Getting Fit is an Incredible Opportunity

I read this motivation today and was instantly humbled and even more thankful for my health and fitness. This really puts fitness into perspective. Do we really have a right to complain about getting fit? There are so many who are unable to lift their body from a wheelchair.

Sometimes we can lose sight of what an incredible opportunity we have to get fit. Instead of looking at it as a burden, we should be spilling over with thankfulness for the opportunity.

Do you have a working body?  I do, and although I may have some medical limitations, I appreciate what I can do with what I have.

We live in a stressed up world and place much upon ourselves. We make life so busy that we're missing out on what is truly important. Health is a valuable gift we're supposed to take care of by what we do with our fitness.

Getting fit and healthy is a privilege just the same as growing older. If our mindset is not focused on the important stuff, we will live a life of chaos not to mention creating an unhealthy body.

Fitness goals require a positive attitude. Our body achieves what the mind believes. For example, instead of seeing meal prep as a burdensome task, be thankful for the health benefits you will receive from eating right.

The same goes for exercise. Is your life really so busy to not fit in a 30-minute workout? Really?! There are many who struggle just to walk. Try looking at your body as a beautiful gift and appreciate the awesome opportunity you have to get in shape.

It will be our mindset that carries us into the right way of thinking about getting fit. Our bodies will only go where our mind pushes us. Being able to exercise is truly something to be thankful for.

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Follow Your Own Fitness Path for Life Long Results

My daughter's 1st-grade teacher informed me she would always be a leader and not a follower. This still holds true 25-years later and such great advice. I think about her statement often and how it applies to health and fitness.

We all need to be leaders and not followers when it comes to our fitness and health. Following the path of someone else with differing goals just doesn't make sense. We are all unique in body, mind, and spirit. My goal isn't to be you and I hope this is true on your end.

I am a  skeptic when it comes to fitness miracles regardless of who is sharing the information. I refuse to follow the beliefs of others just because they heard it was the next best thing to sliced bread. Do you really think it's healthy to lose 20lbs in 5 days? That's craziness.

I feel the same way about exercise programs. I review fitness trends before agreeing with advertised claims of it being the newest and best workout ever.

What does impress me is solid research and leading myself with what works best for me nutritionally and physically. Everything else is just fluff until proven quality. Sure it takes work when you're a leader, but it's worth the time and effort. Don't you want to apply sound principles to your health and fitness program? There is so much crap out there that can actually hurt you and to not be aware of this fact is negligent.

Leaders also do not feel the need to compare. They are confident moving forward, regardless of how slow, with a tried and true fitness program.

Followers are more apt to give up and jump to the next new fitness trend hoping to achieve something from empty promises.

Leaders stand firm with dedication while followers get lost in the shuffle. Leaders will get lifelong results and followers will yo-yo through and typically end up right where they started or worse.

Science has already proven consistent healthy eating and regular exercise is the answer to good health. Leaders understand and accept this fact. Followers continue to struggle. They want fast and easy and desire the results worn by the leaders but are often unwilling to do the work.

It is so important to understand being a leader will be the success of your overall health and fitness. We all have differing things going on genetically, medically, and even emotionally. Accurate and successful fitness programs take specific and personal needs into consideration. This requires us not to compare our fitness to others and start directing our own path. Personal focus allows us to discover what works best for us.

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Our Daily Choices Define Our Fitness

Being fit is not a temporary condition but fills our entire day and life. The motivation to get in shape may have initiated with bikini season or an event. The fitness results, however, should be life long.

Unfortunately many settle back into old unhealthy habits, but that's not the way fitness is supposed to work. We are living not realizing life is the event we are getting fit for.

I approach my fit lifestyle with a plan. My energy is highest in the morning, so I schedule my workouts accordingly. Starting my day with exercise enables me to feel great for the remainder of my 24/7 fitness shift.

The workout is not the only part of staying lean and muscular. Planning my nutrition plays a major role in maintaining my body. I have lots of healthy food ready to go and follow a 90/10 nutrition plan. I may relax some on the weekend shifting down to 80/20 allowing for a few treats. I also drink plenty of water and consider it an essential nutrient.

Fitness doesn't end at the workout but includes the 23-hours after sweating your butt off. Working out daily and turning around eating crappy on the regular isn't the definition of being fit. What we choose to eat, hours of sleep and even our stress levels determine our fitness.

When fitness becomes a habit, the healthy behavior is done without thought and going through the motions come naturally. Being fit is not a pretend or fake lifestyle. Your body always knows the truth of your actions. In fact, those who are closest to you will know exactly how you're living and if it represents health and fitness.

The choices we make throughout the day determine our fitness. When we adopt a fit lifestyle, it just feels normal. We don't think, we just do and it feels right. We are living our best life and feeling great about it. Our body represents the life we choose to live and what we do today affects today but also all our tomorrows.

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Fake Health Foods Lead to Fake Fitness

Health food and marketing is big business. Depending on the health food subject, this can stimulate a soapbox moment for me. We have been hit hard with no-fat, low-fat, no sugar, no calories, gluten free and now unhealthy organics are making headway.

Whatever current health food trend is happening, food companies are figuring out ways to dupe the consumer. Do you really believe organic Ruffles, Doritos and Cheese Puffs are healthy?  Really!?

Sadly, consumers believe them to be healthy and are loading grocery carts full of unhealthy organic food items. Chips are chips, organic or not and probably one of the worst things to put in your body. Other food items try to squeak by stating they are minimally processed, but processed is processed.

Store shelves are lined with convenient organic items and granted some may be fabulous, but most are not. The ingredients tell the real story for anything in a box, bag or wrapper. If you can't understand or pronounce what's on the ingredient label, you better believe it's a chemical sh*t storm.

Many fitness enthusiasts rely on protein and energy bars. Have you looked at those labels? Most are the same as eating a candy bar. Health bars are also available in organic versions but does it make them any better? Removing pesticides are great but what about all those additives, sugar, and salt?

When it comes to buying any food, rely on the ingredient label and look for understandable quality ingredients. Fewer ingredients are more when it comes to packaged products.

We need to become wise consumers and discontinue believing fake health food marketing schemes. Eating a bag of organic chips post workout isn't muscle recovery food. Reaching for that energy bar may not be the best choice, and forget the organic white pasta.

Real organic food is just that, real in its raw state. Sometimes organics can even look ugly with blemishes and it ripens quickly. We need to get back to and understand real and whole organic food is what will keep us healthy.

We obtain optimal fitness, improved athletic performance, fat loss and muscle gain when we feed our body the good stuff.  Just because the label says organic, fat-free, gluten-free or any "free" doesn't mean healthy.  Be a wise shopper and eat what you understand. Keep it real and Stay Healthy!

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Be well and Stay Healthy!

Fitness is a Constant State of Change

Change is necessary, can be a challenge, and inevitable. Sometimes we have no control over change as with the aging process or certain illness. What we can control are changes making us healthier people. That means taking an honest look at our lifestyle. What are we eating and are we exercising? How do we implement all this change? 

Change is a big part of this journey of life. None of us are exempt from the constant changes needed to make our situation better. Did you know our bodies change at every level each day without our knowledge?  

Personally, I have undergone a lot of change in this life as an athlete. My healthy lifestyle enabled me to face many physical challenges. One of the toughest physical changes was rehabilitation from injury. It required perseverance not to give up, and acceptance of not being able to perform athletically as before. 

The inevitable change often difficult for me presently are the changes occurring with the aging process. No amount of exercise is going to stop hormonal shifts and other changes I have posted about going through menopause. This transition or "the change" in life is definitely proving to be a challenge.   

We are all aging each day and our bodies changing through the process. When I was younger I didn't think too much about it. Being over 50, I can get overwhelmed by the different way I feel in menopause. I am sure many of you can relate. 

Both men and women face the inevitable changes occurring with the aging process. Whether prostate issues for men or night sweats for women, it's a situation that can add frustration to life. 

I am open about everything health related. I feel issues, even those topics that may fall into the taboo to be discussed in public are fair game. In fact, I hope we can all agree that sensitive subjects relating to health need to be addressed and shared. Why? Many people are searching for answers or at least support to not feel alone in their experience. If Dr. Oz can discuss the perfect poop shape, vaginal dryness, and orgasms, then for crying out loud, I am surely going to talk about it. 

All change can feel difficult, or extremely fantastic depending on the situation. Adapting a healthy lifestyle through eating nutrient dense foods and regular exercise will bring about a healthy body. Feeling and functioning better can be experienced pretty quickly with these changes. Although the process can feel like a challenge, eventually the change will provide an overall healthy state of mind and wellbeing.  

Change occurring with injury or illness is harder to accept and embrace, at least in the beginning. I found that it takes hard work, lots of patience, and faith first and foremost. Also, the will to want to become healthier and better no matter what that looks like. Our life may be modified but our health can still be optimal. I discovered, the only disability that exists in life is the one existing in our mind. 

The inevitable change of aging is also an area which will require patience and acceptance. We're all becoming new people every day with all this change. We don't always need to feel great about the aging process but it is a transition we need to accept. I'm not saying to celebrate hot flashes and lowered libidos because this is no fun for anyone. Our body is making hormone adjustments our thinking brain hasn't caught up to yet. It's simply our time to cut ourselves some slack and embrace the journey.

The important thing is to change those things we can control to become healthier people and let go of the rest.   

  

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Losing the Last Ten Pounds

The last ten pounds can be a struggle. The scale stops budging and frustration has taken over. The stress of it all is putting the adrenal glands on overdrive. A cortisol rush is the last thing our body needs when trying to lose the last ten pounds. Studies show chronic stress and cortisol release hinders our ability to lose weight.

Plateaus are normal for all of us living a healthy lifestyle. Many don't realize food intake and exercise programming require constant review and change. If the plan doesn't work, change the plan but never the goal. 

Remain positive and progressive with your fitness regardless of what the scale says. Many factors are at play when the body stops showing results. Usually, a simple review and program change are all that's required to gets things moving again. 

Things to consider: 

• Are you eating enough? The body knows when it's not getting enough fuel. If we restrict too many calories, our body will refuse to give up any fat stores. The body sees stored fat as energy necessary for life and exercise.  

• Are you being true to your nutrition program? Many fall back into unhealthy eating habits and are even in denial about it. Our body knows what we're eating and will respond with weight gain.  

• Are you exercising less? Reducing exercise will significantly affect your ability to lose weight. Energy out needs to be more than energy in to experience a caloric deficit resulting in weight loss. Take time to review your priorities and determine if exercise has taken a backseat. 

• Are you burned out? This is normal and happens to most of us living a healthy lifestyle. Adding variety to workout programs and healthy foods is important to keep us motivated. 

The last ten pounds can be a challenge but also a learning opportunity. We can become frustrated and throw in the towel, or change our strategy and get back on track. It's important to take one day and one pound at a time. Feel proud of daily efforts taking you closer to your fitness goals. The last ten pounds will respond to what you're willing to do to be rid of it, or keep it. It still comes down to choices and changes.

Recharging the mental battery is a great way to stay motivated to keep going. You can do it!  

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Be well and Stay Healthy!

Achieving a Lean Body is Possible for Everyone

Achieving a lean and healthy body is possible for all of us. We have the ability to do what it takes to make it happen. It doesn't cost lots of money, require anything special, not even a gym membership. We can achieve a lean body naturally by choosing a healthy lifestyle. The choices we make each day determine what our body will look and feel like.

Consistency with eating right, exercise, plenty of rest, water and decreased stress will help create the body we want. It starts with our grocery lists and foods we buy to maintain our physique. If we're buying processed sugar filled food products then we will create an unhealthy body. It really is that simple but many of us refuse to change this basic part of living. The same goes for exercise. If you're not taking care of your body with a regular fitness program, it will let you know through injury or stiffness.

We can lean up naturally by purchasing healthy foods and eating at home most of the time. Our hard earned dollars will be well spent on healthy food instead of fake products. This way we know what and how much we're eating and at a cost saving. Eating healthy 80 percent of the time will result in reduced body fat and overall leaner look. Reducing alcohol consumption to no more than 1 to 2 times per week will make this happen even faster. Drinking plenty of water will also speed up the process.

No gym membership required to get up and move that body! You can even start burning extra calories by taking a brisk walk for 30 minutes several times per week. Add in a few push-ups, squats, crunches and stretching to create an at home program to build muscle. Achieving a lean body is not complicated or expensive. It's our daily choices and actions that control what we look like inside and out. We all have the ability, but the choice is always up to each of us.

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Control Your Food Intake for Fitness Success

Getting fit and healthy takes a balance of eating right and exercise. Nutrition plays a primary role in the equation. Overeating is off the charts for a large percentage of the populous. Portions are out of control and people are literally biting off more than they can chew. Super-sized plates draped with enough food to feed an army are common in restaurants. I will refrain from my soapbox about the all you can eat buffet.

I love the famous quote "eat to live, don't live to eat" because this gold nugget of information is absolutely true. This is not saying indulging occasionally is not acceptable. Honestly, a treat in proper portion size is not going to break our fitness banks. However, stuffing our faces to the point of having to roll to the sofa in a food coma is an upsetting example of living to eat.

Calories people! What it comes down to is the basic science of chemistry and calories. When we eat too much, fat is stored. Eat too little, weight is lost. Eat just right and we maintain energy balance. Sounds like the "Three Little Bears" but you get the drift. The quality of calories is also important. We may eat junk food in very small portions and within an acceptable calorie range for our body, but our inside would be a hot mess. This is an example of a person who would be defined as skinny fat.

When calories from quality real food are consumed at the right portions for our body, then health is realized from the inside out. Remember, eating too many calories from healthy foods can also result in weight gain. In order to maintain energy balance, sticking to the right amount of calories is essential. The worry is not so much about vegetables because it would be difficult to get fat eating kale. Chomping down tons of oats, wheat pasta, brown rice, and yams is a whole other story.

Size does matter when it comes to any food we eat. Biting off more than we can chew is not good regardless if the calories are coming from healthy or unhealthy sources. Portion control is one of the old new secrets to achieving a healthy body. Nothing magic to shutting our mouths at the food trough when we feel satisfied.

Great takeaways: pay attention to portion size, don't go back for seconds, and listen to body signals of satiety.

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Be well and Stay Healthy!

             

I Want to Motivate You to Get Fit

Are you motivated to get fit? What does your fitness and nutrition program look like? What changes are you making to get closer to your fitness goals? The holidays are around the corner and probably the best time to adopt a healthy lifestyle. It will prepare you to make better food selections, reduce portion sizes and get in some workouts.

I am here to motivate you to adopt a healthy lifestyle by providing nutrition and exercise tips. Although I'm a guide and not a goal, it's nice to see what other fitness professionals are eating to maintain a lean and healthy body.

My typical daily food intake:

Meal 1: 
1-2 cups coffee
Organic whole grain toast with natural peanut butter and fruit spread.
Meal 2:
1/2 cup Greek plain yogurt with 1/2 cup organic blueberries or warmed apple, 1/4 cup flax meal. Mix and eat.
Meal 3:
Lean turkey and avocado sandwich on a thin bun with 1 slice Havarti cheese and basil pesto.
Meal 4:
Grilled fish (3-4oz), roasted assorted veggies
Meal 5:
1/2 cup cottage cheese or Hummus with Marys Gone Crackers
note: I strive to drink 1 gallon of water per day

My typical workouts:

My workouts are varied and limited to one hour 4-5 times per week. I find being over 50 my body requires more recovery time. My exercise programs may look like this in any given week:

Day 1: warm up, resistance training of large muscle groups (back, chest, legs), stretch
Day 2: cardio (1mile on ARC Trainer) core work and stretch
Day 3: warm up, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for 30 minutes, stretch
Day 4: active rest day
Day 5: warm up, resistance training of 1 large muscle group (legs) combined with shoulders and arms, stretch
Day 6: warm up, high rep light weight or body weight training, stretch
Day 7: active rest day

Eating right and exercise is essential for a successful fitness program. Allow yourself to be a beginner and progress each day. Results aren't immediate and remaining realistic and positive through the journey is important.

Pay attention to your fitness level and be prepared to change it up when things start feeling easy. Variety in your workouts also prevents burnout. The body is very adaptable to routine exercise. Ensure muscle confusion by changing up your workout programs. This will not only fire up the muscle fibers in a different way but also bring a new mental outlook to your routine.

Most importantly is to have fun with your fitness. Enjoyable workouts and healthy foods keep you coming back for more. A positive mental game will promote an active lifestyle!

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I Don't Use Supplements or Believe in Fitness Gimmicks

What I mean by supplements are those products promising a fit and healthy body simply by using whatever is in the bottle. I surely don't believe wrapping my mid-section with herbs will reduce my waist size either. I guess you could call me highly skeptical when it comes to fitness gimmicks. I really have to believe in a product to endorse or promote it and this is a rare occasion.

Products guaranteeing increased fat burning, muscle size and super powers receive a raised eyebrow from me. I say let's see the research to back up your claims. Supplements and pseudo-fitness products are unregulated so companies market with the lure to sell. Sadly, they lack adequate clinical studies so we are left in the dark regarding safety, purity, and effectiveness. Also, they can come with harmful side effects.

The next time you pick up a bottle of fitness magic, take a close look at the label. You will find in fine print the following: "results obtained when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise program."  BAM! What is the point of wasting money? Once a healthy diet and exercise program are implemented results will follow. This will happen without taking whatever is in that bottle.

Of course any supplementation is a personal choice. I'm not a downer on all

things that could improve our health and wellness. In some instances, and if prescribed by a physician, supplements may be necessary for some people. I do indulge in the occasional protein shake, take vitamins fairly regularly, and use glucosamine for reduced joint pain. This is more for my general health and not something to enhance my appearance. I have also completed extensive research on all the products I take. I don't believe drinking a protein shake is going to create muscle without work for example. If I feel cold symptoms coming on, I will take additional vitamin C to boost my immunity system. 

The primary source of my nutrient intake comes from what I eat daily and not by using dietary supplements. Because I consume a wide variety of nutrient dense foods, I feel confident my required daily allowances are being met. I fuel my workouts with healthy carbs, recover my body with lean proteins, and protect my cellular function with healthy fats.  

I lift weights as part of my exercise program and don't feel I need an over abundance of protein to increase my lean muscle mass. I eat my share of chicken breast but stick to a regular portion size per meal. I don't drink several protein shakes each day thinking this is going to improve my body. That is just crazy and would do nothing but tax my organs and create a constipation issue.

The demands I place on my body through exercise do require more calories obtained from all macronutrients. I simply focus on eating healthy several times per day to satisfy those needs. There is nothing magic about that and in fact maintaining a healthy body is pretty simple. It just requires eating right and consistent exercise.

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Are You Really Eating for Fitness Goals?

Fitness goals are awesome. We want to lose fat, gain muscle and just feel healthy, right? There is nothing better than living a quality life feeling our best. Of course, reaching these goals requires a certain lifestyle. 

Are you really eating for fitness goals? Did I ping you on the forehead just now? The lifestyle required includes consuming healthy foods and exercising consistently. Not living this way should make you feel weird. Do you feel weird?

If the answer is yes, there is something askew with your fitness program. It usually comes down to what you're eating. Often times we convince ourselves eating off track is acceptable because we work out several times per week. This falls under, you can't out exercise a crappy diet.

I have seen great fitness success turn into the entitlement of eating off track as a reward for doing so awesome. Your well-deserved food frenzy has snowballed into a struggle to get back on track. It can begin as innocently as saying "oh this once won't hurt me" but without self-control, it really can be disastrous.

The food we eat and what we drink represents the body we show. Think about that statement. Food is powerful and also makes us feel healthy or unhealthy. It's the primary cause of inflammation in our blood. This inflammation is said to be the root cause of increased risk of disease. 

We can no longer be in denial about what we're putting in our faces. Now is a great time to perform a nutritional assessment and take an honest look. Reaching fitness goals means being true to yourself. 

 

The great news is we can always get back on track and start again. This time, with healthier choices and firmer commitment to live the lifestyle. Fitness is always about progress and not perfection. 

Be well and Stay Healthy!

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Darla Leal, Stay Healthy Fitness

 

Don't Stress About the Food

Do you think eating healthy is too hard? I say keep it simple and don't stress. Too many of us are getting frustrated counting calories, weighing food, and calculating macro percents ad nauseum. Healthy food choices have become an overwhelming chore.

Have you heard of the saying throw out the scale? Apply that mentality to our food by tossing the scales and calculators. Eating right is about quality and not calories anyway. Who needs a scale if your pounding down kale, right? Eating donuts, pastries, and white bread is a different story.

Eating right is simply swaping out unhealthy choices for healthy food. Instead of eating french fries, bake sweet or even white potatoes. It also helps to use nutrient timing and eat every 2 to 3 hours. Eating small meals throughout the day stimulates our metabolism, regulates blood sugar, and eliminates feeling hungry.

Eating healthy is a good thing. Keeping it simple will allow you to enjoy your food and feel good about your healthy lifestyle. Start today by switching out unhealthy choices for healthy foods. Calculators and food scales aren't required for this process. Keeping a simple food journal may be a good idea starting out. Don't make journaling a chore either. If tracking macronutrients, put check marks next to the nutrients consumed at each meal.  Remember, eating right is not about being a task but an enjoyment in our healthy life.

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Stay Healthy

Food is Not the Enemy

It would be easy to blame food for being overweight and unhealthy. The truth is food is not the enemy. In fact, our very survival is based on  food and water for optimal body functioning.

Let's be honest. Getting healthy is about taking responsibility and making the right daily choices to improve our fitness. It's up to us to choose the right food to support a healthy body. We only have ourselves to blame when the grocery cart is filled with frozen pizzas, pastries, ice cream and sodas.

Then there are the portion sizes. We are eating way too much at one sitting. Whether the food is healthy or unhealthy, eating too many calories and not burning that energy creates an excess energy bank stored as fat.

We may also try to convince ourselves eating processed foods in the appropriate caloric portions is healthy. Outwardly we may give an appearance of being an appropriate weight, but inside we are a hot mess and feeling like it. We have become a skinny fat person. Processed fake food and the damage it does to our body through inflammation and disease is alarming.

Food is our friend. Turning our unhealthy food selections into quality real food will enable us to achieve a fit body. You have heard "no-one ever got fat eating too much kale"  and not that we would sit around eating kale all day but you get the point of the statement.

If we start eating to live instead of the other way around, a huge change in the obesity epidemic would happen. A shift toward eating the right food for health would finally be taking place.

How our bodies look and feel is our responsibility. Eating healthy food controls a large percentage of a fit lifestyle.

We are bombarded daily with fast food commercials and peer pressure to eat unhealthy. We can even sabotage ourselves or cave to a significant other to turn to the dark side of food. You do have the power to see food as your friend and control what you put in your face. The donut may look appealing but that apple is going to supply the best nutrients to fuel your body and push you closer to your fitness goals.

Need more nutrition and fitness information? Read my articles on Verywell.

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