Consistency is key.....sort of.

Only, not "sort of." Consistency truly is key - it's just not a concept I've mastered yet. It's definitely my Achilles' Heel; the fact that I cannot stay consistent is a huge problem and I've decided to put a kabosh to it RIGHT NOW :)

There are so many areas of my life in which I'm inconsistent. Most of these areas are those which have relatively little effect on anyone except myself - the jury's still out on whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. The biggest areas are those in which, I feel, a lot of people struggle. Workouts. Good nutrition. Maintaining momentum on big projects. Seeing loved ones as often as I should.

I know for a fact that I struggle because, even though I've always (and I truly mean ALWAYS) been a big list-maker, I've never had a list that I could alter on the spot and keep it neat - making my OCD [which I affectionately refer to as "CDO" - so the letters are in alphabetical order!] rear its ugly head. This, in turn, led to me only sometimes keeping a list, and never really a list of major importance. Sure, it had basic things I'd need to get done for a day (ya know, buy so-and-so a birthday card, go food shopping, etc.), but nothing that related to where I wanted to go in life. Same goes for keeping track of my nutrition and things of the like.

For the last 3 years I have been putting off buying a smart phone. My inner Scot came out and did not want to pay for the monthly data plan, so I just made do without one. I figured, eh, I'd been doing okay without it for this long, why not see how long I can go before I finally cave in?

Well, I finally caved in.

I caved because I knew how much more productive and accountable I would be with one. And I know the critics out there will say that they've all been successful without one and that a phone is not the be-all-and-end-all of success/productivity, but in my case of severe scatterbrain, I feel it will make a big difference. It already has. Heck, if it wasn't for seeing "Write blog post: consistency" on my to-do list under the "Today" tab of AwesomeNote (and wanting the satisfaction of being able to cross it off!), would it have gotten done? Probably not. I've been shirking responsibilities on my paper-and-pen to-do lists for ages! ...No, I'm not proud of that, it's just a sad fact. As for my nutrition, I've been holding myself accountable with the MyFitnessPal app, and when the time comes for long-sleeves, I will don my BodyBugg and use the accompanying app to see what it is I'm burning. (Side note: I honestly have no interest in counting "calories out" for weight loss purposes, though I know it helps those that have a lot of weight to lose. My main reason for BodyBuggin' is to make sure I'm eating enough to fuel what my body is burning; I have a tendency to under-eat on a regular basis - a little ironic consistency - and I need to monitor that too!)

Basically, I'm writing to say that I've officially turned over a new leaf. Consistency truly is key, even though it may not always be the favorable or fun route. To see results in any aspect of life, one must be consistent; put in the work now, reap the rewards later.

Over and out,
Jillian

The Key

I've been asked quite a few times what the "key" is to staying fit.  Is it the workouts, eating properly, or getting support?  I'd love to give credit to any one of those, but the truth is, it's a little bit of all of them and even more.

In the last few weeks, I've upped my personal development ante in order to help myself achieve my personal goals quicker and more efficiently.  I've ordered motivational programs from Brian Tracy and Chalene Johnson, and really taken their advice to heart.  Physically putting pen to paper has forced a new kind of clarity that I never really had before.  Firmly establishing my life's priorities for the moment, setting my goals for the year, and keeping a REAL daily NEED-to-do list (versus a "should-do list") was a great place to start; it gives my life a new framework that I didn't have even just a mere two weeks ago. 

"But Jillian, what do you mean by a great place to start?"  The obvious answer to that is, we're a constant work in progress...but I'm sure that's not quite the answer you're hoping for.

It's a start because self-discipline is my answer.  I can tell myself exactly how to work out, exactly what to eat, and talk to all the right people; if I don't actually do any of the above or follow my own advice, I still end up nowhere.  The discipline to exercise daily, the discipline to stick to my guns about my food choices, the discipline to talk to my friends who keep me honest.......that's what it's all about.

I never really considered myself a disciplined person.  I mean that 100%.  Even with my schoolwork, I always knew I was smart but I never considered myself a great student by any means, because I lacked self-disciplined.  Sure, I was organized--my schedule was always crazy hectic and I made sure I never missed an event, appointment, or day at the office...but that's just the problem:  I'm great at doing what I HAVE to do, but not at what I WANT to do.  My papers would get done at 6 AM the day they were due because I didn't see starting it early as something I "had" to do do.  When it HAD to get done, it did.  (For the record, I never got lower than a B+ on a paper EVER, but that's not the point ;) hehe.)

I can now honestly say that I really, really WANT to be disciplined.  Why?  Because I NEED to be.  Nobody can make me have discipline except myself, and I will not be successful without self-discipline.  One important thing I've been doing to help myself with this is to make my daily tasks manageable.  I'm not setting out to rebuild Rome every day; I'm completing stepping stone-tasks every day and I know that sooner rather than later, my goals will be reality.

This, my friends, is the key to life.

This Ain't Nothin' to Die For

I remember tearing this cartoon, dated 2005, out of a local newspaper (Newsday, for all my Long Islanders reading this entry) when I was in high school.  Most of my peers thought absolutely nothing of having a few beers on the Mini Bridge and then driving home on any given Friday; that "It'll never happen to me!" magical thinking could've gotten many people into a tough spot, but I'd never EVER let it happen to me.

In the early hours of 11/30/2008, Jason Shein was killed by a drunk driver in Farmingdale, NY, on his way home from Applebees with a few friends.  He was heading back to school in Miami the next morning, and he had come home for Thanksgiving to surprise his family.  He was going to school for neuroscience and he was going to become a doctor and change the world someday.  The 21-year-old with a happy life, tons of friends, and immense promise was taken down by a man who already had 3 DWIs to his name and was supposed to have a court-ordered ignition lock on his car.

Jay was always that guy who would IM me at 2 AM when we were in high school yelling me to go to bed; I'd tell him I had homework to finish and he'd tell me that no form of work is worth staying up that late for.  The one I would happily take a call from at midnight on a Tuesday because he'd be worried about something or someone.  He worked at Target in the photo department and I would always stop by just to say hi to him while I was there because he made my day better just by seeing him being happy and smiley.  ...The one who always told me I needed to slow down because I never had any free time.

I never knew just how much this one cartoon would stick in my mind when I first learned that Jay had been killed.  I also never dreamed that it would have such a profound influence on my life just a few years later.  This past summer at a party at a friend's house, "Friend A" had way too much to drink.  Everyone knew it, and laughed when I told them he was planning on driving himself home because clearly nobody was going to let him drive himself home.  To make a long story short, I ended up having a panic attack and he needed to be tackled to the ground to get his keys from him, ensuring that he would not be driving himself anywhere.

"Friend A" was really mad at me at the time, telling me I was overreacting and that I was being ridiculous; I was really mad at him too--all I could think of was Jay and how he was killed by someone who probably thought the exact same thing, that he was "fine to drive" and nothing would happen.  A lot of people would back down when faced with a tough situation like this, caving and not wanting to risk a huge argument.  Knowing my friend the way I do, I knew he was worth the fight.  Not only was his life worth the argument, but people's lives who could've been taken due to nobody standing up for them were worth the argument too.  "Friend A" was over it by the next day and eventually thanked me for "overreacting." 

The moral of this story is, your life is not the only one that is affected by your actions.  As the holiday season approaches, it's easy to go to lots of parties and not realize just how much you consume.  Do the world a favor--if you have more than one drink, let someone else drive.  Don't let your ego be responsible for taking innocent people's lives...the people who love them will never forgive you.  Jay was an exceptional person and I think about him every day; it's my mission to not let his death be in vain.  You may not know Jay, but please take his story to heart as if you did--I promise it will change your life.

Rest in Peace, Jay...you are loved and missed more than you can imagine. <3

In Memory of Jason Shein

July 4, 1987-November 30, 2008

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.  This is to have succeeded."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson (found on the back of Jay's memorial card)

I'm Yours...Alllllllllllllll Yours!

Ever since I became a Beachbody coach, I've (appropriately) been asked by countless people exactly what it is they "should" be doing.  Expecting a cookie-cutter response like "Well, you should work out and eat healthy!," I'm not entirely sure people truly understand what it takes to live a fit lifestyle.

"Ya gotta get an education!"

 

I signed up as a Beachbody coach in March of 2009.  I knew the jist of what it was--represent the products, help other people figure out what's right for them, etc.  What I didn't know was how much this concept would change me as a person.  I went from not knowing anything, to knowing a lot but not knowing how to use the knowledge, to having a perfectly clear mission that I plan to accomplish whether or not it's the last thing I do.

 

I want to educate people.  Honestly, it's what I've been doing most of my life; I've got a solid client base as a swim instructor (I've been teaching swim since I was 14 in 2002), I tutored in high school, and as a babysitter/nanny/tutor to two very energetic kids, I've learned a thing or two about successful ways to ..er.. "train" people to do what they need to do ;)  By passing on all the tidbits I've learned from my fitness friends--exercise tips, nutritional tips, personal development habits, etc--I can pay it forward to those I truly care about and those who really do want to take steps to better themselves and live a more fulfilling life.

 

What does this have to do with you?  I've decided to start doing private consultations for anyone SERIOUS about getting in shape!  Whether you're looking to get in shape physically, mentally, or financially, I am here to help you One-on-One.  Let me help you achieve your goals once and for all!

We're Officially The Worst of the Best

I know, that's not exactly the most optimistic title for a blog post in the world, but right now I really don't care--I'm angry.

Go ahead, ask me what I'm angry about!  I dare ya!

The medical and technological advancements that've been made in the last year are astounding.  Add those in with those made in the last five, ten, twenty, fifty, and 100 years, and forget it, we've lapped centuries in terms of rate of development.  Some of the brightest minds that have ever lived would KILL to see what we've done with the theories, formulas, and ideas they came up with back in the 1500s, and even the late 1800s/early 1900s.  Heck, I'm sure the inventor of the computer's head would be spinning if he knew that we've now made it smaller than pocket-sized!

.....but yet, we've used these advancements to make products that kill people.  The worst uses of the best minds possible.

No, I'm not talking about guns.  I'm talking about products we see and/or use every day.  BPA-laden plastics, which are known carcinogens; artificial sweeteners, which are loaded with false promises of cheated health and have devastating effects on the body; methods of transportation that use more fuel and create more noxious gasses in one day than we should be exposed to in a lifetime; ways to genetically modify our food to make it more easy to reproduce and simultaneously deplete its nutritional content.

It makes me sick knowing what we, as humans, have done to this world.  Life may be easier to live, but is it really?  How many of you microwave food in plastic containers?  Surprise, you may be diagnosed with cancer in a few years.  Oh, and if you were heating up vegetables in that container, they've been officially zapped of all their nutritional value due to the high heat.  Think that apple you just ate will keep the doctor away?  It's only got 25% of the nutritional value it would have had 50 years ago, thanks to the scientists who figured out how to mass-produce them.

It's "thinks" like this that make me want to move to the middle of nowhere, where life has not been touched by science or technology.  The world is clearly moving too quickly for our own good; people are not being properly educated about all the "latest and greatest" advancements and God knows we're not going to look for any danger ourselves--we're gonna wait until someone else points it out for us and then ignore them, dammit!

This entire entry was brought on by a NY statewide ban on the alcohol-spiked energy drink "Four Loko."  For YEARS we've known that mixing alcohol and caffeine is horrible for your body, but the advent of Red Bull made it seem like it's totally okay.  Red Bull and Vodka is the new "It" drink, and all those people saying "NOOOOOOOOOOO, DON'T DO IT!!!!!!" have gone right by the wayside.  Thankfully, the FDA will be putting a ban on creating drinks marrying alcohol and caffeine within the next few days, but really--should they have to?  It's long since been known the devastating effects of this combination, but nobody's listened.

Listen.  Read.  Educate yourself. 

...it's all we've got left--nobody's gonna tell us on their own.