The "F" word

Fitness...I have found fitness to be absolutely KEY to the success and inner growth I have accomplished this summer and surprisingly, not for just the obvious reasons!  For about 14 years, I have been on and off diets.  I have also gone back and forth with working out regularly finding the same struggle to seeking the confidence and consistency I needed to be successful and stay successful.  It seemed that there were more missteps to count than successes. I am sure many of you have felt that way as well.  The alarm goes off and you hit snooze one too many times, one too many days and before you know it, working out is a thing of the past.  What about that pizza (or Mexican food for me) calls your name and you feel so hungry that you eat beyond full only to regret it soon after when your stomach hurts in rebellion.  We have all been there.  Some of us, like myself, have allowed those "slips" to define you one by one until you forget how strong and competent you really are.  How do you get motivated to "redefine" yourself?  To move beyond that dark hole that has sucked you in?  I found it is quite simple, but not necessarily easy.  Ask yourself, what motivates you? Is it a pair of pants you want to fit into again? Is it a person for which you want to live longer? Is it a blood test challenging you to improve?  Whatever it is for you, you need to find your "why". I did not realize that my motivation came from doing this for more than just me.   I discovered greater fulfillment in my own goals when leading others who desired health and fitness, too.  I found purpose in what I was doing because it was no longer just about me. You will know when you figure yours out because it is one of the most rewarding feelings you will feel, and you will be more than motivated to keep going even through those difficult setbacks.

One of the benefits I love the most about becoming a Beachbody Coaching is that it is so more than their products, more than advancing, more than the knowledge I have gained over the years within this field.  It is about how I now have the confidence to reach out to people I have always thought about, but never had the courage for fear of what they would think.  Not for Beachbody related things, but simply to reacquaint with them.  I am more kind and thoughtful toward others' daily struggles when in the past, I may have not given it much thought once I left their presence.  Now it genuinely lingers with me, and I find myself praying for people more often.  I workout more regularly because I feel accountable to the people I currently serve and will serve in the future. I am happy about eating clean because I have learned it has a direct impact on how I feel physically, mentally and emotionally which directly impacts the way I treat others.   I resist sharing an unkind thought about another because I think about how it may derail their efforts in finding their own purpose.  These are the things that matter. These are the things I believe God has always wanted for me, but I have let my internal fears control me.   I believe our purpose in life is to be in relationships with others so that we use our strengths to help others find and use theirs.  I am very blessed to have had this self- reflection time and am excited for what the future holds simply because I have rediscovered me!  It is and always was all about helping YOU!  :)

As most of you probably know, my summer is over so the time I had to personally reflect and redefine is ending. That does not mean that it is the end of my story.  It is actually a new beginning, of which I will continue to share as I go. I hope, so far, that you have seen that we are not as different as it may seem.  We all have experienced things in our lives that have set us back from reaching our full potential.  Some of those things we may still be harboring, but that does not mean we have to settle for where we are.  If you are at a point in your life where you know what you want, but are just not sure how to get there, why not begin with loving yourself enough to start with bettering your health?  I would love to be invited for the ride.  It could be the catalyst that changes everything for you just as it has for me.  I won't promise it will be easy, but I will say, it will totally be worth it!

fitnessbarrnone@gmail.com