A New Year's Motivation

Here we are again, another year starts soon... isn't it curious how we could choose to make monumental improvements to out lifestyle at any time of the year, but we often only find the motivation or inspiration to do so around the technical beginning of a new calendar year? Maybe it's the fact that we get to write "Day #1: ___" and it really will be 1/1/2012, or maybe it's that we refuse to bring a certain bad habit (or lack of a good one) into another year of our lives.

Reflection on the past is often what fuels our desire

for a change for the better in the future. 

If you were to look back at the past year, paying attention to what brought you joy... and what made you unhappy; what gave you energy... and what made you feel depleted; what empowered you... and made made you worthless; what enriched your spirit... and what corroded your character; what softened and nurtured your heart... and what broke it. What would you change?

The goal for the gift of a new year should be to focus on that which brought joy, happiness, energy, self-worth,enriched your spirit, and nurtured your heart. Why focus on your failures, faults, or shortcomings? Why not focus on the good things and do more of them! It's like going through a buffet line and filling your plate with healthy, nutritious choices and by the end of the line when you hit the deserts and mac'n'cheese you don't have any room for that crap! Fill up on good, so there's no room for the bad. Challenges have their place, and they make us stronger and better... but there's plenty of them on the road to somewhere good without looking for them "fixing" what is wrong!

"Each challenge I have encountered has made me reach higher, train harder, and escalate my mental and physical discipline to levels beyond what I had ever imagined I was capable of." ~ Jen Jewel WBFF Pro  

"Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear."  ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I encourage you to really think about what you enjoyed doing this last year and what you're proud of. Write it down! Make a list of the things that give you that same feeling of joy and you'd be proud if you accomplished them in 2012. You don't have to share this list with anyone; in fact, I encourage you not to so your dreams can be untamed: wild and seemingly unattainable to the world, but because you're not plastering them all over Facebook you don't have to keep them "realistic" Let your dreams be your goals, and then go make them reality!

I found that journaling is a great way to reflect and remember all the blessings I've had over the years. I started journaling again recently, and at the suggestion of someone I hardly know (but know they were in my life for a reason!) I started writing down my "Daily Blessings" at the end of each day. It's amazing to read back, even over a couple days, and see how many blessings I truly do have! Acknowledging them makes me so much happier, thankful, and content. That's the first good habit I'm taking into 2012... journaling my blessings daily!

My journal is filled with secret and honest
reflections on each day. Not only the good,
but the bad too, so I can do better tomorrow!

Like I said, my list of empowering and joyful activities that I plan to focus on in 2012, and dreams for the future are best kept as goals cherished in my heart... but I did write them down in my journal, so when 2013 rolls around I can look back and smile: "Check!"

One of my favorite things to do each year is to create a fitness vision board with thoughts, quotes, photos, and athletes that inspire and motivate me. Do you do this too? If so, I'd love to see it! This is something I totally recommend you share on Facebook :p Here's mine:

My board features clipings from my longtime favorites: Jamie Eason and Oxygen
magazine, and some fresh inspiration from athletes I truly admire as of late: Nicole Wilkins,
Nicole Nagrani, Steve Cook, and Mona Muresan. Who would make your board?

I have one last motivational kick in the pants for you, literally! I got new Nikes today (my last ones had definitely seen their fair share of miles, lunes, and squat jumps). I LOVE the colors and they're incredibly comfortable. I could add these to my list of things that bring me joy ;)

A new year doesn't mean a new you... You are amazing, you are exactly what God designed you to be! You will never be anyone else, and you should never try to be. Just be the best versions of YOU and let others inspire you to reach that goal. A new year can mean a new attitude, a new chance, a new hope, and a new ___ ? ....

You ARE capable of a great many things...

Let's find out!

~Blessings,
     Ruthie xoxo

On a Scale of 1-10, it's an 11!

Welcome to the NEW YEAR my friends!

I hope you're holidays ended well and that you got plenty of rest and recovery before hittin' the new year strong. I am so excited about this year already! My brother thinks I'm nuts I think because I told him I was happy I get to write _/_/11 now instead of _/_/10... I never liked writing zeros. Plus, on a scale of 1-10: this year's gonna be an eleven babay! Haha.

Leeza and I at the Pony Bar on New Year's Eve

First time ever partying with my brother haha

Leeza gettin' her groove on!

To challenge and improve myself for next 365 days, I have several goals and improvements I plan on implementing this year.

Because I believe the best time to start is always NOW not later, I actually started early. At the beginning of December I vowed to myself that I'd start the new year being "happy with my body, and having a good spiritual relationship with God." And I did! I felt so empowered going into the new year being good to my body and my soul. Since I took life by the horns early, I didn't have a lot to change come January 1st, but I'll always take an opportunity to become re-inspired, re-motivated and to clarify my goals and aspirations.

Soooo... here's some of my goals, and the things that will be motivating and inspiring me to reach them this year:

(1) Continue to exercise regularly, but add new challenges.
I've always loved being active, but this year I want to increasingly integrate fitness and health into every aspect of my life.

My fitness inspiration board

One specific goal of mine is to enter an athletic competition this year, specifically a Figure competition or complete a Marine obstacle course. I always loved sports in high school and haven't gotten to "win" at anything for a while so I find this really motivating.

I'm inspired by Jamie Eason, and find her story incredible. 

About Jamie Eason from her personal web-site:
"After college I held a few jobs in Human Resources and in Marketing, but it wasn’t until after I went to work for my grandfather at his roofing company that I knew I didn’t want to spend my lifetime confined to a desk ... a friend convinced me to attend cheerleader tryouts for the NFL team, the Houston Texans. I was not feeling particularly confident competing with more than 1600 beautiful girls, but after a few days of rigorous tryouts and interviews, I made the team! It was a fantastic experience. By day I was standing on a roof; by night I was on a football field.
Unfortunately my stint as an NFL cheerleader ended prematurely. I found a suspicious lump in my breast which had characteristics of early stage cancer. Soon after, I had the neoplasm removed which took me out of the limelight and put me back behind a desk. ... I longed for that toned athletic look but had no clue how to truly obtain it. It was not until I hired a personal trainer and visited a nutritionist that I ventured down my current path. They taught me the importance of exercise diversity and clean eating. Within a few disciplined months, my body began to transform. I felt amazing! I felt physically fit and emotionally, I had a true sense of accomplishment and well being.

My favorite part:
After my first competition, and coincidentally, my first win, I realized I had found a path for my life. I decided I wanted to be an inspiration to others, just as those figure, fitness, and bodybuilding athletes had been to me.
This is your life. If you are not who you want to be, change it! It won’t be easy and it may take some time, but surround yourself with people who love and support you and go for it! No regrets! Only you dwell on your failures. Good luck and remember the inner strength you’ll achieve from adopting a healthy lifestyle far supersedes anything physical."

I just renewed my subscription to Oxygen magazine, and I use SparkPeople to track my exercise and nutrition progress. I was skeptical at first to use a "food journal" per say, but my sister Sarah, who has a degree in Nutrition, convinced me to use it to make sure I reach my the correct amount of protein, healthy fats, and carbs (mostly from vegetables and high fiber bread, cereals). It's been working great so far! I've realize I really have to consciously include protein in every meal to meet my recommended 1-0.7 grams per pound of body mass. This makes me think that alot of other women aren't getting enough protein in their diet either. Check out the SparkPeople website to learn how to increase your daily intake.
I really like SparkPeople's tag line to "make your life an adventure." (because it's not gonna be one if you sit back and just let life "happen to you!")

And of course, you know I love Zuzana and the community @ BodyRock to kick my butt into shape :)

That's all for now, next time I'll share another aspect of my life I plan on making "improvements" in. I'll talk to you guys later, have a great evening!