an athletic looking young woman in the field the track encloses. They had a “sled” with big weights stacked on top and they were taking turns pulling it down the field and back. The man had a big stack, five weights. The woman was pulling three. As I got closer we exchanged pleasantries and I headed off around the track. The whole way around I was thinking how much I would love to see if I could pull that thing down the field. As I came around the last turn the man said, “Don’t laugh!” I smiled and replied, “Oh, I won’t. I just want to give it a try myself. ” Around the track I went. As I rounded the last turn a second time he offered to give me a turn. “I just worked out, but I think I still have something left.” It was on.

As I slipped my arms through the loops attached to the sled, he removed all the weights but one. Turns out they were 45 lbs. each. I told him I could do more, but he just smiled and said to try one first. I took off and after five steps knew I could run the entire field with just the one weight. I said, “This is way too easy. I need more weight.” He put one more on, clearly thinking it would be tough. Down the field I went pulling 90 lbs. Easy. Could’ve run that time, too, but didn’t want to show off.

They followed me down to the end where I finally stopped, clearly impressed. He asked what workout I was doing. “Ever heard of P90X?” I’m not actually doing that one right now, but I have and most people have heard of it. He rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Oh, ha ha. Yeah, I’ve heard of P90X. Let me tell you something about P90X. It will make you look good, but it doesn’t help you with functional strength.” I smiled.

My first thought was that perhaps he had never actually seen or done the P90X workouts. I explained that I’m actually doing ChaLEAN Extreme right now and a bit about how it works. He went on to tell me about a local fitness program where he’s one of the coaches and how great it is because they do intervals (hello…P90X, TurboFire, ChaLEAN Extreme, Insanity, etc.) and they do some exercises with weights and some without, like squats (he demonstrates). I’m thinking, “Yeah, I know all about squats. I did about 100 just a few minutes ago. Some with weights, some without.” At that point I knew he had never seen or done P90X. I continued to smile as he tried to convince me to come workout at the place that’s, in his mind, so much better than silly old P90X.

After a few more minutes of chatting about working out and me explaining that I’m a coach with 6 programs at home to choose from and that I actually work from home as a coach, it was time for me to pull the sled back to the other end. Back where we started, they were again impressed by how easily I pulled it especially since I was wearing walking shoes with little traction and they had cleats. All I could say was, “Not bad for someone who could barely get off the couch a little over a year ago.” Again I smiled and continued walking around the track.

Each time I came around that last corner I looked over thinking that I could pull three if given the chance. He must’ve seen the look in my eye because he offered to let me try again with another weight. I think he forgot I already pulled two down and back because he was getting ready to take one off. I said, “You can leave all three on. I think I can do it. If anything, my feet will slip because of my shoes.”

Off I went, pulling 135 lbs. down the field, faster than the woman who was easily 10 years younger and 100 lbs. lighter. When I got to the end I turned around and asked if they wanted me to bring it back. He said, “Sure, take a few minutes to rest and see how far you can get.” Rest? Anyone who’s done TurboFire knows you don’t need rest unless you’ve pushed yourself to the max. I hadn’t. Back down the field I went, full speed ahead. The woman had really started to falter about halfway, even with her cleats, when she was pulling the same weight. I thanked them for letting me try as I handed the straps back. All they could say was, “That was awesome.” I smiled and continued walking around the track, knowing I could’ve pulled four. After a few more laps I went over to the boys. We played wall ball for a while and then shot some hoops. As the very nice man and woman were leaving I asked if he would be back because next time I wanted to try four. : )

Maybe there are people out there who think Beachbody programs are a joke because they’re sold on TV, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I’m so proud to represent a company that is the BEST at what they do…giving people the tools and support they need to accomplish amazing things right in their own living rooms and be the best they can be. Love it!

It was cold out there, but I still burned 550 calories

I started a walking group recently to get the people in my apartment complex interested in working out and living healthier lifestyles. An invitation went out to everyone with the monthly newsletter. I was excited to get started and meet new people. The first day came, but no one from the apartment did. Thankfully, I had a friend show up who lives nearby or I might have been tempted to give up. That was Monday. Tuesday, everyone decided to stay home again. This morning I was alone…again…and it was cold (30 something degrees) and foggy, but I walked anyway. I enjoy taking the same route in different kinds of weather because it gives me a new perspective on the world I see everyday. This is how it looked this morning.

When I got home I uploaded my bodybugg stats and found that I burned 550 calories in 50 minutes. Not as high as doing TurboFire, but still worth the time and effort. Getting outside in the fresh air, brisk as it was, put me in a great mood and was a fantastic warm-up for ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 2. I’m glad I decided to start a “group” of one and sometimes two. My neighbors don’t know what they’re missing. Maybe one of these days they’ll figure it out. We live in one of the best places to get outside and walk, run or bike so I’m going to keep inviting them until they join in on the fun.

This is what motivated me to lose over 60 lbs.

I love TurboFire and P90X and now I’ve started  ChaLEAN Extreme. Such a fantastic program! If you want more info about it or any of the other programs find me on facebook. After just one week I can already see a difference. Today is Week 2 Day 2 and technically a rest day. Just couldn’t resist getting outside for a long walk, though. I can remember living each day on the couch with barely enough energy or motivation to get up and go to the bathroom.  Now that I’m working out, drinking Shakeology and have lost over 60 lbs I just want to get up and move!

The sad thing about being overweight and out of shape is that you live in a perpetual vicious cycle of doing nothing which makes you exhausted which makes it even harder to get up and do something about it. Everyone in the cycle will stay there until they get some sort of wake-up call. For me, it was seeing pictures my brother took when he came to visit. YIKES!!!

Enough is enough!

Those were size 26 jeans and they were tight on my waist as you can see from the picture. If I tried to wear those now they would fall off of me. : ) Keep checking back for current pictures.

Can’t get motivated? Have some FUN!

Ever find it excruciatingly difficult to get motivated to workout? Yeah, I’ve been there, too. Even after being really good for a long time and getting great results sometimes I just don’t want to do it and I’m finally figuring out why. I’m the type of person who always wants something new and different. Even though I LOVE TurboFire and P90X and both have tons of variety, sometimes I just want to do something either completely new or that I haven’t done in a long time.

I love going outside, but where I live the winter is very predictable…rain, rain, and more rain…or cold and overcast. Having the best fitness programs available in my living room is fantastic, but being a stay-at-home mom I start to feel claustrophic at times and just need to get out in the fresh air. So I’ve learned to mix it up. On the days when the weather is cooperating I head out for a walk/jog. Sometimes I feel so good after being outside I want to do more and pop in a DVD like P90X Shoulders & Arms or TurboFire CORE20.

The key to staying on track, even when you struggle to get motivated, is doing something FUN. Yes, exercise can be fun. For some people it may be taking a bike ride or hiking. For others it may be turning the music up and dancing. Some of us are old enough to remember when having fun as a kid meant some kind of physical activity instead of sitting in front of a TV or computer screen. So think like a kid from a generation or two ago. Maybe we can even teach our own kids a thing or two about having fun. So please share…what activities do you enjoy that get your heart pumping and those feel-good endorphines flowing?

Try it (again)! You’ll like it!

Have you ever tried something you thought would be fun or good for you, found it to be difficult, and decided you’re just not good at it? At some point, not being good at that thing becomes so much a part of who you think you are that it never occurs to you to try again. I’ve done that with many things over the years…running, golf, high impact workouts, talking to strangers…to name a few.

When I was placed at the front desk at the dental office where I was working I was so nervous, but it didn’t take long to figure out how to talk to strangers. Most people just want to be treated with respect and to have someone smile and take an interest in them. Easy enough. Not sure why I had such a hard time with that before. Building that confidence made me start to realize I could all kinds of things I never thought possible.

Most of my life I’ve considered myself to not be athletic. That lead to a life long habit of sitting around which meant a lifetime of struggling with my weight. On November 1, 2009 I started Turbo Jam because I had topped out at 323.6 lbs and knew I HAD to do something. It was so hard at first, but my body began to adapt and change. I lost 40 lbs in the first few months. Then I got sick and got off track. All those years of sitting around made it hard to get my momentum back. I needed a challenge so I started TurboFire which is basically Turbo Jam on crack. I assumed that I needed to modify all the moves because I couldn’t do the high impact stuff. The trainer, Chalene Johnson, is a fantastic motivator and is always saying that our own negative thoughts hold us back so one day I decided to jump just to see if I could. Yep, I could. So no more low impact modifications for me. I choose to do more because I can.

Yesterday, I was walking around the school parking lot to pass the time while my son was at basketball practice. My goal was to do 20 laps before the hour was up. As I came around the last corner of lap 14 it occurred to me that perhaps I could jog a lap, so I did. As I came around the last corner of lap 15 it occurred to me that I felt great and perhaps I could jog another lap, so I did. And another. By the end of lap 17 it occurred to me that I could keep going, but I wasn’t wearing the right shoes and my jeans were falling down. Jogging with one hand keeping your pants up is not ideal, though probably hilarious to watch. I went back to walking and ended up completing 25 laps in all. Now I’ve caught the running bug and need to do some shoe shopping.

The point of all this is that we should all take a few moments to think about what we would like to do, but assume that we can’t. Make a list even. Then, try it. Sure it might be difficult and it may require some learning, but what’s wrong with that? We can turn our weaknesses into strengths and inspire others as we do. Doesn’t that sound better than living a life of “I can’t”? Next on my list…golf. What about you?

Who’s In Charge Here?

Anyone who has tried to lose weight has probably encountered at least one person who has made them feel humiliated and discouraged. Sometimes that person doesn’t even realize they’re doing it. They may even think they’re helping. For example, my father-in-law came to visit and the first thing he did when he saw me was ask if I had been walking. There is a bit of a language barrier so I said I had since I just came from parking the car. What he meant was walking for exercise…to lose weight. He responded that maybe walking isn’t enough. He then showed me a product that would help me…some miracle cure for being fat.

What he failed to realize is that I do very challenging workouts, TurboFire and P90X, and eat a healthy diet including Shakeology. He didn’t know that I’ve lost over 60 lbs since I starting taking my health seriously last October. He simply assumed that because I’m not thin I’m not taking care of myself. Even though I’m not yet at my goal weight, I have the confidence and self-respect of a person who’s making positive changes and making progress. And yet, after that encounter I felt like all I amounted to in his eyes was a person who needs to lose weight and nothing else. All the pride I had for what I’ve accomplished and the person I’ve become went out the window.

It occurred to me that this has happened many times before with him and others –  friends, family and complete strangers – and every time I let it defeat me. I would simply give up because in my mind, no matter how hard I tried, I would never measure up. Not this time! It finally sunk in that it doesn’t matter what other people think. I know what I’ve accomplished and how determined I am to follow through, day after day, until I reach my goals. I will no longer let other people’s negativity bring me down. So who’s in charge here? I am. We all are. We have the power to choose how to react to those around us. We can allow them to take away what means so much in just an instant or we can choose to become more determined to succeed…not just to prove them wrong (although that seems pretty appealling at times), but for ourselves because we were created to be amazing, incredible people both inside and out. Then, once we begin to reach our potential we will have a positive influence on everyone around us…and that is what’s truly incredible!

So who’s in charge of you? ; )