I am worth it and so are you!

It has been a long two years of putting myself last and taking care of my needs before others.

In my last post "how to never leave yourself behind" I talked about how I finally started taking care of myself and not leaving myself behind, but it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I finally and truly did have enough.

Enough pain in my body, enough of not being able to exercise, enough of eating just because and enough of being a wife and mother who wasn’t truly present in her relationship with her husband and her daughter.

To be honest it wasn’t a huge breakthrough moment, it was just a moment of knowing what it felt like to feel good in my skin and wanting to feel that way again.

So I started slowly just as I had done before. I knew how to get there; it was just motivation and self-care that I was lacking.

I felt that it was time that my body needed strength building exercises that pushed me to where I needed and a little beyond. I needed more stretching and more cardio to work every part of me.

So it started with signing up with some friends to a crossfit gym. I had done crossfit before and what I love about it is that it’s a group activity with a trainer to motivate you and help you. Another plus is that everyone greets each other and if you’re new, people actually introduced themselves and make you feel welcome.  It’s not your typical gym where you check-in, plug in and leave and I so need that.

Then I started drinking a lot more water (alot) more than my 3 glasses a day and I continued having a veggie smoothie with veggies and fruits that made me strong and reduced inflammation.  

I also made sure that with what I ate, I had some sort of green vegetable or salad with lunch and dinner.

I also began scheduling once a month massages and continued getting together with my girlfriends.

I finally really started taking care of me and putting myself first when it came to certain things.

These small but powerful changes have made such a difference in how I feel, how I sleep and I how I treat and act around my family.

Although I may not be to where I want to be quite yet……I know that I will continue making small changes that make me a better woman and overall human because I AM WORTH IT!

So now it’s your turn to know you are truly worth it!

Begin by asking yourself these powerful questions and start scheduling time for you in your calendar:

Q1: What is one small step I can take this week that I know I could do successfully towards taking care of me?

Q2: What am I REALLY commited to doing? (not something you "think" you want to do)

Q3: When do I plan to do this by? (Schedule it)

Q4: What would success look like? (Going out to dinner and feeling confident)

Q5:What would it feel like if my needs were met? (Would you be happier, in a better mood, a more patient mommy?)

Sending you all the love & strength you need to realize YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Gratitude, Nancy

Need happy Pleasure? + Mango Recipe!

What makes you smile?

Laugh?

Go giddy with glee?

For some, it’s a walk barefoot through the grass.

For another, it’s a spin on a roller coaster, a solo movie date, or a perfectly ripe mango.

So… when was the last time you did something that makde you actually feel happy?

If it’s been awhile, consider this: happiness lowers stress levels, increases immune system function, and lowers your risk of disease. It also makes life easier.

So want Happy Pleasure daily?

Doing one pleasurable thing per day (or more!) is the most powerful cure for gray, boring, or stressful days. Try this:

• Make an “I love” list. List everything that you enjoy – nothing is too small or too large. If you enjoy it, get it on the list. and make sure you schedule it in!

• Take a look at how you spend your days. When could you fit in a little pleasure? Perhaps you could leave the office at lunch to walk in the park? Maybe you could play your favorite music while doing the dishes? Book yourself a massage or spa day this weekend?

• Repeat daily, or more often, as needed.

So right now, grab a pen and schedule in some daily pleasures this week!

To get you started down the road of pleasure, give this luscious recipe a try and sit down and savor every bite:

Mango Cream

Prep time: 10 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 mango, peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon raw honey or agave nectar (optional)
• 1 cup organic whipping cream or carton of soft tofu or large ripe banana

Directions:

• Process the first four ingredients in a blender.
• Blend for one minute, or until pureed.
• Pour puree into a medium bowl.
• Beat whipping cream at medium speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. If using tofu or banana, whir in a food processor or blender until smooth and creamy.
• Fold whipped cream, tofu, or banana into mango puree, using a knife to swirl in a marbled effect. Enjoy!

Until Next time,

Sending you love, joy and gratitude, Nancy