I'm Not Comfortable

I never knew that I could feel so freaking uncomfortable in my own skin and it made me sad because I didn’t think I had the power to change it.

But the prospect of changing things was so daunting because my days were stacked to the BRIM with stuff that needs to get done.

Want to make a change and not sure where to start?

Here’s the Top 3 Changes I Made to Get My Comfy Back:

1. I did something active every day. On the days I could workout, I definitely did, even if it was a HIIT workout that was only 10 minutes. But if a workout wouldn’t work for my day, I made a point to do something that was active. I went for a walk with the dog 🐶, I stretched 🧘‍♀️, I took the stairs instead of an elevator.

2. I drank more water 💦. It’s so easy to forget to have water when you’re running around like crazy 😝, but the benefits are beyond worth it. Pro tip: can’t remember to drink water? Set an alarm on your phone to remind you.

3. I became mindful of what I ate. I didn’t cut things out, but I made sure that healthy, whole food 🥘 made up the majority of what I was eating.

How Ya Feeling Today?

I felt like shit in my own skin for a L O N G time.

Discouraging doesn’t even begin to describe how horrible I felt. People would tell me it was my new normal after having a kid, I just needed to accept that my body would be kinda...fluffy...that I had a c-section so this was reality now. Shit, people were saying that to me before the kid even came out of my body. Like I had to just accept that I would have this mambod and it would be jiggly and gross and I wouldn’t like how I looked at all…

Deep down, my instinct was SCREAMING that this was a load of bullshit. 

Even with the experience and education to know what I needed to do to get to the place where I felt like home again in my own body, the process was still daunting.

Because I was tired 😓 and the thought of having to do anything felt like too damn much. Adjusting to being a new mom was a LOT and looking at all these women who looked like they had all their shit together with no effort and looked amazing helped nothing. Especially when I had a kiddo who would scream her head off any time I tried to work out. I’m serious. Even if she was in a dead sleep and I tried to workout, she would scream.

Then I started thinking that if I felt like this with all my years of experience, with all the education I have for losing weight and working out, someone who doesn’t have that background must feel a million times worse than me. Like just give up and not even try worse. Because I have the benefit of knowing how to tweak workouts when I feel like I’ve plateaued and I know how to work my fitness game to best serve my body. Hell, it’s what I do for a living. Of course I knew what to do for myself. But I’m not so naive to think that everyone has that kind of background or even that basic body awareness.

That’s why I want to help YOU. I know how tired you are, I know how overwhelmed you feel, I know you have NO idea where to begin. But I do and I can help you through it so you can get to the place where you have energy and you feel like yourself again. I’m doing nothing if I’m sitting on all this expertise and not sharing it with the people around me. I don’t want you to give up and equally as important, I know that when you take care of yourself, it’s easier to take care of those around you. So let me help you. Let me share my knowledge and experience with you by meeting you where you’re at on your journey right now and showing you the way to get to where you want to be.

Make the Harder Change

The change I’m proposing you make is the harder one.

Because it’s the sustainable one. It’s the one that takes longer to achieve but is going to last longer than the yo-yo changes you’re accustomed to trying. 

I get the appeal of the fast change. The instantaneous results. You want that fast result because you’ve taken so long to change that by now, you wanted that change like yesterday. You don’t want to take the time to make change that will last for the long term. It’s the “I just need to lose 15 pounds” but not thinking past what happens AFTER you lose 15 pounds. 

What I teach is not the temporary, rigid, give up your whole life change just to drop a few pounds. It’s the change that will teach you how to effectively incorporate healthy habits into your life, so you feel like you have balance and you’re not deprived of the things you love 💗.

So you feel like you’re thriving and not surviving.

So you don’t make a drastic change just to lose it a year later when you permanently fall off the wagon, because you gave up too much and couldn’t take it.

Slow Cooker Recipes for the Mama Who Hates to Cook

$2.99

Give Me Your Best Excuse

Your excuses are NOT the conversation. 

Trust me, if there’s an excuse I’ve heard of it. I’ve heard you say it in passing, as much as I’ve heard you say it directly to my face. I’ve been doing this fitness thing long enough that I’ve heard it all. I’ve probably thought of it myself as well a time or two. 

Excuses are comforting though. They give us an “out” from all the things we don’t want to do, including reaching any goals about creating balance in the chaos amongst us. They act as our preverbal security blanket, keeping us in our comfort zone. 

That comfort zone is such a shitty place to be though. I mean I get it, the prospect of trying something new and epically failing is terrifying, the prospect of change in general for most people is super intimidating. Because while change itself isn’t necessarily hard, the anticipation of what waits on the other side is killer. We don’t like to live in ambiguity so we don’t, we stay securely in the place of comfort, even if it’s detrimental to our health and well being. 

Because look, you’re not an idiot. You know that you’ve hit that point where you want to change so badly, you think about it all the time but you also are low key terrified because you don’t know how that change will actually impact your life. How will eating healthier impact your family gatherings? How will making time to workout impact your relationship with your kids? Will your tribe understand WHY you’re doing what you’re doing, or is it so outside of the norm that you fear you’ll be rejected?

OR are you scared to change because you think if you do, you’ll suck at it, the change won’t hold and then all of a sudden you’ll become one of those people that everyone else says “well she tries and tries to lose weight but nothing seems to work” and that’s embarrassing AF?

The excuse is readily available to get you out of putting forth the effort though so you use it. The “oh I can’t get to the gym because of _________”; “I can’t eat healthy because __________________”.

After all, you can’t fail if you never try right?

Every time I think of an excuse, every time I hear one, I think of the alternative. For me, when excuses are being thrown around, I think about it like a crossroads, and then I think about the moment I started walking again.

Because my injury was so significant and the pain was so intense, I spent the first 6 months or so of being hurt on some hardcore pain meds. Like enough to tranquilize a horse. As a result, there’s not a lot I really remember about those first several months of my life. It’s hazy, with memories being filled in maybe by my subconscious but also by my parents.

When I got to walk again though, I distinctly remember that. I was off the pain meds by that point and I was FUCKING SCARED. I remember everything about that moment in time down to how the PT’s office SMELLED. That’s how vivid that memory is for me. And I remember thinking “meh fuck this, I’m good. I’m not strong enough and I’m going to fall and then I’ll be back in surgery” and the litany of BS continued. Then I remember my PT looking at me and saying “you can either get up and walk or not. It’s up to you but you’re not going to fall. You’re stronger than what you think”.

Obviously it all worked out but that anticipation of the unknown almost left me completely stuck in a reality where I was surviving, but not thriving.

I’ve taken that moment in time and carried it with me, compared every other tough as nails situation to it. Because if I can learn how to walk again, I can do just about freaking anything and BECAUSE I got the chance to learn to walk again, I’m going to try do just about anything. And if I fail, at least I failed trying, at least I learned and know where I need to make changes and at least I showed myself that I am stronger and more capable than I think I am.

How Badly Do You Want the Challenge?

Training for me is badass because I get to see more than just the physical transformation of a person. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing ole hit their weight loss goals, or get their body to the point of strength and capability where they can do things they didn’t think would ever happen. It’s amazing, it creates joy in my life because I’ve empowered someone to step outside of their comfort zone and into a more authentic version of themselves. 

But that physical transformation doesn’t just happen on its own and the more rewarding transformation for me is the internal transformation. 

We live in a society that’s very aware of the power of eating healthy and moving your body, but the reality is that most people half ass that effort. They’ll come in, they’ll workout but really it’s not their best effort. They’ll eat well but fail when it comes to eating well consistently. 

I don’t need to tell you what you NEED to do, I get to hold you accountable for what you know you should be doing. 

While I’m doing that with you, I’m waiting for that moment. I see it happen, gradually at first and then completely suddenly when you go from that half ass effort to the everything you’ve got to give effort. 

That transformation...I LIVE for that shit. In that moment everything about your energy and your aura changes. The confidence you exude is palpable. I know nothing will stand in your way and nothing I give you will be too much. 

Gone are the excuses and in its place is this inherent knowledge that you’re capable and deserving of actually achieving the goals you’ve set. You want the challenge because you know it won’t actually be that hard, and you know the change will be completely worth it in the end. 

Do You Workout When You're Sick?

Do you workout when you’re sick?

You’re gonna hate this answer: it depends. 

Not just on you and your immune system but also the type of workout you’re going to be doing and how hard you’ll be working. 

For instance, I recently caught the plague that’s been going around because apparently my kid likes to share. 

The beginning was a general feeling of being run down so I kept with my normal routine, in terms of types of workouts I would do on specific days, I just didn’t push myself as hard. I worked on making sure my immune system was as strong as it could be by pushing my homeopathic solutions, like essential oils.

When the plague kicked up, I backed off. I gave my body time rest and recover, I pumped the fluids and bone broth and all the things and focused on being well. I know that working out when I’m that sick is actually counter productive and I could end up even sicker, and frankly, no one has time for sickness.

When the plague in its worst dissipated but the cough kicked in, I focused on workouts that weren’t as cardio intensive so I could keep the cough at bay in the hopes that it would leave. I knew that for me, the cough continually kicking back up especially as a result of my increased heart rate, would mean that the cough would never go away and would potentially get worse.

Now that I’m good, it’s game on. Back to everything being status quo. 

Here’s the thing: be intuitive when you’re sick and mindful as well as who you could be potentially exposing. If you feel that gross or have a fever, working out will do more harm than good. You know exactly what I’m talking about. When your initial thought is “I’m too sick to workout”, then you’re too sick to workout. Give your body time to rest and you’ll get back into it in no time. 

Check out my bone broth recipe to help boost your immunity!

Can you find calm in places of chaos?

I have never felt as unfocused and yet productive as I do now as a mom. The days are busy, things feel so overwhelming at times, and yet still we find a way to get everything done and manage all of it.

In the midst of all this chaos, I’m going to guess that you’re the calm in the storm. Even on the days when it feels like everything is falling apart and you’re wondering how you’re going to keep things together until bedtime, you’re also trying your hardest to stay calm and collected. 

That sense of calm, for me at least, is something I have to continually practice. What can I say? Sometimes it’s just easier and more cathartic to totally lose your shit. Buutttt maybe that’s not the best approach in ALL situations.

I use my workouts as a mini opportunities to find my calm. Working out is hard. But it produces a lot of those same chaotic feelings as the panic that ensues when your child has a tantrum on the floor in Target.

When those moments of my workout kick in, I focus on my breath and bringing back my calm. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Either way it’s ok because I know I’m continuing to build that habit for myself and expand the foundation of healthy living in my own life.

Grab Yourself the Goodies Girl!

You're a Winner

We are first caliber winners today. 

I tell my clients all the time, your ability to perform on a workout isn’t a strength issue. This is ALL a mindset issue. 

When we get into those tough moments on a workout, and I don’t care how long you’ve been working out for, if you’re continuing to challenge yourself the tough moments are guaranteed to come, your mind so often goes to the negative. We start thinking about how we’ve failed, how we could’ve been stronger, how we should’ve gotten in one more rep...

Fuck that noise. 

I want those moments to inspire confidence and positivity in you. When it gets hard, when you notice your brain going to that “you suck” place, I want you to switch your thought process to celebrate the things you’ve already done. The things you’ve already achieved. 

The reality is that most people won’t even show up or try. You’ve already done more than most people would attempt. Be proud of that, celebrate that, don’t focus on anything else besides that effort and know that with every single workout, you’re getting stronger. 

When my mind starts to go to that negative space this is what I do:

1. I stop. When your mind goes to the hateful place, your body is going to start to get lazy and your form will start failing. This can lead to injury but it also leads to you thinking the exercise is harder than it’s designed to be because you’re not putting the work into the correct muscles.

2. I take a deep breath and remind myself of some accomplishment I’ve had in my life. It can be the most seemingly insignificant thing but shit girl, we all have achieved things.

3. I put my positive mantra on repeat. Feel free to take mine, but I literally repeat “you can do this” in my mind until the workout is over or that hard part is over because I KNOW I can do it. Sometimes we just need the reminder.

You Can't Expect Me to Remember a Workout When I'm This Tired

I’ve never been as tired as when I first became a mom. This is coming from someone who was training to be in the military, and those training experiences look like child’s play in comparison to the fourth trimester. Like seriously, I remember being up for DAYS on Army training exercises, but giving birth and then the first few months that followed sucked WAY more. That kind of exhaustion is completely indescribable unless you’ve experienced it yourself. Even then it’s that nod of acknowledgement because I still can’t find the words. 

I remember turning around and going back home one day because I forgot to brush my teeth. That kind of tired. 

So I don’t even know how you can live in that space of exhaustion and be expected to remember a workout, much less be motivated to workout in the first place. Hard pass. 

But yet, if you want that baby weight to come off you have to do more than just breastfeed. You have to eat well and you have to move your body. It doesn’t have to be crazy, it doesn’t have to be aggressive, no one’s going to give you a medal for going bat shit crazy on the workouts but you have to do something. 

My 3 Tips for Post Baby Workout Plans:

1. I wrote down my workouts. Like in my planner every single week down to the hour I could work out. And then I scheduled a back up time with a potential back up workout in case my first plan fell through. Writing it down meant I knew what I was supposed to do and it wouldn’t get lost in my mom brain fog.

2. I walked Sully. He hated it, it’s not my favorite thing BUT it meant I was getting fresh air, moving my body and doing something in case #1 didn’t work out. And it was the easiest thing to do that included Grace. Plus the low impact aspect of walking meant I could do it after I got cleared to workout by my doctor but while I was still building up my strength.

3. I asked for help so I could workout. I asked people to come over and watch Grace so I could get a workout in. Granted this wasn’t a regular request, but it was a nice option to have every once in awhile so I could get my workout done and have a second to myself.

Working Out at Home Sucks

Getting into a workout routine, especially one that’s at home, sucks. 

Really working out alone isn’t the funnest thing on the face of the planet. I do it because I know I need to move my body to decrease my chronic pain, and I crave the endorphin rush (now) but when I first got started I hated it. The making time for the whole thing, figuring out wtf to do, finding the motivation to actually do it, none of it was fun. Oh and don’t even get me started on not seeing results right away. There’s nothing more frustrating then busting your ass and to no avail. Like COME ON. 

Then here you are trying to get the workout done at home and if you’re like me, it just got exponentially harder because of the distraction factor. 

Like my couch calling my name to go sit down. Or me noticing everything in my house that needs to be cleaned, picked up, or organized. 

I need some straight up tunnel vision to stay focused and make sure I actually get a worthwhile workout done. 

Here’s my 3 tips to creating your At Home Workout Tunnel vision:

1. Good music. Feel yourself getting distracted? Focus on that kick ass Spotify playlist you save for when your kids are outta ear shot. This is the motivating music with all the shit that has you pounding your chest and all the bops that make you want to move.

2. 5 minutes. If you’re like me and the clutter drives you bat shit crazy when you workout at home, give yourself 5 minutes (yes on a timer) to put away all those things before you start working out so you’re not tempted to do it DURING the workout.

3. Go outside. Ya fresh air and all of that, BUT when you’re outside, it’s that much harder to get inside to your couch. It takes that much more effort plus I’ve found for most people, their outside areas tend to have less STUFF as compared to their living rooms which means less distraction.