How a baby can achieve everything

Hi, when I found this

cute baby picture

, I was amazed by him and I decided to write a quick article about it. You will see the photo just below the quick text here, but I would like to say a few words about it... First, I do not know this baby and I am not 100% sure that the photo has not been manipulated, but if it's real, this is just amazing. This cute little kid show people that EVERYTHING is possible! The main idea is NEVER to give up. Look at him!

The result will be amazing for sure! Here is a tool that can also help you transofrm your body to get that lean flat stomach and six pack abs you�ve always wanted. Check the Fitness Ab-Carver Pro.

FITNESS IS ABOUT TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES

How many of us stand in the truth of our life or live in denial and non-acceptance of the actions that clearly rebel against a healthy lifestyle?  I wish I could see a show of hands and have a world-wide workshop to discuss this issue.  Standing in our truth has everything to do with being able to become a healthy person, and can be applied to all areas of our life: relationships, careers, fitness, and overall health which represent a moderate list that encompasses our existence as a human being.

Being honest with our self is the first step to being able to change those things that are weighing us down physically and emotionally.  If we are unable to be honest with ourselves, then being honest with others will not happen.  When lying to ourselves is at the forefront of or life, behaviors are usually exhibited through bitterness, anger, blame of others, argumentative reasoning, defensiveness, unhappiness, and a clear nonacceptance of responsibility. On the other side of that come acceptance of our truth and realizing that we can be healthier, happier people if changes are implemented each day to begin the process of adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Our responsibility is to stand in our truth and make the choice to go one way or the other.  Do we want to be healthy or not, do we want to continue in self-destructive behaviors or not, do we want to be happy or not, do we want to be an honest person or not?  Standing in our truth opens the door to trust of self and that can eventually be shared with others as we become examples of how to live a healthy life.  We can only live in the path of not standing in our truth for so long before serious consequences begin happening in the form of illness, depression, broken relationships, loss of friends, and even disengagement of family members.  A healthy person exhibits a happy outlook on life and is willing to share their experiences freely and with an open heart to sincerely help others because they know first- hand the work it took to stand in their truth.  The person that remains in denial continues to show a negative view of life, self, and people around them, and generally repel any meaningful relationships. 

The consequences to not standing in our truth to adopt a healthy lifestyle are harsh.  Lying to self and others remain on the top of the ugly list when it comes to life in general.  Living a healthy life will take the action of standing in our truth, acceptance of that truth and the follow-through with daily choices and actions to move our bodies and minds in a healthy direction. 

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, or if you want to receive my free updates, use the button below to select your feed preference. I look forward to responding to your comments and appreciate your shares. 

Stay Healthy ~ Darla

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Stay Healthy from my family to yours

Find the Right Supplements for Your Fitness Goals

For those invested in healthier living, supplements can play an important role during daily fitness daily regimens. While many believe that supplements are only useful to the serious body builder, the right supplements can also be extremely beneficial for less rigorous diet and exercise programs.

Thanks to the sheer variety available, finding the right supplements can prove challenging. For instance, those seeking optimum joint health may want to consider adding glucosamine to their exercise regimens, while whey protein is an ideal option to retain muscle mass while simultaneously cutting weight. Of course, these are just two of the numerous options available to enhance workouts and dieting.

For more information on which supplements are best-suited to your needs, the following infographic can prove highly useful. This includes information on what specific supplements do, as well as how much is called for to achieve optimum results.





Spectrum Clubs Enhancing Performance Infographic [Infographic] by the team at Spectrum Clubs

DITCH THE BITCH

Life is hard and challenges are put in our path almost daily.  It is those life events that occur over several days, months, or even years that can zap the crap out of us.  I realize that it can be difficult to remain positive or refrain from �bitching� for lack of a better word about the circumstances of life that can bring us down.  I have journeyed through the ups and downs of what has felt like huge ocean waves and have been brought to my knees on several occasions, and yes, I am guilty of a bitch or two or more. It can feel frustrating, hurtful, painful, and unfair when we are tossed into the sea of confused human emotion and circumstances.

What I will share is that �bitching� about it will not change a thing, and in fact, usually makes life feel worse as negative emotions try to take over our very being.  This is when we tend to lash out, make poor choices, and even grab for those comfort foods that are supposed to fix everything when life feels bigger than us.  Life does not come with an �easy� button, but our successes in life are achieved through how well we weather the storms that slap up us in the face and knock us on our butts. 

It is one thing to be physically strong, but I will share that mental strength is what will carry us through life.  Life is �10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it� so if we are bitching about the circumstances and wearing that �why me?� attitude, that eliminates all possibilities to learn and grow from the situation.   �Why or poor� me creates a life of bitterness and resentment, and can scar deep and for many years.  Looking at a situation and saying �I do not like this, BUT what can I learn from this to become a better person� will bless our lives in so many ways.  We will never be able to see the end game and that is where faith comes into the picture.  We can help with the outcome through our attitude however.  If we �Ditch the Bitch� and take on a mental game of �I CAN get through this� no matter what, then you have won already. 

This applies to all areas of life including getting healthy, weight loss, illness, overcoming injury, job loss, and broken relationships just to name a few.  We are all here living a life that we think should happen for us, but we truly do not have control of so many things in this life.  Realizing that we can only control our responses to the uncontrollable is what creates a better self, a healthier and stronger person overall.   Keep in mind that when we are living this journey of life and reaching for goals, it is not in the bitching that the positive stuff happens.  Time to �Ditch the Bitch� 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!

StayHealthy!

Darla

FIT at 50 feels like FINE WINE

This Sunday happens to be Mother�s Day and my 50^th birthday.  Turning fifty does feel like fine wine and it just gets better with age.  I am not going to hide behind the number, be embarrassed because I am a fifty year old woman, or even feel old for that matter.  Age is really a state of mind and overall attitude about self and life in my opinion.  I think the most mind boggling thing is realizing how fast time goes by, and seeing my grown children living their adult lives.  The best thing I can do at any age is be my best self physically, emotionally, and spiritually each and every day.  I will always be a work in progress until I take my last breathe and how great is that. 

Check out my "Fit at 50" Feature in Natural Muscle Magazine

        

Living 50 years has provided me lots of education, and I am not just talking about my college degrees or even my fitness certifications.  I am talking about the wisdom that comes from living life.  I am a woman who has journeyed through lots of crap to get to the cream, and learning how to process all that along the way has been a challenge and a blessing.  Just like a great red wine as it matures becomes smoother, more palatable, and carries the flavors and scents of the work in the oak barrels, my life resembles this fabulous growth in a positive way.  I have always looked at circumstances from a point of view of �what can I learn from this to make me a better person?� As all of you who follow my blog know, I am a Christian and I have definitely leaned on a power greater than my own during my maturing process.  All I can be is better than the person that I was yesterday and I have had 18,250 days on this earth to do that and counting.  I feel it is truly an honor and privilege to be gifted each day.

A milestone is an important event and I do believe that turning 50 has proven to be that for me.  I celebrate that I no longer �Sweat the Small Stuff� of my immature younger self, no longer seek the approval of others to feel acceptance nor do I really care what people think of me.  It is an age of freedom in many ways as life comes full circle in meaning of what is truly important.  My husband, children, family and friends come to mind when I think about the meaning of life, and helping as much as I can to take care of my parents, spend time with those I love, and getting lost in the kid in me and not take life so seriously that I forget to live.  I do not care if dust bunnies live under my sofa, or if the bed goes unmade for the day if I make the choice to spend quality time with my hubby or kids.  I want to be a woman of �no regrets� as I journey into the second half of my life. 

My idea of health and fitness at fifty is taking care of me so that I can have a quality life for as long as I am here.  I want to feel good, strong, confident, and sexy and I know it will take consistency of living my healthy lifestyle to maintain that.  I do the best that I can with my abilities, and modify when I need to along the way.  I am not here to impress anyone or compare myself to others in my journey of living a fit life, but I do want to motivate others to live a healthy life.  The beautiful part about my passion for health and fitness is that I have turned that passion into my occupation, and it is such a joy that it never feels like work. 

I am not saying that there are not days that I feel every bit an older woman because those days do come around, especially if I am struggling with my hormones and lack of sleep.  There is nothing worse than feeling sluggish and having low energy to the point of not feeling like hitting a workout, or for that matter getting out of my pajamas. On the other hand, I have learned to accept this new and improved Darla who can now accept the changes that go along with this journey.   I do not always like it, but what is my alternative?  I focus on as much positive as I can, surround myself with positive, and get rid of anything that does not nourish my mind, body and soul. 

I am a very simplistic 50 year young woman and quite comfy in jeans and tank top, but can also enjoy a dress up date with hubby.  I have become a great listener and really love to dig deep into people�s feelings and passions about themselves and life.  I love to laugh, enjoy the balance of work and play, and feel that I have learned the importance of this along my fine wine journey.  I feel less stress and more relaxed with who I am at 50 and look forward to what 60 has to bring. 

I want to dedicate this Blog to my beautiful Mother.  I love you dearly, and wish you a very Happy Mother�s Day!

ME AND MY FABULOUS MOM AND FRIEND

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

HAPPINESS DOESN�T JUST HAPPEN

Wouldn�t it be nice to wave a magic wand, and all of life is just how we wanted it to be?  We are blessed with the gift of life but how we live it is up to us, and that takes effort and choices.  There are consequences, hard lessons learned and happiness along the way, but ultimately it is in our choices that create the life of happiness we all desire.  Sometimes we do not even know what we want or how to create this happiness, and wander around going through some sort of life motions that we learned from healthy or unhealthy example.  Choosing the right way to create a life of happiness is quite the goal, but like anything else that takes time and effort, it is worth the journey to get there. 

I have gone through the ups and downs of not being happy in this journey of life, and have held onto the hope that God has a greater plan than I can ever imagine. Life has not been what I thought it would be as I contemplate it, but I am thankful for the life lessons of each circumstance that created an opportunity for me to learn and grow in positive ways. It took a choice for me to go to counseling during tough emotional times, to go to physical therapy during horrific physical times, and to rough up my knees in prayer during doubtful spiritual times.  All the choices to become a better person were in search of a happiness that I wanted in my life and I have always been in pursuit of all methods of work to reach that goal.

The pursuit of happiness also includes being a healthy person.  I believe that the two go hand in hand.  When we feel our best physically, it is easier to handle the emotional rides of life.  Also, when our �mental game� is healthy and our responses to life�s circumstances are handled with maturity, clarity, and good intentions this enhances our state of being healthy and happy overall. Happiness is a goal just like being healthy is a goal, and both are lifetime achievements.  There is no end to being a happy and healthy person, and each day is our chance to make choices toward being both. 

Easter seemed like the perfect time to share how important it is to be happy and healthy, and to take this opportunity to let you know that it is possible and necessary in this life.  Happiness does not just happen, but will take a commitment of self-discovery, and not being afraid to peel the onion and take a look at what is keeping you from being happy or healthy. This took years of work in my life, and I am thankful for it.  I will share that it has not always been easy, and nothing worth anything is, right?  My wish for you this Easter is health and happiness and for you to know that each day is a gift that provides a step closer to reaching those goals.  

Have a very Happy Easter from My Family to Yours

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

YOU CAN DO IT, BUT WILL YOU?

What our health and happiness come down are choices.  I make a choice each day to eat healthy, exercise, and respond to life the best way I can as a Christian woman.  I am not perfect, do not claim to be, and my goals in life are about progress and never the �P� for perfection word.  I struggle with things just like you do, have had my share of crap in this journey of life, emotionally and physically, and I have come out the other side learning and growing in a positive direction.

I will always be a work in progress, and we are all that in this life.  I enjoy writing which is why I Blog and what better way to provide motivation than to share me with you.  You will either like me or not, and that is a choice as well.  Reading my Blog gives you a small glimpse of me, although I try to be thorough, it is not the same as developing a close �friend� relationship chatting up a topic of conversation.  As an internet personality, I have had and do get my share of �haters� as the net likes to call them, but also a great number of supporters, but through this process, my goal and intention is to reach out and get people thinking about their health, making CHOICES to change and adapt healthier ways of living, and ultimately a healthy lifestyle. 

I am a trainer and coach who is passionate about helping people, and I do walk the talk of my mission.  I do not accept excuses or reasons why health is not made a priority and that is not called being unreasonable, it is being truthful.  I am not talking about reasons such as an upcoming surgery, injury, or illness that has unfortunately put a person in a position of inability to exercise.  I have suffered that journey and understand the frustrations, and emotions of dealing with such a crisis.  I am addressing the everyday person walking around with so much created busyness that they �think� that they just can�t fit in an hour of exercise at least 3 days per week, or prepare healthy meals. 

YOU CAN DO IT�.BUT WILL YOU?  That is the question of the Blog and each of us has a conscience controlled decision to make when it comes to taking care of our health in all aspects.  We choose to exercise, eat healthy, be happy, and let go of pointless drama that is out of our control.  We choose how we spend the precious minutes gifted to each of us daily, and how we respond to the situations of this life.  I motivate YOU with �YOU CAN DO IT� because you can, and this coming from one busy business woman, wife, mother, grandmother, who is basically fifty and experiencing the throws of menopausal symptoms and existing injuries.  There are times that I feel like I can�t do it, and that is the honest truth.  It is in those moments, that I have to dig deep inside me and pull out the strong, and hope that the motivation kicks in mid workout.  YES, I am just like you, but the choice of �WILL YOU� is always mine and yours. 

This is not about comparison of me to you, but a straight up calling you out on the carpet and asking �WILL YOU start a healthy lifestyle?� and if not, WHY?  I will tell you that YOU CAN DO IT, but it will take the action of YOU to make it happen.  If you feel this is coming on strong, then I have accomplished a goal of getting you to think, maybe even creating some feelings that have been stuffed inside yourself too long and it is time to cleanse that body emotionally and physically.  Are you angry, bitter, frustrated, unhappy, and using the �too busy� title or other reasons to not address those things.  If that is the case, time for some internal cleaning of house, and time to get healthy.  YOU CAN DO IT�BUT WILL YOU?

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

BIT BY THE BUG

Last week proved to be the start of some sort of attack on my body that did not come quietly.  To say that I have been �bit by a bug� is really too nice of an explanation for the being hit by a train, elephant sitting on my chest, unable to breathe feeling I experienced.  Unproductive congestion and having to sleep reclined really sucks.  This past week I have had a date with antibiotics, menthol under the nose, head under the towel steams, and lots of food channel, HG TV, and rest.  I rarely get sick and so this took me by surprise, picked me up in the air and slammed me down to the ground.

I share this because there are times when a body should not be in the gym or even attempting to workout.  Not that I felt like lifting my body off the couch anyway, but even as I began to get better, my body was still in need of rest.  I am determined not to relapse and I am still dealing with residual congestion that is absolutely obnoxious.  Along with the congestive yuck came weight loss living off soup, crackers, and Popsicles and this body just does not look or perform at its� best with a deficit.  This girl needed comfort food and hubby delivered with some of the best mac and cheese ever.  Illness requires different needs and care and I am a firm believer of listening to my body in all aspects. 

MY COMFORT FOOD

Another area that really hits hard during illness is frustration because I am not able to do the things that are in my routine.  I not only enjoy working out but interacting with my family and friends and this has really put a halt to all of that.  I am getting tired of hanging out on the couch coughing up non-productive phlegm balls.  In the scheme of life, I know that two weeks off is nothing, but when you are going through the process of illness, it feels like eternity.  I also think about how others have it much worse than I, and that brings any whining to a screeching halt.  I do have to give a big thanks to my husband who has taken the best care of me, and puts up with the occasional gripe session, not to mention having to listen to all this coughing. 

I will continue to rest and recover and return to work and the gym slowly.  It will be important to not overtax this already taxed body so that the healing process will continue.  There are times when exercise is not a good thing for the body as I shared earlier, and rest becoming the priority.  The �old� Darla would not have put too much thought into a relapse and placed the exercise importance over the rest, but thank goodness she is long gone, and an older and wiser gal is in the picture.  The overall point is taking the best care of us in this journey of life, and sometimes that means exercise has to take a back seat.

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!

StayHealthy!

Darla

GOOD HEALTH DOES NOT CARE ABOUT BUSY

Society really needs to stop the glorification of busy, and I am not one who is going to listen and accept all the excuses of not having enough time to care about making health a priority in life.  Let me rephrase that, I may listen to the laundry list, but I will definitely provide the tough questions in response and offer that better time management choices and priorities need to be addressed.  So many people create too much �busy� in life that every second of every hour is consumed by work, overtime, functions, social, social, social, volunteer work,  more work, more functions and the �YES� list goes on and on.  How can anyone pull themselves out of such a drowning pool of stuff, and many times all those so called important things consuming every minute are not even necessary.  Further, many of the things that fill those precious seconds are ways to avoid or hide from just �being�.  What is wrong with society to feel guilty sitting still for an hour alone in a contemplative state, relaxing, meditating, or exercising.  Has it got so bad that avoidance of looking at ourselves is too scary, disappointing, and living in denial has become the �norm�? 

I am convinced that people think it is impressive to be over busy and brag about it ad nauseam like some sort of �busy� award should be given.  I hope this ruffles a few feathers and causes people to think about their �busy� in the whole big scheme of life.  I mean what is this so �busy� mentality that good health is kicked to the curb and illness is accepted, and further taking pharmaceuticals to take care of the illness and stress caused by the �busy� and that being accepted.  Can you tell I am on a �soap box� on this subject?  I have worked in the health industry for over 30 years, and am strongly stating that the tiresome laundry list of busy needs a good washing out.  I am not talking about busy that may come from handling a temporary crisis, but years of putting off a healthy lifestyle all for the glorification of meaningless busy.   

The hard truth is that good health does not care about busy, and all those things that are cluttering up our time, creating stress, and keeping us from a healthy lifestyle WILL bring the consequence of illness.  Maybe not today or even tomorrow, but all that procrastination of not taking care of YOU will rear its� ugly head in the form of illness, obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, joint and spinal issues, depression, and that list can go on and on as well.  It is the blow of illness that can rattle a person and finally cause a wake-up call to adapt a healthy lifestyle. Sadly, and many times at this point, permanent damage to body processes have already taken place, and the person that once was can never be again, to the extent of 100% recovery anyway.  It is at that point that the �things� in life become unimportant as the struggle to become healthy, and the regret of not taking care of oneself surfaces to the forefront of one�s life. 

We are all at a point of being able to prevent or greatly reduce illness, and I am and always will be a very candid health professional with you, my family, and all of my clients.  I can write all this to you and hope that you listen, but this is your journey and your decision.  I fear for those who choose to let this go in one ear and out the other, and if I have reached and shaken the limbs of others to start now to live a healthy lifestyle, then I have accomplished the goal I set out to with this write. 

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!

StayHealthy!

Darla