Sleep, it does a body GOOD!

This week is school break, which means VACATION!!!  No, my family isn't going anywhere exotic or exciting.  We've opted to just stay put in our cozy, wonderful home and relax the week away!  We're the type of people who go full speed, 900 miles per hour all the time.  This break couldn't have come at a better time!  I, for one am sooooo looking forward to sleeping, relaxing and resting!

My very first night of vacation, I slept a full 8 hours!  The second night, another full 8 hours!  It is a rarity for me to get that much sleep and I cannot even tell you how great I feel.  Combine that with a full weekend of sitting around doing very little, and I am a new woman!!!  We busy ladies (and mothers) often neglect ourselves, put ourselves LAST on our priority list and hesitate to give our bodies this most basic, precious human requirement - adequate sleep.  

Here are some benefits from getting proper sleep:


1.  Improves memory. 


2.  Live longer!


3.  Curbs inflammation.  Inflammation in the body has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and premature aging.  Get your sleep and stay away from these awful side effects!


4.  Increase creativity.  You know how kids have the uncanny ability to come up with impromptu plays, little games or what have you?  They sleep A LOT (or at least my kids do).  Their brains are well-rested, therefore, the creative juices are flowing!


5.  Improve athletic performance.  No wonder I have been struggling with my workouts lately.  5-6 hours of sleep a night just isn't cutting it for this girl who needs 8+ hours to rock it out properly!  


6.  Improve grades.  No wonder my children are so smart! :-)


7.  Increase attention span.  For me, going through a day after getting a less than adequate night's sleep must be what it feels like to have AD/HD.  I have a very difficult time focusing and getting tasks completed.  


8.  Healthy weight.  Now here's the kicker!  We all want to be at a healthy weight, right?  Sleep the proper amount and it could be that much easier!


9.  Lower stress.  Duh.  I think we all know that.  A good night's sleep makes you feel calmer and less stressed.  That's a no-brainer.


10.  Avoid accidents.  


11.  Combat depression.  Raise your hand if you feel weepy and sad when you are chronically sleep deprived! 


Also (for me), when I get the proper amount of sleep, I feel happier, am a nicer person to be around (my family can attest to that), I feel like I can do anything, and the "Negative Nellies" disappear.  So pull those covers tightly up around your chin, close your eyes, snooze away......and don't feel guilty about those extra few hours of shut eye.


Happy Weekend!
Carrie 

On the Road to Amazing!

BE AMAZING!

~Tony Horton

I recently purchased Tony Horton's new book "Bring It!".  Tony is the creator and trainer for the wildly popular Power 90 and P90X workout DVDs.  His book is full of inspirational tidbits, nutritional advice, recipes as well as a full section of detailed workout moves.  In the beginning of the book, Tony talks about the importance of getting your head in the right place for exercise, getting fit and living a positive existence.  He calls it the "Cycle of Success".  He says that often times (unfortunately), the perils of negativity and self-doubt live within all of us.  He maps out 12 specific success tools to get everyone on the right path to fitness, health and living a better overall life.  These 12 tools are integral if one is looking to make a change and start living a healthier lifestyle.  The one out of the 12 that spoke to me most deeply was his advice to "Be Amazing".

Everyone wears a mask - one which often hides our "true self" from the rest of the world.  We often deny ourselves the ability to be authentic and true in order to try and fit in and be who we THINK others want us to be.  Part of living a Fit Full Life is being AUTHENTIC, TRUE and AMAZING!!!!!  We need to stop caring what others think of us.  We need to stop being so sensitive to other's criticism and negativity.  We need to stop focusing on the negative voices within us and (as Tony says) "celebrate your victories and accomplishments and recognize the things you do really well."  

Years ago, a friend of mine asked me to take an indoor rock climbing class with her.  I was totally and utterly freaked out by this notion!  "Are you kidding me??!!"  The possibility of the rope snapping or the harness malfunctioning thereby sending me plummeting to my death did not even enter my mind!  What I worried about was....what if someone sees and makes fun of my giant, dimpled bum as I am suspended in the air attached to a teensy rope.  Yes, my friends, that was my biggest fear.  You know what?  I needed to get over it and forget about what others thought!  This was a fun class that I was taking for ME, to better myself and to get over some fears (of heights and teensy ropes) and shed my self-consciousness.

After the first rock climbing competition I ever did!

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to display Beachbody products at a local Health Fair.  It was an incredible opportunity, with the potential to speak to over 2,000 people about the awesomeness that is Beachbody.  However, I was dragging my feet and couldn't commit!  What was wrong with me??  Fear!  Self-doubt!  Negativity!  What if I couldn't do it??  What if no one talked to me?  What if I wasn't successful?!  After about a week of questioning myself, my wonderful husband sat me down and said "Just do it!  You love what you do and people need to hear it.  What have you got to lose?" So I did it and it was a fantastic day!  I had the opportunity to speak about what I am passionate and I hopefully was able to lead others toward living healthier lives.  It was worth stepping out of my comfort zone!!

Me in front of my Beachbody table at the DreamRide Health Fair

So, the bottom line:  YOU are defined by everything you are - your inner being, your mind, your talents, your everything.  Let that be your guide, let it out and BE AMAZING every day!  When you start living as your true self, it is the most freeing feeling in the world.  Keep in mind, this is not something that is accomplished in one day or even throughout a 63 day exercise program.  Living authentically takes time (maybe even years) especially since people tend to change throughout the years.  Open your eyes, recognize what you need to change in order to live this way and start living for YOU (not others) and become the most amazing YOU that you can be!  Once you start doing that, you will see awesome things start to happen!

~Cheers! 

For Ladies Only

I am by no means a Fashionista or Style Guru.  I'm a simple jeans and tee shirt kind of girl.  In fact, Stacy London of "What Not To Wear" fame would most likely be horrified upon inspecting my wardrobe (which consists heavily of multiples of the same items).  When I find something I like, fits right, looks good and feels good, I duplicate!  That being said though, I have a GIANT issue when I see women wearing HORRIBLE bras..........

First and foremost, ladies....what is the DEALIO?  In my professional (and yes, I am a professional - more on that in a sec) opinion, too many women could give a rats patootie about lifting up "the sisters" and giving them the respect and platform (no pun intended) they deserve!  You know the ones I'm talking about!  The women who are content wearing a partially decaying, 4+ year old, stretched out, discolored (when upon closer inspection have teeny elastics fraying out all over the place) unsupportive or even (*GASP*!) a sports bra on a regular basis.  These foundations do absolutely nothing to show off the body parts they are meant to be highlighting. My goodness, I've even encountered some women who are still wearing the nursing bras they wore when feeding their baby (6 years ago).  In my opinion, there is absolutely no excuse for a bad bra.  Let me tell it to you straight.......get rid of 'em!!!  Every good, self-respecting woman needs to ditch the old and march themselves into the nearest lingerie-selling establishment and get a professional bra fit.  Professional you say?  Yes that's me, at your service!  Let the me and the experts help you!!  Part of my job is that I get to measure and fit women with the right foundations.  I will let you in on a couple little trade secrets - it ain't rocket science yet most women are wearing the wrong size and wrong fit!!!  It's an epidemic, but I'm here to rescue you from all your lingerie woes. 

You know when you see someone who could use a little (or a whole lotta) lift?  Wrong size!  You know what I mean when I say "back fat"?  Wrong size!  You know the photos in fancy lingerie catalogs of models whose ample cups runneth over?  Wrong size!  So I'm about to tell you the proper way to measure.  Now, you could try this at home, but I recommend and trust the professionals.  By the way, there's absolutely no need to be shy.  You can wear your own (elderly) bra and a form fitting tee shirt for a bra measure.  No need to feel uncomfortable as no skin will be showing!

~ Use a tape measure and somewhat tightly measure around where the band of the bra should rest (under the shoulder blades and right under "the girls"). 
~ Take this number and add 5 inches (say if you measure 29, then 29 + 5 = 34 so your band size is 34) if you are measuring an odd number (say if you measure 30, then 30 + 5 =35 round UP to 36 and your band size is 36).
~Then measure the fullest part of the chest.  Compare this number to the band SIZE not the band measurement.  So, if you're cup measures 38 and you measured a band SIZE of 36 that's a difference of 2 inches.  Are you following me?
Cup size determinations:
+1" = A cup
+2" = B cup
+3" = C cup
+4" = D cup
and so on.........

Here are some helpful hints/facts about wearing a proper bra.  The band should rest below your shoulder blades not high up on your back.  If it is too high up, it is too small.  There should be no space in between "the girls" and it should rest flat against your skin - if you can fit fingers up in between under the fabric, it's too small.  Every time you lose or gain weight, you should get re-measured and get a new one (even as little as 5-10 pounds)!  Unfortunately, as we age age our bodies age with us and things in that region change (c'est la vie!).  What you wore for a bra size in your 20s might not be the same size in your 40s.  Get fitted.  The band should take the brunt of the weight, NOT the straps!  Wearing a properly fitting bra lifts you up (obviously), shows off your waist, takes pressure off your back and shoulders and makes you look thinner!  Plus, it makes you feel more confident and better about yourself.

Go on, give yourself and your lady parts a little gift today.   While you're at it, why not go a little wild, ditch the white and nude colors and go for something pretty!

~Cheers!

Launching a New Adventure

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

~Helen Keller

What exactly does "Fit Full Life" mean to me?  It's a little bit of everything.  I'm the kind of gal who is constantly evolving, likes to try new things, to be active and to shout about it from the mountain tops once I fall in love with something new. 

The word that comes to mind is balance.  Living a fit, full, life is (for me) a delicate balancing act .  Balance of deprivation and indulgence, of chaos and silence, of giving and taking.  It means learning a new skill if it benefits myself or my loved ones.  It means giving 100% to every endeavor I encounter.  It means living a life that is driven by action and not by (or sometimes in spite of) fear.  It means doing and being the absolute best I can with the knowledge that I have.

We're all on this planet together, having been given beautiful gifts of our bodies, lives and free will.  Doesn't it make sense to pursue living the most fulfilling existence we can, to continually improve and make progress wherever we can?  I hope you stick around to follow me on this adventure!

~Cheers!