Brick Walls of Determination

"Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want something badly enough. They are there to keep out the other people'
— Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture)"

We are coming upon the thick of the Holiday season, when we all get invites to parties and dinners. The holiday season often brings with it an extra 10-15lbs in a single MONTH!

Don't be one of the people who looks at the brick wall and says "I'll start after the holidays" or "I've tried everything and nothing works".

You have to plan for success and map it out, otherwise you plan for failure. Brick by brick, day by day, inch by inch we push through to being closer to where we haven't been before. We have to envision our goals and the small achievements along the way there. We must not be afraid of succeeding and enjoy the journey there.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a leg up on the goal and not be farther behind? Don't let the Holidays be an impossible wall. Impossible is nothing!!!

Coach Steph

Strength, Do You Have What It Takes to Persevere?

Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.
-unknown

Well, here it goes...this is really hard for me to do. My reveal. During a session tonight with a client, we had a break through. This particular client was having a tough time and dealing with an injury. The client was really frustrated and felt like giving up. I let her in on little about my own hardships while striving for a goal.

This is going to sound crazy, but this has been the worst year of my life and yet I'm happy. You see we can't always control what happens in our lives, BUT we can control how we choose to react to it. Instead, as my client said tonight "be proactive".

You see I was preparing myself for a 90 day challenge to compete in a national level figure competition, on August 28. The month of August was the toughest. Among many things that has happened to me and my family this year, it definitely tested me. My younger brother was at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong person. Imagine a year of visiting my brother through a glass window and letters every week to keep his spirits up.  Then I sat in a court room and heard the worst thing ever. I heard the verdict of life without parole, and my heart broke. All I can say about it now is we are going to pursue an appeal. Then after that, my other younger brother was sent to Afghanistan for a year on duty. He is leaving behind his new son of 10 months and fiance. My mother feels like she said goodbye to 2 sons and is all alone back home. I am the oldest of 5, and try to keep it together for everyone.

The point is, I felt like giving up too. I felt like my goal was too selfish and superficial. I wanted to binge eat and drink til I felt numb. Pause. I thought about it, and knew it wouldn't fix anything. I knew it wouldn't help anyone and it damn sure wouldn't make me feel any better about myself. Would my brothers be proud of that? Would I? No, I chose to keep on my goal and do the best I could despite everything. I needed to do that competition for me. I competed that day in August and placed 9th out of 12 in my division. I had placed top 15 last year and wanted to be in the top 10 this year. I did it, but would have loved to still be better.

So, what your excuse? I don't have one. I just had some hardships that I needed to work through and STILL kept getting back up. I got back up, and YOU can too. Evaluate what  brings you down, frustrates you, and makes you feel like you can't. Then attack it. I'm not going to let LIFE keep me down, and you shouldn't either. I like quotes and I like speeches, so I'll leave you with another one of my favorites.

"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that! " - Rocky Balboa

NEVER GIVE UP
Coach Stephanie

Game Day

So, college football started yesterday and many are excited to get behind their teams, cheer them on, and join their bandwagons. As, I watch I think and remember what it was like to be on the sidelines in college cheering my team on and the intensity of drive in each person involved. I think damn, that's what I'm talking about!!! Why can't we load up our bandwagons and win this game/battle of fitness? You have to have team players, coaches, and HEART to win. Team Revelation Fitness is ready to win, are you? That's it boys and girls, we have got to committ to winning and go get it. What I'm saying is you've got to get excited about your goals and attack them. I can't want it for you, but I sure can cheer you on.

This game day try baking some chicken breast tenders in wing sauce and baking some sweet potato fries.