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Monday, October 8, 2012

HAVING A MOM MOMENT

Posted by whatsapp status on October 08, 2012 with No comments

I LOVE BEING A MOM

I sit here as a mother who has just watched her oldest son get married and I am in awe of where I am in life…not in an unhealthy way, but just in a WOW way. I see the cycle of life being repeated in my children, every single one of them, and sometimes I am filled with disbelief of how fast the time has gone, the ages of my children, and the lives they now live, and finally… where I am…WOW! I can still remember when my parents were my age and going through what I just experienced…can you relate?

In a couple of years I will be 50 years young and wiser for the journey, but holy moly, I blinked my eyes and time traveled to “now” in an instant…so it seems. I try to explain this phenomenon to my kids and they are not getting it just yet…but they soon will as their lives are becoming filled with the responsibility of adult life…marriage, work, college, financial obligations, etc. This is a time of reflection for me as my very emotional “Mom Moment” took place watching my son get married…I hung on every word that was said, visually photographed their faces, every look, laugh, tear in that moment and sat there so full of being overwhelmed with gut wrenching feelings…happiness, sadness, joy, pride…everything all wrapped into one emotional package that required lots of tissue to the rescue.

Each moment seems like it will last forever, but I am here to tell you…NOT…and I am sure many of you share in this feeling and knowledge. I am now in a different stage of “Mom” and although I absolutely love where I am…it can feel weird. I can still remember when my kids were small as if it were yesterday, and when they walk through the door now, I am looking at beautiful people capable of self sufficiency, intellectual conversation, and I am thankful that much of taking care of myself through fitness and nutrition has rubbed off on them…and I think…WOW…that fabulous person came out of me…not to be gross or anything by saying that…but I am blown away by the adult who is also my child…I hope that makes sense. The time I spend with them is much different, still full of love and hugs, but very much “adult” in our sharing.

WOW... My Adult Kids

In my journey of Momhood I have transitioned through many phases, learned so much, loved so dearly, and pained through moments of difficult times. I would have to say that being a mother has been one of the biggest successes of my life and probably one of the most important roles I have played and still play. Marrying my best friend and husband, Don…I have gained 2 more adult children and with both our sons now married, I have 2 beautiful daughter-in-laws, in addition to our first grandchild last year. Needless to say, I am one proud MAMA and Nana.

OUR FAMILY

What does my “Mom Moment” have to do with maintaining healthy ME…I say it speaks volumes of who I am as a healthy person, a woman who places value and priority where it should be, and always does her best to live as a healthy example to all of my children…even if I get called “Dr. Phil” or something funny like that when I put on the therapist hat. Balance is important to living a healthy life, and taking care of myself through living a healthy life along my Mom journey has made a difference in the lives of my children who now implement healthy lifestyles for themselves. It has been such an honor and privilege to watch my children grow into beautiful adults and my Momhood journey still continues as I now add the phase of grandmother…and you know…I feel pretty blessed to be able to feel like a kid, play like a kid, and enjoy every moment in this life looking forward to the next great event that will send me needing a box of tissue… I AM READY!

I dedicate this Blog to my Beautiful son, Eli and new bride Hayley. I look forward to being a part of your lives as husband and wife, and continuing my journey as Mom to you both. Here is to YOU, your marriage and may God bless you as you begin your journey together. Love you~

Photo Credit : JenStewart Photography

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS

Don't Forget to Check Out the In My Kitchen Page for New Recipes

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

For a Limited Time Only, enjoy my Stay Healthy Nutrition Guide as a Free Gift to YOU with a $10 donation to support Stay Healthy Fitness, YOU, your health and happiness. Thank you all for the many MOTIVATIONAL comments, notes of appreciation, and emails sent to me through all my online mediums. I read and respond to each and every one and hearing that I have helped YOU is YOUR gift to me. Many Blessings to YOU and Stay Healthy!

Me and My Fabulous Mom

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list. If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding!

Have a Fabulous Week!

Stay Healthy!

Darla;)

I AM HEALTHY, NOT OBSESSED

Posted by whatsapp status on August 27, 2012 with No comments

I believe in being healthy when it comes to exercise and eating “clean” for the large percentage of my week. Why do I bring the word obsessed into this picture…well...here it is in a nutshell…just as with anything else, too much of anything or an obsessive attitude can bring about an unhealthy balance in life…regardless of how good it is. If I was spending hours on end exercising, putting exercise above everything in my life to the point of letting it interfere or negatively impact my life, relationships, and self…NO GOOD. I mean really…can you imagine if a scenario went like this…I am invited for the day to relax at a spa with hubby, or attend an important function with my family and I said nope … gotta exercise, or I need to be late so that I can get my workout in…OK…now that would be OBSESSIVE.

I am not saying that exercise is not important, it definitely is a lifestyle along with my nutrition, but I am talking about for example…the old habits of Darla from my competition days, and sometimes modeling where obsessive did enter the picture now and then. Not cutting myself any slack with food and working beyond my physical means…YUCK. What the heck was I thinking…my A1 personality type was definitely on hyper mode during my “obsessive” days. What I am saying is that a good thing can be overboard or “obsessive” and cause more harm than good…in all aspects of life…physical, mental, and spiritual. Probably the worst would be complete burnout of a repeated behavior…my fitness would be a “have to” instead of a “want to”…OH MY and NO WAY. I want my healthy life to be a fun “lifestyle”, maintainable by consistent exercise and healthy food intake for the majority of the time…something I look forward to doing and just feel weird if I don’t.

My Fabulous Friend and Hubby

I am so glad to be in a much more relaxed “older, wiser, better” place with balance and I truly enjoy all moments in life. I am not going to lie and say that I never struggle with letting go of a day of exercise because sometimes I do…the rearing of old ugly habits knocking on my mental door. Thank goodness for a more relaxed hubby who balances me out really well when I need a verbal chat to bring the sometimes “Over Do It” Darla back to reality. Being healthy is definitely a FABULOUS description of my lifestyle…OBSESSED … well, when that word gets tossed my way…I greet it with a Stay Healthy Smile!

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS

Personal Share: I just got back from a mini vacation boat camping trip with my wonderful husband, son and soon to be bride....and a bonus...I ran into one of my best friends who was camping in the cove around the bend...now talk about a small cove... I mean world. We had such quality time with lots of swimming, great food and overall fun! YES...I we found another waterfall and my Mom will kill me (love ya Mom) as I frolicked about the falls and climbed on a few rocks;) Fitness is FUN and does not always have to be the same routine. I say be spontaneous, be a kid, splash around and laugh so hard that your belly hurts...LIFE IS TOO SHORT! Enjoy the pics and Stay Healthy~

Fun swim and climb to the falls with friends

GREAT FUN WITH FAMILY ~ I AM AN OUTDOOR STAY HEALTHY GIRL

OUR NEW FAVORITE COVE ~ BULLARD'S BAR

Night on the Water with my Son, his fiance and Hubby

Have a Fabulous Week!

Stay Healthy!

Darla:)

Balance, Life, and Vacation

Posted by whatsapp status on July 19, 2012 with No comments

On Vacation!

If you tuned into my last Blog, you may have figured out that I was going on vacation…well…I DID and had a blast…except for the nasty scrape and bruise to my bootie that I am still healing from …talk about a pain in the backside…YIKES…I will go more into that in a bit. Let me just tell you that I am a simple gal and when it comes to our boat trips, I pack light because we are usually in swim suits most of the time, don’t wear makeup…don’t need it and rarely wear it anyway, lots of sunscreen…non-stinging waterproof please, Burt’s Bees lip balm, and my MUST have leave in spray conditioner to get out the tangles from lots of swimming;)…Woo Hoo that is what I am talking about…simplicity as it’s vacation BEST.

When Friday came, I took my watch off and did not concern myself with what time it was for one full week…no time constraint, no schedules…AHHH…such a free feeling to do whatever I wanted, when I wanted without hurry, deadline, and just reading my body for eating times and sleeping…and of course enjoying quality time with hubby, boating fun and the great outdoors. It truly seems like life should be this simple, this stress free most of the time. I think it is important to MAKE IT HAPPEN…to schedule those down time moments to really appreciate what life is all about…it is definitely not about the GO GO GO, and DON’T STOP TILL YOU DROP life…NOT FOR ME.

One of our Coves

Deer Sighting!!!

Did I freak out knowing I was not going to be getting in my normal workouts…maybe at first and only for a second… this girl was ready to go. Actually, I was looking forward to giving my body a rest, plugging into some meditation, being creative with active rest, and truly taking in LIFE. Not that I do not do that on a daily basis, but sometimes, a deeper spending of time to appreciate everything around me is in order. Also, taking a vacation is a good way to prevent burn out by taking a break from the things that are done day in and day out. I come back with a renewed sense of being each time…I LOVE THAT.

Was I going to rebel and throw all my healthy philosophies out the window…of course NOT. Was I going to provide leniency to enjoy things that I typically would not partake in moderation…a BIG YES! Life is about balance, about living, about enjoying, about BEING REAL…that is who I am…REAL. Please do not think that I am some super fitness freak who spends hours in the gym working out, and only eating boiled chicken, steamed broccoli and egg whites…WRONG. Not to say that these items are not in my nutrition plan…but really…if you have seen my recipes, I am very much into great tasting food and lots of variety. Our cooler was full of prepared meals of Quinoa with sun dried tomatoes, lean turkey meats, marinated chicken, spinach salad…you get the picture. We did purchase some Organic Flax Meal Chips from Costco and I have to say…impressed with the quality. Important to intake a little salt when spending time in the heat in addition to lots of water…so a few chips here and there fueled this water girl.

OUR FAVORITE LAKE SHASTA COVE THIS YEAR!

Trail to Water slide

We launched at Lake Shasta, one of our favorite spots to putt around, swim, and create our own adventures. Each day, we did what we wanted and were active by taking in ½ to 1 mile swims each day, having pull up contests off the boat dive platform, and hiking around off shore. Now…getting to the bootie injury…a few minutes of fun for over a week of discomfort…next time I am bringing on the Charmin...lol. OK…we discovered a Natural Rock Water Slide that existed off one of the coves, and although a bit of a hike to get there…it was absolutely beautiful and tropical looking…so many pools surrounded by golden rocks…BREATHTAKING. The end of paradise trail revealed the Rock Water Slide…well, a swim across the natural pool and climb up the rocks using a knotted rope was the only way to reach the top of the slide ... I admit I was a bit nervous...it was a thrill for sure...but...the OH NO ...bump bump bump…scraped my bootie on the rocks.

Water slide! I was able to find this pic online

Accomplished, but man did it tear a half dollar size deep raspberry on my tailbone area…talk about not being able to sit down for a week…there you have it…this bootie will definitely be padded next time. I seemed to be the only one with the bootie problem as I asked others coming off the slide if they hurt their tailbone…no, no and no…hmmm…oh well. I did witness people hiking all the way, and deciding not to try the adventure, but all was good fun…always about the journey. My hubby went down about 3 times…I was happy with my one time adventure especially with my backside burning when it hit the water.

Coming back from vacation is always bitter sweet, but it does feel good to get home, sleep in my own bed, get my ground legs back, and return to my routine. I do return with a renewed sense of self as I shared earlier, feeling content, happy, and even more creatively sparked. I enjoy seeing my clients and firing up my oven for some healthy baking. The point I am trying to bring home is not how I burnt my bum on the water slide, but how important it is to take a step back, slow things down, get out of a rut, change things up, have some fun, and just be free for awhile, even if it is for a day, or even a week. I know that balance is important to my successful and happy life, helps to reduce stress, enables me to clear my head, and spend quality time not only with me but the best part…spending time with my partner, friend, and love of my life. Now that is FABULOUS in my Stay Healthy Book!