Dessert, Wine, and a GPS- how to plan on making 2015 one heckofa year.

I don’t want to miss the opportunity to write about the New Year since everyone and their mom (hi ma!) likes to offer some kind of insight around this time:

New Year, New You.  

Resolutions to Change Your Life.  

How to Make 2015 YOUR Year.

The thing is, I don’t know how to change your life.  I’ve got my own over here I’m trying to figure out.  I could tell you 5 foods to eat in 2015, how to get rid of those love handles, or what kind of bikini bottom to wear onstage but I don’t know if that’s what you need.  

I have no idea what will make you happier or more successful in 2015.

That’s going to take some work on your end. 

I took a look at 15 (I couldn’t quite handle 2, 015) things that could potentially enhance my quality of life in  the New Year.  I already know I’m probably going to tackle a career change, plan a wedding, apply for house mortgages, and car loans so what small things can I implement that will make these big changes enjoyable?

These are mine, yours will be different.  

I am Courtney, an easily anxious, energetic woman that really enjoys peanut butter and procrastinates showering. We are different and your goals will, and should, be different.  

These will change my life, yours will change yours.

1. Buy a $30 bottle of wine.  

I am 27 and I work hard.  I am going to cheers myself with a quality beverage and enjoy the flavors of the best fruit known to mankind.

2. Write.

I love this shite...words and finding out where they should go.  However, I think of it in a way similar to cleaning- hard to get started but loving the result.  Ello swiffer.

3. Make (with an OVEN and/or STOVE) dinner once a week.  

I typically grab oats, egg whites, or the leftover chicken my fiancé has made for dinner.  I feel a sense of nourished accomplishment when I put something together that takes more than a microwave.  So call me Julia and hand me that spatula, I’m going to do it.

4. Buy and use skin cream. 

 I’m Irish and I tanned in artificial UV rays for about 5 years. ‘nough said.

5. Go out to dinner by myself.  

I want to sit and enjoy my company.  If you see a blond ponytail giggling to herself over lobster tail, just walk by (and perhaps give a heads up about the butter on my chin.)

6. Check my voicemail.  

I have a voicemail notification 99% of the time.  And I don’t check it.  I literally look at a little red notification 364 days out of the year.  And it gives me anxiety.  JUST CHECK IT.

7. Eat a dessert that isn’t non/low fat.  

I always opt for the lighter option- I will eat something that can be considered “decadent” by a grownup palate in 2015.

8. Stretch.  

In the grocery line, at the bank, watching TV.  I’m more comfortable when I do…it’s time to straddle, squat, lean, and lower and it's time to do it regularly.

9. Write letters.  

I love sending and getting paper freaking envelopes.  I’m sharpening my quill now.

10. Date my fiancé.  

The best thing in my entire life was falling in love with this big, friendly giant of a man…I will date him in the new year and I will date him hard.

11. Clean my car.  

Even once would be more than what it got in 2014.

12. Smile at strangers.  

For a cheerful person I usually give the guy looking my way the most unattractive look I can muster.  Chill, he’s probably looking at the corvette behind you, just smile.

13. Get gas before the tank light comes on.  

I know how much better I feel when I do yet I NEVER do.  Why? Irving here I come.

14. Play with my dog.  

I pet her, snuggle her, and Instagram her, but I don’t often PLAY.  She is only here for so long and legitimately only cares about 1 thing- loving us.  Time to make that tail wag.

15. Trust my GPS.  

I usually think I am smarter than GoogleMaps.  I’m not and I get lost and angry.  2015 will be the year of direction (heh).

What will change your life?  What will make your days easier or more fulfilling?  What will allow you to breathe a bit more and worry a little less?

We all have the big goals, the life changing events, and the monumental moments.  To help us enjoy, appreciate, and feel GOOD in the everyday I suggest taking a look at the Little.  The small stuff.  The mundane. 

I can see the appeal of those articles promising to change your life…but they don’t know you.  They don’t know what needs changing.  Take a little lookski at yourself and don’t stress about making it the best year of your life…let’s just start with making it pretty damn good.

Planking with a Puppy on Your Head

I pushed an ear out of my mouth and attempted to wipe a dripping line of slobber off my neck.

WOOOF!

She was relentless.  I was too.

I stiffened my plank as a paw landed on my shoulder blade.  She nudged, I held on.  15 seconds left.

A headbutt to the face then a literal butt to the face.

The timer hit my goal and I dropped to the ground, much to her excitement.  The barking began and got aggressively louder as I walked to the dumbbell on my living room floor.

 I realized the slobber was not unique to my neck and my hand slipped on the wet piece of metal. 

Seinfeld was on as a hopeful distraction to the bouncing ball of fur.  A load of laundry was in the wash. Sweet potatoes in the oven.  If all went as planned I would finish my workout as the timer went off and would fold laundry while they cooled.

It didn't and the oven began to buzz mid squat.

The smell of taters putting the pawed princess in a spud-induced frenzy.

Sweets out, back to the squat, barking resuming.

This was far, far from the workout I had planned for this particular Tuesday.  I had my gym bag packed the night prior, exercise plan from my coach printed, and pre-workout consumed at perfect timing.

But life is not perfect and I was home bound after the work day, my plan to hit the gym dismantled.

Sigh.

This is an overworked theme and one that’s been exhausted by Health and Fitness magazines, personal trainers, and exercise bloggers.  But…I will venture- sometimes I get asked the question, “how do you find the time?”

My helpful answer is sometimes, I don’t.

Sometimes I literally do not have time in my 24 hours to go to the gym for the workout I have planned.  Sometimes the tricks, tips, and suggestions by aforementioned sources do not work. 

Sometimes your kid gets sick and you need to pick them up early, feed them antibiotics on the hour, and get to the second kid’s school just in time for them to start throwing up in your Volvo.

Sometimes you have meetings until 7pm, a phone call with a crying friend that lasts until 9 and use the last ten minutes before your head hits the pillow to toss something in your piehole before you perish.

Sometimes you have a 12 hour work day, a doctor’s appointment at lunch, and get your car inspected before you get (another) ticket.

In my opinion, these aren't excuses, they’re life.  Other posts and articles may say there are NO excuses.  I say sometimes you don’t have the damn time.

What I have found, is that you may not have the time for your workout.  

But you do have the time to do something.  

Unless you are strapped to a chair with a straightjacket for 24 hours, there is usually time in your day to do something.

What is something?  For the day described above, something was a plank/squat duet while cooking sweet potatoes, doing laundry, watching Seinfeld, and being home for a puppy that was alone all day.

Something may be 10 quick air squats in the bathroom at work.

Something may be lunging down the hall in your office building.

Something may be going up and down the stairs 5 times every other hour.

Something may be parking in the furthest spot in the ginormous mall parking lot while you’re doing last minute holiday shopping.

Maybe it’s 10 pushups while making dinner.  Or tricep dips on your kitchen chair while sending emails.  Or stretching your hamstrings while waiting for your dog to pee.

My point is, there is ALWAYS time to do something to enhance your health. 

It may not be the leg workout you had planned.  It may not be 30 minutes of high intensity intervals.  It may not be the 5k you were planning on crushing. 

I am obviously an advocate for planned exercise regimens.  I think they're great and very effective.  I think everyone should have a "plan" of some sort.

But life often has a change in plans.  Life doesn't always fully understand I need a hack squat machine to build my derriere.

There are excuses, there are reasons to not go to the gym or accomplish your desired exercise.

There are not, however, reasons to fully and completely abandon your body as a vessel that can move.

Implement something in a day full of life's everythings.

Whether it's a sick kid, a doctor's appointment, a crying friend, or a 15 hour work day, comically acknowledge there's always something you can do.

Even if, there's a puppy on your head.

Preserving Your Hot Cross Buns- 5 tips to beat those holiday hangovers

I woke up yesterday with a full stomach, slight headache, and the furthest thing from any kind of pep in my step.  After a groan and a sigh, I clomped to the shower and turned it on with as much gusto as a slug on a summer sidewalk.  The next endeavor of putting on makeup, pulling a brush through my hair, and finding something other than drawstrings to put on my body was almost too much for my Monday self to handle.

Yesterday morning I was giving no kind of thanks to Thanksgiving.  

While the treats were delicious, the company incredible, and the laughs plentiful; my body was camped out in Struggle City.  I am used to treating my body like a machine- with timers, schedules, and well planned sustenance.  This blonde machine got unplugged the past few days and it’s taking its grand ol’ time to get back up to speed.

That puffy, fatigued feeling?  The one that makes you feel like a polar bear in slow motion?  We know it all too well during these festive months.  Instead of turning the entire season into a sleepy, sugared slumber, here are some tips I've learned to push through those ham hangovers and hot toddy haze.

1. Get over it.

You know what makes a headache worse? Thinking about it.  Put your britches on and get your little sugarplum in gear.  We all experience this food induced fuzziness- man-up and realize how gosh darn lucky you are to power through it.  Ya done?

2. H2-hOhoho.

That diet coke with crushed ice is quite possibly the best tasting beverage following a night of vino and midnight nachos but it’s not going to quench that thirst or de-puff those cheeks (north and south).  Grab the water the second your little chimichanga wakes up and don’t stop.

3. Move that nutcracker.

One of the hardest things to do when you’re feeling full is to well, get up.  Slap on the sneaks, get the Pandora playlist going, and just MOVE.  It doesn’t have to be an Olympic lift, a 5k PR, or even longer than 20 minutes.  Just get your body back in the rhythm of doing something more than lying horizontally.

4. Eat.

Huh? But I just did.  A lot.  And for a while. 

I have found it hugely beneficial to start with a very clean, healthy meal the morning after festive indulgence.  Remind your palate that there’s more to life than pie crust and beer (right?)  Don’t starve it and don’t continue to stuff it.  Find that eating equilibrium once again.

5. Early to Bed, Early to Rise…makes a woman healthy, wealthy, and forget about pies.

Sleep is the best makeup known to mankind.  Forget Covergirl or Neutrogena, good ol’ REM is where it’s at.  Hit the hay early and wake up rested.  Your skin, stomach, and head will thank you.

So...that’s what I've seen work in my experiences with merriment. 

There is no time like the holidays for food, fun, and indulgence.  But before you feel like a stale piece of fruitcake, take the steps to maintain the bodily balance you deserve.  There’s already one guy rockin’ a belly like a bowl full of jelly, no need for two;)

Bikinis and Belly Laughs- A Look Into the Life of One of the World's Best Frolickers

Kristy Leconte.  

This girl makes me smile. As we interviewed each other, I happily and eagerly realized that this lady is right up my alley- passionate, dedicated, friendly, ambitious, and adds a :) at least once per email.

Kristy is an IFPA Pro Bikini Athlete. For those who don't know, the IFPA is a Professional Division in Natural Bodybuilding- after earning her placement at the Yorton Cup (think World Cup or Stanley Cup with more muscle and less pale skin) she can now confidently say she is one of the top 5 Bikini Athletes in the world. Holy macaroni.

But wait, there's more.  A whole lot more.

She is a coach, a trainer, a motivator, a wife, an inspiration, and one hell of a hardworking woman.  Need proof? Be sure to check out her website/blog at kristyleconte.com for a glimpse at what this superwoman does.  I got the chance to speak with her and hear a little bit more about what it's like to walk in the heels (and sneakers!) of this brunette bombshell.

*CC: I feel like you must wake up at 3am to accomplish all you seem to do!  Walk us through a day in the life of Kristy!

KL: Ha that’s about right.  I have always been a person that packs as much, if not too much, into the day.   A normal day goes like so:

3:00am alarm and kisses from my boxer, Bevo, gets me up.

3:30am I am running out the door stuffing meal one in my face as I balance my lunch bag, gym bag, and purse in hand.  (hot mess)

4:00am- 6:00am Workout and shower

6:30am- 12:30pm Clients

12:30pm -4:30 pm I work the desk at the gym and answer email from clients.

4:30pm -7:00pm clients

7:30pm- Home to spend time with Bevo or the Husband

9 pm to 9:30- Bed time! 10:30 is a late night for me.

*CC: I feel far more stress/pressure now before a show than in my first year of competing as a newbie- can you relate to this at all?

KL: Yes! My first prep I didn’t have a coach and I didn’t know anyone else that was doing or prepping for a show.  I had no expectations of where I should be each week and I had nothing  to compare it to.  My second show I prepped in the summer! I thought it would be a piece of cake… I could just BBQ everything and have tons of veggies.  I was wrong! I forgot about the ice cream and the social events where you just want to have a glass of wine.  

THEN I won my IFPA Pro card…  I felt like I had to be better so the pressure was on.  I had all these stage pictures of myself that I had to be better than.  It was a good stress but a stress none the less. The one positive thing about the pressure is you learn a lot about yourself.  There were moments I would be fighting back tears because I was at my limit, but a few minutes later I would do a little self talk/ check in and they I would feel great and think WOW my booty or abs are looking AMAZING.

There are also times where my inner critic starts telling me If I don’t do well I will let my clients and sponsors down.  (No I don’t worry about my family and friends because they have loved me through worst things) :) But I put the pressure on myself because I think of myself as a leader/ role model to my clients.   I want to show them that hard work really does pay off.  Then I’m reminded that my clients don’t care if I win or place dead last.  They are proud of me for just doing this sport. So then I relax a little and look at my abs again! Ha

*CC: What does your husband do for a living? Does he share any of your health/fitness passions?  How does he feel about you competing?

KL: My husbands works in a shipping warehouse.  He is one of the best athletes I have ever known.  I actually look up to him a lot,  (and it’s not just because he’s a foot taller than me).  He still plays Flag football on weekends and can walk into the gym after not working out for months and  squat over 500lbs.

As for how he feels about me competing, he's happy with whatever makes me happy.  I don’t push my eating habits on him.  If he wants pizza he can get pizza.  He also understands If I don’t eat in time I get a cranky. He does enjoying teasing me about staying up pass 9pm. (He’s a night owl).

*CC: I’ve been asked by many people, “are the other girls nice at the shows?” What have you experienced and how would you answer that?

KL: Unfortunately, there are always one or two ladies that have a sucky outlook on life.  Ha… Just like every area of life, there will always be those people that are insecure with who they are and they let one thing define them.  If the show doesn’t go their way they cut down everyone else to make themselves feel better.  

But not everyone is like that.  Not even those people are ALWAYS like that.  I’ve learned that once you know a person's WHY it’s easier to understand where they are coming from.  It doesn’t mean they are right… but as Taylor Swift say… “Shake. Shake. Shake. Shake. Shake it off” 

There are some people there that are truly amazing.  I have met great people by doing shows. These people, like yourself, have helped me learn something about myself and grow as a person. :) It’s really how you chose to handle the negative….

*CC: What is your favorite non-physical characteristic about yourself?

KL: My laugh… When I’m taken by surprise by a joke or something it's really big!

*CC: What is one non-physical characteristic about yourself you wish you could change?

KL: My anxiety/ need to be in control.  This has been something I have been working on for about 7 years really.  I used to be on medication for anxiety and depression.  About 5 years ago I stop taking them and started doing a lot of self- growth things.  (If you see my blog/ facebook I’m kinda a hippy about these topics).  I listen to podcast, read, and write to help me understand why I’m feeling the need to be in control and why I have anxiety.  Also, on my day off one of my favorite things is to let my husband be in control of the day. :) ha I know it seems little but we just get in the car and go without a plan… it’s very peaceful.

*CC: What’s next for you? What are your 1, 5, and 10 year goals?

KL: 1 year- Buy a house. Build my blog and business more.

5 year- Have at least 1 rugrat to chase around.

10 year- To have a network of business women to work with, teach and learn from,  and help make each others goals come true.

*CC: And now, rapid fire fun, just pick one!

Chocolate or vanilla protein powder? 

Chocolate

In the theater- Romcom or Thriller? 

Romcom- the laugh thing! :)

Ice cream or nachos? 

nachos

Squat or lunge? 

Squats

M&Ms or Sour Patch Kids? 

Peanut M&M… sooooo good

Treadmill or track? 

Treadmill

Spandex shorts or capris? 

Capris

Red or White wine? 

RED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pandora or ipod? 

Fitness Radio, it’s an app without commercials and great mixes

Back or shoulder workout? 

Shoulders

Heels or flip flops?  

Both! :)

Mexican or Italian?  

Mexican

Underamour or Nike?  

Nike

Positively Passionate- finding the thing that makes you ding

"HA HA!!!"

"WOOO WEEEEEE!"

"BABE, BABE LOOK AT THIS, SERIOUSLY LOOK."

I turn my attention to my fiance and move my eyes to the TV.
Ah yes, I admire the athleticism that took.  My hips don't twist that way and my arms certainly couldn't extend that far, well done.

"Oh wow neat."

"Neat? THAT WAS INCREDIBLE."

Passion.

I find the most interesting, thought-provoking, conversation sparking, intriguing people are those with a passion.  Bugs, birds, beer, butter, hey whatever gets your juices flowin'.

I have had numerous conversations with people who have stumbled into this funny thing called fitness and realized heck, it's pretty cool.  They start going to weekly spin classes, begin following hashtag fitfam, and may invest in some tupperware.  They like how they feel and may want to start talking about it...maybe, they say in hushed voices, they'd "even want to compete someday."

But maybe their mom makes meatloaf every Sunday and their dad keeps filling their wine glass.  And they don't want to tell them they haven't fit into those jeans in 10 years so they take the wine and eat a plate of meat and talk about their job.
And maybe their coworkers have a cookie swap and instead of daring a new protein brownie recipe and impending staredowns, they pickup Betty Crocker and put down growing confidence.

It's a pretty interesting phenomenon but I have found many people uncertain about exploring a potential passion in fitness.  It's almost as if fitness enthusiasts are in two camps- those who love to talk about it and those who wish they could.

Colleague at happy hour- "You HAVE to go to the gym???"
Hydrated brain: (no but it makes me feel really lovely and boosts my self esteem- you should try it, maybe we can blend shakes together after!)
"No, I mean, I guess not."

Why not you?
If you like something and it makes you a better person, and you want to share your happiness, WHY NOT?
People get to be passionate about copper, cows, crystal, and cream (?)...why can't you get pumped about making oatmeal and recognizing a deltoid curve?

I understand why and I've been there myself- it's a change in identity.  It wasn't an observable piece of you before and it may take a hot second for others to jump on board.

Do it.  Passion is rare.  Finding the thing that puts a little fire in your soul and pep in your step doesn't happen everyday.
Does sharing a photo of you smashing a squat and feeling oxygen and LIFE burn in your lungs give you a smile and a piece of excitement.  Share it.
Does packing food and putting it in the office fridge next to cold cuts and cake make you feel strong and secure?  Pack it.

Point is, life is short and the things that put a little OOMPH in our hearts are rare.
If it's protein cookies, the thrill of potentially competing, feeling firm in a sweater, or anything else in the realm of fitness or health, rock it.
How seldom everyday life give us something to get fired up about, something that awakens us.

We witness passions everyday.  In paintings, on menus, in songs, and in the final 5 seconds of Patriot games...

Send it, share it, lift it, bake it, enjoy it, squat it, pin it, filter it, run it, ENJOY it.

That girl that's passionate about fitness, healthy living, and inspiring others?
Why not you?

Birthday Banter- lessons learned in 27 years of trudging, stumbling, and frolicking through life

On the eve of my 27th birthday, 

I  lightheartedly, but honestly, reflect on a few big lessons I've learned.  My days, thoughts, years and experiences basically revolve around the topics of health, work, and relationships so here I share my oh-so-enlightened wisdom on the subjects.  Please feel free to enjoy, roll your eyes, ignore, laugh, or kindly smile at the fact that I have so much more to learn.

The Bod:

If you feel like crap in your body, you need to change something: either your body, your mind, or both.

This is not a “you are amazing in any shape, size, or color ” mantra.  

Because while those are nice, I've learned reality gets results.

You may not look great.  You may look like the bottle of vodka that mixes really well with grenadine and Sprite that you've been tossing back at happy hour.  You may look like you've seen the inside of a Pinkberry at 11pm a few too many times.  You may actually, feel like old baloney and well, look like it.

Conversely, you may look toned, fit, and be the envy of every bloated woman that passes you on the street and feel like crap.  You may go to the gym, rocking Lululemons and biceps, and see an unhappy woman on the treadmill in the mirror in front of you.

Sometimes you’re going to feel bad and look bad.  Sometimes you’re going to look externally great and feel bad.  Many people are going to tell you you’re beautiful, wonderful, and should love yourself but if you feel like crap, YOU need to change something. Not your mom, not your boyfriend, not your best friend. 

I've experienced both of these bodies and each of these mindsets.  I know now to step back, look inside, and be damn honest with myself.  

In college I was hitting the ol’ bag of Franzia on the regular and created a delightful blend of self-consciousness and sugar on my waistline.  I needed to change my habits and subsequently, my body.

A couple years ago I was tanned, toned, a cardiovascular gazelle and often felt like crap.  I felt like this sculpted vessel I was living in was never good enough.  I thought my body was my identity and nothing else.  I needed to change my habits and subsequently, my mind.

You deserve to feel good in your body.  If you don’t, something needs to change.  Sometimes it’s the hard realization that midnight pizza ends up on your butt.  Sometimes it’s the realization that your butt is not your character.

Career and Ca$h Money:

You need to work.  Shocking.  

Not the work you've entertained in high school or college, but real work. The work that makes you question who you are in life and why you're wearing a pantsuit at 7am.  Maybe it's not a pantsuit and maybe it's not in an office but the work that makes you uncomfortable. The kind that makes you realize life is not a venti chai in a coffee shop window with a macbook, Uggs, and browser open to Pinterest.

I have found in my meager little experience that while the above situation is delightful, it is horribly comfortable.  Literally (new Uggs feel like a hugging lamb) and figuratively.  And nothing is produced from comfortable.

You're going to need to feel tired, worried, stressed, overworked and underpaid.  To create change you need to step out of comfort and into early mornings with frosted windows and uncomfortable shoes.  You're going to need to hear negative feedback, ask hard questions, get hung up on, and spill coffee on your shirt.

I've learned that the cute turquoise and cream pillow I'm holding in HomeGoods comes out of my paycheck.  That my bank account will cut in half when I submit a loan and I will do it again next month.  That money is a real thing, progress is a real thing, and you need to get pretty damn far out of your comfort zone to earn both.

Hashtag Love:

We all know what it’s like to be the “cool girl.”  The girl that’s carefree and tells you we’re, “fine with whatever you want babe.”

The girl that genuinely likes football and knows it’s wing night.  Or maybe the girl that reads English poetry and paints in t-shirt dresses with cat eye glasses.  Or whatever the hell else you like that we want to be.

That girl has an expiration date.

Pretty soon the wing-eating, Keats reciting, watercolor mixing, touchdown celebrating girl is going to realize that she hates painting and doesn't give a damn that your team is losing.  Pretty soon she’s going to question who she is, why she’s with you, and you’re going to miss the girl that ate at whatever Groupon you were inboxed that day.

I've been a hippy, bar hopper, and poet.  I've been a mix of all three.  I've been whatever I thought would get “that guy” to think I was cool.

That girl expires because I now know I’m me.  

I’m sometimes funny, sometimes annoying.  I like good salads with grilled chicken and don’t want to pretend I can eat a 5lb burger.  I get lost while driving in the city and freak out about it.  I’m sometimes entertaining and sometimes a snarky crab.  

I don't wear sexy clothes to bed- they get twisted up my butt.  They invented sweatpants for a reason.  I don't wake up looking sun-kissed...that's called sneaking out of bed 20 minutes before you wake up so you think I'm the bronzed angel you went to bed with.  I'm not, and I have mascara crust in my eye. 

It's taken 27 years but I've realized this girl is me and this girl isn't going to expire.