Whats Holding You Back?

    Several weeks ago I was asked the question “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” And here I am, weeks later, thinking not about what I would do, but how much fear holds us back. When we were young life was all about the pursuit of adventures. Then as we got older experience taught us to proceed with caution, to look before we leap.

In my line of work I’ve had the privilege of seeing the transformations both physically and mentally in my clients. I’ve also worked with clients who had the desire to make a healthy change in their lifestyle but lacked the confidence to fully commit.  One thing I quickly noticed about these types of clients was that they always had an excuse ready.  At first I didn’t think much of it, but after awhile it became obvious to me that they were using excuses as a defense mechanism. They didn’t want to be in a position to fail and lined up excuses to act as their safety net, so that they had something to fall back on, to blame.

To an extent, we all feel fear when starting something new. Even as I write this blog entry, there is a voice in the back of my mind saying is it relatable? Is it thought provoking? Is it relevant to a certain niche/theme/perception… and so on and so on. As humans, we worry about all kinds of things, and even when we acknowledge our fears we still worry. So I guess the real question is: Why are we afraid of starting?

I believe ones past and failures are part of the reason many refrain from starting something new. It’s like those scary movies with the haunted house and the people are tiptoeing throughout it and holding their breath as they go around each corner, fearing they’ll run into something unwelcoming. We are all drawn to experiencing new things, but like in those movies - it’s the fear of not knowing that keeps people from moving forward.

I also believe there is more risk in not taking any risks at all. Our past, with all the good, bad, tragic, embarrassing, amazing, beautiful moments we’ve lived through so far have helped mold us into who we are today. And maybe keeping things as is, living every day the same will protect you from enduring emotional harm - but it will also rob you of unknown talents, and from experiencing some of life’s most profound moments as well.

Maybe we all need to let go of who we are in order to learn who we can be. And by choosing not to take those proverbial leaps, you’re risking becoming frozen in time, never changing, never evolving, never truly knowing yourself.

5 Surprising Beautifying Benefits of Exercise

When we think of how our bodies will benefit from regular exercise, we tend to usually focus on the important things like our overall health, losing unwanted weight, toning our figures, and building lean muscle. However, very few people connect exercise with a clearer complexion, blemish-free skin, fewer wrinkles, and strong, healthy hair. Although exercise is crucial in achieving and maintaining a healthy physique, there are many skin-related health benefits that are less well-known among women of all ages. If you think about it, skin is like a body’s self-portrait in that it represents everything that is happening on the inside. After all, skin is the largest organ, covering almost the entire body with an average area of 20 square feet! So it makes sense that whatever we have going on, on the inside will inevitably show up in some way on the outside. 

It gives you that Glowing Complexion: When you get your heart pumping during aerobic exercise, you are supplying your skin with a good boost of oxygenated blood, giving you that great post-workout glow.

It's an Acne Fighter: Perfect skin exists in the world of Photoshop only – Here in reality, humans actually have pores, and at some point or another, have dealt with annoying breakouts. Pimples happen, occasionally at the most inconvenient times, but exercise can help prevent those occasions from occurring as frequently as they do. The increased blood flow from exercise not only nourishes the skin, but also aids in the removal of free radicals and toxins. You can think of exercise as a way of cleansing the skin from the inside out.

Younger looking skin:  As we get older our collagen production decreases, resulting in wrinkles and less elasticity in our skin. Regular exercise is the only proven method that is effective at slowing down the aging process. Another benefit gained from the boost in oxygen and nutrients received by your skin due to exercise is that it also creates optimal conditions for our bodies collagen production. That being said, it may not be the quick fix that we all desire, but exercise does something for you that no plastic surgeon or beauty product can - it helps to preserve your body from within. 

Reduces Cellulite: Approximately 90% of women have cellulite, and this statistic includes woman of all sizes - big and small. Of that 90%, I think it's a safe to assume that most want nothing to do with it. Cellulite is caused by fat deposits that exist just below the surface of the skin. Although genetics do play a key role in it's development, a combination of strength training and aerobic exercise can burn fat and build muscle, which will not only improve your skin and tone your figure but help reduce the appearance of cellulite as well.

Healthier, Thicker Hair: Did you know that exercise can improve the health of your hair? Exercise is a proven stress reliever because it boosts the brain’s production of feel-good chemicals such as endorphins. Did you know that increased stress levels can trigger hair loss in women! Don't fall under the stressed category? Exercise also aids in healthier hair growth resulting from the availability of nutrients from increased blood flow. Higher levels of nutrients can stimulate the hair follicles, promoting healthier, thicker hair growth.

But most important of all, just a single workout session has been shown to improve one’s overall self-image and self-confidence, whether or not anyone else can notice a difference. So the next time you’re having one of those blah days – try reaching for your sneakers instead of your compact.