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The Juggling Act: Priorities and a Struggle for Balance

In this huge world, it's easy to get trapped in a never-ending loop of to-dos and responsibilities. We get entangled with priorities, sometimes wondering how to prioritize them. We feel trapped, stuck, and want to find a way to do better.

On top of that, our health suffers. We neglect prioritizing self-care. Workouts get pushed to another day. Fast food becomes a convenient solution. We foster the habit of not eating on time, don't have time to cook or prep – the list goes on. Our health pays the price: overweight, stressed, and just surviving.

What If There Was a Solution?

What if you had a solution that fits your busy lifestyle? What if it gently reminded you of what's important? What if you took just a few minutes to reflect? What if you had a coach in your pocket?

A Time of Immense Challenge: My 2020

Back in 2020, I had one of the most difficult times of my life. COVID, personal lif...

I am often get asked how I stay in shape. It's true, I've never been overweight, but keeping a healthy weight requires mindful choices. Today, I want to share the 3 key pillars of my fitness routine that I also incorporate into my teaching.

Taking a Step Back: The Power of "Why"

Before diving in, it's important to acknowledge the mental aspect of fitness. Your "why" is your motivation, the reason you push yourself. Maybe it's keeping up with energetic kids, like mine! Whatever your reason, a strong "why" fuels your persistence and keeps you going.

Nutrition: You Are What You Eat

We've all heard it before – nutrition is 80% of the battle, especially for weight loss (we'll delve into common weight loss mistakes next month, stay tuned!). Eating healthy doesn't have to be complicated, but it does require making conscious choices.

The Three Pillars of My Fitness Routine (and Fitness for Life Flow)

My fitness approach is built on three main elements, which interestingly mirror the F...

Happy Earth Day! Today, let's celebrate the incredible planet that sustains us. It's the source of our air, water, and everything we need to thrive.

Thinking of Wellness in a New Light

Today's message takes a slightly different spin on wellness. Our well-being is deeply connected to the health of our planet. After all, our planet is our home, and a healthy home is essential for a healthy us!

Fun Tips for a Clean and Happy Home Environment

Here are some fun tips to keep your home environment clean and positive, inspired by a conversation with my friend and local realtor, Rockie Marvel.

Air:

• Breathe Easy: Swap harsh cleaners for non-toxic options to avoid harmful fumes. 
• Natural Air Purifiers: Consider houseplants like snake plants or peace lilies to improve air quality and add beauty. Benefits: fresh air, reduced allergies, and increased energy. 
• Embrace Sunlight: Open curtains and blinds during the day for natural light, which can boost mood and energy levels. 

Food:

• Pu
...

In Friends in Health group, I recently asked about the biggest struggles with fitness. The overwhelming response? "Consistency and scheduling it in."

We all know exercise makes us feel better, healthier, and happier. So why isn't it a non-negotiable part of our lives?

Here's the thing: we might be focusing on the wrong thing.

We immediately think of "formal fitness": scheduling gym time, driving there, working out – the classic image.

But what if I told you that if you haven't found consistency with formal fitness yet, it's because you've got it flipped?

Baby Steps: Awareness and Movement

Instead, begin with awareness and intentional movement. Simply by moving more throughout your day, you're on the right track.

Here are some ideas:

• Park farther away and walk.
• Take the longer route to the bathroom.
• Use a standing desk (if possible).
• Do "microwave circles" while waiting for your food.
• Click here for more ideas about how to get your daily step goal.

Mast...

 I want to introduce you to my dear friend and colleague, Bob. We'll see how he's using functional fitness and bodybuilding within my program to achieve his fitness goals as a 73-year-old in extra-ordinary health conditions. 

"I'm a 73-year-old man who values functioning at my highest potential. A pillar of my mental and physical fitness regimen is working out with Nadya, which I have done for the past five years.

What I appreciate the most about her training is her philosophy of whole-body, functional fitness which exercises all muscle systems in all planes of motion. The balance of cardio and strength training, with body weight and dumbbells, makes each new exercise session interesting and challenging. All the variety leads to optimal muscle confusion, and occasional enjoyable cognitive confusion as my brain processes the movements I'm asking it to do.

This has been the best physical training I have experienced in my life. I'd highly recommend it to everyone, but particularly...

I want to share my fitness story: a story about overcoming self-doubt, embracing movement, and proving that it's truly never too late to start your fitness journey, or any journey for that matter.

 

Prefer to listen?

 

Believe it or not, I wasn't always the fitness enthusiast I am today. In fact, gym class was my least favorite subject in school. Running felt like torture, and let's not even mention sit-ups! I remember dragging my feet to class and feeling discouraged.

Fast forward to my 40s, and things hadn't changed much. Then, a friend invited me on a Wednesday morning run. I was hesitant – 5 kilometers seemed like an impossible feat! After each run, my hips were hurting – the kind of pain no one wants to feel.

One day at the gym, I saw a sign for "leg day" classes. Perfect, I thought! This was the turning point. For the first time, I learned proper form – how to run correctly, how to avoid injuries, and how to truly engage my muscles and use gravity to my advantage for move...

Ever feel like you're constantly on the go but not making much progress on your goals? We've all been there – we talk about our dreams, take some steps, but progress feels slow or nonexistent. We see others achieving incredible success, and it can be frustrating to feel stuck.

The secret to breaking through those plateaus often lies in a single action: the needle-mover.

This is one critical daily activity that significantly impacts your most important goal. It might not always be easy, but it moves the needle forward, even if your brain tries to talk you out of it!

Let's talk about some examples and see if you recognize yourself:

• You spend a lot of time on your phone and never get to the important stuff. (Needle-mover: Schedule focused work time in your calendar and stick to it!)
• You want to write a book but get overwhelmed by the idea of starting. (Needle-mover: Write just one page every day.)
• You struggle to lose weight because healthy food prep feels like a chore. (...

Why Do Some Succeed While Others Struggle? Finding Support on Your Solo Wellness Journey

We all crave happiness. It's a fundamental human desire. We chase it through countless efforts, yet some of us reach that blissful state seemingly easier than others. Why the disparity? A few weeks ago, we discussed the importance of taking action, but today, I want to highlight the crucial role of support in your journey, especially at the beginning. I describe this point in "My Power Journal".

If you'd rather watch, here is an 11-min video I recorded in 2022

Studies show that our success rate doubles when we have others cheering us on.

So, let's see if any of this resonates with you (remember, no judgment, just curiosity).

Where Do You Find Yourself?

Scenario 1: You dream of starting your wellness journey, but before you even begin, your spouse throws cold water on it. Sarcastic comments, doubts about your past "failures" – all drain your motivation before you even take the first s...

Why do some people succeed with purposeful action, while others remain stuck in wishful thinking or talking about it?

Why do some achieve faster than others? Often, we dream, want, and wish, but stay glued to talk instead of taking that crucial step. We get stuck in the "I need to do this" loop, never actually doing it.

Procrastination? Lack of discipline? Fear? Feeling unsupported? Probably a combination.

But I believe the real answer lies in the absence of needle-mover action. The most critical thing for achieving your desired results is simply acting. Acting despite fear, despite not feeling like it, despite the daily hustle. Acting on that one thing like your life depends on it, because in a way, it does. And guess what? Your happiness depends on it too. After all, isn't happiness the ultimate outcome we all crave?

But what does inaction truly cost us?

Daily frustration, a vicious cycle of failure, self-doubt, and negative talk. Imagine the impact on your self-esteem, ...

 

Prefer to listen?

 

In a distant memory,

I see a five-year-old little girl sitting in a dark corner. She has her arms wrapped around her legs and her head is hiding between the circle of her arms and knees. She feels scared. She does not even know for sure why. But what she does know for sure, is if she keeps sitting like this—quiet, silent—no one will either hear her or see her. And that means she is safe.

Twenty-five years later, she finds herself in a different country. She is a young mom with two beautiful daughters. She is married and living in a beautiful house. Everything looks perfect on the outside. But on the inside, she feels sick and tired and worn, and sitting in the same position hugging her knees. Except now she is at her favorite spot, looking straight across a peaceful lake and questioning her ‘silent’ life, questioning her worth.

 

“Why is my business not breaking through, why am I feeling drained in my marriage, why am I feeling useless and worthless? I kn

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