I thought this was pretty cool! Needs some work, but it's a start . . .

"I Can't . . . "

With 5 kids in the house, all under 11, there are 2 words I hear a lot:  "I can’t."  They are my two least favorite words.  I don’t believe them and make them figure it out.  I can understand hearing it from kids once in a while, but when I hear it from adults it drives me crazy:  "I can't afford it." "I've tried but I can't lose weight."  "I can't run."  "I can't stick to a healthy eating plan."  Kids have the excuse of never having seen certain situations and sometimes they can’t see a solution.  It is oftentimes very simple.  It is also common when they are asked to do something they don’t want to and think it will get them out of some task they do not desire to complete.  That will backfire and they learn a new skill and have more chores.

When adults use that excuse it is something entirely different.  What is really being said is, “I don’t want to," "I am unwilling to make the sacrifice to," "I've not been successful at this in the past," or “I’m afraid of failing.” What they fail to realize, is that they’ve already failed by speaking defeat.  There is little if any difference between quitting and never trying at all.  The end result is the same.  They are stuck in the exact same place as they were before. 

So how do you get out of that mindset or help someone get out of it?  With the kids I force them to figure it out and help them along when they need it.  It is harder with adults.  They already know that it can be done because they’ve seen others do it. They have in their mind that they can’t personally do it.  You see examples around you all the time of people that refused to accept failure.  You learn about it as you grow up in school.  How else would technology be where it is today?  Many things we use daily were once considered to be impossible and yet we live amongst them every day and accept them.  We weren’t born with wings yet we fly, we weren’t born with gills yet we can travel to the bottom of the sea. 

So as you look at that task in front of you that you have been avoiding for fear of not succeeding, remind yourself that you can do it.  You have to want to do it and if it’s important to you then you will figure it out.  There are people in your life that have done it, know how to do it, or will do it with you.  Use them to help you find success in these obstacles in your life.

Who Else Is Struggling??

I have been putting off this post for fear of disappointing those who come to this blog for inspiration and motivation, but have been OVERWHELMINGLY encouraged by those closest to me to go ahead and put it out there!

So here's my big confession!  I am absolutely SUCKING right now at my health and fitness!  I have NO motivation, I have not worked out in so many days I have lost count and I am feeling very depressed and lost at the moment!

Now, part of this is a long string of sickness making its way through my house; it started with me, went to my older son and took him out of school for 4 days, then spread to my youngest son, now my youngest daughter. . . it's been impossible for me to teach classes and almost impossible to meet with my private personal training clients and I have definitely not been sticking to my own workout program.  I am doing everything possible wrong right now -- not drinking water, not working out (barely getting out of bed!), not eating almost all day long then eating garbage in the evening.  I am literally the poster child for everything a fitness professional does NOT do!!

Of course I feel guilty and embarrassed to share that I'm an epic FAIL right now at leading a healthy lifestyle, so why am I sharing this?  Because I've given myself permission to just CHILL, just BE, and just do what I can to keep my boat afloat . . . cleaning up puke, making my way through laundry and being covered for most of the day in a human blanket of influenza . . . trying to keep some semblance of food supply to those who are still healthy in the household and attempting to keep the filth at bay so that we don't all succumb to botulism before Christmas.  Basically, if I can get a load of laundry and dishes done, feed whoever is expressing interest in food and check a few emails and take a couple of calls during the day, I'm calling it good.  Do not assume that I am omitting the mention of a shower or any personal hygiene for myself in that list of daily to-do's -- it just ain't happenin' right now.  Nor are workouts, nor is meal planning or even taking vitamins!  It's just not!  I'm sorry!

So, here's what I'm taking from all of this -- my friends have encouraged me to lay this out there for anyone who reads this blog so that a) you can see that I am human, and I definitely have my own personal trials in maintaining my own healthy lifestyle and b) sometimes with holidays, children and life you just can't live the ideal that you'd like to live.

On the flip side, I have been struggling mightily in the fourth quarter of 2012 with the balance between work/working out and the time and energy I have been devoting to my family.  I almost feel like this is the Universe telling me to slow down, sit back, snuggle my babies, watch endless episodes of Horseland and Strawberry Shortcake and play Angry Birds Star Wars for hours on end.  That's what my little feverish pukers want to do.  I can't make the sick go away but I can hold them and cue up the next level.  They want their mommy, and since that's all I can do to help, that's what I'm giving them.

I figure that, compared to last year at this time, I haven't gained any weight (as opposed to the 20 lbs. I packed on in cookies and eggnog during Holidays 2011), my tree is up and the house is fairly festive, I've done a little bit of Christmas shopping and the rest will get done . . . when it gets done.  I'm just over stressing out about this stuff and I'm getting back to the basics and taking things one day at a time!

Today I made a conscious effort to drink more water.  I've been so bad that my lips are cracking from dehydration, so that was number one on the list.  I got a new workout and bag of Shakeology in the mail, so I also went ahead and had a shake and asked my Dear Hubby to pick me up some fruit for add-ins.  So improved nutrition will continue tomorrow.  I will be training one client tomorrow and another Friday and have a group workout scheduled for Saturday, so I'll start up a new workout week tomorrow.  I got my big confession off my chest, so I've got a plan and I'm feeling better already!!

One last caveat to the "I'm a huge loser this week" blog post . . . although I have been tending to toddlers and toilets and not taking off thermals, much less trekking from my home, I am still getting a paycheck each week.  In fact, today's is my best of the year for some odd reason, which is fantastic since as I mentioned, I still have a mountain of Christmas shopping that remains.  This is the beauty and brilliance of a passive, residual income and not only have I not gained weight this December as I did last, but I haven't lost any financial ground this year as I have in year's past.  Even in December, even in a down economy, my business grows year over year and I continue to learn and grow as an entrepreneur and a fitness professional and continue to expand that business each quarter.

I mention this only because I know this current struggle is only temporary.  I know I will get back on track with my nutrition and fitness very soon and that when I do my business will continue to grow and thrive.  I have that hope, that goal, that light at the end of the tunnel and I know everything will be fine soon.  Even though I'm freaking out that I haven't exercised in, like, six days!!

If you are stuck but DON'T feel like you have a light or a hope then it's time to radically CHANGE the way you have been doing things.  If you are struggling with your fitness, your health, your finances, I can help you!  I can show you what I have done to keep those struggles as temporary setbacks, not as a way of life!  As you can see, I'm not doing it perfect 100% all of the time; there is room for human error!  I'm here to help, and only by helping others do I have the strength and motivation to help myself.

So tell me, what can I help YOU with??

Getting a Jump On Things. . .

Since I'm not a fan of waiting around for much of anything, I figured I'd get started on 2013 with my fellow "3%-ers" by creating our 2013 game plan and getting that started as of December first.  Who the heck ever said you had to wait until January 1st to start working on your life?  It's an ongoing process, isn't it?  So, it's not like it stops in the fourth quarter and picks back up four weeks from now.

This is actually not anything new or different for me, as I check in regularly with my accountability partner and we set weekly and 90-day goals with each other, but those goals do change all of the time as I grow, expand, learn and grow as an individual.  I am constantly in search of my true passion and true joy, the one thing (think Jack Palance in City Slickers) and the place in my life where I am fully present and feel the most fulfilled.  Right now, it's watching my 3-year old play Angry Birds Star Wars edition while we lay in bed together.  We're both sick and have been in bed all day!

But even though I'm under the weather and not doing MUCH today, I still feel it's a great opportunity to do some mental working out, even if I won't be running or lifting today.  So, I'm going to work on my 2013 Game Plan and be ready to discuss it on Tuesday with my group.

You want in?  You want to get started now?  Do you even know where to start?  If that's a yes, yes, and a no then you had better get in touch with me, quick!  December is almost here!  ;)

K.I.S.S.

Start off your Monday with a KISS!!  Are you feeling overwhelmed today?  Coming back to reality after a few days off, possibly a little overindulged after a holiday weekend, you're probably wondering, "How am I going to get everything done?  How many workouts do I have to put in to un-ring the Thanksgiving bell?"  Or, you may be thinking, "Forget it.  I'm just going to cruise until January and deal with the fallout after the first of the year . . . "

Well, there is certainly a middle ground, one that I plan on taking, and that is to Keep It Simple, Stupid!  I'm not going to go crazy and schedule 3 workouts a day for the next week, but I'm not going to throw in the towel, either.  In my fitness, business and personal/family life I'm going to just go back to the basics.  Do business trainings and calls.  Go back to contacting prospects and making phone calls.  Drink water, get sleep, take vitamins.  Just going to try to stick with the easy stuff so that the hard stuff gets easier!

Do you have a huge goal that's haunting you?  Have you reverse engineered it down to such minute detail that you know the step you need to take RIGHT NOW to be moving toward that goal??

If you need help with setting your business, fitness or life goals, talk to me!  I love to help people figure out what they need to do to achieve that next level!

Don't drown in overwhelm, Keep It Simple, Stupid!!  :)

Confucious say. . . 

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Damage Control!

OK, so now that the big day is over, how are you going to recover??  Take the rest of the weekend off?  Heck no!!  I thought I might blow it out for Thanksgiving (even though we did not do a traditional dinner, but made tacos instead!) so I decided to schedule myself a mega-workout on Friday.  The cool thing is since I'm helping organize and instruct it, I can invite all of my friends to come and "Burn Their Bird" with me!

Having friends to work out with is definitely a huge indicator of the success of a long-term fitness habit.  Setting goals with friends is an even stronger motivator to keep you on track, so during this time of year ESPECIALLY, find a friend, workout partner, hire a trainer or join an online accountability group but don't try to go it alone!!  There's far too much temptation with all of the candy, treats, goodies and drinking that goes on during the holidays, so set your goals and then share them with someone!  And, of course, if you need help, you can always call on Just Determination for the accountability you need!

What is today, again??

I feel like there was something I was supposed to do. . . but I can't quite put my finger on what it was . . . a Tuesday in November, hmmmm. . .

Well, of course I VOTED, silly!  Not that I think it makes a dang bit of difference, because I don't.  I vote because there are service people out there who have dedicated and in some cases sacrificed their lives to preserve my right to do so.  So, much like standing in silence for the National Anthem and removing one's hat for the Pledge, I vote out of respect for the sacrifice of others and for the love and reverence of my country.

That said, I believe this election will result in the same circumstance as all other elections that have come before it.  Someone will be sworn into the Office in January.  Possibly someone I don't agree with or care for, possibly someone who I think is an international embarrassment to our country, but I don't really have a lot of control over that.

What do I think will happen with the government and the economy in the next term?  Well, to paraphrase from the great Jim Rohn, it'll probably go something like this:  There will be a period of expansion, followed by a period of recession.  Then a period of great opportunity, followed by a contraction.

It was not that Jim Rohn had any great fortune telling abilities or a knack for seeing into the future.  Jim Rohn knew -- as do all successful business people -- that economies, governments and lives just operate in cycles. And his point was not whether the periods of recession or prosperity were long or short, or coming sooner or later, but rather that they are actually irrelevant to your personal success.

You see, I used to get all fired up about all of this political B.S. and felt as though it mattered who was in power as to how my personal financial life would go.  That I would not make money in a "down economy" but I would in an "up economy."  Through personal experience, lots of education, reading and coaching, I have come to realize that I have the power and ability to create my own reality, my own financial future and my own economic conditions, which is exactly what we have done here at Just Determination, doubling our business volume and profits during this economic recession.

So my point today in this post is, do not be a slave to the media, the pundits', the doomsayers' or the "experts'" opinions which are merely their own wishful thinking, half-cooked or vague guesses or feelings about the "general economic and political climate" of our day.  Live in YOUR world; create YOUR own reality, your own plan for the future, your own wealth.  Turn off the television, put down the newspapers and magazines and form your own opinions about the people who MATTER -- not celebrities or politicians, but your business partners, your family and your friends.  Work on yourself; read a personal development book or listen to Success Magazine audio CDs in your car, undertake a 30-day self-improvement plan or class or course.  Resources abound in ways you can enrich your knowledge, your skills, your health and your life.  Worry less about "free healthcare" and more about working out and teaching your family how to shop, cook and eat in a cost-effective, nutritious manner.  Start your own business and utilize tax deductions to avoid paying for government programs you don't support or believe in, if you feel that strongly about how the government is running the show.

If you're freaking out about social injustice, go volunteer.  Find a need, fill a need (yes, that is a line from Robots!  I have five kids, come on!)  Don't gripe, complain and wallow in negativity -- take action!  And I don't mean by voting, because that's not real action and won't yield any real results.  If you believe in welfare, sponsor a family who is poor.  If you believe in affirmative action, mentor someone less fortunate in YOUR business and teach them how to support themselves and their family by earning a living.  If you believe in the value of life, donate money, food or clothing to the many organizations that provide assistance to mothers of unplanned pregnancy.  Taking these actions will not only make an actual and real difference in someone's life, but will make a difference in YOURS.  Make you feel gratitude for what you have that you can share with others, and also will make you feel far more significant in the grand scheme of things, rather than just watching the tidal wave of life wash by you as you stand by, helpless.

And finally, be THANKFUL that after today, at least the campaigning will be over!!  God Bless The United States of America, and you :)