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Are You in Life’s Waiting Room?

Do you feel like you are always waiting for something?  I know there are times when I am.

  • Waiting for summer
  • Waiting for the weekend
  • Waiting for the end of day
  • Waiting for to feel like working out
  • Waiting for someone to arrive
  • Waiting for someone to leave
  • Waiting for the mood to strike
  • Waiting for a baby to be born
  • Waiting for ….

We are always waiting for something.  That is why we get so excited when things actually happen. We have been waiting for them.  The whole idea of planning things and then waiting for them to come together is a fundamental thing.  We need to have a plan, we need to have a goal, we need to have something to work toward unless we are always waiting and doing nothing that will get us closer to accomplishing that goal.  

There are times when our job is to put things in motion and then wait.  But not everything is like that.  Actually, most things require us to constantly work toward that goal.  For example, you want to be parents.  Then poof you are expecting a baby.  Aside for the mom growing that child, there is little to do, or is there?  The baby will need clothes, a bed, a car seat, diapers, and so much more. Sure the baby does all the growing on its own, but there are still a lot of things that need to be done to be able to care for that child once it arrives.  The goal, in this case, was to become parents.  And then it happens.

But what happens when we are in a perpetual waiting room?  What do we do when we have a ‘thing’ that will need our constant attention.  Do we stay in that waiting room, or do we jump in and get things done.  People tend to fall into a couple of camps.  Perpetual waiters and constant jumpers.  Where are you?  Do you tend to think things through to the point where you become an expert at the ‘thing’ but fail to actually do anything about it?  Do you just jump into that ‘thing’ and figure things out as you go along?

There are times for both and we know that.  But if you were honest with yourself you would know where you typically land.  This time of year, there are a lot of things that people tend to put off.  With the holidays firmly upon us, the priority is rarely on our own health.  Yet, it should be.  When we started out on our ‘get healthy’ journey it was Dec 1.  We had so many things going on people told us that we were crazy. And we probably were.  Won't be the first crazy thing I do, won't be that last.  But what was the point in waiting? Was I going to be more inclined to get healthier in the new year? Was it going to be easier in a few weeks?  Would it make my like better if I waited?  What was the big reason to wait?  There were no good reasons to wait.  None at all!  So we didn’t.  

I am not saying that what worked for us will work for you, but what is the real reason that you are waiting to do something about your health?  Most of the reasons have nothing to do with any real issues.  Most of the reasons are actually excuses.  Most of us, if it came right down to it, have been waiting for permission to do it.  Well, wait no more.

Please, get out of the waiting room of life and get on with it.  Your new life is on the other side of that door of opportunity and it is great.  You will never regret starting.  You will regret not starting sooner, so, your number has been called and it’s your turn to show up and get out and do it.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. -Barack Obama

Fat to Fit, 5 Years and Counting!


We were looking at some pics the other day that showed up on our facebook and I had to really stop and look because I had trouble believing that this pic was different from now.

 On our facebook page, we get notices about ‘on this day’.  Sometimes the pics are silly, boy have things changed when it comes to posting.  Other things are ‘oh wow, has it really been that long?’.  Still, other posts bring back some really great feelings.

The image that came up was from five years ago.  It was a picture of Doug and I, at the Grey Cup game.  That is the CFL’s version of the Super Bowl.  I remember that day so clearly.  That was the year that Doug had been so sick.  He was mostly through a really serious bout of pneumonia and we were wondering if he was going to be healthy enough to go to the game.  Regardless of what the doc said, he was bound and determined to go.  We were both really housebound and needed the outing.  We probably should have chosen something a little less germy. 50 000 people in a single building, probably not the best place for his healing immune system.  But away we went.

So although we had a great day, the pic isn’t the most flattering.  We both were tired, both overwhelmed, and both still fat.  Although Doug had lost some weight with pneumonia, we were still way too fat.

Fast forward to a pic that was taken this year on the same date.  Oh my, how things have changed.  It wasn’t long after that Grey Cup pic was taken that we started to go to the gym.  We have now celebrated our 5thbody-by-brandt-gala-2016-q4fit-com anniversary with our trainers, Dean and Leigh Brandt

I have talked about looking back a few times and I am a firm believer in looking back.  Not staring. Not turning.  Not wondering if.  Just looking.  Yes, that was you.  Yes, that is what you looked like.  Yes, that was your behavior.  Yes, you really did that.  No, you are not still there.  No, you don’t do that anymore.  No, your choices are not still that bad.  No, you don’t look like that.

We all have a past.  We all came from somewhere else.  It is ok to change.  It is ok to move on.  Please don’t live in a place where you are so afraid to change that you don’t.  The world is not made up of high school kids.  They are part of the world, but that was only a few years of your life, move on.  Change.  Be More!  You are worth the work to change and be better.  Then you can look back at pics and shake your head at what you looked like then and how far you have come forward.

Change is a good thing. Think of it this way, if you didn’t change, you would still have high school hair, drive a beater, live at home, and homework to do before tv.

The before and after pics are really worth it.- Heather Morneau

Authentic Friendship, Do You Have It?

So I'm sitting poolside. It's gorgeous here. It's sunny. It's hot.

There was a wedding last night so there are party goers everywhere. Because the people getting married were young, so are the pool patrons. Well, not everyone. 

There are the typical groups here.

  • Older men ogling at the young girls.
  • Cougars drinking heavily and cackling at all the men.
  • People strutting, holding their breathe and tummy's in as they walk by.
  • There are a few normal people but then there is a group of people who I can't help but watch.

There is a group of young girls who by most people's standards would be likely ignored. They are girls of color, girls who were probably made fun of at school and girls who should be totally self-conscious. But they are not. I'm not sure if they met here, connected here or just somehow found each other but to me, they are fascinating. By all accounts of normal society they should be so uncomfortable and maybe they are but they are sure not showing it. I would love to know their stories. They are who we should all emulate to be. They are friends who have come together to have a great time. They have had nothing to do with the pretty people. They don't seem to care. They are so comfortable with their friendship.  They have come to this spot. This pool. This place. This time to do what everyone else is doing and they are doing it with such confidence that I can't help but to watch them and smile.

Today my admiration for the kindness of people has been restored. The pretty people can have their groups. Their tiny bathing suits. Their loud obnoxious laughter, I would rather be with the real people who are having a great, ‘real’ time. Not superficial. Not fake. Not drunk….well maybe just a little, but an authentic day in the sun. A day of gazing can get you to focus on exactly what you would ordinarily overlook but really need to see.

Hola!

I wrote this as I said, poolside.  Now that I am home I can say that a couple of days after writing this, we got to talk with this group of girls.  As it turns out, they have all traveled together and are having the time of their lives.  It didn’t matter why they were there, they were, as I suspected, really genuine people who came to this place just like everyone else did. They were looking for sun, sand, fun and friends.

We should all be so lucky. We should all strive to have this kind of friendship.  True, authentic, genuine, real friendship.  I believe I will call a few of my friends who I have not taken the time to reach out to lately.  

If this kind of friendship has not found its way to you, then it's time to go on a friend hunt.  There are people out there that are looking for a good friend like you. 

A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.-Jim Morrison

Best Gift Ideas

  It's that time of the year again, we get to spend our hard earned money on our loved ones.  

I know some people get really stressed out about the shopping, and I have to admit that I do too.  I want to get the perfect gift like there is such a thing.  But I really love the opportunity to spoil the people in my world and the best way to do that at this time of year is to shop.

I also have to admit that the whole “retail therapy” aspect of things is really a large part of the process too.  I grew up in a house where my parents were very vocal about spending money and what to spend it on and what not too.  We were made painfully aware of how expensive we were to just eat and live in our house so I have grown up with what I think is a respect for my spending habits.  On the other hand, if I could spend a whole bucket load of cash on someone, I would.  We have tried over the years to save up money so that we could spend at this time of year, but as we all know, that never goes completely as planned.

cinch-sacs_fall-winter-2016-catalog-photo

This year, however, I have a few opportunities to spend where I hadn’t before.  And, I am trying to be fun and practical at the same time.  ThirtyOne has been that answer for me this year.  Without giving away any actual gift secrets, let me share a few of my favorite things that may just arrive under the tree in our house.

There is a large trend toward personalized items.  Things with inspirations, and messages. ThirtyOne is all over that, most of their items are personalizable.  

For instance these great pillows.  You can order them empty, just the cover, or include the pillow.  There are two sizes and the level of personalization is enormous.

My next item will likely be a cinch sac or two.  These are so cute, with so many patterns available and totally personalizable. And they are cheap.

 

The last item is the little carry-all caddy.  I have to admit, I have quite the collection already.  But the ones holiday-gift-guide-graphic-3-fall-winter-2016that I love right now are the Christmas patterns.  Little Santa pants, reindeer, and red with polka dots.  They hide my box of tissues but we have found so many uses for them.

 

So, please spend a little time doing some retail therapy with us here at Q4fit.com and buy some super cute, practical things for you and your fam.

 

 

I went window shopping today! I bought four windows. – Tommy Cooper