"Don't worry. Everything is under control."

Do you ever feel like you life is out of control?

Like, totally chaotic? 

I have been feeling a lot of that.

Mainly at school.

And in other areas of my life.

Probably because I work 1 1/2 jobs and am planning a wedding.

LOL.

And it’s not even “controlled” chaos.

It can be pretty chaotic.

This classic clip from “Kindergarten Cop” is one of my favorites: 

“You know, kindergarten is like the ocean. You don't want to turn your back on it.” 

Uhhhhhh…yeah.

Or 1st grade. Or 2nd grade.

Or life…

Because eventually it catches up with you.

And you realize it has turned into a bit of chaos. 

Or A LOT of chaos.

But you know what?

You got it. You’ll get it together.

Because…

“Don’t worry. Everything is under control.”

Fake it till you make it, right?

Because everything is never really under control. 

But you can pretend like it is. 

Because that gives you more peace of mind. 

Or your an just tell everyone to “shut up.”

Either way works. 

Be like Arnold. 😃 

Today’s hamstring workout (I snuck in a bit of abs and chest because I forgot to work those this week… you know, because everything is under control…LOL!):

Do what makes you happy.

And don’t worry.

It’s all under control. 

Let that sh*t go

I have a lot going on right now. A lot I could get worked up about. And in all honesty, I do to some degree. Get worked up, I mean. But I am trying really really hard to just let it go as soon as I can. Feel what I need to feel. Have my emotions. Emote them. Whatever I need to do. Then let that sh*t go. Seriously.

I haven't always been good at that. And it is still a work in progress for me.

But the amount of time I spend simmering in negativity that I don't need to be simmering in has lessened. 

YEY, ME.

Pat on the back.

It's easy, right? Easy to get caught up in all the feelings. To get hooked. It's a default. Especially with all the negativity that is around us.

But what keeps me going is this deep knowing of "It's allllll going to be alright. You got this. You will work through this. God wouldn't give you anything you couldn't handle." Don't you worry 'bout a thing.

Because I have the proof. I have worked through every hardship in my life. Granted my hardships have not been that great. Mainly relationship hardships. A few deaths. Your normal "I'm human and living in a safe environment" hardships. I'm not living in a war torn country. Or a country without power. My life is pretty darn good.

But we all have stuff that we are working through. And as minor as it may seem on the surface, it can feel pretty darn dramatic and explosive inside sometimes. I'm right there with ya.

So breathe. Feel. Emote. Talk. Kick & scream. Whatever it is.

And let it go...

Today's fav shoulder triset workout:

Let it go.

Like Elsa.

Do what makes you happy. 

Consistency creates habit

There are certain things I do every day.

Even when I don't feel like it.

Working out is one of them.

"I'm too tired..."

"I'm sore..."

"I have my monthly visitor..." (right, ladies? UGH.)

But there is something about being consistent. It creates habit.

Like writing this blog. I really really didn't feel like writing today. I've had an up and down day emotionally. And I wasn't sure what I would write about. But I have committed to write every day that I workout. 

I'm being consistent. It has created a habit.

But not all habits are good.

You might have heard the phrase "Practice makes perfect."

True?

I don't think so.

Perfect practice makes perfect. 

But practice makes permanent. 

Practice creates habit. Both good and bad.

You can practice something incorrectly and now you have a bad habit. Missing that one note. Not having proper form. Biting your nails when nervous.

Think about what you consistently do. Does it serve you?

If so, keep on at it!

If not, double check it.

Today's quad/calf workout:

Create good habits.

Do what makes you happy. 

What I'm listening to, Vol. 1

I've been spending a lot of time picking out music for my wedding and have come up with a pretty cool piano "playlist" for the prelude and processional. Totally excited about it!

But it got me to thinking about what I listen to when I workout.

It's funny, I listen to very different music when I workout vs. when I'm driving vs. chilling vs. eating dinner... 

I’m also a HUGE fan of the iPod shuffle when it comes to how I listen while working out. I'm not into carrying my phone around at the gym. The arm strap feels too bulky. It's distracting. The shuffle is sooooo easy to use. Just a press of the button to quickly pause the music if someone is trying to get your attention (like, “Can I work in a set?"). Or my guilty pleasure of eavesdropping on personal trainers...I love listening to how they explain things to their clients. I learn so much! 

Anyway, here is a little bit of what I'm listening to these days.

Wonder Woman Theme

Ummm, because Wonder Woman. I love her. I love the music. It gets me pumped up.

Unstoppable -- The Score

This really gets me in the right frame of mind when I'm having a tough workout.

Whatever it Takes -- Imagine Dragons

So does this one.

Champion -- Fall Out Boy

And this one.

Raise Hell — Dorothy

Love the beat in this one.

Never Seen Runaway -- Jay Kill & The Hustle Standard

Yes. 

B**ch I'm Madonna -- Madonna ft. Nicki Minaj

I’m a huge Madonna fan. LOVED seeing her in concert touring this album. 

Work B**ch -- Britney Spears

Another guilty pleasure...

Express (from Burlesque) -- Christina Aguilera

This movie has such great music in it.

Show Me How You Burlesque (from Burlesque) -- Christina Aguilera

Applause -- Lady Gaga

Always gotta have a little GaGa.

Bang Bang -- Jess J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj

And this crazy trio...

So those are some of my current tunes. More to come later on!

And today’s back/tricep workout:

Listen to music that pumps you up.

And makes you happy.

Do what makes you happy. 

What I eat

People often ask me what my diet is like and what I eat every day. 

I'm a creature of habit. So when I was in competition prep and having to eat the SAME THING EVERY DAY, it really didn't bother me all that much. I have kind of kept to that routine but am not as rigid about meeting my macronutrient breakdowns exactly. 

During the week, I basically eat the same thing except for dinner. I am extremely blessed to have a fiance who has a passion for cooking. In fact, that is his creative outlet. Mine is music, his is cooking. So it gives him great pleasure to cook for others and enjoy meals with family and friends.

Recently I have been tracking things in My Fitness Pal to get a better sense of my caloric intake as I am monitoring things a bit more closely these days.

I basically eat my three main meals with snacks in between. I supplement with Isagenix products. They have meal replacement drinks and other natural supplements. It works for me. My body runs well on their products.

So, here is exactly what I ate today:

Meal #1: Pre-Workout

5:00am

1. Coffee with half & half.

2. Ionix Supreme - it is basically a nutrient dense tonic that is full of plant-based Adaptogens that help your body deal with stress.

3. AMPED Power - this is a pre-workout powder that is designed to improve blood flow to muscles and increase creatine absorption.

Meal #2: Breakfast

~7:15 - 7:30am

Breakfast burrito: 2 1/2 whole eggs, a whole wheat wrap and various sauces made with love. 😃 With Nespresso. 

Meal #3: Snack 1

~10:00am

Meal Replacement Shake: Isaganix chocolate shake, left over coffee from the morning, and a banana.

Because I’m a teacher. And don’t have time to eat real food between classes.

Meal #4: Lunch

~12:15pm

BAS: Big Ass Salad

Greens and chicken and veggies. YUM.

Meal #5: Snack 2

~4:00pm

Protein Bar and Ketones Energy Drink.

Meal #6: Dinner

~7:00pm

Protein with farro and veggies.

(My future hubby is out of town for Rosh Hashana so this is my not-so-artistic display of leftovers...LOL!)

Maybe some wine. Because I need to keep my tolerance up for my wedding.

Today’s Hamstring workout. Short and sweet. Super short and sweet.

Eat well. 

Do what makes you happy. 

The "reality" we share...

Facebook and social media can be sooooo deceptive. 

All the happy posts.

The happy pictures.

The picture perfect poses.

It's like a movie reel of "best of"s.

You don't see the real behind-the-scenes. 

The imperfections. The tough times. The sad moments. The angry moments. The fights. The moments we wish we could undo and make a better choice. 

It's all a bit of an illusion, isn't it?

And I get it. Who wants to be posting all of that for the world to see anyway?

I could go on and on about how everything you see is Photoshopped. Like this article. Or this video. Or this collection of photos. 

Or heck, even a celebrity teenagers swoon over!

And let's not forget about all the fancy filters we have on our phones to "enhance" photos. I will be the first to admit to being guilty of that! There's a reason people put #nofilter on their posts these days. 

Or trying to capture a perfect scene in a frame. 

Like last night's birthday dinner:

Gorgeous. Beautiful.

But, oh, let me omit the mess that is our dining table with all our wedding planning! LOL!

There is an element of being authentic that is necessary. 

At the very least, with yourself.

So check in with yourself. 

What's real? What's really going on? How do you really feel about what you have going on in your life? Have an open and honest conversation with yourself. Don't worry, no one else is listening. 

Today's Giant Set shoulder workout (with some abs at the end):

Be real but be you.

Do what makes you happy. 

37 things

Today I finished another 365 day orbit around the sun. Just finished up my 37th year on this planet. Yup. It's my birthday. 😃

I tend to get a bit reflective around this time. And man has A LOT happened since last September.

I completed my first year as an elementary school general music teacher. I moved in with my boyfriend and secretly surprised him with a CRAZY piece of piano music (#Rach3foraRock). I got engaged. (!!!!!!) I performed in a solo and collaborative piano recital. I held my grandmother's hand as she took her last breath. I completed a Body Therapy program I had been working on for the past 5 years. I traveled to France, Poland and England over the summer. I am planning a wedding. I am getting married in 76 days!

I've learned a few things this year. And the previous 36. I could go into more details, but I'll just leave it as a simple list. Here we go: 

1. Don't sweat the small stuff.
2. No one is perfect. Not even you. Go easy on yourself.
3. Slow down. Waaaaaaay down.
4. It's OK to say "I don't know." And even better than making something up that you don’t really mean.
5. If you're not happy with yourself, you'll never be happy in a relationship.
6. Start with YOU first.
7. Friends come and go.
8. No one knows you better than you.
9. Everyone deals with death differently -- and every death is different. 
10. Don't try to be someone you're not.
11. Don't compare yourself to others, especially if it makes you feel worse about yourself.
12. Vacations are a good thing. A VERY good thing.
13. Travel light.
14. Take time to unplug.
15. It will aaaaaaaaaaall get done. No stress.
16. If you're passionate, you will prioritize.
17. Quiet time is key.
18. Meditation is also key.
19. If you blame it on someone else, don't expect it to get better. 
20. Forgive others in your own time.
21. It's never too late to make a change for yourself.
22. It doesn't make you spoiled to let others take care of you sometimes.
23. Going to bed early doesn't mean you don't have a life.
24. When you need a reality check, ask a child what they think about you.
25. Then again, don't take what children say too seriously ("out of the mouths of babes...")
26. Take time to play.
27. Honesty is the kindest thing you can offer people.
28. If it's funny, laugh. Even at your coworkers. 
29. Read more. Get lost in a novel. 
30. Listen to music you wouldn't normally listen to.
31. Stand-up comedy is the best way to get through traffic.
32. Take time to indulge in your creativity.
33. Remember, you can't please everyone.
34. Also remember to breathe.
35. Pinterest is amazing, but don't compare your life (or wedding!) to it.
36. For the right person, you won't have to hide any parts of yourself.
37. Do you, your way.

So there ya go.

This morning's workout was a theme of "37". 

37 reps.

37 minute workout. 

My day continued with some lovely gifts from coworkers and my fiancé (yey, Star Wars!), school cookies and student cupcakes. It was a good day.

Now I am going to let my fiancé spoil me with his gift of cooking. 😃 

Do what makes you happy.

Especially on your birthday.

Sunday Funday

On the weekends I take time to have fun.

Well, as much “fun" as one can have in the midst of wedding planning. LOL!

It’s actually not that bad. At all. But I feel like my mind is constantly buzzing with wedding stuff in the background. Because there’s always something to still do, something to think about. That’s just how life is right now. And that’s OK. It’s all temporary. 

But I do have a birthday coming up.

And an amazing fiancé. 

So we had a lovely night out in DC to celebrate. 😃 

But it got me thinking...

It’s important to take time to have that fun when you are in the middle of LIFE. 

No matter how small it is, or what that means to you. Maybe it’s your favorite show on Netflix and takeout. Maybe it’s an evening walk or morning run. Watching the Sunday game together. Something that connects the two of you.

For us we continue to have date night one night during the week. And, for the most part, we have good chunks of our weekend together.

But you may be thinking “You’re co-habitating! How hard can it be?!?!” 

Believe me. With our late school schedules and my private teaching in the evenings (not to mention I’m a lark and he’s a night owl!), sometimes we do have to intentionally carve out that connection time to be “us”. And the weekends are often filled with errand running, various domestic chores, connecting with friends and family, and oh…wedding planning. 

Today I spent most of the day catching up on things I had meant to do during the week. And several loads of  laundry. And vacuuming (we live with a feline friend). And dusting. Watering the plants. Stuff like that. 

But getting to sleep in and enjoy a leisurely brunch? Good times.

This deliciousness was followed by a back/tricep workout. Our “fun times” last night took its toll in the gym today, but that OK. I got it done.

Make time to have fun.

Spend time with people you love.

Do what makes you happy. 

To those who inspire us and don't even know it

I woke up at 4:15 am this morning. 

On purpose.

I know. Craziness.

Why?

Because I needed to be at school earlier but still wanted to have time for my morning routine and workout.

Turns out the 5:30 am gym vibe is quite different than the 6:15 am vibe. I actually really liked it. Everything I wanted was available. The 6:00 am training crowd hadn't rolled in yet. It was quiet. All things I love.

This definitely won't be something I can do consistently. Just Fridays (we started our before school choir program today - YEY!!!!).

But part of it is also what inspires me every morning to get up and workout. Well, I guess that's the main part of it. 

Some of you know that I started this blog to keep myself accountable (regarding my workouts) to get in shape for my upcoming wedding. 

But it's not just about that.

It's about being in shape for life. 

Feeling good in my body.

Feeling strong. 

And, just like you, I am inspired by others. People I work with. People I see at the gym EVERY MORNING (and never talk to...LOL!). People in my Facebook feed who I kind of know, but not really. 

Like one amazing woman I met through my figure competition coach waaaaay back.  She set her sights on competing in the infamous Olympia body building competition. She freakin' did it. She is there RIGHT NOW, totally rocking it. It's AMAZING. And incredibly inspiring.

What inspires you? Who are you inspired by? Maybe someone you quietly observe from afar? Someone you don't really know but would love to get to know better? Someone who's podcast you listen to? One of your coworkers? The barista at Starbucks who has the best attitude EVER? 

So here's to those who inspire you and don't even know it.

Cheers to them!

Today's early morning hamstring/glute workout:

Be inspired. 

Become what inspires you.

Do what makes you happy. 

Embrace your flawsome-ness

I am not perfect.

Say what?!?!

I know. 

True story.

And I’m faaaaaar from perfect.  

But I do have perfectionist tendencies. Which can be both a good and bad thing.

I realize that it all has to do with the motivation and energy behind why I am trying to be "perfect." Is it to impress others? Is it an attempt to avoid failure? Is it out of concern of what others will think of me?

Have you read “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brene Brown? GREAT book.

Here’s a thought-provoking quote:

Healthy striving is self-focused: "How can I improve?" 

Perfectionism is other-foucused: "What will they think?"

Healthy striving. I love this idea. When I think about all the ways my perfectionism is good for me, it is usually in the "healthy striving" sense. Like learning a new piece of piano music and playing it as well as I can. Or being consistent in my workouts and doing the exercises to the best of my current ability. Or creating a lesson plan that will meet my students where they are, and not one that looks text book “perfect".

This grand plan to appear perfect all backfires when I am trying to impress people. The people I am performing for. Or the folks at the gym. Or my students. 

That's when perfectionism gets the better of me and knocks me down. Hard.

It creates a lot of extra mental noise in my head. Self-doubt. Self-criticism. Self-judgement. All those “self” words that are no good.

Yet owning my imperfections…so incredibly freeing! WOW!

I’M NOT PERFECT!

I am ... FLAWESOME!!!!

 YEY!!!!

I don’t teach my students perfectly. 

I don’t perform pieces of music perfectly.

I don’t write blog posts perfectly. 

I mess up ALL the time. And it takes the pressure off. Completely.

Some of today’s lessons were a disaster. They did not go as planned. Nor did my workout. Nor is the writing process before I press the “publish” button on this post. 

But if I don’t let go of this need to be “perfect”? 

It is PARALYZING. 

I will never get anything done and just feel bad about myself. All. The. Time.

So embrace your imperfections! Do it wrong. Make mistakes. 

Because we are all perfectly imperfect. 

Today’s shoulder/bicep workout:

Be you. 

Do what makes you happy.

And do it all imperfectly.