Perfectly Imperfect and Ok With That!

Day in the life!! I hope no one EVER thinks this ish is easy. I. Flippin. wish. I've gotten good at simple. It's a complicated looking simple but it's creating your own auto pilot and KNOWING what's non negotiable. Mine are basic- must get to work before 9a 22 miles (30 non trafficy minutes or 45-60 MEAN DFW HORRIBLE DRIVER SCENE 😑) surely you see my preference???  Anyway, I frame my day with that in mind  Below- my PREWORK the day before any work day: FIRST ACTION:  laying out my daughters clothes, my workout clothes for 5am and my work clothes.. Down to the shoes?!? Yes. Down to the socks in the shows. NON - NEGOTIABLE WHY: time constraints. I can't consistently workout evenings. Corporate life! That one last meeting.. That company function... ITS WORK ! Sometimes there's overtime. So by the time in back home between 630p-730p (after grabbing princess child ;)) I won't wanna workout. I want to enjoy my kiddo! W...

So I did an experiment this week.  I made bone broth and an entire week's worth of mustard/collard greens with that broth. Let me tell you what- Granny had it right -  shoot HAS it right! She's 94 and amazing. I remember thinking this is sooooo not enough food! But I was full after eating something as simple as greens and cornbread. I rarely got sick as a kid... Stayed pretty immune healthy (other than allergies but that's a mile long post). Being in the health and fitness industry, you'll see all kinds of fads go by. Low carb, high protein, gluten free, fat free etc etc. so when I saw the GAPS diet I blew it off. Looking at it closer- it's a back to basics thing. It's how I grew up. It's CHEAP!  My granny grew up in a time where there were no scraps, just opportunities to stretch meals from those extra weird pieces like neck bones, chicken bones, whatever was in the garden.  This isn't a blog about the GAPS diet (highly recommend you research though)  B...

Good Question. I recently posted a video (link at the end of this) explaining my “Why”. Though I’d   explain what that means. A why isn’t just a reason or a goal. It’s a everything. It’s the wake up reason. It’s the put down that extra portion reason. It’s the out of the house though you could be relaxing a bit more reason. It’s the reason you are willing to do what others wont because you know   after its all said and done, you’re building a future. My why is to not be sick. My body is my best asset.   Meaning – all the other things in the world can fade away but I have 2 legs, 2 arms a mind that works for the most part ;) and a I need those things to function in harmony to complete any of the other things I want to do successfully. So my why? To BE HERE! I approach everyday as a mission to do better, to feel   better and to know better. Whats your why? Here’s my why created post workout so it’s a bit sweaty and breathy lol = http://youtu.be/2Y...

No one likes to talk about money right? Well oh well! Im blogging about my embarrassing but well received learning adventure.  So you know that mortifying feeling when you get to go check out and you don't have enough money? or your credit/debit card gets rejected at the check out ? Sorta had this feeling a couple of months ago... Read on...   The Mortification... I don't check my credit often - no reason to (I thought). Well I randomly got rejected for something that I knew was well w/in my budget/means, etc bc I don't use credit often. Well, got a response in the mail that I was not approved. I was confused, and right there, the rejection reason? Bankruptcy. I get that. An institution not wanting to issue me a credit card or whatever due to filing bankruptcy. Could be a bit of a risk? Maybe want to be sure I'm back on my feet? Again, understood. Soooooo - Why did I have issue with this?? I. Never. Filed. For. That.   I completely flippe...

 WHERE HAVE I BEEN?!?!   :) I have been working on ME! I’ve been a bit quiet because I thought, how can I movtivate if there is some question in me that I’m not doing enough? Then it hit me – across the head like all things seem to – HARD! I needed to look in a mirror. I remember being told to do this in grad school as a personal development project. Look in the mirror, even if it just for 1 min..and just DEAL with yourself.   Don’t say a word, don’t let yourself be interrupted. Do you like what you see? What comes to mind? What makes you anxious? What can you do?   Then ask yourself..what are you doing?   I did this and almost cried.   I have so many dreams, I love the lives I touch, and I love the progress I’ve made but I’ve been made for more. FEAR holds me back. Fear of upsetting people, fear of failing and the shame that follows that. Fear of not being enough. Wow. I couldn't believe I was ready to own and overcome that. So h...

Last night was fantastic!! I got home, it was a tough tough  day and I thought - I need to kick something. Looked at the dog - she didn't do anything..yet ;)  kidding kidding.. SO, busted out my Les Mills Combat workout.  I got so obsessed with this program that I pretty much stopped doing everything else other than running for months. So I had to give it a break, hence me starting Body Beast. Well I started. Then I got so involved in the workout I had to ask Jessalyn to workout with me because I couldn't stop! I GOT UNLEASHED! What does that mean? I just let go. I felt transported.  THIS is the very definition, to me, of a soul mate workout. What else could it be if not the love of your (fitness) life? Why I got some tips for you! You can’t wait for the next day to do it again! You glow about it when you’re with friends or family. You want to meet the trainer who created those workouts and when you do, you’re even more hooked on the workout than when you...

My hubby calls it stupid pride but eh. Same idea. It's ego. You refuse to accept something so you exert effort doing something to just do it. Silly Pride lived in my untrained running legs yesterday. It's laughing at me today. I signed up for a 15k I've been wanting to do for a while. Well the flu, upper respiratory infection after, etc equals,  not on track like I was when I wanted to do it.  "WELL I PAID FOR IT!"..."ITS JUST A RUN". Yeah well there's a reason athletes TRAIN! It's to prevent injury. That was the WORST as far as timing, that I've ever done.  Today I'm sore but yesterday I caught a Charlie horse WHILE RUNNING! I was only 5 or 6 miles in. Sooo I walk/ran to finish thinking ".. It's 33 degrees. You're a dumba$$ for not training Jessica." I finished, got a couple more Charlies- can you get them in your stomach too BC those were NOT regular cramps! Those put "time of the month" cramps to the level o...

The best things some to those who...know how to stick in there.  Yes, sometimes fitness, eating well, etc can seem monotonous.  Well, some of it is! But you have so many more hours in the day to do something amazing and awesome and be creative.  Get creative with your workouts! That's why I post videos - what song can I think of today. Now most people have already let go of those new years resolutions..sadly enough.  How to stick with yours? Consistency and accountability.  Need some? Contact me here or take this quick survey!  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CZHGCB8 See you over there getting all healthy and ish?!?!  :) xoxoxo Jess

I really love this song:)  It seemed fitting.  I'm very much "sprung" or hot on the idea now of lifting! This is again, new for me because I feel stronger and more talented at cardio. I do think I'll need to mix in some body combat or I'll lose my mind soon:) So something else I'm sprung on? Helping people! I have found my passion! Its not making a lot of money tricking people, its making a living loving who I am and helping others reconnect with what they need to love to be happy. Themselves.  Some of my tricks? 1 - put the scale down.  get rid of it. 2 - positive affirmations. DAILY!! outloud, tell yourself, 10x, "Im enough" 3 - skip the negative talk. youre not fat, youre not ugly, you may not be rich in Hollywood terms but youre rich with life. Live that way then! 2 months until my half marathon and I'm praying to cross the finish line! This program has definitely made me feel much much stronger. *WHATEVER IT TAKES!*...

End of the week! Yay!! I have one more day of Body Beast  - I probably wont post daily blogs about it anymore b/c it will repeat a few weeks. Maybe we'll talk about recipes;) So today I ran 4.75 miles (still training for a 15K in February - yikes!)  and then did shoulder day. It was a challenge.  I looked over at my hubby and asked him what the heck was this or that move? He's an Army veteran and loves to lift and for once, kinda smirked b/c he knew the workout better than me - I got him in cardio though! ;) Lots of presses, lats and stuff..hence the video showing that I DO have shoulders! Say what?!?! Probably the strongest looking part of my physique thus far.  Working on being supa dupa awesome soon! First, Challenge Groups - this program Im doing now (Body Beast) is tough! Waking up and doing it alone is not as easy as you think it may be for me.  So why do that w/o a group? Um, DONT! That's why I have free challenge groups!  They offer accoun...

Well..I do like to Move it Move it..:) No real crazy thing to report other than CHANGE IT UP. I consider myself pretty self aware when it comes to my fitness but even I plateau.  Body Combat was my first plateau breaker but it was all cardio. Know when to step out of your zone. Today  - cardio wasn't running in place and such like I thought. it had weights :/  So it was good and different than my regular cardio. I'd say I was more plyometric based than anything. There were these clappy push ups - yeah ok those didn't go over too well ! But atleast I tried! In a few months I'll be a clappin happy fool! ha! Hmm.. I was asking on my like page, soreness help ( I need it ) - yoga - hot bath *Epsom salt - foam roller **never heard this one** - apple cider vinegar! The others haven't worked much so I'll try this next. Comment below -what's your remedy?

Had to add the video!  so anyway, today -- GOOD DAY!! I ran 3 miles, kinda faster than I usually do and felt like  - AHHH!  I needed that.  Body confusion - sorta  like  muscle confusion I guess. The change up in my activity seems to be doing a body good?!?! I am sleeping a bit better even though Im working out in the day time. So lets talk nutrition.  I feel like im eating sooo much! but its not causing anything adverse.  How much are you eating a day? Do you track it? Im no the queen of MyFitnessPal (YET!) but I do consistently log on.  Over 120 days now thank you very much! I don't like that it tells me to eat 1300 cals a day so I kinda ignore that.  Sticking with what my trainer said to do. Eating is not the enemy. The content of what's eaten can really do you in though.... Tips for less ick after kicking but in a workout: 1. COOK 2. DONT EAT OUT 3. Plan and Prep 4. Portion control 5.  clean it up - ie, quit wit...

Body Beast Leg Day   (And Other Realities)... Now don’t get me wrong – this wasn’t easy, but I much prefer this day.   I love running – why? Because youre legs get the hotness!!   ;)   I’ve always had big thighs (sprinter’s legs) but when they aren’t toned, they are definitely blah. So I'm embracing leg days because I have been at a loss on how to tone up and get back the hotness . Warm Up –   I see a pattern here.   Slow and tricky like a jog or high knees them BOOM lunges. IN.A.WARM UP.   He's completely flipped what I think as a warm up!!   The Workout - I don’t remember all of it in order but there were regular squats, fancy squats (that's what I call them..), lunges on an incline, and new word? SUPERSETS! I kinda knew what these were before, but I like how he does them.   My legs weren’t shaky so I thought my routine today of 8, 10, 15 lbs may have been too light ( I even had to drop them on the Bulgarian or Bulvarian ...

Hahahahahahahaha! Now am I laughing at Sagi (the super buff trainer)? Nope. Laughing at my overconfidence that I knew what to expect and how to lift for results. Now don’t get me wrong I’ve lifted weights before -   I was a college athelete (track) but I lifted just enough and until the coach said I could go back to track and do the “real” work. I’ve never considered weights anything but supplementary to my workout routine. I’ve made them center stage and its KILLER. My arms are shakey (hence the pic) and I’m definitely impressed.   So here’s the program in review… Chest and Tris Day Warm up – sorta yawned. I was like, um, this is a lame jog and arm circles. But then, it was like Sagi heard me and said PUSHUPS!! Um, what?! This is the WARM UP! I PUSH NOTHING UNTIL LATER IN THE WORKOUT! So wanted to tell Shaun T on him but whatever…. Chest was first .   I quickly learned why he continued to say, keep your area clean. I so need a rack for these weights. I was ...