Category Archives: Inspiration

Live each day like it is meant to be lived.

Yesterday the world stopped in shock and horror when the news outlets began reporting on the explosions that occurred at the Boston Marathon.

The Boston Marathon is one of these most coveted races there is. Steeped in history and tradition…it is THE race for a runner to claim as a win.

We had members of our boot camp family there in Boston staking their claim on this incredible running event and the achievement in conquering the 26.2 miles. When they called me to say they were safe, it filled me with an overwhelming sense of relief.

As a runner, I feel like someone attacked my friends. As a person, I am just horrified.

Shock doesn’t truly  begin to describe yesterday’s events.

Is nothing sacred?

To me this is another reminder that life is an amazingly precious gift.  It is meant to be lived to its fullest and it is to be conquered.  We all need to start living life to its full potential.  Start doing, not trying.  Stop making excuses and make decisions.  Stop giving up and procrastinating while you start giving it your all and being decisive.

Tell your loved ones and those that are special in your life how much you appreciate them and that you love and care about them.

Life can be snatched in the blink of an eye.

Hug everyone a little tighter and be thankful for everything.

Live a life that leaves a legacy.

born to run

You make the friggin’ time!

image (1)It passes by the same no matter what we do.  Eating, watching tv, being busy, being lazy.  Whatever you do, time passes the same way. Sometimes it passes too slow or too quickly.  It can be invested or wasted.  Time can be on your side or it can be against you.

Most successful people take action on what they have learned FAST!  They make decisions quickly and decisively, weighing all the information they have at hand and committing.image (3)

I’m talking about right away.

Not next week.

Not when “xyz” happens.

But NOW.

Things are happening NOW, not later.  If you wait for later than you will always be putting things off until timing is just right.  Well, it is very rarely something that is ever ‘just right’.  Time just happens. It passes by.

No time? Not enough time? YOU MAKE THE FRIGGIN’ TIME or you make the excuses…your choice.

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So that thing (whatever it might be), such as  that commitment to working out and eating healthy you were “going” to start, do it NOW.

All these things you were “going” to do need to get DONE. You need to stop talking about them and get after them!

So commit to yourself that this week you’ll put in work on things you have been putting off. Back up the commitment to yourself by telling someone else your action plan to.  Someone that will help hold you accountable to the investment you will be making in time for yourself.  Time to take care of yourself.

Deal?

Action loves speed.   Remember, speed kills the competition!  How fast are you? Don’t tell me, SHOW me!

Let’s go, make this the best week ever!  TIme to GET GOING! image (5)
Everyone has 24 hours in a day…what cuts us apart is how we use that 24 hours. Time is a gift, use it wisely before it runs out.

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho its off to Disney we go!!!

dopey

Registration opens today at noon EST for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna.  This is one incredible running weekend filled with fun, entertainment and running that has been challenging runners both elite and recreational for over 20 years!

12:00 pm EST Today, registration opens.

12:00 pm EST Today, registration opens.

You can run a half marathon and a full marathon and be rewarded with not two but three gorgeous medals for having completed “Goofy.”  But, with the addition of two more runs added to the mix you can now call yourself a “Dopey” runner. That’s right 48.6 miles of running in four days!   6 medals and the title of “Dopey” because you will have run a 5k, a 10k , a half marathon and a full marathon in four days!  Now that’s Dope(y).

In addition to adding the Dopey Challenge, the Walt Disney World 10K featuring Minnie Mouse and all new medals for the new races, Half Marathon, Marathon and Goofy Challenge, runDisney is making additional enhancements to improve the race experience.

Here is runDisney Director of Marketing Faron Kelley talking about the updates:

  • Men’s and women’s cut tech shirts available for the 10K, half, full, Dopey Challenge and Goofy Challenge
  • Lowering our weekend capacity by 2,000 runners, mostly in the half marathon
  • Proof of time required from more runners
  • Runners in the half marathon must supply proof of time if 3:15 or less
  • Runners in the full marathon must supply proof of time if 6:30 or less
  • More detailed information required for proof of time to allow better verification
  • More corrals allowing us to better place runners with similar abilities together and therefore spreading out the field on the course
  • No corral changes based on proof of time will be made after November 1  IMG_2629

For more information and to register for all events, go to runDisney.com

Now who’s getting Dopey with me??

Hang on Snow White, I’ll be right there to help you train Dopey for his big debut!

 Register here! Hurry…don’t be late.

Related Posts:

http://thebootcampblog.com/2013/01/16/rundisney-marathon-weekend-part-1/

Be Nice Mission!

Travelling back in time for this post which I originally posted last June, but I felt like it was time to re-visit it and remind everyone about the idea.

Enjoy!

Today’s post is not about physical fitness…it’s about mental fitness.  It’s about being a decent person. This last week I have had a number of instances where I had to shake my head.

I am shocked how people have changed, it’s actually sad.

Why is it so hard for people to be nice?

What has happened to us? Is it that technology has advanced that we have lost all of our social graces? Is it that families are so busy that they have forgotten to teach their kids about being a good human being? Is it TV?

What has happened???  What caused this societal change???

We now see bullying of kids and adults more and not only in the workplace and playgrounds and in the prison yards on wheels (aka school bus), but also online.  I am floored with people in business who are rude to customers or potential customers.  It seems that in so many cases people have just stopped caring.

Have we moved so far along that no one remembers if you have nothing nice to say then don’t say it at all?  When did it become ok to trash talk, belittle, insult and just out-and-out be rude??

When you experience random acts of kindness or someone being nice, it is almost a shock–and that’s just sad.

Everyone has their own story, their own experiences that shape them into who they are.  It is your frame of mind who really says who you are as a human being. We have all met people who have had a hard go and they make the absolute best of what they have while there are those who dwell in the pity party that life has dealt them a bad hand.  Then there are those people who are sad/miserable and want others to be just as sad and miserable as they are.

We all love to hear those stories of people who were down and out and pulled themselves out of it. Movies are made and books are written to inspire us to go beyond our circumstances….but it seems that with all of the motivation, inspiration out there that there will always be those people who don’t want to try.

Being nice is a state of mind. You choose how you are going to behave, react, interact.

We all have bad days but I think it speaks to your character on how you react to those bad days and if those bad days lead into bad weeks, bad months, bad years.

I think being nice and being happy go hand in hand.  So many people turn a blind eye on why they should be happy but instead they are upset with what they don’t have.

I wrote a blog post about this a while back, the Have’s and the Have Nots.

I learned a great trick from our pal Amy…aka Declan’s mom (boot campers, you know who she is) this is something that is so easy, requires no effort and not only will change your day it very well could change the day of someone around you….ready for it…….just smile. Your entire body changes and so does your mind when you smile, and sometimes being nice is as easy as giving someone a smile.

I am starting a “BE NICE MISSION” 

Be THAT person….be the one that everyone says is SO NICE
Share a smile – do it randomly.

Hold a door open for someone. Let someone pass you while driving (and don’t flip them the bird.)

Tell someone something nice…give a compliment or acknowledgement.

Be THAT person that people look to for inspiration when their day isn’t going the way they had planned. Be THAT person that will get others to smile.

BE NICE and let’s get the BE NICE MOVEMENT moving.

I want the Be Nice Mission to be contagious and it starts with you!
(even using the word contagious gives me the willies as a germaphobe)
Your mission, should you accept it, is to go out and:

  1. Be NICE
  2. Smile
  3. Share

BE THAT PERSON! 


Friday Fitness Funny Time

Just like my old size 2 body...we've both failed to remain.

Just like my old size 18 body…we’ve both failed to remain.

Same thing happens when health food says, "Delicious"

Same thing happens when health food says, “Delicious”

Dead wrong

Dead wrong

When a regular cleanse just isn't nasty enough.

When a regular cleanse just isn’t nasty enough.

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Don’t be an April Fool; Excuses we make for gaining weight.

I saw this poster and needed to share it.
The truth hurts, but sometimes, we all need a wake up call.  Excuses are like belly buttons…every body has one!

Your April Promise:

  • I will become who I should have been all along
  • I will give 110% when I workout
  • I will try something new
  • I will put my health first
  • I will remind myself that my goal is to be fit
  • I will eat right-No excuses
  • I will be stronger today than I was yesterday
  1. Start with doing what is necessary (show up to boot camp);
  2. Then do what is possible (push yourself) and;
  3. Suddenly you are doing the impossible!!

I was inspired by the snow (not really inspired but ugly about the snow) and decided to make a treat for the family.  It’s a twist on the classic “Snowballs” recipe that we always see around Christmas…yummy and healthy!

Protein Snow Balls:

  • 2 -3 scoops of vanilla boot camp protein
  • 1-2 cups of natural peanut butter
  • 1 cup of unsweetened coconut

Mix protein and pb together, (if it is too sticky add more protein / too dry add more pb.)
Make into little balls then roll in coconut–place in the fridge for 30 min to firm up.  You can moisten the balls with a little bit of water to help the coconut to stick.

*note* I made these with two 8 yr olds fighting over who could roll them–hence the non round shape

Someone you know being a cloud on a sunny day?? Hit them with this awesome taste of the tropics!!!

Mango Coconut Protein Shake

  • 1 scoop vanilla boot camp protein
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened coconut milk
  • 1/2 frozen banana
  • 1/2-3/4 cup of frozen mango
  • couple of drops of coconut extract

Blend and enjoy!!!!!!!!

Your Bucket List

Today’s blog post is all about your bucket list. I have written about goals, goal setting, to do lists, objectives, etc.  So, naturally, we should talk about a bucket list.

There is something emotional about having a bucket list.

Most people wont spend the time to sit down and write out their goals but they will put together a bucket list…they are very similar thing.  A goal is something you are striving to accomplish with a set time frame and measurable increments to judge your progress.  The bucket list is something you want to accomplish, before you die.

A bucket list is a list of things you want to do, places you want to go, people to meet…before you kick the bucket.

So many people pay lip service about “putting things on their bucket list.” But I always wonder if they have taken the time to write it down and visualize it.

Why is it so difficult to have goals…something to actually work towards??

Well I think you should have a few bucket lists….(here comes the fitness segway).  A couple or more bucket lists is a great idea.  Of course, I am going to talk about making your fitness bucket list.

This can be as intense as you want, as rewarding as you want or as simple as you want.

Here are a few to get your started:

  • learn to swim / or swim at a certain destination or a certain distance
  • take dance lessons
  • run a marathon or half marathon
  • do a one handed pushup
  • do 20 burpees
  • learn to rollerblade or ice skate
  • go hiking
  • try rock climbing
  • lose the weight and finally see your abs

The list is endless….its your list…build it and work your way through it. It is amazing what you can accomplish if you actually try, and not just talk about it.

Those things that you say “oh, I could never do that” are not allowed!  You have to , “Heck yes I can!!”  You just actually have to put effort in and TRY.

Do you want to live a life of what ifs or regrets or do you want to look back on your days with a, “Hell yes I did that!!!

“We do not remember the days, we remember the moments”

Life is meant to be lived. When you look back on your life will you say “oh, I wish I would’ve stayed at work longer” NO…you will say I wish I would’ve …

So stop wishing and start doing. Live with purpose.  Try new things, get experiences, have stories to tell your grandkids—stop being vanilla.

You are capable of so much, so stop living with limits.  Not to be cliché but live in color, live out loud, make some crazy memories. Try new things.  Love with all of your heart and stop holding back.

Now take 5 minutes and write out your list!!!

Here is my next, “Cross off the fitness bucket list.”  Who’s with me???

So true!

So true!

Make your own!

Make your own!

Not necessarily fitness...unless its a long fight, but sure would be fun!

Not necessarily fitness…unless its a long fight, but sure would be fun!

Oh yes!

Oh yes!

Gonna fly now

Gonna fly now

Almost there!

Almost there!

Have your resolutions given way to your excuses?

It’s now mid March….3 months into a the New Year and where are you?

Did you start the year all gung-ho and saying that this was the year you were going to kick that body fat to the curb??

Where are you now?? Have you given up or are you staying strong??

Have you been using one of these 3 excuses?  The three excuses get me absolutely  fired up.  These are literally about the worst excuses anyone can come up with!

  1. My ____(insert body part) is not good. When it’s better I’ll start
  2. I don’t have the time
  3. I just can’t put the money together

ALL 3 excuses are bull. Here’s how I see it.

*My ___hurts:  everyone has something that hurts.  We can always work with you and your hurt and you’ll still have the benefit of exercising, safely. Your heart will hurt if you keep carrying any extra weight.

Yeah, your excuse is so invalid!

*I don’t have the time:  TOTAL LIE.  There are people who are busier than you that manage to “fit” in fitness. You have enough time to make excuses, so how about you redirect that time and get your butt moving!! I can guarantee that  watching TV is going to do nothing for your health.

*I don’t have the money.  Fair enough, but if you break it down and look at what you spend money on (Starbucks, eating out, movies, entertainment, etc) I think you could probably find a way.  If it’s worth it to you, you’ll find a way, otherwise you will find an excuse.  Is it worth it to you to be healthy?

Trust me, I have heard just about every excuse.

Here is one of my favourite kick your excuses to the curb videos.  If you “think” you can’t …YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS

Challenges, Obstacles and Hugs

cloud

We all have those days…the days when you are just not feelin’ it. 

There could be things going on in your life that make you feel unhappy, unmotivated or just down right sad.

It could be as simple as not enough sleep, rushing around to pick up the kids, not having groceries for dinner, someone said something to you and it wasn’t what they said but the tone in which they said it, a work deadline or a crappy boss.

How these things play out is really up to you. You’re either a cup half empty or cup half full kind of thinker.  

You have to make a conscious decision everyday to be excited!  If you can’t be excited, then the decision is to not let those things weigh you down.  You have to take what life gives you in stride.  Control what you can control, manage what you can manage and overcome the obstacles that life throws in your path.  It’s a decision and a mind set…you control both!

So you all know that I am not a big fan of eating out…kinda weird with people touching my food and not knowing exactly what is going in said food gives me the hee-bee-jee-bees, BUT, I want you to watch this video. Anything is possible and this video shows you just that.  No matter what your challenges are, you can be amazed and inspired by people who make our problems a little less gigantic.

I definitely want to go to this restaurant to eat and get some hugs.

Click here -> Tim’s Place

Done watching?  Now go out and kick some a#*

Don’t tell people how tough your problems are…tell your problems how tough YOU are!

 
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Choices plus decisions equals results

We are a week post Disney run and I think we are all still riding that high!!

I love that so many people want to do the next Disney run with us. We have more people to testify that every mile is magical!! Yes, we will be doing a training group so that everyone is ready to runDisney!!

Today’s post I want to talk about choices.

We have hundreds of choices and decisions we make in a given day.

  • Black socks or white socks (always white for me).
  • Dress pants or a skirt. (Sidenote: my choices daily when it comes to dressing are easy and awesome–capri’s and runners!)
  • Chocolate protein shake or vanilla protein shake.

With every decision we make, there will always come a result…and at times those results may not be the desired outcome.

Monique your fellow boot camper and now half marathoner made the decision to start boot camp exactly 1 year ago. She showed up and could not do a push up…not one and could not do a sit up…not one and when we had to run…well, she tried.

Was it overwhelming to her? I’m sure it was but she made the DECISION to come back the next night and try again and she kept coming back…tadaa…that is where and when the magic happens! She made the right decisions.  She set goals. She followed the nutrition plan.  SHE SHOWED UP!

In the process she became strong, lean and athletic. We have all been able to see Monique go through a transformation of losing weight, getting definition, becoming strong and having endless endurance.

Monique is a working mom who is also going to school.  She could make excuses as to being to busy.  She could easily say, “I’m too tired.”  “Not tonight, I have too much to do”.  But Monique decided to be healthy. She MAKES the time!  We have seen Monique go from wearing baggy clothes to now wearing fitted clothes. She (like myself) gets excited buying all of these new fun workout clothes.

She has expanded her nutrition portfolio and is excited to try new foods and prepare healthy meals. It is exciting to be healthy and fit…I keep telling y’all this…IT IS THE TRUTH!!

Your fellow boot camper started with limited stamina and endurance. In the past year she has taken on boot camp at least 3x a week, the Urban Warrior Challenge, the Egg Nog Jog and now a Disney Half Marathon!!!!

I don’t think Monique joined boot camp and put those events on her to do list but as they came up she took them on. I think we all need to have a fitness bucket list. Have small goals and then have some really big kick ass fitness goals!!!

Being fit, slim and healthy is exciting–it’s not scary.

Being around like-minded people who support you and encourage you is what boot camp is all about…oh and doing a million burpees and burning a million calories!

YOU HAVE TO START. You can’t get to those things off your fitness bucket list without starting.

Choices…you can choose to be fit and feel alive OR you can choose to keep doing nothing and feel icky and miserable. You can’t wish yourself into a better body…and as you all know, I am all about Pixie Dust, but that stuff ain’t nearly strong enough to get you into better health :)

Choose today that things will be different. Choose today that you will show up to boot camp…no matter what happens you will show up.

Decide to be an energized, fit person…because it is possible, you just have to show up!!

Monique…I am so proud of you. You are proof that when you put your health as a priority anything is possible. I am honoured to be a part of your journey!!!

Keep kickin’ a&%!!monique

Who’s next??? who will be our next testimonial. Proof is there that it can be done….so…will it be you???