Teresa,
I just wanted you to know that today - June 23 - I didn't want to come to the workout. My son was sick...and I wasn't feeling the best...and and and....I had a list of excuses. I'm not sure why your mind tries so hard to convince you to not do something you KNOW you should do. Or is it just laziness...it's easier to do nothing than something.

Anyway...after I left - I was so glad I came today. I loved the rock, paper, scissors game. NOT because it was the easiest thing we did today - although that was nice - but I enjoyed "playing" with a new friend. And laughing WAS fun. I feel so competitive and want to be the "best" student and yet...am not and don't want to feel jealous of these "other" women....but playing made these workout partners less threatening and more like teammates. Does that make sense? I was reinvigorated after I left today. What a great workout. Thanks for working us hard!

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RUN UP THE WALL!

There are only TWO THINGS that can keep you from achieving your fitness goals for the New Year – KNOWLEDGE and FEAR. Assuming it’s common KNOWLEDGE that exercise can give you renewed energy, a sense of achievement, strength and confidence, friendships with like-minded people, and an improved self-image then it’s safe to assume KNOWLEDGE is NOT the issue. The only reason left that we don’t/won’t/can’t find time for exercise is summed up in one word. F E A R. It’s an ugly word. And we too often allow it to control our lives. So do yourself a favor—go get a pen and a piece of paper. No, really. Do it. I'll wait........ Now write the word F E A R in big, hairy, ugly letters on your paper. Now, wad your paper up good and tight – seriously squash that fear – and toss it in the nearest trash receptacle. Make sure you hit the basket for two points! Hey, hey—now you are ready for change because you just threw your FEAR away! It really is that simple.


Now you can get real about setting your fitness goals—not just at the beginning of a new year—but for the rest of your life. Who wants to be in a position to have their diapers changed at ANY point in their life beyond age 2? We want to maintain our INDEPENDENCE to the very end, right? Well it starts today. Taking your health seriously now will determine the quality of life you will have from here on out. And with fear OUT OF THE WAY you no longer have to fear being judged for the way you look, or fear you’ll cheat on your ‘diet’, or fear that you’re too far gone to ever get fit again, or fear that you won't stick with your program, or fear that after all your hard work the scale says you’ve GAINED weight! NO MORE! Instead you can get serious about your commitment to commit to a healthier life. (And seriously, if you can’t keep a commitment to yourself, who can you keep one to?) You can choose to take charge of your health. By setting realistic, short-term goals you can achieve them one at a time. NO MORE FEAR!


In the world of rock climbing there is a champion who is famous for HOW he competed and WON. Obe was one of four finalists in the U.S. rock-climbing tournament. Each finalist was placed in seclusion and was not allowed to see the course until it was their turn to climb solo. The first three climbers inspected the rock face and then slowly began climbing up the wall, one hold at a time, gradually making their way to the top. One fell. Obe was the last climber. He quickly assessed the challenge, took twenty steps back and then just RAN up the wall. He didn’t over-think it. He didn’t fear the challenge. He didn’t let doubt creep in. And he didn’t let the task overwhelm him. He just committed. He took each hand-hold in stride. He used the foot-holds to his advantage and he RAN UP THE WALL and WON!


That’s you! All you need to do is commit. In fact you need to commit to commit. Committing to TRY is leaving the door open to quit when the going gets tough. COMMIT TO COMMIT and just RUN UP THE WALL. That’s how you will BECOME A WINNER. That’s how you achieve your goals. Happiness can be summarized in one word: achievement. When you begin achieving your goals, you become the person you wish to be. And that, is called empowering the greatness in YOU!

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10 ways to eat SIMPLE today?

Guess what I’m having for lunch today? This is so simple and sooooo tasty!!! 

Here’s the how to: Put your quinoa pasta on to boil for 10 minutes, k? Dash a little olive oil in your sauté pan, right? Toss in your chopped red pepper, asparagus, zucchini, red cabbage and a hunkin’ handful of minced garlic and onions. 10 mins for the pasta, 10 mins. for the veggies, done! As my fab and oh-so-mod daughter would say, YUM-A-LICIOUS!

Here’s the why: use a small plate so your fist-size portions stay in check, more veggies than pasta, healthy olive oil only, market-fresh veggies for nutritiously-dense foods and quinoa pasta (wheat/gluten free) for whole grain goodness with a protein kick. It’s cheaper and quicker than eating out. You know what’s in it—no hidden ingredients and you can make extra in the pan to eat later when your schedule picks up and you’re on the run—that’s planning ahead.

10 Methods to Making Your Meals Meaningful  

  1-Food should always be nutritionally-dense.

  2-Food should fill a purpose at the time it is eaten.

  3-Food should be purposefully eaten every 2-3 hours.

  4-Food should fill the void in your stomach not stuff it.

  5-Food should never be tasteless-seasonings are fair game.

  6-Food should try to be quick and easy unless you like it another way.

  7-Food should never be used as a punishment if your self-esteem is suffering.

  8-Food should be eaten slow-li-er...give your brain a chance to tell you it’s full.

  9-Food should never be consumed to alleviate stress, avoid a problem or quell a fear.

10-Food should be measured out (at least in your mind) to fist size or bite size portions to keep them in control. 

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