Need a Push? Gotta Give it to Yourself :)

Motivation.

We all have it.  We all lack it at times.  It varies from day to day.  And more often than not, we all wish we had more.  True, deep down motivation does not come from external sources.  We determine it on our own.  We set our own goals, our own timeline, and ultimately decide what is important to us (and use that information to drive our motivation).  Yes, maybe we feel more motivated by coaches, parents, a boyfriend or girlfriend, etc, but real, lasting motivation ONLY comes from WITHIN.  Don’t let me lead you to think I am saying we don’t need others to help motivate us, keep us going, or help us to be better individuals.  We are human and absorb so much strength from the people around us.  So that’s not what I’m saying.  But think about what motivates you, what drives you to be better.  I guarantee it’s not stemming from an external source, but from the internal “wanting” you have to achieve.  

Once we recognize and accept this is when we’re able to reach in and pull out the strongest form of motivation – the kind that we create on our own.  

Think about the last time you wanted to form a new healthy habit or take a step in a direction that would improve your health.  Say you wanted to start eating a nutritious breakfast every day.  Or you decided you would get up early and get your workout in before work, or go straight after work __days/week.  Or you wanted to finally GO to that spin class you’ve been meaning to try.  Or go for a run in the park instead of confining yourself to the monotony of your gym sessions... 

Whatever the case may be, WHO ultimately decides whether you follow-through?  Whether you make a decision to change or try something new that will lead you in a direction of an even healthier future?   

No one other than yourself.  

Those people that care about us are the people we need to lean on to hold us accountable, to give us the extra push when our internal motivation is lacking, and to be proud of us when we accomplish something great!  

But it’s not others that give us pride for developing motivation, being action-oriented, and achieving our goals – it’s our internal drive, wanting, and self-satisfaction that make us proud to achieve something great.  Something that means a lot to YOU, personally. 

To piggy-back on this topic, I read an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G article the other day about “the happiness factor.”  We all know it FEELS great to feel happy.  But there’s also lots of new supporting evidence that happiness is beneficial to our HEALTH – for morbidity (disease risk), survival of illness, and longevity of life (and quality of life for that matter!).  What else is happiness good for?  Lowering blood pressure, cortisol and inflammation.  Reducing risk of developing heart disease.  And (whadayaknow?!) happiness leads to positive moods and emotions which broaden your horizons and build your social, physical and intellectual skills… all which lead to success.  SUCCESS?   

Oh, as in you have a goal… and you accomplish it.  

Now, we’ve gone full circle!  Motivation.  Happiness.  Success.  And everything in between. 

I’m not going to continue with a “lecture” on how to be happy… but think about some core values, like the ones set by IDEA: inspired service, doing the right thing, exercising your happiness, appreciating everyone, learning and thriving, and setting the standard.  YOU are in control of your life.  You make the decision on how your day(s) will unfold; no, we don’t have control over our surroundings, but we sure as hell are in control of how we react and let them affect us.   

Focus on positivity.  Practice it.  A lot.   

Before too long, you’ll be surprised how much that will be reflected back to you by the people around you.  

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." - Daddy

What motivates you?  What makes you happy?  How can you combine them and be successful – in your mind, life, heart?  Where there’s a will there’s a way.  And as my daddy-o always says, “nothing ventured, nothing gained.”  So why not try?  What’s the risk – other than your very own HAPPINESS?  

Always your FAN,
Maggie XOXO

These 2 munchkins make my life happy :)
And to clarify any confusion, yes Riley is the boy (on the pink blankets)
and Bailey is the girl (on the blue). They go where they want!! :)

Day 30 & Moving Forward!

((In case you missed it... here's a link to the news segment from last Thursday: 

Fox59 Perfect Bathing Suit for Your Body))

It's the first day of summer, the longest day of the year, and the official middle of the workweek ... YEAH for exciting stuff!!  In addition to these awesome markers, it's also Day 30 of my own little Shakeology challenge and the day I promised to give you my weight and body composition results as well as overall experience of the effect of Shakeology on my body.  

 << First, take a little glance at this sweet image on the left.  Improving your fitness and body composition (leanness vs. fatness) don't just HAPPEN without a lot of effort.  And yes, it takes a lot of effort to make a big change... not just a little trying here and there.  It's important to make a lot of small changes to be able to stick with it, and not just one ginormous change all at once.  But all those small changes and alterations to your habits... that takes EFFORT and THOUGHT and heck, some definite SWEAT.  If you want to see and feel big changes, you have to put thought into it.  And you have to follow through and make true, honest efforts.  It's not always easy, but if you have a goal you want to achieve, what better accomplishment is there than achieving that goal?  What goal(s) do you have?  Make a plan and FOLLOW THROUGH.  Tell people around you so you are held accountable.  Find a group who has similar goals and share your progress together.  Do what you need to do... but remember it's YOUR LIFE, and you only get one of those... so why not make it the BEST one possible?  

Why that rant?  Just felt like it.  Felt the mojo today to inspire :) :) :) 

So about these results!  How about the numbers first...

30 days ago, I weighed in at 124 lb.  My body composition (% body fat), taken with skinfold calipers by an experienced fitness professional, was 12.67%.  

This is my "turbo beast-mode face" - ha!
Practicing to instruct some Turbo!!

Today - 

Weight:  122.8 lb. (down 1.2 lb)

% Body Fat:  11.92% (down 0.75%)

The weight is a true number.  Ya'll know that a few weeks ago, I reported that I had lost weight.  My weight went back up when I was sick with strep (normal eating / not working out) and has leveled for the past couple weeks at 122.8 pretty much every time I've weighed in.  I didn't expect to lose any weight.  I really want to make that known.  So it's an important result for me.  


My % body fat going down could be an accurate change, but it could also have be affected by a couple of factors.  First of all, it's not a huge change.  The before and after measurements are realistically in the realm of "human error."  It could also be affected by the fact that I taught TurboKick prior to being measured this afternoon.  Usually, you're not supposed to have those types of measurements taken directly after a workout.  I just didn't have time before, and so it was a necessity to get measured today.  


I have talked enough about the other results I have noticed from drinking Shakeology... but here they are again: 

• Consistent, sustained energy throughout the day (even when I was sick)
• Regular bowel movements :) (yay-rah!)
• Reduced cravings for sweets (and for the temptation to snack as much as I usually do in general) 

After a TurboFire workout at home!

I honestly love this stuff.  I am on the AUTOSHIP program (so I don't run out - it's shipped to me once a month).  It's tasty as could be, and you can do so many different things with it (and switch up the flavors) so you never get sick of it.  I would feel weird having a day without it... 


Beachbody has made a believer out of me for Shakeology.  I was already a believer in their workout programs - particularly the ones I already use such as P90X, Insanity, TurboFire and TurboJam.  

A perfect equation?  Killer workouts (that give rest/easy days as well) and optimal nutrition.  Accomplish that, and you've got my vote.  


If you have questions about anything, email me (maggie.binkley@gmail.com), check out my BeachBody Coach website, or Shakeology website.  There are so many programs/supplements/opinions out there, and I realize I am just one of them, but I am more than happy (and would be honored) to be a resource for you!! 

Don't forget to SMILE.  You have a lot to be happy about :) 

Your fan,
Maggie

Health, Nerves & Being Thankful

Woot!  It’s the weekend!  

What a week it’s been – a little crazy.  I’m finally nearing 100% in my quest for being healthy again!  I still am coughing up stuff, but hey, the meds are working and that’s all I wanted.  I’m feelin’ good and excited for a CELEBRATORY Kristin & Mark wedding weekend followed by celebrating my wonderful daddy-O on Father’s Day!  

I’m almost completely back to my normal workout schedule, which feels awesome!  I get a little stressed out when I’m not able to do my normal day-to-day routine.  I started off easy this week – did a couple full body, high-rep strength sessions.  I was trying to rest as much as possible so I could show up with a BANG on Wednesday for my TurboKick class (oh yeah, I did!).  I’ve worked in some other sessions this week – more strength and cardio, TurboFire, and boot camp.  Sweatin’ hardcore again feels GREAT!! 

How’s my Shakeology working for me, you ask?  Wonderful!!  I’m on day 25!  And I received my new batch of Chocolate today (which is fantastic because I ran out yesterday!)… so I’m excited for the month ahead!!   And to try some new chocolate recipes…the most saliva-producing part of my day!! 

I swear my body has been working so EFFICIENTLY since I started drinking Shakeology.  Every day I am energized.  Even while I was sick, I was still up and doing everything I needed to do.  I am convinced that having all of that extra nutrition supplied to my body has given it the ability to FUNCTION at 100%.  Every day.  That is quite impressive.  I have felt stronger because of it.  Being energized and ready to take on the day makes you feel that way.  And, as another plus, I am absolutely more regular in my bowel movements! :)  No “results” for you (body fat, weight) until next week.  So be patient until then… 

Another piece of excitement this week was the 30 seconds (ish) that I spent on Fox59 Morning News Thursday morning!  Besides the trembling legs that crept up on me while the cameras were rolling, I feel like I kept my cool :)  The experience was something different, nerve-wracking, and exciting.  I’ve never modeled in my life, so it was a very new experience for me (my mom will argue and tell you I was a baby model – which I don’t think counts and – that’s not gonna help me model a bikini on live TV!).  I was happy to say “yes” to an opportunity that presented itself to me.  I didn’t think about what I was saying yes to – it just seemed like something I shouldn’t turn down (it wasn’t until after the segment that I realized I had just been on LIVE TV IN A LITTLE BIKINI. MAGGIE, WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU? haha).  

Before going into the studio :)

But honestly, I’m happy I said ‘yes.’  Why?  Because I have been trying HARD to find myself this year – to identify my strengths, weaknesses, and put a strong focus on my highest priorities and areas I want to achieve further success in.  This was totally outside of my comfort zone and not something I would have ever sought out to do.  But what did it do for me?  It gave me an even stronger backbone.  Even more confidence in my ability to look fears in the face and say, “hey, I got this!  No problem!”  

The thought I want to leave in your head is this… the next opportunity that presents itself to you (and quite possibly scares you), say YES.  What’s the worst that could happen?  Failure, mistakes, regret?  Absolutely not.  A failure is only a failure if you don’t understand how to do it better the next time.  A mistake isn’t a mistake if you learn from it and move forward.  And regrets should never be part of your thought process – everything that happens in life happens for a reason.  Regret is silly – and if one small piece of your life (the piece you might think you regret) is missing… think about how that would impact every other part of your life.

 

You have a lot to be thankful for.  A lot left to accomplish and be proud of.  

 WORK IT and show the world who ROCKS.  

Your F-A-N,
Maggie

The other beautiful women I was blessed to meet!

You Want to Read This One :)

Happy, happy Tuesday everyone!  

I have a couple things to touch on in this blog from food creations to my mystery illness solved!  If you haven’t noticed, I really don’t like to publish blogs 5 years long, so let’s get to it!  

So I did what I said I was going to do Friday – go to the gym for a light workout – but it didn’t end up being as “light” as it probably should have been.  40 minutes on the stepmill took it out of me.  My sickness wasn’t done with me yet.  And it lasted all through the weekend – voice disappearing more and more until I literally could barely get sound out as I hosted my best friend’s bachelorette party Saturday night.  I decided, with the gentle push of others, that I HAD to go to the minute clinic the next morning.  

Strep throat?!  Really??  Awesome!  I’d been around a TON of people all week – from all kinds of doctors’ clinics, to boot camp class, to the gym in general, to a festival, out to dinner, around tons of friends.  I knew I had stuff to do, and pushed myself to get it all in.  I’m still praying no one gets sick before Kristin’s wedding this weekend – but I’m super thankful I was sick with something they could give me drugs for!  I’m feeling a lot better just 24 hours into taking them.  AND (drum roll please!) my voice is back!!!  YAY! 

So with all of that said, I rested (no workout at all) Saturday and Sunday.  Monday morning I got up and did a full body strength workout.  Trying to stay away from anything that raises my heart rate too much – I don’t need to prolong this sickness (and I also know how my body responds to antibiotics).  I don’t do a great job of restricting my calories when I’m less active because it’s so far from my normal routine.  So that’s been tough… I don’t think I’ve restricted my eating at all really.  We’ll see how that works for me :) 

With all of that said and done, I wanted to share a few of my favorite meals with you from this past week!  

First up – veggies in a flat-out!  This was so awesome!  I cooked an egg and 2 egg whites, veggies, and some 2% cheese all together in a pan and then put it all inside of a whole grain flat-out.  The white stuff on the side is plain, nonfat yogurt that I used as a topping.  This was breakfast one morning last week.  Yummy-licious.  

 

HELLO Greenberry Shakeology!  Mixed this one with almond milk and a banana.  Mmm mm good! 

 

This is my new favorite breakfast concoction!  Three egg whites, ½ cup low fat cottage cheese, turkey, ¼ cup oats (you’d never know!), and a slice of 2% cheese.  Cooked over medium heat… made some sprouted grain toast to go with.  And BAM!  A party in your mouth.  (Yes, I LOVE cheese.  And making breakfast, apparently.) 

Cookin' it up!

Finished product
(after a couple bites, hehe!)

In addition to my boatloads of meds… I also purchased some Halls throat drops.  I was really excited by the wrappers!   

How cool: “a pep talk in every drop!”   

Another one had phrases like:

“BE UNSTOPPABLE,” 

“NOTHING YOU CAN’T HANDLE,” and 

“INSPIRE ENVY.”

Nice touch, Halls.  I’ll be purchasing those again… whether I need them or not :) 

 

In case I haven’t mentioned this recently, I love questions!  I love opinions!  I love hearing from you guys.  So message me / email me (maggie.binkley@gmail.com) / whatever! 

That’s all folks!

Your fan,

MAGGIE