Workout Wednesday: When Your Hard Work Pays Off and Dealing with Negativity from Others

Wow, so, it's Wednesday! This week has flown by, and in some ways I'm relieved. Micah's settling into his new job, and our schedule is beginning to stabilize (as if it's ever been that way) once again. This week, I've been encouraged so much by my colleagues who've decided to take place in my accountability/challenge group this month. Let's face it. No matter who you are, you can never become complacent and decide you've got it all together. I'm constantly learning myself. I just want to share what I've found with others and maybe, just maybe, make someone's life better for it.

Today is actually more of a motivational post than a workout post. I would like to deal with a tough topic. Everyone tries to sell people of the highs of achieving your goals, but what really determines your long term success is how you handle failure...that's right FAILURE. I found this out not too long ago, and it's changed my perspective on how I do things in general. Don't get me wrong. I still strive to do everything to the best of my ability, but I've learned to accept failure with grace, learn from it, and move on.

I recently got the honor of  having my pic featured in Oxygen Magazine's "Sporty Girls" section doing what else but my favorite "glutes" move.

it's me! :-)

This definitely made me realize that I'm setting an example for others, and is pushing me to go further.  My goals may not be someone else's goals...respect the health goals of others.... Cheer them on. We're all in this together, right?....Ok, so that person may have not lost "x" amount pounds, but they started healthier habits and gained muscle. There are too many people out their with the mindset that they need to lose more poundage, so they cut back on foods, and that works for awhile, but the "bucket theory" doesn't make you healthier, and give you more muscle tone or make you stronger. There are hundreds of ways (it seems) that people attempt to do this, so let me dispel some myths with a lesson it took me years to get through my head: lean muscle make your metabolism run efficiently long term, and one can't expect to fuel up with junk after one trains, and build muscle...just doesn't work. It's 2/3 eating smarter, 1/3 eating less. This is me leveling with you the reader, because I don't want you to fall for the ridiculousness of diet fads, like I did years ago. I believe in macros, but if you reach your macros by filling up on junk, then you'll look like what you eat. That being said, there are no excuses, in this United States, for eating unhealthy. This is what I got from the grocery store today for $30.

That being said. There are lots of resources out there to teach you how to fuel your body the right way.
I love Tosca Reno's book, Just the Rules, for learning about the types of foods and principles to eat by, so you don't go crazy. and the program 21 Day Fix.
   I also love the Eat Clean Diet: Stripped, by Tosca Reno, and Skinny Ms.com for some amazing recipes! What's your favorite clean eating recipe? I'd love for you to share! :-)