healthy and beautiful

What is the first thing that comes to mind…money…right?   Well, that is part of the “Cost of Living”.   I see this phrase in a whole new way as in the choices I make with my life.   What I choose to think, feel, how I act, respond, do or not do all determines my “Cost of Living”.   Happiness comes at a price and so does stress and struggle.   I know that when I feel at my best and happy about how things are going, the cost for me is a great day, feel on top of the world, confident, and just all together fabulous…right?   Just as allowing some injustice that has been thrown my direction to take over my whole persona, well the cost would be stress, anxiety, and just an overwhelming YUCK feeling in my life bank.   Sometimes, it is difficult to always pay the right cost all the time in life to receive the right result.   Look at how the “Cost of Living” affects health and I will speak personally here…If I choose to sit around and do nothing active, t...

I believe in being healthy when it comes to exercise and eating “clean” for the large percentage of my week.   Why do I bring the word obsessed into this picture…well...here it is in a nutshell…just as with anything else, too much of anything or an obsessive attitude can bring about an unhealthy balance in life…regardless of how good it is.    If I was spending hours on end exercising, putting exercise above everything in my life to the point of letting it interfere or negatively impact my life, relationships, and self…NO   GOOD.   I mean really…can you imagine if a scenario went like this…I am invited for the day to relax at a spa with hubby, or attend an important function with my family and I said nope … gotta exercise, or I need to be late so that I can get my workout in…OK…now that would be OBSESSIVE. I am not saying that exercise is not important, it definitely is a lifestyle along with my nutrition, but I am talking about for example…the old habits of Da...

TAKING A BREAK I am walking away from fitness!!!  Yes…you heard me… and I am going to enjoy every moment of this week off.  Just like anything else done day in and day out, stepping back and away for a short time and taking a break from what I do daily can rejuvenate my body, mind, and provide a fresh stronger ME when I return…like going on a little vacation from your job and coming back feeling like…YES…I can tackle the world.  There are times that my body feels tired, burned out, and there are days that I, the trainer need to be pushed through a workout…thanks BABE for that!  I also listen to things like…why is my hamstring staying sore and not recovering well, my sleep not the best, and just mentally in need of a break.  YUCK…really…but you know being healthy is not only about how many days I can spend in the gym to push through that hour workout.  Life is truly a balance of the physical, mental, nutritional, and spiritual and if one is out of balance…th...

Such a fantastic word…I love feeling accomplished…can you relate?   When it comes to a workout and it is on a day where I am feeling unmotivated and I kick it into gear and do it…ACCOMPLISHED.    I can also feel this way after cleaning the bathrooms…YUCK…but it has to be done.   I can have such an overwhelming AWWWW feeling inside after I have completed something on my long “to do” list…or even my short one.   It is like falling back on the couch and saying to myself…well done Darla…I do not need to look for anyone’s approval to feel this way.   It is my inner contentment, and love for self that I long to satisfy…and make God happy with what I do of course. Believe me…I see so many people get caught up in the race of competing with others, comparing to others, wanting to be like others…that they are missing out on their own accomplishments…great or small...why oh why I say…and I further say STOP already.   I have got on my soap box a few times about t...