Don't Get Bamboozled

The time of year of reflection and projections is upon us. News Feeds and Timelines are about to be filled with grandiose plans and goals for the upcoming year.

Todays thoughts are not about how to create S.M.A.R.T goals (sorry if you were looking for real earth shattering steps to help you achieve the millions you just knew you were going to get in 2017 - keep searching the Internet it's full of that sort of content). This blog is all about saving you from crying your eyes out 12/2017 because you didn't accomplish what you claimed during the 2016 New Year New Me hype (maybe like this year.)

Whether your goal is to finally get fit and lose weight or to get rich my biggest piece of advice is not to get bamboozled! 

There are so many gimmicks, schemes and traps that exist today that you have to be watchful of and safeguard yourself. 

To make it easy for you, if your 2017 goal is to lose weight and get fit, tune in because I am about to share some earth shattering, life altering, fool proof advice. 

Ready?......

#1: Eat Clean (eat every 2.5 - 3 hrs) 

#2: Meal Prep

#3: Create a weekly workout schedule you can stick to.

#4: Do the work 

#5: Be consistent 

#6: Keep your body hydrated 

#7: Do the work 

Disappointed? No worries you are not alone. Most people want a quick fix and truth be told quick fixes lead to longer setbacks (trust me I know!) If you allow yourself to be bamboozled by the media "hype" you will forever be chasing your tail. 

Remember if something promises you quick or instant results it's part of the bedazzled bamboozle movement and I promise you it's only temporary and part of the never ending roller coaster. So avoid a disappointing 2017 and resist being bamboozled. Don't be afraid to get dirty, put in blood, sweat and tears and fight to accomplish any goal you set! You cannot cheat this game. 

Slow and steady always win the race! 

Make Your Mind Over

If you don’t change the way you think, you will never change the outcome you receive.

Have you ever set off on a new endeavor and you are feeling eager, anxious and focused on the end result? You start off with a brilliant plan. Day 1: rise, review the days to do list and start knocking things off like the beast you are. You are feeling so successful and proud. Day 14 arrives and you can’t help but feel like something is different. Today you just don’t have it in you! Today you are wondering why you set off on this journey. What were you thinking? You have 50 million things to do and this is just one more thing that slowly it finds its way to the bottom of your priority list and eventually of the list completely.

What happened here? What started off as a great idea quickly lost its value in the sea of responsibilities and obligations. We become so focused on the administrative aspects that we overlook one important step. Adjusting and acclimating our mindset to what we have plotted out. Once we set our minds on the goals we have written down then those goals remain a priority and stay in the forefront among the barrage of chaos, unforeseen occurrences and bad days.

See if we stay with a doubting mentality then of course we will never taste success! If we think the impossible is impossible guess what? It always will be! Our minds, believe it or not, dictate our outcomes. How many times have you set out to reach your fitness goals only to land in failure alley? Have you stopped to consider why?

It’s because you never adjusted your mindset before you started working towards your goal. It was cute at first and sounded good. You went ahead and purchased your gym membership, brought clean food, new kicks and gear to look cute in while working out, and then it hit you. You realized you actually had to put in consistent hard work day in and day out along with sacrifices and your mind quickly said, “Nope! Next..” Had you adjusted your mindset you would of known this road ahead was not going to be easy, there would be obstacles and roadblocks ahead, days you wanted to give up and give in and days you would slip. Had you adjusted your mindset you would have been prepared for all these woes and had a plan of attack ready in the event they reared their head.

If you are looking to change your outcomes I encourage you start today with changing your mindset. Need tips on how to do that? Check out my blog Mindless Meandering. 

Stay On Track

Don't throw away your weeks worth of hard work, meal planning and progress just because the weekend is here. Keep pushing and moving towards your goal. 

Today's breakfast: 

Eggwhites with sautéed mushrooms/ garlic/ onions 

Spinach and tomatoes 

Blackberries with 1 tsp honey. 

Consistency creates the habit which becomes a lifestyle. 

Consistency is Key!

Make Time or Make Excuses - The Choice is Yours!

The facts are a lot of people want results and very few are willing to put in the work needed to get them! I have to admit there were times I daydreamed of my soon to be six pack, my thighs of steel etched with definition, my super toned arms and the body that just slays honey! However the reality is that daydreaming will not materialize these results. What will bring about the results you want? As Rihanna would say it takes, "Work, work, work, work, work." 

That's right!! There are no short cuts on the road to Health and Wellness. In order to make it to your destination you have to put one foot in front of the other, get dirty, sacrifice and move forward. 

Earlier today the alarm went off well before the sunrise and before most people rise. I was tired and thought, "Oh heck no, not today!" I was really tired. Then it hit me, what is sleeping in going to accomplish? I had already had a full nights rest (granted I tossed and turned a alot). It was pure laziness talking and that laziness is exactly what has kept me from my goal for far to long. Anywho, within 5 min I jumped up, attacked my morning meditation and off I was ready to get moving. As I got ready it hit me I did not have lunch ready nor cooked! Instead of attempting to convince myself that I would eat something healthy I decided to cut all risks and cook my lunch. 

Like a kid in a candy store my mind ran thru all the healthy possibilities I could make for lunch as I rummaged through the colorful assortment of veggies and grains. Within 30 minutes I put together the following:

Fierce Fiery Green Beans 
Sauteed Garlic and Mushrooms with a Sherry reduction 
Garlic Quinoa 

I added a side salad and packed all items into my meal prep containers. Just like that lunch was packed and ready to go! This all literally took 30  minutes. 

So friends do me a favor and the next time you wonder why you are not at goal yet ask yourself, "Have I been busy making the time or making excuses?" 

I know the truth can be painful but it is also empowering. 

Meal Prep .. Just K.I.S.S It!

Whether your day to meal prep is Sunday, Monday or another day during the week not everyone looks forward to the joys of cooking enough food to feed an entire army for the upcoming week. If you are meal prepping with the goal of hitting your macros, carb cycling, or prepping meals to match your workout schedules it can seem daunting. The good news is it can be easier if you just get in that kitchen and K.I.S.S. it!

Kiss it you ask?! How do you kiss something you loathe? Chances are you are complicating your culinary experience with intricate recipes, meals that consists of 200 ingredients, searching every search engine for meal prep ideas which adds to the time spent on prepping. My advice is STOP the madness and just K.I.S.S. it! By that I mean Keep It Simple Sweetie! Stop overcomplicating things! Trust me I get it. I used to be the master of recreating my favorite decadent meals and turning them into healthier options (which took a lot of time in the test kitchen). I should have just been K.I.S.Sing it and learning how to get back to basics and using that extra time to actually do something effective such as cardio!

The truth is chances are if you are overweight (no offense to anyone I say this only because I lived this) you love to eat, you love to savor the flavors and probably eat a lot of what you are not supposed to eat (sugar, processed foods, high fatty foods, etc.). You have a bad relationship with food and you need to reset your mind with the food connection. You too need to just K.I.S.S it! Keep it simple and get back to the basics of eating!

We all know our meals regardless of what your goals are should consist of lean protein, complex carbs and vegetables. This is all your meal preps should consist of - how easy is that?! The problem a lot of us face is we want to jazz up all these ingredients so we want massive flavor (I can’t tell you how many times I hear I need a lot of flavor in my food, I don’t eat that, I don’t like that, I need sauce and gravy – the list goes on). See, those excuses are what has gotten you over weight and keep’s you there. Change your mind so you can change your result! Keep your foods simple, allow Mother Nature’s goodness to add real flavor to your food. Learn to taste food without all the add ins. Learn to eat to live and not live to eat. So how do you get back to basics and K.I.S.S meal preps? Here are some of my tips to save time in the kitchen and getting the goods in those meal prep containers:

·         Cook smarter: Reduce your time in the kitchen by utilizing gadgets that reduce your time in the kitchen. For example throw your meat in the crock pot while you roast your veggies in the oven or steam your veggies in the microwave. Use a rice cooker for your brown rice and grains or crank up your grill and add both your meats and veggies and cook them all at the same time!

·         Keep your menu simple: Stick to the basics! Remember all you need is protein/ complex carbs and veggies (use herbs for flavoring or low calorie options such as mustard, balsamic vinegar, Mrs. Dash, Flavor God, etc.)

·         Stay away from variety: Believe it or not when we keep our meals the same we begin to crave those same meals and cut down the cravings on junk because the mind now knows what to expect.

·         Break it up: For some cooking for 3 days vs. 5-7 days at a time works best for them. It’s more manageable especially when using only fresh produce.

At the end of the day you have to do what is best for you. I encourage you to find what works and enjoy it so that you are prone to sticking to it.

Let It Go!

As I recover and I find myself with a lot of free time on my hands. I have been catching up on a lot of programs and one in particular really grabbed my soul. My 600lb Life has become my favorite series. I enjoy this program because I am amazed with just how much the body can handle, the ability the body has to snap back and I am intrigued by just how much our minds are involved in this weight loss journey.

In watching this show I see how we allow our minds to sabotage us. We allow ourselves to become prisoners of the past, past hurt, disappointments and injustices. For some the mind becomes the captor and they become the victim forever locked away by the demons of the past that still haunt them in the present.

There was a particular episode that lead me to an “ah-ha” moment. There was a lady that had not stood up in 2 years she was so afraid of standing that she refused to try after numerous attempts and with assistance. She kept saying that she just couldn’t do it and that her legs were too weak. While it is true that her legs were probably weak she failed to see was that there were numerous people there to help her and equipment was there to ensure she would not fall. She was allowing fear to stop her from progressing.

Fear is what holds a lot of us back from reaching our goals. Some people are afraid of what they might look like once they reach their goal. Perhaps they are afraid of excess loose skin then again maybe because of past experiences they are afraid of the attention they will receive once they reach their goal. Some people are afraid of what will happen if and when the goal is met. Perhaps fear has you paralyzed because you do not feel adequate. Fear could be preventing you from taking a leap in the right direction because once you take the leap success soon follows and believe it or not, many people are afraid of success.

In order to progress on any journey in life and successfully reach your destination you must first address any fears and lay them to rest. This requires a serious one on one with yourself to understand not only what your fears are but also understand where these fears come from – what is the source? Once you find the source of your fear you can now work to deal with the real issue and in turn you will free yourself from the fear that is holding you back from becoming your best self!

Be strong, be courageous and face your fears head on, deal with them and then just, “Let it go!”

Why Would You?

Mindless Meandering

It’s Sunday, we have sprung ahead (that’s right we lost an hour last night!) and for some we are using today to Meal Prep, get our gym bags ready and finalize our workout schedule for the week ahead. All the above are great and indeed necessary to reach our fitness goals, after all we have all heard if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. However there is one thing missing!

I could care less how balanced your meals are, how aggressive your workout schedule is and how cute you are getting ready to look for the workouts (I mean who doesn’t coordinate their workout attire to their sneakers after all this ensures you are going to have the greatest workout ever, right?!). You see if your mind is not in the game then all these time consuming elements are worthless, pointless and a complete waste of your time.

As En Vogue would say, “Free your mind and the rest will follow.” I know, I just took you back and now the song is stuck in your head! See, if your mind is not in synch with your goals then you might as well be up a river without a paddle. For those not familiar with that phrase it means that you are in an unfortunate situation, you are unprepared with no resources to remedy the matter – you are out of luck! The mind is one heck of a powerful force, it can either empower us to move towards our goals or it can hold us captive in the realm of misery and the land of can’t, won’t, don’t and not good enough and cause us to become stagnant.

They key is to learn how to train and control your mind. We have all heard the saying, “It all begins in your mind. What you give power to has power over you, IF you allow it. Notice that give is mentioned, give is an action - it is something you willingly do. We have choices for the week ahead. Although we cannot control the unforeseen occurrences that befall us all which can cause us to feel sad, disappointed, and even feel like we have been uppercutted by life. We do have a choice in how we allow the unforeseen occurrences to affect our mind which in turn has a direct impact on how we execute our goals this week.

This week I challenge you to stay focused on your daily goals while you fight to keep your mind in the game. Here are some ways to control your thoughts and mind so you can stay on track with your goals:

• ·         Feed your mind positive food: read uplifting books/ magazines, listen to   TED talks about success and goal planning.
• ·         Follow people that motivate you on Social Media (you can find me on IG:   SFierce22 or thestacyfierce.blogspot.com - shameless plug J)
• ·         Focus your mind only on the things you can control
• ·         Meditate to clear your mind
• ·         Stay active - physical activity stimulates brain chemicals that can leave   you feeling happier.
• ·        Keep visuals - having your goals in a place that you can see daily is a       constant reminder for your brain to stay focused.

Remember feed your mind and the rest will follow!!!!!!

                                                        

Fitness Friday: Snacking Tips

If only Consistency Was Consistent!

Image is courtesy of internet

Have you ever stopped to wonder why there are some things we do on a consistent basis and other things we seem to constantly struggle to get done? For example, as a child do you remember going straight to the bathroom to wash up and brush your teeth before sitting at the breakfast table? Humph, try to sit at the breakfast table with crust in your eyes and stink on your breath and see what your mom does next! Perhaps you automatically set the coffee pot to brew your favorite morning roast first thing in the morning (Lawd only knows how we would function without that caffeine kick!). Have you noticed that without even thinking about it when you come home from work you automatically take off your shoes, perhaps grab 15 minutes of quiet time (if you are lucky) and then head straight into the kitchen to cook dinner for yourself or your family?

Now stop and think, if we do these things automatically, on a consistent basis then why in the world can’t we be consistent when it comes to our fitness routines?!? Doing just some of the things I mentioned above proves that we are capable of being consistent so what in the world is stopping you from being consistent?

In my opinion, consistency ties in with habits as well as cause and effect. You see as children we developed habits that were taught to us. Our parents taught us to wash our face and brush our teeth before coming to the breakfast table. Our parents/ guardians enforced this habit in us by waking us, washing us and ultimately teaching us the routine by showing us. As we got older, IF we made the mistake of forgetting to follow routine we were quickly reminded to march our little behinds straight back to the bathroom to wash up before coming back to that breakfast table. Don’t you dare let Mami catch you walk over to that kitchen table all crusty and unwashed after 50 million reminders because you best believe it’s on and popping and she is already reaching for her chancelta (sorry its Puerto Rican thing!)  which is about to meet your hind parts!! Ok don’t get all caught up on the disciplinary action and start ranting about your views on spanking a child - that is NOT what this is about! I use this example to show how we are taught certain behaviors and how cause and effect ensure that we keep to our behaviors.

I say all of this to say we need to teach ourselves consistency especially when we do not see an immediate pay off. The million dollar question then is, “How do I create consistency?”  The answer is so simple – YOU create it! There you have it folks the million dollar question is answered.

The work to build consistency falls on no one other than you. As an adult no one can do it for you, no one can make it happen on your behalf, and no one can create the desire for you. YOU have to want to become consistent in order to reach your goals. This means that the goals you set have to be so important to you, so deeply desired and engraved in your soul that you cannot imagine leaving this life without accomplishing and crushing them. You have to deeply crave and have a thirst so real for your goals in order to be able to put in the work to develop a consistent spirit. Oh yea – it takes work!!

Once you have the goal etched in your mind and heart the next thing is implementation. Set out a detailed list of how you will accomplish this goal. This list should include daily, weekly and monthly actions that you need to do. Each and every day you need to see this list and do what it calls for. Each and every day - rain or shine, sick or not, whether in the mood or not, busy or not - each and every day you attack that list and do the work! Each and every day you work at it, you chip away at that list, you stay focused on your goal you feel what that end result feels like and guess what? You have just built consistency!

There is no magic trick, no gimmick I could sell you (or anyone else so save your pennies!) that creates consistency. The key to consistency is YOU creating daily habits in which YOU carry out day in and day out in spite of life’s unexpected curve balls, sicknesses, and feelings of wanting to quit and give in. Being consistently consistent is a daily exercise of your will and seeing things through which will lead to your goal.

Think on that and work at it!

Follow me on IG: SFIERCE22

Shhhhh!!!!

My Setback is my Ultimate Comeback!

This past Monday I had knee surgery. I had put off this surgery for way too long for fear of losing any progress and strength I had gained over the course of this journey.  Over the past few months my workouts have become increasingly painful and my knee was progressively getting worse. Although the elliptical and I became great friends, squats and lounges were becoming my enemy! One of my worries was how will I continue to build up this booty if I can’t drop it like a squat?!? Someone said to me, “With everything that is going on in your life, now is the time to just stop and heal across the board. Now is the time to take care of you and mend so that you can be made stronger and go so much further.”

I had to stop and really think about that. Often we keep pushing ourselves half broken, running on a ¼ tank going in a million different directions never allowing ourselves a minute to rest only to hit a brick wall and burn out. I realized that now was the time! Any deadlines that existed were ones that I had created and ones that can easily be renegotiated.

So here I am on Day 4 of recovery. Knee surgery is definitely not a walk in the park and there were some super painful days however I’d like to think my stubborn attitude, resiliency and drive to get back on my workout grind is helping me on the road to a speedy recovery. Although I can’t workout at the moment there are still things I can do that are still moving me towards my goals.

Here is a look at what I am doing to stay on track with my goals while I am unable to work out:

·         Focusing on eating clean – Laying around can present the challenge of wanting to graze like a cow out to pasture. Prior to surgery I stocked up on veggies and fruits to munch on.  I have some roasted veggies I can eat throughout the day in addition to meals that can easily be thrown together by anyone (such as a bean burger with avocado and some veggies on the side or a side salad).

·         Drinking ½ my body weight in water – Hey, with nothing but time on my hands I can sip on water all day and hop to the restroom as often as I need to! The water is also helping to flush out all these meds from my system and keeping my joints lubed. The bathroom runs can be viewed as physical activity for the day!

·         Keeping my eye on the prize – With so much time on my hands the mind can get idle so I feed my mind things that keep me motivated while I am bed bound. I’ve been researching workouts to strengthen my knees in addition to reading about Fitness experts/ athlete’s that have overcome physical limitations and injuries. I also started reading about chair workouts I should be able to start doing next week which can help to keep me strong and keep my muscles working.

·         Formation – No, I am not talking about Bey’s Super bowl formation!!! I have been watching tons of You tube videos on proper form when working out. Form is so important not only for best results but also to prevent injury. I want to ensure I have it right when I get back to it!

See, although I initially thought this surgery was going to be a major setback the time out is gearing me up for one heck of a comeback!! Anything that life may throw your way has the opportunity of creating a stronger and better you  - it’s all based on your perspective, drive and attitude!

Snowmageddon 2016: Keep Those Pounds Off

If you are on the East Coast you may be snowed in and on the verge of Cabin Fever (if it hasn't kicked in already). Perhaps your day consists of TV binging on the couch or in the bed (hopefully you are turning to avoid bed sores), cooking as if the world is coming to an end (and tasting every single item), napping on and off and mindlessly grazing on anything you can get your hands on like a cow out to pasture. Am I right? No judgements here, I get it. Snow days can bring on laziness and a disruption to one's routine which can bring on unwanted pounds. 

Times like these you have to dig deep, get creative, make good choices and just move. I will say I have enjoyed the guilt-free disruption of life and have enjoyed some much needed down time however know the difference between taking a break and falling into a coma! Here are some tips to help in avoiding the snowed in weight gain.  

1. Choose healthy options to snack on. Pick snacks that are loaded with fiber and protein to keep you feeling satisfied such as nuts, veggies and fruits. 
2. Get physical! Do activities that will increase your heart rate such as aerobics, Zumba, HIIT routines, dust off that treadmill/ elliptical, go shovel, work on expanding the family (hey.. it burns calories and increases your heart rate!), take a walk in the snow, or pull out that Wii and play. The Internet is a great resource which has tons of in home workouts available for free as well. The key is to increase your heart rate and burn those calories.
3. Avoid boredom. Most times boredom leads to mindless eating so focus on keeping your mind occupied. Use this time to create a weight loss plan. Research various exercises, foods which aid in weight loss, read articles on people that were successful in reaching their goal and make a plan to incorporate those tips in your daily routines going forward. 
4. Stay hydrated. Often times when we think we are hungry we are really just thirsty. Before reaching for those Ding-Dongs grab a bottle of water first! Better yet, before reaching for that bottle of wine or liquor knock out a quick 32 oz of H2O- put it in a wine glass if it makes you feel better or take it straight to the head whichever you like. Just remember to stay hydrated! 

Overall those are some tips to staying on track during Snowmageddon of 2016. I hope you find them useful and I look forward to meeting any new additions come late October 2016! 

Step by Step

Today make it your resolve to do something that moves you closer to your goal!
No excuses accepted! Don't cheat yourself. 

The Journey Continues....

For some week one of upholding New Year Resolutions has come to an end, for others our journey just continues. Whether you are a Resolutioner (I just created a new word!!) or a Lifer one thing holds true, consistency is key! 

You may be asking yourself if consistency is all that is needed on this journey to fitness. My answer to you is no! There are other critical components that help to create the "perfect storm." Although I admit had I been consistent from Day 1 on my journey, I would have already reached Pro Bikini competitor status, perhaps I would have made the cover of Sports Illustrated, maybe I would have been the next Ms. Olympia! Ok, ok, ok, a little ambitious and over the top  but hopefully you get my point .. I would have already reached and surpassed my goal. 

In addition to consistency you have to make a commitment to yourself. You have to commit to the journey that lies ahead which is filled with twists and turns, uncertainties, downfalls, disappointments, milestones, setbacks,  achievements and u turns. You have to make a promise to yourself that no matter where this journey may take you and despite whatever you may encounter that you will not give up on your goal and ultimately you will not give up on yourself.

Lawd knows I have been at this journey for quite some time and have had my share of good and bad experiences along the way.  After thinking over my journey, here are some critical keys to success that I urge you to equip yourself with as you continue or even begin on your personal journey:

1. Set short and long term goals  - Create a list of realistic goals that are achievable and attach timelines to each of them. 
2. Be consistent - I often joke that I am consistently inconsistent which is one of my biggest flaws (I am a work in progress!). To overcome this I have started creating daily lists for myself which remind me of the things I need to do each day to get me one step closer to my goals. For instance, this week my Monday list includes waking up and knocking out 1 hour of cardio, packing my lunch, setting aside 15 minutes during my day to clear my mind and breathe, attending an evening class  at Body by Maria and drinking 110 oz of water. 
3. Stay motivated  - Surround yourself with people that share similar goals and those that have already reached the goal you are chasing. 
4. Keep visuals  - Create a vision board for your goal. My phone is full of pictures of the abs I want, the booty  I am squatting for, the quads I crave and the look I am going for. The mornings that I want to be lazy I look at those photos and within no time I am out that bed and heading to my work out. 
5. Believe in yourself - This by far is the biggest factor in whether you will succeed in reaching your goal or not! You cannot rely on others to push you, motivate you or even believe in you. The truth is many people will be doubting you along the way. You have to become strong mentally and ignore the negativity and believe in yourself! You have to know without a shadow of a doubt that you CAN do this!! The power is within you just waiting to be tapped into and unleashed. 
6. Lastly, it sounds so cliche but Just Do It!!!! Whether you want to or not at that moment force yourself to  just get up, get dressed and Just Do It! 

I assure you this journey will not be nor is ever easy but I promise you it is so worth it. The benefits outdo any sacrifice you will make along the way and the rewards are simply priceless. 

Here's to reaching all your goals and then creating new bigger and better ones! 

.....Take these words and allow them to ignite your inner fierce ... 

Stacy Fierce (SFierce22  - IG)

Excuse the Excuses!

Does this sound familiar? 

How many times have you tried on an outfit and asked someone or even yourself if the outfit made you look fat? Or better yet, did you ever catch yourself saying, "This is going to look good once I put on my Spanx!" We are all guilty as charged! 

The harsh reality is that we don't want to hear the truth. We want whoever we are asking to say, "No girl, that dress looks good on you it makes you look so slim!" We are forcing the person we are asking to lie to us just to make us feel better and avoid the truth. 

Well the truth is .... it's not the dress.. it's YOU! That fat you are carrying around is what is causing you to look fat in everything you put on! I know that sounds so harsh and rude, in all honestly I slightly cringed when I typed that. Please do not think I am fat shaming anyone however we need to deal with the facts so that we make progress. If we constantly make excuses for ourselves we will never deal with the real issue and therefore we cannot move forward. 

Whew!!! Now that we got that out of the way let's move on. We just took the first step in acknowledging and accepting the truth and now we can work towards a resolution. The million dollar question is .. How? My answer is rather simple: excuse the excuses. 

We stop our progress because we are full of excuses and we subconsciously talk ourselves out of reaching our goals. We all know there is no secret to weight loss. Success lies in consistently eating clean, drinking water and  exercising. Why are you not successful in your weight loss endeavor? I will be bold and proclaim the reason is because YOU are getting in your own way with your excuses and stories! 

How many times have you  said any of the following:

• I am so tired 
• I just don't have the time 
• I cannot afford a gym membership or trainer 
• I don't know what to eat or how to workout 
• I don't want to mess up my hair 
• I have small children to care for 
• My body aches 
• Etc, etc, etc 

I could continue on however I think you get the point. I have used all of the above at some point or another and even created a few good ones myself. I also understand the struggle that comes along with this journey all too well and that is why I can write this. This message comes from a place deep within my heart with an aim of helping anyone that comes across this. I am right there with you in this struggle the only difference is that I let go of the excuses and made my health my priority. I travel an hour just to get to some of my workouts, I juggle after school activities for the kids, I have a full time job, I am a student, I help others reach their goals, I have a bad knee and my list goes on. I could use any one of these as an excuse and skip workouts however I resolved to finally meet my goals despite all the things that occur in life and to find solutions to obstacles that will arise along the way.

Take the first step today and make yourself a priority! Put away all your excuses, despite what you think or how legit you think your reasons are, if they are preventing you from reaching your goals they are simply EXCUSES!!!  Pour that energy into your walk/ run/ training session and give it your all. As Nike says, "Just do it!" 

Stop looking for the dress that doesn't make you look fat and start doing the work to burn that fat!! 

.....Take these words and allow them to ignite your inner fierce