It is Never Too Late to Get Fit

It is Never Too Late to Get Fit

fitness motivation get fit goals Mental Fitness never too late never too old never too sick

Getting fit and sporting a hot body is not just for the twenty-somethings.  It is never too late, things are never too bad, never too far gone, and we are definitely never too old to become our best healthy self.  Our minds can play evil tricks on us and  make us believe our goals are unattainable.  That simply is not the truth and the first step that needs to happen is to change the thoughts about our life and body and begin the process of kicking out the mental clutter.

Once we begin each day with a positive focus and have faith in what we want to accomplish, we are ready to make the goals come true.  It will be a daily choice to not give in to old patterns, old doubts and fears, and self sabotage.  This will be a time of inner strength development and facing all the crap that held you down for so long.  It will be an emptying of the old self into the trash and an awakening of the new stronger you ready to make things happen.

Each day is a new opportunity to change and make decisions that will bring us closer to reaching our fitness goals.  Start with small realistic goals like losing 10 pounds or registering to walk your first 5K.  Begin keeping a food journal to honestly see your eating habits and then get tough with yourself and start eating healthier foods.  Plan an exercise time on your calendar and do not skip out because it is important and you are worth the effort.  The simple steps of eating right, exercising 3 to 4 times per week to start, maintaining a food journal, and keeping a positive attitude will provide the results you want.

Do not think that this is a quick fix and mentally prepare for a lifestyle change. Regardless of the time, it will pass anyway so you might as well be working on health improvement.  This is not about perfection but always progress as we strive each day to be healthy.  Self pity will not be your friend and not an excuse to throw in the towel.  There will be days when it feels really hard and you may even want to give up but know that you are stronger than that.


Hot bodies are earned not given and believing this goal can happen at any age or circumstance is half the battle.  You are now armed to put in the physical work and fuel your body with the right foods to achieve your goals.

Helpful Tips:

• Eat a wide variety of healthy foods that include lean proteins, good carbohydrates and healthy fats.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Get to bed at a decent hour and try for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
• Exercise 3-4 times per week to start and progress as you get stronger.
• Include weight resistance training 1-2 times per week to start.
• Keep a food journal for accountability... be honest with yourself.
• Dump the junk food and replace with healthy food options.
• Pay attention to portion sizes and read food labels.
• Eat several small meals per day and do not allow yourself to feel hungry.
• Weigh in only one time per week, pay attention to how your clothes are fitting, and how you look naked. 
• Make time for prayer and positive self talk to keep up the motivation.
• Set realistic small goals to start like losing 10lbs or signing up to walk your first 5K. 
• Hire a qualified personal trainer for guidance and motivation if going it alone feels too overwhelming.

Read my article "Training for My First 5K: What Do I Eat?" on About.com for even more great information on healthy eating and reaching personal goals.

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Stay Healthy!
Darla

TRAIN SMARTER NOT HARDER

TRAIN SMARTER NOT HARDER

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I like to make the most of my precious time and that means having a focused exercise program that fits into my schedule, and works best for my body.  I believe in quality not quantity, and using exercise movements that challenge me to change me, but do not hurt me.  It is not a fun place to be when exercise brings about injury and especially when that injury stops me from doing what I like to do.  I do not even like to feel a nagging pain that I know was caused from a certain move I should have avoided, but the push to want was greater than listening to what my body was telling me at the time. It is those types of constant and repetitive things that can bring about a chronic issue and I say no thank you to that. What it comes down to is training “smarter and not harder.”

I do not need to prove anything to anyone, and I do want to maintain a healthy body that not only looks good but feels good for the duration of my life. What that means is keeping my routine simple, smart, and effective to get the job done.  That is all that is required to keep my body healthy, happy, and feeling good overall.  Our bodies are fabulous machines that appreciate smart maintenance through movement and premium fuel for energy.  On the other side of that coin, a body that is in a constant state of extreme abuse will experience wear and tear, and eventual break down that does not feel good in the years to come. 

Smart training consists of challenging the anaerobic and aerobic systems, strength and endurance, stabilization and flexibility of our bodies. Simple programs can accomplish all of these goals and are necessary to create and maintain a healthy physique.  The challenge does not have to be gut wrenching, feel like death kind of stuff, but simply pushing our bodies above the physical limits of what is considered our “normal” status.  Standing would turn into brisk walking for 30 minutes for example, or WOGing (walk/jogging). Now combine that with body moves like squats, lunges, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and stretch program and a smartly balanced program has been achieved. 

When physical training is looked at simply and smarter, it does not feel so overwhelming.  When the “hard” is taken out of the equation, a whole different mental game can be applied and a more positive outlook of “I can do this” now enters the picture. The beauty about training smart is an easier time creating programs that best fit our bodies and provide the results that make us healthy people.  No competitions, except with being our best healthy self and better than the day before because we are experiencing the benefits of smart training. 

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I AM A GUIDE NOT A GOAL

I AM A GUIDE NOT A GOAL

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I like that saying and it takes me back to when I was in junior high and high school.  I did not always feel the best about myself, but there was always a special motivation that came from my physical education teachers and coaches.  They made me feel accomplished, encouraged, and inspired me to do more and be more.  It was at that young age that I wanted to be like them, to be able to offer to young people that feeling of inner strength, confidence and overall happiness.  Presto...my goal in life was to be a P.E. teacher.  Of course I could not climb into their bodies and become them but imagining being them was pretty awesome in my younger years.  In my twists and turns of life, I am doing my passion on a broader spectrum than in a high school gym setting and I feel great about that.

 

The thing about life, mentors, and motivators is to understand the concept of guides, and yes to have goals.  The goals belong to each of us however, and admiring someone for blessing our lives in a positive way is absolutely fabulous, and even being inspired to work in a field of enjoyment, well life does not get any better.  The point I am getting to in this blog write is the importance of accepting the gift from a guide BUT having the ability to strive for our own goals and to achieve our own dreams. I am a guide and motivator for many people and I appreciate and am touched by all the wonderful feedback I receive on a daily basis. Now, I am going to get deeper here with you on this subject.  I am a guide NOT a goal, and I am speaking more about the physical appearance of Darla and what that may mean to you, how it affects you, what it makes you think about, how it motivates or not, etc. 

 

In my early competitive days, I admired Mia Finnegan and man did I want a body like hers.  I followed all the nutrition plans and extreme workouts to make that happen...but I was not her.  Why was I not good enough at that time?  It probably did not help to be scrutinized and judged on a stage by people I did not know, who were ready with pen in hand to tear apart the body that I worked so hard to put together.  It was at that time that I realized the politics that can and do exist in competition, but putting that aside, feelings of inadequacy and lack of confidence can break a person in such circumstances.  My point again...I would never be Mia Finnegan and what a letdown, but also a light bulb moment of time to love ME for ME.  So, I do understand when guides get skewed out of position and even placed on a pedestal, but you know what, we are all just people. I am no more special than you are, and doing what I do is a passion that I want to provide as a gift of motivation for you. 

 

 

If you have noticed, I am cautious and conservative about posting self-images.  When I do post "selfies", I want them to be meaningful, motivational, and touch a chord of inner strength within YOU that says...I CAN DO THIS.  With all the society pressure of wanting to look like or be someone we are not, it is even more important for guides such as me to be clear in communication of how unhealthy that is.  The purpose is to PLEASE ADAPT A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, not to cause feelings of insecurity and discouragement.  I know this is a "you can't please everyone" world and even what I am writing may come across as offensive to one and motivating to another.  I am here to motivate and celebrate living a healthy life with you and that is what I will clearly communicate.

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATION

 

 



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Stay Healthy



Darla