Two AMAZING weeks!

Sharing is caring...right?  Of course it is, so I am sharing with you about how exactly I THRIVE every morning. *** Just as a side note, I do not take the Lifestyle Shake everyday, but 4 days a week.  I usually reserve it for the days I know I am working out or a day I particularly need an extra boost.  There is an option to order enough Lifestyle Mix for a shake everyday (called the Tone Pack) but the choice is yours

www.JAWilkins.le-vel.com

aging

Aging....
it is such a love-hate thing.
On one hand, I love that I am not nursing 24/7
I am not leaking through my t-shirts
I am not that uncertain new Mom.

On the other hand, I miss those quiet snuggles, watching my baby breathe
I miss picking out their cute little outfits
I miss not having wrinkles or saggy areas.

But you can't have one without the other.
I will take my aging skin and self for the knowledge I gained from those precious baby years.
I will take these new stolen moments, where I spy on them through my bedroom window, and watch them as they chit chat....
I will breathe, and know that these moments are fleeting, and they will be the ones I will miss in a few years.

I will be 31 in less that 2 weeks....so expect a few posts about reflection, and deep thoughts...
and a few about frivolous things for good measure.
I always manage some Sephora purchases around this time of year!

I think aging is breathtakingly beautiful and painful.
It's just about taking it ALL...
the good
the bad
the ugly
and the unexpected.
I have so many wonderful examples around me of how to do just that...
and I am all ears.

See you soon....
with some shopping bags! (hopefully)

My Home Gym

 ***Happy Monday***
Here is a quick overview of what I have at home...
it is pretty simple and straight forward, and has taken me through the last 5 years or so.

Also, I have included a few stabilization exercises for you to all try at home.

Ignore how I performed the Lift and Chop...I had it backwards.
Start with your right knee raised and your hands on your left side,
and then take your arms across your body to the right side. 

Make sense....I don't know why I messed that up!
And not that the way I did it is necessarily wrong, but not the actual exercise.

Have a great Monday, and I will see you later in the week!



For more on this topic, you can go to ACE Fit and search for an at-home workout
or a stability ball workout...there are so many great resources here to meet your needs, and it is all FREE.

10 Tips for Success in 2013- Part 2

Let's look at the last five tips I have for achieving success in 2013!

#6 FIND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU- A.M. vs. P.M.

We are all different; different work schedules, different body rhythms, different commitments.  Find out when you can COMMIT to exercise.  For me, I have two options....around 9:30, or at 3pm.  If it doesn't happen then, it isn't happening.  So I have to set myself up for success by working the rest of my day around these things in order to make exercise THE priority.  I could never promise to work out at 4 a.m......it wouldn't happen!  Find out what works for you, and be honest about what you can truly make happen.  Then, just do it!  This would also include ways to shape your behavior, such as putting your gym bag on the front seat (rather than in the trunk) so that you have to look at it while driving...and will be more likely to get to the gym.  Or lay out your gym clothes the night before so you are ready to roll.  Pack your lunch the night before and go on a walk for your lunch break.  Anything you can do to increase your chances of being successful is time and money well spent.  More on this topic at a later date......

#7 SNEAK IN WAYS TO MAKE IT WORK

Whether it is busting out 50 squats in the ladies room, or doing walking lunges through your house, there are always more opportunities in the day to get your workout in. Have fun with it, and make it a game. My sister and I used to squeeze our glutes at every red light while we were out driving when we were in High School...why not bring that back!? There is no excuse to not DO SOMETHING. Also, I think wearing a pedometer is a great way to assess your activity level. They are small and discrete now, and easily show you how much movement you have throughout the day. A great goal to shoot for is 10,000 steps a day, which is roughly 5 miles. At the end of the day, you should see how close you are to your goal...and walk it out in place while you watch your favorite show if you need to make up some lost steps. You can do it!!!

#8 ABS ARE MADE IN THE KITCHEN!!

You HAVE to watch what you eat......but not diet.  Diet is a four-lettered word in my opinion, and I hate hearing that people are on this diet, or that diet.  You have to create a lifestyle for yourself that you will be able to maintain, no matter your circumstances.  Eat smart, eat healthy, eat clean, and EAT.  Starvation will get you nowhere, and eating junk is just as bad.  Plan out your week, so that you already know what you will eat so there are no last minute bad decisions because you have "Nothing to eat!"  Again, figure out what works for YOU.  What do you like to eat???  Now, just clean up those meals a bit, and remember portions.  More nutrition lessons later as well, but stick to something sensible, and there is no need to radically cut out a food group for the long haul.  These changes are so difficult to maintain, unless it is for medical reasons, and then work with your Doctor to find suitable alternatives for the foods you love.

#9 STAY AWAY FROM PROCESSED ANYTHING

This obviously piggybacks on #8, but stay away from the 100 calorie pack marketing.  If you read the labels, those snacks are typically filled with many preservatives and chemical products you should stay away from.  At the beginning of the week, you can portion out snacks in small Ziploc bags such a carrots, triscuits, raw almonds, and other nutritious snacks so that your snack choices are ready for you when you need them.   The less pre-packaged and processed foods you consume, the better.  And, it is cheaper to portion things out yourself anyway.  I like the mix at Costco that is raw walnuts, almonds, pistachios, dried cherries, and dried cranberries.  I get a little sugar, a little fat, and a little protein....and you only need a small handful.  The kids love it too, so it is a win/win.  Try it for just a month and see how you feel.  I dare you!

#10 LOVE YOURSELF ALONG THE WAY; SELF-DOUBT IS TOXIC, and unattractive.

Change doesn't happen overnight, and you can't expect to transform your thoughts and feelings overnight as well, but you must intentionally focus on the positive.  The more you pat yourself on the back for small accomplishments and successes, the better your experience will be.  Be PROUD of yourself at every step in your journey, because it is just that......a journey.  Not a non-stop flight.  You will have bumps in the road, you will have set-backs,, but you must remain positive...and keep moving forward.  Love yourself enough to take this seriously...if you can't keep a promise to yourself, who can you keep a promise to?? 

Ok....do we all have an area or two we can improve upon????
Write down what you are going to do to fix at least one area.  Make a plan, and take it seriously.
What do you need to make this plan a success?  Set aside money from your next paycheck to purchase anything you may need, so there are no excuses!!  Feel free to share on here what that may or may not be, so there is additional accountability!

I am setting an alarm on my phone at 9:30 everyday to remind myself it is GO-TIME for some exercise....and I have written out my plans for sick days (yoga and stretching), and home workouts for days I can't make it to the gym for one reason or another (Beach Babe DVD and Jillian Michaels).
So those decisions have already been made for me...I just have to follow through.

Have a great weekend!
XO

Why I care

I care because I know how good it feels to set goals for yourself and achieve them.
I care because I know how amazing it is to see your body change from hard work and dedication.
I care because I know how hard it is to make changes, to let go of the past, and to move forward.

I spend my free time on here trying to share with you because I genuinely want to help, and if I can help one person realize their true potential and transform their life, then I feel blessed.  Some people don't fully understand why I care...but they don't have to.  You should see that it brings me joy to get comments and emails, and that I am happy that my story, my example, can help others.

XO-Ariel

10 Tips for Success in 2013- Part 1

You made it through the first week of the new year...good for you!
Now that you might have your mind made up about what it is you want to achieve this year for Project 2013, I thought I could share my top 10 tips for success when it comes to weight loss/weight management.
Here is Part 1,Tips 1-5.

#1 BE ACCOUNTABLE- When you have to answer to someone, or something, you behave differently.

Justin likes to log his workouts on a large executive desk calendar, while I prefer a notebook or a fitbook(I purchased mine at Target). Any system will work, and I wholeheartedly endorse myfitnesspal for those of you that prefer something on your smartphone. Take to time to think about what you want to accomplish each week, and break it down from there. Smaller goals are easier to achieve, and will keep you on track for a longer period of time.

#2 SET GOALS-SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM-
If you aren't working towards something, you are just floating.  Make goals more process oriented, and less product oriented.  Set yourself up for success by choosing goals that are challenging but attainable, like "Exercise 5 days a week for 45 minutes".  That gives you 2 days in that week that can be used as rest days/sick/excuse days!    Plan out your week ahead of time, so that the decisions have already been made for you.  As far as long-term goals, you can choose a health marker, like cholesterol/blood pressure/body fat% to improve upon with the assistance of your Doctor if need be,  or you can choose something like a 5k/10k to be ready to participate in.  There are plenty of resources out there to help in creating a training program for free.  Check our Self.com/fitness.  That is where I printed a free training program for a 5K/10K/Half marathon.

#3 UTILIZE MEASUREMENTS, OTHER THAN YOUR SCALE
I am a firm believer in taking measurements before beginning any kind of workout program, and using these for insight into your progress.  You can also take your measurements quarterly or monthly, throughout the year to see if you are on track.  Grab a soft tape measure and get to it.  Record them somewhere important so you won't lose them.  For more information on how to properly do this go HERE.

#4 GET THE PROPER WORKOUT ATTIRE- New shoes, New Music, New clothes can mean New Motivation.
I know personally if my favorite workout clothes are not washed and ready for me throughout the week, I am less likely to go to the gym.  Call it vanity, call it stupidity, call it what you will.  I just know when I feel confident, I am more likely to make my workouts at the gym...and that is all that matters.  I think the same is also true for those of us who prefer to workout with headphones on...and use music to help us along in our workouts.  I am handicapped at the gym without my ipod, and the right music can make a huge difference in motivation and attitude.  Spend some money on yourself and invest in your success!

#5 TEAM UP- Get your hubby/Mom/Sister/Boyfriend in on the action.

I am blessed/cursed to live with one of the healthiest people I know, and use his good influence to help shape my behavior.  If I lived with someone who had poor eating habits, or did not exercise it would be SO much harder to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  I am not saying it is impossible, or that it is an excuse, but if you can team up with someone who you can count on to help motivate you it helps.  You really have to find the motivation within yourself to be successful for the long-haul, but you can work as a team to support each other through initial changes.  I also think that attending classes is another way to utilize social support.  If you all managed to show up for Zumba or Spin, you have something in common!

Stayed tuned for Part 2 later in the week!
Do you need to work on any of these things?
Let me know if you have any questions.... and you can always watch this video for more on this same topic.
 
XO

Hey 2013!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Here's a little intro into what I am thinking about for this year on this blog!
I hope everyone had a great New Year, and has mentally started fresh for 2013. 
Let's get our goals clarified, and start putting our plans in to action.
Talk to you soon!!

eat. pray. love.

Missing my Fairchild "Book Club"  and excuse to walk down the street and enjoy a girls night in with good food and great women.  We read quite a few books together, some winners, some losers.
This was obviously a winner.

Here are Some favorite parts of Eat Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert....
which I have now read 3 times.
Hopefully I am not in some copyright breach here, by writing all of this, but I am referencing page numbers, and all...trying to reference correctly.
Thanks Liz...
You have my gratitude for this book...entirely.
Every time I read it, I get something new and powerful.
This go-round....no exception.

    "Having a baby is like getting a tattoo on your face.  You really need to be certain it's what you want before you commit." (10)

    In the end, what I have come to believe about God is simple.  It's like this---I used to have this really great dog.  She came from the pound.  She was a mixture of about ten different breeds, but seemed to have inherited the finest features of them all.  She was brown.  When people asked me, "What kind of dog is that?" I would always give the same answer: "She's a brown dog." Similarly, when the question is raised, "What kind of God do you believe in?" my answer is easy: "I believe in a magnificent God." (14)

    A sad-faced Russian woman tells us she's treating herself to Italian lessons because "I think I deserve something beautiful." (44)

    Giovanni's sweetness, in my opinion, makes him a national treasure of Italy.  He endeared himself to me forever the first night we met, when I was getting frustrated with my inability to find words I wanted in Italian, and he put his hand on my arm and said, "Liz, you must be very polite with yourself when you are learning something new." (56)

    When I get lonely these days, I think: So be lonely, Liz.  Learn your way around loneliness.  Make a map of it.  Sit with it, for once in your life.  Welcome to the human experience.  But never again use another person's body or emotions as a scratching post for your own unfulfilled yearnings. (65)

    Because the world is so corrupted, misspoken, unstable, exaggerated and unfair, one should trust only what one can experience with one's own senses, and this makes the senses stronger in Italy than anywhere in Europe.  This is why, Barzini says, Italians will tolerate hideously incompetent generals, presidents, tyrants, professors, bureaucrats, journalists and captains of industry, but will never tolerate incompetent "opera singers, conductors, ballerinas, courtesans, actors, film directors, cooks, tailors..."In  a world of disorder and disaster and fraud, sometimes only beauty can be trusted.  Only artistic excellence is incorruptible.  Pleasure cannot be bargained down.  And sometimes the meal is the only currency that is real. (114)

    I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with.  I can select what I eat and read and study.  I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life--- whether I will see them as curses or opportunities (and on the occasions when I can't rise to the most optimistic viewpoint, because I'm feeling too damn sorry for myself, I can choose to keep trying to change my outlook). I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others.  And most of all, I can choose my thoughts. (177)

    God isn't interested in watching you enact some performance of personality in order to comply with some crackpot notion you have about how a spiritual person looks or behaves.  We all seem to get this idea that, in order to be sacred, we have to make some massive, dramatic change of character, that we have to renounce our individuality.  ...... Always wanted to be the quiet girl.  Probably precisely because I'm not.  It's the same reason I think that thick, dark hair is so beautiful---precisely because I don't have it.  But at some point you have to make your peace with what you were given and if God wanted me to be a shy girl with thick, dark hair, He would have made me that way, but He didn't.  Useful, then, might be to accept how I was made and embody myself fully therein.  (192)

If you haven't read it yet...you may want to ask Santa...
XO, A

Favorites!

Happy Wednesday!!
Here are a few things I have been loving lately.
I hope everyone is doing well, and having a great week!
xo


For more info, click away:
Maybelline Master Shape
Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing
Trainerball
Tone It Up and Beach Babe DVD series
Sharpie Pens

Lean and Green

A study of vegetables...By Paige Donovan

A good reminder...made by Paige Donovan



My food choices for the next 10 days.
Nothing from a box, nothing sugared
Nothing that resembles a cracker, or goldfish, or granola bar.
Only real, only from the earth,
only cooked by me, only made by me.

Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Fruits and Vegetables, Chicken and Fish, nuts and seeds.
Minimal Olive Oil, minimal dairy.
BOOM!



I will keep you updated as I go along...and let you know what I learn along the way.
I will say that this is not a huge departure from the way we normally eat. I am just taking out any dessert, any bread, and processed food for the next 10 days to see how we feel.
I predict that I feel less bloated, less grouchy, have more energy, and have less cravings for these types of foods.
I will be tracking my progress at MyFitnessPal.com
Game On!

We did a photo-booth this weekend...so funny!

One Piece or Two?

Hi Gals! Just wanted to flashback to some videos I made from last year
about working out, setting goals, and staying motivated.
As bathing suit season approaches (yikes!) we all need a little reminder
or two
or three....
so here are a few tips from me from last year.

Also, remember that the most beautiful thing about yourself
is your confidence,
so don't be ashamed of your imperfections...own them.
Don't let them own you and rob you of a great time at the pool,
or a fun beach trip with friends and family.
Find a bathing suit that you feel confident enough in, and just go with it!

(FYI: for a good chunk of the country, bathing suit season isn't for quite some time, but for us Texans, it is knocking at our doorstep...time to hit the gym!)






Also, I would love to get back to regular posts about fitness related things, so if you guys have questions, let me know and I would be happy to address them in a video.

I think this is the kind of suit I am on the lookout for, since we have to hit up the neighborhood pool this year...
I may have to save my bikinis for the backyard now!
Any cute suits you have your eyes on??


Red Suit
xo

Monday Motivation

To keep me focused this week:

Every time I feel like being lazy,
I will watch this...
and put my running shoes on.

Have a great, productive, active week!
xo, A

thankful

I may not know everything,
but I do know that I love the journey
and education this life is bringing me.
Growing pains are always tough, but the perspective
is worth it.
We are gaining some more perspective as we prepare to move again,
and hopefully will end up in a happy home where we can stay till we bid Texas goodbye.
It is hard, and the search will be over soon,
but I am trying to breathe through this little bump in our road,
and smile.....or at least go take some pictures!

I know that I am getting little muscles, and that my workouts
are starting to pay off.
Mission: Do-One-Pull-Up-By-Christmas looks promising.
I know that if I ever try and rush a "manicure" at home,
in less than 5 minutes, I will have at least one nail that looks like this.
And just for the record, I am seeing if I can grow my nails out.
They are ALWAYS short, super short, because they rip and break,
But I am trying something new, so let's see how long it lasts!

The "masterpieces" made by my kids.
I know I can't live without these.
Never. Gets. Old.
And even the not-so-masterpiecey day to day drawings.
They are pretty awesome to find laying around.
She loves to leave them on her Daddy's pillow, or hidden in the covers on our bed.
I know how to eat...and eat well.
Fresh Peaches.
Yes, please.
And so pretty to have out on the counter.
What would we do without access to fresh fruits and veggies??
We are so blessed.
I know that I will miss this....
Watching him sleep.
Such a precious little man.


Finding joy in the small ways, happiness in the little things this week.
Happy Back-To-School week!

Babies, Braids, and Spandex

She is something else.
She made me a Mother, and she changed my entire universe.
She has been with me all but maybe 10 days in her entire life.
She is ready for something new, and she is starting Pre-K in 3 weeks.
I am so excited for her, and this new experience!
3 hours a day for the full school year....it's going to be awesome!



She looks so much like her Daddy, it freaks me out sometimes!


We have been playing beauty parlor a lot around here,
thanks in part to the amazing Reagan
and today we worked up a 3/4 Halo braid.
(Here's the link to the full Halo)
Paige loved it!
Riv said she looked just like a Princess....aw, sweet Riv!





And, just to throw in something "Fashion-y"
I wanted to share with you my normal workout attire.
These pieces were purchased from the oh-so-fabulous Wal-Mart
and cost about $10 each.
Thanks Lululemon....love your stuff, but don't love the
astronomical price tag for something I need 5 of....$86 for running capris, um no.
Here is my philosophy...
if you don't have things you are comfortable in
AND
feel attractive in to work out,
it is less likely that you will be pumped to go to the gym.
SO, since I don't have mega-bucks to get the designer goods
I go the Wal-Mart/Target route, and I think I look just as good.
No frump, No Granny get-up...
just me and my black stretchies getting my sweat on!
(My hobbit shoes are amazing by-the-way...not available at Wal-Mart, but I try!)



Oh, and if you want to see our weekend fun...
come on over!
xo

eat pray lovin'

Thought for the day...

"There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under my jurisdiction. There are certain lottery tickets I can buy, thereby increasing my odds of finding contentment. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I eat and read and study. I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life- whether I will see them as curses or opportunities (and on the occasions when I can't rise to the most optimistic viewpoint, because I'm feeling too damn sorry for myself, I can choose to keep trying to change my outlook). I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts."

Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love

And if you didn't know already, this book changed my life.
I swear there are certain passages that were written just for me.
Well, I know that isn't true, but when I read it....it felt that way.
It is a gem of a book.
And what more do you need in life....

to eat
to pray
to love

Yep, that pretty much covers it.

A few girlfriends of mine are going through some rough things right now.
I hope they know I love them, and think the world of them.

On a brighter note,
Texas is getting rained on right now.
Much needed rain.
So that is great.

Happy Tuesday
xoxo

YOU are in control!

Sorry this is sooooo
LONG...and long,
but I had to get it all in.
I love getting questions,
and I take responding to them
very seriously!
xo

Have a great weekend, and I will see you on the flip-side.
~Ariel

car-wash therapy

Thoughts:

"In spite of illness, in spite of the archenemy sorrow,
one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration
if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity,
interested in big things, and happy in small ways."
~Edith Wharton, A Backward Glance

"We should all do what in the long run, gives us joy,
even if it is only picking grapes or sorting laundry."
~E.B. White, Letters of E.B. White

Working on the happy in small ways, working on the recognizing the simple joys...

Today, our highlight was taking the truck through the car-wash.
The kids go bananas over the whole ordeal....
especially the rainbow foam.
...does it even do anything?



Doesn't matter.
They squeal and chatter, and for 4 minutes (more or less)
the world is right in the cab of our truck.

It is the small things people.

It is chatting on the phone with hubby for two minutes...
something I know people take for granted.
Even me.

It is buying yourself 4 stems of sweat peas at the grocery store
and putting them in a gorgeous vase from a gorgeous friend, just because.
Paige thought the whole thing was silly....buying "YOURSELF" flowers....Mom, seriously.
She thought the whole thing was downright ridiculous.
She will get it one day.
I am one happy Mom as I sit here and click away with my flowers beside me.

Let us look for the small things this week.
The big things may be yucky, scary and out of our hands,
but the little things are all around us, and they are good.

What was your simple joy today?

Happy Sunday

Happy Fathers Day!!
Lots of things to be happy about today.
Dads, painted nails, lizards, The Little Rascals movie, Risotto dinner.
Today is a good day!
Happy about finding artwork for Daddy under his pillow.

Happy about our first visitor on the 30th.

Happy about getting through 5 books and it is only June.

Happy about finding a great lemon pound cake recipe.
Read the modifications in the comments.
I added 1/2 cup of sugar, and didn't make any glaze.
We just ate ours plain with tons of fresh strawberries,
but homemade whipped cream would have been dreamy.

Happy about my legs looking reallllllly long in these heels.
camera angle helps, not gonna lie.
Trying them on for an upcoming date-night...
first one since February.
serious.

Happy about the way this smells.....
straight aromatherapy while you clean.
win/win.

Happy about making a video and getting it loaded while my kids were on the couch next to me.
Such multitasking skills today!