I'M MAD PSYCHED FOR #NOEXCUSES 2015!

Today started the #SweatPink #NoExcuses Challenge and to make things a little more exciting, we're doing a little Monday Madlibs! Woohoo!

Hey 2015, it’s me Queen Fabulous (nickname, spirit animal, real name, blog name). This year I would like to run 15 races in 2015, become certified in TDF HIIT and/or KICK, and concentrate on more clean eating. It would also be super duper awesome if I also did another half marathon this year. It’s not a resolution, though, just a reminder to myself to try and have the best year yet because you're only as young as you feel and running 13.1 miles makes me feel super young.

The thing I am looking forward to most this year is taking my darling daughter on her dream vacation to Clear Water, Florida to see Hope and Winter from the Dolphin Tale movie.

I’ll use the one thing that truly gets me out of bed in the morning which is my Peak Endurance and Amino Energy to help me get up, get the blood a pumping (verb) and get after my #NoExcuses 2015.

Speaking of excuses (ahem), my very favorite excuse is being super tired and I have used it to get out of doing chores and pumping iron on more than a really big number I hate to admit (number) occasions.  I vow to move my body and be more healthy this year even if it means I have to look like a zombie while doing it.

Even if my alarm clock gets eaten by the dog in the middle of the night, I'll still get up on time.
I will stop blaming the 11-year old [ex: kids, dog, husband] for eating the rest of the chocolate when everyone knows it was really me.

My kid [job, hair, car, husband, kids] is not the reason I make excuses. I will show my kid [same as before] who's boss this year and get my pumping iron and running [type of sweaty activity] on.
I know that pumping iron and running [type of workout] is better than laziness [noun].
I will reward myself by looking and feeling even better!

No Excuses 2015 has just begun and already I am imagining myself a winner. I can’t wait to rock a new hot pink tank (article of clothing) from Augusta Active. I can’t wait till my sweaty friends are jealous of how fresh, clean and happy (adj) I am between workouts with help from ShowerPill body wipes. I can see myself rocking a side plank [yoga pose / workout move] in new leggings [article of clothing from Actio926] from Actio926 and looking fit and fly while doing it. And of course, I’ll be taking my workouts to the next level and improving my PR [noun] with my new ActivMotion Bar to help me train for my next half marathon [distance] race with Sasquatch Racing.
Oh, and let’s not forget how amazing my new running pants [article of clothing] will smell in my / during my long runs [favorite type of workout] after washing with some WIN Detergent. And lastly, I’ll keep rocking my 2015 with clean eats and nutrition from Beaming with Health!

I'm tagging my workout buddies Mandy, Christie and Jen in Facebook, Instagram to come join the Madlib fun with me!  Madlibs is always more fun with friends!

New Year...New You! #noexcuses

It's a new year, and I'm no different from most.  It's always good for me to have a little added challenge to give my year a jump start.  I had a blast sweating it up with Sweat Pink over the holiday season, so now I'm taking part in the #NoExcuses Challenge.  

Sweat Pink says "just because the holidays are OVER doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Soooo, let’s keep the the motivation, inspiration, social sharing fun going and going and going."

The cost is only $5 and here's what you get:

• Each Sunday you'll get an email with weekly prompts (workouts, healthy snack ideas and more)
  • They ask that you share your answer or interpretation of those prompts daily via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, your blog, etc using #NoExcuses #SweatPink for a chance to win fun weekly prizes from brands like Augusta Active, ShowerPill, ActivMotion Bar, WIN Detergent, Beaming with Health….etc etc…
  • The workouts will be things like drop down and give us 10 push-ups or burpees or even get out and run (or walk) a mile!
• Each day, we’ll all share what we’re doing and how we’re doing it on our social channels and help each other stay accountable, motivated and on top of our goals.
• Every Friday, they’ll send around an email with winners, prizes and our favorite Tweets, IG posts and blog posts from the week (hello, link love and social sharing!)

Weekly prompts:

• Fridays are ALWAYS #FreeFridays. You can share whatever you want. Yup, that’s right. Anything you want.
• Sundays are ALWAYS #ZendaySunday. Share how you relax, chill out, a yoga pose or even a way you are achieving more balance in 2015.

There’s really only one rule. Share, share, share...but if you are really rule abiding, here are some rule suggestions for you:

1. Share about #SweatPink #NoExcuses as frequently as possible throughout the challenge
2. Share everywhere - Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, your blog, Facebook, etc. The more you share, the more likely you are to win awesome prizes
3. Use the #sweatpink #noexcuses hashtags to get credit. And if you use the other fun hashtags above, that’s awesome too.
4. Any variation means any variation. If you can’t do a push-up, show us what 10 push-ups means to you. We’ll take it as long as you’re MOVING and giving it your best.
5. If you need to swap one day for another, do it...OR here’s a pro tip: say you can’t walk or run a mile one day but you can do it another day, take a photo to represent that activity and save it for the day you want to use it. Nobody will ever know (except for you!). ;)

I signed up and I'd love it if you would join me! You can do it below:

I want to join the #NoExcuses Challenge

#BeTRUtoYou....

On January 1st, I began taking part in the new Train Dirty Fitness Ambassador program #BeTRUtoYou.  The focus is for every girl to be the best she can possibly be.  We each have the ability to impact ourselves, other people and the world in a positive way.  Each week, we are given specific tasks to focus on ourselves and the community.

Week One:  Be the Change You Want to See

This week, we concentrated on looking at ourselves in a more positive way, focusing on our self-esteem and getting rid of self-doubt.  We began saying positive "I AM" affirmations on a daily basis.  In order to do this, we put positive characteristics on post-it notes and placed them in places we frequented throughout the day.  Every time we see them, we say them out loud to affirm to ourselves that we are indeed a special person.

I wrote down five positive things about myself.  I am STRONG!  Everyone goes through struggles, and like everyone else, I have had my fair share.  But God doesn't give you more than you can handle, and I have shown not just myself but others that I am strong and I can push through anything.  I am BRAVE.  As I have gotten older, I have realized that I need to try new things and not be afraid.  Anything is possible.  So I try to look at any new thing that comes my way as something new to accomplish.  I am bold and I can do it.  I am FULL of COMPASSION!  I have a tender heart and I love making people happy.  A lot of people see this as me being a people pleaser, but I see it as me being selfless.  I truly enjoy making others happy and doing random things for them whether they are aware of it or not.  I am BEAUTIFUL INSIDE and OUT!  It's taken me a long time to love myself.  I have learned through the past years that first of all, what's on the inside is most important but also that the outside only radiates that which is within.  That means no matter my size, the number on the scale or anything else, I am beautiful inside and out.  And finally, I am GOOD ENOUGH!  I have learned too over the last few years that all I have to be is me.  I am an original and no one can be a better me than I can.  I don't have to be fake or someone I'm not.  I just have to be me and that's Good Enough!

Weekly Community Service #operationsuitcase #Sheilasdaughter

This week we focused on women who needed help...those women who have to flee to a women's shelter often with nothing but the clothes on their backs.  We are taking part in a mission to help these women have something they can call their own...their own bag, a change of clothes and a few products to make them feel clean and better.  My heart was touched when I was reading this out to my daughter.  She immediately said, "Can I do it too?"  So the two of us packed a bag not just for a women but for the daughter than may come with her.  They both have a change of clothes, their own bag, toiletries to help them feel new again and even an added "feel good item" of shower gel and lotion (not something that's needed necessarily but something to make them feel special).

This week is only the beginning but already I am so excited for the growth in myself and my daughter who watches and participates as well.  I absolutely love all the fitness challenges that come my way, but it's very nice to focus on the inside and making a difference in not just myself, but maybe someone else and even the world around me.

2015.....Making Some Changes! New Year....New Me!

I absolutely cannot believe it's 2015.  Last year flew by, especially since I noticed my last blog was back in June.  Oh my!  The last six months of 2014 were a whirlwind, a roller-coaster ride to say the least.  I've never been huge with New Year's resolutions but this year I decided to make a change.  Not only am I making a few New Year's resolutions but I'm doing both short-term and long-term goals and to top it off, I'm writing them down.  It's statistically shown that those people who write down their goals are more likely to reach them and since let's be real...who doesn't want to reach their goals, right?  So this is my accountability of my goals written down for all to see (even though yes, I am a few days past January 1st.  But here goes....

1. I'm going to blog a minimum of twice a month with a bonus goal of once each week.  This is going to be a toughie but I know I can do it.
2. I have been challenged by a fellow Train Dirty Fitness sister to run 15 races in 2015.  These can be anything from a 5K to a full marathon (which I have not yet dared to do).  It's only January and I have three races scheduled already to I'm already on task for this one.
3. Participating in the 52 week money saving challenge with my daughter.  By the end of the year, I will have saved $1,378 and my daughter will have saved $689.00.
4. Take part in at least one community service activity a month.
5. Workout a minimum of five times a week.
6. Focus more on being positive about myself and loving me for who I am.
7. Participate in the #Sweatpink #noexcuses New Year...New You challenge.

So there you have it...my goals for 2015.  I have many more things I want to accomplish but I think this is a great start!