You CREATE the results you want! We can hope and pray and wish all we want, but if we do not put action into the CHANGE we want to see it will never happen.  Many times we let outside forces dictate our progress in Creating the you we want.  There will always be troubles, there will always be obstacles and you will always have a million things to do! what you need to do is put you at the top of the list! If you don't take care of you, you can't create anything else. Choosing to be fit and healthy is a difficult thing when we have many other things to focus on as well.  We need to set ourselves up to be prepared for the challenges that will direct us out of focus! Remember if you do not put any action and consistency into CREATING the you, you want you'll never have RESULTS!

One thing I stress in my fitness classes, is to Be You! Whatever YOU that is!


Too many people are afraid to go to a fitness class, in fear of what others will say...
When I workout; on my own, in a group or leading a class, I #GetUgly!
Not only do I sweat a pool at my feet but I also turn red sometimes, and sometimes I feel super swollen! Ugh! There are other times I feel like a total Rock star! I see all my efforts paying off, that one muscle that is defined when I flex... it wasn't there last week! It's a rather personal thing we are doing, working out. When you take a step into a fitness class you’re being brave, you are putting a piece of yourself out there that is vulnerable and others can see it.
The name of my "business" is 'Expressions of Fitness' for various reasons:
1. We all need to get/be fit, we all have our own feelings of what workout works best for us as individuals. My goal is to offer a variety of ways to make the class work best for everyone’s needs. I also strive to make class accessible, approachable and energizing! If my class isn't working for you, that is OK! Go find your "Expression of Fitness"!
2. Expressions is showing or sharing "of feeling, spirit, character, etc., as on the face, in the voice, or in artistic execution. (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/expression) When we are in a class we are there with the intentions to burn calories, build and tone our muscles but we also have many other things going on during our workouts. We are cleverly using some of our other senses too! Sight - watching our instructor, ourselves in the mirror and sometimes our fellow students. We are using our Sound - listening to the music that is playing. And, Feeling the vibrations and levels of the music. As the instructor, I use the music during class as a full body, mind, emotional experience. It is our motivation, our inspiration and our constant to get through the fully body workout class.
3. Be You - When you are in my fitness class, I encourage you to fully engage. Let go of whatever stressors of life you have outside of class, just for the moment! I encourage you to use the emotions within you, to motivate you, inspire you to press through the class, which will cause you to put your all into it. When we come to class after having had a bad day, we can let it go in our workout! Even when we've just heard some sad news or experienced some happiness in the world, we can use those emotions to fuel our experience. Whatever "YOU" comes to class each day, use it as fuel!
Exercise is not only beneficial to your physical being but your mental, emotional and spiritual health!
If this sounds like a class for you, come give it a try, it won't disappoint! You'll leave feeling refreshed, happy and courageous, that you pushed through!


"Be You" while I, Be Me!
Feel Your Way to Health & Happiness
-Carmalee

Did you grow up to be what you always dream? If not that's ok!
I wanted to be a child psychologist, then I realized two things:
     1.  I am no good at learning/researching statistics, which is an important role to know the past and averages of an issue. 
     2. I would end up being the old woman who lived in a shoe because I'd want to save every child from everything! 

I realized early in college child pyschology was not for me... I didn't expect to be in Corporate America in a desk job, but I've found I enjoy the challenges and when I take on a task and its completed successful, I enjoy the feeling of pride.  I also have learned a lot about myself and people.  I started visualizing myself as an instructor of a cardio class because the instructors at work made it fun and challenging at the same time.  I am very blessed that I've paid attention to my experiences and my internal wants.  I am not the best dancer but I love it and being able to share that with others is AMAZING.  I never dreamed I'd be a dance fitness instructor, but this dream is better for me than my first!

    With life there are many twists and turns and if we go with the flow and fully get involved we ourselves the opportunity to grow from our experiences.  Pay attention you just might find your Dreams don't have to be what you always thought they were.   Our goal in life should be to follow our hearts.  Be open to the idea that a Dream you never dreamed may be what you wanted all along. 

NOTE: Long read but worth it.  Its something to think about, demonstrated by sharing my fitness journey.

It used too sounds corny whenever I heard these statements: 

    "Live Your Passion"
     "Be True to Yourself" 
    "Just Be Who You Are"
     "Put Your All Into It"
    "Do What You Love"
    "Find a Way for What You Do to Be What You Love"
    "Live Your Life for You"
    "It Doesn't Matter What Others Think"

They seriously sound very corny and are easier said then done!   Hhhhmm!

Through some failures; over trying... focusing on what other people think..., trying to be apart of something just because it's supposed to make you money or make you successful... I've done all of these things.  I've tried to be what I thought other people wanted and for some reason I was always feeling like it wasn't good enough.    Have you ever put what you think is your all into something with no reward.  Have you done everything you're "supposed" to and then realize you're not necessarily supposed to...  Have you ever looked at a situation and thought I've given it too much power over my thoughts which affect my actions????

Have you done any of these things?

STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!!  During this past year my health and fitness journey as taught me the above statements are truly words to live by.  If you don't get it, keep reading.  They apply to EVERY aspect of our lives!!!!!!!!  Read my fitness journey to understand why I feel this way.

    As a youth & teen I was ALWAYS fit or thin, ate everything & anything I wanted.  I was always active; jumped hurdles on the track team for about five years and walked every where I went. After having children and working fulltime my metabolism or something stopped working.  I gained a lot of weight, I hit 200 pounds!!! When I was in my late teens I'd say "if I ever hit 150 pounds I'd kill myself..."  Young, inexperienced and never having to really think about my weight I am sure is why I made such a ludicrous comment.  As an adult I've tried to lose weight in all kinds of ways: I would yo-yo diet and try every fad workout video.  Not that the videos don't work but they didn't work for me and I couldn't figure out why.  I even tried different pieces of workout equipment but would never stick with it.  I even purchased this belt you put on your stomach and it sends an electric shock to your body that tighten your stomach muscles!!! LOL! that was too funny!  Why would I even entertain the thought that it would work!  I did workout every day, but I would yo-yo diet and my workouts weren't enough to burn all the calories I ate.  I found that I enjoyed walking and listen to my music, I could walk and walk but unfortunately I wouldn't burn enough calories.  I've always been a person who likes to go to a night club and dance from 9pm open, until 2pm close! None stop dancing! With a family, full-time job my youthful dance outings went from 3 times a week to maybe 1 or 2 times in a month.  Although dancing for five hours straight I burned a ton of calories definitely not enough only going 1 or 2 times a month.  Lucky for me, my husband found a new gym down the hill from our house and I decided to join since they had some class called Zumba©,  it was a dance fitness class. Hhmmm...  I love to dance maybe this is for me.  That was June 4th last year, it is June 27th and I am hooked! I've lost 33 pounds probably more because I've gained a lot of muscle.   I've gone from a regular fit size 14 to a fitted 8.   After attending classes for six months I knew I wanted to instructor a class for myself and I took the training.  Here I am today!

What's the secret to losing my weight?  It hasn't been a better diet although I do eat much better and I try to manage what I eat with what calories I am burning.  It is not because I exercise every single day, I don't.  I workout five times a week and a little more if I am practicing a new song. My weight loss is from finding my "Expression of Fitness"! For me dancing is the best, if you ask me what is my favorite activity, I'd say going dancing!!! Dancing is were I can be completely comfortable with myself, even if I am not a good dancer or even if I am an excellent dancer, it's about how I feel ;0)

Find an "Expression of Fitness" that you just love and do it!

If you like to run, join a runners club.  If you like calm and quiet, try yoga.  If you love to watch football give it a try, join a town team! It has nothing to do with your skill level, that will come, it is about how you feel.  When you feel engaged, when you feel happy, when you are connected internally you will want to go to your class or do your activity!  There are times when I do not want to go to the gym, I don't want to sweat but as soon as I put on the music I just can't help myself.  Before I know it an hour has passed and I want to keep dancing!  Find your "Expression of Fitness"!

With any aspect of life this can work, connect internally.  You might think but I hate my job! You can grow to like and enjoy anything if you work at finding how your connected.  Everyday think of one of the above statements, yes they sound corny and are easier said then done but just maybe those statement aren't so corny after all...

Zumba© Love,
Carmalee

    What if your small gesture changed someone's life for the better? Don't let fear, resentment, laziness, jealousy, or self involvement prevent you from being kind.  Small gestures make subtle differences that sometimes even the receiver won't notice but in time were vital to their happiness. 

     At times I struggle with this, part of me will want to do something good for someone and the other part will think "NO Way".  I think, "They don't deserve it or they aren't good to me or they don't even know me."  I often wonder if my little gestures of kindness even matter?  Within me though, every time I know it doesn't matter!  Part of me is beaming with pride because I did a good thing for someone else.  

    We as people must remember the golden rule "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"  That rule is very powerful.  

    Try in every situation to evaluate the effects of your decision to help or not to help, to be kind or not to be kind.  Does someone need it? Will my doing something harm me? Will my not doing something harm them?  What if it were me in that situation?  We all, no matter what we think, need each other!  This life gives us many twists and turns, with kind gestures it makes life easier to maneuver.

(What is a kind gesture - that is up for your own interpretation.  For me its as simple as opening a door, letting someone get in front of me on a busy road or maybe its letting go of a grudge.)

Reference: Picture from Lexington Medical Centers - Every Women a blog: for women by women

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you  must, but don't you quit. 

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow. 
 
Often the goal is nearer than, It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up, When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown. 
 
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to  the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
 - Author unknown
This video was created by: http://www.thedontquitpoem.com/homePage.htm

Just when you think all hope is gone, a rainbow appears...

The rainbow reminds you of why you are pushing through! The rainbow give you the brightness you need to keep pushing.

Just when you think you can' t keep going, or you can't hold on, start looking for your rainbow. 

The rainbow is a symbol that better times are ahead...  The rainbow can be an unexpected call, a problem fixed or that second wind you needed in Zumba® class ;0)

Don't lose your hope there will always be a rainbow, just keep looking!

The old saying "The only thing you have to fear is fear itself"(Franklin D Roosevelt) ... I didn't understand this, until today.  When you worry and over think a new venture or challenge, this is making you experience a fear that hasn't actually happend!  There are many times when we over think a situation and once were in it, we think this isn't that bad, in fact its easy!!! If we could switch our mind sets and start thinking I can't wait to see what great things will come from this, there will be nothing but more great successes!  In life bad things happen, we get embarrassed, we make mistakes but after the initial disaster - we get over it! Face Your Fears, you'll find "All you have to fear is fear itself!"