Gateway to Change

Releasing fears...the gateway to change. I have avoided blogging about my determination to continue getting back into shape over the past few months. Back in April, I signed up to do a 90 day BeachBody fitness challenge at the prodding of a friend who had recently become a BeachBody coach. I wasn't thinking of it being a transforming process at the time, but surprise, surprise that's what it has turned out to be. 

I wasn't compensated to try this 90 day challenge. I shelled out some hard earned cash & ordered Brett Hoebel's Rev Abs program. He's easy on the eyes & figured that counts if I'm going to be working out with this dude 6x a week - right!

Most of us don't believe in overnight miracles when it comes to achieving fitness goals. There is no such thing. Sweat, consistency, persistence, pain, they all need to be in the equation to see any progress. But it is totally worth experiencing all of those things. Maintaining a higher level of fitness is something we all struggle with. As we age, it becomes an even larger challenge. 

From the Arnold Sports Festival Facebook page

One of my biggest fears throughout this challenge has been the scale. It was one of the requirements to participate to get on the scale & weigh-in, plus take measurements every Monday. Not only did we have to chart the progress, but we needed to post in a private Facebook group, sharing with people we didn't know, but who all shared this goal of conquering this challenge together. We signed up to be open honest & to offer each other encouragement along the way. It worked for me.

The gateway to change - an important place to pass through if what you crave is uncover the you that used to be. So just because the 90 days is up today, it's not the end. 12 lbs & 18" gone from my body in the process - a great result. I'm satisfied. It's so incredibly motivating and pressure-filled at the same time. The workouts must continue at the same intensity & probably more so than before. Once you move forward it becomes that much more difficult to take steps back because you know what you can achieve. You remember what you are capable of, plus you can't bear to lose the "me time."

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You Can't Stop Time

My munchkin is infatuated with Superheros.  His favorite is Spiderman but he also loves Ironman, Batman & so many others.

He said a while back that he could turn back the clock if he just had his Spiderman Costume on.  My hubby explained that Superman was the only superhero who had the ability to move so fast he could virtually turn back time. Not quite the truth but definitely a stretch of the imagination.

"Superman's strength is so great that he can move entire planets at once and is able to fly at speeds faster than light. He can use this power to travel through time as well as fly to other worlds, solar systems and galaxies and even to other universes with relative ease." -via wikipedia.org

As juvenile as that conversation seems, it got me thinking about the path my life has taken...and whether I'd ever wish to rewind & do anything differently.   Even though it's been a path of constant reinvention the answer is no. Time has brought so much change, more than I could have ever imagined - all of which has helped shape me into the 40-something warrior & working mom that I am.

  “I think we all wish we could erase some dark times in our lives. But all of life's experiences, bad and good, make you who you are. Erasing any of life's experiences would be a great mistake.” -Luis Miguel

This path has been a long one and even in the past year when I thought I knew where the path would take me I get a call that completely turns things around & points me in yet a new direction.  

 “There are no mistakes. The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go.” - Richard Bach

Doesn't seem that long ago when I was doing my internship fresh out of college.  It was with AT&T & even then people started working for a company & pretty much stayed there, moving up through the ranks for 20, 30 even 40+ years.  No one does that anymore.

 "You go for it, you want more, you believe in yourselves and in the fight...you know that good enough simply isn't good enough" - Bethanny Frankel

My chosen field of marketing has evolved exponentially since the late 80's and some companies & industries have had an easier time adapting to the changes than others. Some leaders get caught up in fear of commitment. They aren't sure exactly what to do, so they do nothing at all & by the time they decide to get in the game it's too late, they can't possibly catch up. Nothing has brought that out in the open more than the social web and mobile commerce which are rapidly shaping & changing the customer experience.

The pace of business & the technology that supports it moves so quickly now, you either learn to move along with it, or you'll get trampled & no one will look back to help you up, much less stop to acknowledge that they ran you over.

 

A day doesn't go by on twitter that someone either is professing to be an "expert" at something, or that they will "teach you how to be an expert" like them. It's never too late to find your niche in your current career or start over & embark on a brand new one. But of course, there is no shortcut to success and there is no fast track to building your reputation. It's all about what you do - not so much what you preach that you can do.

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit.” - Conrad Hilton

People I admire, watch & try to emulate are those that move at their own pace & with a clear vision of what could be done given the right resources, time, attention & focus. They don't just wait, they are leaders who craft their dreams into business plans, and eventually make them a reality ~ without reservations.

Regardless of whether you are where you want to be at any given point in life, you can't stop time.  There's no reward for regrets. There's no reason for fear to stop you from forging ahead one hurdle at a time. To be held hostage by fear is a waste of valuable time. Tomorrow is squarely in your hands and your success will hinge on your credibility, attitude & how well you prepare yourself for the journey ahead.

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Do you have the Olympic Spirit?

You can’t help but be inspired by the performances from some of the USA Olympians this week, including Lindsey Vonn ( a MN girl – very cool), Julia Mancuso (both Alpine Skiing), Shaun White (Snowboarding), Shani Davis (Speed Skating) & Apolo Ohno (Short Track). The stories are similar, from overcoming injuries which did not allow them to perform at their best in years past, to pure dominance in the sport & then those trying to live up to tremendous expectations to medal. There have been sacrifices, dedication, perseverance & determination required of each of them. They have lived up to the hype & made their visions of success realities.

"If I have given my all and still do not win, I haven’t lost. Others might remember winning or losing; I remember the journey." Apolo Ohno

A lot can be learned from them & so much taken away into our own lives. We can choose to be burdened & weight down by the high expectations we have for ourselves & that others have for us, or we can use that to fuel our paths to greatness. It’s not always clear how it will happen, but unless we take steps each day in the direction of our goals, we’ll never see the finish line.

Waking up this morning to a sky filled with sunlight & the promise of warming temperature to melt the abundance of this Winter’s snow, gave me the tone for my day – Live the Olympic Spirit. The golf season is only a few months away & I can just feel the warm air blowing around me as I walk the course. Brighter days have got to be around the corner & every day I better prepare myself for what’s ahead, I can say is a productive one.