Always Believe that Something Wonderful is About to Happen

Today's work out was a new one (at least for this semester it was). My friend Teresa and decided to switch it up and go for a swim in the pool. We did 10 laps (20 if you're counting each direction as 1 lap). Realization: I have zero strength in my chest/arms. None. Zip. So, I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to try to make it to the pool at least once a week because I find it hard to get in an arm work out during the week otherwise. A lot of this is due to my own self consciousness (lets be honest, going into the weight room not knowing what you're doing or to which machine you're headed can be a little intimidating). And yes, it is ridiculous that I'm self conscious about this. But, alas! I think that the pool might be a better fit for me anyway. As my school offers free personal training sessions, however, I might take advantage of these and inquire as to what arm/upper body exercises would be best for me at a later date. But, for now I feel that the pool is a pretty all inclusive workout - it gets in cardio, legs, abs, and a whole heck of a lot of arms. Let's just hope I can lift them tomorrow!
On another note, I watched a video today by TheLeanMachines that really inspired me. It addressed the issue of positivity pretty well in my opinion, which as I've said is something that I've found I really struggle with. In the course of talking about success one of the two personal trainers of the channel told a story from a friend of his that he said really hit home for him - and it did for me too.
The story was about two monks who were walking along a river that was flooded. As they were walking, they encountered a woman on the other side of the river who was asking for help because she needed to get across. One of the monks said "No, we can't help her we can't associate with women we need to just move on and go on our way." But, during the time that he said this, the other monk had removed his clothes, waded across the river, picked up the woman and carried her to the other side. He put his clothes back on and the two monks continued walking along the river for a few miles. Hours had passed in silence and finally one of the monks stopped and asked "What is the matter? You've been silent since we encountered the woman back there." The other monk responded with "Well we aren't allowed to associate with women or touch women and you picked her up! I'm very bothered by this!" Finally his companion responded with "Yes, I did pick her up, yes I did carry her across the river. The only difference between you and I is that I put her down hours ago, and you're still carrying her."
This story hit home for me because it helped me to realize that sometimes I have trouble letting things go. And unfortunately, this is something that we all must learn to do. Because if we don't, the only person that it will hurt is us. In life there are many things that we will encounter that are not within our control: failures, negative people, negative situations, mistakes, etc. And the ability to let these things go and move past them with a positive mentality is imperative to a happy and healthy lifestyle. Without this ability, we are continuously allowing our past to impact our future in a negative manner. We already had to live through it once, wasn't that enough? For the future me: take what you can from negative situations and remember to let go of anything that doesn't serve you.
These quotes are my reminders that negativity and holding onto mistakes will only weigh me down:

But my favorite...

See you all later!
Keep Smiling <3 Brandi

TheLeanMachines: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheLeanMachines?feature=watch

Their HOW TO SUCCEED Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8izbjQtm-Y

Short Update!

Today is going to be a short one!
First, I arrived at school today! Yay! Time to get down to business (to defeat the Huns - wait, what?)! Tomorrow is going to be the first grocery run of the year - buy good foods you'll eat good foods, right? Right. The plan is to start the year off right with some good healthy foods in my dorm so that I won't be tempted to go elsewhere (ahem, BurgerKing) for my meals.
Also! As part of my motivation regiment I've been watching two personal trainers on Youtube called TheLeanMachines who tend to make videos about healthy eating as well as exercises (both at home and at the gym) and general fitness knowledge about supplements and other randomosities. I think that their videos are a quick way to get some motivation and/or some knowledge on a lot of subjects regarding fitness from a more reputable source (at least, I think so simply due to the fact that they're both personal trainers).
I can't wait to get the year started on a positive foot and work towards my goals with my friends!

Reminder to the future me: don't focus on the speed of improvement. "Many people quit due to slow progress, never realizing that slow progress... Is progress."

See you all later!

Keep Smiling <3 Brandi

Beginnings.

Beginnings. This year I find myself at an interesting place in my life where I feel as though I'm ready to move but not quite sure in what direction. So, the purpose of this blog is to have a place to put the fleeting but powerful thoughts of a young (almost) 20-something who has great dreams (even though she isn't quite sure what those are yet), old scars (more than i'd care to admit), and a wonderfully terrifying feeling of being lost in a world that always seems to have a direction (whether it be correct or not).

This year, it is my goal to be a generally healthier person. I don't know to what extent that can happen, but I want to dedicate this year and every year after to seeking out ways to make myself better. By surrounding myself with people who lift me up; by getting help when I need it; by finding a way to move every single day regardless of what's going on; by consistently working towards a better me. I'm well aware that these are lofty goals. But, I view these as lifelong goals that we work on each and every day and address in a meaningful way. 

The first step that I'm taking towards this goal is going to happen the day that I return to school (mostly because that's when I'll be buying groceries). My first goal for 2014 is going to include making healthier choices in eating and making it to the gym at least 3-4 times a week. Looking at my schedule for the semester, I would like to get up and out the door by 7:45 4 days a week and to the gym by 8am. But, once I've tested this out for a full week I'll reevaluate what I believe is feasible. In terms of my diet, my goal is to eat a lot more vegetables and fruits. I've bought a multivitamin and this coupled with my revamped eating habits, i'm hoping that these things will help give me the energy needed to get in my running and keep up with school! I also bought fish oil pills because when I run, the thing that tends to bother me the most is my knees, and I've heard that this supplement helps with joint health. Yep! I'm aware that this is boring, it's mostly for my own record keeping.

I don't know what I'll be writing. Or if it will be interesting. But my friend Kaitlin and I have made the commitment to each other that we'll be writing. In the hopes that it will keep us motivated and on track with our own goals, wherever those may take us.
Kaitlin's blog: http://www.positivelyperplexing.blogspot.com/

I'm going to make the statement now that 2014 is going to be a great one. Because I'm ready to step up and make my own change.

See you all later.

 Brandi <3