New Year Challenge and Holiday gift to yourself....

It's easy to put together Resolutions for the new year. We never seem to have too many imperfections we want to, "fix". Ever notice how hard it is to say thank you when some one else compliments you? This year before you begin your resolution list, give yourself the gift of PROPS!! List your accomplishments and pat yourself on the back!! Even the most trying year can produce great accomplishments that can miss acknowledgement, due to heavy circumstances. Go ahead!Take a moment and reflect on what you learned or accomplished this year!

This Year I....

Made clean eating at work easier
Discovered Hot Yoga
Finally got closer to Balance
Improved the health of my knee
Took on a heavy bag class
bought my dream Jeep
Started my kiddo in college
Let go of expectations and allowed things to "be"
Discovered my love for Eckhart Tolle and The Dalai Lama
Achieved internal happiness with external stresses
Let go of perfection and strived for balance
Learned about living in the moment
Paid off our house
Started blogging
Rediscovered reading
Re-established Priorities
Got rid of my water bed
Stayed with my healthy goals and further improved

Coming up on the New Year, I challenge you to list your 2011 accomplishments before listing your 2012 goals. It will give you a great sense of pride and confidence as you enter the new year! =]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Yes!! Even I am Human......

Yes!! Even "I" am human...

It's funny that I would even say this, given who I've been my whole life. An over eating sugar addict, who until about 5 years ago was over weight and unhealthy. People who take my classes, know me in the gym, or read my posts and blogs tend to believe that I have always been this way. I am always amused by the natural assumptions that some come up with. I once had a conversation with a friend and class member Kari, who declared, "I'm sure you never eat at Red Robin, you don't eat red meat, do you?" Or another fitness instructor I ran into at the grocery store that was mortified that I saw the chips and cookies she was buying for a party. Or my sister in-law who was quite surprised to see me eating chocolate cake and ice cream (my favorite dessert) with much passion, on my mother in-law's birthday. Or my co-workers (on my day job) who have strong feelings of guilt when I walk by and see them eating something "naughty".

Truth is, I am just as human as the next. Sure, I workout, eat clean as much as possible, and reach my goals, but I am darn sure to have fun while doing it. I go out to eat, indulge in ice cream, and I'm pretty sure I consumed a whole gallon of egg nog in 2 days (with the help of my sis-in-law to-be) over Thanksgiving. Holiday parties....baked goods...lunch dates with old friends...My scale would move during this time of year if I stepped on it, trust me! But I don't! I have a very healthy relationship with myself and enjoy the holiday treats with moderation. {Backing up} I do realize consuming a gallon of egg nog is not moderate, but that's where the human part comes in .

The point of this blog? This is not a, "Avoid packing on the holiday pounds" type of blog. While I have written a couple of those, and many social network posts and articles shared as well, this is more of a, "Accepting your human side" blog. Many of us (Fitness Professionals) preach and encourage you to make good food choices and stay in the gym during this time year to avoid holiday weight. And while we (for the most part) heed our own advice as well, it is equally important to to be forgiving if you aren't perfect. If a few holiday pounds creep up, don't beat yourself up or punish yourself. Just pick those healthy habits right back up and as you return to your "healthy ways" and your weight will follow.

It was a looooong and winding road, but I have learned over the years that to be great, I have to be humbled. What can be more humbling than our "human" side? The more you can embrace this, (whatever the situation) the more you can enjoy your journey and not obsess over your mistakes or indulges. Please note, this is not a free pass for you or I to eat away....It's just a reminder to live in the moment and not beat yourself up when you temporarily get off track. Rather, use it as a tool of experience and added knowledge.

Never let your mistakes or perceived failures define how you feel about yourself. Without those, you can't shine!