Why Do We Do It? And Athleta Inspiration!

Why do we train?  Why do we workout and push ourselves physically?  Why run?  Spin?  Lift weights?  Eat healthy? Seek balance in our life?  Why do you do it?  Of the top of my head I can think of several good reasons for why I do it:

*  Makes me feel good.
*  Gives me a goal
*  Allows me to feel strong and be ACTIVE in other areas of my life
*  Helps me be more balanced, flexible, and peaceful
*  Give me self confidence
*  Good example to my kids
*  Helps me be self disciplined
*  Accomplish new running goals--be a faster runner!
*  Live a better life.
*  Eating right, exercise, spiritual focus and living a balanced life helps to make our life incredible!

But let's face it folks.  If most of us are being honest, we also do these things because:
*  It helps us look GREAT!
*  Our butts look good in our favorite jeans.
*  We feel sexy when we look in the mirror.
*  It makes our love life more exciting
*  We just feel GOOD about what we look like...feels good to look good.

Go no further for inspiration or motivation to get in shape, be the best you and be healthy!  I picked up an Athleta catalog today while my daughters were in gymnastics and it was all I needed to get pumped up to workout and train hard.  Yes, I want to do these things because it will make me a faster runner and hopefully live a better life but I also would love to keep on looking good!  And where do they get their models for this catalog?!  Seriously, talk about beautiful physique and pictures that encompass strength, mental focus, determination, adventure, balance and peace!  If I had an extra paycheck, I just might buy everything I saw in their catalog.  Instead, I just cut all these inspirational and motivation pictures out and did a little collage art in my running journal.  It didn't take long for this creative exercise and now I feel super charged, motivated, and ready to make the most out of my life, seize the day, and accomplish some big goals for my life!

These pictures inspired  me to be strong, determined, focused..mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

These pictures remind me of my desires to live a more balanced life.  To make time for meditation, prayer, and seeking out love, peace, grace and beauty in everything around me.

These remind me that exercise, healthy living, setting goals, and staying focused will allow me to live the active life I want to live.  I hope to continue to have a life full of adventure, travel, and all kinds of activity.  I want to use my gifts and live life fully with Intention, Passion, Joy, Love and Strength. 

Now time to clean up our mess.  My kids are so done with collage art!

Why do you train, eat healthy, set goals, or workout?  


Do you think that training for something specifically and having a certain goal to work towards helps you stay more focused on your fitness, health, and well being?  


If you have never trained for something or had an athletic or fitness goal, do you have one in mind for the future?  

Amanda

Body Fuel. You Are What You Eat?

I was talking with a friend the other day about how sad it is that it costs so much to eat well.  Quality food can be expensive!  The sad thing is that there are so many families that can't afford to buy the good stuff...the organic fruits and veggies, nuts, etc..  Sad that the food that is cheap is also the food that is the poorest fuel for our bodies.

We do not by any means have a perfect diet!  I have a TON to learn about nutrition, making healthy recipes and making sure I'm getting (and giving my family) the best foods. I try.  It isn't always easy though.  Or cheap. I guess I'm willing to pay more for good food when I can. And I'm thankful that I can for the most part.  If I had to choose between eating well and having lots of new stuff that I don't really need then I'd choose to spend my money on food any day.  Food is my fuel and what I am eating has so much to do with how I feel and how I perform as an athlete!  So I'll take the fresh fruits and veggies over the iphone, the new television, or the expensive pair of jeans (okay, I like the jeans too..tough choice).

  Today I had to get a few things from Whole Foods that I can only get there and as those of you with kids know, keeping the number of stops you have to make to a minimum is ideal so I did most of my weekly shopping there.  Good grief!  They should name this place Whole Pay Check!  Although I spent way more than I would have at Safeway, I feel good about the food my family will be eating.  I of course still have things like Mac n' Cheese, processed cereals, crackers, candy, and lots of other easy foods that I stuff down my kids' throats on a daily basis.  Like I said, I try and have lots of improvements I could make.  Since I don't enjoy cooking or  finding and following new recipes, I buy a lot of fresh foods that we can just eat as they are.  I wish I enjoyed cooking and creating new food creations...it isn't even that I can't (I can actually cook pretty well) but  I just don't enjoy it like some do!  If I had all the money in the world, I would totally hire a personal chef!

Here are some of the foods we will be eating this week (and I know that it isn't all good for us either!):

Yes, I know honey grahams in a natural looking box are still graham crackers and not the best food choice but it keeps my 16 month old happy during those times when I need him to stay happy (like in the car, store, etc.)  And contrary to some diet beliefs, we eat a ton of eggs in this house!

 Fresh fruit.  An absolute MUST HAVE in this house! Can't live without.

For tonight's easy-to-prepare Fish Taco dinner

Not the healthiest, but I. LOVE. Cheese!!  My favorites are Gouda and Havarti.  I like them all really.  Cheddar is usually the basic staple around here though.  

I thought I'd try out some new supplements.  We've been taking this stuff called Udo's Oil to get our Omega 3-6-9.  Anyone out there able to tell me the pros and cons of oil vs. the capsules?  Also, Can anyone tell me if these products are any good?  

God's Candy...More Fruit.  Raisins are my main magic trick for keeping my 16 month old content when he doesn't want to wait while I cook dinner.  And grapes don't last long...I bet they will be gone by tomorrow.  

So happy to have his raisins!  And yes, I feed my kids on the floor sometimes.  

 More MUST HAVES.  Yup, the veggies too.  

For Date Night tonight.... Gouda, wine and apples.  Yes, I know, it is cheap wine but I'm really thankful that I am still able to drink the lower budget wine and be just fine!  Not as cheap as my husband's Trader Joes' Three Buck Chuck that he drinks.  

What are some MUST HAVE food items in your household?

Amanda