Kamis, 06 September 2012

FIT TO BE TIED

FIT TO BE TIED

YEP…I am FIT to be TIED…all in a very good way of course. Since my wedding anniversary is this month, I thought it would be FITTING to talk about fitness, marriage and anything else that may pop into my head as I put these thoughts together.

First let me say that I consider my marriage to Don as one of the most defining successes in my life…it has taken half my life to get to this place, but the journey was worth the prize and I thank God every day for such a fabulous man to share my life. I love that word…SHARE…and the beautiful part is that my journey in this life continues in a new way, as I grow daily as my own person, but also right alongside my partner, friend and husband. Does that mean that everything is perfect, fairytale adventure, Cinderella land…well of course not…what it does mean is that through this journey of life, the challenges brought our way are now met with a fabulous combination of what two people bring to the table, faith that is shared, and a depth of connection that feels stronger than steel.

OUR WEDDING DAY

Whew…deep stuff but important at the same time. Now let’s get down to being fit and marriage and you know me…say it like it is gal with my life to MOTIVATE you, but you know what…I love to write, have a passion to share and the two together just work…hence my Blog…and anything goes, so here it goes…

What the heck does fitness and health have to do with marriage…really??? OK…health and marriage go hand in hand in my opinion. Marriage certainly IS NOT a free pass to FRUMP land…OH MY and NO WAY. I really do not understand this mentality because it truly says I do not care about myself…and further shouts that I do not care about my spouse. Not for this girl…I do love myself and my spouse and believe that this temple of a body that I have been blessed with is going to continue to be blessed with healthy food, regular exercise and continue to be the BEST version of ME pre and post marriage. I mean there was an initial attraction that brought me and my hubby together, and I appreciated the respect and care he took of himself. That respect and care does not end at the “I Do” otherwise why not say “I Don’t”. I have heard both sexes say things like “Oh I am married now, so I do not have to impress anymore”… HOW SAD is that. I do not mean to offend in any way with my candid writing, but subjects like this get left on the back burners and not brought to the forefront.

I certainly believe that the couple that plays together, stays together…and I mean all physical activity whether a workout, walk, run, hike, tossing a ball around, Frisbee, water sports, playful wrestling and SEX! YES…I said it and YES…it is an important part of a healthy marriage, and studies show that a very active session can burn up to 200 calories…OH YEAH! Who does not want to feel sexy…I know I do…and being a healthy person is what helps fulfill this part of my life. There is no part of letting myself go that supports being and feeling sexy and in fact would strip me of my self confidence. I am being real here about health and marriage and I am definitely NOT going to fall into some nonsense idea that marriage ends my health, begins the era of over sized sweat clothes, and says goodbye to all the beautiful parts of who I am. I would have to say that it has enhanced it even more as I do want to be and feel sexy for my husband…am I saying I am being fit for him…NO…but in a way…YES. It all works together and the want to be healthy for myself spills into the importance of being healthy for him. I mean….really…who does not like to hear…BABE YOU ARE HOT!!!

The other part of being healthy and married is that I want to be with my hubby for as long as I can on this earth and taking care of me is not a guarantee, but definitely increases the probability that this will occur. Letting myself go for example comes with horrific side effects such as obesity, increased risk of disease, heart issues…and you know the list can go on and on….OK…BIG HELL NO to that. It comes down to a healthy respect for me, my husband, and our marriage. Sometimes I would like to shake some sense into the married ones out there and say “what the heck are you doing” and “what kind of examples are you setting for your little ones?” Marriage is definitely not about the “ball and chain, never going to be happy again, with the same person, there goes the sex life, no more friends, what a nag, etc.” and if you are thinking like this as a married person…WHY?

Marriage is a CHOICE just like taking care of our health is a CHOICE and both are wonderful journeys that are happening simultaneously…take care of it, respect it, love it, treat it the way it should be treated and the reward is happiness and health for as long as the RIGHT CHOICES continue. I know the more I treat both my health and marriage with these qualities, the happier I am as a woman and wife. Getting back to being fit in the process…well that is a side effect of the healthy qualities that I incorporate daily and I WANT to last for my marriage lifetime.

Happy Anniversary to my fabulous husband “Forever and a Day”… for YOU, Donnie!

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS

The Gift is in the Giving, and for a very limited time only, to celebrate My Anniversary, YOU, Health, Happiness and Stay Healthy Fitness, my Stay Healthy Fitness Nutrition Guide will be emailed to you for a $10 donation. Thank you all for the many MOTIVATIONAL comments, notes of appreciation, and emails sent to me through all my online mediums. I read and respond to each and every one and hearing that I have helped YOU is YOUR gift to me. Many Blessings to YOU and Stay Healthy!

Senin, 27 Agustus 2012

I AM HEALTHY, NOT OBSESSED

I believe in being healthy when it comes to exercise and eating “clean” for the large percentage of my week. Why do I bring the word obsessed into this picture…well...here it is in a nutshell…just as with anything else, too much of anything or an obsessive attitude can bring about an unhealthy balance in life…regardless of how good it is. If I was spending hours on end exercising, putting exercise above everything in my life to the point of letting it interfere or negatively impact my life, relationships, and self…NO GOOD. I mean really…can you imagine if a scenario went like this…I am invited for the day to relax at a spa with hubby, or attend an important function with my family and I said nope … gotta exercise, or I need to be late so that I can get my workout in…OK…now that would be OBSESSIVE.

I am not saying that exercise is not important, it definitely is a lifestyle along with my nutrition, but I am talking about for example…the old habits of Darla from my competition days, and sometimes modeling where obsessive did enter the picture now and then. Not cutting myself any slack with food and working beyond my physical means…YUCK. What the heck was I thinking…my A1 personality type was definitely on hyper mode during my “obsessive” days. What I am saying is that a good thing can be overboard or “obsessive” and cause more harm than good…in all aspects of life…physical, mental, and spiritual. Probably the worst would be complete burnout of a repeated behavior…my fitness would be a “have to” instead of a “want to”…OH MY and NO WAY. I want my healthy life to be a fun “lifestyle”, maintainable by consistent exercise and healthy food intake for the majority of the time…something I look forward to doing and just feel weird if I don’t.

My Fabulous Friend and Hubby

I am so glad to be in a much more relaxed “older, wiser, better” place with balance and I truly enjoy all moments in life. I am not going to lie and say that I never struggle with letting go of a day of exercise because sometimes I do…the rearing of old ugly habits knocking on my mental door. Thank goodness for a more relaxed hubby who balances me out really well when I need a verbal chat to bring the sometimes “Over Do It” Darla back to reality. Being healthy is definitely a FABULOUS description of my lifestyle…OBSESSED … well, when that word gets tossed my way…I greet it with a Stay Healthy Smile!

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS

Personal Share: I just got back from a mini vacation boat camping trip with my wonderful husband, son and soon to be bride....and a bonus...I ran into one of my best friends who was camping in the cove around the bend...now talk about a small cove... I mean world. We had such quality time with lots of swimming, great food and overall fun! YES...I we found another waterfall and my Mom will kill me (love ya Mom) as I frolicked about the falls and climbed on a few rocks;) Fitness is FUN and does not always have to be the same routine. I say be spontaneous, be a kid, splash around and laugh so hard that your belly hurts...LIFE IS TOO SHORT! Enjoy the pics and Stay Healthy~

Fun swim and climb to the falls with friends

GREAT FUN WITH FAMILY ~ I AM AN OUTDOOR STAY HEALTHY GIRL

OUR NEW FAVORITE COVE ~ BULLARD'S BAR

Night on the Water with my Son, his fiance and Hubby

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list. If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding!

Have a Fabulous Week!

Stay Healthy!

Darla:)

Kamis, 02 Agustus 2012

ENJOYING MY COFFEE BREAK

Charging the Hormones!

The warm mug cupped in my hand as the aroma drifts into my face, a sip here and there as I take in a morning peaceful moment all cuddled on the sofa with my feet tucked under myself…awww…sounds like a hallmark moment, or commercial that will definitely sell coffee…lol…but I am going to bring this to an abrupt HALT. OK…rewind to a few months ago when I woke to have my usual cup of coffee with splash of non-fat French vanilla creamer…ON MY…yes…can’t do coffee straight up, and to my unsettling surprise…REJECTED…OH MY…OH WHY. I do not know if you have ever experienced this, but all of a sudden I needed a coffee break…I mean a break from coffee…sniff sniff. Believe me I tried for two mornings in a row, and the same result…blahhhh…YUCK.

I was even feeling dragged down by the coffee and not perked up as usual…although I only drink half/calf anyway…but still…my body just was not feeling the love for the coffee. I do take a few sips from my hubby’s mug just to test drive and although OK…it is not driving me to grab my own mug down and pour a cup. Hmmmm….OK…I have been taking a break for at least 2 months now and I must say, I feel less tension, some weight loss (which I definitely do not need), and the added benefit of no stains on the pearly whites …at least for awhile. I am not saying I am giving up coffee…maybe it is the hot summer months that has put the kibosh on my morning time with my warm cup.

Studies show many health benefits in coffee and my one cup intake per day satisfied that…but now I will just have to make do with the rest of my healthy meals. I have to admit that when my body responded well to the caffeine…meaning OK…this girl is ready to workout…I enjoyed that. But truly, it got to where it felt like this backfired, and I no longer felt a surge of energy from the small amount of stimulant in a half/calf cup. So…this made it easier to give up for awhile and I must say that I am enjoying my coffee break.

When I feel a lack of energy now, I will not blame it on…man…I did not have my coffee…I can truly say…OK Darla…not enough rest, more recovery after that hard workout is needed, and the biggie as an almost 50 year young woman…HORMONE changes…YUCK. Yes, hormones have much to do with how peri-menopausal and menopausal women feel. I am definitely riding the peri journey right now and doing lots of research as my own health advocate. I will say that I am so happy that watermelon season is here and I am eating pumpkin seeds like no other.

I am not a woman who requires a JOLT to workout, so coffee on hold is OK in that area. I hear so many people say OH MY…I just don’t have the energy to workout without my caffeine or energy drink fix…really???? OK…why does anyone need to be dependent on something to function through a workout…this is not healthy. I can understand the occasional…man do I need a cup of coffee this morning, but when it becomes a dependence to function…not for this girl. I do look forward to when my body says OK…YAHOO…loving coffee but for now… I will enjoy my coffee break;)

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS

HAVE YOU BAKED THEM YET


MY FAVORITE PROTEIN COOKIE RIGHT NOW

MY FAMILY...I am the goofy one in the middle

Have a Fabulous Week!

Stay Healthy!

Darla:)

Rabu, 25 Juli 2012

SATISFACTION

Watermelons are BACK!!! YEAH

What a fabulous word…YES…I would have to say that I am content with a lot of things. I do not have to look for approval or contentment outside of myself, worrying about the whole “I am not good enough” thing. Maybe, when I was younger and not older and wiser like today, I would run around trying to please everyone, and put my own feelings aside and even to a non boundary fault…YUCK YUCK…and OH did I say YUCK. This journey I call life has blessed me with many discoveries of positive growth and has opened my eyes to seeing all that I have gone through as part of that process. If you have read my bio, you can understand a bit of what I am talking about.

I want to really dig deeper into my satisfaction though as it relates to my fitness and maintaining ME at 48. YES…I am serious about my health, maintain a good quality of life, and the outer shell benefits of that…of course…LOVE it. I would not be truthful with you if I did not admit that. The point I am trying to make is that I am content…I do not need to look further , to look better, to be thinner, to be leaner, to be more muscular…I am truly content with my work and maintenance feels over the top satisfying . I can and do get satisfaction each day as I live being the BEST me with all my limitations…I am GOOD.

I have been around the block to hear and see so many people who are not happy even when they reach their goals and even living their goals…meaning a healthy lifestyle…it is still not enough. It saddens me because that is a deeper issue…the one that haunts within, the one that may creep in from the past or be caused by the past or even the present. Let me tell you being a positive advocate for counseling, therapy, and woman of strong faith …this would be the time to visit that part of life…to see what the heck is going on to cause such unhappiness and nonacceptance of self. Been there, done that, and greatly appreciative of all that I have learned and having God on my side through the process…HIP HIP HOORAY, HEALED, and Happily Ever After Content!

Daughters are Fabulous

I look at myself and NO…no longer that 20 something that I see in both my daughter and stepdaughter…absolute peaches and cream skin beauties they are…WOW…I marvel in that for them. But that is how it is supposed to be…48 comes with love lines, and battle scars that I have earned from my journey of life, having children, surgeries, and the overall aging process…I mean really…am I supposed to look 20 something... A BIG NO…I am being real here…seriously…and I will not undergo any process on my face to take away the privilege and honor of being ME. Will I do my BEST to be my BEST…of course…I am trendy, not frumpy, and love to feel sexy. Being healthy satisfies all those things for me and that is who I want to be…ME.

I believe in the word “enough”, and when it comes to my fitness…it is good enough. Satisfaction applies to so many things in my life…the contentment of being healthy is just a part of Darla…I do not believe that the grass is greener on the other side, wanting to outdo the “Jones’” , and that more is better. I do believe in the saying “I may not have the best of everything but I make the BEST of everything I have”, that less is more, enjoying the simple things, in not sweating the small stuff, and in daily miracles. It is important for me to feel satisfaction, contentment, and value every moment...If I did not do that…I do not think that life would make sense. You may see Darla, the fitness expert, but let me introduce you to Darla, the satisfied person.