It Is Not Always Easy

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Great Place to Meditate...On the Water

It is true…life is not always easy for me…are you kidding.  I am just like many of you…a woman, wife, mother, daughter, a friend…who just happens to walk the talk of fitness with my occupation as a personal trainer and writer.  I have up and down days mentally and emotionally…and YES…I do experience burn out with my workouts.  One of my favorite life quotes is this “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it”.  I came across this quote from a school project that my son made in junior high and it has really stuck with me…my son is now 23.  You see, I have realized through my journey of becoming a healthy person that the only thing that can be controlled, is how I think, feel, and respond to life’s circumstances and I have learned to let go of the rest.  Being healthy has not only been a journey of the physical but also the emotional for me…as I am sure with most of you.  However…this Blog is about me to motivate you…and this is indeed a personal share.  I do not believe in perfection but I do believe in being the BEST ME everyday…what does that mean.  One of my fabulous new clients just shared this quote…”You Do Not Have to Get an “A” Everyday”…WOW…now that is a revelation for someone like me who can be an overachiever.  This is a step back statement that says…when I have a down day…it is OK…I am not perfect, never will be.  If I were perfect, I would not be existing on this planet now would I?    What the heck does this have to do with maintaining my physique, fitness and nutrition…absolutely everything.  Attitude is huge in life and really dictates how I am going to proceed with my day.  I can choose to be a bitter, angry person, full of non-forgiveness and YUCK or I can choose to be a person with the potential to learn and grow in a positive way from every moment in life.  I choose door number 2…that is healthy for me.  OK…on the days that I feel down and need motivation…I pray, read the Bible, talk with my hubby, or trusted friend…and then I am able to get my positive groove on for the day. 

If my attitude is not in the right place and I am not responding healthy, I would be a person unable to help people…I would not be a good choice to come see for a healthy lifestyle.  I mean really…would you want to entrust your health to a person that was unhealthy in any sense of the word…sadly, many people walk around emotionally unhealthy without anyone knowing.  That is the kicker…boy am I jumping around…but that is me with writing…I put down my feelings…the Real Darla Deal. Getting back to why this is important…it is my attitude about life and how I respond to it that lifts me up, that motivates me, that keeps me moving in a positive direction, that helps me be the BEST me every day with my nutrition and my fitness.  I choose NOT to give up in despair but to persevere through life.  Life will bring challenges…I have faced many and I will continue to do so…but how I choose to respond will be the key to my healthy self.  I am just like you with the struggles of life, injuries, finances, economy, illness, family crisis…and every other life bump that comes along….but what has always remained important is how I respond. I can tell you this…it may be hard to get my backside on my ARC trainer on a down day, but after I get going…it does become easier…and then a whole different attitude kicks in and I start using this time to think through things, and before I know it, 45 minutes are done, several calories burned, my clothes are soaked…and I feel pretty darn accomplished…now this is Fabulous Response to Life’s Circumstances…Right On Darla! 

What I am really trying to bring home here is that life is about balance and health includes the emotional as well as the physical…and when one is out of sync…the machine will not work properly…I hope that makes sense.  I Blog to you on a down day and YES…I started my morning with an early cup of coffee and my Bible reading outside and enjoying my cat nibbling my toes…after 20 minutes of quiet time taking in this moment…I felt energized, fresh and better equipped to start my day…and YES….I rode my ARC trainer for 45 minutes…is everything perfect…NO…never will be…but I will tell you this…Life is Good. Stay Healthy!

Motivation of the Day: Life is 10% What Happens to You and 90% How You Respond To It

Me

My Work out of the Day:

ARC trainer 45 minutes ~ Strength Level 3/Intervals

My Nutrition of the Day:

Fabulous Cup of Verona Coffee

1-Pre-workout shake

2-Post-workout shake

3-Egg Whites on Sprouted Bread, 1 peach

4-3 slices Peppered Turkey Breast & ¼ cup raw walnuts/cranberries/sunflower seeds

5-Spinach Salad topped with Grilled Chicken Breast, EV Olive Oil & Balsamic

6-Protein Pudding

Meal 5

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I Use BOTOX…YEP YEP YEP

I use BOTOX

Do You Like My Blog, Offer Me a Protein Shake…

YEP…the cat is out of the bag…I use BOTOX…OH MY Darla…really?  Yes, every 3 months I attend my standing appointments to maintain my 47 year young self…do I enjoy having it done…absolutely NOT…it is very uncomfortable…but I enjoy the results.  What the heck Darla…OK...let me break this down for you.  Do I see a cosmetic specialist to have this procedure done…a BIG NO…who do I see…My Neurologist.  YES…I have BOTOX injections to alleviate the pain, discomfort, and tension that come with having Torticollis or another name…Cervical Dystonia.  As I have shared in my bio, I have endured injury and along with that…early onset Torticollis, a genetic disorder that may have presented later in my life, but with trauma…oops here it is…early…YUCK…but out of my control.  It is one of those things that I MUST accept and love about myself.  At first, I was so embarrassed about it, because with the disorder comes cervical tremor…the late great Kathryn Hepburn also had the disorder.  I felt like one of those bobble dogs you see sitting on a car dash…lol…  I have to laugh at life and I am no longer hiding who I am and this is a part of me…so if I am a bit shaky sometimes and having a not so good day…oh well…goes with my program.  I have responded well to the BOTOX treatment, and can actually say that it is being used for a fabulous purpose.  Did you know that BOTOX is used to treat medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, migraines, back pain, excessive sweating, weak bladders, and enlarged prostate glands.  I have to honestly say that I could not sit there and have this stuff injected in my face or anywhere else for that matter just for fun thinking it might give me some youthful rewind…YUCK…and further remove my ability to have facial expression when I talk or laugh…OH, hell to the Big NO.  That is just how I feel however and not to offend.  Besides, when that huge needle is penetrating different layers of muscle to get to the root spasm…OMG…it hurts like no other…and to sit through several injections…well, again…no way to elective “I want to have no lines on my face” BOTOX… No, No, and again, No….and the stuff is outrageously expensive…I can’t believe that thousands of dollars are shelled out per treatment and if elective…that is out of pocket…a BIG NO way for this frugal girl.  I am so excited to share that BOTOX IS used for positive benefits such as treating my condition and many others…I experience relief with tremor, reduced pain, tension, and everything YUCK that goes along with Cervical Dystonia. 

Typical Injection Sites for My Cervical Dystonia

  

Relaxing on the Boat Last Week...Life Balance is Key!

 Of course, exercising in addition also provides a stress reducer and endorphin release that provides natural healing that keeps me calm, relaxed, and since Torticollis can be negatively affected by stress…It is important for me to exercise often…and I DO!!!  Why do I write about this…because I am REAL, and I AM who I AM… OPEN…and willing to share my life with you…wanting you to know that everything is possible with limitations and medical conditions.  This is actually the very first time that I have disclosed in depth regarding my Cervical Dystonia and I hope that it reaches many that suffer with the same condition and provides hope to not be ashamed or embarrassed.  Life is too short not to embrace each moment given…it truly is like that.  I take each moment and in that moment, I WILL be my BEST ME…I persevere through the storms and walk strong …do I have fears…who doesn’t…but my Hope, my Strength, and my Will always prevail.  WOW…deep stuff, so on the lighter side of my life…today is a very good day and I am into month 2 of my injections and I feel…whoop whoop FABULOUS!!!  This weeble wobble refuses to fall down.  Now off I go to kick my bootie on the ARC trainer for 60 minutes, then hit my modified weight routine…You See…My Life is Real Good!!!

Motivation of the Day:  The Only Limits on Your Life are Those That you Set Yourself

My Workout of the Day:

60 minute ARC trainer cardio day

Watch my Video…Modified Exercise in My Cage

My Nutrition of the Day:

My Spinach Salad tossed with EV Olive Oil & Balsamic

Coffee, one cup with n/f creamer

Pre-workout shake

Post-workout shake

Egg white salad on high fiber wrap

½ cup mixed beans with salsa, topped with n/f Greek Yogurt

Protein Balls (almond butter, whey, cinnamon, raisins)

Large Spinach salad & Grilled Salmon

1 Graham cracker with peanut butter

Personal Share:  Celebrating my 1^st Anniversary on September 15 married to my fabulous husband ~ My partner, my friend, my support, biggest fan, cheerleader, and My Forever and a Day Love ~ Thank you Babe for being such a wonderful man & I am happy to celebrate this day and look forward to years of Stay Healthy Happiness with YOU;)

Don & Darla Leal, Happily Married September 15, 2010

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STAY HEALTHY!

Looking Past Rotten and Seeing Potential

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I See Potential!!!

Now that is an opener for you…I have to say that I absolutely love rotten fruit…well, not completely over the top rotten…but most definitely very over-ripe, brown tinged, fragrant sitting on my counter fruit.  What do I see???  I see potential…I see that with some blending and mixing that I can create wonderful healthy foods.  I look past the rotten and into the beautiful creation of OMG…this is over the top fabulous (one of my fav words) and so good for me.  YES…I even maintain a positive attitude about rotten fruit…do I toss it…NO WAY…it has potential…potential to become something better than before. This can apply to who I am as a person as well…when I was injured…did I toss in the towel…throw myself away….give-up…NO, NO, and again…NO. I saw potential with a little mixing and blending of different therapies and exercise, I DID become better than I was.  So, YES…do I go over the top about such things as rotten, over-ripe fruit…well...YES…that is ME.  I savor every small thing in life because they are truly the big things…and tonight…the rotten overripe fruit is the BIG thing that I am going to create something very special with. 

What Do You See?

 I also think…why throw away a perfect piece of rotten fruit…OH MY…what a waste of $$$$...and I am not about doing that.  In fact, as I have shared in the past, I am all about saving every penny I can, clipping that coupon, and the deals…RIGHT…who does not want a DEAL.  OK…off that save money by saving the rotten fruit soap box.  Getting back to what I am doing with two rotten bananas and pears…creating another version of my Stay Healthy Omega Muffin.  If you have been following me, you know my passion for creative Stay Healthy cooking and baking.  It is truly therapy for me.  After a long work day, I find it so much fun to make a B-line to the kitchen and let the juices flow…no pun intended…but in a way…YES.  Having a passion in life is so important with the balance of who I am….I truly enjoy working in my passion which to me is not really working.  My sharing of Stay Healthy recipes is also a way I can reach out and motivate people to please get healthy and Stay Healthy with the one life that we all have.  So…if that means saving rotten fruit and sharing what can be done to create healthy snacks…I will click on that video to do just that…share my passion for cooking, share the enjoyment of healthy baking, and showing the outcome of living this way….PRICELESS.  I hope that this Blog comes to mind the next time you have rotten overripe fruit on your counter…and can look past the blemishes and into the potential that something better can happen with a little blending and mixing.

Motivation of the Day: You Do Not Have to Get an “A” Everyday ~ a Great Client Share

Workout of the Day:

Cardio Time: 45 Minutes ARC Trainer

Ended with Ball Work for my Core/Stretch

Stay Healthy Omega Muffins

Nutrition of the Day:

Coffee, one cup

Stay Healthy Banana Omega Muffin

Post Workout Shake & ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds

Egg Whites, palm of raw nuts, watermelon slice

Grilled Salmon

Stay Healthy Banana Pear Omega Muffin x 2 ~ fresh baked from the oven

Here to Motivate YOU!!!!

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Stay Healthy!

I Wear a String Everyday

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I Wear A String!!!

I absolutely LOVE my string…when I wear it, I feel strong, balanced, and sexy.  I would not go anywhere without it…I wear it all day long when I am at home or on the go.  It is so important for my everyday functions for work and play.  So….what the heck am I talking about…the String…really Darla…my string is my imaginary connection to the ceiling from my upper chest that maintains correct posture all the time.  My body just like all bodies is adaptable to the functions it performs.  If I were to sit all day slouched into my computer, standing with my shoulders slumped forward, driving all crooned into the dash board, or hunched over cardio equipment…YIKES…would I be in serious muscle dysfunction.  My anterior muscles of the chest, front deltoids (shoulders), neck muscles, and even core would become tight and adapt to that position…YUCK for the lungs as well…all crunched up and not able to deliver great oxygen supply to my body…OK..NO WAY. 

Do I have my String On?

  Also, do I want to be a person who stands humped over…OK...BIG NO…not healthy, not sexy, not ME.  Let’s talk about what would happen to my back muscles…overstretched & loose to accommodate the slump…Forget it people…NO WAY.  So, I prefer to pretend that my string is attached to the ceiling from my sternum area just like a puppet…walking, working, exercising, sitting, standing, driving all in perfect posture and to maintain great body balance & avoid muscle tissue dysfunction.   

Posture Check

This is not about being vain & cocky walking with my chest puffed out…certainly not about that…it is about beautiful posture.  I have talked with so many women especially who want to hide let’s say large breasts or small breasts so they adjust their posture to ensure that all is hidden…OK…on a soap box here…STOP DOING THAT!!!!  All bodies are genetically different and we need to embrace that, stop hiding, and LOVE who we are and please start wearing that FABULOUS STRING…get that chest out, walk proud, be confident, accept yourself…and feel on top of the world.  I have to admit when I first starting wearing my string it was a conscious effort of maintaining it all the time.  I had to constantly check myself and before long, it became automatic, and is now a part of what I do to maintain my 47 year young physique.  When I wear it I can feel my core contracted and strong, the ability to take large full breaths filling my tissues with fabulous oxygen, confidence and of course...I feel very tall…lol.  Such an important topic….posture… and now you know the secret behind my STRING…it is FABULOUS and part of my Stay Healthy Life and the BEST part…now you can wear one;)

Motivation of the Day: “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one.”

Workout of the Day: (neck is flared :/ so limited on the upper body this week)

ARC Trainer 45 min

Body Stuff:

Variety body weight legs

Squats/variety lunges/step ups: 20 reps each exercise x 4

Nutrition of the Day: (Enjoy the Video)

Coffee: Great one cup on an early morning

Protein Shake

Pumpkin Seeds & Home-made Protein cookie

Post- Workout Shake (watermelon)

Egg Salad on Thin bun

Grilled Chicken Breast Patty & Corn (Super YUM!!!)

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Stay Healthy!