Character Building...

I've been reading a book for my job that I have found to have several important points. This one particular chapter I just finished focuses completely on Character. But... WHAT IS IT?!

Character can be summed up as: "What you do when no one is looking".

When it applies to your job, yes, you may do a great job at what you do when the boss is there... But what about when he isn't? Do you follow the same routines and actions when the boss is out of the office? Why not? Your character is tested in these moments BECAUSE your only fooling your boss, not your collauges.

Now let me ask you about your workouts AND EATING HABITS? I continue to hear the same sad lines,
"everyone is skinny and I'm not..."
"why can't I lose weight?"
"I workout, and gain weight!"
"I don't get results, so their isn't any point in workingout"
"what do I do to look like ...."
"I can't get up early..."
"I'm too tired after work..."
"But my friends were eating __________"
"But my friends were drinking ________"

THERE IS NO EXCUSE! EXCUSES HOLD YOU BACK! Your character is developed through digging deep within yourself and saying no to the cheetos, beer, pizza, doughnuts, candy, cake, soda, and the list goes on!
Doing your workouts and saying no to the foods that will get you the negative effects is your character building. Don't tell everyone your doing This, This, and That... but your really doing nothing. Your character of each workout will show as you continue to put effort into each action. We need to self evaluate our goals. Are all your EXCUSES more than your desire to better yourself?

If so, you'll fight through the temptations. A trainer is there to keep you on point. If your going to get a trainer and show up for your workouts but leave his or her gym and have no follow through the rest of the week, don't expect to meet your goals! Your setting yourself up for a disappointment.

What about your walk with God? Are you giving Him the same excuses? I'll be honest, I do at times! I'm very focused on ACTION. I work hard at what I do and give 100%. If I don't see results, I know it's time to change. However, God see's the bigger picture just like a trainer would in your workouts. He see's you fighting through. JUST LIKE YOUR TRAINER CAN'T DO THE WORKOUT FOR YOU to get the results... God has us pushing through some tough things so we can reach the top of the mountain and look down at the puddle of sweat and praise Him.

Whatever mountain your climbing (Character Building) this week, I encourage you to take one step closer. Dig deep and know that you are Blessed. Know that you are loved... Know that You Got This!

W/love
A

Starting...

As Spring is right around the corner and chatter of races swarms the air, I can't help to think back to the first time I decided I wanted to get fit.

Let me take you back to my high school years.  I worked as a waitress and babysat for several families in my communities.  I saved up my money up to buy my very own treadmill from Sears.  We put it in our Living Room and my dad nagged me because it was a huge piece of equipment that he didn't want in our house if I wasn't going to use it.  I would do Tae-Bo or run on the treadmill after school when NO ONE was around.  I would lock the doors so no one could watch me run (or SLOG ... Slow Jog) and if someone came home, I would just stop.  I was so self conscious of my obesity that I didn't want anyone around to make fun of me!

Now I had totally forgot about this feeling until I jumped on the treadmill yesterday and began running.  I started my WARM UP at level 6 and increased up to my full sprint of 7 and kept my steady pace through the next 6 miles.  All the sudden, it struck me that when I FIRST started on my treadmill at home, my SLOG was at 4-4.5 and my goal was to run for just two minutes.  I would step on the treadmill and walk the majority of it!  My endurance was so low!  Man have I increased from there!

I tell this story because even though it isn't the start of a NEW  YEAR, that doesn't mean you can't START NOW!  I'm probably the number one person that doesn't listen to excuses.  Tough Love is SUCK IT UP AND DO IT!  Yes, it's hard, you'll sweat, you'll shed tears... But I've talked to NUMEROUS individuals who have a "POOR ME ATTITUDE"!  They aren't losing weight or making gains and the summer is fast approaching.  They want to look good in a shorts and a suit, but THEY AREN'T WILLING TO WORK FOR IT!  You can't have a body that you aren't working for!  NEWS FLASH! STOP MAKING EXCUSES of why you can eat whatever you want  and skip workouts.  It just doesn't work that way...  Face the facts and be honest with what your putting in your mouth.  If your putting bad into your body, you body will begin to look like what your putting in it... BAD!

You have got to watch the following video:

CLICK HERE--->> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDkUdidasHg&feature=related

Now I have to ask you again... How bad to you want it?  For me, I WANTED to be fit.  I STILL DO... So why do I get up at 4:30am to train?  Why do I workout numerous times in a day?  Why do I eat the way I do?  SELF CONTROL!  It's time for us to stop making excuses for ourselves and others.  Reality is reality.  I'm not going to lie to you.  If you want... You gotta go for it and stop holding back!  I did it, so can you... it's 85% mental so start telling yourself you CAN and have some FOLLOW THROUGH!

WHERE WILL YOU SEE ME NEXT?!
2012 RUN FOR MERCY IN KANSAS CITY!  Received this email: "I'm the Race Director for a  5k/10k race here in the suburban Kansas City area called the Run For Mercy 5k/10k. We are proud of the race - over 4,000 participants in the past 3 years. We're proud of our charity's cause: helping children that are infected & affected by the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. Our charity is Oceans of Mercy.The race was my first-ever 5k 7 years ago, one of the biggest accomplishments of my adult life. Now, I have 3 half-marathons under my belt. Many have a misperception that you have to be incredibly fit to do a 5k and have a fear of coming in last. Well, we wanted to take care of that with two honorary positions for the 5k & 10k races - an inspiring person in the running community that could help those toward the back of the pack with encouraging words and a cheerful spirit. As a faith-based organization, I was inspired by the verse in the book of Matthew, "...and the last shall be the first and the first shall be the last." It's about someone putting others before themselves..."

Yes! I will be pulling in the back of the race!

I loved Gene's words, couldn't be anymore well stated!  So, check out the site and see if you can come out and support the cause and run for others and with me!  Lets do this!  Check out the site!   --> http://www.oceansofmercy.com/events/run-for-mercy/about-the-run.html



BeBlessed!
A

VALENTINES!

UGH! VALENTINES DAY!
Since I was younger I can remember every single Valentine's day that I didn't have a boyfriend.  Like all young girls, everyone wants a Valentine.  In school all the girls my age were running around with boy friends starting as young as 2nd & 3rd grade.  I remember waiting for THAT ONE CUTE guy to confess his love and at least give me a card.  BUT, that never happened!  Still waiting on him...

HOWEVER, what I have learned, is I'm not going to wait on Mr. Right feeling sorry for myself and eating my feelings.  I've mentioned this in numerous interviews, but I originally wanted to "Get Skinny" so I could find a guy that would be attracted to me and fall deeply in love and have tons of babies!  My mindset WAS: "NO ONE COULD EVER LOVE A FAT PERSON LIKE ME..."

BUT WHAT I DISCOVERED-> was my mom was right! 

"You can never love anyone until you love yourself."

Up until I lost my weight, I spent my days feeding myself negative thought after negative thought.  I hated myself inside and because of that, I had allowed myself to reach 226lbs.  Through a clean eating diet and a healthy workout plan including weights and cardio I dropped 90lbs.  More importantly though, I also fell in love with myself.  I became self motivated (instead of needing others to motivate me).  I was able to cope with my disappointments in life without eating.  I gained a whole new respect for myself and fit women.  There is a difference between being skinny and being fit!  (The reason for my twitter name Fit_NOT_Skinny)  There are people who can eat WHATEVER they want and not gain a pound... BUT they're no healthier that someone who eats everything and gains weight.  Skinny or overweight- NOT FIT AND HEALTHY!

A FIT&HEALTHY 'LIFE STYLE' only comes into play when you are feeding your body cleanly and combing cardio and weights.  Fit&Healthy includes being positive and KNOWING that you can.  You should be your biggest cheerleader!  First know that you can... THEN TAKE ACTION!

Hate to post it, but it's true! Girls HAVE Muscles!

So for Valentines, take time to love yourself!!! Not by indulging in Donuts, Chocolates, Sugars, Pastries and so forth that you'll later feel guilty about but... Treat yourself to stepping outside your box and EXERCISING WILL POWER!  Look in the mirror and speak POSITIVELY rather than filling yourself with all those NEGATIVE thoughts!  Cheer yourself on... then let that overflow to everyone else you encounter!  ENCOURAGEMENT GOES A LONG WAYS!


Had to take time and show all my followers this....When I started traveling out of town with my trainer to help her teach Zumba and Tighter Assets, I fell in love with the Smith Center ladies!  Such a fit town excited to workout!  Amongst the crowd, there was this lady who was coming to Zumba and her daughters would come as well.  The girls are always involved in school activities, but it was exciting to see young high school girls coming to work on their fitness.  Well Katie, pictured below, has gone farther than any young woman I've met!  She was always beautiful, but since I had moved, I hadn't seen her! That is until today!  She walked into the gym I was at this morning and my jaw dropped (Yes! Double Take!)  I have to COMMEND this young high school senior!  Kids eat and eat lots of crap!  It's hard to EAT CLEAN and be dedicated to your workouts, but this young lady is another example that changing your HABITS= a FIT AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE!  Katie started at 173lbs and is down to 140lbs and looking FABULOUS! Congrats Katie!!!

Katie at 173lbs!

Monica (mother), Abby (Sister), and KATIE!

Katie with her sister Abby!