Yes YOU can!!

Being fit and healthy is possible for all of us. All you need is discipline, dedication and work hard! 

46 years strong and in the best shape ever!

November 1, 2015, I took the Advocare 24 day challenge and it changed my life. I tried the challenge back in June 2015, lost 10 lbs but did not incorporate all the pieces in the pie together in order to reach my goals. I cut out flour, sugar, diary, alcohol and processed foods from my diet. I added CROME 5 -6 days a week and increased my protein intake. First step was to lose the excess 40 something weight I gained. After losing the weight it was time to build muscle and define my body.

Overall results= starting weight on 11/1/2015= 161.9 lbs and my weight this am is 132.9 lbs,
I have lost inches, went from a size 10 to a size 4 and have muscle & 6 pack abs unlike ever before.

It is not an easy process- every day requires discipline, good food choices, dedication to the gym, getting enough sleep and trying to remove toxic drama from my life.

Success is the whole pie: clean eating with protein packed foods, weights and cardio, sleep, lots of water, a healthy, loving relationship with your partner, positive, supportive family/friends in your life and being able to tackle whatever challenges come your way.

Advocare has always been a life changer. Spark is amazing and gives me energy to start the day super early (4AM), supplements with amino acids to keep my muscles supplied with additional nutrients, delicious shakes, Biocharge for that extra burst while lifting weights and SLAM for the afternoon pick me up before tackling our night-time routine. Excellent line of products and I am living proof of the REAL results you get.

I love being an inspiration for other women especially us 40 and overs. Every effort made is huge a step towards a better you. There are haters and women out there who have always been skinny and eat whatever they want but may not be healthy or strong. My efforts are not about being skinny but to be strong, healthy and set a great example for my 6 year old daughter. Plus working out helps me to deal with the everyday stressors in life and great for my mental health.

Strong is the new sexy! Cheers to all of us mommies living the dream and juggling all our responsibilities day in and day out. You are all GREAT & Beautiful & Awesome! 

XOXO
Nic

           

                                     

  

                 

Stop the Insanity! Love Your Body!

In a world with so much competition and comparing to each other, I find it my responsibility to teach my daughter to love and embrace her body for how God created her. I think she is perfect and a gorgeous little woman.  We live a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition, exercise, sleep and lots of fun.

God created each of us different and beautiful in our own special way. All women, men and children are beautiful and one size does not fit all. Hence why there are 31 flavors of ice cream, different colors on the rainbow and variety in the majority of areas in our lives.  It is so frustrating when I hear moms compare their babies, kids, toddlers to others. I get infuriated when moms insult other kids/moms or have the high and mighty "my kids are better than yours" attitude. We as moms need to be positive and lay the platform that are kids are beautiful inside and out.

Since the new year, so many people in my classes are on a mission to lose weight fast and make silly comments, "I want to look like so and so" instead of "I want to workout and eat healthy for my body and to feel great.  I also see so many of them giving up because they don't see instant results. We are all built differently, have different metabolism and our bodies respond differently to exercise and foods. Start by loving and embracing your body and making a commitment to be the best you can instead of wanting to look like your friend or a movie star.

Embrace your beautiful body!
Count your blessings not your blemishes!
Be your body's friend and supporter not an enemy.
Treat your body as the vehicle to your dreams- honor it, respect it and fuel it.
Make a list of 10 positive things about yourself not mentioning your appearance and add to it daily.
Your body is extraordinary: your skin replaces itself once a month, your stomach lining every 5 days, your liver every 6 weeks and your skeleton every 3 months. Respect and appreciate it!
Find the exercise you enjoy and do it regularly. Don't workout to lose weight- do it for a healthy and strong body because it makes your fell good! Exercise for the 3 F's: Fun, Fitness and Friendship.
Find the beauty in the world and yourself.
Life is to short to waste precious time hating your body!
Eat when you are hungry, rest when you are tired and surround yourself with real, true friends who will support you and love you.

Stop the Insanity!! Love your Body!

Being your best at any age!

Everyone keeps asking me how I lost so much weight and what I did to get fit. It is very challenging at 45 and each year gets harder but it is possible! 
My answer to losing 25 pounds= clean eating, drinking a lot of water, working out daily, spending time with family and great  "real" friends, laughing, talking to mom everyday, 8 +hours of sleep and sex!  It is all about loving and respecting yourself enough to make major life changes. 
Each year gets better and better and age is only a number. For me, 45 has been great and 46 is looking even better!

November 1, 2015, I started a 24 day challenge with a girlfriend to lose some weight for our December Christmas trip to Mexico. I went to Crome several times a week, taught my cycle classes 4-5 times a week, played tennis, took my pups on long walks, did yoga and ate clean- super strict on everything I put in my mouth! I felt great, my complexion was clear and my hair/nails were stronger and longer than ever before.

The end of November my orthopaedic surgeon told me to stop Crome and tennis and only do cycle classes along with upper body workouts since he wanted to scope my knee due to a possible meniscus tear. I was devastated since I loved the daily routine I was in and I was feeling great! I continued eating clean and healthy- no processed foods, white flours, sugar, salt, minimal dairy and once in a while a glass of red wine.  I did enjoy a few indulgences over the holidays and my daughters birthday but didn't over do it.  After enjoying foods that had salt and sugar, there was a huge change in how I felt, decrease of energy, sluggish, inside of my mouth raw and I was bloated.  I went back to my clean eating and started feeling better again. I did splurge last week a couple times while celebrating my girlfriends big birthday and Monday I felt horrible again so back to my clean eating an healthy routine.  

People comment how hard it is to clean eat but I disagree. Jacksonville has developed and we have many great options for healthy foods and reasonable prices. Fresh Field Farms, Trader Joe's, Costco, Native Sun, Whole Foods and even Publix- Winn Dixie have many options. Plus we have so many local farms to set up delivery if you don't want to take the time to shop. 

Losing weight and being healthy is 80% +what you eat and 20% exercise, but it is also 150% mental. There is not "quick fix", only a commitment to good healthy, hard work, dedication and will power while also enjoying life.
Some Solutions:

• Don’t go for quick fixes….focus on long term solutions (time will pass quickly enough…as look where you were 6 months ago)

• You don’t have to be perfect to get good results, so don’t beat yourself up for going out and eating things you know you shouldn’t have. Just focus on today and what you need to do. The past is gone, more forward. Do not give up altogether.

• Keep your approach to eating/fitness simple and fun. Don’t look at is as a complicated task, or you will just resent and eventually give it up. 

• Focus on living a healthy life till you are 100.  Diseases are not natural and are something we can help to prevent. With that mentality make the right food choices for a long and healthy life. Then you won’t deprive yourself of any foods.  Choose the ones you want for the right reasons now without anyone else taking them away from you.

• You can be happy right now, it’s all in your head. But it’s something you need to face head on, not avoid and cover up with foods, exercise or other distractions. Once you can master your own happiness, then it’s yours to have every day. 

• Live to enjoy life, eat to enjoy good foods, keep things simple and repeat daily.

Believe in yourself and remember you can do and be anything you want to be! 


Cheers for good health, being fit and lots of happiness. 
Nicole

                           

What is a Mother?

You Mother Is Your First Home. 
Your Mother is always with you. She is the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she is the smell of certain food you remember from your childhood, flowers you pick, the fragrance of life itself. She's the cool hand on your forehead when you are not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning. Your mother lives inside your laughter. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space... not even death.   ~unknown

As a proud adoptive mother to a beautiful baby girl who has made all my dreams come true of being a mommy, I am offended by the NOUN definition of a mother.  

mother

[ ˈməT͟Hər ] 

NOUN

1. a woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth.
   
   

VERB

1. (mothering)
   bring up (a child) with care and affection:
   "the art of mothering"

I know of many woman who have birthed children and are horrible mothers; have abandoned their children, abused their children or have a nanny raise their children so they can live a self consumed life. Birthing a child does not make a woman a mother. I am sure all my mommy friends who have adopted and used a surrogate due to not being able to get pregnant would agree.

My definition of a mother: 
A mother is someone who loves unconditionally and places the needs of her children above her own, on a personal level, and not only with words, but also actions.  

I love these poems.


What is a Mother?

A Mother has so many things to do,
From washing, ironing, cleaning to tying a shoe.
She scrubs, she mends, she cooks and sews,
She bathes the children and washes their clothes.
When they forget to wash their faces clean,
And their clothes are the muddiest you've ever seen,
Who repairs the clothes and scrubs them like new?
Of course, that is what a Mother will do.


Who becomes the doctor or the nurse when they are ill,
Applying a bandage or giving them a pill?


Who becomes a teacher when a child has homework?
She must never her duty shirk.
Who becomes a detective to find a toy or a book?
For missing things she must look and look?
Who becomes a listener to every heartache,
To every accomplishment that a child makes?
Who scolds their children when they are naughty,
Or remind them of God when they are to haughty?
Who tends her family with love and patience, too?
Of course that is what a Mother will do.
- Unknown






A Mother's Love




A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,

And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . . 
A many splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.




Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women who love unconditionally and are the glue that holds their families together! 

Busy- a word that is used as an excuse too many times!

Busy!
What does busy really mean? In 2015 we all are super busy whether one is a mom, business woman, college student, high school student, athlete, whatever you title yourself to be. But when a relationship is important, little insignificant things one fills their schedules with can be put on the back burner so the special people in your life really feel special.

The word "Busy" needs to be taken out of ones everyday language! Most of the time when you ask someone, "How have you been? they will say "Busy," and what does it really mean? Personally,
I am over it. We all have busy lives and the same 24 hours to fill. As adults we choose how to fill it and with whom we want to fill it with.

The difference is that "busy" people constantly feel rushed and unorganized during those hours. I chuckle every time I get a text or voicemail from a friend saying "sorry it has taken me a couple days getting back to you, I have been super busy." Really- in the era of cell phones, texting, email, you can't find the time to touch base and connect. I can appreciate a long phone call is often challenging when cooking dinner, doing baths, bed time routine but driving home from work or to the store- just pick up the phone and say hi. I am guilty of this but have come to realize that too many times I use being busy as an excuse to put something off or ignore someone I do not want to interact with. I am working on changing this behavior and addressing the issue face on.

When a friend or family member constantly gives me the excuse that they have been too busy to touch base with me, it really hurts my feelings. I have a lot going on in my 24 hour day and make time to reach out to the people important to me. One of my "supposed to be friends" always gives me the excuse she is just too busy to get the girls together. That has never been an issue before so what has changed? As an adult and mother, one should be responsible enough to address the issue and stop the excuses that are hurtful. Life is too short to let "things" get in the way of precious friendships. Friendships are important in life and need to be nourished to grow and stay healthy.

Get a grip, make some tough choices and calm down. There is a huge difference between a busy day and a full day. A busy day is crazy and ineffective.  A full day is planned and productive.

Prioritize.  What do you want in life? Life is short so keep you list short and sweet. Stop making the To-Do list. To-Do lists pile up and add to the day to day craziness. As adults we have to make choices. This means admitting that we are human and cannot do everything and deciding to make time for what is most important. By scheduling your day with unrealistic To-Do lists, you are not taking control of your life. 

Say no. This is often very difficult since we do not like to hurt other people's feelings. But to do something well, one must be focused. Your focus needs to be clear with home, family and work as the top priorities. Whenever someone asks you to do something, be ready to say no. You do not have to always say yes to everything you’re asked to do.  Establish your priorities and stick with the plan. 

Realize you are addicted to being busy. Busy is an excuse and gives you an "out" to ignore parts of your life that need the most attention. Friendships need attention not the excuse "I'm busy." That is a lazy cop-out to avoid an issue that may be going in with the relationship.  Be an adult and deal with the real issue instead of making excuses. A lot of people think busy means important. When busy actually means out of control.  A busy day means unorganized and crazy. A full day means planned and prioritized. Important people have full days, not busy days, because important people can’t afford to be out of control.

In order to have your day be focused and flow, you must change the way you talk and not use the word "Busy."  When someone asks you, “How are you?” you will have something more interesting and engaging to say than “Busy.” You can be honest if your day has been overflowing but use the term "Full" not 'Busy" and open up the conversation to discuss what all has been keeping your 24 hours full. 

How one word changed my outlook on life!

One word "cancer" has changed my attitude, priorities and outlook on life. 

This past year has been a world wind of emotions and has changed my outlook on the way we live, friendships, how we spend our free time and the people we choose to open our hearts to.  I have been struggling with the pain of both of my parents having cancer.  

My mama, who is my rock, best friend and biggest cheerleader was diagnosed with Stage 1 adenocarcinoma (non-smokers lung cancer). Just the word "cancer" sent chills through my entire body and caused me to be very depressed. Everyone I have known who has had cancer have passed and the thought of losing my mama, Lexi losing her YiaYia, was too much for me to process. All I wanted to do is sleep, I didn't have any energy and the only bright ray of light was my sweet daughter.  Mama's wonderful team of doctors at the Mayo Clinic didn't waste anytime and performed surgery to remove the spot and a portion of moms right lung. Surgery was a success- all the cancer was removed and it did not spread to any other organs or her lymph nodes. Thank you Lord.  I was coming out of my dark cloud that had zapped my energy and started to refocus on getting back in shape and new hobbies with Lexi.

Then another blow hit our family, my daddy was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung and liver cancer. His oncologist gave him 3-6 months to live and being 3000 miles away is so difficult. The dark clouds returned and I fell into a deep depression. Every ounce of energy I have goes towards being the best mommy and wife I can be along with cooking, keeping the house clean, doing the laundry and trying to rehab my shoulder.  The exercise classes I teach are a great relief of stress but remembering all the little insignificant things on a daily basis isn't happening and my lists pile up on the passenger seat of my mini van. My weekly moms group (WTG) is wonderful and I feel like I had a huge shot of espresso after a couple hours with the amazing women and our fearless leader.  

I struggle with the thought of losing my parents although I know it is the reality in life. These 2 people fell in love, brought me into this world, gave me an fabulous life and have loved me for 45 years unconditionally. I am trying to come to terms with losing my daddy within the next few months and I have been writing a journal of all the things I want to say to him before I lose him. When we talk I tell him some things, talk about great childhood memories and thank him for being a the best daddy. Since we are so far away, I face time with him so Lexi can see him and visit with him. Listening to my sweet daughter talking with her Papa Rog warms my heart!

These painful situations have greatly changed my outlook on life. My family is the most important thing in my life. My husband and I have both chosen to surround ourselves and our daughter with the people we love and true friends. Our time on this planet is so precious and one never knows when the end will come. With this, we have decided to live life to the fullest each and every day, create memories with family and friends, give back to others and most importantly be kind.  

I am a type A personality and have always wanted to take control and be in control but this has softened me and I now choose to roll with it and have a more relaxed attitude. The days of drama, friendships that were more tears than joys, being used by others for their selfish needs/agendas and working long hours for the bigger house or fancier cars are gone. Time with loved ones and being happy is our goal. This has also helped our marriage and brought us closer as a couple along with being better parents in raising our daughter to be a kind, loving, caring, smart woman.

I am scared about losing my parents and the unknown but I try to wake up each day happy that I indeed woke up, try to rise above the dark cloud, surround myself with loed ones and genuine friends and be the best I can be. 

Love your parents, children, spouses, be kind and appreciate each and every day because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

5 Reasons "ME" Time for Mom is So Important

This is such a great post and advice from a mom to all moms!

We moms are the backbone of our families and very important too.  We need to take time for ourselves and smell the roses. We can not be on top of our game if we are drowning in every issue surrounding our families.

Refresh ourselves: take time to exercise, shower alone, make time with girlfriends and have date nights with our handsome husbands or just sit quietly to decompress once a day. 

Thank you Mom @ Entirely Eventful Day!


5 Reasons "ME" Time for Mom is So Important - Entirely Eventful Day