Laura100’s BodyBlog

"Forget Regret, or life is yours to miss"  some of you may recognize this from the musical RENT.  This may seem like a odd place to find inspiration,  but inspiration can show up in the stranges of places.  This line struck me as I was driving to work feeling sorry for myself at all the food I ate over the holdiays and the crazy schedule and sick kids that keep me out of the gym.  Regrets do not propel us forward they only drags us down creating negative engergy.  We will miss out on all the other good workouts and opportunity for growth if we are always obsessing.  I am very fortunate to have my health and the ability to make each day better and better.  I wish the best for all of you in the new year.  Foreget regret.

I once heard this and it has never left me: "Never take away someones HOPE it maybe all they have left"

Why are we always so hard on ourselves. I have always been a person who recognizes others for their hard work with positive words of encouragement and comlimentary comments–but when it comes to accepting "good" feedback–I fall short. So the next time someone says to you(or me) –wow you look great—look at your arms, abs, hair–what ever it maybe—I will simply say—thank you and really beleive that it comes from their hart and they truly do mean it!! Then take that positive energy and pass it along to someone else–it’s contagious:)

For those of you who read my blogs regularly you will no doubt notice a recurring theme of "bad" foods and the terrible hold they have on me.  Today’s blog is no different:)

At my place of employment and I’m sure at many of yours,  there is enormous array of cookies, cakes and candies that beg to be eaten!!  I have been trying to ignore them but it is as if I think that if I don’t eat this piece of cheese cake I will never get another one again–this is unboubtably  the last one on earth.  I know it sounds a little silly and extrem but that is how I feel. 

 I am trying to transform my body in 6 months(in time for the figure show)  and I am now realizing that in addtion to the months and sometimes years that people take to do this they also are reprograming their brains to think differently about food and the relationship they have with it.  Relationship may seem like a strange choice of words but so many of us "use" food to fill a need–and I don’t mean just to sustain life.  I once saw  a documentry addressing over eating and addiction it said that food is one of the hardest "addictions" to break becasue it is the only one where the person can’t "quit"–they have to learn to manage it.  My quest for self control continues.

OK–So Holiday parties are upons us.  It is only Dec 8th and the food is coming to get me.:)  Both my husband and I have divorced parents so we have MANY parties to go to.   We are expected to show up with our kids(2&4) and then the kids are given way more goodies then they could possibly eat–which guess who eats them at 4:00am.  Does anyone have suggestions for me to avoid all the food that goes along with the holiday season.  I would really appreciate some practical suggestions to like remove yourself from the room were the food is(DUH–sounds easy doesn’t—-not so much) or duct tape your mouth shut:)  I keep telling myself that having a nice Christmas is not about the food but I don’t always listen.  HELP:)

How do you know when you are at the gym too much??  When you listen to your two year old playing with her dolls and she makes the Mommy doll say " Come on, lets go to the Y"—I had to laugh!!  Thought I’d share it with all of you–too funny

Everything I have read or heard about goal setting talks about visualizing yourself accomplishing that goal.  For me it would be standing on a stage wearing a bikini that is small enough to fit in a dixie cup(ok that parts not so fun–smile) but being  able to stand up there and be proud of the hard work you have put forth,feeling strong and alive—-What they neglect to tell you is that you have to have a good grasp of what is required of you everyday or every hour to meet that goal.   You don’t all of a sudden one day just find your self ready to compete.  It is a slow process that involves millions of little choice that we may not even be aware of.  The choice to workout or not workout.  The choice to eat that last bite of food even though you’re full.  To say no for the tenth time to the piece of cake that is being shoved in your face by your family.  Those choice make us who we are–the good, the bad and the ugly.  So, I guess it has taken me a while, but I am finally coming to realize that those seemingly little choices do count and they do add up.  We may feel that our goal is met when we walk across the stage or reach that magic number on a scale, but your dream came to fruision each and every time you said no to a poor unhealthy lifestyle and yes to feeling great— Not just when everyone was looking.  Be strong.  Be you.

Ok—I think I will scream if I hear one more person say to me go ahead and do your workout "thing" just "JUST DON"T GET GROSS". Meaning, I guess, overly tan and too muscular??? not sure. I want so badly to say—"Yep, that’s exactly what i’m going for GROSS"—- smile —That is all I do smile–take a deep breath and try to remember that the majority of the world dosn’t get it. They don’t get the vitmins and supps and the portein shakes and all that goes with it. Anyone else have this kind of stuff happening to you and what do you say if any thing. Also, what is your response when someone says to you why do you do this??? I need a brief(not justifying myself to anyone) but good answer to give when I get cornered. Any thoughts?

Ok maybe this is just me or maybe others have talked about this before but I am having an awful time drinking my protine shakes.  I know what you are proably all thinking just choke it down and don’t worry about the taste but I am not too far removed from the days when I would "eat for taste"  Gone are the days of choosing foods for flavor and pleasing textures–smile.  Any thoughts on this?