60 Day Challenge: My Truth!

April 1, 2013Leave a comment

Friends! Here we go. It’s April 1 and you know what that means? The beginning of a 60 days to summer challenge. It’s been a year now that I started my blog. Hard to believe the time has flown by. You know that saying. “Where has the time gone??” I’m feeling it! As I reflect on the last year I am amazed at all that has been accomplished in my own life and in the lives of others around me. I attended a Wayne Dyer conference a year ago and remember it like it was yesterday. This was the pivotal moment that I would allow my creative passion for health and nutrition to no longer be just a dream but actually manifest into reality. To my surprise the people in my immediate life were ready to hear what I had to say. With this said, I have completely transformed my lifestyle. When I look back at a year ago I think of all the things that have changed for the better. Of course when we stop and evaluate our life we assume everything is on track (hopefully or somewhere close), and that we are always the best we can be. Ha. I wish this was true. In the last 5 years or so I have always considered myself healthy. When I refer to healthy I am talking about food, life, relationships, work, etc. It’s always easier to justify where we are due to some event that happened in the past and “made us who we are.” I have come to learn in the last 365 days this simply is not the case. Whatever the situation is, or story that we create to be our own can be changed at any moment you make the choice to live, NOW. I joined FNS training center last year with the intent to try a workout that would actually change the way my body looked. I had the diet down, but never really pushed myself to workout where I felt like I was going to throw up. Don’t get me wrong I liked to go hiking, run and occasionally lift some weights but I think I was lifting the same amount of weight for the last 3-4 years! Sound familiar?? During this type of workout I have learned to really step outside of my comfort zone. I started the workouts because eating healthy is easy for me (not for many) and working out on the other hand was not something I ever exceeded at or felt like needed to be pushed to the limits. As I look back I know that every single workout is so much more than the physical aspect. It’s getting your mind right in order to then tell your body A- you CAN do this and B- you are SO strong enough!!!! Who was I kidding. When I started I could barely even do a single pushup or pull-up for that matter. It’s not like I would just break down while watching TV and do either of those…how was I supposed to know?? I started with the intent to change my body and this is exactly what has happened. I became committed to doing something I actually hated(this extreme workout). The split jumps, the squats, and the rowing are all things I still have to force myself to do to this day. (Just being honest!) On the contrary, I have become faster, lost some weight, lost some inches and have changed my confidence level beyond words. I have a frequent habit in my life to start something and not commit if I don’t like it. This workout regimen helps me to overcome this barrier I sometimes set in my mind. We’re not always going to like the things that make us better, it’s a fact. Simple as that.

I am doing this 60 day challenge as a commitment to be better. My passion for life is not just about food and nutrition but about being better than we were yesterday. It’s so easy to make an excuse and get stuck in our ways because it’s easy (trust me, I am guilty) but where is the growth and reward in that? My intent for the next 2 months is to step up my game. I want to be fit and I want to be full of muscle. I want others to know that No- it’s not easy to get in shape and look great but the easiest things DON’T TEACH US ANYTHING. I want a six pack, let’s get real! I will post an after picture June 1 so watch out! This will be a before and after from May 2012 to May 2013. I am proud of myself for staying committed and changing my body and mindset over the last 365 days. It’s not always easy, and I don’t always want to wake up at 6 AM to workout but I can definitely say I never leave and feel like I shouldn’t have come to the workout. It’s commitment, lifestyle and making my health a priority. What are you going to do in the next 60 days to change your life??

THE 60 DAY CHALLENGE

As we start our “60 Day’s to Summer Chall…enge” is imperative that we are setting ourselves up for success. One of the biggest ways we do that is by Setting Clear Expectations not just for ourselves but also those we surround ourselves with most. Here are a few questions to ask yourself in order to reach your goal over the next 60 days.

1. What are you willing to give up to be successful?

2. What are you willing to add in to be successful?

3. Who are going to ask for extra help, support, and accountability to be successful? When you let others know what you need and what you are trying to accomplish they will either support you or leave you alone. In either case both will be beneficial.

4. What are your “Non-Negotiables”? No matter what the circumstances, what are the things you WILL get done everyday in order to take a step closer to reaching your goal.

5. WHY is this important to you? “If it is important enough you will find a way, if it is not you will find an excuse” KNOW YOUR WHY!

Good luck!!!! When you know better, you DO better!

Sayonara 2012.

December 28, 2012December 28, 2012Leave a comment

Say Whatttt?? 3 days until the New Year! I feel like the older I get each year just speeds up faster and faster. ~~What I wouldn’t do to be a kid again and have no concept of time~~ OR I could just live my life now. I am not usually one to set NY resolutions because I think the entire year should be dedicated to kicking things off that bucket list. When I look back at 2012 I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out. Mid year I did in fact set some goals that were to be achieved by the end of the year (thanks to FNS). Some people hear goals and think it’s lame, but how are you supposed to remember everything you want to achieve in a day, month or year? I don’t know about you but I always tell myself I will remember and a day later I am stuck thinking, “what was that thing again??” Sound familiar? A couple of my goals were to start Newtritionsavvysarah (check), get 200 likes on my FB page (almost check…I am 8 away), stop spending so much money (check) and be consistent with my workouts (check). I can’t tell you how good it feels to set your mind to something and absorb all that comes as a result of putting the thought into the universe. It’s like buying a new car and then suddenly realizing everyone already has that car! Funny, right?? And SO true! 2012 has also brought many new people in my life. Some of these people provide encouragemt while others provide accountability and push me to be a better person for myself and this journey of inspiring others to live a better life. There are two specific things I have learned this year ( I knew it, but know I reallllly know it). First- that you can’t blame anyone else for where you are at in your life. If you don’t like something change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. You’ll be surprised when you stop thinking that the world owes you anything. Second, if you want to preach to others you can talk all you want, but living the life you preach is what will teach more than anything. Accountability was my main focus for this year and I feel quite successful when I think of mine. I think of it as the domino effect. When you acknowledge and better one aspect of your life it is inevitable that other areas will not only surface but improve as well.

With the fast approach of 2013 take a second to think of the things you really enjoyed about the last year and also the “not so much”. Ask yourself how (not why) they happened and if there is any sort of pattern that can be changed. I know what I need to work on and recognizing is the first step. Enjoy this last weekend of the year! Happy Almost New Year!

*I do not own the rights to any of these photos.

What I love about Me: Sarah Sotelo

September 14, 2012September 14, 20121 Comment

{Tell us something you love about yourself}

I love that I have found my passion at an early age. I made a lifestyle change about 5 years ago and it has forever made me a better person. Little did I know that simply changing the way that I ate and lived life would make me feel better, lose weight, maintain a better attitude and allow myself to be an example for others. I love making a difference in other people’s lives as well as knowing that each person that enters mine is also teaching me some sort of greater lesson. I love that I can see beyond the platform in front of me and look toward the greater good. A happy and healthy lifestyle is a choice, and I am glad I have made the right one.

{What is your favorite physical feature?}

My favorite physical features are my eyes and smile. I think you can tell so much just by looking in someone’s eyes whether it’s truth, love, compassion, or even disappointment. Nothing spells out happiness better than the light in someone’s eyes and the joy in one’s smile.

{What is something you used to dislike about yourself that you have now come to appreciate?}

I used to hate my body. I never did anything to make it better- I worked out only sometimes, ate like crap, drank too much and didn’t really care. I never understood how I didn’t look like the girls in the magazines (which I don’t want to now) and why I was never satisfied. After a huge transition from college to the “real world” I have noticed a dramatic difference in my body. Like I said before, I made a lifestyle change that has only made me realize we are in full control of the way that we look and view ourselves. I became vegetarian, stopped blaming other people for the way I looked, started making exercise a priority and started forgiving things that have happened in my life and were not going to change the way I viewed my future unless I did. It is an incredible feeling to know that you are in charge of your behavior, and how you react to situations. In 9 years, I have transformed by body to now be completely comfortable who I am – without having to compare myself to others! I am comfortable. I am secure. I am nobody else but Me.

{What is your proudest accomplishment?}

My proudest accomplishment is finishing my Nutrition Education Program. I loved being surrounded by educated people who get it- and won’t settle for anything other than healthy living. I am grateful that this has put me in the direction of my future career. I am also grateful that I work hard and can travel and see other parts of the world.

{Tell us about your style. What type of outfit do you feel the most like yourself in?}

I could live in Lululemon and my Nike Free shoes ALL day every day! (I pretty much do.) What’s wrong with that!? In real life I love to dress comfortable as well as classy. You won’t find me in heels too often because I am 5’8 and feel like I am tall enough! Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to be sexy- throw some heels on with a cute dress here and there, but on an average day, it’s flats, skinny’s, cute shirt with some jewels to finish off the outfit. I love getting ready, and feel that you should always try to look your best when you are in public! (This doesn’t count working out!! )

{List your top three favorite things to do?}

My favorite things to do in life are educate people on living a stronger, happier and motivated life without falling into the day to day norm of others, working out in the gym as well as any outdoor activity and I absolutely love to shop. Nordstrom and Whole foods are by far my favorite stores. I think I go to WF 5 days a week! I have a hard time laying low and doing nothing…If you know me, you know that I am always on the go.

{What makes you the happiest?}

My health, family, friends and puppy make me the happiest. My ideal day includes a great workout, Starbucks coffee or Whole Foods smoothie, a little blog searching and cooking of some kind. I love traveling and learning about new favorite places. So far, NYC and Paris are my two favorites! I am trying to get better at relaxing and being able to stay still, but this is definitely a work in progress.

{How do you find your motivation to work out?}

My motivation to workout comes from the way that I feel after I do it, and knowing that I am in total control of the way that I look. Seeing the change in my body in the last couple of months has shown me that I am capable of doing things outside the box, such as knowing that I am strong enough and can finish. I am not competitive, but FNS has allowed me to do things I had no clue I could even do (Such as a pull up, tire exercises, and pushups!) Knowing that the workout never gets easier and we just get better motivates me to continue my journey to great physical health. When you are surrounded by positive, like minded people It only drives you to want to be better. I love working out with friends and being held accountable. SO thankful to have stumbled upon this gem.

{How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle between work, school, family and social life?}

To be honest, sometimes it can be hard to balance work, school, family, social life etc. I find that my social life has taken a turn in a different direction. Of course I still like to go out for a drink with friends, but I would much rather save the date for a morning hike and coffee, or farmers market or even an outdoor activity. I guess I can relate this to priorities. When I go out and drink, I hate the way I feel the next day and most weekends it’s just not worth it. I would rather be productive and challenge my body and enjoy the day than be stuck feeling like crap. This allows me to encourage people to want the same, and save the date with me for a healthy meal or hike. After all, you are the company you keep. Family and friends have never been hard to maintain. I enjoy spending time with both, and am a firm believer that we make time for the things that are important to us! We are all busy, but if we want it we will attain it.

{What is your main goal you are reaching towards in the next 6 months, and year?}

I am currently taking classes to complete my Registered Dietician Degree. This is my main priority above all. I started my blog in April with hopes that people can learn what I am about and know that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not about being too extreme but rather having balance and enjoying life. Most importantly, I will show people that living this way is by no means a “have to” but purely a WANT! In the next 6 months I am going to give a small talk/ lecture to family and friends about the importance of taking control of your health. At this point, with our healthcare system and easy accessibility to prescription drugs and profit- I think people need to take responsibility for what they put in their body and how they feel as a result. I will be running my first half marathon in about a month and will continue with FNS. My theme for the year is “Bite the Bullet.” I sometimes think too much before I do something, so I am vowing to myself to just do it.

Thank you for taking the time to read these stories from people who encourage and inspire me on a daily basis. It is much harder to write about yourself than you think. While answering these questions I had to take a second and think of the things that I really value in my life and translate into words what is important to me! I hope this helps you better understand who I am, and what my mission is in life. I encourage you to write these questions down and answer them yourself. We are all an inspiration to someone in our lives, so use it to the best of your ability.

-Sarah

What I love about Me: Brian Nunez.

September 13, 2012September 13, 2012Leave a comment

{Tell us something you love about yourself.}

I love my compassion for others and my relentless pursuit on making a difference in
people’s lives. Little did I know at the age of 5 I was on to something that lead me to
where I am today. I vividly remember sitting my mom down in my room and telling
her that I wanted her to write down an idea I had. I wanted to start a “Helping Club”.
Not the type most would assume, I wasn’t interested with helping kids with homework
or sports, I honestly had a vision of me being someone grown ups called when they
needed help with something, they were sad, needed to be cheered up and could
make them laugh (that was the extent of helping as a 5 year old in my head). God
bless my mother for entertaining the idea and telling me it was great. It just took 20
years later for it to come to fruition.

{What is your favorite physical feature?}

I really like my smile and my teeth. I like the fact that I have never had braces and
there are some imperfections with two of my bottom front teeth. They are a little
crossed, not anything major but enough to make me have to put in more effort when I
floss them. I think that is one of the first things I notice with people is there smile and
their teeth. You don’t have to have perfect teeth to have a beautiful smile.

{What is something you used to dislike about yourself that you have now come to appreciate?}

One of the things I used to not like about myself was that I was always too worried
about trying something new. I was afraid of looking stupid because I wasn’t
good at it. After many years of playing it safe and doing what I was always good at
it, in 2011 this inspired me to theme my year, “The year of the Challenge”. I made
a promise that I would challenge myself to do all things I wasn’t good at
and go all in. This ranged from business, fitness, and personal life. I was a college Football
player and 100m sprinter who would run the Boston Marathon and Big Sur Marathon
two weeks apart and then signed up for an Ironman. I would start my own company which
is now FNS Training Center. I would do seminars and public speaking to fitness
professionals from around the country and share my ideas and philosophies. Having
been fed up with playing it safe on so many levels, I appreciate that this has inspired
me to become who I am today. I had reached my threshold safety and knew that
wasn’t going to get me anywhere. What I appreciate most is that, this wasn’t and
isn’t always easy for me and I now can relate to so many people who are in that
same zone. Those who are so close to jumping but afraid of what they think is looking
stupid. I can connect and relate and that is what I appreciate.

{What is your proudest accomplishment?}

Creating a company, Fitness Never Sleeps, and taking the risk to create something
so different in the industry. From playing it safe to going all in, this has been a vision
and goal of mine for the last 5 years. There are many things that I am proud of from
living abroad, playing college football, doing an ironman and winning competitions,
but creating a philosophy and then a brick and mortar version of making that come to
life is something that takes the cake. What makes it that much greater are the people that I get to coach and the coaches I am surrounded by. I was very particular what type of coach and leaders I wanted to surround myself with and I am equally proud that I have the best group of coaches I have ever worked with.

{Tell us about your style. What type of outfit do you feel the most like yourself in?}

Many might think it is hard to dress down from wearing lululemon to work everyday
but my favorite thing to wear is just board shorts and sandals. When I have to go out
outside of work and wear what I call “normal people clothes” jeans are like wearing a
suit to me and usually with some Chuck Taylor’s and a t-shirt. I am waiting for the day
Under Armour makes a tuxedo then my wardrobe will be complete.

{List your top three favorite things to do?}
1. Working out (FNS, hikes, and going on runs).
2.Coaching both physically and mentally.
3. Traveling around the world or to new cities.

{What makes you the happiest?}

There are many many things that make me happy, but what makes me happiest
where I feel in my total state of bliss would have to be waking up early Sunday
morning taking my dog, Buddy, out for a walk and coming back to have a cup
of coffee and breakfast with my wife watching a movie. With a great crazy work
schedule between the both of us, I cherish the moments where I can sit next to my
wife with my dog on my lap and relax.

{How do you find your motivation to workout?}

My motivation comes from a few different forms of inspiration everyday. First, is that
I am self motivated to never settle or be mediocre. That doesn’t mean I can lift the
most weight, run the fastest, or jump the highest. I pride myself on being consistent.
Getting in some type of workout everyday, whether it be 20 minutes or 2 hours. I
constantly remind myself, “this is what you do”, “You can’t slack off and coach without
leading by example”, it’s the accountability of what I do that helps me stay motivated.
Each year I set a new theme for myself, and every year when it comes to my fitness
goals I want to be in better shape than I was the previous year. Continuing to set
the bar high for myself and do things that are a challenge for me as well. Lastly,
inspiration from my fellow athletes at FNS when I am working in the trenches with
them seeing the unbelievable amount of work ethic they have in every class. From
Julie Grosso being told she would never walk again to watching her box jump and
Monica Ishak with a long history of back problems to overcoming them setting PR’s
in class. That inspires me and constantly reminds me that there are no excuses, no
complaining, others have had far worse days and have overcome them.

{How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle between work, family, and social life?}

Balance, like most people is I what I am striving for the most. What this really comes
down to for me is priorities. There are three main priorities in my life right now. First my family, second is my work and working with others and third is me time. I couldn’t do much of what I do on a daily basis without the support and encouragement of my wife Parisa. We make sure that that we spend quality time together. Finding a work/life balance is part of that, which includes not getting on the computer when I get home from work and putting my phone away so that I can give my attention to our marriage and life outside of our careers. This is always a work in progress and with her help she reminds me of our pact. With a baby on the way and having a company in its infancy stage it will be like raising two kids. Much like I have done with my business, surrounding myself with supportive, hard working, and a caring staff is important to me. I found that over the years the more I stay true to what I want and need and stand for that the more I can authentically give to others. For me, Compromising giving to myself comprises giving to others. It’s important to me that I find alone time which allows me to clear my head and focus on what I need to continue to be successful.

{What are your main goals you are reaching towards in the next month, 6 months and year ?}

In the next 6 months I want be holding a beautiful healthy baby girl as I am
explaining to her what we are doing at FNS expanding the facility to double our size. I
want her to be raised by a village and have the love of everyone around her as we do
everyday. Raising a baby will not just be a 6 month goal but for the rest of my life, but I
want to be able to balance all these things while still continuing to grow FNS. For FNS
the main goal we are shooting for is to grow our culture and share our message with
the world, but it starts with our immediate community first. We set our GOal Big for 400
athletes by the end of our first year. We are currently at 280 athletes and plan to reach
400 by years end with the help of our athletes now. Since completing the Ironman this
year, most of my focus and attention will be on growing this community. I will continue
to do races and be involved with community races, but I will get ready for my next big
event next year hopefully in our expanded facility.