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The Cost of Living

What is the first thing that comes to mind…money…right? Well, that is part of the “Cost of Living”. I see this phrase in a whole new way as in the choices I make with my life. What I choose to think, feel, how I act, respond, do or not do all determines my “Cost of Living”.

Happiness comes at a price and so does stress and struggle. I know that when I feel at my best and happy about how things are going, the cost for me is a great day, feel on top of the world, confident, and just all together fabulous…right? Just as allowing some injustice that has been thrown my direction to take over my whole persona, well the cost would be stress, anxiety, and just an overwhelming YUCK feeling in my life bank.

Sometimes, it is difficult to always pay the right cost all the time in life to receive the right result. Look at how the “Cost of Living” affects health and I will speak personally here…If I choose to sit around and do nothing active, then the cost would be that my body receives no benefit of exercise, no positive endorphins to flood my system…and boy do I love that feeling, and really puts a damper in my routine. Let me hit up my nutrition using the same analogy. If I choose to eat processed crap, overload my system with sugar, and do not pay attention to what I put in my face, the cost would be not feeling well, probably constipated (YUCK), low energy, and really not feeling mentally good about ME. In both regards, my health would suffer at the cost of my not taking care of ME.

The mental game comes with the biggest cost as it really determines how each day will unfold, and overall how life is lived. If I walk around with an “I can’t” attitude, the cost for me would be “I won’t” which eventually leads to never will, and I would suffer not only emotionally but physically. Can you imagine what kind of life that would be for me…bitter, depressed, judgmental, wanting it but not willing to work for it…feeling the victim in life…now that is a heavy cost of living. Looking at the flip side of having an “I can” attitude, the cost would be “I will” and “I did”. Putting forth some energy (cost) to reap the benefit of a happy healthy life sounds like the type of journey I would and will want to continue for a lifetime.

That is ultimately what I am trying to get across with the “Cost of Living”…YES, it takes a conscious effort to want a healthy life and I do want this for ME. It does cost me time, energy, some money, planning, and caring and I am not saying that it is always easy, but I can tell you that it has been worth it. So I do put money in my health bank in the form of exercise, healthy food, water, quality ME time, time with God and many things that are invaluable…money can’t buy my health, but the things that I do for ME can and do provide me with a life that is full, healthy, and happy.

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS

Dedicated to My Mother ~ Happy Birthday

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Have a FABULOUS weekend and upcoming week!

Stay Healthy!

Darla;)

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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.

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS


GREAT MOTIVATION TO MOVE IDEA

Stay Healthy Quinoa Chicken with Sun dried Tomato & Fresh Basil

Have a Fabulous Week!

Stay Healthy!

Darla:)

TAKING A BREAK FROM FITNESS

TAKING A BREAK

I am walking away from fitness!!! Yes…you heard me… and I am going to enjoy every moment of this week off. Just like anything else done day in and day out, stepping back and away for a short time and taking a break from what I do daily can rejuvenate my body, mind, and provide a fresh stronger ME when I return…like going on a little vacation from your job and coming back feeling like…YES…I can tackle the world.

There are times that my body feels tired, burned out, and there are days that I, the trainer need to be pushed through a workout…thanks BABE for that! I also listen to things like…why is my hamstring staying sore and not recovering well, my sleep not the best, and just mentally in need of a break. YUCK…really…but you know being healthy is not only about how many days I can spend in the gym to push through that hour workout. Life is truly a balance of the physical, mental, nutritional, and spiritual and if one is out of balance…there is no balance. Taking a mental and spiritual break is what I am talking about for 7 days…fun active quiet time of doing whatever I feel, whenever I feel…even if that means hanging out under a tree and watching the leaves move through the breeze…you know the things that we all think about doing…but never do…I AM DOING IT!

Also, I am no longer that 20 something athlete who could leap over “small” buildings in a single bound and go go go it seemed without every really taking a break. This “Older, Wiser, Better” fitness gal is really in tune to her body and I have put some thought into taking this break. Am I going to throw all my philosophies out the window during this week…of course not! What I am going to concentrate on is having fun, still being active but in a different way. My nutrition will be maintained as I always have…that is a lifestyle that to me feels like breathing and I look forward to my healthy meals and enjoy how I feel overall when I eat healthy.

I will tell you that YES…I will struggle and have withdrawals from my norm workouts…maybe even a little anxious about doing this...this is really stepping out of my comfort zone. On the other hand, I am looking forward to a not so structured time of active rest, one that is not planned and methodically put together, but a spontaneous adventure of let’s say hiking, swimming, playing outside (I am a kid at heart), and things like that. So, I am taking a break from my norm, but still planning to be a moving girl…I am not just going to sit on my tush, eating crap, and call that quality rest…NOT.

I AM GOING TO HAVE FUN! Life is about balance and listening to the call of rest, relaxation, and just being in the moment of who I am outside the gym. I have reprogrammed my thinking to know that this will be good for my body and the rejuvenation fabulous for strength and muscle gains. I am not going to freak out or feel guilty as the “old” Darla did for living life outside my normal day to day…I mean really. Thank goodness, I am no longer that chickie. I know that my body will not turn into a marshmallow, become cellulite ridden, and my muscle disappear into nothing…really…come on now…NO WAY. It would take me at least 3 weeks of inactivity as an extremely fit exerciser to start a decline in my fitness level, and muscle memory lasts for months…so this chick is covered and “Good to Go” for this 7 day rest adventure.

I do know that I will appreciate being in the moment as I frolic about in the water, being outdoors around beautiful scenery and just laying on my back under the stars taking in the wonders of everything that is life…FABULOUS! I will feel my body resting, recharging so to speak, and know that when I return to my programmed workouts, it will be with even a stronger and more positive MENTAL and PHYSICAL game. Guilt Free Fun…HERE I COME!!!

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS


My Nutrition of the Day plus 2 more snacks


Newly Added to My Stay Healthy Kitchen Recipes

LOVE THIS WORKOUT

Have a Fabulous Week!

Stay Healthy!

Darla:)

ACCOMPLISHED!

Such a fantastic word…I love feeling accomplished…can you relate? When it comes to a workout and it is on a day where I am feeling unmotivated and I kick it into gear and do it…ACCOMPLISHED. I can also feel this way after cleaning the bathrooms…YUCK…but it has to be done. I can have such an overwhelming AWWWW feeling inside after I have completed something on my long “to do” list…or even my short one. It is like falling back on the couch and saying to myself…well done Darla…I do not need to look for anyone’s approval to feel this way. It is my inner contentment, and love for self that I long to satisfy…and make God happy with what I do of course.

Believe me…I see so many people get caught up in the race of competing with others, comparing to others, wanting to be like others…that they are missing out on their own accomplishments…great or small...why oh why I say…and I further say STOP already. I have got on my soap box a few times about the whole comparison subject and probably will touch on it again and again…it is that important. Life is really too short to live someone else's dream, to try to walk their walk…crap…who really knows what goes on behind the closed doors of anyone’s walk. I mean really…the only walk that is known for sure…is mine and yours…right? I am not going to waste my swagger trying to be someone else, or constantly compare and think I do not match up…heck would never feel ACCOMPLISHED if this were the case. Instead, I will focus my energy on the things I know that I have control over in my life, work on my goals of having a balanced healthy life, and strive for my own feeling of accomplishment.

Sometimes it takes years to understand this…believe me…I have had to walk a journey of life learning just like you. Today as my laundry lies in piles around me, my ARC trainer calls my name for a ride and as I juggle my domestic engineering chores and prepare for my upcoming week…I WILL FEEL ACCOMPLISHED. Feeling accomplished does not have to be some news making event, or something off the charts WOW…it is the small every day things that are done on a daily basis that give me that feeling of accomplishment…my workout, a call to a friend, time with God, laundry, cleaning the house, creating a new recipe, eating clean for the day, got my water intake in for the day…you see…anything goes…it is the things that are done day in and day out on a consistent basis that bring accomplishment and create this life that I call HEALTHY!

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS


My Workout Today with Modifications(NO pushups or dips for Me)

Remember to stop by my Stay Healthy Recipe Page!

Have a Fabulous Week!

Stay Healthy!

Darla:)