The Habit of Fear

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The famous Franklin Roosevelt once said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." This quote has been heard many times and has been requoted, or retweeted nowadays I guess, over the years. Fear is one of the strongest emotions we can experience. It can be paralyzing or exhilarating, it can move us forward or keep us back, or it can actually be a game changer for us and push us to reach our goals. Yes, fear can be motivating, if we decide to make it so. 

I've realized over the past few months that I have an INCREDIBLE amount of fear. It's become a habit for me to look for things that I am afraid of. It makes me sad, but it's so true. On my way to work, I'll be afraid of what the day will look like and if I'll have any difficult clients. When I pay bills, I'm afraid that the money won't actually go through and I'll be late on my payments (which is why I pay things off about 3 weeks before the due date). When I'm talking to someone about nutrition, I'm afraid that they won't care what I have to say and will think I'm silly for encouraging us to eat more vegetables. It's almost natural for me to fear something and have anxiety about a situation. And let me tell you, that is NOT a good habit to have! I've become so used to it, and have embraced it as who I am. It's held me back in the past, but starting now, I am deciding to let it propel me forward instead. I'm deciding to use that fear and let it light a fire under me to prove the fear wrong, push forward, and be the best me I can be. 

Really though, what would you do if you weren't afraid? Would you finally start that business? Would you try that hobby or craft that you've always wanted? Would you pursue that relationship? Would you finally lose the weight? There are so many aspects of our life that we could grow in if fear wasn't stopping us. I refuse to let it hold me back anymore. I was not created to live in fear, so why let it win?

After talking to an amazing friend and mentor yesterday, I've realized that fear is always there, it's always been a part of my life, but now I am deciding to use it as my motivation instead of my detriment. I plan on pursuing my business goals and building what I've always dreamed of. I've decided to not be afraid of what it feels like to actually take care of my body and maintain that kind of health and nourishment. Even if I experience self doubt, and those all too familiar feelings that I actually CAN't build my business and CAN'T pursue my goals, I'm not going to absorb that into my personality. A fearful person is not who I am, and it's not who God created me to be. Now when I feel the fear, I'm not going to become the fear, but rather push passed it, and choose courage instead.

 

What would you do if you weren't afraid of anything? Comment below! 

PiYo 1 month results: More than you think!

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Good morning everyone, and happy Friday! We made it through another week, praise the Lord! I am so excited for this coming weekend! Tomorrow is my bachelorette party so I get to spend the day with some of my favorite ladies! And today is exactly 30 days away from my wedding, AHHHH!!!! I can't wait, I am just so excited!! Today, I thought I'd share my 1 month PiYo results. As many of you know, I started PiYo a little over a month ago, and it has completely changed my life and the way I view my body and my capabilities. I am going to share a before and after (something I have never done!) but I'd like to focus on more than just the physical/weight differences that I have experienced.

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The first picture was taken February 16th, my first day of PiYo. And the second picture was yesterday. I've lost 10 lbs and my smaller jeans zip up perfectly, but the biggest difference to me is that look on my face. The girl in the first picture was tired, run down, and felt like she couldn't move her body like she used to. You can just see it on her face. I was dealing with my knee injury and feeling slightly depressed that I wasn't able to run anymore. I felt lost when it came to workouts and didn't know what would be effective for me anymore.

The girl on the right is BEAMING with happiness. Look at that smile! I have seen such changes in my body, from my physical appearance to my abilities. I am able to do the moves in PiYo now and feel strong and beautiful while I do them. I've never experienced anything like that! I never thought yoga or pilates would be something I am so passionate about, but it's completely changed my body and my confidence in what my body can do. I just can't stop smiling.

Now, as a dietitian, I have to mention that nutrition is 80% of the equation when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle! I've really been eating healthier the past month and incorporating as many whole foods as possible. I've also been drinking shakeology every day for the past month, and it has completely changed my life as well! See my previous post "A Dietitian's Take on Shakeology" for a more detailed review. All I can say is I feel like I am having brownie batter every day, and I'm losing weight. Win-win in my book!

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Lastly, I have been filling my belly with whole, nutritious foods. I am craving vegetables and big 'ol salads! Last night, I made a yummy tuna salad in a huge mixing bowl with arugula, kale, spinach, tomatoes, and bell peppers! It was DELICIOUS! The more whole foods you eat, the more on top of the world you feel. Having whole fruit, vegetables, proteins, healthy fats, and whole food carbs make a world of difference when it comes to your health, weight, and energy levels.

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I'm so excited to see what this second month of PiYo will bring me. And I will end the program 3 days before my wedding...PERFECT! I will definitely post those results too. If any of you are interested in doing PiYo, please contact me at TveenRD@gmail.com! I would LOVE to be your coach and help you get the results you want. I can't keep this workout to myself and would love to see everyone experience the changes and confidence I have experienced in the last month. So don't hesitate! Email me and we can get started together!