I confess that being spontaneous is a difficult one for me.I am definitely a plan and prep girl when it comes to almost everything about Darla.I have always done better with structure and a guide to get me from start to finish.Where this has served me best is in my meal planning and exercise. I am not one of those who open the door to the refrigerator puzzled by what to eat, looking for something and finding nothing. I think that would drive me crazy, and talk about wasting energy by leaving the frig open…YIKES. I have dedicated one day out of my weekend and sometimes during the week, to plan and prep my meals.This not only ensures that I eat healthy, but saves me lots of money, time and stress, especially when time is limited during the busy work week.
I have two crock pots that are in constant use and filled with boneless/skinless
chicken breast, brown rice, quinoa, and steel cut oats at any given time.Having crock pot chicken ready to eat is fabulous and I use it for so many things: chicken rice bowls, wraps, tacos, and even by itself with a side of chopped veggies or fruit.I am not kidding when I say that it takes about 10 minutes to throw the chicken in the crock with my spices and on with my day.
I also plan my workouts and just as I create a program for my clients, I plan for me.Not doing so would be like getting ready for a test without studying.Having a plan, writing it down, and following through makes for a successful, challenging workout catered to what I can do and accomplishing that goal in the time allotted and at least 5 days per week.I am able to look back on my workouts and know from one day to the next what muscle group I will work, avoiding any sore areas of course.Having a plan and prepping for it during my fitness routine creates an even flow, eliminates any guessing, and allows me to be very efficient and effective of my time and body.
The planning and prepping is really not difficult, and actually very simple as a
healthy LIFESTYLE.I would feel weird if I did not have my healthy food in the refrigerator ready to go, or my exercise program in front of me as my accountability guide to an effective workout.This is the secret that is really not a secret to living a healthy life and maintaining a healthy body. What it comes down to is caring enough about ME to make my health a priority and I have done so through the planning and prepping process.My hubby and I eat most of our meals at home and rarely eat out and we do not consider this a wrench in our life, but we welcome creating and eating healthy foods, and more than that, enjoy how it makes us feel.The beautiful part about eating healthy is even if the exercise lacks during the week, I am still maintaining a healthy body through my planned meals.Many studies show that vigorous exercise 3 times per week accompanied by healthy nutrition will maintain a healthy body, which is why the nutrition is so vital to keep up.Imagine, not working as hard in the gym by maintaining healthy food intake…sounds GREAT to me.
IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATION
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Stay Healthy~ Darla
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For those who are interested in natural movement training, this summer my friend Rafe Kelley will be hosting an interesting three-day event near Bellingham, WA called "Return to the Source". Rafe is skilled in a variety of movement disciplines and is the co-founder of the Seattle parkour gym Parkour Visions. Parkour is a very fun sport that hones our natural ability to skillfully navigate physical obstacles, but it's usually done in an urban context.
The camp will take place from August 23-25. Here's a description from the Parkour Visions site:
"This summer, return to the source of human movement with Parkour Visions as we explore the natural environment in and around Bellingham, WA. Rafe Kelley will introduce you to the benefits of training and playing in nature. You will learn how to adapt your technique and movement to moving effectively through woods, over rocks, and in trees during this unique, 3-day experience."
Watch this video if you want to see what you're in for.
Knowing Rafe, it will be fun and productive. You can sign up through this page.
I believe in trial and error and especially when it comes to what works best for my body and my life.I will be celebrating the last year of my forties this weekend and I am thinking a lot about my life, and reflecting on many things that have got me to this point, how I feel about myself, and realizing that trial and error has served me well personally, physically, and nutritionally.
In my journey of almost fifty years, I have experienced definite trial and error when it has come to relationships and defining what I do not want and what I do want, with healthy being at the forefront of all that.It has been quite a process and as I look back, all the trudging through the unhealthy to open fabulous doors to healthy has been a blessed learning journey to create who I am right now, and whom I have chosen to share my life and I include my hubby, family, and friends through this healthy pondering.Life is just too short not to take care of ME and it is too short not to be with people who are positive, supportive, real, and who nourish my soul in great ways.Of course when I was going through the trial and error process, there were days that really sucked, and I allowed myself to feel all the pain of that moment, but all the time never saying “Why Me” but asking God to please “Show me how to be a better person through this, help me believe in your better plan for me, or what the heck are you teaching me now”…it was this kind of faith and belief going through the trials that provided the hope in the positive lesson that kept me going and keeps me going still.
Moving on to trial and error with my fitness and workouts…now this has really
been quite the ordeal.As many of you know if you have read my bio, I have suffered a cervical injury, live with diagnosed torticollis, and have undergone two major surgeries, in addition to giving birth to two children.When injury face plants you to the ground and takes away your quality of life and job, a sense of hopelessness and stripping of who you are can take place…well…that was me a few years ago.Talk about feeling scared and humbled, well I was that and more, and depended on strength greater than my own to get me through.I utilized my skills and knowledge of the human body to begin rehabbing myself and although a slow process, I began to create through trial and error, a new modified ME.I look back on that time and know that I do not ever want to re-visit that part of my life again, and do whatever I can to greatly reduce and hopefully eliminate that.I am no longer the extreme athlete of the past, but I am happy to be ME, the athlete of today.
My workouts are all about trial and error.There are days I may push the envelope too much, and my body screams back later that night or the next day to not repeat that.That calls for a check mark of that exercise off the list, and return to what my body likes best.For example, I can no longer do pushups and boy do I miss those, but I can still chest press and fly like no other.The beautiful part about fitness and exercise is that ALL things can be modified to fit the person.I love to teach this to my clients and really have a passion for those with injury because I can say “I know how you feel” and truly mean that.Also, it is about QUALITY moves regardless of the weight resistance being used.I enjoy working out, sweating, and the way I feel when I am done, but what I really love most is being able to push myself through my workouts and not aggravate my injury…now that is happy success and has been accomplished through lots of trial and error.
My nutrition relates to trial and error in eating the foods that best fit my system,
body, and overall how I feel energy wise.If I removed whole grains from my nutrition, I feel a definite drop in energy and talk about constipation…no thanks.Besides, I enjoy my brown rice and steel cut oats, and what I concentrate on is eating healthy, proper portions, and eating to live and not to feel like “Thanksgiving Dinner” at every meal.If I eat something that does not agree with me, causes an upset system, then I eliminate that from my intake, but that takes trial and error to figure out, and yes even healthy foods can upset my system like certain dairy for example…talk about colon cramp to the ground…YIKES.So, with my nutrition I implement what works best for ME, and provides MY BODY with the nutrients that make ME feel at my BEST.I also agree that people are not generic, so what works for me may not work for another.Life would be so boring to think that we all fit into the same size life…right?I would be a negligent and insensitive trainer/coach if I did not listen to what was not working for my clients and tried to force feed some sort of one-size-fits all philosophy down their throats.I am unable to support those types of ideals, and really that is why it is called “personal” training/coaching.
When it comes to my life, I have been happy with my trial and error education, personally and professionally.Through my trials, I have become a better person, stronger, wiser, and a person who has woke up and really enjoys the coffee, one who appreciates that hard times bring about greatness, and I am thankful.I understand what works for me emotionally, spiritually, physically, and nutritionally, and that is HUGE to me living a healthy LIFESTYLE.I welcome the trial and error and the opportunities that always come from my learning through the journey.It may not feel good all the time, but that is the reality of life and I would be untruthful with you to say that life has been all peaches and cream.Life has not promised easy, but it has promised that it can be great.It is what I have done through my trial and error process that has determined that.I will close with my favorite “Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you respond to it”.
I dedicate this Blog to my Beautiful Mom and Mother-in-law! I love you dearly and wish you the Happiest of Mother's Day! Happy Mom's Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, and all those fabulous women in that role...you are all truly appreciated for all that you do and all that you are!
Me and My MomMy Fabulous Moms!
Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list. If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding!
Stay Healthy~ Darla
Receive My Stay Healthy Nutrition Guide as a Free Gift and Thank you when you donate to Stay Healthy Fitness...
As I near fifty, I celebrate the woman that I have become, and the friendships that I have cultivated through my journey of life.Finding a true friend is a rare gift, and I dedicate this Blog to one of my dearest friends who celebrated her 58 year young birthday this month.I will be calling this the fun, fit, fifty and fabulous write up, and why not feel fabulous…right?Being a healthy person is not about a number, but how we treat ourselves every day, what we feed our bodies, how we move our bodies, and how we enjoy quality time with our self and others.Birthdays are gifts that remind us of what a pleasure and privilege it is to wake up each day, have another day, and the opportunity to make it a GREAT one!
In walks my friend Wendy…now she and I have had some really fun times together, some serious talk times, cry times, and kick butt fitness times. We share a sister bond of trust and vulnerability that allows us to be ourselves with each other…that is what I mean about a true friend.And laugh…we both have that in common and we are far from frumpy… are you kidding me…fifty something does not mean that for us, exact opposite…we feel youthful, trendy, sexy, and enjoy being confident, fit women.Here is what Wendy has to say about being 58 and fabulous:
Wendy, 58 and Fab
Being Fabulous at 58
What??!!??!! I’m 58?????? Almost hard to believe since I do not feel 58…or 48…or even 38 for that matter…I feel like I did when I was in my twenties…young, vibrant, healthy, fit, happy and full of life. Age is an attitude, not a number. It is great genes (thanks mom and dad) combined with living life with a fresh attitude every day. To have a full heart that shines with love, faith, friendships, motherhood, fun, laughter (sometimes tears) and with a deep sense of power over my own happiness. Feeling tremendous at 58 is an understanding that I need to set good boundaries, to know when to be sweet and when to be strong. I strive to take life’s serious issues and deal with them boldly and with a productive spirit. Working out, eating healthy, getting plenty of rest combined with a positive outlook is the key to feeling my very optimum. And, laughing… till my belly aches, keeps the child in me alive!!! I adore my husband of almost 30 years, my beautiful daughters and my wonderfully magnificent friends who breathe new life into me every day. Finally, being fantastic at 50+ is having a strong love of the Lord who gives me courage, strength and confidence.
My Fabulous Friend
So, if someone comes up to me and asks me, “How old are you?” I think I’ll answer…do you want to know how old I am or how old do I feel? Because you see, the answer will be quite different…
”Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.” John Lennon
Blessings,
Wendy Wise
Thanks Wendy for being such a fabulous friend, and I celebrate you and your beautiful example of living a healthy life through body, mind and spirit…YOU ROCK!!!
My Ellie Outfit
FIT GEAR REVIEW
I am so excited to share a new online Fitness Clothing Store. Ellie designs contacted me awhile back to try out their new fitness clothes line, and I being such a fitness fashionista and not about frump, was happy to oblige and give my 5 cents worth on their product.
First, let me say…WORTH THE WAIT! I wanted to sample, workout in, and wash the clothing prior to giving my feedback on the product. Also, I am a firm believer of not promoting things that I would not wear myself.To be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first due to the length of time receiving the product as the company was working through the “kinks” that all new businesses do, but with that understanding, my patience was rewarded with a fabulous outfit. Also, what comes to the forefront of importance to me is customer service, and all my questions/concerns were promptly answered, and I would give Elliea high rating in customer service. I am a stickler for quality fitness attire being that my job revolves around fitness and also, it is my every day ware in the studio…so I am looking for great quality and functional wear that can take me through my day, and often into the evening.I can honestly say, that I look forward to wearing more Ellie!
Let me move on to the product. I ordered from the February collection: the After Dark Fitness Top and Heartbreaker Capri Bottoms.True to size and the fit was just as described and appeared on the Ellie site.The quality of the material was superior and provided the support I needed and I felt comfortable not having to wear a bra under the fitness top. In fact, I would even wear the top with a pair of jeans/shorts for out and about. Excellent coverage and feel, not cutting in and feeling like I had to adjust the top or bottom from riding in places that are well…uncomfortable, and you know what I mean.The moisture wicked away from my body and did not leave me feeling like I was setting in water soaked clothes and believe me… I sweat like no other during a hard workout.The outfit stood up well to wash, no shrinkage, and I always drip dry all my fitness clothes, so did not put my product in the dryer.The color remained vibrant and the quality of the stitching, and straps maintained their integrity.
I received no payment for providing this product review, other than the outfit to provide feedback.I am happy to promote Ellie Designs after having the opportunity to sample the clothes line and have made the decision to become an Ellie Ambassador based on the quality product. What this means is that I can provide YOU with discounts for fabulous fitness outfits, and in turn I do receive a small commission for each person that signs up using my link.If you have not given Elliea try, it is such a great deal for quality fitness clothes at a discount price.I say it is about time for this concept to hit the fitness clothes scene, as I for one am on a budget, and it is nice to be able to buy quality clothes, look and feel good when I workout, and not feel guilty with my purchase.
Wishing everyone a very HAPPY EASTER from My Family to Yours!!!!
Happy Spring and Stay Healthy
Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list. If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding!
Stay Healthy~ Darla
Receive My Stay Healthy Nutrition Guide as a Free Gift and Thank you when you donate to Stay Healthy Fitness...
to try out their new fitness clothes line, and I being such a fitness fashionista and not about frump, was happy to oblige and give my 5 cents worth on their product.
