Perfect:

I want to share a revelation I received from the Man above.

I love a clean house. I don’t love it when someone comes over and there is a dirty dish in the sink or on the counter. I would prefer, quite honestly, for it to appear as if no one lives in my house. I want people to feel comfortable. (My dad always takes a nap on his visits and I take that as a huge compliment.) We host lots of slumber parties for family and friends and I want them to feel as if they are staying at a log resort in the woods. The bathroom towels are hung perfect, there is no alarm clock in the guest room (so guests can relax and sleep in), and it’s always nice and toasty warm by the wood stove. I have to have coffee going early in the morning. Mugs out, milk, honey, spoons, everything setting out, like a buffet at a hotel.  I rearrange things a lot and make sure every decoration is in the right spot. (I once got up from watching a movie to move a candle holder slightly to the left and my husband said “Are you serious?”)

I have been re-decorating the guest/spare room into an incredibly large walk-in closet and   office for myself. I get ready in here each morning with all my accessories within arms reach. (Don’t fret men; my husband has a spare room as well for his computer and music writing/playing accessories.)  My office/walk-in has become a sanctuary with my favorite colors of pink, mint green, and black. On the wall used to hang a huge framed print of a volcano, until yesterday.

While shopping at Hobby Lobby, the poster section called my name. Or was it the large 50% off sign? I thumbed through with no intention of buying a large poster. Till I found the “perfect” one.  A zoomed in photo of green vibrant leaves with a pink lotus flower. Hmm, pink and green? This was “perfect” for my office so I purchased it!

I took down the volcano to re-use the black glass frame. Thinking it was just an old poster frame, not one with screws and springs, I attempted to take it apart.  As I always do, I said a little prayer or just talked to the Man, and said, “Please let this go well.  I need your help to figure out how this frame goes back together when I am done.” I laid out the cardboard insert from the frame and placed my new photo upside down upon it.  I started to trim the edges of this “perfect” poster.  Everything was going smoothly. I slowly flipped the photo over, and to my surprise, it had somehow rubbed on the cardboard and some of the ink rubbed off in small sporadic patches. I was horrified. I wanted to run out and buy another one, but this had been so “perfect”, I had to use it. I put the frame back together, cutting my finger on the glass nonetheless, and hung it in my office.

In almost destroying my evening, with the thoughts it wasn’t “perfect” anymore, I had  this revelation:

Stop trying to have everything so perfect. If you try and achieve perfection in this house or your body, you will never achieve it, and always find disappointment.

Honestly, the thinner I get, I keep looking in the mirror at my imperfections. I don’t focus at all on the weight I have lost and my new muscles. I continuously look at the small love handles still above my hips, the cellulite on legs, and whatever else I can convince myself isn’t perfect. I don’t worry what people think about my personality being perfect because I don’t really care what people think about that. But my looks? I have to say I always wanted to look perfect. Maybe it’s a hairdresser thing?

So I ask you to learn from this (big Man’s) revelation and realize you can achieve many things and strive to be perfect in fitness. But when you get there, you will find something else that’s not perfect. You will forever move the line of perfection to something else and it will lead to disappointment.

So don’t strive to be “perfect”. Strive to be healthy and happy with where you are at and your accomplishments. My less-than-perfect picture will always remind me…… to just be.

Mo·ti·va·tion

Mo·ti·va·tion: Pronunciation: \ˌmō-tə-ˈvā-shən\ Function: noun Date: 1873
1 a: the act or process of motivating b: the condition of being motivated
2: a motivating force, stimulus, or influence : incentive, drive
— mo·ti·va·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\ adjectiveMo-tive 1 : something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act

I want to talk about Motives and Motivation. Each one of us can find our motivation but it has to be as unique as we are. Your trip to Alaska for losing 100 pounds, would make me run the other way. Going on a cruise with my husband may just do the trick. How about that pair of jeans you really want to get in to? I actually bought a very expensive pair of jeans that were two small. They have never left the house. Out of the closet a few times and down the hall to the full length mirror, but that's it. Until yesterday. I just tried them on and they fit! I, of course, am going to wait just a little longer before taking them for their first trip outdoors. 'Til they fit like I never thought they would.

So what motivates you? What moves you? I want you to really spend time thinking about this. If putting pictures of a really great vacation in front of you does it, then while working out and reaching your goals, start saving and planning for that vacation. When your bathing suit ready, pack your bags!

I thought I was motivating myself just with sharing my journey here, until I discovered Phat Camp (listed in my side bar). The thought of going and being in amazing shape, is really pushing me through some tough workouts. I want to be in the "best shape of my life" when I go. I also have to save the money for the trip (not something that was really in our budget right now), so I am planning ahead.

Also, for Valentines, my hubby got me a Polar Heart Rate Monitor in pink! Your Happy Hearts wasn't approached by Polar to test one, my husband just did his research. He has owned one for a long time himself and really liked it. This thing is amazing. It is true motivation in itself. I want to work harder to keep my heart rate in my target zone. I am not writing you today to tell you all about this watch and that you need to run out and get one. (Even thought it's a fun tool. Check it out if you want). This is just an added motivation for me. I know my watch is going to record my calories, heart rate, workout time, and highs and lows at the end of my workouts. By weeks end, my workouts go in a file that will be there for months. I don't want to let myself or my watch down. As silly as that sounds.

I have also started to enter my calories into my Calorie King computer program again. I was sure slacking on this. I now make sure my laptop is on my kitchen counter and when I get home from work, I record everything I have eaten. It's a great program. People are creatures of habit and we all tend to eat the same foods. So once you enter in the special bread you like, it's just a click away the next time you eat it. I have learned I am not eating ENOUGH! I didn't think I was, but at this rate, my body is going to eat my muscle for energy instead of building it. That's not what I want. So this is becoming a great tool and motivator to get my food intake as closely regulated as my workouts.

I just want to encourage you this week to sit down and figure out what motivates you and can push you to the next level. You can always leave me comment and share with me your journey. Also leave me questions too and I will do what I can to get you the answers you need. I love hearing from you. I will continue to share with you the changes that are happening with me (via pictures) and hope you come along for this amazing trip into a world of health, fitness, and amazing energy.

Blessings, Angie Taylor

Bubble Planner Giveaway

I could not be more excited about my new Bubble Planner!
I have been researching journals and planners trying to find something that may be of interest to all of our calorie counting and journaling needs. I stumbled upon this Bubble Planner and it has been a great blessing. It's so easy to use. The idea behind the planner, is based off of you having a thought or bubble, that pops up above your head like a cartoon. My bubble thought: This would help us in organizing our fitness goals and dreams. Simply flip open the Bubble Planner and start at the top. "My Fitness Goals" (as an example).

I recommend always starting with the date. (There is no greater joy than finding yourself looking back and realizing you reached goals, that you at that time, never thought possible.) Go to the first bubble and maybe put in "20 pounds weight loss". Then draw an arrow to your next bubble and write "Goal to be reached by spring of 2009". Let your thoughts wonder.
Do you want to get some new gym equipment for the house?
Do you want to find a trainer? Where you do you find a trainer?
List the places in town to call.
Who can you lean on for support?
Write down their name, then you think of a relative or a friend that may need your support.

It's absolutely endless. Your bubble is your own thought and journey unique to you. On the back side of each paper is a notes section. You can really get crazy on this side. I suggest writing down calories eaten for the day. Plan your next days breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Possibly a grocery list.

I want to share what I did with my Bubble Planner this past Saturday. I took it to church. This simply flips open and is so easy to take notes on. Pages can be removed and moved around if need be as well. I wrote out all the sermon notes on the notes side then simply turned it over, no flipping of pages, and wrote each verse, as my Pastor gave them, into a bubble. This way, depending on the sermon subject, you can go back and have all the verses organized together by category. Pretty clever huh? I suggest everyone get two or more. One for fitness and one for whatever else you can think of.

When my hubby saw my planner, his bubble thought was totally different. He would like one to take notes of sermons. Then head home and use the bubbles to write music and lyrics for new praise and worship tunes. See....everyones bubble is different. What an incredible tool.

The awesome people at Bubble Planner want to get one in your hands as well . Again this is for my subscribers only please. (If you are not a subscriber, no problem, simply do so today).

Check out all the cool things at www.bubbleplanner.com and let me know if you had a Bubble Planner "What I would do with my bubble planner." I will pick the best bubble planner thought to receive your own free planner! So be creative. If it's fitness related, how would you fill in your bubbles. It's that easy. Contest ends on Sunday the 15th of Feb at midnight.

Good luck!

Blessings, Angie Taylor

Coming Out Of The Gym Closet

I can’t take it anymore. I just have to come out and come clean. The lies are too much for me to handle. Just kidding.  

But seriously, I do want to come clean on something small and put it on the table. My nickname, to some, is Taylor.  When I started my site only seven months ago I had no idea it was going to be as successful as it has been. I just wanted to journal my workouts. I also wanted to keep myself motivated by researching information on health and fitness. If anyone was out there listening it was just a bonus to share what I have learned and possibly help motivate others. 

In turn, I have now received hundreds of awesome readers and dedicated subscribers, to who I owe a ton of thanks. You have all now motivated me, to keep going, and find more health information to share. I would also like to thank the wonderful companies which continue to send me their products, so I can give my readers, an idea of what is out on the market pertaining to health, fitness, and self image.   

So as of today, you can call me Angie.  This is my first name, no joke. To those of you, who like the nickname Taylor, keep on keepin’ on.  Angie Taylor it is!
 
I hope in the coming year the information gathered from the many that help with Your Happy Hearts.com, will only get better and more informative. I have so much to learn and can’t wait to share it with all of you.  

I would like to leave you with this thought today. Remember to keep journaling. Keep track of calories in and calories out. How long were your workouts, what did you do and how much weight did you use. This is a vital tool to knowing where you came from and where you are heading. If you have problems and hit plateaus, your journal won’t like and you can find the problem. I have a great review on something I am playing around with right now. Keep reading for your chance to win a very unique journal.

My giveaways are for subscribers only. This is my thank you to being consistent with not only being a reader of YHH but with your workouts and fitness challenges for the year. So if you are not subscribed, do so today. Once you are subscribed you will be entered in my product giveaways the life of you subscription. Once you unsubscribe no more goodies for you. Thanks again. Be Blessed, Angie Taylor!

How Are You Doing?

It's February! How are you doing with your new years weight loss and work out plan? I am doing OK but should be doing better. I am not going to beat myself up about. Just have to keep pressing forward.

I was going through some old notes from church sermons and came across one from a few New Yrs. services ago. Even though this is a few years old, I am assuming from what I have seen, that Americans never really change in this area. We all plan on something and rarely follow through.  Have you given up already?

50% end their resolutoin the end of January
90% by 1/2 the year (around June- July)
10% make it to the next year
and only 3% actually write down their goals and reach them entirely.

I don't know about you, but I want to be in the top 3%.  It's the end of January and I'm still motivated. My goals are set to be hit by summer. Then the rest of the year I will have goals planned out that I never thought possible. Always think above and beyond your dreams. It makes the first ones seem easy to obtain. You must be writing down your goals, remember to be journaling everyday. Write down all your thoughts and dreams, health related and others. It's the best way to keep yourself on track.

Buy health and fitness magazines (Oxygen Mag for Women), subscribe to blogs (of course this one), and keep people/friends around that are obsessed with health and fitness, and you should be able to stay on track.

The top three reasons people fail is procrastination, lack of discipline, and no game plan.  So if you struggled through January, sit down as soon as you can and write out what you want to accomplish and by when. Get out a calendar and write down what you do everyday and keep track of your calories. I have to do this more myself. I just guess and I bet I am way off. So it's back to the Calorie King computer program for me. You can get free downloads and give it a try. It's really easy and a great source of information.

As always leave me comments and let me know how you are doing. I am going to go get that work out in today! Blessings, Taylor