Glady's has still got it!

Friday - Family relationship health is our focus today...

Last night my family enjoyed a Glady's Knight concert together.  We took my Mother-in-Law and my kids (except my oldest that had work conflict - sad story).

When we told our kids we were going to this event, they said "Who?"

WHAT??  WHAT?? You mean, you don't know who this is???

So we began an education into the background of R&B and Soul music in America and forced them to watch every Youtube video we could find with Glady's Knight and the Pips.

But it didn't do the live performance justice.  DUDE, That lady has still got it at age 73!
Yes girl!

She was sexy and vibrant and could belt it out!  Plus funny and witty and so much fun to listen to her stories.

Glady's began rattling off her musical mentors from her early years in, those that helped her and taught her the ropes of showmanship and the entertainment industry.  Just a few of the names  I remember her mentioning: Sammy Davis Jr.,  Frank Sinatra, BB King, etc... etc...  The list went on and on of amazing musicians in a time my kids don't even know.  I was in awe of the pieces of American music History this woman was carrying with her.

My favorite highlight of the night was seeing the look on my 18 year old son's face at his first concert when the music came on, the energy was high and she started to sing it loud and proud.  My kid squealed like a teenage girl just met her teen idol.  It was adorable!  But it was a Teenage Boy watching a powerful 70+ year old woman that is now a great grandmother and still rocked that stage like the star she has always been.  Krazy Kool.

Then there was the romantic songs.  I loved being next to the love of my life and holding each other through songs like "Your the best thing that's ever happened to me." and "Neither one of us, wants to be the first to say goodbye."

   Such amazing times last night.  Such great memories.  It was the first concert of it's kind that we have taken our kids to.    And I am going to put this out there... I want more.

Connection doing things together that build relationships.  That's what today's focus is in this blog.  Our family has been super strict on where we choose to spend our money.  Concerts for a family our size is not a thing that we choose to spend our money on.  We like food.

Last night for us, it was a concert from a music legend.  But family connections can happen anywhere, doing anything.  If  you still have kids at home, let them be a part of the decision making process of how to spend time together.  Or at least throw out a few suggestions and let them choose between a few choices you approve of.

You could do anything really.  Free stuff, like hiking or making a picnic to take to the park.  or even sitting next to your teenage son and playing that stupid video game alongside him.  Tell him you will play that game with him today, if he goes to Yoga with you tomorrow.  I don't know, maybe not.  Teach your family that time together is valuable.  I have decided that QUALITY  concerts are now a thing I will make sure we invest in.  I had way too much fun not to do that again with our kids.

Tomorrow my kids and I are going to go volunteer at a race aid station.  We love doing that kind of thing.  They get to be inspired by amazing athletes and give back with their time and service.  Plus, it's another free way to get out of the house, do something fun and meaningful together and enjoy an active lifestyle, even if they are not running the race.  The truth is, every time we do one of those aid stations, I have a kid that says they want to run a race.  So, it's a win-win-win situation for all of us.

No kids at home?  Contact a family member.  If they live close, meet up and do something.  If not, at least a phone call or better yet, video chat and connect face to face. 

Today your challenge is to find one way to build those family relationships.

You have been warned... This may get graphic...

Next month it will be the year 2018.  That is the year I will officially turn 45 years old.  I remember when I thought that was SO OLD! A few days ago I had a conversation with a beautiful woman who came to one of my group fitness classes.  She mostly just stood there and observed.  At the end of the class she told me, "Your classes seem really too intense for me.  I will be 50 soon and I think it's time I just faced the fact that I can't do everything I used to be able to do.  I think it's time I settled down and was more gentle now that I am turning 50."

Okay...

She has no idea how old I am.

I see 2 ways to look at this:

1 - Sure, you can be gentle on your body.  I go back and forth.  I choose gentle exercises like Tai Chi or Gentle Yoga occasionally to mix it up.  I recognize the importance of honoring your own limitations as they are today and being careful not to go to crazy extremes just to prove something or keep up with the "young'uns" in class.  I get it.  But I know you can build on from here, no matter what age.

2 - I also get that there are 75 year-old athletes out there outdoing me.  I am reminded of that every time I sign up to run a race.  Not that personal fitness is a contest.  It's not, (for most of us).  But, to determine that there is an age where you just have to "face it" and say, "Nope, that's it!", is crazy.  Unless you have had a serious injury (or other illness that keeps you from moving), as long as you are living, you still have the opportunity to improve your cardiovascular health and strength.   The day you decide that improving your fitness is no longer for you, is the day you begin to deteriorate more quickly and your quality of life diminishes.

I refuse to die before I am dead!

I've decided that when I turn 50, it's going to be my best year ever!

That being said...

I want to be super-real for a minute.  And, we are going to get a little graphic here:

I was talking to a couple of sisters following a Zumba class one night.  They were telling me about how much weight they had lost and that they felt super self-conscious of the amount of leftover skin and stretch marks they had on their bodies. During our conversation, I realized I was old enough to be the mother of the 2 of them.  It's crazy right?

So I decided to show them my belly under the cute yoga pants I wear to hold it all in.

Are you ready for reality?  I'm warning you...  My kids run screaming when I show them this:

I am warning you...

  

Only look if you can stand a "mommy belly"...

Oh yeah, and following a summer of eating badly, too.  I was kind of crazy the summer of 2017 and gained a few pounds.  SO, I have a new starting place.

I mean 6 kids bigger than 9 lbs each.....

Yes, I am a beast.....

Are you really wanting to see the reality under the cute yoga pants that hold it all in?....

You were warned.....

Here it is:

Yup, I gave birth to 6 LARGE babies. Now, granted, I have also been thinner.  This belly is following a summer of eating a ton of garbage and not doing the 40/20 circuit much.  I have recently recommitted to the circuit and to better nutrition.  I am taking myself through the Phazes 12 week transformation challenge as I develop it for YOU.  So, you will see this change.  I just want YOU to know what is possible.  But, yeah, this is the belly of a 44 year old woman in pretty good shape. Maybe not her best shape but, pretty good shape.  I am strong and can handle a hard fitness class and keep up with the kids in class.  But this is my belly.  I do have a goal of going down a bit in my body fat percentage.  But I am in a very healthy range for my age.


Okay,

Now I am going to pull up my yoga pants and take a more flattering photo of my post-6 baby and 44 year old belly following a summer of junk food:

 Wow, amazing transformation.  It looks like I just lost 10 pounds by pulling my pants up.  :)

Suddenly I am a LOT sexier, no?
LOL!

Now you all know my dirty little secret of the belly under the support in my stretchy pants.

No really. I think a lot of us see the glamorous shots of fitness pros that know how to angle a camera and know what clothes to put on.  We don't see the stretch marks.  We don't know the stories.  We don't know the age.

When I tell my clients they are half my age, they choke a little.  They usually don't get the "privilege" of seeing the belly in the photo at the top. They usually don't hear how many babies I have had or that I lost 60 pounds... Yeah... there is some left over skin hanging a bit.  But my body doesn't have to stop just because 50 is coming around the corner or just because I have more of a belly than that OTHER amazing. thin, beautiful instructor that's half my age.  There are some AMAZING ladies coming to my fitness classes that are nearly twice MY age!  They come and do what they can because they KNOW that life is better when you are moving and not concerned about how you measure up to the next person in class.

Quit worrying about how your body compares to someone else's or if you are as fit as the next person in the class.  Just move that body of yours!  It's an amazing gift!  Love it!
Make this coming year YOUR best year!

- Michelle

My who I want to be when I grow up vision board...

I have at home on the wall above my desk, a dream board, or vision board. I have taken images and words that convey what I hope for in life and taped them onto a poster board for me to look at every day.  This is not a new concept.  I have done dozens of these over the years.  Almost every training seminar I go to suggests surrounding yourself with the imagery of what you want in your world.
"What you surround yourself with, you become."



So... with that in mind.  I took on a challenge to define myself.  To try to become who I want to be. What is it that I want?

As I was listening to a training video by one of my role models (Chalene Johnson) she suggested drawing a picture of who you want to be.  What is the image you want to portray.  Well.... I drew my picture.  I hated it.  Mostly because I am a lousy artist.  But also because I can't capture in a single drawing every piece of me I want to envision. and how I want to see me.

I began asking myself, Who are my role models?  Who do I want to be like when I grow up?
I started making my list of who I admire and my list of amazing women grew and grew and grew.  I found I admired people, not because they were perfect, but because they were unique, had amazing qualities I could learn from.  I found myself picking more and more and more.  Of course it would be impossible to be ALL of these women wrapped into one.  I can only be ME... whatever that is.  In the meantime, I can seek after qualities I want to improve in me.

Here is my partial list of people that have attributes of what I want developed in me when I grow up...

Mother Teresa, Servant of God

Shawna Kaminski, Fitness professional over 50 and rocking her style

 Chalene Johnson : Fitness professional and Personal development coach and more.

Marjory Hinckley, Devoted wife, mother and support.  Humble, sweet and a great example of quiet leadership. Loved life and family and God.   

Meryl Streep - Talented and natural in a world of hypocrisy and falsehoods  She stands out as a queen in her profession. I love her natural beauty. 

 Malala Yusafzay-  faced death in the face and still didn't back down from the principles she believed in.  She was shot for it. (And survived)

I have Oprah and Condoleeza on here as strong beautiful people that lead in unique and seperate ways.  

Suze Orman went from broke to financial guru.

Ellen Degeneres for her humor, love of life and ability to make everyone feel special. Oh and mad dancing skillz.

Oh and who can forget my amazing Mom?  one of the most talented and inspiring women I have ever met in my life.  I would say that even if she weren't my mother. a mother of 10 kids and as faithful a lady you will ever find who still knows how to party when the time is right or not right...  (all those irreverent giggles in church.... and parodies of church songs....  sheesh....) 

And my list of amazing women could go on and on and on.... all the people I have met who have inspired me.  There are too many to put here. I find God has surrounded me with the most amazing people.  I find something in almost everyone I meet that I can take and learn from and try to better myself.  I want to be like a piece of all of them.

So There you have it.  A snapshot of the kinds of women I admire and want to reflect when I grow up.  I want to be a great mom and wife and daughter of God.  I want to be generous and kind and seek to serve.  I want to be fun, and dance and smile and help others to do the same.  I want to be smart and lead and make changes.  I want to be fearless in the face of death when it comes to standing up for what I believe in.  I want to inspire people to change their lives.  I want to be strong and fit and healthy.    I want to be remembered as honest, kind and loving.  I want people to know me as a servant of God and having loved mankind.  I want to have done all I could do to make this world a better place to live in for future generations.
I know I cannot be all these people.  I will be Me.  I will be the best version of me I can be.  What that will look like on a picture???  I really don't know.  Certainly the photo I have here can't represent the whole me.  But it makes me giggle.  So it stays.

.  

I want to learn how to use Photoshop so I can put my face on this picture.

Who do you want to be when you grow up?  

What does your picture look like?