Posted by whatsapp status on April 07, 2015 with No comments
Life does not promise easy, fair, fun, happiness, or even health. In fact, life is hard and guess what, work is required and never an option. It is up to each one of us to create the lifestyle that we live and this is not going to be found in a jar, pill, powder, or shake. If popping a “fit pill” was the answer to all things magical and provided the body of our dreams inside and out, then I definitely would not need to write this blog. The facts are in and they have been for decades that the way to obtain a fit physique is through consistent healthy food intake, regular exercise, plenty of rest, water, and balance of life.
The “want it now” society tries every side-step method to achieve what can only be done through sweat producing work. There is not a pill or shake that is going to teach a person how to shop and select healthy foods for life and they will surely not sprout legs and exercise so that we consume the activity benefits. What usually does occur with quick fix programs is possibly some weight loss due to very low calorie diets and bodies that are running on empty experiencing negative side effects like dizziness, blood sugar and pressure issues, and nutrient deficiencies just to name a few. Frustration and discouragement typically follow as the program just does not feel good and studies have shown that any weight lost is put back on plus more.
Work goes with life, supplying our needs and wants. We want things so we work for them, and the same is true of our health. Health comes at the price of time, energy, and simply eating healthy food. The work is challenging and that is a great thing because it does change us, makes us stronger and better able to enjoy our body and life overall. We can no longer think that tricking health through gimmicks and potions is acceptable. That would be comparable to owning the golden goose and not having to put in our eight to five for a living. We are no strangers to what work feels like and it can be rewarding and provide an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. The results of hard work are being able to achieve and have what we want and desire in life, and is never optional. If having a healthy fit body is the desire, put in the work and see what happens.
Darla Leal, Fit at 50
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Posted by whatsapp status on March 21, 2015 with No comments
How many of us stand in the truth of our life or live in denial and non-acceptance of the actions that clearly rebel against a healthy lifestyle? I wish I could see a show of hands and have a world-wide workshop to discuss this issue. Standing in our truth has everything to do with being able to become a healthy person, and can be applied to all areas of our life: relationships, careers, fitness, and overall health which represent a moderate list that encompasses our existence as a human being.
Being honest with our self is the first step to being able to change those things that are weighing us down physically and emotionally. If we are unable to be honest with ourselves, then being honest with others will not happen. When lying to ourselves is at the forefront of or life, behaviors are usually exhibited through bitterness, anger, blame of others, argumentative reasoning, defensiveness, unhappiness, and a clear nonacceptance of responsibility. On the other side of that come acceptance of our truth and realizing that we can be healthier, happier people if changes are implemented each day to begin the process of adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Our responsibility is to stand in our truth and make the choice to go one way or the other. Do we want to be healthy or not, do we want to continue in self-destructive behaviors or not, do we want to be happy or not, do we want to be an honest person or not? Standing in our truth opens the door to trust of self and that can eventually be shared with others as we become examples of how to live a healthy life. We can only live in the path of not standing in our truth for so long before serious consequences begin happening in the form of illness, depression, broken relationships, loss of friends, and even disengagement of family members. A healthy person exhibits a happy outlook on life and is willing to share their experiences freely and with an open heart to sincerely help others because they know first- hand the work it took to stand in their truth. The person that remains in denial continues to show a negative view of life, self, and people around them, and generally repel any meaningful relationships.
The consequences to not standing in our truth to adopt a healthy lifestyle are harsh. Lying to self and others remain on the top of the ugly list when it comes to life in general. Living a healthy life will take the action of standing in our truth, acceptance of that truth and the follow-through with daily choices and actions to move our bodies and minds in a healthy direction.
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Posted by whatsapp status on February 11, 2015 with No comments
The truth about health and fitness is that we either want it or we don’t. Let’s face it, we can all come up with reasons not to exercise today or pack our coolers with healthy food to have on hand. All the reasons in the world are excuses that will eventually catch up to us in the form of illness or injury. That also is the truth. What we need to understand is that our lifestyle is our medicine, and that includes what we eat and how we move and rest our bodies. We can’t continue to walk around in a state of un-health and believe that this is an acceptable existence. Looking and feeling our best is what we all want, dream about, and talk about, but the action to make it happen never seems to occur. Look at what is flooding our magazines, commercials, and television shows when it comes to getting healthy. We need to be living the reality shows of achieving our best body not sitting in front of the tube with our chips watching other people taking action to get healthy.
Reasons will not change how we look or feel and in fact will only make us feel and look worse if continued as a lifestyle. Our first step to change this reality of reasons, is to own that we are doing that. If you are coming up with reasons to stop by the fast food or restaurant, skip out on the workout, and party hardy until the break of dawn, it is time to stand in your own truth and ask why. Looking at the truth can sometimes piss us off, cause us to throw our hands up with a profound “f” word salute, and that is normal. It will be in that frustrated moment of anger or other emotion that will open the mind to what in the hell am I doing with my life and body. It will be that slap in the face that will cause us to get serious about a healthy lifestyle becoming our medicine.
The only person responsible for replacing reasons with action is you and me. It is time to rearrange the priorities in our lives because no person is too busy to take care of their health. Everyone can have their fittest body at any age and I will take on any backlash for making this statement. A healthy fit body is obtainable and realistic for all of us and should be the goal while we are living this life. Dependence on prescribed drugs to pseudo fix health issues is way out of hand, and although certain medications are needed for a small percentage of medical issues, I am addressing the general populous that continue to accommodate their “reasons” and unhealthy way of life. Living a healthy lifestyle is not a half in and half out scenario either because occasional effort equals occasional results. We want so much to change but are not willing to give the effort and this is the bottom line. Results can and will happen, but the choice is up to you.
I dedicate this Blog to my husband, friend, love and support in my life.
Happy Valentine’s Day Babe and I Love You Forever and a Day
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Posted by whatsapp status on February 05, 2015 with No comments
No one starts at the top and sometimes you can get to the top of your fitness game, and injuries or other issues occur that send you right back to the beginning step. I speak from experience when it comes to being knocked down from an injury and although the setback was difficult, I never gave up. When it comes to our exercise programs, we can put so much pressure on ourselves to do too much too soon, and with that come discouragement and frustration. When we approach our fitness and nutrition programs with a progressive attitude, it is a more realistic way of adopting a healthy lifestyle. Progressive simply means starting where you are, accepting where you are, doing what you can, mastering what you are able to do, and then moving forward to the next level of whatever type of exercise program you have enlisted yourself. It also means forgetting any comparisons to others because they are not you, and your program is your program. The comparison game can cause us to get off track with our progressive program and being on alert to squelch our inner competitive nature will be important, especially when we are “newbies” to fitness.
Progression is what will get us to the next level of fitness without injury and with a healthy body and mind. For example, you want to master a pull-up and for the very first time you try to lift yourself on the bar, you are stuck. The pull-up is one of the hardest body weight exercises to perform and to believe your first time out you will be able to accomplish one is unrealistic. Those who can do one or more pull-ups have been doing this exercise for years and have built the strength in their back muscle to the point of being able to perform the exercise. A great way to start the journey of being able to perform a pull-up is to modify the movement using a leg spot, bench spot, a Gravitron, TRX straps, or having a spotter help lift a portion of your bodyweight as you pull up. As you are consistent in your modification of the pull-up exercise over time, you will be able to “progress” to performing the exercise without assistance. Another great example is long distance running. I for one would not be able to bust out a marathon like I have been doing it for years without proper training and starting from the beginning. It truly is all about persistence, patience and progress.
Progression can also be applied to implementing healthy foods into our nutrition. Begin slowly by eliminating one thing like soda, and replacing it with more water intake or herbal tea. Over time and as unhealthy foods are eliminated and replaced with healthy food choices, you will be able to progress to a 80% to 20% clean eating program without feeling deprived. Life is already hard enough without making a healthy lifestyle feel like a burden with unrealistic expectations. Applying the “progression principle” to our workouts and daily food intake creates a positive outlook mentally and physically. We all like to feel accomplished with our programs and to celebrate every moment we take steps that lead us closer to our goals. The good news is that progression is what will get you there.
Stay Healthy ~ Darla
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Posted by whatsapp status on January 02, 2015 with No comments
Fitness involves more than how much weight is lost or reps in a set that can be accomplished. Being a fit person involves discipline for each day, creates awareness, and instills conscious living. Fitness is a lifestyle and goes way beyond the physical. Having the desire to obtain a quality life and following through on that goal really defines being healthy and fit, and when the focus remains in that direction, we set ourselves up for feeling and looking our best for life.
We put so much pressure on ourselves to squeeze into the tiniest jeans or boast the largest biceps, that we tend to forget how being fit is supposed to feel. A fit and healthy body should be free or minimized of pain and many people do not realize just how good we are supposed to feel, and instead accept and accommodate pain on a daily basis. A fit lifestyle includes physical exercise but not of the nature that will injure our bodies and create chronic setbacks, and eating healthy nutrient dense foods that provide our bodies with healing qualities. Rest is also on the menu for a fit body and a very important part of the program. Without proper rest and sleep, our bodies will not recover from the demands placed on it through workouts, stress, and the overall daily grind. Balance of work and play is also a part of a healthy lifestyle and forgetting how to reach our inner child is sadly lost through the busyness of life. Taking an active rest day enjoying the outdoors, or a shutdown day complete with pajamas and movies may be the trick to recharge the mental batteries.
We all can enjoy our life and live a healthy lifestyle at the same time. This is the absolute truth and is accomplished by simply being consistent with our choices and follow-through. Being fit does not take working out seven days a week for several hours a day and eating boiled fish and broccoli. This is far from what living a healthy lifestyle looks like. When our thoughts are on taking the best care of ourselves, the enjoyment of living this life flows naturally like breathing. The desire to purchase fresh healthy foods and try new recipes is more of an exciting thing to look forward to and not a curl your lip up downer for a Friday night. Also, when that is combined with finding an exercise program that is enjoyed and works for your body, nothing feels better and provides a positive mental outlook. The balance of life through play and rest can’t be emphasized enough because life is about quality and feeling our best.
When the focus is on health and improving the quality of our life, the “fit” part of that equation happens along the way. Letting go of the stress of wanting to look a certain way tomorrow and concentrating on how good being healthy feels will eliminate the frustration and pressure that we too often place upon ourselves. Living a healthy lifestyle encompasses everything that we do on the daily and the fact that we are physical beings does not mean that the emphasis on fitness is all about the physical. Our awareness of the importance of being a healthy person, what we are consuming, how we move our bodies, how we think and act, and the balance we create for ourselves are all included within the definition of fitness. What do you think about that and hopefully this has opened your eyes to a new attitude when it comes to being a fit person?
Me and My Hubby
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Posted by whatsapp status on November 03, 2012 with No comments
DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
Believe me this has been a lifetime learning journey and it feels really good to be in this place…peaceful existence, balance with life and self, and overall feeling of AWWW…Life is BETTER than Great!
I can remember being caught up in the stuff that really does not matter in the BIG scheme of life…the house looking just right, what people thought, oh my…my body is not quite there…is that fat on my butt…really???How many times am I going to give myself the outer thigh pinch test for crying out loud.Oh…I burned this, and that food presentation does not look perfect, oh…am I saying that just right, am I doing this right, and, oh no…my diet was not clean today and I have just ruined everything…REALLY? Enough of that crap already…whew…like I shared earlier…I am so glad to NOT be there anymore.
We really can be our own worst enemy if we let ourselves.Thoughts of “not good enough” swirling around in my head years ago are thankfully gone, praise God that is for certain.As I reach almost 50, I have to say that I have let go of being hard on myself…I mean what the heck would be the point.I do not need the acceptance or approval of others to be ME, although as I shared earlier, I know how that feels to be in that ugly place.Also, coming from a position of fitness competition, and featured here and there, I admit, I felt pressure to look a certain way, be a certain way, always on guard to public scrutiny and needing to be THAT GIRL…always in shape…perfect as some say…but…even then and now…I was and am FAR from that YUCK word.As I have shared many times…PERFECT DOES NOT EXIST except in fairy tales and photo shop…what a mind @%#& life can throw a person if you let it.
Moving to the NOW Darla…I do not “Sweat the Small Stuff” and I will certainly leave a few dishes in the sink and not worry about the pillow arrangement on the sofa when family and friends come over…I mean are they coming to see my dishes or me…taking that pressure off myself for years now feels FABULOUS and I really enjoy the precious moments of Life.Am I saying that I do not take pride in my home and self… of course not…I am NO piggy. What I am saying is my priorities have changed and I have a happy lived in home.When my time comes to leave this life, will my regrets be…I should have made sure the dishes were done all the time, the house was spotless, and all the streaks off the mirrors, work more…NO WAY…in fact, I do not want any regrets…I want my life to be full of meaningful moments with my family and friends, and helping people adapt healthy lives.What does this have to do with maintaining a healthy ME?Let me tell you…STRESS relief plays a big role in feeling great about who I am and life in general.
Not stressing over things that do not warrant attention and giving attention to those things worthy of my attention are important to living a healthy life in my book.I am not going to bash myself for hours on end for eating a splurge meal for example and thinking that I have ruined my life and health.I am living life for heaven’s sake.One or two splurge meals are not going to make or break my fitness health bank as the old ME would have thought.NOPE…not going to sustain my body on boiled fish and broccoli as a lifetime routine…YUCK …not realistic and truly not sustainable for a lifetime of healthy eating.My body definitely needs all the variety that comes from a variety of healthy foods…and I LOVE food to taste good…did I mention the spicier the better:)
Taking a deep breath each morning and being a thankful woman for my health, my hubby, family, this body,home,job, and so many other things that oftenget taken for granted like the beauty all around me is what fills me with absolute happiness.Am I saying that I do not take care of myself physically and through my healthy foods…now that would be ridiculous…I have not gone rebel on you and saying that this is not important.I live an example of a healthy life through my fitness and nutrition and share that with you as much as I can. I would be a hypocrite and not even be able to represent myself as a trainer and motivator if I did not live a healthy lifestyle.
I have relaxed so much with acceptance of whom I am, loving my body as it is with all the changes that come with the aging process,and knowing what is important as I have shared before…Being the BEST version of ME given my genetics and medical issues.Genetically, I would have to say that I have my father’s long, lean look, and I have had to work hard to put muscle on this body to add the curves that I like.So, I will no longer be a slave to society’s view of what Darla should look like, and I have let that go for years now, and celebrate the fact that it feels so good to NOT be hard on myself.What I will say about myself is that I am a dedicated woman when it comes to being a healthy person and take the time and effort to ensure that my body is exercised and fed healthy food on a consistent basis…but being over the top obsessed to the point that my life is negatively affected…NO WAY!Life is about beautiful balance, health in the physical, nutritional, and I can’t stress enough how important it has been for me to really key into my emotional and spiritual life.Talk about feeling carefree, and open to sharing my life and being REAL…that is what I am all about.
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Have a FABULOUS weekend and upcoming week!
Stay Healthy!
Darla;)
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Posted by whatsapp status on September 21, 2012 with No comments
Well…not as big as they used to be physically but my mental and emotional shoulders are definitely making up for that loss…lol.What the heck does this have to do with fitness, my life, my health…I say everything!
When you are in a position of internet personality, helping people from around the world, bravely putting yourself out there for all to see through images, videos, and opinions…well…the mental shoulders get well developed.As you know, I am a say it like it is person, trainer, consultant, coach, expert and any other name that gets tagged onto “Darla” the fitness gal.In this position, I MUST remain POSITIVE and let things roll off my back like a duck sometimes.The majority of the time, I am taken with appreciation, and thankfulness from so many for providing the hope they thought was never possible…touching to me as my purpose to help has been accomplished.
The other side of the coin can be exactly the opposite and filled with statements from people who do not take the time to know ME and jump into an attitude of sharing only judgments and negative comments.I can read through that into an unhappy soul who really wants to be healthy and the BEST, but not at a place in their life and unwilling to make that happen, and it is always easiest to lash out at someone than take responsibility for self.Really…I would like to reach out and give all those people a hug…NO…I really do…because they just need to have the encouragement and love to realize their fabulous potential.
I do not need to go into statement details but anyone who sits in my position as a fitness expert who has put themselves out there understands the lashings that can come in reference to a fit body, workouts, personal life, sharing success stories, making opinions and comments, and even recipes for crying out loud.I was taught never to judge a book by its cover and this is so important in life, but especially in what I do for a living as I see people of all shapes and sizes…and they are ALL FABULOUS!!!Could you imagine if I was a judgmental person…well…NO WAY…I could not do my job if I was running people into the ground for being too heavy, too skinny, low self esteem, body image issues, hairstyle, clothes, and the list can go on and on…how in the world would I MOTIVATE or help anyone with that mindset…I mean what in the heck is up with a judgmental mentality anyway.Who am I to judge…am I God…NO…I am Darla, the person who just so happens to come to YOU daily through different internet mediums to In Your Face MOTIVATE YOU.
I LOVE my Big Shoulders because they provide me with emotional strength and the ability to “not sweat the small stuff” in this life.They give me a very caring spirit and the understanding that negative statements usually come from people who are truly hurting, bitter from personal issues or life events not dealt with yet, and who really want and need help, but just do not know how to be vulnerable enough to let those feelings out in a healthy way to start the healing process.In my position of trainer, consultant and coach, I wear many hats, and during the times of hearing or receiving negative comments, I throw on the “coaching/therapist hat” and become the BEST listener in this moment, keying in on any details that I may be able to offer help, dig deep into who that person is, provide insight and validation, but at the same time, provide the guidance that says…HEY…TODAY is a new day and time to toss the old crap to the curb and begin a new healthy lifestyle…you get the picture.
The beautiful part about my life is that I choose to be POSITIVE in ALL circumstances,personally surround myself with people who will nourish my soul in a positive way, and lean on one of my favorite quotes that states “Life is 10% What Happens to You and 90% How You Respond to It.” Does that mean that I avoid all negative people, situations, and comments in my work…of course not…this is not realistic in my position...I am surrounded by people on a daily basis physically and online who are going through things that they are healing from or do not even realize they need help with, and all that is needed are some Big Shoulders to take on the task of helping and healing.Am I ever offended by such comments and sucked down to a point of OH MY…WHY DO I CONTINUE TO PUT MYSELF OUT THERE….well…the answer is a Big Hell No.If anything, I feel challenged to help even more…I always have HOPE, always PERSEVERE, and do not believe in failure…in fact, in my opinion, failure is GOOD and a stepping stone to dusting off and becoming a better person.In this journey called life, I will continue to develop my Big Shoulders, continue to MOTIVATE…some may like me and some may not…that is OK and out of my control…but I will push forward with the cause of helping people adapt healthy lives…and for my Big Shoulders…ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM!Stay Healthy~
IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS
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