Don't build yourself up, by putting someone else down (Vlog)

This has been bothering me for a little while.

We all see the pictures posted or shared on social media with quotes like "Real men like curves, only dogs like bones", the whole Victoria's Secret vs Dove Campaign or larger people being compared to things like whales or featured on People of Walmart.

When has this become acceptable?  This is body shaming.  This is tearing another person down to only build yourself up.

No matter a person's size or looks, we need to promote loving yourself and being the best person you can be.

When is body shaming ok?  It's not. In order for us to grow mentally in a positive direction, we need to put an effort in stopping this.  Body shaming another person only to make you feel better only shows your insecurities.  Find peace within yourselves.

I am not into "fat acceptance" or "thinspo".....I am into "loving yourself".  If you love yourself and happy where you are then great.  If you love yourself and want to change then great.

What if we would build each other up and ourselves & not tear each other apart in order to do it?  How do you think this would change the world?

Be the change.

The "Supermom" Misconception

I'm writing this post as I'm thinking about this picture & the common misconception that for a mom to be the best mom she can be, she needs to put herself dead last in order to take care of her children. 

A lot of moms did not like my picture & they found my email address to let me know :X

For those that don't know....I have 3 kids, one with Asperger's. If my kids aren't bleeding, don't have broken bones & their basic needs are met then I firmly believe there is no reason to not make myself happy.

Love yourself. Not only will you flourish but your children will learn to love & take care of themselves is a normal thing.....because their mom does it.

Kids really do learn more by what their parents do than what you tell them.  (I used to be told as a kid "do as I say & not as I do"...ummmm riiiiight)

I'll give myself as an example if you aren't buying into the whole making yourself a priority still.....

I used to sacrifice my well being, not only for my children but for everyone I knew.  I was busy running for everyone & never said no.

This eventually lead to me to not really knowing who I was anymore.  I felt lost & felt like a failure because of it.

Not taking time to get to know myself lead to depression.  I was absolutely useless to myself & my family.  There were days where I just lay in bed, sending my kids to my dad's house next door for them to be taken care of so I could just sleep.

Heck it got so bad that our bird at the time died because I forgot to feed & water it.

I was so run down, so lost.  I was very hard on myself for not being the perfect "Supermom" that I completely shut down.

The big wake up call was when I got into my SUV & could just envision myself ramming it into a tree to kill myself.  

It scared me so much that I opened up to my best friend & my husband.  They both got me to see someone.

Shortly after I went to a convention, where I signed up for a lot of self help type classes.  For some reason it finally clicked that I needed to love myself & treat myself as my own best friend.....and there was nothing wrong with doing so.

I know my story was a bit on the extreme side but hopefully it can open some eyes.

I still think that we put to much pressure on ourselves & others to be that "Supermom".  Hell, look at Pinterest.  That place makes me feel wonderfully inferior & that's why if you follow me there I only use it to pin my stuff lol

There is no need to be a martyr or give up every single thing or not say no if you are stretched too thin.

Btw, there is a reason if air masks come down in a plane that they want you to put yours on first. You need to take care of you in order to be able to take care of others.

**This wasn't really defending myself from the haters......hopefully it can give them and all of you a reason why I feel the way I do about how we all need to take care of ourselves.  We need to learn to not be so hard on ourselves & others too.  

We only get one life & it's meant to be enjoyed.

I think I know what I want to be when I grow up

I know I posted about a month ago about having my shit together when the direct sales company that I've been a part of for 10 years sold out to another company.  I thought I wanted to write a book and dedicate myself to the fitness world....the more I thought about it the more it didn't sound like a good idea.  I love health and fitness but I always felt guilty for charging for my advice.  Hell you could put in the leg work, Google and learn for yourself like I did....the information is out there.

A few days after I thought I knew what I wanted, I read in the news that the Audubon Nature Institute (they own the zoo, aquarium, etc here) was going to rebuild the Louisiana Nature Center, 7 years after Katrina destroyed it.

It woke me up like a cold bucket of water poured over my head.

So a little bit of background.....I started volunteering at the Nature Center when I just turned 13 (I was really 12, they didn't know lol).  It turned into my home away from home.  This was the place I ran to when things got tough at home.  I made life long friends that I talk to even now.  I learned about Louisiana, the good and the bad.  I learned about the animals and the environment....and why these things are so important.  I didn't leave the Nature Center until after I moved to Florida to be with my husband, when I was 23.  

I went to college before I had my oldest and my major was biology but I never did finish.  Louisiana native wildlife has always been what I wanted to be involved in.  

Ok back to the present.

After a lot of soul searching, I decided to go back to college for Environmental Biology.  

I don't care if I work for Audubon or somewhere like Wildlife & Fisheries or a state park.  I just know that I want to be on this path.  A path I put to the side when I started a family.  It's time to fight for this now that I have reclaimed my health.

So I applied and got accepted at the University of New Orleans (UNO)!  I start this summer.

What does this mean for you?  Nothing really except probably seeing how I juggle college, 3 kids with a traveling husband, eating healthy and exercising.  Should be interesting ;)

Just thought I would update y'all on my plans.  

My Race Recap: New Orleans Rock 'n Roll 1/2 Marathon

I know y'all have probably heard all about my second 1/2 marathon if you follow me on Facebook haha but humor me and let me talk about it again.

**First I want to thank every single person that stopped me & introduced themselves at the expo and on the race course.  I really do love meeting my readers <3**

If started off Saturday at the health and fitness expo to pick up our race packets.  We brought the kids and decided to make a day of it.

My youngest two rocking it out at the expo

I made my way to the Tweetup at the stage to listen to my friend, Dani, from Weight Off My Shoulders.  We became friends through our pages and it was great to finally meet her!

Me & Dani

After the expo we took the kids to the aquarium.  We go there a lot and we love to pretend we are tourists lol

My husband & I at the aquarium

My 3 minions

Now on to the race on Sunday!  We got there bright and early to catch the shuttles to the start.  If you see me up before 5am just know that I'm either running a race or going fishing. I am so not an early morning person but for those two things I am. lol

Ready to run!

My husband runs faster than I do so we kinda went our separate ways when it was time to run.  

Let's geaux!

I did really really well half way into it.  My 10K time was 1:05 and that is a big PR from my original time of 1:25!  

Halfway selfie lol

After that it kind of went down hill.  I felt like I hit a wall plus I twisted my leg on St. Charles (gotta love the glorious bad streets of New Orleans).  The good part of that is that I found a walking partner....her name is Diane from Gretna.  We talked the entire time.  I gave up on PRing this race and I just wanted to finish.

Which I did ;)  I was so worried that I would have to be picked up.

At the finish!  I felt like my leg was going to fall off.

I'm in love with my bling!

My husband finished his first 1/2 Marathon!

 So other than the injury, it was a very fun race :)  The best thing is that I think I got my husband hooked.  I am so unbelievably proud of him!  It is so cool to share running with him.

I will definitely run this race again.  A word of advice though.....sign up for this race series as soon as possible.  It can get pretty expensive.  It's worth it to cross the finish line though! 

Now, I just need a medal holder for my 1/2 marathon bling lol

Oh and in case you want to join me, my scheduled races are:

The 504K on February 15th (it's a 5.04K) - New Orleans
St Charles Bridge Run on April 5th - Destrehan/Luling

Run or Dye on April 12th - New Orleans

The Crescent City Classic 10K on April 19th - New Orleans
The Walking Dead Escape (I'll be a walker!) on May 24th - New Orleans

Crescent City Bridge Run on June 7th - New Orleans

Rocketchix Triathlon on July 26th - Baton Rouge

Gulfcoast Half Marathon in October - Mandeville

Woman's Half Marathon in December - Baton Rouge

(I'll probably add more to this....if you want me to join you and you are in my area let me know and I'll see what I can do to sign up!)