Trials and Challenges: What's the purpose?

Welcome to the dance of Life. Expect the unexpected. There may be rough times.....


Are you in a tough spot? Are you going through a rough time? Do you just wish it would already be over with? I can relate. We've all been there however, be careful if you're trying to 'push' your way though it, because the lesson intended for you to learn could be overlooked and unfortunately, brought back to you again... that, my friend, is no fun.

I can relate to too many times in my Type A, high strung life, I've 'missed the boat', only to have another come up on the horizon carrying the same cargo I thought I just ditched, no good. It seems there have been times I've kept an entire harbor busy.... reloading it's goods to deliver to me again and again, until I finally dealt with them. 

What does dealing with them entail? It entails facing the issue squarely, taking the necessary responsibility to 'take care' of it, which leads to the final step... taking calculated intelligent action, step by step, until it is resolved as best as possible, and then move forward having learned important lessons along the way of which to store securely in your Book of Life Lessons, never to be repeated. 

What kind of lessons? We generally encounter lessons that will help us grow from the inside out, a few to consider are:
- patience
- understanding
- develop organizational skills
- communication skills
- financial savvy
- teach us to think outside of the box
- that you are stronger than you know
- smarter than you thought
- that you can handle 'big' problems afterall

The list goes on and on....

The rough times, tough times and challenging moments of our lives are teaching moments. Heed the call. Get out your map. Make one if you don't have one. Chart your course. Gear up... mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Pack well for your journey, as you have no idea how long it will last. Look for a good crew to help keep you stay on course. Set out. Face your fears. Conquer. Rejoice. Return with honor.


Health! 

For all your Health and Fitness needs visit: ww.jillnix.com

BODYWEIGHT and RELATIONSHIPS

Todays blog is written with the best intentions, to help educate, motivate, and hopefully alleviate any false perceptions of how a persons weight, can, and many times DOES affect our relationships.

I receive phone calls, e-mails, and texts on a regular basis from loving, caring individuals deeply concerned for the health and well-being of their loved one(s). Many times, when a person is overweight, they feel trapped in a place they'd truly rather not be. I say this as a result of speaking with my clients who have been very outspoken, and brave about confronting their weight. Some have teetered on suicide, others live quietly feeling less than human, and still, there are others who accept themselves for who they are, are happy, and stay active. 

My own opinion is, I do not believe anyone is overweight because they want to be. There are very few cases where genetics play the key factor. Injuries can change a person forever depending on the injury itself. I'm amazed and inspired by individuals who overcome such tremendous odds. 'Soul Surfer', Bethany Hamilton, is an example of faith, strength, and determination. There are many others. 

There are other health conditions that can affect weight gain and weight loss, like hypothyroid, for instance, or a hysterectomy, or cancer. Any health issue that throws the body into hormonal distress can, and many times will throw the body into a confused weight storing machine. For cancer patients who survive, chemotherapy and radiation can forever change the individuals 'make-up', an destroy a once functioning system, making exercise much more challenging, and results much harder to come by. I hold cancer survivors in high admiration. They have been through an awful lot. Many pick up the once shattered pieces and begin living their lives all over again. My dear sister is one of them. I love her with all my heart. One can never be judged. 

In most situations, where there are no health issues, weight gain is a condition that comes on ever so gradually. Where there are eating disorders, and emotional eating, the relationship with food for many becomes a love/hate relationship. If not reckoned with, it can become a vicious cycle where many find themselves too embarrassed to turn for help. 

TO THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH WEIGHT
I encourage you to take a leap of faith. To hold your heads up high. Look at yourself in the mirror and fall in love with the person you are looking at. You are an incredible person. Look at all the other areas of your life you are successful. You can be successful at whatever you put your mind to. It is never too late to begin. You are not too old, too tired, too far gone, etc., you have what it takes to get the job done. Your loved ones are there to support you. They do not want you to lose weight for the 'looks' of it. 

THIS IS WHAT LOVED ONES TELL ME THEY DESIRE AND WANT YOU TO KNOW
They deeply care and love you more than you'll ever know. They want you around for a long time. They want you to be strong. They want you to be healthy. They want you to have energy. They want you to be happy. They want to take you places, and make memories. They want you to run around with them, go on trips, swim, climb, and have an awesome retirement together. Perhaps you are already doing these things. Great!  

START WHERE YOU ARE AT, WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, AND TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME.....
Begin with the knowledge you have. Begin with what you can do TODAY. Visit your physician and get a 'go ahead' for activity. Get any tests performed that he or she feels necessary. Get yourself a nice journal. Begin entering your thoughts, feelings, pictures, and future plans of what you desire in your life. Believe that you can indeed achieve. Learn whatever is necessary to keep progressing. Please, do not be embarrassed or afraid to ask for help. Others want to be of service to you, but do not want you to feel pressured. It must be your choice. 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

I have studied eating disorders for years. More people suffer from an eating disorder than recognized. Many times athletes, including figure, bodybuilding, and other sports where physique is critiqued and body fat matters, eating disorders can become a silent killer. Ballerina's have had the most exposure in the past for such conditions. I mention this because I want you to be aware that eating disorders are everywhere, not just in the overweight population.

HOW DOES WEIGHT AFFECT RELATIONSHIPS?
From my observations, and speaking with both clients and their families, the number one complaint I hear on both sides is it creates an area of .... contention. Contention of weight related conversations. Contention when a spouse speaks or looks at another of the opposite sex. Contention about meals that are prepared and/or food being bought and brought into the home. Contention about misunderstandings of the situation, and contention about what each side desires, and finding a happy medium. Yes, weight can and indeed many times does... cause conflict within relationships that many would rather not deal with. 

Our body weight is a very personal thing. Words spoken can be taken personally. Sometimes they can be outright painful. When it comes to our lives, health, relationships, and so forth, I believe it is crucial in dealing with these matters straight on, one step at a time. Get counseling where counseling is necessary. Get a trainer when a trainer is necessary. Get a life coach if you feel the need. This goes for both 'sides', until one blessed day, there are no more 'sides' it's just us being us.

I'll never forget when I was living in my 'bubble', I was told I couldn't run, etc., because I would inevitably end up in the emergency room, unable to breathe. At this point in my life, I came home from school turned on the television and ate, and ate, and ate some more. I ate away my boredom, my frustrations, my loneliness. Then, one day, I noticed a stack of pictures that had just come back from summer vacation. I was looking at one upside-down and couldn't make out who I was looking at, as they did not look familiar to me. I was shocked when I spun the picture around and saw it was a heavy ME! I did not like what I saw, and it caused me to question what I had been told by doctors. I decided to take matters in my own hands. No, it was not fun. Yes, it was painful. No, I did not get results overnight. Yes, I was making slow but sure progress. No, I didn't give up. Yes, there were days I felt like it.   

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO UNTIL YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO DO IT! Notice I said 'DO IT', not 'try'. 

It's the little day by day, tedious, sometimes rather monotonous, things that bring about progress , and eventually...success! Do not be fooled, THERE IS NO GRAND MOMENT. The moment is NOW. 

I hope this has been helpful. 
Health!

Contact Jill today for our Meal Plan, Training and Acountability Plans: jillstightbodybootcamp@gmail.com

AVOID HOLIDAY WEIGHT GAIN

#thefuture, #healthier, #takeaction, #justdoit, #thefutureslookingbrighteralready, #jillnixcom #avoidholidayweightgain

Want to avoid the frustration of gaining 5-7 lbs. this year during the holidays? Message me today and let's get you started on a solid Meal Plan that will have you so satisfied you won't be dipping into the candy dish, you'll handle dinner parties and get togethers with confidence, and you'll actually look forward to stepping onto the scale each week!! Message me. Go to my site and check it out: www.jillnix.com, or e-mail me at jillstightbodybootcamp@gmail.com 💖😋

Live a Life of No Regrets....

Limits vs. Boundaries: What you need to know.

Limits and boundaries, they seem one in the same... at least according to Webster. I think it's worth our time to consider the limits and boundaries we place on ourselves, in our lives, and at times..... even on those around us.

First off, I'd like to think there is a difference between limits and boundaries. For instance, a limit is something you will not budge on, whereas a boundary is something that can be moved, readjusted, reconsidered, or changed. 

Many times we place limits on ourselves without even consciously realizing it. "I can't do this because....", I can't do that because.....", and then it somehow gets cemented in our thought process that it simply can't be done. Of course this sounds ridiculous, but it happens to people every day, and they live their lives based on these false perceptions, wondering why they're not reaching their goals, and why they're not happy. 

LIMIT. WHO DECIDES WHAT YOUR LIMIT IS? WHY?
Okay, so some limits are set for us, such as speed limits, rules and regulations of the government, etc. What about personal limits though? What have you been taught about your limits? Do you feel you've been raised according to limits? Do you feel limits can and/or should be broken? Do you feel a penalty or a reward of surpassing a limit is warranted, and why? 

I believe it all comes down to what we've been taught. Have you ever challenged your limits? Have you ever been placed in a position where you KNEW you reached your limit, only to discover you had to handle more? How did you feel about it? Did it change your perspective on your limits? I certainly hope so. I meet with clients on a regular basis who tell me their limits, I see otherwise and insist they do things my way. "But I've never lifted that much before.....". They struggle, they swear, some cry, some refuse to do what I've asked. I then refuse to train them. I firmly remind them they came to me to help them, and ask again what they are WILLING to do. 

LIMITS and WILLINGNESS have ALOT in COMMON.

When an individual limits themselves in regards to reaching their goals, they are simply choosing to negotiate their willingness to do what it takes to get there. Excuses are lame. Yes, there are some legitimate reasons why some things can't be accomplished, but they are an exception. The majority of the time, people are simply coming up with excuses, and reasoning why they are not doing what they set out to do.  

Let's place limits where limits belong, shall we? Such as: Acceptable and unacceptable behavior, rules and regulations to keep our country running smoothly, keep freedom alive, and protecting our rights, our families, and our beliefs.

Let's set boundaries for the rest. Boundaries can fluctuate. Let's set goals, and keep at them amidst the obstacles that come our way. You see, when a person sets a goal in terms of limits, and they run into a snag, it's an excuse to bail. When you set boundaries, you simply modify your plan, and keep moving forward.  Boundaries allow for flexibility, flexibility of both mind, body, and the manner in which a course is traveled. Say you set a time limit on reaching your goal. This is good as we need to have some type of accountability to measure our progress with in terms of time, however, if illness has struck, injury, a loss of job, etc., you need not bail when the date arrives and you haven't reached your goal(s), you simply modify the plan and continue forth. 

IF YOUR GOAL IS THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU, NOTHING WILL STOP YOU FROM REACHING IT.  There are no excuses.

BOUNDARIES
One thing about boundaries you need to be aware of:

IF YOU DO NOT SET YOUR OWN BOUNDARIES, 
SOMEONE ELSE WILL SET THEM FOR YOU!

Is this what you want? Someone else determining when you'll wake? What you'll eat? Where you'll work? I think not. There are some things in life that can only be determined by YOU. YOU are your own steward. Yes, we can ask for others opinion, but when it comes down to it, only YOU can decide what is best for YOU. Take a passive personality, for instance. A passive person is one who has not yet learned to set their own boundaries. You've seen it a million times, people being asked to do this or that, and whether they want to or not, need to or not, have time for it or not, they comply. No boundaries. 

My word of advice:
Know what you want in life before your feet hit the floor in the morning. Set your boundaries, yet be flexible. Then walk to the nearest mirror and reconfirm your goals, boundaries, and limits with the person you're looking at, as they are most likely the one to be your biggest challenge. Yes, people set their goals, and silently go about destroying their own plan by making contradictive choices throughout the day. 

Here's my challenge to you: Set your goals, and live up to them for just one day. Then do it the next, and the next, and the next. Yes, it's difficult if you're leaving your comfort zone, but this is how great things come to pass.

Go to: www.jillnix.com for all your Health and Fitness needs!

HAPPINESS and HEALTH

What does happiness have to do with health? ALOT! A happy soul makes for a happy person, makes for a happy family, a happy workplace, happy hormones, which makes for a healthy body. Be happy. 

Have you ever been around a negative person? 

D...R...A...I...N...I...N...G! 

Negative people live off your energy folks, avoid them like the plaque. 
Of course we all have times when we're feeling less than upbeat, when life throws us a curve ball, when our hearts ache, but there is something to be learned from the experience and then it is time to move on. Sure it's okay to mourn, to cry, to share our disgruntlements with others, as we are human and humans are meant to communicate. Communication is one way to sort through feelings which allows us to see things more clearly, deal with them more directly, and move forward, with a new hope, with inspiration, with determination. It's when we get 'stuck in the rut', that perspectives can become clouded, and last way too long. This in turn affects the best of all relationships, as no one like to be around a permanent 'Crank'.

WHAT DETERMINES OUR HAPPINESS?

YOU DO. 
You are your own chemical manufacturing plant. That's right, within you lies a powerful system capable of manufacturing all kinds of potent chemicals, which equals endless opportunities. When a person experiences feeling, they immediately begin sending signals to the hypothalamus, which in turn pumps out peptides in relation to what they're feeling. Have the same feeling long enough and these peptides will latch onto receptors in the brain and make a new home. When this new cell splits it has the inherent makings of the same feelings times ten! 

Yes, there are individuals who, for some unfortunate reason, have chemical imbalances that need intervention. This should be the exception not the rule. I find more and more doctors handing out anti-depressants to patients. Utah is known as the Anti-Depressant capitol of the country. What is up with that? If a person needs help, by all means get help, you deserve to be happy. Just be sure it's in your favor, the benefits outweigh the risks, and it's something you're educated about and comfortable with. 

HAPPINESS IS A GIFT
Like all gifts, some are to be shared and others treasured by one. Happiness works much the same way, at times we can share freely, at others times the happiness is tucked away safely. One thing is for sure, happy people radiate, they glow, they are like magnets to those around them. They are easily approached, easy to talk to, easy to spend time with, easy to just sit contently quietly with. 

HAPPINESS CAN BE CONTAGIOUS
Fake it till you make it. Sooner or later the peptides will get the message you mean business and WANT to be happy, and begin working in your favor, and like your happiness, will start affecting the cells around them the same way a happy person rubs off on the people around them. I'm so thankful for happy people, for people who smile, who greet me with a 'Good morning', it makes my day. I hope I too can share the happiness with those around me, as life is too short to be unhappy.

HAPPINESS AND YOUR HEALTH
Happy people get sick less often, miss work less often, have happy relationships with those around them, and in turn save bundles on doctor visits, medications, time off work, fuel, and have been found to have less disease. Coincidence? I think not. 

If you see someone who needs a listening ear, listen. If someone needs a hug, hug them. If their heads are hanging down, help bring their sights back up. We all have our days. We might not be able to help everyone, but we can at least be mindful of those around us. If they respond, wonderful, if they are not interested, then maintain your happiness and be on your way. Many a person has had a better day simply by another individual sharing a smile, or as simple a thing as holding a door open for them. 

BOTTOM LINE
Happiness is important to health, to longevity, to relationships. Happiness is to be felt, shared, enjoyed, and experienced. Like I've said before, evaluate your life, decide what you are happy with and what you are not. Make goals, take action, cast fear aside. If you're waiting for someone else to 'make' you happy you could be waiting a mighty long time. Look within. 

Go to www.jillnix.com and lose the belly fat, walk lighter,
eliminate cravings and live the life of your dreams!

Water and Coco-Cola: Interesting Tidbits

As many of you already are aware, I'm a huge advocate of water. I highly discourage people from drinking 'soft'drinks that are anything but 'soft'. 

A friend sent me these interesting facts on water vs. Coke. It did not have a link so I'm just sharing it as is. I hope you find this not only valuable to your health, but also use it as a motivating factor to keep yourself and those you love, well informed, and hydrated, with good clean fresh, pure water. 

For those addicted to, or have formed bad habits with sodas, may I encourage you to overcome the habit, see it for the destroyer of health it is and commit yourself from this moment forth to wean yourself down to nothing but H2O.

Thanks to whomever compiled this wonderful information, and for sharing it with others to educate and help us realize the value of clean water. It truly is a priceless asset. 

WATER

1.  75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half the world population)

2.  In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.

3.  Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%.

4.  One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pains for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

5.  Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6.  Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7.  A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

8.  Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. 

Are you drinking the amount of water you should drink every day?

COKE

1.  In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

2.  You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days.

3.  To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the 'real thing' sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

4.  To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

5.  To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

6.  To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

7.  To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake.  Thirty minutes before ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for sumptuous brown gravy.

8.  To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke into the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

1.  The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid.  It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase of osteoporosis.

2.  To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate), commercial trucks must use a Hazardous Material Placard reserved for highly corrosive materials.

3.  The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean engines of their trucks for about 20 years.

DRINKING WATER AT THE CORRECT TIME

Drinking water at the correct time maximizes its effectiveness on the Human body:

- 2 glasses of water after waking up -  helps activate internal organs

- 1 glass of water  30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion

- 1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure

- 1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

Drink to good health!

Go to: www.jillnix.com for your Personalized Meal Plans and Custom Training Programs!

A FISH A DAY TO KEEP DISEASE AT BAY

We’ve all heard how good fish oil is for us. How fatty fish such as salmon, a couple times a week, can improve many qualities of our lives. Fish oil has so much more to offer than many people realize.

To gain the benefits from fish oil, one must consume it regularly, meaning in a sufficient amount, on a daily basis. It might not be realistic or even palatable, for people to consume salmon every day, especially in the amounts necessary to reap health benefits. Sure, there are other fish we can get these precious oils from, however, there’s controversy over contamination of these fish due to pollution, chemical dumping, and other environmental, as well as, manmade toxins.

BENEFITS OF FISH OIL 

- Reduces symptoms from food allergies.

- Helps to alleviate depression (post-partum depression, as well).

- Lowers cholesterol.

- Lowers blood triglycerides.

- Improves brain function.
- Slows macular degeneration.

- Speeds recovery from ulcers.

- Improves complexion.

- Reduces risk of heart disease.

- Strengthens vision.

- Reduces inflammation, which in turn leads to quicker recovery whether 

  from illness or exercising.

- Reduces joint pain.

- Promotes elimination of stored fat.

- Improves concentration.

- Strengthens the immune system.

- Reduces acne.

- Helps maintain and regulate organs.

- Reduces wrinkles.

- Promotes overall skin health.

- Assists in the elimination of toxins from the system.

- Crucial for brain development in fetus’s, babies, infants, and children.

- Promotes macular health.

- Aids digestion.

So how can we reap the benefits of fish oil without having to eat a lot of fish? Simple. Buy fish oil. Before you run out to purchase fish oil, be sure you know what you’re looking for. Always look for pure, non-synthetic, fish oil. A couple reputable brands I like are: ‘Udo’s’, and the Twinlab formula. My kids will even get into the fridge and take the Twinlab on their own because it’s emulsified, and naturally flavored. No one likes to be burping up a fish all day. Emulsified, pure fish oils from Twinlab taste great, and are good quality.

Udo’s oil has been around for a long, long, time. Erasmus Udo has done extensive research with oils, and came up with his own ‘ideal’ oil. Ideal it is, a bit more expensive than other brands, but well worth it.

I’m sure there are other good quality oils on the market, as well. Do some research of your own, ask around, shop at health food stores and ask what the most popular fish oil supplement is they sell, and why.

Whether you choose capsules, for ease to carry around with you, or liquid, be sure to keep your oils refrigerated. If you purchase more than one bottle, keep it closed until you're ready to use it, and store it in a cool dark place, or in your fridge.

If you find you cannot tolerate a particular brand, don’t give up, keep looking, and soon you’ll find one that your taste buds and digestive system will agree with.

GO FISH!