Monday, December 31, 2012

Action: More Significant then Motivation

A Letter From Me to You:

New Years Resolutions Considerations



Dear 2013 Goal Setters,

     Action is more significant then motivation alone. Motivation may be present in one's mind, but if you do not ACT upon that motivation there will be no change. Many people say they will do something, but few actually follow through and do it. Interestingly enough, the people who follow through become viewed in society as disciplined leaders who possess a quality or ability that others yearn for, but can not seem to attain. This is not true. You can attain these things through hard work.




     In the world of fitness, I see it all the time. People say they want to lose weight or gain weight (they have a goal), but they do not ACTIVELY pursue their goal on a consistent basis. I often have clients tell me that they are motivated to change, but are not disciplined to wake up early enough, say no to junk food / alcohol, or a host of other excuses.When it comes to nutrition, people talk about eating healthier, and even state that they know what they need to eat, but they don't become active in doing so. In these cases, people KNOW what to eat, but do not take action to choose to eat the way they should. Motivation is not enough. Knowledge is not enough. Action is essential, and it is your choice.

     What does this mean for you? It means that your motivation must be put in to action; even when all of the details are not planned out. Do not focus so much on the end result, but focus more on the process. You will find that all processes have something to teach us. You do not always need to know HOW, but you must know WHY.

     Today is the last day of 2012, and hopefully if you haven't already, you will be re-setting goals for your 2013 New Years Resolutions. Not sure how to set goals that seem attainable? Contact me or a Fitness Professional / Life Coach in your area to keep your focus central on why you have your goals in the first place. If you do not understand WHY you want change, change itself will seem less significant.

Have a happy and healthy new year!

Your Motivator,

Channéll


You have a choice in all that you do. Make the choices today that your future self will thank you for.


Sunday, December 2, 2012

Fitness vs Holidays

Fitness vs Holidays…You can do Both!

Posted: December 1, 2012 in Fitness and Health
Tags:
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Good morning blog readers & fitness enthusiasts! I am very excited today to share with you my recent interview feature with my dear friend at Phil Turner. Phil and I actually met in the gym a couple of years ago, and our cliques hit it off right away. We not only became gym buddies who shared workouts, but quickly became friends sharing meals, nights out with friends, and business ideas. We are excited to finally collaborate for our Fitness versus Holidays series. Check out the interview here! Enjoy!



NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMSPhil: Finally! The holiday season is here! A time for travel, family, rest and of course food! While the holiday season is what most of us live for; there are some downfalls to the season that we all dread. Unfortunately, this is one time of the year everyone decides to let their “New Year’s” fitness resolutions subside next to the turkey at Thanksgiving. As the holiday season approaches, do not become a victim and let what you have worked
so hard for all year long, leave your sight.

I couldn’t do this one on my own so I had to bring on my favorite partner in crime, Channéll Holmgren. Make sure you follow her on Twitter @ChannellNicole. She is an amazing Personal Trainer, and is working on some amazing projects that will have a deep impact on our community to provide inspiration for life to us all. Also, follow her motivational movement @InspiredPurpose. I’ll let Channéll introduce herself and we
can get right into the things we should all be aware of this holiday season and how to avoid the “holiday slump”.


Channéll: I`m Channéll, a Personal Trainer, and I currently work in a corporate gym as a Personal Trainer and Bootcamp Instructor. I am an emerging motivational speaker who takes pride in what I have been called to do. I also try to take life seriously as little as possible. I am really excited to announce the launch of my upcoming website in January in which an online speaking community will be launched to help offer development and exposure to aspiring motivational and public speakers as well as entrepreneurs. My passion is for fitness, health and inspiring the lives of others through leadership!

Phil, it’s a pleasure finally collaborating as we’ve been talking about for a long time! Now
we’re not talking, we’re living it! Will you also introduce yourself to my followers?

Phil:  Absolutely! I am Phillip; I have a strong physical fitness background from doing sports
like Track and Field, Basketball, Weight Training and Boxing. All these things have
helped me define and build my character. Currently, I am focusing on motivating others
through speech. I am helping build my fitness program at my church and working on a
business venture that will impact the lives of anyone looking to change for the person they know they
can be. To sum it up, I am Leader/Manager by trade but driven by my passion to build/develop leaders
while building influential relationships in hope of impacting someone’s life through the Christ in me.

The main goal is help people learn how to invest their time into fitness and not just spend it. We have also put together a few questions we would like to answer from each of our perspectives to help out all men & women alike.

Channéll: So Phil, I have a few questions for you from our followers. First, what do you find to be the biggest obstacle that keeps people out of the gym during the holiday season?

Phil: All the big “stressful” holiday planning! I think with the holiday season we get
complacent and relaxed because we tend to stress and occupy ourselves with other
things to prepare for the holiday season, which builds a great excuse that turns into us
blaming the holiday season for a setback. Ideally, we need to be flexible in our fitness at
this time and switch our workout up to fit into our holiday schedule. Instead of spending
two hours in the gym, crank out a workout in 30-45 minutes. This is good because
realistically your body hits its peak performance within this time frame and anything
after that is a drop off which means your body gets fatigued. How about you Channéll?

Channéll: I find EXCUSES to be the biggest obstacle. People seem to completely stop caring about
themselves and their own basic needs just to fulfill the needs of others. While being selfless is not a bad thing, it’s as if the giving season becomes giving to everyone else, and not at all to oneself. This is wrong! It is important to take care of yourself so that you can have a good quality of life to be able to give to others, without causing a huge burden to yourself. While most agree that holidays are “just another day”, few treat
them as such.

Okay Phil, you know that people often make any excuse possible. Usually this is year-round and for every event celebrated by food; do you believe this is a changeable mentality? If so, how could people see festivities differently in relation to their health and fitness goals?

NO EXCUSES


Phil: Well Channéll like you mentioned, it is all an excuse. It is just what you said it is
a mentality. The key word here is mental which means you have the ability to change
it but you must have a reason why. Just because there is food in front of you does not
mean it is a must that you eat it all. Eat in moderation. Try doing different things like
drinking water in between bites and have an idea of how much you want to eat before
you even start. If you truly want to change and build a healthier happier you, your
fitness has to hold some time of priority in your life. It has to be a lifestyle which means
you may have to sacrifice to reach your goal.

Channéll: Phil? I have noticed my clients and people who ask for my advice about holidays usually
ask about their diet and how to counteract all the sweets they know they`ll be eating.
What advice do you have for people wondering the same thing this season?

Phil: There is no way to actually counteract all the sweets, once we eat it there is
nothing we can do, choose wisely. I would recommend trying to make healthier snacks.
Many things we love can be made with healthier ingredients and substitutes but still
taste great. This will help your calorie and sugar intake. If you must have some chocolate
or candy; try eating it right before you exercise. This way you can use the sugar to give
you a boost in energy and use it for fuel. At the end of the day, you still have to watch
your caloric intake; there is no substitute for the calories. Remember, the flavor doesn’t
last as long as the fat does.

Channéll: Again, EXCUSES are detrimental to results. My advice is simply to stop making excuses.
You may think that there is validity in abusing food for the sake of a celebration or season, but really there isn’t. This may seem harsh but the truth is that it is not just one day or celebration we are speaking of, it is many days year round! We see this especially with so many holidays from October-January.

While we all agree that food is social (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing), it is important to recognize when this social aspect of life becomes a problem and puts your life and health in jeopardy. Partaking more frequently in abuse of food and alcohol significantly increases your risks of not achieving your goals; which leads to discouragement and a nasty, unhealthy cycle.

SET A GOALThe best way to beat this is to not forget about your goals or set them aside! Keep your goals in the forefront of your mind. Keep yourself conscious of your goals will help you respond appropriately to eating excess amounts of food or skipping a day at the gym when you’re scheduled to go. Keep yourself aware and accountable; no matter the circumstances. Now, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t indulge from time to time; however indulgence and abuse are totally different. Let’s be honest, it doesn’t take most of us a holiday to want to celebrate and over-indulge!




Phil: Channéll, last but not least, I am going to get a little personal here but only to let
the follower’s know we all face some type of trial and tribulations. What are some of the
obstacles and experiences you have had with the holidays and your fitness achievement?

Channéll: For me, I have struggled in the past with traveling. It’s not the traveling part that gets me, it’s
the overbooking myself when I visit home for a few days. It seems impossible to see and catch up with
everyone. I’ve overcome this with purchasing a gym pass as soon as I get in to town. Another obstacle,
are grandma’s cookies! We bake every single year together. I’ve limited myself in the amount of food
that I`ll let myself eat. In this case, less is more!

Phil: I love it!! Thank you Channéll for co-hosting this one with me, I think we got some really
good things answered. Stayed tuned as we will be posting more information on how to
obtain your goals this holiday season and some pretty cool tips on how to get there.
Remember fitness is a lifestyle not a good behavior for just the moment. Do not become
a part of the crowd that drops fitness to eat and drink everything that touches the table.
It is easy to get complacent and also remember once you stop; it is that much harder to
hit the gym hard again.

Don’t let the Holidays beat you, beat the holiday first. 
Do not underestimate the power of momentum!


Follow us on Twitter:
@PhillipTurner11

@ChannellNicole

@InspiredPurpose

You can find the original blog post on Phil's blog here: Fitness vs Holidays

Friday, November 2, 2012

Community Volunteers: Soap for Hope 2012







Today I want to share Courtney Bell's touching community project that I have had the pleasure to be a part of in previous years, and this year also!

Courtney is a Community Leader, Entreprenuer, Keynote Speaker and Personal Friend, who's motto is:

"Empowering People to Empower Themselves"








Courtney is the founder of the People's First Foundation and is a mentor to underpriviledged children. He is a young man who offers hope and support through the bible studies at local jails, is a keynote speaker at high schools and conferences, as well as a son and friend. I have had the priviledge to get to know and work with Courtney as a Personal Trainer (back in the day), as well as a volunteer for his organization's fundraisers, and other professional endeavors.

Last year, I was a volunteer for Soap for Hope 2011 for the first time. From the donations generiously collected in our community, we distributed laundry supplies to over 200 families living in motels here in Reno. There were about 15 of us who met in the morning, and sorted out laundy supplies based on a list Courtney put together from families in local motels. We then caravanned and spent the day delivering laundry supplies to every family on our list. Courtney personally interviewed each family, and set this fundraiser up because he saw the need; he believes every child should at least have clean laundry!

I can truly say that this was a wonderful experience, and open my eyes to the great need in Reno for simple necessities to be provided. Not only did I meet amazing, like-minded people, but I got to be a part of something bigger, and truly make a difference in the lives of otheres.

You can too! Here's who we're helping & how!







Data equation specialist statistical analysis project

(The families we will help with your help)





  • 8 out of 10 families are single parent families.
  •  9 out of every 10 underprivileged children go to school with unclean clothes at least three out of every seven school days. 
  •  9 out of every 10 low-income single parents are in need of assistance with laundry supplies.
  •  10 out of 10 homeless and transient families are in need of assistance with laundry suppliesor dryer sheets



The Goal

Provide 200-400 single-parent, transient, homeless and low-income families with a month’s supply of laundry detergent, bleach and dryer sheets.



 

 Locations to drop off laundry supplies and monetary charitable contributions

  • UNR’s Orvis Bldg. Room 104 - 2nd Floor, Room 202 or 204 E; 775-351-8120
  • Belvedere Towers, 450 N. Arlington Ave., Downtown Reno; 775-324-5888

 

Location Hours

Drop off from 8am- 5pm, Mon-Fri or call and we will pick up your generous donation. Drive ends November 5th


Volunteer with Us on Saturday, November 10th!











Volunteer for Soap for Hope!

Drop off from 8am- 5pm, Mon-Fri or call and we will pick up your generous donation. Drive ends November 5th


Where?

826 Wyoming Avenue in Reno, NV (Off of Seventh Street by Raley's off of Keystone)

When?

Starts Saturday, November 10th  at 11:00am until we are finished. You may leave at anytime.

          

How to Donate

  • Write out a check to People First Foundation P.O. BOX 162 Reno NV 89504
  • Have a drop box at your office and collect laundry supplies!
  • Tell a friend to do the same!

 These organizations have partnered with us, we are asking for your organizations support to help 300 families with a months’ worth of laundry supplies:

The City of Reno's Senior Advisory Board
Doctors Wives of Northern Nevada and Alliance with Washoe County Medical Society
Microsoft
Scolari's
Girl Scouts
Unity Center
Sparks Seven Day Adventist Church
Reno/ Sparks Mormon Church
Wall Mart
University of Nevada Reno Men's Athletic Department
Pathfinders Children Ministry  The Belvedere Condominiums     


This effort takes a combination of $6,140 in monetary contributions and donated laundry supplies to help every 200 families.


Read Courntey's Inspirationation Story featured from University of Nevada Reno




"We can all use a little help sometimes, especially those who are already helping themselves
with love and commitment" - Courtney Bell

Contact Courtney

Courtney Bell Founder and Executive Director
People First Foundation
P.O. BOX 162
RENO NV 89504
(775) 351-8120


Facebook: People's First Foundation

Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Testimony of Max Bradley: "How I Saved My Life"


As a Personal Trainer and emerging Life Coach / Motivational Speaker, I am always seeking knowledge and inspiration for myself to pass on to my clients, and the lives I influence daily. A major part of my catlyzed process I can attribute to speakers like Tony Robbins, Tara Mohr, Joshua Metcalf, Zig Ziglar, and Eric Thomas (aka ET The Hip Hop Preacher   (to name a few!)

Eric Thomas has had a special effect on me, as he has  "Lit a fire..!" for me with his words of response to my ideas. In his words, he told me "Get it done!" But, I am not the only one who has truly been hammered down by his enthusiasm and powerful words!

Recently, ET released his T.G.I.F. video series featuring a man by the name of Max Bradley entitled "Thank God I Lost Weight". As soon as I saw Max's story (via Twitter), I had to get ahold of him. As a fitness professional, and someone looking to bring together an online community of aspiring speakers, Max's story is powerful! I've personally shared it with my clients and family, and want to share it here with you (if you haven't already seen it!)





Max was kind enough to do an interview to with me to further get his story out there to my viewers in hopes of further inspiring others with his weight loss journey! 

This is what he had to say...




Me: Who are you? How would you define yourself as an individual?

Max: I`m 24 yrs old ,and would describe my self as a outgoing, dedicated, motivated and always striving to be the best person I can be. No matter what I'm doing: from work, to working out, or sports I always want to give and do my best. Love pushing my limits and seeing what possible.

Me: Tell us about your life and goals

Max: I live in Oak Park, Michigan currently. During the day, I work inventory control for a company that liquidates furniture stores, so I get to do a lot of traveling.

My goal is to inspire as many as I can with my story. Eventually I also want to get into personal training and motivational speaking, I know first hand what a lot of people are going through, and definitely feel it's a callling of mine to help. I also, as a more of a personal goal, want to move out west somewhere and start this journey from there.

Me: What's your story? Share your struggle...

Max: Well, I was always on the bigger side (never really huge) early in life. I always played sports so that kept me fit in school, but after high school and organized sports, I progressively got bigger and bigger. During the weight gain, I would try diets here and there, and  started doing a little working out; nothing serious.

I  was even offered money to lose weight, I tried to lose weight for girls I liked too, but nothing ever stuck. I was always doing it for the wrong reasons. In July 2011, I weighed in at 295-300 lbs. I was going out for a job in Alexandria, VA. They had this amazing gym and indoor basketball court (gym from the video). I said too myself,  "It's time to stop living this way. You had your fun, it's time to man up and change things".


Me: What was the hardest part about being almost 300 pounds?

Max: I just decided I was sick and tired of being sick and tired just like ET said. I knew it was my shot for a better, healthier life was now and I had to run with the opportunity. The hardest part was just looking at my self and being so unhappy with myself; knowing that I did this to myself. I was disgusted. Another hard part was my physical limitations. Not being able to do what my friends were doing because of my size.

Also,  (I never really told this story before because it was the most embarrassing thing of my life), but I went with some friends of mine we waited in line for bout an hour for a ride. When we got there, I couldnt fit in the harness to the ride and had to get off. It was embarassing. All of these things inspired change...


Me: What changes did you make to your eating and workout habits?

Max: I was in the process of quitting pop/soda drinking and eating fast food. Then, I stopped eating fried foods. At the time, I was working about 65 hrs a week, but committed myself to working out after work every night. I also did tons and tons of research on what to eat, what boosts metabolism and started eating the right way.

I started small because I didnt really have a clue on what I was doing. I did this all by myself: no trainer, no nutritionist. So, I went with what I knew didn't work to determine what I should do. For example, I knew that running on the treadmill killed my knees, so I decided to try the elliptical instead. That process started slow, about a mile at a time. It took me 20 minutes the first time to get that mile in.

I progressively got faster and after 2 weeks of just cardio. I continued to do a lot of my own research on the best type of work outs to do, attempting to find anything that was working for other people. I also watching other people workout at the gym.The bottom line is that I wanted change!


YOU REALLY GOTTA WANT IT AS BAD AS YOU WANT TO BREATHE...

Me: Is being FIT, in your opinion purely physical, or do you feel that it's mental too?

Max: Being FIT is 90% mental for sure. the physical part of this was nothing compared to the mental hurdles I had to jump over. Your mind is a very, very powerful thing. Without having a clear focus and the right environment, you're not going to achieve anything you want in life; not just weight loss.

POSITIVE MIND = POSITIVE OUTCOMES


Me: How do you KEEP your weight off?

Max: Keeping the weight is the hardest part.  If you saw ET and Giavanni Ruffin's HBDYWI Part 1 & 2, after I  lost weight is were my personal part 2 started. Now I`m redefining the grind, by still eating healthy and continuing to workout. If I stray (which everyone does sometimes), I still know I could put in that work!

Also, always switching up routine, and not always going to the gym to work out! I like to take it outside and get creative with what I`m doing so I never get bored. I also always set new goals. Always striving for that perfect you! The only thing I can think to add right now is that I did  is a trainer. I did all the research my self and did not have any expert advice of a trainer or nutritionist; now I want to become an expert! People need to hear my story to help them overcome battles such as mine.

Me: What advice do you have for others looking to acheive a huge weight loss goal, or goal in general?

Max: Don't be scared to watch others! To me, it's the best way to find new workouts.  You have to hold your self accountable, and if you eat extra or things you shouldn't, you gotta put in that extra 10-15 mins in the gym that night no excuses/no days off from not only working out, but living that healthy lifestyle.

For me, after I initially lost weight, I fell into this place of over-confidence because you got all these people telling you how good you look and how amazing you are. With all the attention, I lost track of my goals and felt complacent on where I was at. I  started eating whatever I wanted because I thought I was invincible and shot up 15 lbs quick. That was hard, but I  looked at my self and said "You came this far don't go backwards now".

So it was gametime fo rme. I had to not only re-lose weight I gained back, but had to get refocused and really lock it down; which I did. The KEY to all of this is doing it for YOU, because  no one else but your self is going to chose to eat that salad over fast food for you, and only YOU are going to drag your ass to the gym after working 10 hours everyday. When you want nothing more than to lay in bed and pass out, but you do it anyway is when it counts the most.

This goes for most things in life, no ones going to hand you anything you gotta work for it, So once I got back to the gym, I hit it even harder!

Anything you want in life is obtainable by hard focus and determination.


Me: So what are you doing now to further your goals?

Max: Currently still grinding a pushing limits! I am also trying to become a personal trainer and would love to motivational speaking to help others!

Me: Who inspired you to finally make a change?

Max: At the beginning I just started for me, but throughout this process I have found huge influence, and one of the biggest would be my boy ET. Hearing his speeches changed my whole outlook, and really lock down that focus, Also Giavanni Ruffin ! His ambition to succeed is amazing. He is a good role model for hard work,  and seeing what it takes to perfect the you!  Im also a huge skier, I love it with a passion, and my all time favorite skier is Tanner Hall.  He has over come 2 signifigant injuries to where no body thought he'd ever fully recover, but he put in that work through had his road blocks he's coming back.


Me: You want to become a Personal Trainer now that you've lost so much weight & literally saved your own life; what do you want to say to inspire those who are currently struggling with their weight?

Max: I would like to tell you guys your not alone out there, people change their lives for the better all the time, YOU CAN DO THIS!! Keep grinding, stay focused and never, ever let someone tell you you can't do something. Make sure your doing it whatever it maybe for your self and the right reasons because if your doing it for someone else or the wrong reasons it will never stick.

Throughout your journey you will hit road blocks, might even go backwards, but never let your self get down because one bad meal, one bad work out wont ruin month/yrs of work. So stay positive and hold your self accountable because in the end your only lying to/hurting your self.



So there you have it! To all of my clients & readers, make sure to check Max out on Twitter!

@MaxBradley70
@EricThomasBTC
@Giavanni_Ruffin
@TannerHall











*Disclaimer *
I am in no way affiliated with Eric Thomas or Giavanni Ruffin, or any other name mentioned in this blog, other then looking up to them as motivators and life changers! I am simply using this opportunity to help Max further get his story out via my blog, provide opportunity and knowledge to Max in the fitness and speaking reals through my website, and reach my clientele and 8000 viewers in hopes to motivate them regardless of their current struggle! Links to all websites on here are courtesy links to give credit where it is due.


Monday, October 15, 2012

Inspired By Purpose: Provoking Success in an Ambitious Generation

Hi everyone!

As most of you know, I have an upcoming website that is due to launch in January: Inspired By Purpose. Since we have put out our logo contest, we have been receiving emails asking for clarification on EXACTLY what our website is all about! So, here is the layout of our site, goals, vision, and how we are turning our idea into reality!


What is Inspired By Purpose (IBP)?

 An online speaking community for aspiring motivational & public speakers to develop public speaking skills through video and feedback. But, this isn’t just for aspiring speakers! Any entrepreneur or anyone looking for motivation, can gain exposure through not only speaking but also writing, art, and music on our site. 

 What is Our Goal?

Our goal is to provide opportunities to those who are searching for a positive environment to grow in!

Many of you want to grow, but your environment isn’t helping you with that. You’re not sure what do to, where to go, or how to change it, so we want to create a positive space to anyone, anywhere. We are creating an environment that will change the face of our generation!


Our Vision

Develop leaders through peer review and feedback of videos, create opportunity for interns and other developing leaders to be featured, and encourage you through your process by spreading motivation through our speaking engagements! We aspire to create an environment for all young people to pursue dreams without limitations! No matter what your passion, you can use your gifts to make a career and great life for yourself! We’re aiming for the top, and we want to share our insight and resources with you! It’s all about building each other up!


What is Your Benefit?

There is no better place to come together then with like-minded people who have ambitions and high aspirations for themselves & their lives! We know it can be hard to find, so this site is your community!

You will get mentorship, answers to questions, career and life questions, network with like-minded people, gain support & inspiration during your growth process; as well as get exposure for your craft, and peer review on your work. 


How did this Idea Develop?

We see that there’s a HUGE need for positive environments to be created for our generation because we are the ones personally living it! We are young and on our journey too, and we developed this site to support one another through the process of growth in our goals, and encourage you to do the same. It is possible! Too many people sit back waiting for something to happen, but we are proof that you can make it happen!

I personally, have had many affirmations in my life this last year that I am being called to motivational speaking; as well as consulting and career development. Thanks to Eric Thomas aka ET THE HIP HOP PREACHER and his feedback to an email  I sent him about my ideas, and inspiring lives of others; this idea has come to manifestation. Eric (as busy as he is), graciously emailed me back with some advice, and told me to "Get on it!" From there, I have taken my idea and visions and have been running full throddle!

In recent months, I have joined forces with my partner and friend, Martin Lewis who is extremely dedicated, and has the same visions as I do. Through our partnership we have been able to catalyze this process, merge our ideas, and to deliver this site to you! This is our passion, and what we feel called to do. As we transition our lives from the corporate world, to our gift and calling, we realize that we also need development in this area. We also will use the website for our own development, and to fine tune our gifts; while helping our generation realize that instant gratification is not possible for successful people! We must all WORK at it.


Current Contest

Logo Contest!  We are looking for artists, graphic designers, and creative minds to develop our logo and be featured on our site for an indefinite period of time! Please follow us on Twitter & Facebook for detailed guidelines, submission information, and a printable flyer!







LIKE US: Inspired By Purpose (Community Page)






The time is always NOW!
Don't worry about the HOW, just keep faith that you are called for a purpose.
We are INSPIRED BY PURPOSE.



Feedback is welcomed through Blogger comments & contact info provided. Only serious inquiries will be reviewed.


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Motivation: We All Need It

Every day that I encounter people, I pass by them in the grocery store, talk with someone on the phone, listen to conversations, watch people workout, and even see how people interact with each other; I realize one thing - We all need motivation!

Haven't you experienced it? You smile at someone, but all they do is look down and keep walking? Or youlisten to someone complaining all the time about every situation that goes wrong in their life? Or maybe you are at the gym, and you see the person who only attends classes and darts out the door after because they need some personal motivation?






We can all agree that we live in a world where nothing comes easy, and bad things do happen to good people. Despite the bad things that happen, there are always good things that happen too. Often times, the good is all in our perception.

For example,

Eric Thomas (Author, Lifecoach and Motivational Speaker) used an example in his book The Secrets to Success of a time when he ran away from home, and how his perception of school changed almost instantly. He said:

"Just three days ago the only reason I wanted to be in school was for the girls, field trips, or a pep rally. Now I couldn't wait fo rthe doors to open. I needed to get out of the cold and get into a place where I felt safe."  p 35

It's amazing how the same circumstance we perceive in our emotional self to feel "good" or "bad" to us depends on our mental state of being, our needs, and our maturity. So the next time something "bad" happens to you, think about WHY you perceive that as bad. What is it about the occurence that doesn't make you feel good? That is, WHY you don't feel good about it.

All of us have our struggles, our series of life events that hinder us and try to keep us down, but I`m telling you that YOU have more control then you think! Too many people accept that they are merely depressed, have bad luck, they'll always be broke, or nothing will ever go right for them. This is false and negative talk!

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Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. DaLai Lama

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Testimonial: Meet Aleta Simmons aka Leeta

Age: 28

Pounds Lost : 28

Backstory: Mother, Wife, Tattoo Lover, Former Quitter, Current Inspiration



THEN
NOW

Having a difficult time believing in yourself? Have you given up? Well, meet Leeta! A wife, mother and former quitter...



Leeta's Story:


I have never been very athletic when it comes to sports, but I grew up dancing and went to a very competitive performing arts high school. After 13 years though, it took a toll on my body, especially my knees. After graduating, I never danced again. I tried here and there to build a regular fitness routine, but nothing ever stuck. I had almost constant pain in my knees and couldn't find any exercises that helped; to make it worse, the best advice I got from doctors was "if it hurts, don't do it." Eventually I just gave up.



When I had my daughter 8 years ago, I gained 55 pounds during pregnancy. Though I lost most of the weight, I know what I gained caused further damage to my already weakened joints. Several years later, I started gaining weight again, and I'm not even sure why. I just became less and less active and steadily gained about 10 pounds a year over the last 3-4 years. When I did try to work out, I got discouraged quickly. One trainer several years ago even told me not to even try to run on a treadmill with my knee problems but to stick to other equipment.

During the summer of 2011, I started thinking about joining a gym again. I wasn't even concerned with how my body looked at that point, but I knew I was unhealthy. I was tired all the time, my stomach always hurt, and I knew it was time to do something, but I still lacked actual motivation. In January of 2012, two friends of mine mentioned they were going to check out a gym in town, and I asked if I could tag along. None of us even planned on signing up for a membership that day, but we all did and agreed we'd go together on a regular basis. We met with a trainer there who wrote out a 20 week program for us, noting our goals and listing what cardio and strength training we should focus on every day.

I didn't even start this year with a goal. In fact, I didn't even take any "before" pictures of myself because I never expected to see the results I do now, 8 months later. Little by little, I realized there was a lot I could do to succeed. I paid more attention to the types of foods I was eating and how often; I'm a vegetarian, so I have to be very conscious of getting enough protein in my diet. When I first started working out, I was exhausted and hungry ALL THE TIME.




In June, I started taking Channell's free to the community, Shape Up Reno Bootcamp, and I feel like that really kick-started my body. I had definitely made progress by then and begun losing weight, but I feel like my weight loss has been supercharged and much more steady over the last 3 months. I've only been weighing myself about every 3 weeks, and have been down 3 pounds each time the last several times I've weighed. To date, I have now lost 28 pounds since January of this year. I now feel like I have a clearer goal in mind, and for the first time it seems possible. A year ago I would have told you I couldn't run from my bedroom to the front door if my house was on fire; now I go for regular jogs around my neighborhood on days I don't make it in to the gym!

As I mentioned, I didn't start this because I was necessarily upset with how I looked, but I wasn't happy with how I felt. Now I feel healthier, I'm stronger than I've ever been, and I'm certainly not complaining about the 3 sizes I have shed!


- Johann Wolfgang