Thoughts on a Thursday!

We all have this great power within us to change our world and help others. But some people choose not to live up to its full potential. Well today I will make this blog short.

Don't settle for a DAMN thing in your life. Start living your dream right now where you are. Prosper where you are planted, and the rest will fall in to place. Today on my workout the trainer kept saying use the power within you and you can achieve your greatest potential.

For me I am digging deep on this. Marinating if you will. I have dreams about using my god given talent of not shutting up and speaking loudly. In high school I was in debate and I loved it! It gave me such a rush to be so passionate about my case. I never really thought about using that love in my life today. But I think it's time to use MY voice to change or inspire others!!!

But that raises the question of how do I do it?? Well my first goal is to be able to speak at an event for my business. I was invited to share my story on July 25. And I finally said yes. My job is to inspire people and what a better time than now!! After that I plan on running weekly fitness events to help spread good into my world!

   

Tuesday Pinspiration

So like most ladies I LOVE Pinterest. I can look at the women's fashion section all day. But when it comes down to it I tell myself I couldn't wear that I am to big. Well that ends today! I want to give the people who are struggling with their bodies some inspiration! So for a few weeks I am sharing so outfit love with you!!! And I hope it inspires you on your journey to own where you are!!!

 Pants are from Modcloth
 Cardigan is NY and Co
 Necklace was my mom's

Thoughts on a Thursday: Why is There so much Processed Food on the Market

There is one thing I am learning more and more about and that is processed foods. The food industry as it has grown has increased the amount of processed foods on our shelves at the grocery store and can label it healthy. Why? Because it today's food market it is about profits over people.

But here is the thing, we can change that! There are many things we can do but the most important is a home cooked meal! It can be really simple it doesn't have to be elaborate. When my husband was working 80 hours a week the crock pot was our best friend. It is also better for all of us as families to have a home cooked meal, simply because it can lead to a healthy relationship with food! Have a happy and blessed Thursday!

Weight Of The World: Workout Wednesday Edition

I don't know where exactly to start this post. I lately have only been trying to put out the positive side of me. But as the days progress my depression has grown to an astronomical length..

I am a self sabotage person. I don't know how to explain it. Sometimes it is like I have this empty feeling in my heart, probably because two of my favorite people in the world aren't here anymore and to fill that hole I eat.

I restart my weeks on Sunday's it has become more of a habit since my weight watcher days. Sunday and Monday were amazing days food wise. But then Tuesday. I had what a very vivid dream or moment of my mother and that made me miss her like crazy. Then the negative thoughts start to crowd my brain. Feelings of letting her down and disappointing her, and then I fell like I am failing at EVERYTHING. Job, Finance, you name it. That is when I need to fill that void I feel. I fill it with food.

So being that it is Wednesday I thought I would give you an analogy of what it is like. I have stated here before that I love walking. So imagine you are hiking up this trail. At first it is beautiful the trees the fresh air. But then the trail becomes very steep. You begin to breathe heavy and start to sweat. Then the thought of you can't do this creeps in. Then it begins to rain. No pour. you are still climbing still trucking along but the negatives start to win. You stop. You don't want to keep going. You have a pity party. The negative has won.

That's where I am right now, with everything in life.

Until this morning.

And why the walking analogy is so fitting for me. I laced up my shoes went to the gym and began to climb my mountain. My depression. Am I in a better place? Yes. Am I where I want to be? No the depression is still here. But I chose to climb. The only way it gets better with mental health is to climb out of the hole.

I can't remember the movie, but the main character is trapped in a hole that the bad guy has dug its raining and the villain keeps pouring dirt in to the hole the rain makes it worse but she is still fighting. And I will continue to fight my villain, my Bipolar Disorder. Some day's I will want to quit, and I might stop fighting that day, but when I am ready to start the climb again I will come back stronger.

Mental Monday: Finding Your voice

When I write a mental Monday post some days I have to fight the voices in my head that just want to complain. But then when the bigger picture comes in to focus complaining just isn't worth it.

I write mental Monday post to inspire others who may read this and decide today is their day to achieve the life they want.

So what does one do when the voices in their head, or the bipolar monsters, roar? Well the truth is you have to be the one who is stronger and louder than them.it is a skill we must master everyday. And it sucks. But to get us where we want to be we must do the important things that we don't want to do, and do it everyday.

Friday Favs

Time of the week to show you my top three things I'm loving this week!

First up!

Fabletics! I love these workout clothes. And let me say I mean it when I say I need to feel cute when I workout! Why mansweat that's why. I sweat like a man! And these clothes have almost everything, from bold to basic, but I said almost. Miss Hudson I need som leopard print in my fitness clothing please and thank you. The cost is high $49.99  but what is great you can skip the month if you want to!

Number 2!

The Mathew 17:20 necklace from Premier Jewelry. I love it! simple and keeps my faith in everything in sight!!!

Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief: for truly I say to you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

And 3! Hourglass lip gloss/stain in rouge! Its red lip color and I love it. Need I say more? Available at Sehpora  

Winter Favorites

Thought I would add in a little fun into the mix on the blog!
I have a love hate relationship with winter. I love the clothes that fall and winter weather bring, and love how snow looks from my window in my house. But I don't like driving in it, being in it, or what it does to my skin and hair. So here are some of my favorite things for winter.

1) Satin Hands and Satin Lips By Mary Kay
I love this for so many reasons, enough to make a whole new post. My hands get very very dry in the winter and lotion alone cannot save them, I also break out with a weird rash that I have been told is a result of having asthma as a baby. This stuff keeps my hands soft no matter the temperature outside. If you don't have a Mary Kay lady, You should. I know a few! Just message me.

2) Good Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner.
I love Pureology hydrate. By far the best hair car I have ever used. It just makes your hair so much softer and amazing! Trust me without it my hair would still be a straw like texture.

3) Vitamin C. in any form. For me it is mostly EmergenC or anything that helps my immune system.

4) A good gym alternative. Living anywhere winter comes, you always encounter the "weather" excuse. Now I have a good back up arsenal of at home DVD's. Like P90X, Focus T25, and Piyo. If you don't have backups you will always have an excuse. If you are ever interested in one of the workouts listed please visit the goals page here on the blog and simply click the Beachbody Logo and there you go. And don't forget that you get me as an added bonus, as your FREE coach.

Click here for more details

Wedding Season is Here

In December of 2010, I started preparing for my wedding on a physical fitness level. I worked so hard to get in to that size 16 dress, and I felt beautiful. I am proud of myself and my wedding photos.

The thing is, when you look back on your wedding day you should feel happy about everything. For instance here are somethings not a lot of people realize about my wedding day. When I see my photos I remember that it was 81 degrees outside. It was so hot my makeup needed some retouching. I didn't really eat, my brother-in-law brought my nieces some chicken nuggets, I may have had a couple. In true family fashion we argued during the photos. The bagpipe was so loud that the piper had to stand far away from the chapel. When Amazing Grace Started to play the wind began to blow and at that moment I knew my grandfather was there. And during the reception a waitress spilled the rose` Champagne on my dress, and I calmly left the room and cried my eyes out with my bridesmaids, who were the best! All of it I remember when I see a photo.

It wasn't always that way. I used to hate the way I looked in my photos, cause all I saw was FAT.

And now with my Brother-in-law's wedding coming up in May, I realize that where I was on my wedding day weight wise, is where I am now. But to me I look different. I still weigh the same. I gained and lost the same 35 pounds in the 3 years I have been married. I worked so hard for that one day and when it was over I gained it back. And As I was thinking today about their wedding, I began to think about all the women out there like me.

We always seem to focus on that ONE event to lose the weight for. But we never look at it like the event should be our life ahead of us. People should want to be healthy so they can live. We think about these life events and plan to be this size or wear that dress or that swimsuit.

That got me to thinking about creating a fitness accountability group for the brides for the upcoming wedding season. But it is about MORE than just looking your best on your day. I want you to look and feel your best for the rest of your life! So I am looking for 5-10 ladies who want this not only for their special day but for their new life! I'm calling it WEDSANITY. Because its insane to put this pressure on yourself for just one day!!  

If you would like to join in on the fun or to just learn more about my fitness group click the link here

If you are interested in the possibility of earning extra income for your wedding day by joining our team please click the link  here

Six Week Walking and Strength Building guide: week 2

Week Two!!! yay! Sorry for the late post on this! Christmas.

I am going to go ahead and leave my tips below for you!

1) always use the incline. Don't just walk or run on a flat surface.2) don't use the handles. This was hard for me. I started by keeping my hands over them, and used them when I felt wobbly, eventually I moved to the sides of the machine. And now I rarely use them.3) When I walk, cause I don't run, I am towards the back end of the machine. It's better for your stride that way.
4) when you start to feel like it's becoming easier at the speed or incline increase it. Try just the incline. The higher the incline the better the results! 4) when you start to feel like it's becoming easier at the speed or incline increase it. Try just the incline. The higher the incline the better the results



So this post is inspired by a follower on Instagram, who wanted to know how I walk for my cardio, and challenged me to prove this works. I love walking, it truly is my soul-mate of workouts. In the past tries of loosing weight walking and eating right helped me to lose 30 pounds. 

This is a Dowell Fitness guide to walking to gain a sustainable healthy lifestyle. With this and any workout please consult your doctor to see if it is right for you.

In this program we will also include strength training with weights or body weight.

When we use body weight we are incorporating the T25 non cardio DVD’s, other days will be at the gym.

So starting this week we are going to add intensity and some strength workouts in with this. So break the days down.

Days 1,3,5,7

Treadmill speed between 2.8 and 3.0, start warm-up at 2.5 then increase

Incline at 2, for two minutes of warm-up.

Increase incline to 4 after your warm-up. After eight minutes increase incline to 6.

After Twenty minutes increase the incline to 8

Stay at an 8 incline for ten minutes. Then slowly decrease until the cool down, by then you should have a 0 incline

Days 2,4,6

Walk should be done at a 2 incline and taken slow, for 30 minutes. If you don’t like at home workouts hit the weights at the gym and follow the body focus below.

Workout DVD (T25) or other program of your choice.

Day 2 should focus on the lower portion of the body (lower focus DVD)

Day 4 should focus on the core (Ab video T25)

Day 6 should focus on the total body (T25 Total Body Circuit)

Mental Monday: Trust

In life we all have trust issues. But in MY case of being bipolar, it is much more difficult to make friends and trust them.

This post will be a release for me, it is something that has been with me for a so long.

I know in life it really is difficult to trust people. But as a person living with mental illness I find it ten times more difficult.

My story of trust is dark and not something that I can let go of, yet.

With this illness you find who your true friends are, and that can be difficult. You put all your trust into someone only to have knives put in your back.


Over the last six years of my life I have lost many friends, some have gone quietly, others have ripped my heart out of my chest and led me in to deep depression. It made me question everything about my life. I felt so alone, and I was in the situation of having to be around them, I for lack of a better word was treated like SHIT. Mostly I stayed quiet, and cried when no one was looking. I had serious thoughts of self harm, not many people knew that, my confidant, my right arm, my wing man, treated me like dog shit, and it was an everyday thing. And I wanted to not exist. It felt like a bad divorce. And sometimes it felt like a funeral of what was some of the best times of my life. Even to this day I still cant look at some of my wedding photos without wanting to cry or punch something.

So how can we do it, trust others?

It is a leap of faith, and most of the time you build your wings on the way down.

The people that stuck around, that believed in me, I love them. Even if I rarely see them, due to many things, life, distance, or I will admit my own reclusive nature that keeps me away. But I love them!

Goals Part One: The Dress

Most of the time we struggle with our weight loss, and one thing I have learned is that motivation leaves, a lot. So if you are determined to lose the weight that is what keeps you going. I have a clear picture in my mind about weight loss.

I have been planning 2 photo sessions. One is with my husband, for our anniversary. The second is a real Pinup Photo-shoot.

So let me focus on the first photo-shoot.

So to give myself a little motivation for my weight loss journey, I bit the bullet and bought me a dress I had been eyeing for about two years. It is the Monica dress from Pinup Girl Clothing. It is off white and fabulous. You can see it in all its glory Here

I cannot properly express how happy/terrified this dress makes me feel! It really is tiny. I bought a medium, a size I haven't been since I met my husband! But I have made the choice to suck it up and get it done. 

If you are ready for that first step in living a healthy life please don't hesitate to contact me here

Or visit my achieve your goals page  here. 

XOXO 

Erin

Self Confidence, Enough is Enough.

Things that are always running through my mind.
1) I want pasta, but if I eat that I cannot fit in to those jeans, Oh who am I kidding? I will never be good enough to wear them
2) I don't look pretty enough next to her.
3) nothing I ever do is good enough.

This list can go on FOREVER!

And it is so exhausting for anyone to feel that way.

Enough with the enough's

You are enough! I am enough, we all are enough.

So lets all be confident in who we are at this moment, and who we will become when we stop to realize, we are all beautiful.

Lets stop using labels to define each other.
No more Skinny, no more curvy, manly looking,  no more overweight, no more just no more.

What if we all just started working to become better in our overall life?
Lets use the language that lifts us up!
Getting healthy, getting fit, growing mentally, Love the way this makes me feel, I am enough.

So here I go, this is me, and I am working on getting healthy, growing mentally and I am enough.
This is where I am in my journey. I own it and am proud of how far I have come!

 I would Love for anyone who wants to join me on this journey or wants help with theirs to leave a comment below or head here to send me an email!

Self confidence and the scale

How many times as women have we stepped on the scale, only to have it crush our hopes and dreams? If you ask me to many.

When I was first starting on this journey of all around health, I like many, joined a "group" where we would track our food and weigh in every week. In the beginning it was awesome, the weight was coming off until it wasn't. This cycle continued for many months. Until I became paralyzed by my fear of the scale.  And I fell off the wagon pretty hard. I was burnt out. 

Cut to a few weeks ago, I was like many times, at 188. But then I let the fear creep in, and because of that I would eat poorly. So on Sunday I had a thought on how to get me past the 188 mark (however I am sitting around 193 now). I thought long and very carefully. I'm posting about my journey and I have to weigh myself or give my stats. After some reverse engineering I decided to put the scale away and test the theory of my fear.  

I am not weighing myself or taking measurements until January 2nd. I'm doing this to regain confidence in myself. I am practicing my tips for self confidence. I am watching my diet and doing my workouts and waiting to see what the result is.

And I want you to join me for the ride!  We can do this together. That's my call to action for you. Let's free ourselves from the scale, from our fears!  I'm ready! Are you? If you want in on this just click the contact me page! 

Spread The Wealth with self-confidence

Everyday we get the chance to find out who we are. But what if you don't know what to look for? How do You become confidant?

Here is a break down of what I'm doing right now.

1) Finding My Passion

2) Positive Self Talk

3) Working Out

4) Giving Back

5) Finding My Routine

6) RED LIPSTICK

7) Learning Something New Everyday

8) Applying What I Learned To My life

9) Change My Perspective 

10) Spread The Wealth!

So this post took on a different way of spreading the wealth. At first I was going to tell you how to help others with what you know. But then what happened is what happened below.

I wanted to do this post as a way to let my loved ones and anyone I know how much they inspire me!

Everyday I see posts and glimpses into their lives, or interact with them some how.

They come from all walks of life and all have amazing stories about life, love, and loss. I won't mention them by name but they will read this post and know.

I see strength in all of them. From people who have lost children to siblings to parents. And that taught me how to grieve and be strong. Some of the strongest people I have seen crumble and helped to try to make it better. There are people who have overcome physical difficulties and proven how strong a person can be if they just have faith in themselves. And that taught me how to become strong and proud in a physical sense. Or the people who started the same weight loss journey and thank me because they started, they inspire me! 

These people keep me motivated when I feel like giving up. Or when I'm too sad and don't want to do anything other than cry because I can't talk to the one person who made any situation make sense. 

One thing I can say about where my life is right now is no matter what just keep going. Everyday every workout, every smile I make, every time I say I love you, every breath, is for and because my mom loved me. 

Xoxo

Erin

Something new and Self-confidence

Everyday we get the chance to find out who we are. But what if you don't know what to look for? How do You become confidant?

Here is a break down of what I'm doing right now.

1) Finding My Passion

2) Positive Self Talk

3) Working Out

4) Giving Back

5) Finding My Routine

6) RED LIPSTICK

7) Learning Something New Everyday

8) Applying What I Learned To My life

9) Change My Perspective 

10) Spread The Wealth!

So as we we are winding down on 2014, it is always a time to plan for what's next. But here is the cool part, you don't need a new year to start learning something new! 

I read personal development everyday to grow and change. I take the new information and think about how it applies to me and my life. I recomend personal development as a way to get to know who you are, and where you want to go and where you are capable of going. Besides reading them I listen to them on audio and do the exercises within them.

Right now I am reading, Born To Win, by Zig Ziglar. And it really has been a great read so far. 

I also recommend anything by John C Maxwell 

As well as, The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy

Beside this kind of personal growth and learning something new about yourself, I also am trying to step out of my comfort zone and my reclusive nature and take some classes, or do something I've always wanted to do but was to chicken to do. For example, we started archery this summer, and I love it. 

As another example I have wanted my whole life to go and be part of a murder mystery party, well that just recently that happened! It was a wonderful experience and I can't wait to do it again! It mad me face my fear of social awkwardness, I was one of the main characters. And it was slightly less nerve racking because I had my friends there and my family, and I had an excuse to be vintage!

And the best part of learning something new or doing something outside of a comfort zone? Being normal is overrated! So just be yourself! But start your journey of growing now! 

Want to read the rest of the self confidence posts? you can do so Here

Want Help in starting your health and fitness journey? Let me be your Free coach!!! 

Red Lipstick and Self-confidence

Everyday we get the chance to find out who we are. But what if you don't know what to look for? How do You become confidant?

Here is a break down of what I'm doing right now.

1) Finding My Passion

2) Positive Self Talk

3) Working Out

4) Giving Back

5) Finding My Routine

6) RED LIPSTICK

7) Learning Something New Everyday

8) Applying What I Learned To My life

9) Change My Perspective 

10) Spread The Wealth! 

So Obviously this post is about my favorite obsessions in the universe! But stick with me here, I know that not every person is going to wear red lipstick. So let me explain, so you can find something that is your red lipstick.

I haven't always loved red lipstick, as a child it was always associated with clowns. But I found something I love, and that is the pinup culture, and man do they wear the red lipstick!!! I started following many bloggers and models and I learned a something, any one can wear it! Off to Sephora I went. 

I was excited and petrified at the same time! But let me tell you how it makes me feel. I felt like wonder woman, seeing it on I felt like a badass. I didn't care what others thought because I don't need anyones approval to feel good! I walk a little taller, and with a purpose. It was life changing! on a side note red hair makes me feel alomst the same way!

So I want you to find your red lipstick! it can be anything you want it to be cause it is your self-confidence we are talking about! From baking to Blogging Pinup to Steampunk what ever it is own it and relish in it everyday! 

If you missed the first 5 posts of this series you can find them here