Testing...Testing...123

Life is about tests. Regardless of what situation you are in, life with test you as soon as you say you are gonna accomplish something. Why? Because without challenge humans do not appreciate the results. Like it is said nothing worth having is easy. If it was, we would have already had it. Though everyone's tests are different, we all have them daily. Your decisions will result in your outcome. Choose wisely and make choices that will get you one step closer to your goal. Sometimes we will take steps back and that is normal. This happens when we did not learn the lesson from that situation but have tried to move forward anyway. You must learn the why in the test. Once you have learned that, you will understand how to move forward without going  backwards. And this means you have passed the test. Once you have passed it, anytime that situation is presented you again, you will recognize it and be able to sail right past it because you already know the answers. Life is a test...did you pass yours today?

TRUTH

It is said that real friends dont let real friends drive drunk. Well, I say real friends dont let real friends eat bad. True, that person is responsible for their own health. However, if I am your true friend, how can I sit by and watch you do something that will halt your success and not say anything. Now Im not gonna hound you, but let's get real, the reason you decided to change is because you did not like what you were to begin with. Sometimes it only takes one thing to make you start slipping backwards, bit by bit. I know that because I have done it several times on my weightloss journey in the past and NEVER reached my goal. I'm not going back to that and I dont want to see anyone do it either. We all know that 80-90% of weightloss is about nutrition so no matter how hard you workout, if you eat bad it was only to keep you where you are. We are about moving forward not standing still. Yes it is hard, yes it is a struggle, but I am sure nothing tastes that good to keep you from your goals. Tough love makes you look yourself in the mirror and accept the decisions you make. It reminds you of why you are making changes and pushes you to be steadfast. So no matter how hard the fight, never give up and help those around you keep their goals reachable.

FOCUS

Sometimes, it is easy to lose sight of your goals. You get so intertwined with the excitement and life that you can find yourself slipping into old patterns. It is at that moment that you have to make a choice...continue to slide or break the cycle. All you gotta do is TAP IN. Never let one setback stop you from moving forward. No one is perfect remember that. Everyone makes a mistake at some point, but just learn from it and dont make it again. Even if you do...dont stop moving forward. The road to success is not an easy one, if it was everyone would have already reached it.

Responsibility

To whom much is given, much is required. I realized I have alot of valuable information that many people have no clue about. I acquired it just from my walk in life and the many things that I have gone through. With that, I must share this information even if someone else has already shared it. You never know whose life you will touch or help spark by just sharing what you learn. It is really your responsibility to do so. If your hand is closed off from giving, it is also closed off from receiving. You must open up and be willing to share even if you are imperfect doesnt mean that the information isnt valuable on some level.

As a massage therapist, it is my responsibility to provide more than just relaxation. Most people that first come to me think, oh im just gonna get a relaxing massage. Well... some of it will be relaxing but some of it will be treatment work and may not be so pleasant. Then, I also will ask questions about daily routine and based on where the tension is in your body, I will inform what emotions you may be holding on to that are making your body have tension.You will have homework to do in the form of things that I suggest that you should change to resolve some of your issues. It is my responsibility to provide the best information that will help you achieve optimum wellness. Most patients hang onto every word I say, just like most do for doctors, so I have to make sure that I am giving things that I understand will help. I also have to be able to say I dont know sometimes instead of making things up. If I don't know it, then I'll research it but I do my best not to mislead people. It is also my responsibility to educate people on the fact that their health is their responsibility. I can not fix you, only you can do that by breaking bad habits and forming better ones. You must be consistent and make it a priority. Otherwise you will be right back where you started.

The most important thing you can do is do your own research. Yes, people can provide you with information all day, but you get some much more insight when you research it and learn for yourself. I question EVERYTHING that I get from people regardless of who I get it from. Doctors, Teachers, TV, Radio, Books, ETC.  I'm not saying that I dont trust people, but I am ultimately responsible for me. Therefore, I must make sure that I understand what I allow myself to eat and do. I'm not afraid to dig deeper and look closer to make sure that it is right for me. I took responsibility for my life....have you?

Tests and challenges

Well we all know, once you say you are going to do something, you will be tested to see if you mean what you say. Will you follow through on your word to yourself or make excuses? I recently started getting sick with flu-like symptoms and for a moment I was like man I'm gonna be down for a while. Then, I said no, this is just another excuse not to push on. I pushed fluids (orange juice, water, gatorade, and pedialyte), took my multi-vitamin and omega 3 pills and took the night to get some decent rest. Woke up feeling 80% better, but I had a full day of 8 massages ahead of me. I read from my motivation book and took my vitamins again, downed a protein shake and headed to work. Pushed though my first massage and felt awesome. I really helped my first patient with basic information she just did not know. I ate some trail mix and an orange in between my massages and by lunch I was great. Took at nap after lunch then finished my day out. When to sleep that night at a decent time and then I work up at 100% ready to hit the gym. This is just proof that you can push through anything if you have the desire to do so in your heart. Once your heart confirms defeat you are doomed. But if you push through with an honest heart you can make anything happen. Test and challenges are to be passed and beat, not to make you depressed and give up. To infinity and beyond...

Time to face a fear

Ok, I was asked if I wanted to join in on doing a 5k run...AHHHHHHHH was my first thought. The reason being I have always hated running. Even when I played sports I hated it. Later in life, I realized I had extremely flat feet and that was the reason for all the pain, fatigue and foot cramps when I ran. Earlier this year I found myself wanting to run, so I took to the streets and started walking/running a mile, but a few days in my knees and shins were killing me. It took  me off my workouts for a good month to just recover. It was so bad it felt like my patella was tracking incorrectly on my knee. It finally went back to normal with some self care and therapy. So here I am, do I run or not. My mind is telling me no, but my body is telling me yes. It is time to face my fear of running. I have decided that I am going to run it, jog it, walk it whatever, just do it. I have a few months to train for it, so I plan to start training tomorrow on the treadmill. If you have any fears, face them and move forward...to infinity and beyond...

Importance of goal setting

Why set a goal? Sometime in life we get comfortable, hit a plateau, or just simply wander around. Goals keeps us reminded of why we are committed to doing something. They keep us focused and pointed in the right direction.They give us something to strive for, conquer, and look back at to see what we have achieved. Make sure that you are setting short term and long term goals and that they are realistic. Also, make sure that as you reach certain goals you adjust and add more long term goals on. Make sure that you balance out having all major goals with minor ones do you do have bursts of accomplishments along the way.

For me, even though I want to lose weight, I don't have a number that I want to get to. I prefer to use sizes or inch measurements since I want to tone as well. I have stopped buying unhealthy foods, drink only water and home brewed teas, take vitamins and minerals daily and workout 4-5 days a week. I have changed my deodorant and watch the things I put in and on my body. I continue to research health and wellness and apply things that I feel would benefit me to my life. It is a life long process that I have come to enjoy. Once you know better, you can do better. It is my responsibility to take care of myself. I can not blame anyone else for my health and neither can you. Just take one step at a time and remember to set goals and conquer them.