Comparison is the thief of {JOY}.

I’ve been receiving some messages/e-mails lately from some ladies in my “fit-fam”. {I’m in a TON of fit mom, bodybuilding, fitness, healthy eating groups and meet TONS of ladies who now earn the title of my “fit-family”} They are asking, “How are you losing your baby weight?” and “What exercises are you doing?”, “Do you have stretch marks?”, “How do you have energy to workout?”

I think it’s great that we as women can encourage each other by sharing our tips and tricks to getting the baby weight off. Talking about how we can get a workout in when we are BEYOND exhausted or what we can do to lose weight without losing our milk supply. What’s NOT great is when you compare your body/story to mine or vice-versa. Losing baby weight takes TIME à a concept I didn’t quite understand until I had Moses. I thought at {3 months Postpartum} I would be close to where I was before I had him… Not realizing the havoc pregnancy throws at your body. Not only your “physical shape” but your hormones, your motivation, your lack of sleep AFTER baby gets here, the stretch marks, the mommy brain {They never told me that “pregnancy brain” lasts BEYOND the pregnancy}.

What is working for me, may not work for you. You may lose 10 lbs. in the time it takes me to lose 2 lbs. Maybe you can go on a juice cleanse, well I can’t because I get a farty/unhappy baby. Maybe I’m up walking a couple miles a day and you are still icing it on the couch… The list goes on in ways we can compare our journeys to others, but what’s important is that we LOVE our bodies at whatever post-baby stage they’re at.

The honest truth is that ALL women {and men, but I’m speaking mainly for women} can let judgment and jealousy into our lives and it can steal our happiness.  Moms, you’ve had a beautiful child GROW inside of you. YOU provided life for that child you love so very much. As important as it is to me to get rid of the baby weight! It’s MORE important to me to enjoy my son and his amazingness. Also, to realize how magnificent it is that my body made him and is now feeding him and keeping him healthy. HELLO???? Not everyone gets that gift!!

I’d LOVE to share what I’m doing to shed this weight, where I’m getting my motivation, what I’m eating. But don’t compare. Look deep inside who YOU are and be happy with your journey. We ALL start somewhere and wherever you start is beautiful. You are beautiful!

XO

Hannah

::Just being honest:: A new way of thinking...

This is a totally raw and honest post from yours truly J

2 ½ years ago I took on a HUGE goal—LOSE weight! Get HEALTHY! It was my life, it was my passion, my every thought, my total mindset was focused around this. I did it too—I lost 30 lbs of FAT! Put on muscle and never felt better in my whole life. I never starved myself, didn’t use a “lose-weight-quick” plan, never thought about throwing up my food, nor did I obsessively weigh myself. I am proud to say I got healthy the healthiest way you can do it. Eating healthy and getting active…

In this pursuit for the perfect body ;) What’s that? Right! LOL!

SOOOOOOO many changes occurred. As they do whenever you make or have a significant life change. My goals, focuses, aspirations changed. A lot of them were for the better, but some weren’t… I started asking questions like:

WHY doesn’t everyone do this?? Why don’t people lose weight? What’s with all of the excuses? {I know I had my excuses for about 5 years} What will MAKE people change? How can I MAKE people change? I posted about it on my FB, twitter, told everyone I knew, I just became obsessed with “Fit-Thinking”. I have to make everyone lose weight!!

What I didn’t realize in this crazy, one-track-mind, obsessed frenzy I was in, was that not everyone wants to make this change. Not everyone was as obsessed as I was about their body image. Needless to say, the “healthy-looking mindset” I thought I had, wasn’t too healthy. I offended people with these thoughts and couldn’t give my clients what THEY NEEDED. Even though I thought I was doing it out of love {Who wants to watch their family/friends die, be depressed or get sick because of obesity related issues you can do something about it??} The way I was going about it, was not loving.

My point of this post is not to be an advocate to being overweight or that it’s okay to shovel fast food into our mouths on a daily basis while we follow it with a HUGE soda. I 100% believe in living a healthy lifestyle, but that also means being able to have “cheats”, enjoy cake, take a rest day from fitness, be a size 8/10 without having criticism, help people find a plan that works for them and their lifestyle.

Over the last year-ish {steadily gaining weight} during this pregnancy, not being involved in any fitness/weight loss company, stepping back from FB, prioritizing and re-fueling, I feel I’ve have a “mindset change” I’ve been able to step back, take a break and my eyes have been opened. I thank the Lord for this time. Although I’ve maintained a healthy pregnancy and stayed active throughout- I’ve still GAINED… My skin has stretched and I’m a vessel for this little boy who has already stole my heart and I haven’t even met him!! Also, stepping out of the fitness industry has been huge, constantly feeling the pressure of the competitions and media can take a tole on your thoughts!!

I want to be in a place where I can HELP people. Not force people to be a certain size or weight, but ENCOURAGE them to just make healthy changes in their lives.

It really, really, really is AMAZING to have a healthy, functioning body. To sweat out toxins, fill up with endorphins, feel confident in swimwear, have energy to LIVE, fight off diseases, feel sexy and proud of the work you are putting in. I’ll never stop living a healthy lifestyle!!

After baby comes I’m SO BEYOND excited to work on my post-baby body {I dream about it everyday, lol}, which will be amazing, beautiful and any flaws will be proof that I created LIFE inside of me! I want to encourage others to join me and help people find their way of living healthy.

It’s just important to keep healthy and happy in the forefront of my dreams! There is no one-size fits all fitness plan, people are fabulous no matter their shape or size. As long as they happy and healthy!!

Over the past couple years I’ve been BLESSED to have helped quite a few ladies {And men}

lose weight, get their bodies to a place where they feel confident and sexy. It’s a passion of mine to help, motivate and encourage people. It’s also been amazing to go through this journey and discover my flaws so I can better help MORE people. Thank you Lord for showing us our weaknesses and flaws so we can work on ourselves and be better, more joyful people J

{Toxic} Relationships

                     Today I’m sharing on the topic of “toxic” relationships!

We ALL have them in our lives --> they are the people/relationships in your life that you may or may not constantly be around. They can be family members, co-workers, acquaintances or even someone you’d call a close friend! Whoever they are, their words or actions either hurt you, bring your spirits down or just provide an awful dose of downright rudeness when it’s totally unnecessary.

Whether their comments are small or large, they can hurt and COMPLETELY derail you from the joyful life you were put on this earth to live. My husband and I have experienced this first hand and have over the last couple of years really focused on finding those positive people and relationships to surround ourselves with and ignoring the “noise” and negativity of the toxic ones. 

A little over two years ago we took a HUGE leap of faith and moved across the Pacific to Maui, leaving ALL family, friends, acquaintances, EVERYONE! We knew TWO people here in Maui, they were the sweet couple who moved over here with us. Those were the only two people we knew. Dave & I both grew up in a towns where you’d run into someone you knew every single time you left your house, so this “knowing not-a-single-person” thing, made for an interesting twist in our lives. When we moved, HUGE transformations happened in both of our lives and our marriage. We lost a combined weight of 100lbs, we COMPLETELY changed our eating habits, our views on health, our thoughts on family, our relationships with ourselves and each other and the Lord. We realized that even though we lived a pretty fab life in Oregon, we were not living the life intended for us… The move to Maui was exactly what we needed to CHANGE out of the toxic habits we held! The Lord has done a work and there are no words to describe how amazing I feel and how thankful I am for that work. 

After about 6 months here, after we had our “transformation” ;) Or whatever you want to call it… We started looking into the relationships we had back in Oregon and ones we were making here and realized how many toxic relationships we had in our lives. Not always was it a toxic person, but it was the way we carried a relationship with them or how we handled ourselves around them, it wasn’t healthy. We weren’t friends to them and they weren’t friends to us. It was just toxic, stagnant, no give. When we saw how much changing our mindset had transformed our whole lives it was crucial to look back and see what exactly the root of our issues were and how we could fix them. Most of the relationships have been healed due to us changing and the other person never even knowing there was an issue... Other relationships have had to be mutual, where both parties had to take a step back to get to the point where they feel comfortable and confident to step back in. Then sadly, there are relationships that just didn’t work out. You do what you can, but obviously not EVERYONE can or wants to be your friend and vice versa! 

It’s important when you’re {cleaning up} your relationships that you realize, it doesn’t have to get nasty. You don’t have to say everything bad they did or rub their mistakes in their faces. Handling it with love and respect is the best way to go. It’s inevitable that people will come and go in your life… THAT’S LIFE! Sometimes there will be a relationship that will be OH SO hard for you to give up, but they don’t respect you or support you or give you the love YOU deserve. {Those are the toughies} But I can’t stress the amazing feeling it is to get rid of the negative and surround yourself with positive, uplifting and respectful people. People who cheer you on, even when you’ve set a CRAZY goal. People who are there when you fall, even if you’ve fallen 100 times over the same issue. People who laugh with you and don’t talk behind your back. People who will tell you the TRUTH with love and help better you. Be open to criticism, but don’t let people walk all over you. Be open to change and positivity. Your life, goals, dreams, mindset, relationships, health and wellness depend on YOU to be open to having healthy relationships and positive fellowship. 

I REALLY wanted to share this because it’s been a HUGE help in my life, to know my true friends and be okay letting some go. I have rock solid relationships with people who LOVE me. I have best friends who I’d do anything for and they would do anything for me. I have friends who are closer to me even living 2000 miles away from them than people who live down the street. Living a balanced, healthy life is my goal and making sure my friendships and relationships are balanced and healthy aligns with that goal and makes for a pretty happy ME :)

XO Hannah

6 months preggo & so thankful for DADS!

It's was a super lazy week for me last week... Not for the hubby though, so I made it my goal to just be THERE for him, encourage him when he was overwhelmed and make sure he's getting fed! He is such a hard worker and as a RN student/hubby/soon-to-be-dad/worker his life is absolutely crazy- While I'm enjoy a more leisurely life until Moses comes, I may as well help my better half out.

Pregnancy Update: 6 months along- Feeling really sleepy this week, back pain {Physical Therapy is helping with that}, heartburn {Tum, Tu, Tum, Tum, Tums!!!}, lots of baby kicks & flips. Overall, not bad-- Can't eat a thing past 4-5pm without feeling super uncomfortable, so I've been juicing, making a shake or eating some protein pudding to get my nutrients.

I've been doing a lot of learning, soul-searching, internalizing... Whatever you want to call it! I've been really trying to work on my mindset and myself. There are a few things that have come up over the last couple weeks that I'm not to happy about. Just the way I approach certain things in life and the fear that I carry with me. Fear is such a handicap-- It's a crutch too. It holds me back from reaching my potential, stops me from being authentic, gives me reasons to make excuses. It's just ugly and the way I let it into my life is ugly. So, lots of praying, spending time in the scriptures, chatting with a guru, my hubby ;) He is SUCH a go-getter, positive, doesn't let anything get in his way type of person. Fear in the areas I struggle with, don't even phase him! I'm so thankful for him- WOW! It's been a learning week, which isn't always fun-- But it's necessary. I have HUGE goals for myself and I won't reach them without digging deep and getting rid of the fears I hold on to. My motto right now-- "Let your faith {and dreams} be BIGGER than your fears." More bold and beautiful Hannah in the works, lol... Stay tuned!

Another fun thing this week was Father's Day-- Dave's first one! He's been an amazing father to our fur-kids for years & he talks about little Moses with excitement in his voice, so it was fun to celebrate him today with some special lovin'.
To MY dad, who is the best father I could ask for! He's loving, hard working, has a huge heart, kind spirit and chose to take ME as his daughter! He didn't have to adopt me and could have been just been my "step-dad" but he stepped up to the plate when no one else would and raised me. We have argued, butted heads, disagreed- I've given him more than his share of teenage girl attitude, but he's loved me every day since we've met and I'm grateful for that. He's also going to be the greatest grandpa ever!    
{Sad that I couldn't find a pic of us :/ but I'll see him in 17 days, when I visit Oregon & I'm taking pics}
I also want to shout out to my father-in-law. His crazy passion for Christ as my youth pastor and pastor has influenced my life in more ways that I could thank him for. Also, his love for my mother-in-law has benefited my life as their son loves me unconditionally because of their amazing examples of a Christian marriage.
To my gramps as well-- He tops the list as one of my most favorite people on this earth. He is one-of-a-kind, he loves me, he has a huge heart {though he covers it with his toughness} and I have so many fun memories with him.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL!

XO Hannah

Where do I get Motivation?

The TWO questions...

"Can you be my Motivation?" Or "Where do you get your Motivation?"

These questions have been asked to me many, MANY times since starting my health/fitness journey and becoming a health coach.

I love it! When people reach out to me and ask for help, they are acknowledging that they want a change. There is a trigger that's gone off that causes them to desire this lifestyle. My "switch" was a little over two years ago. I was DONE-- Totally fed up with myself, my eating habits, my endurance, my confidence level {or lack thereof}. I humbled myself and reached out for help! I found fit/healthy, non-toxic people and surrounded myself with their positivity. Most of them lived in Facebook land and I've never even met them in person... and that was okay with me. I was able to push myself with their long distance support because I believed in myself. My life was changed forever and I've never looked back! The friendships I made with those people at that time was essential for my personal growth and health goals.

The motivation question posed above is something that I asked one of my coaches when I started my journey. I asked her to be my motivation. She simply said, she is here for me, she can guide me, she can encourage me, but the ONLY person who can motivate me is myself and the BELIEF that I can accomplish my goals. This was a hard one for me-- I had never pushed myself to  this limit before and I wasn't sure I could do it. {Those of you who have trained, KNOW the limits you have to take you body to}. It's not easy to say no to cake or pizza, doing the last rep is freaking hard and you want to stop, the emotional aspect of changing your habits and body takes a tole. There are so many things, but what you have to keep focusing on if the belief you have in your goals, aspirations and in yourself!

You can do ANYTHING you put your heart to. KNOW you can do it, believe in yourself, if you fail one day or fall off track-- that should not stop your movement. You pick right back up and go. When your alarm goes off and you've barely slept, still get up! Lace up your shoes and go!

When you start seeing changes in yourself, it will become your motivation. You have less doubts, you have more confidence, excuses don't even matter any more because you've conquered your old doubtful self.

I am here for you! I'll coach you and encourage you and give you advice, tips, samples... But BELIEVE in yourself and become your own motivation, you are amazing and perfect and the goals you've set for yourself are real and powerful and you will achieve them!

 XO,
Hannah

Getting Rid of the "Debbie-Downer" Mentality!

HELLO!!! This is a confession/learning situation post... 

This morning I was totally struggling with being content, or the lack of... Uugghh! Most of the time I look to the positive things in life and live “glass half full”, but for some reason I let the small {insignificant} things take over my mind. Negativity is like a poison to me, some people can live their whole lives being a Debbie-Downer and letting life get the best of them. Not I! I thrive on positivity and endorphins!

I woke up and was super irritated with the smallest little issues, some say to blame it on pregnancy hormones—But I take full responsibility for my negativity in this instance. I was just letting these issues become an elephant when it was really only the size of an ant.

After Dave left for work {He was eager to leave me to my issues, I’m sure!} I knew I needed to do something to get out of this funk! I sat on the porch as he drove away and started writing down all of the things that were bothering me. I read them over and over and it suddenly occurred to me; I was creating this victim attitude towards these small issues that, in the BIG picture, mean NOTHING! I was bringing down my husband, totally ignoring the pups, causing a fuss over absolutely nothing… I felt like a total loser.  So, I laced up my shoes, grabbed my water bottle and headed out for a walk –FRESH AIR- exactly what the Doctor orders in these situations. After my walk, I came home and turned on a prenatal yoga video {STRETCH}, sat and took deep breaths. Thinking about that list and cancelling out all of the situations I wrote down, with positive thoughts instead of negative. I know this sounds all new-age-y and spiritual, but it really wasn’t.

I needed solitude, where I could be alone with my thoughts, focus on the blessings that will come out of these situations that seem “bigger & badder than life” and MOVE THE HECK ON! Sometimes you have to give up the good to get to the great!

Thank you Lord for helping me see!!

What I learned: We are all dealt certain situations in life that totally suck! Some worse than others—WE are the ONLY ones who can either look at the positive through these situations or focus on how horrible they are. There is no one who will do it for us.

Dwell on the negative or positive? It’s totally your decision, but when I took a few deep breaths and got rid of those negative situations, I felt like a MILLION BUCKS. The hubby cam home to a HUGE apology, clean house and dinner. The pups got their pettins, and I got my “happy” back.

Have you ever been in this situation?? Do you let the "debbie-downers" take you down??

XO,

Hannah

Definitely look a happier than I was, LOL-- Sweat out your issues! It works!

Re-focusing My Goals & Priorities for 2013

This morning I woke up to the warm sun blaring through my bedroom windows. Such a gorgeous day outside here with blue skies and hot sun!

Yes! That is the ocean in the background--Bright blue.

 














I woke up knowing today was going to be a “heart to heart” day. There are SO many things I am wanting to do, I’m being pulled in so many directions. It was time to take a break from my busy-ness, sit down, breath and focus on what my goals, priorities and desires were. Weeding out all of the mess and sewing in good seeds of productivity. So I got out of bed, made myself a green shake, and sent my hubby off to school {He’s currently in the UH Nursing program}. 

My "GREEN" shake!

  After sipping my shake & grabbing my notebook, I found a quiet place to sit and relax. I really focused and prayed for direction in my life, that my goals and priorities would be on track with the big picture. I thought about ALL of the things I want to do and love to do and decided which ones I have space for at this time in my life and which ones I can focus on in the next season of my life.

Ahh, writing everything down suddenly makes life so much easier. It’s like my brain isn’t swirling with “what if’s” and “how can I’s”. It’s just focused and knows exactly what step to take next. It’s amazing to have a plan, and though life doesn’t always go to plan and craziness is always around the next corner. It makes it so much easier when you know where you want to be and that you ARE going to get there.

Now that I feel totally free after that life planning sesh-- I’m off to garden or should I say, WEED! It’s a beautiful day outside & I’m taking full advantage.


Do you ever take a {Priorities} inventory? Weeding out all of the wants and to-do's that are just getting in the way of your clear goals?

XO
Hannah

Live Abundantly in Ephesians

I am a Christian. Christ is my first and foremost passion. As Christians or anyone really, it's so hard to get caught up in the things of this world! What we want others to see us as, our worth, our bank account, our looks, our stuff... All of these perishable earthly things. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against ANY of these things. I want to be worth something, I enjoy swiping my plastic knowing there is money in there, I love feeling healthy and having a body that shows it. What I often forget it is Who gave it to me. Who gave me these earthly blessings, my looks, my heart, my passions, my physical/spiritual wealth. Jesus did.

The world is constantly trying to trap us into thinking we are in charge of our own "beings" and the universe is what centers us, while yoga balances us and herbal tea restores us. PLEASE don't get me wrong, I enjoy yoga and drink tea like crazy!! But those things are not what fills me. The ONLY reason I am here right now is because of my relationship with my Lord and the ONLY reason I have the things I do is because of my relationship with my Lord. He is where I find peace, love, harmony, balance, restoration and my center.

This past week was a re-focus week for me. Getting right and remembering WHO I serve! Saying, "My Will for Your Will". There is nothing better. Period.

Having my father-in-law visit last week was great, he is a pastor and has a passion for Christ I have never seen in anyone else! Even though he is my father-in-law and has, over the years, done those "father-in-law" kind of things {I will leave it at that, LOL}... He remains my pastor and someone I respect very highly in my Christian walk. It was because of him 10 years ago, sharing his passion for Christ with his youth group that I began my {serious} walk with the Lord. So spending time with him this week was so nice and refreshing.

I'm currently doing a study through the book of Ephesians.

Do you do a daily Devotional? Tell me about it! Let's connect!

XO ~ Hannah