I recently fell in love with a woman

A while back I walked into a room and saw the most amazing woman and was unable to take my eyes off of her. I noticed the simple yet beautiful clothing she was wearing and how it hung so nicely on her body. I saw how her hair draped her shoulders and as she went by a fan how it freely and beautifully flowed in the breeze. I was quickly falling in love.

As I stood and watched her, she met my gaze and I locked onto those sparkling, beautiful eyes that led me to her soul. If I wasn't in love before, I was now.  I could see the beauty of her heart and how it shone through every part of her body. I could see how she owned her beauty and amazingness and that it came from deep within and wasn't without some battles. Her smile was intoxicating and I couldn't drink enough of it in and it left me wanting for more. Her voice was strong, yet gentle and kind as she spoke.  As I looked away I couldn't help but want to be in her presence always, to take in the beauty I was experiencing in those moments.

As I went to leave the room, I stole one last look and realized the woman I had seen and fallen in love with...was Me! I hadn't always felt like this and didn't always "show up" in this way. Life's experiences had knocked me down and roughed me up a bit but I kept pushing and fighting back, knowing there was so much more to me. As I stood in that room and saw the reflection of myself, I knew I owned it and had earned it. I had fought the battles that allowed me to be me and gotten rid of the junk that said I wasn't enough, I wasn't lovable, I didn't know how to do things and I was alone. The confidence that comes from loving myself is an amazing feeling and allows me to move through life with a little more grace and ease.  It also allows me to see other people for what they are...amazing...no matter where they are at in there own battles.

Being human and always learning, I still get to experience moments where I forget my amazingness and then have the chance to fall in love all over again.  It is such a beautiful thing!

This month take a chance on Falling in Love...with yourself, and see how life changing it will be.  Spend some time each day looking yourself in the face, even if only for a few seconds at first.  Really Look!! Talk to yourself and hear yourself remind you how beautiful and amazing you are. This is a powerful experience that will change your life, if you will allow it too.
Be Vulnerable!  Be Courageous! Dare to BE in Love with Y-O-U!

If you would like assistance with this exercise or other amazing & juicy life changing tid bits...give me a holler and it would be my pleasure to assist you.

Until Next time...Go BE Great!

ded•i•ca•tion

ˌdediˈkāSHə Noun:

1. The quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose.

"His dedication to his duties"

synonyms:

commitment, application, diligence, industry, resolve, enthusiasm, zeal, conscientiousness, perseverance, persistence, tenacity, drive, staying power;

How long has it been since you have really thought about this word? What is the first thing that comes to mind when you do? An organization? A Sport? A relationship? Is it something you want to give away? Or something that you hope someone will gift to you?

Is it right to believe that we have been given a limited number of talents? You hear others around you say things like “I am just not good at ….” Or “I have no _______ (example; athletic) ability”. Is this fact, or is it just not politically correct to say “I do not want to”? You never hear someone say “I don’t want to lose weight” or “I do not want to be healthy” but everyday millions of Americans make that choice.

NOW is the time to re-dedicate yourself to your health and fitness goals. Not just the body you want today, but the strengths you want a year from now. Do not underestimate the power of consistency. Consistency will win a grudge match with “fast”, “flashy”, or “talented” any day with better results no matter what your goals.

He had a lot of talent, but didn't have much dedication, wasn't organized, didn't know how to learn, didn't know how to comprehend what he was doing, didn't try to learn how to get better.
Jack Nicklaus

GREENS

GREENS, GREENS, AND MORE GREENS!

Time management and procrastination sure have gotten the best of me this week! I got to thinking as I sat down to write this blog today why that may have been. I wonder if it’s because vegetables are my LEAST favorite! That’s right, LEAST favorite. I am definitely getting better about a higher daily intake of vegetables, but I still struggle and have to really think it out and plan my vegetable intake for the day.

Why do I want to focus on my vegetables so much? Well, veggies are nutritional powerhouses and according to Precision Nutrition…

“They contain essential vitamins and minerals along with phytochemicals (plant chemicals) and antioxidants. They're the foundation of every high-quality, health-promoting diet.

In fact, if we had to recommend just one thing that would dramatically reduce your risk of chronic disease and help you shed fat, eating at least five servings of veggies per day would be it.”

And, on top of that…

“Our bodies regulate appetite, in part, based on the volume of food. Our stomachs have stretch receptors that sense how much stuff is in there, and our intestinal tract knows when it's full of fiber and water.

Veggies and fruits have a lot of nutrients and a lot of volume (from fiber and water), but they don't have a lot of calories. 

When you eat more vegetables, you can eat more food, with more valuable nutrients. You feel fuller, healthier, and more energetic. And you still get lean.

Sweet!”

Don’t procrastinate like me! Just jump right in and get started today! Just make a fist, and that is one serving! Choose some of the great choices listed below and go for it!

·     broccoli

·     cauliflower

·     carrots

·     eggplant

·     cucumber

·     large tomato or cherry tomatoes

·     sweet potato

·     onion

·     leafy greens

·     green, red, or yellow pepper

·     mushrooms

·     zucchini / summer squash

·     butternut squash or pumpkin

·     green beans

·     sweet or snow peas

·     beets

·     parsnips

·     Brussels sprouts

·     cabbage (e.g. red cabbage, Napa cabbage, etc.)

Although I struggle with vegetables, some ways I have incorporated them into my life that work for me are ways like…

·         Spinach/Greens mix with mushrooms, broccoli, tomatoes in an egg omelet in the morning (breakfast is hardest for me)

o   Spinach/Greens mix usually has spinach, some type of chard (swiss/green…etc), kale, and other leafy greens

·         Spinach/Greens mix in a Super Shake (2 fist size greens, 2 handfuls of frozen berries, water and vanilla protein powder)

·         Grilled asparagus, zucchini, tomatoes with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste.

·         Sautéed mushrooms and grape tomatoes cooked on the stove top.

**Stay tuned for next time when we discuss more about WHAT to eat…AND DON’T FORGET YOUR 2 SUPER HABITS… Eat slowly and stop at 80% Full!**

Please feel free to email me with any questions regarding nutrition and/or exercise!

Hayley Jones, BS, CSCS, PN1

hjones@mvhospital.net