I absolutely LOVE this.

We ought to come to terms with this.....no????

I remember the day I finally CHOSE to be friends with my body....yes we still have disagreements lol but overall we have a mutual respect for one another.

One life to live. Make changes NOW so you don't have to regret later.

Fitness and nutrition have so many benefits...physically, mentally, and emotionally! Don't take my word for it tho....make peace.

Make friends with your body!

EVERY SINGLE ONE of us has a mixture of amazing, calm, crazy, sad, overwhelming things going on in our lives.......we've got GREAT things.....GOOD things.....OK things......NOT so great things....and STRAIGHT UP SHITTY THINGS....that we're dealing with, maybe not today, but maybe this week or this month....or last week or last month!

What EVERY SINGLE ONE of us also has....is THE ABILITY to CHOOSE to see only the negative and dwell, wallow, and pity ourselves which only serves to amplify the "shit" and make it that much worse! Yes, we're all entitled to having our "moments" and our vent session or cry fest.....but at the end of the day, we have the ABILITY to play hide and seek and find our big girl or big boy pants....PUT THEM ON......see the light of the GREAT THINGS in our lives, put a SMILE on our faces and be thankful for all that we have!!!!

Life is what happens when we're TOO busy worrying about the stuff that's really not important........

Today I both LOST and FOUND my big girl pants lol!!

Some days may not be as easy as others, but I'm STRONG and MORE than CAPABLE of seeing through the "shit" to find my happy place....yes....even without wine  AHAHAHAHA

Here's to weathering storms and seeing sunshine....FALLING down but GETTING BACK UP....having UPS and DOWNS but NOT allowing ourselves to get stuck in a puddle of self-pity.......

I CHOOSE HAPPINESS!!!!! How bout you?

Ever feel like you don't belong so you try to conform or alter yourself in some way to be more "normal"? ahahahah we've all done it in some way, shape, or form!

I'm learning, all the time, that BEING YOURSELF is the BEST.......take me or leave me......chances are, if my "normal" doesn't work for YOU, our relationship won't last anyway, so I don't wanna be YOUR "normal".

I do ME and ME is JUST FINE!!!!!!

Transformation Tuesday!

SOOOOO neat to look back at yourself and SEE, really SEE how much you've changed.......physically, but I can also see my eyes.....and the depths of the change that has truly happened for me.

When I got married, I was in decent shape! I had just finished my 5th year of University, Teacher's College, and I had been super stressed out, barely eating due to it, but I was working out to maintain sanity....I was learning by night and teaching by day. I felt lost, and then along came Shaun Corkery. He swept me off my feet.......he saved me from a really unhappy place in my life!

When we got married....I became really sedentary! I settled into HAPPY LIFE.....I ate, i drank, i smoked......i slept, i read......I was just LOVING being happy and with the man I loved. Within a year, i had gained 35lbs of HAPPY WEIGHT. I didn't like what I saw, but I wasn't willing to do anything to change it. I was just content doing what I was doing, but complaining about my body in moments of insecurity.......also wishing I could be a healthy version of the happy that I was.

So, the top two photos here are ME post marriage....PRE kids......

REMEMBER.....when I started working out, I had no set goal in mind to have a six pack or be fit (I also didn't know how to cook, or care to, for that matter).....I was just doing little bits every day as a coping mechanism to deal with the anxiety and depression of having my hubby working away, along with the fear of having NO help, except for 3 provinces away. Every day I just chose to do a little bit of exercise (30-60 minutes) at home and consciously made an effort to change my nutrition. The results I was seeing were DRAMATIC......and I liked the energy and confidence I was starting to feel. I was less anxious, less depressed and MORE excited for when my husband would come home......I was changing A LOT and VERY quickly, so for a dude who was gone for 21 days....to come home to a very different looking wife......that was a bit of a struggle at times........

I just kept going.......I had NO IDEA that I would turn this into a lifestyle....in fact I didn't take before pictures or measurements cause I had no intention of sticking with it......but IT HAPPENED.........

I'm thankful that Shaun was working away, cause then, just like now, we send each other a lot of photos, so I have photo documentary of my journey due to the circumstance. It's really neat to look back at my albums and see the progression from month to month! It only took me 6 months to go from size 10 to 0........164 lbs to 127 lbs.......I stick around 140 ish now, cause I prefer myself there....I had no idea that it was going to happen but I'm very thankful that it did!!!!

I'm now a Mother of 2 and in the best shape of my life. I've gotten through diastisis recti, symphysis pubis dysfunction, battled my anxiety and depression, raise my kids with a husband working away and family across the country (thankful for friends and babysitters who help out).....run a business and I'm HAPPY AND HEALTHY........I have good days and bad but I'm determined to keep up my new healthy lifestyle and find my strength even when I feel weak.

Is it possible that my 30s will be the best of my life?? I used to think 30 was old ahahahahaha but I'm just getting started!!!!!!!!

YAY for finding ME!!! still a work in progress, but I'm liking who I've become!

I LOVE being able to help other women and mothers dig themselves out from life's stresses and struggles and discover that fitness and nutrition can really make a difference in your MIND BODY and SPIRIT!!!! The most overlooked and underulitized form of "care"......even 30 minutes twice a week makes a world of difference.

The last two years have been the hardest but most rewarding years of my life!

No matter what it is......the WILL to do it and the BELIEF to know its possible.....THOSE are the only thing, mentally, that can really hold us back.

The thing I talk to my team about the most is overcoming fear! We are all terrified of failure.....of not measuring up....of losing money if we make the wrong decision........

Ultimately, when you BELIEVE in yourself.....the barriers start crumbling!!!

FEAR can create the ultimate PARALYSIS! It's THE thing that holds many of us back from doing something we deeply desire......It's something that I face ALL the time when putting myself out there sharing my story...my struggles....my successes, and something that MOST people struggle with in various stages of their lives.

Anyone who KNOWS me knows that I'm incredibly hard on myself and have struggled with "not being good enough"....FOR MYSELF.....my whole life. I've worked for many years on establishing the GREY AREA as life for me was always BLACK OR WHITE, and in some cases it still is.

Some of the biggest fears we face are: 
- fear of failure
- fear of making a mistake
- fear of judgement
- fear of rejection
- fear of letting yourself or others down, among others

It's often our fear of these things that prevents us from being able to make a decision or is the cause of extreme anxiety. We actually TALK ourselves out of doing things because of the FEAR.

By identifying your fears and insecurities you can begin the process of determining if your fear is rooted in logic or in emotion. Over analysis can be just as paralyzing as fear. Realizing that NO ONE is PERFECT, EVERYONE fails in some way, shape or form....which ultimately leads them to success if they take the experience as one they can learn from......and overcoming the fact that you will never GROW if you don't ACT and MAKE DECISIONS can help to launch you into a whole new world of experience.

If this is YOU.....step back and identify your STRENGTHS and use them to guide you into action! Put your STRENGTH first and allow it to boost your confidence and thrust you into ACTION!

Fear is a product of the MIND and is more about an INTERNAL STRUGGLE than the reality of the outside world. If you BELIEVE in yourself and continuously strive to love yourself, in all that you are, your fears will slowly dissipate and you can get on with enjoying life!!!!

I talk about this A LOT but its because I hear about it A LOT.  

We are always SO EXCITED to get started with CHANGE, but after a week or so.......the new excitement of it wears off and we tend to find ourselves falling into old habits.  While this DOES happen, we DO also tend to be more cognizant of our choices....more aware of our decisions.....feel more GUILT about "failing".........

Even for those of us who have been at it for years now......we find ourselves in THE SAME cycle.  

What I try to remember, and reiterate to my fitness friends, is that once that switch clicks.....and you commit to creating change.....you will fall down.....but that's part of the journey!  The lessons you learn along the way......the knowledge of HOW and WHAT to eat....the WILL and the DRIVE to workout.....the slips, the falls, the binges, the "bad food decisions"......they're all part of the journey....and the fact that we ACKNOWLEDGE those things demonstrates that we are AWARE......we KNOW what we need to do......and while we may not be where we want to be YET.......we are experiencing successes along the way!  

What did you do before you became aware of your health and fitness?  You didn't likely think too much about eating your entire meal at a restaurant or choosing the fries instead of the salad.  You likely didn't worry about having the left overs of your kid's pizza, and their cookie, and their fishy crackers.  You likely had late night snacks and skipped meals, indulged at parties and gatherings, not even really thinking twice.......

What I mean to say is.......even BABY steps COUNT toward SUCCESS.  Being aware....making BETTER choices, even if they're still not THE BEST CHOICE, they're still worth celebrating. 

We have ONE LIFE.......a nice balance between rigidity and flexibility is KEY.  We want this journey to be one that is SUSTAINABLE....not one that leaves you feeling DEPRIVED.....UNDERNOURISHED.....and terrified of being left alone in a room fool of goodies in case your inner "OMG i cant do this anymore" gets unleashed!!!!!!  

Making healthy decisions 80% of the time and indulging the other 20% is really, a great way to sustain healthy living, while still seeing progress, and LIVING LIFE.  

<3

So often we get caught up with comparing OUR journeys to someone else's.  THAT is NOT the point of this whole journey!  The point is to strive, EVERY SINGLE DAY to be better than YOU were the day before.  Comparison is the thief of joy and will only serve to set you back!  YOUR journey is only as good as the effort YOU put in......YOUR nutrition, YOUR fitness, YOUR determination, YOUR motivation.  ALL YOU!!!  We can help to push one another, absolutely, but unless we are firmly rooted in OUR reason for WHY we want to change, and OUR goals for progress, we will be taking one step forward and three back!  

This is a mind, body, spirit thing.....and the three go hand in hand!!!!  It's like a puzzle.....and when you're missing ONE piece, the puzzle's not complete..........

Today is another day to be better than you were yesterday!

LONG POST ALERT 

AND

it MAY offend some people, but for others, it may be JUST what they need to finally ditch their excuses and start finding their results and THEMSELVES.  

I’ve lost many friends on this journey, and you know what, that’s ok…..cause THIS is who I am, and THIS is what I LOVE.  I won’t apologize for being true to myself and for helping others to discover self-esteem, confidence, and LOVE for themselves.  There’s an unfollow and unfriend button on Facebook for a reason……but if you're here reading my blog, then you must be finding some value in what I have to share! 

I talk to A LOT of people on a daily basis, many of whom are MOTHERS, either first time, or repeat offenders…..and many of them have A LOT in common but one thing stands out….can you guess what it is????

THEY’VE LOST THEMSELVES  They have this incredible gift….this precious child who they devote their time, energy, and love to….but in the process, they often place themselves LAST.  They either don’t have time, or don’t have energy when all is said and done for the day.  TRUST ME…..I’ve been there and YOU’RE NOT ALONE.  I hear so often from Moms that they’re lost.  They feel relegated to their NEW bodies…..the one that’s still carrying excess baby weight from pregnancy.  The one that has stretched out skin, saggy boobs, separated abs and is just COMPLETELY different from the one they used to have.  YES, some things will never completely go back to normal, we just have to wrap our heads around that, BUT, that doesn’t mean that we can’t regain self-esteem and confidence. It doesn’t mean that we have to look in the mirror dreading the reflection……or crying over clothes that don’t fit….skin that gets tucked in, and this body that we REFUSE to acknowledge can TRANSFORM yet again.  

I’ve posted photos before of my pregnant self and my fit self, to which I received A LOT of criticism, some saying “well, that’s not even showing me anything…..so ya, you got pregnant and now you’re fit……show me what you looked like after you gave birth and then I’ll take you seriously”….or I’ve had people comment on my current fit photos saying “ya, I be SHES NOT a MOM”……..and yes, these comments sting a bit, cause I KNOW how much work I’ve put into this and those people who shoot out comments without context, they don’t know me…….they’re just bitter and angry and have their own issues to get over…….

But you know what I say about these changing bodies…….I say, these bodies are vessels that are capable of miraculous things.  These bodies can transform in SO MANY WAYS……..we can create babies and carry them for a whole nine months, all the while, morphing physically, emotionally, and mentally. We have these beautiful creatures to LOVE and CHERISH forever…….

We may have gained 20, 40, 80lbs during the process but that doesn’t mean that we can’t lose it again.  It doesn’t mean that we have to give up and feel like we’ll always be in this “mom body”.  Seriously, I come across a lot of women who tell me that they’ve completely given up.  That they will be stuck in this changed body FOREVER……..and to that I say BULLSHIT.  You’re letting yourself be “stuck” in that body, and until you’re ready to ditch your excuses, you won’t change.  PERIOD.  

We all have a gazillion reasons why we can’t eat healthy and exercise…..but I guarantee that for every excuse you/I have, there’s SOMEONE out there who has it ten times worse and THEY are making it happen.  If you’re not ready to change that’s cool…….but realize that your complaints are going to stay there until you’re ready to change.  I was stuck in the excuses before…..I was stuck in the nightly tears and the “tomorrows”, but until I actually got up to do something about it….NOTHING CHANGED….and YES I TOO went through the resentment and hater phase where I rolled my eyes at those “bitches” who lost their baby weight and looked amazing shortly after giving birth.  

This post isn’t meant to make you feel shitty about yourself……it’s meant to INSPIRE YOU and MOTIVATE you…..to help you realize that YOU ARE WORTH IT MOM…..and now that you have a little person looking to you not only for guidance and the life lessons to help them be contributing members of society, but to help them shape their sense of self worth……their perception of “life” and don’t you want them to learn a healthy, happy balance?  Today’s society is riddled with FAST FOOD, quick fixes, and FAKE images of PERFECTION……..if we SHOW them what healthy living is, it will be a normal, natural part of their lives.  Do it for THEM if not for yourself.  

We ALL have reasons why we can’t do it.  I was a mom of a 2 month old and 2 year old living on the west coast, with my family living on the east coast, and my husband working away for 21 days at a time when I started.  I didn’t have help, unless I paid for it.  I was TIRED from being up with a newborn.  I was LONELY and SCARED and DRINKING away my sorrows when I finally decided that I had to be a better version of me…..for myself…..for my girls…..for my man.  I couldn’t give up on myself any longer.  My switch clicked and I hope that yours will too.  

My kids are now 2 and a bit and almost 5...........The journey continues.  We moved even farther west, away from family, and my hubby still works away (10 day on, 4 home). 

You don’t need to feel stuck in a body you hate.  You don’t need to feel LOST.  I want to help you re-discover yourself and experience the domino effect and positive benefits of getting active and eating healthy food.  If I can do it, and so many others before us……SO CAN YOU!!!!!!!!!

THIS body transformed to bear children and NOW is RE-TRANSFORMED.....its a body that demonstrates a re-discovered self......a journey of possibility......a re-emergence.  My most recent tattoo is a tribute to the self who has died....the lost one that I left behind......and a respect to the ME who has emerged.  The ME with energy, passion, DRIVE.....the one who doesn't ass drag, nap, and complain so much anymore. 

I pour my heart and soul into what I do......so for those of you who have been there and continue to be there......I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH! 

Here's to NEW BEGINNINGS MAMAS........I'm right there with you!