My Responsibility

Life comes with responsibility and I am surely not going to sit back and not take that seriously.   My health, relationships, financial obligations, emotional and spiritual life all depend on me to take care of business.  If I were to sit around and not take care of my stuff then all of ME would be a big mess and that does not sound like a great place to be nor do I want to even go for a visit down that road.  Sometimes in life, and I have been there, we can be placed in a situation that is not in our control and the best we can do is to go through the process of fixing the problem which can take years.  I am thankful for the patience that it takes to get through those sticky scenarios, but the point is, I am responsible to persevere and take care of ME.

Imagine sitting back and thinking life is going to take

care of me without my daily choices and actions to make things happen…my health would be a mess, my finances would be in the toilet, I am sure my hubby would not like that person, and any other relationship for that matter would steer clear, and I would be an emotional and spiritual blank slate…YUCK and OH MY…NO WAY.  I am sharing that it is up to me to make the choices to be a healthy person, to put in the work to GET IT DONE, to plan, to cook, to move my body, to sleep, pay the bills, take my job seriously and be thankful,  love and appreciate my husband,  family and my God each and every day.  I am owed nothing and responsible to give everything…in a GOOD HEALTHY WAY.  Life has taught me to not believe in the “golden goose” that is to magically make everything fabulous, but to be my own “bronze goose” and do the best I can with the choices I make each day with the goal of not making magic happen, but making a HEALTHY life happen. 

I have said this before that life does not promise easy, but the effort put into your/my/our life is worth all that we give and put into it.  I do not sit around blaming my past, people, or circumstances and use that as an excuse to not be my BEST me and remain an unhealthy person, but utilize the circumstances of life to become a BETTER me, learning what I can through all journey that is good, tough, happy, sad…you get the point.  Let’s take a credit card for example, instant gratification without the work and it may feel great at the moment, but at what cost when the card runs dry…the inability to pay the bill, ruin my credit, stress me out, and ultimately make me an unhealthy person.  The other side of that coin and my preference is to be patient, save enough to afford the item and then make the purchase, and sometimes, I no longer need or want the item I have saved for.  My health is the same way, I can think that there is some quick fix pill that is going to make me into some fabulous fit thing, but just like the card, it is only instant gratification that comes at an unhealthy cost to my body.  I take the responsibility for my health very serious, and invest the time to take care of my body, prepare healthy foods, and exercise with what works for me.  This is a life LONG journey of patience and persistence to create the BEST healthy me and ultimately, my responsibility.  

I make the choice to WANT a healthy body and that

does take effort to commit to my exercise routine, plan my meals, and cook healthy foods daily.  I am a very busy gal and I have learned that time management skills are important in life, and choosing to say “NO” can be a good thing to not overburden my calendar and not allow for a healthy life.  It is about choices and responsibilities and knowing what I want and what I do not want, and going a step further to recognize the needs versus the wants in life.   The “old Darla” used to be a “YES” to everything gal and trying to please everyone under the sun…GUESS WHAT…unhealthy and why put myself through all that and for what point?  Being responsibly balanced has become important and allows me to live each day feeling accomplished, not overwhelmed, and have the ability to enjoy precious time that is meaningful. 

Being responsible means throwing all laziness aside and not waiting around thinking that someone else is supposed to do this for me.  Life is not about what others can do for me, it is about what I can do for me and should do for me.  The straight up truth about life is that “it is tough” as my Dad would say, and “it takes a tough person to get through it”.  The responsibility to be healthy in all areas is my decision and the choices I make determine how my body is going to look and feel from the inside out.  No magic involved, just responsibility.

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATION

I dedicate this Blog to my Dad for Father’s Day and also my beautiful Daughter to wish her a Happy Birthday!  Love to you always and I look forward to spending meaningful time with you.

Happy Father's Day Dad

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Daughter

  

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 

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Trial and Error

Celebrating 49 and Feeling FABULOUS

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 Mom                                                               My 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...

Suffering from Hormone Hell? Struggling with Your Weight, Sex Life, and Moods? Check out the Foods and Tips to Combat the Crap Caused by Peri-Menopause and Menopause

What Now?

So, you’re forty something and beyond and ready to make a change for the hormonal better.

Great! Every woman on the planet will suffer from hormonal changes, and as we age, the symptoms increase as our estrogen levels decrease.  

Now, what the hell do we do as we all experience our own unique changes that usually suck in a huge way, and we would love to toss in the trash.  Let’s get down and dirty and brainstorm about foods that may reduce symptoms, natural alternatives, and other ways to experience relief from the hormone party crasher.   Many of us are lost in the dark when it comes to hormones and what to do, and many times when our plug gets pulled during this process, we are left holding the chord saying to ourselves… what has happened…really??? And not realizing that the hormone party has begun.

Did I have you at hormone?  Then read on.

The first step is to realize that you are not going crazy, and now may be a great time to

head to the gynecologist for a full blood panel that includes your Follicle Stimulating Hormone Test, and a chat to discuss the symptoms that you are having.

Some of the symptoms caused by hormone horrors include mood swings, damn those night sweats, disturbed sleep, anxiety, loss of sex drive, vaginal dryness, inability to orgasm or struggle to get there, hot flashes, depression, food cravings, and weight gain.  What the hell is going on…this list would be enough to scare any woman into feeling overwhelmed about life, self, and pissed off that her ship has wrecked in the harbor, and now stalled waiting for some sort of miracle.  Unfortunately, when our hormones have gone crazy, it is necessary to take control of our bodies and begin taking steps to turn that boat around and get it sailing again.

Once it has been determined that your hormones are indeed the culprit of the crap, researching the best methods of relief that work for each woman is a great beginning.  There are foods, natural supplements, creams, hormone therapies and an abundance  of options to come to the hormonal rescue.  But the choices for relief may feel overwhelming and not knowing the right decision to make may seem difficult. 

Options, Options

 

Nutrition

Let’s start with the most natural way to start bringing our hormones back into some sort of balance.  Studies have shown that certain foods like watermelon and pumpkin seeds can boost our libido, and  eating foods containing fiber, antioxidant s, lean protein and healthy fats in our daily nutritional intake help set the stage for happier hormone balance in the body.  Check out Dr. Christiane Northrup’s  Hormone Balancing Food Plan on Food Matters for more detailed information.

Hormone Replacement

Bio-identical hormones and Hormone Replacement Therapy are two differing methods that can reduce the bothersome symptoms of hormone imbalance.  Bio-identicals have been termed “natural” and generally provided by a natural path or holistic doctor, whereas hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are prescribed by a medical doctor and in a variety of forms to include pills, creams, gels, and vaginal inserts that are not battery operated.  The "bio" route seems to be the most accepted by women trying to stay away from synthetic hormones and the belief is that the risk of cancer is reduced with identical hormones. However, hormone therapy is such a personal decision, with every woman experiencing different symptoms and side effects to therapy. Be an informed healthy person on the subject before jumping into the big ass pot of hormone relief. 

  

Creams and things

One of the worst symptoms of hormone imbalance is the “dry vagina” and that alone can send the libido tail tucked and becoming the forbidden area.  When it comes to being a female, trying to remain sexual, and feel sexy while our bodies are fighting our wants, can become an ongoing chore and we frantically search for answers to plump up, lubricate, and bring ourselves back to life in the bedroom.   Lubricants to the rescue! The store shelves are packed with all sorts of slippery glides that can make life in the bedroom much more enjoyable and stocking up can be a great idea once you have found your favorite.  Natural ways to lubricate down under can be done by massaging extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil directly on the labia, and in fact, extra virgin coconut oil works fabulous as a sexual lubricant, so bring that kitchen item into the bedroom ladies.

Opting out

Some gals sail through hormonal changes and choose not to partake in therapies and I for

one am happy for those healthy wonder women.  Some that experience slight symptoms may also choose to ride out the storm, and the great thing about our bodies as we go through this journey of hormonal change, is that we do have the choice.  

What women want and what we get

Women want to be women, to feel confident about their bodies physically and sexually, and when hormone hell tries to put a damper on her natural way of being, it is time to become an informed woman ready to make decisions and choices to maintain a healthy vibrant body for a lifetime.  Watermelon and pumpkin seeds, along with a great lubricant may become a best friend during this journey, in addition to a choice to use bio-identical hormones or HRT for relief and bringing the body back into balance.  Whatever choice is made, it is really all about living a quality healthy life in every way and not allowing the journey through hormone imbalance to take what is yours…a fulfilling and satisfied life.

Darla Leal, Contributing Writer

Nationally recognized and published fitness expert, master trainer, consultant and coach, Darla has been training clients in her private fitness studio for several years,  is a feature writer for Natural Muscle Magazine and has appeared in other publications and books.  When Darla is not coaching or consulting, she can be found in the kitchen creating and modifying recipes, her passion and therapy.  She also enjoys a nice glass of wine and dark chocolate with her hubby, and taking off on weekly boat trips during the hot summer months.  Darla is the In Your Face MOTIVATOR on her Stay Healthy fitness Blog and Facebook and has a passion to reach as many people as she can to adapt a healthy LIFESTYLE.  Her favorite book is the Bible and quote: “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” Her motto: 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...