Motivation...How? & Monday Stats...

If you’re looking for motivation to get you off the couch and started on your workout, I have to tell you something… the motivation is not coming for you.  

I repeat, it is NOT coming.

You don’t just get motivated.  

DISCIPLINE COMES FIRST.

I am thankful that I grew up in a family who was pretty active. My parents played sports, my mom taught aerobics, I played softball, was a cheerleader, was on color guard, played tennis and rode my bike EVERYWHERE till I could drive. But having children slowed me down a lot. However that active girl was always still there and she would whisper "get up, go for a walk". So I got up and got moving again. Yes it wasn't the same as before kids but that's the great thing about being active, there isn't one "right way".

Trust me, I know it's hard. 

I know what it’s like to physically force yourself off the couch to do a workout that makes you want to die after only five minutes. 

I know what it’s like to cry during a workout because it’s so hard (did that last week during cardio but we will discuss that a bit later). 

I know what it’s like to quit in the middle of a workout. 

I know what it’s like to be embarrassed about having to workout to be healthy. 

But the truth is, you’re not going to get motivated. You have to take some sort of step forward on your own.

If you think you can’t do something because you’re not feeling motivated enough, you’re actually saying you don’t care enough. You don’t want to get motivated if you’re not doing anything about it, because it’s the action that creates the motivation. Action must come first. What you really should be saying is you want to be disciplined.

It takes discipline to take the action to get motivation. 

Did you get that???  

Being disciplined means you do something even if you don’t want to. People who are disciplined are willing to do the hard things, whether they want to or not. You have to tell yourself, “I don’t want to, but I’m going to.”

You’ll find that when you do it you actually feel amazing. When you feel amazing doing something you needed to do but didn’t want to do, you’re motivated to keep going. You’ve crossed it off your list and that makes you feel like a badass!

If you’re not happy with where you’re at, health or otherwise,  you know you deserve better and you want to make that change, you have to start today!  You have to start right now. Don’t wait until next Monday or the 1st of the month like everyone else does. 

Today is the day to start over. 

Remember it’s all about the action you take right now.

Motivation doesn’t come, you create it.  That’s the power you have.

~~~

Okay so last week was kind of a shit show or should I say snow show. So I was suppose to go grocery shopping on Thursday. Well Wednesday we got hit with the beginning of a 3 day winter storm. 

Here's the thing, it NEVER SNOWS here like it did those 3 days. We also had temps down to the teens which also never happens. And howling winds which were causing awful snow drifts. Wednesday to early Saturday morning the police were urging people to stay home because the roads were so bad. This area of the UK just isn't used to the weather we got slammed with. It was crazy. So I didn't end up being able to grocery shop till today, which means I tried my best to stay on my meal plan but it was far from perfect.

I crushed my workouts and staying active for my #365ActiveChallenge though.

Today I started the full 80 Day Obsession Plan and it was killer but fun. I'm really excited to see how my body responds to it over the next 80 days. 

I will also be walking inclines a few times this week too and work myself up to walking inclines 5 days a week. Baby steps for now to see how my hip reacts.

I've also decided to go strictly gluten, dairy free and KETO!

And for once I'm excited to update my stats because I lost a few pounds. 

Weight: 

February 26th 175.2 lbs --- March 5th 173.0 lbs (2.2lb lost)

Measurements:

Biceps - (R) 12" / (L) 12"

Forearms - (R) 9.5" / (L) 9.5"

Chest - 37"

Stomach (at hip bone) - 37"

Hips - 43"

Thigh - (R) 25" / (L) 25"

Calves - (R) 15.75" / (L) 15.75"

*I will update measurements March 31st*

And because a few of you were asking what my meal plan was like here it is. I will say I am EXTREMELY picky so my meal plan is VERY  SIMPLE. LOL! 

And I'm intermittent fasting so I only eat from 12pm to 8pm.

Its roughly between 1400-1500 calories a day, 73% Fat, 21% Protein, and 6% Carbs.

5am-730am: Coffee

845am: Unicorn Moonshine Ketones (ask me about it, if you are interested)

1st Meal at 12pm: 2 Keto Biscuits & 2 Jimmy Dean Sausage Patties

2nd Meal at 230pm: 4 Strawberries, Keto Blueberry Muffin & Unicorn Moonshine

3rd Meal at 5pm: 3oz Grilled Chicken, 1 cup Iceberg Lettuce, 1 Hard Boiled Egg, 

14 Hormell Pepperoni Slices, Topped with Dairy Free Ranch Dressing

4th Meal at 730pm: 2oz Arla Lactofree Mild Cheddar Cheese (vegan cheese) &

14 Hormell Pepperoni Slices

Monday Stats...

So if you read yesterdays blog you'd know this, but if you are new to the party, today I start the 365 day fit challenge! 

For those of you who have followed me for a while know I injured my hip about 9 months ago. Those several months were the most stressful part of my journey so far. Along with my husband deploying for almost 5 month I was a hot mess and dealing with lots of stress! 

So of course I turned to food to comfort me. I lost my weight by eating healthy AND exercising. So I felt like it was a packaged deal, I had to eat healthy and exercise to be successful. I couldn’t exercise, so I slowly stopped eating healthy and it lead to a 15 pound weight gain. 

Am I proud of that? No. But I’m so glad it happened. It was a huge lesson and stepping stone in my journey. I looked to the scale for approval. Eventually I stopped weighing which I thought was a good thing but it also left me in denial. 

For the first time, I weighed myself this weekend and truly didn’t let the number derail me. The negative thoughts that usually came, didn’t. I may have gained weight during the past 9 months but I spent a lot of time changing my thinking and started loving myself where I am, which is what truly matters and most people forget to focus on.

So taking on this challenge was important to me, I know when I exercise I want to eat healthier! I have no real rules for myself during this challenge except to be active every day. Weather that means 1 hour or 15 minutes! As long as I’m doing something that’s all that matters!

And because Mondays are dedicated days to update ya'll on my journey I wanted to update ya'll since I was suppose to start my fitness again last week. Well that was a total train wreck. 

Monday and Tuesday I did workout...YAY! I was battling sinus issues but I just dealt with it.

Tuesday evening I ended up with a high fever and down for the count. I was incredible sore all Tuesday but I thought it was just my bodies response to the first real workouts in 9 months. It was, but it was also due to the fever. I didn't workout. I tried but seriously felt like my legs were going to explode from the pain of soreness.

Wednesday I was sick and ridiculous sore so I just rested.

Thursday the fever was gone but still so sore walking was a challenge. The soreness was the worst I have felt in years. My legs were defiantly in shock from the workouts. 

Friday to Sunday I just gave up and rested. Just being honest. 

My sinuses are still a mess so I may need to call the dr and get an appointment. I'm still planning on working out today since today I start my 365 day challenge.

Monday February 26 Stats...

NO CHANGE FROM LAST WEEK!

Weight: 

175.2 lbs

Measurements:

Biceps - (R) 12" / (L) 12"

Forearms - (R) 9.5" / (L) 9.5"

Chest - 37"

Stomach (at hip bone) - 37"

Hips - 43"

Thigh - (R) 25" / (L) 25"

Calves - (R) 15.75" / (L) 15.75"

365 Active Challenge...

Over and over again you hear about 7, 10 and 24 day challenges. 

I'm a little late to the party but I've decided to take on a 365 day active challenge. 

Last April (2017), I injured my hip.  I was very limited on the amount of working out I could do so I basically quit all together or it at least felt like I gave up! I had become addicted to working out, I spent every spare moment trying to get a workout in, most day I averaged 2 workouts.

This is part of what caused me to get injured and knocked out for 9 months.

So why would I challenge myself to workout every day for a whole year?  

Sounds crazy right?

I have such an all or nothing personality. During the 9 months I was recovering, I focused on what I couldn’t do rather than what I could do so I did very little. 

So for the next whole year I commit to being active, every single day, with a minimum of 15 minutes a day. Almost everyone can spend an extra 15 minutes a day being active. It is an attainable goal. I need to change my mentality and I decided to make it a year of absolutely no excuses.

Everyone wants the results, but no one wants the work. 

I'm sure not every day will be easy. Life will always throw me curve balls. Buts its all on  how I react and handle them that matters. 

I urge you to join me on this 365 day active challenge and stop focusing on what you can’t do and instead focus on what you can do!

You can follow my The Unicorn Mom to follow along each day and see what exactly I have do every day. And of course keep checking back here EVERY Monday for a recap of each week! 

On the verge of giving up and losing motivation...

“Pain is temporary, but quitting lasts forever.” – Lance Armstrong

I’ve heard many of you recently saying you’re on the verge of giving up and losing motivation. We are in this crazy world together; just know you’re not alone and you have sooo many people supporting you to live your best life.  

I struggled with the same thing; then I made the decision to make a change.

All of us face challenges and fears. We all get knocked down. What distinguishes us from those who give up in life is the ability to overcome and achieve even greater things in times of stress and pressure.

In 2014 I jumped back into the fitness world and working on my goals to lose a shit ton of weight.  That year was a turning point in my life.  After a turbulent time in my 20's, I had let myself down and given up on too many things before. I was determined to overcome my past and the fears that I held on. I was ready to start new.  I needed a challenge that I could overcome so that I had the strength and knowledge that I could do anything I put my mind to.

As I began my healing process by rustling through self-help books and renewing my faith, I sought out what made me happiest as a kid. I wanted that invincible feeling again.

In search of that feeling, my journey began. Working out and training day after day became my therapy.  It was my time of solitude and reflection. No matter how much I didn’t want to start or finish, I'd tie up my laces and push through the last few minutes ... I was determined. I knew that when I got through it, I would feel a million times better.

I have had thoughts about stopping quite often and calling it quits. But then I remind myself that “I’m not a quitter, I’m not a quitter, not anymore”…I talked myself through it and calmed my mind.

Those moments that I feel like quitting and walking away from the fitness world, I stop and looked around at all the women that I have helped. I've met women with so many different stories; they were changing their lives because their doctor said if they didn’t lose weight they would die, women who were cancer survivors, women who just need physical fitness as therapy, best friends challenging each other and elite athletes. We all came from different backgrounds, but we all had one thing in common…. we were all here because being active made us feel alive and so much better.

After I finish a grueling workout, sometimes the tears fall. They aren't tears of sadness or pain, but happiness.  I set out to accomplish something and didn’t give up.  

Since 2014 my life has taken a huge turn.  Not only have I fallen in love with something that saved me from my past, but also I realized…. I was invincible again…. an unstoppable kid.

Fitness saved my life, as it’s saved so many others like you.  If you put your mind and heart in into something, you can overcome and push through any challenge.

Keep moving, living and smiling.  Anything is possible…if you move forward without hesitation or doubt, nothing can stop you.

Oh Motivation where did you go???

What do you do when your motivation goes out the window or you hit a wall in business? These tips work for so many other areas of your life so if you don’t own a business…keep reading, sister.

 

I won’t blow sunshine up your cute little dress. It’s hard to push forward when you hit a major wall. As a military wife you learn to, “embrace the suck.” You have to apply that same concept to your business or big goals. Getting a business off the ground is like getting an airplane off the ground… with your feet. Losing 100 lbs takes the same focused intensity. 

 

It takes a shit ton of hard work and consistency. If you let a set back knock you down for too long you totally lose the momentum you worked very hard for so you have to work like hell to keep your feet on the ground and keep taking one step at a time. Not a big step. Just a step.

 

Not every day is glamorous. Somedays you’ll feel like a royal hot mess. But motivation is a muscle that you can choose to build and maintain. No luck involved.

 

The best way to get your groove back is start with some audio that inspires you and gets your creative juices flowing. Go for a walk and listen to a great podcast or call a friend that will encourage you.

Movement creates momentum.

Remind yourself that every great business or accomplishment has had set backs. It’s an opportunity to reflect. You are one of the greats and someday your setback will inspire many to keep going.

Create an environment that inspires you to focus. Turn on soothing music, light a candle, sit on the patio at sunrise or sunset. Whatever it takes to create an inviting space to focus. If you’re trying to restart a fitness routine, put on your workout clothes and pull out the weights so they are visible and ready to go.

 

And just start. Again.

 

Because giving up isn’t an option. There is no plan B. You’re already all in. You’re a fighter. You’re an overcomer. You got this, babe.

Here are a few additional steps you can take to get your mojo back:

1. Watch your mother Fing mouth. (Kidding…kinda.) You can literally speak life or death into your dreams. There’s a huge difference when you say, “I’ll try…” vs. “I will…..” or “I hope…” vs “I can….”

2. Take a step back to see what’s not working. Sometimes we hit roadblocks because it’s time to reinvent ourselves or to step up our game. Taking a BREIF step back, gives you perspective. Then get right back into the game.

3. Stop, drop and meditate. Don’t worry. This isn’t a perfect process. I’m a squirrel when I meditate. Just focus on getting quiet and visualize ideas flowing easily to you. Don’t judge your thoughts. Just be still. This decreases stress and increases creativity.

4. Set an action based goal and reward. Example: If you pre-plan and write 4 blog posts and schedule them > you’ll treat yourself to a pedicure. (With a mimosa on top.)

5. Create a playlist full of music that inspires you. Some of my favorite songs are:

Remember, the longer you wait to restart the harder it gets. Pull the f#$king bandaid off and just get the ball rolling. 

Action cures fear. Movement creates momentum.

Just. Start.

Do you have any tips that help you create motivation? Share them in the comments below! #Sharingiscaring

XOX~Mandy

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Call me an idiot...

Two blog posts in one day...girl must have lost her mind.

Nope.

I just have a lot to say today.


So I log on to check my messages. I see a couple Happy Birthdays messages from sweet friends, some messages from clients, a few from new friends and one that has the word "idiot" in it. So of course I open it because I'm intrigued. I reached out to said person and said "hello, how are you doing on this fine labor day?" Which said person replied back with "geta job you idiot" <--- yes just like that.

Of course my defenses went up and I wanted to reply back with a "Fuck off you lovely cunt!" But I refrained. Instead I replied back with this "Um okay. I was just trying to start a conversation but whatever. I don't need negative people like you in my life. And just so you know I have a real job. One that I'm positive pays more then yours and I'm able to be home with our children and travel. But ya know I'm the idiot. Have a blessed life."

It always blows me away how rude some people can be. I love meeting new people and getting to know them. I don't know who sandpapered her toilet this morning to put her in such a foul mood but I'm hope she gets the fuck over her royal bitchiness. I honestly feel sad for her. She must live in a world of hate and anger. She probably just needs some personal development, a hug, some chocolate, a glass of wine and maybe a good orgasm and she'd be a little better.


Honestly it isn't the first time someone has told me to get a real job. Which always leaves me a bit confused. You mean to tell me what I do is make believe and not real?!?! Well crap on a cracker!

Psh! How about you shut up and listen to me before running your mouth and make assumptions about what I do for a living.

I used to work real jobs. I worked at Sonic Drive-In, McDonalds, Cleaning Company cleaning houses, Telemarketing, Nanny, Child Care Teacher and the list goes on. And then one day I quit those "REAL jobs" and became a Beachbody Coach. Just because YOUR IDEAL of a "REAL JOB" is leaving the house and working 9-5 doesn't mean that's my ideal.

As a Coach, I work my ass off for my paychecks just like I did at every other "REAL job" I've worked. But now I am in charge of determining how big that paycheck is! I earn an income solely based on MY TIME & EFFORT. And the BEST PART is all that time and effort that I've worked hard to put in pays off in the long run residually, so I can take a day off here and there and PLAY! I don't have to have a "real" 9-5 schedule, I don't have a "real" dress code or boss to report to.

I build my business completely on social media...FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE. Shocking I know. But I get to be 100% me, unapologetically ME! What you see is what you get! My coworkers have became more like family then coworkers. I get to stay home with our children and spend the day at the zoo if we choose to. We travel when we want to. And all of this freedom is because I took this "non-real job". Hmmm. So who's the idiot now?! Joking joking, no one is an idiot you just are uneducated on what I do for a living.

But for you haters out there who want to tell other Beachbody Coaches "to get a real job" stop and listen to how its changed their lives first. Because I guarantee you after you hear their story, you will want to join this "NON-REAL JOB" too.

I'm sorry if you don't like me and get angry over the honest things I say but this is my real life. This opportunity has been nothing but amazing for me and my family. Instead of being so judgmentally of others and what they do for a living why don't you ask them and learn more about it. Being so uptight and judgement may leave you missing out on something fabulous.

XOX~Mandy