Motivation Comes in All Shapes and Sizes!

If you are visiting from the Blog Hop, welcome!  I have loved participating in this fun event this month and meeting new blogging friends.  I have learned so much and even though we're only halfway through the month, it has been a wonderful experience!

Do you ever lack motivation?  You just don't really want to go workout for whatever the reason?  Maybe you're just a little too tired.  Maybe you've had a long day and it's just one more thing to do before you get to relax.  Maybe it's too cold, and you just want to stay inside where it's warm.  Or maybe, just maybe you just don't feel like it.

Well, this was me last Saturday.  I DID NOT FEEL LIKE WORKING OUT.  I had no other excuse.  I had gotten a good night's sleep the night before.  My day was pretty tame for a Saturday.  I wasn't overly busy, so I certainly had time to fit it in.  Nope ~ there was no excuse (not that there are too many good ones!)  I just didn't feel like it.  BUT unfortunately (or fortunately depending on the way you look at it) I made a small mistake.  My daughter loves to go up to the studio I work at and get on the treadmill or mess around with the weights and other equipment.  I had promised her that we would do that on Saturday.  I didn't say maybe or we'll see.  I used the words, "I promise".  So you can believe that when lunch time came and went, she was all over me about going to workout.

I had just taken her to Fleet Feet to be fitted for new tennis shoes and she was chomping at the bit ready to try them out.  Being the great mom that I am (NOT!) I tried every excuse in the book.  I told her I was tired and wanted to take a nap.  Of course she said, "Great, we'll go after!"  I told her I needed to get some work done.  She reminded me that I had already finished my work.  I quickly new nothing was going to get me out of it, especially when she said, "But you promised!"

I have been very careful of not ever promising to anything that I didn't come through on.  So, I took a deep breath and said okay.  After thinking it over for a minute or two, I began to smile.  I looked at her and said, "Thanks for being my motivation!  You're getting me to workout even when I'm not really feeling it.  I'm so glad I have you as my daughter!"  Of course, she beamed and I knew at that moment what an impact we both had on each other.  I was there to show her the right way to be healthy and develop healthy habits, and she was there to motivate me and give me that added push to do the right thing too.

 We ended up heading to the studio, and we both got a pretty decent workout.  Once it was over, I was very glad that I went (I usually am) and I felt so much better.

Emily was happy because she was able to try out her new running shoes on the treadmill and "burned more calories than ever before".  I love that she is wanting to do things that I do like running and working out.  It makes me very happy.

So you see, motivation does come in all shapes and sizes, and mine comes in a 5 foot 2, 11-year-old fabulous daughter named Emily.

Meal Prep ~ It Does a Body Good!

About a year ago, I began to have what I call Meal Prep Sundays.  I didn't do it so much for me as I did it in an effort to spend time with my daughter and hopefully get her trying new healthy foods.  What started out as a fun Sunday thing to do with my girl, quickly turned into a weekly ritual we both look forward to.

We start off by making a "menu" of sorts of all the things we want to make.  This usually includes some sort of protein (chicken, venison, pork tenderloin or fish), various veggies (both raw and cooked) and usually a "good" carb or two like sweet potatoes or quinoa.  We usually chop veggies for snacks (carrots, peppers, celery), along with makings for salads too.  Emily writes out our menu and puts our initials by which item we are responsible for.  It's a lot of fun.  We have our music turned up and dance while having fun preparing a healthy week of food.

Just a few of our easy recipes that we put together often.  Please note, we kind of fly by the seat of our pants and don't use recipes.  That being said, we might not have exact measurements.  We mix, taste and add whatever we think is needed.

Roasted Cauliflower

Preheat oven 350 degrees
Need:  Cauliflower, 2-3 lemons quartered, 3-4 whole pods of garlic

Get coconut oil hot in the pan and throw in broken pieces of cauliflower and sear it while adding a little salt.  Once its settled, add the whole pods of garlic.  When there is a little color on the cauliflower, squeeze the lemons and throw them in the pan.  Put in the oven for about 10-15 min.

Sauteed Green beans

Need:  Green beans, shallots, minced garlic (we use a ton of garlic so use whatever you like)

Coat hot pan with coconut oil.  Saute shallots and add garlic after it's caramelized.  Once you begin to smell the garlic, add green beans.  Cook for 7-10 min or so until they are the texture you wish.  (we like ours a little al dente)

Moo Moo Chicken (named by my daughter who's nickname is Moo)

Need:  Cut up pieces of chicken tenderloins, liquid aminos (1/4 c), honey (several spoonfuls) and brown sugar to taste, salt, garlic powder.

Mix the liquid aminos with honey using a whisk.  Once the honey is emulsified with the liquid aminos, add salt, garlic powder and a little brown sugar.  We usually taste it to see if it's sweet enough.  While Emily mixes this, I am usually sauteing the chicken pieces.  Once they are fairly cooked through, we add the "Moo Moo sauce".  I usually put a lid on it and let it cook for about 5-7 minutes.  It's fabulously tasty either hot or cold and even on salads.

We cook lots of things, but these three we cook more than anything else.  It's a lot of fun and keeps everyone eating healthy for the week.  It's much easier to stay on task when you have food already prepared.  That way there is no temptation for eating out or grabbing junk food.  I'm hoping this is creating not just a healthy habit for me, but also one for my daughter as she grows up.

Hope you enjoy the recipes!  We sure do!

~Donna

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!  

Come On...Let's Get Happy

Recently I tried a new site called Happify.  This site creates science based activities and games that can help you lead a more fulfilling life.  I tried it out and indeed it does.   It is scientifically based to train your brain and help you build skills for lasting happiness.  

It has games and activities that can change your outlook and help you in stressful situations.  It's all about learning strategies to help you feel more satisfied and relaxed.  It is geared towards you and your individual goals.  You can work on building self-confidence, getting to know yourself better, building your inner strengths and conquering negative thoughts.  You choose the track you want to take and there are activities for each one to do.  Not only is it fun, but it really does boost your happy thoughts.  There is also a wonderful community of people that you can connect with who can encourage you in your daily quest to be just a little bit happier.  

Happify Daily  My favorite part was Happify Daily that came straight to my inbox that was full of inspiration to start my day.  All in all, this has been a great experience and I highly recommend it.  It's a great way to learn more about yourself and how to become a more positive person.  You can use it anytime or anywhere - on your computer or your phone.  All it takes is a few minutes each day, and you can form life-changing habits to steer you in the right direction of being happier.

So what are you waiting for?  Don't you want to be a happier, more positive person?  Just go to Happify and try it out!