Marisa, - I'm a failing diva! Aha! Moment

I found a little slice of heaven while in Phoenix last Friday morning. It was my priviledge to stay back with the kids and we jumped in the pool at our rental home. While the kids played, I made myself a smoothie, grabbed a book, and sat in the hot tub to read. I don't normally like hot tubs, but this one was just the right temperature, the weather perfect, and the smoothie just cold enough to balance everything out. And, I love to read....Heaven!

It must have been my total relaxation while reading the book, Go for No!, my thoughts were excited. The book is really about marketing, but basically challenges the reader to view failure as a desired, necessary step to success. Set out to get "No's" and eventually you'll get a "Yes!" View the "No!" as a learning experience to push toward the "Yes!" I realized it's correlation to diet, exercise and weight management. I can't tell you how many times I've heard a client say, "I've tried every diet out there and nothing works! I lose weight only to gain it back." or " I hate exercise, it doesn't work for me. I can't stay consistent enough."

My response is,"Keep trying and eventually it WILL work." I assure you if you try and keep trying at making good food choices and exercising, there will be days you will fail. Even days when you fail miserably. But, there will also be days you will WIN! You WILL eat well, workout smart, get enough, sleep, manage your stress, and have a joyful day. The key is to keep trying. I mean really trying, not crash dieting, not binging, not doing a self-instructed killer exercise bootcamp, not chaining the door of the refrigerator. Those things aren't trying, they are repeating a past failure. Quit repeating the failures and try something new. Gather accountability and get help with your plan.

I admit that every day of my week is spent "trying". I have bad days, really bad ones that seem tasty and "worth it" at the moment, then give me agonizing stomach aches for hours, not to mention the bloating. My days are so busy that I could NOT force myself to workout after a long day training. I skip meals when I'm too tired or lazy to make myself something good. I mess up, give in and get discouraged just like everyone else. The reason why I'm not the fat kid that turned into the fat adult, is because I try and try and try.... everyday.

I don't want to get up at 5am to workout, but I do. I do this because I've failed many times trying to fit in the workouts any other time of day. If I don't do it then, I've learned I won't do it at all. I love pizza, cheese, chile con queso, chicken fingers, fatty Chinese food, and big wedge fries from Trudy's. I don't eat those things everyday, because I've tried eating them and I gain weight - I get sick. I bloat. I gain. I fail. So, I found healthier foods that I love too and I eat those instead. That works! I win. It took time, learning about my body, learning how the body works and digests, trial and error, throwing away foods, buying new ones to find those delicious alternatives. And, I keep trying new things. If anyone finds an alternative to homemade Ranch dressing that doesn't have a boat full of salt or dairy, please let me know. I have about 1000 people who would like to know, including me.

I live a superwoman lifestyle. Multi-tasker extraordinairre. Great for the task list, bad for stress. I can't do it all or I fail at stress management. I have to force myself to turn of the laptop, lie down, talk about nothing, and cuddle my husband. If I don't do this, I'll work until my eyes turn red. That's me, that's how I fail. So, I don't do it. Well, I try....

I need 8 hours of sleep. Yes, 8. If I don't get the sleep, the multi-tasking skills dwindle to nothing. I like being efficient. If I start watching a movie or doing a task at 9pm, I know that I won't get to bed on time. So, I try not to start something new too late, I try...

The point is: Accept the fact you will fail. Learn from the failure. Keep trying and make sure it's something new.

Don't do the same diet you did last year that worked, then you gained it all back. Don't start working out at the gym the way you did last year when it only lasted 2 weeks because you got bored or life got hectic. Keep trying until you find what works for you! If you don't give up, you will find it or it will find you!

We never do the same exact workout twice in the studio because we're looking for what works. When we do find what works, we use our knowledge and client's hard work to sculpt a masterpiece. I give people guidelines for nutrition, but I don't tell them EXACTLY what to eat everyday. That's a diet, and I know (science and years of expereince tells me) diets don't work longterm. So, I work hard to help people find what works for them. The foods, the menu, the grocery list, the disciplines, etc....

If you need help from a "multi-failure, fat turned lean, try and try still failing-on-occasion-diva !" Call me, email me, please... http://www.EatWellWorkoutSmart.com

I can help you fail yourself to success! HA!