#30

Work for what you want or go without. 

Hello. So last night I was on the phone with my cousin Elle, and if you know me you have heard me talk about her.  Even though she is younger than me she is constantly teaching me things.  She loves to write (and is freaking amazing at it- Check out her blog SoSaysElle!!) as do I, so in the middle of our conversation I said hold on a second I have to write something I want to share on my blog tomorrow. She, more than anyone, understands this since she loves to write, also. If you love to write you know when you get an idea you better write it down because ideas tend to leave your mind a lot quicker than they come sometimes. With all that being said, I wanted to be super authentic and share with y’all something that I believe is very important for everyone to know.  

 I cannot speak for others who are putting their life out there and sharing their journeys, but I can speak for myself so take this with a grain of salt.  ----Every fitness person doesn’t have it perfect and together like it may seem. Read that again. I never want to portray that this journey is flawless, that I eat 100% organic veggies and healthy things all the time, or that every single workout I have is 110% all out. I mess up a lot more frequently than you all probably think. I don’t want you all to think that I love working out every single day and that it is all given to me. No. Fitness and nutrition are passions of mine just like your jobs are for you. But there are so many days it is something that I do not want to do. So next time you think you don’t have it together, remember that social media and the fitness world is a highlight reel and is not always as good as it seems. With that being said there is a ton that goes on behind the scenes that is never seen. A whole lot of grind, dedication, and get-up-and-go when you do not want to. People often believe that fitness goals are achieved in a week, even a month, or a year. And while some goals are more short term, what you see most of the time are years of commitment, dedication, and grind when there is nothing left to give. So, give yourself a break and remind yourself what I tell myself EVERY DAY, “Anything worth having is worth working for.”  These long-term goals that are hard to keep holding onto and some days may feel as if they are nowhere near reach, are worth grabbing onto tighter.  Let me be a word of encouragement to you today to keep holding on and the days you feel like letting go is when you need to hold on tighter. Lack of motivation and our brain can be pretty convincing that ‘you are not capable’ or ‘have made it far enough so now just be satisfied.’  Do not be normal and fall into the good enough trap.  Never be satisfied complacent on where you are. The Lord would not place a goal in your heart that you could not achieve.  Everything is possible but nothing is being handed out for free. Work for what you want or go without. 

#29

It’s only unthinkable if you don’t think it. 

You know all those dreams floating around in your head that you believe are unthinkable and unachievable for you. That goal weight you want to achieve, that book you want to write, those lives you want to impact, or that job you’ve always wanted are just a few that will never scrape the surface of dreams. You want these things and you dream about them, but you think that you are incapable and that they will never become a reality for yourself.  Let me let you in on a little secret today.  They are only unthinkable if you do not think about them.  Simple as that.  The definition of unthinkable is “too unlikely or undesirable to be considered a possibility.”  There is a possibility and when you begin to realize this the ‘unlikely’ will become likely and the ‘impossible’ will become possible. You have so much potential and it is never too late.  So-what you have established a career and have a family.  So-what you already graduated college.  So-what…? Who put a cap on when you have to stop going after what you want because of your age? It is never too late to go get what you want. It may be scary, and you may question yourself along the way, but I believe in you and I want you to believe in yourself.     ---------- Your success is being hindered by your self-talk and inability to get out of your own head. Don’t hold yourself back anymore. Go after what you want. 

#28

Bullseye

Before you ever rise in the morning, I am sure that there is about 50 thoughts roaming in your head about the upcoming day and the mundane tasks that need to be accomplished.  Days can be very overwhelming, so do you have a plan as to how you are going to hit the bullseye each and every day?  Recently my dad told me that “don’t just wake up in the morning and just start flinging arrows-locate the bullseye first.” Well, Madeline, what do you mean by that? I mean wake up with purpose.  The morning is the most crucial part of the day for me because it sets the entire tone of my day.  If I hit snooze for 30 minutes, then it is going to seem as if I am flinging arrows because of the loss of 30 minutes toward some task that needed to be done for me to start on the right foot.  The same can apply the other way around.  Getting up on time, making your bed, spending some time with Jesus, and eating a good breakfast just narrows in my shot, and I am a lot more likely to hit the bullseye throughout the day because of the success that I have set myself up for.  Go to bed that 30 minutes early so you are not so tired in the morning; do things at night that will take stress off your plate in the morning; make your bed as soon as you get up. I keep including make your bed because it is one step in my life that I do not fail to do. If I do not make my bed in the morning, then I look at it as I have failed to complete my first task of the day. I feel so much neater and am a lot less likely to take a nap if my bed is made. (haha probably the real reason I do it because ya girl loves a nap ;)) 

Narrow your focus today so that you are not going through life wasting arrows. Shoot with purpose. Do each task like it is the most important thing on your plate at the moment.  Put pride behind your agenda and don’t just start flinging arrows to ‘accomplish’ those 50 things you woke up thinking about.  Truly give your best shot at each and every one of them.

#27

Faith is a Muscle

This past Sunday at church my pastor said something during his sermon that really stuck with me and so I wanted to share it with you all.  The entire sermon was on faith; which is something that I love to learn more about because it is an area of my life that I need the most growth in but also have seen the most transformation in throughout my life.  How does our faith grow each year or even each day? It can be so hard to see the good that is going to come out of what seems like a bad situation.  But our faith grows when we are put into situations where we have to exercise our faith.  As you all probably know fitness is a huge part of my life and I am so passionate about it.  So looking at faith as a muscle really hit home with me.  We do not try to get our physical bodies in shape by sitting on the couch watching TV.  So, what makes us believe that we are able to get our faith ‘in shape’ by living sedentary? Our God is a God of action and I don’t know about you, but I want to get right in there with Him in the action.  The next time you are going through a time where your faith is being exercised and you feel fatigued remember to look at your situation through the eyes of God and not the eyes of man.  I am always trying to improve the strength and stabilization of my physical muscles as I work out.  Looking at a situation through the eyes of God will allow us to see a glimpse of the strength and stability that is to be gained if you chose to trust in and lean on God during tough situations.  My pastor at church used this as an example and I really loved it.  In life, because of Christ's love for us, we can be 4^th and 99 to go and love the odds instead of sitting on the edge of our seats worrying. This is because Jesus is the QB of our life and his nail pierced hands do not miss. It may be within the last second of the game (Auburn plug haha… War Eagle) before you realize it, but up until the hail mary pass is caught, our faith muscles will be tested and strengthened until we cross the goal line. 

#26

A look back on the past year.  I think that it can be easy to always think ‘this next year is my year’ or ‘anything will be better than this past year.’ But whether you realize it or not each year is pivotal and plays a monumental role in the person that you are.  I know that I am young but if there is one thing, I now have begun to realize more and more each day is that when life is easy no strides forward are being taken.  I now more than ever enjoy living in the hard because I know the wisdom, knowledge, and growth that comes out of the hard times far surpasses floating through life. 

So, if you think that 2019 was a rough year, remember how far you have come.  See the trials that led to growth, the tears that pushed you forward, or the heartache that made you stronger.  Even if you only learned one thing this year that is one think more than you knew last year.  Remember those times and sit back and see where you are now and how much stronger you are now than this time 1 year ago. 

Or maybe 2019 was THE YEAR. Goals were accomplished, relationships were formed, and growth occurred. Wow. How amazing.  Carry that over into the new year. Let that strong finish propel you into more growth, stronger relationships, and accomplishing more goals.  Continue to set what most people will think are ‘unrealistic’ goals, and then don’t stop until you get there. 

Praise God for the good and the bad going into the new year; and know that if you keep seeking Him in everything that you do then you will always win.  It may not seem like it in the moment but God will forever rein and I hope you find peace in that today. 

#dominatehumbly

#25

It has been a while since I shared my top 5 essential items for working out.  I will link everything below in pink so you can check it out if you want!  SO here it is my 5 holy grail picks at the moment...

1. Wireless Earbuds

I honestly don't know how I ever made it without wireless earphones. They are a game changer for sure.  The ones I have are the Powerbeats3 Wireless.  I have had them for about a year now and I love them and have never had any trouble with them!

Powerbeats3Wireless

2. Shaker Bottle 

This is one of the items that not everyone would benefit from but if you take any type of pre workout this is the best blender bottle that I have found, and this is because it does not have one of those stainless steal shaker balls in it.  It instead has an agitator that connects to the lid which is so nice because it is less noisy than a blender bottle and one less piece that you have to keep up with! It also keeps your drink cold for a very long time. 

Shaker Bottle

3. Animo Acids 

I am by no means a nutritionist so find what works best for you, but Essential Amino Energy is something that I take usually post workout and LOVE. I think that is helps with soreness and recovery.  I have been a fan of Essential Amino Energy for years now.  It is very unlikely that I use a product for years... so that means its good.  I have tried most of the flavors but two of my favorites would have to be grape or fruit fusion.

Essential Amino Energy

4. Brooks Running Shoes 

If you know me you know my OBSESSION with tennis shoes so I have tried a whole lot of different brands.  I have been wearing the Brooks Ghost 11 Running Shoes here for a while now when running. For as many miles as I have put on them they have held up very well.  Since I bought mine they have come out with the Ghost 12, might have to upgrade here soon;)

Brooks Ghost 11

I also have another tennis shoes that are a little more flat than the Brooks ones that are better when working out. They are APL and beside the fact that I think APL makes really cool looking shoes I have LOVED them. 

APL

5. Leggings 

In my opinion there is no doubt that Lulu Lemon leggings are worth the money.  They are a statement piece when it comes to my athletic wardrobe.  They stay up better than any legging I have ever worn and have the cutest styles!! If you are wanting a pair I recommend the Align legging, but I also really love the Fast and Free Tight.

Fast and Free Tight

Lulu Lemon Align Legging

But, I have also found a dupe that is a really GREAT option.  The name of the brand is 90 Degree By Reflex, and they stay up very well while running and working out.  A lot of the time if you look in the active wear at TJ MAXX they will have tons of 90 Degree clothing and I have loved all that I have ever bought from them!

90degreebyreflex

#24

It has been a while since I have posted a workout on here because I have been really into motivational writing lately.  I had a really good upper body workout (and by good I mean my arms were noodles afterward and the next day were sore:/) and so I wanted to share it with you all.

Warm-up (5-10 min)
my warmup consists of many different dynamic exercises-- if you would like me to do a blog on what a typical warm-up for me consists of let me know!!

3 rounds
15 reps- hammer curls
15 reps- tricep extensions

3 rounds
15 reps- dumbbell bent over rows
15 reps- chest flies

3 rounds
15 reps- curls
15 reps- bench dips

3 rounds
15 reps- lawnmower pulls
15 reps- lateral raises

3 rounds
15 reps- plate look-throughs
15 reps- rear deltoid flies

** I typically rest 0-60 seconds in between rounds of the exercises and then a full minute in between the super-sets.

5 continuous rounds
45 second plank
15 second rest


The majority of the time this is how I style my workouts.  I enjoy super setting two exercises that focus on two separate muscle groups together.  I know that not everyone is on the same fitness level!! So, at the moment I am working at a higher rep range with a moderate weight.  Depending on where you are in your training the repetitions and weight could be adjusted to fit what works best for you.  I just thought these were some good exercises that focused on all of the upper body and wanted to share!!

#dominatehumbly