To weigh or not to weigh, that is the question....
Growing up in a house full of boys had some positives. I didn't have to share a room or get any hand me downs. I was daddy's little girl and definitely got away with much more mischief than any of my brothers. They were easy targets and I could be very convincing. However, when I reflect on my life, I think one of the greatest benefits of being the only girl was the lack of attention that was placed on physical appearance. The boys were much more laid back and weren't obsessed with how much they weighed or if they looked good in their bathing suits.  We didn't even have a scale in my house growing up. 

Fast forward several years and my feelings about the scale have not changed. We don't have one in the house and I still don't think it's a good indicator of someone's overall health. Sometimes I think the scale plays games with our minds until we become obsessed with it.  So many people who have made significant gains in strength and cardiovascular endurance still use the scale as their only indicator of success.This can lead to poor nutritional decisions that will only make matters worse. We need to change this way of thinking. Being able to back squat 150 lbs with perfect form should be a more important indicator of improvement than the number on the scale. 
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Completing a cardio workout complete with hill sprints and burpees without having the "barfy" feeling is a step closer to improved cardiovascular endurance. I feel like a broken record when I ask people how their clothes are fitting, how they are sleeping, how their energy levels are, and how they are managing stress.Those are important markers that should be tracked more often than the number on the scale. 

Recently, my clothes starting feeling looser, but I wasn't doing anything differently. I thought I was losing weight and was not trying to, but when I stepped on the scale in the gym, the scale told a different story. I had gained 7lbs since our last spring challenge.  Interesting. I feel great, my strength numbers are going up, my lungs feel good, and my clothes are loose. I was perplexed and then reminded myself why I don't check the scale. It's not the indicator that drives me. I quickly forgot about the extra 7 lbs and focused on how I felt. 

Stop letting a number on a scale determine your idea of health and instead focus on what really matters. How do you feel, look and perform. Pay attention to these markers and you will likely make better decisions on your way to a more healthy life.

​It has taken several books, seminars, and my own experiences, but I am now convinced that achieving our dreams and goals is all in our heads.  We are often our own worst enemies, but can also be our biggest proponents if we make a serious mind shift.  

I know I sound like a broken record, but a positive mind set can be life changing in so many ways.  We notice that our clients who begin with a positive mindset of creating a healthier, more fulfilling life, reach their goals so much quicker than those who focus on negative aspects of what they don't want. They stress about losing a certain amount of weight in a certain amount of time or focus solely on an aesthetic goal of looking a certain way. 

This single minded focus, leads to extra stress which equals higher cortisol levels which equals lots of lovely belly fat.  This becomes a viscous cycle which ultimately leads to feelings of defeat and a return to old, bad habits.
There needs to be a serious paradigm shift.  Becoming the best version of ourselves can be a long process.  I am constantly saying "slow and steady wins the race."  We all want to feel great in our own skin and wake up with energy and zest to make the best of every day.  This does not happen over night, but is possible when you make it a point to envision the best version of yourself in the most positive light.  
In the book, Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, M.D., F.I.C.S, the following passage hit home with me.
"Picture yourself vividly as defeated and that alone will make victory impossible.  Picture yourself vividly as winning and that alone will contribute immeasurably to success.  Great living starts with a picture, held in your imagination, of what you would like to do or be." This helps to explain why our vision board night was such an enjoyable evening. We all walked away with a picture of what we wanted for ourselves.
This is often the missing link for many of us.  We think we know what we want and how to get it, but we want it right away with minimal amount of work.  When Paul signed me up for my first CrossFit competition, I had myself completely psyched out and was envisioning the worst possible scenarios(throwing up, dying, etc.)  I didn't want to train as hard as I needed to and wanted to snap my fingers and be miraculously fit and strong.  Didn't happen.  I got scared, but luckily I found a work out partner who pushed me past my limits and I started envisioning myself crushing the workouts and my determination grew.  Ultimately, I was so happy I got out of my comfort zone, envisioned myself as a competitive athlete and became mentally stronger.  Little did I know that I was going to need that mental strength down the road.
Whether you have been on a fitness journey for a while or are just beginning your journey, remember that exercising and feeding your self wholesome foods is only a small part of a successful journey.  You need to picture yourself at the finish line celebrating small successes along the way.  I worked out 3 days this week!  I tried a new vegetable and liked it!  I rolled and mobilized 2 days this week!  I am fixing my knees!  My pants fit a little better!  I spent 15 min of every day this week outside soaking up some vitamin D! I ate really well today!
Celebrate your accomplishments and let us know what little steps you have taken to better your health!  Remember, it's never too late to start your own health journey and you never know who you will inspire or motivate along the way.  I am blessed to be surrounded by so many people who never cease to amaze me!  But, it all starts with you setting your mind to what you want and seeing yourself achieving your goals. Get moving and don't look back!