Exactly... No EXCUSES!

Motivation: What gets you going?

Disney Marathon Training starts TOMORROW!! 

Workout vacation is OVER!

After being gone for a week I am currently in a slump. I am trying to get myself back into the groove of things and get back into a workout routine... usually what helps is getting new clothes to workout in...

We shall see!! What are some things you do to get back into the routine? Let's get back into it... hitting the gym hard tomorrow!! I am actually excited!

Does God Use Google?

Typical morning, just surfing the net. Trying to find the motivation to get to the gym. Thought... let me look for some new workout clothes. That usually sparks some desire. So...

I googled "workout clothes"... went to my budget friendly- Old Navy. Nothing. OK, let me try Athleta{gotta dream you know}... the page loads up, I look down at the bottom and I see THIS picture...

How awesome... and it had THIS article attached... I thought it was a GREAT follow up to my previous post {only better}.

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Reaching Your Finish Line

The other day I shared my motivational speaking program, Reaching Your Finish Lines, with a group in Denver. In my hour keynote, I share with the audience my life as an athlete, subsequent accident, recovery and return to sports as a wheelchair athlete, competing in national and international competitions and completing two Iron distance triathlons. After my speech a woman came up to me to tell me that she was inspired by all I had done, and she said, “I can’t believe you can do an Ironman with just your arms! I would never be able to do a triathlon.”


It wasn’t the first time I had heard a statement like that and I’m sure it won’t be the last. But every time I hear it I begin to wonder. I think some people make that statement because they know they could never do a triathlon, and for no other reason than they don’t want to do a triathlon. They know it takes work, effort, dedication, motivation….all those things that it takes to accomplish any goal and if it’s not something that you’re truly invested in, then of course, you will never be able to do it. Just like I watch my husband tinker with his motorcycle and think, “I could never fix a motorcycle.” Not because I’m not capable, but because I don’t have interest in investing the time and energy in learning how to do it. But then I think there are those people who just don’t know their own greatness. They think they can’t, so they don’t even try. How many times do we talk ourselves out of things because we are afraid to try, afraid to fail or just don’t have the gumption to put ourselves out there?


Read the rest of the article HERE. 

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REALLY, God... you are good... real, real good.

I needed the message. I needed the reassurance... you CAN do it. It won't be easy, but you can. It will get frustrating, but you can. You will find every excuse out there to NOT do it, but you can. It's too hard, but you can. It's too hot, but you can. It hurts, but you can.

You can. I can.

Question is- Do you want to?

Powerful message and all I was doing was googling "workout" clothes that I couldn't afford. ;-)

Enough Already!

Enough with the I can't...

I can't...

because I don't have a baby sitter... but the sitter appears for night's out.

because I don't have time... 30 min.- 1hr... we can do that.

because it is too expensive... so are the buffets, the cover charges at the clubs, bars, etc.... uh, yeah...

because it is just too hard... so is carrying around 50+ extra weight around (speaking from experience).

because I have a lot going on... uh yeah... trust me, I know. But if we don't take care of ourselves we won't have much going on for much longer...

because my foot, hurts, I'm sore, my injury from 3 years ago... blah, blah, blah... I am the LAST person who will pity you for your foot hurting.  Sorry.

Bottom line... no excuse is a good excuse. Just get it done.

If you don't, just be honest- I didn't do it because I CHOSE not to. 

Being Strong in the Midst of the Excuses

Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.

Getting fit and healthy is hard. I am sure we have all been there done that on the topic. What truly helped me this time around (yes, that means I've tried it before and failed) is having a true reason... a goal... motivation.

I had the best excuse in the world to not to... I mean, I am disabled. Exercise... Me?? Yeah right! I've gained all my weight because, well, I can't workout. It's too hard for me. (Forget the fact that I was eating fast food every day, chips, soda, sweets - that had NOTHING to do with it.) I was overweight because I was handicapped. I was allowing myself to believe that. Others believed that about me too. Finally it clicked... NOO!! I NEED to do something... I CAN... and I did. I am now stronger than I have ever been... physically, mentally and most importantly - Spiritually.

So, I don't buy anyone's excuses. Nobody has a good enough excuse to not take care of themselves. Nobody. So get over it if you do... it is NOT good enough. Go out and do it. Go out and make yourself a priority. Make your someday- TODAY!

Thursday's Thought

Overcoming the ZUMBACYCLING Shuffle...

Ladies...

Seriously... Zumba seems like a blast and I am sure it IS. Cycling seems great too... I LOVE my handcycle. BUT... doing it every.single.day??? And expect to see results?? It is NOT happening... sorry to burst your bubble. Cardio is good for you... it is needed... but try to mix in some serious weight training in there. Challenge yoruself at least 2-3 times a week and get it done! You will see the difference, feel the difference and you won't regret it!! You don't believe me... read more from Rachel Crosgrove... her book...

Click HERE to go to her blog. 

I love this story that she shares on her blog...

On one of our trips, I got up early to head down to the gym to workout. Gym opened at 6am. I arrived at about 6:10am and the treadmills were all taken(not that I wanted one but it goes with my story). This gym was very well equipped for a hotel gym. Every possible fixed machine you could imagine PLUS a full set of free weights up to 75 pounds(plenty) and a smith machine, swiss balls, medicine balls, a nice pulley station- lots of good stuff to get a good work out in. Yet, everyone was trudging along on the treadmills doing the treadmill shuffle, staring at TV’s.

I went over to the weight training area did a warm up of lunges, stretches and movement prep and then grabbed the 30 pound dumbbells and started with a set of lunges. During my workout only one woman ventured over to the free weights after she finished her hour on the treadmill and she grabbed the 5’s and this was her routine-

She started with bicep curls, then some strange thing where she put the weights behind her and pulsed for 20 reps (I imagine she thought it was for toning her triceps), then overhead presses, then shoulder rolls, then lateral raises, then bicep curls AGAIN but this time hammer curls and then finished with her arms behind her again but this time bending her elbows(probably thought she was working her triceps again) all without setting the weights down.

She proceeded to set the pink 5 pounders down and hit the locker room for a shower. That was it- that was her strength training. An hour on the treadmill and then that?

Sometimes, it is good for me to get outside of my bubble at our gym, where all of our female clients lift weights, challenge themselves and the priority workout for them is their strength training. They all do “bang for your buck” exercises and no woman at our gym spends more than 20 minutes on a treadmill (most don’t spend any time on a treadmill.) We have two treadmills that are empty most of the time. All of our female clients use effective exercises such as real push ups to get the toned, defined arms I have a feeling that woman was after.