DON'T get caught up with the number on the scale......they LIE......and they DO NOT tell the whole story.  I've seen so many people get depressed and give up because the needle (or digital numbers lol) are going in the opposite direction or staying put.  

Let me ask you this.......

Does that number tell you how much energy you've gained? How many inches you've lost?  How much happier you are? How your mental and emotional state are improved from fitness and nutrition? How optimally your organs are functioning because of the healthy changes you've made?  How FAR you've come from where you once were? How AWESOME you are for wanting to get started in making a change?  

That number tells you NOTHING but a number......of course we all have a number in our minds of what "happiness" means......but that number can change because of so many factors and should NOT be the only way that we measure success.  

I urge you to place JUST as much value, if not MORE, on the NON-SCALE VICTORIES!  

Stay focused on your goals.  Continue eating healthy food and engaging in exercise and I PROMISE that CHANGE will happen.  

I can't even count the number of times that I cried over "how I let myself go", or grabbed my tummy, all sagging to one side while I laid in bed vowing that "tomorrow" I would make a change.....TOMORROW would be the day and I would go to bed the next night feeling like, yet again, I failed.

I can't remember the number of times I spoke so poorly of myself TO MYSELF in the mirror, cause I'm crazy like that, still am..........

I CAN remember the first time my, at the time, 2 year old, told me to "move your fat mommy, put that pillow on it, it's in the way".......THAT was a telling moment.....and one that I'll NEVER FORGET.

How did a 2 year old know what "fat" was? Well I know.....from ME.....all those times I cut myself up! Those times I got dressed and asked Shaun "do i look fat?", those times that I got ready and looked at myself in the mirror saying "argh, my butt looks so big" or "I can't wear this".....or "how did I let this happen?".

I've BEEN there......I've suffered the emotional devastation of knowing that I contributed to my young daughter's conception of body image.....hopefully something I've done enough to change given the changes I've made....but let's be honest.....I STILL cut myself up......the moment I started working out I set the bar for unlimited expectations of myself......

The truth is that we are NEVER satisfied with ourselves. I STILL think I could do better and I STILL think I can't wear certain things (which Im happy for in many cases, those ass hanging out shorts......ya, ill NEVER do that even if i DO some day rock a solid tushy.........alas I digress......)

My point is that it's NOT too late to start.....to make small changes DAILY to contribute to a better well-being, whether you increase your water intake, or your veggie intake, or start doing 10 minutes of activity a day.......THAT COUNTS.....every single baby step counts.

If you find that this post speaks to you.........don't think that you're alone.......so many of us have been there. I'm JUST like YOU!!!!

If you've been holding back on messaging me or aren't quite sure how to get started MESSAGE me and I can help guide you with nutrition or fitness.....You can invest in a program or NOT.......there are many things you can do at home to get started!

Change doesn't happen overnight but it does take a shift in mindset.....commitment.....dedication.....and SUPPORT!!!!! I've got that part covered for you! My group here on Facebook is LARGE and IN CHARGE and I have NO DOUBT that we can help you find the motivation to get started and continue to provide the inspiration and support to help you reach your goals!

You're so worth it! It won't happen over night, but I can ASSURE you that the process is WORTH IT!!!!!! 

I don't know about YOU but I can honestly say, while I'm not proud of some things I've done......I DO NOT regret them! If I regret them, to me that says that I wish I had never done what I did and it says that I didn't learn from doing it.

I've done some shameful things in my life (University/hometown friends you know what I'm talking about - or maybe you forget cause in reality it wasn't a big deal).......but I've never once said that I regret it. What I've done has helped to define who I am today and I have to admit that I'm pretty damned proud of where I'm at. I will continue to learn and grow and work on creating the best version of myself but I refuse to feel shame for my past "mistakes".

I refuse to settle......I refuse to stop learning....I refuse to believe that I cannot do more with my life.

I hope that if you've made "mistakes" in your life that you've taken time to acknowledge "it"......make amends if necessary......take responsibility for your actions.....find a way to improve yourself......and be a better version of YOU.

I find that so many people get caught up in playing the victim....blaming everything and everyone but themselves for their situation and life circumstance. WE have the ability to make decisions and if you made a shady decision....OWN IT.....don't evade it and play the blame game. STRENGTH comes from acknowledging our mistakes and being BIG ENOUGH to OWN THEM and LEARN FROM THEM. If you're caught up in playing the blame game.....always thinking that someone else or something else did you wrong, I urge you to STOP....take a look in the mirror.....face the facts.....acknowledge your shit......and GROW UP! Make a change.....it's not too late! Don't regret what you've done but LIVE AND LEARN! By repeating the same old mistakes time and again.......you're not stopping the cycle.......STOP THE CYCLE.....you're worth more than you're giving yourself. BE MORE....DO MORE.......

That. Is. All.

 Alida

Tenacity.....truly is the key to success in life.  No matter what the goal....no matter what the obstacle......YOUR ability to demonstrate tenacity is the ONLY thing that's going to get you to where you want to be.  

Staying firmly rooted to WHY you want to achieve your goals will be the driving force behind your drive and your tenacity.  Understanding your WHY and uncovering its depth and meaning will allow you to be more tenacious in your endeavor to achieve the goals.  

Today I want you to think about what you're really after in life.......Identify the goal......identify the reason or the WHY behind the change or the goal......and determine the steps YOU have to take to make them happen! 

Think back to a time that you SET a goal......a goal that you didn't achieve.  What did YOU do to let that goal get away from you? We often choose to play the victim, and blame "other circumstances" for our demise.........Yes we can come up against obstacles....yes we can be faced with things that are truly out of our control......but .......
 

YOU have the ability to make a CHOICE.  The first step begins with your choice........your decision to set a goal........your decision to find a way to get around, through, under, above the obstacle.  It may take a few attempts.....ok it likely WILL take numerous attempts.......but nothing worth achieving ever comes easily...........

Find the tenacity to make it happen!  Don't give up until you reach the goal....and then.....set a new goal and REPEAT.

Just a little motivation and inspiration my Thursday morning mind :)  

<3 Coach Alida