Why "breaking up" with your body is ruining your health

"Brain scans of the broken-hearted found similarities between romantic rejection and cocaine craving"- Stony Brook University

Breaking up is hard to do, but the worst of it is that we have no idea just how hard it is on our bodies to go through a falling out with our loved ones.  Similar to cocaine, our closest relationships stimulate key pleasure centers within the brain and causes extremely heightened euphoria- something we crave when that relationship suffers. My question is, what if your core relationship with yourself or your own body is broken? Let me explain, After staring into the beautiful eyes of my little Clara for the last 2 months, it’s like love at first site. Yet after having her in the womb and now out I have had to reconnect with my own body.  I've had to do some emotional and physical relationship 101 work to feel reconnected to my body, my worth, my beauty, and my physical needs. And I know I am not alone.  If you have ever given birth or are one of the nearly 133 million Americans with chronic illness you know what it is like to feel like you have been "dumped" by your body. Nearly all of us experience some form of a break-up with our own bodies at certain points in our lives.  Rather than loving our body and appreciating it for showing up every day we rant about how we would rather be more thin, more energetic, more toned, more healthy, less hormonal or less ill.Can I hear an Amen? Taking care of our bodies and our health is the same as tending to our most sacred relationships.  Except, when you neglect your body, the one who suffers the most is YOU. Breaking up with your body, even in small ways, is terrible for your health. Take this Body Break-Up Assessment to learn more about how you may be sabotaging your health.Trust me, there is a way to regain hope and love for your health and reclaim your body-love. Stay tuned for my next post as give you the tools to mend your Bad Body Break-up and start feeling whole again.

Mothering is an understatement

If someone had told me how hard being a mom was before I was one, I wouldn’t have believed it. As the youngest of three children, I never really had too much of a chance to mother others. My needs were always cared for and I learned from a young age to thrive with independence. Now that I am a mother of three, I have found even my kids are needy, inconvenient, and always demanding- and yet I show up (nearly) every moment as a mom with joy and pride to nurture and play with my kids (who are super-kids by the way). I have often said that mothering ourselves isn’t really all that different than mothering others. It can feel pretty demanding and needy to take time away from work, family, or friends to do something like workout, seek solitude, or simply take a nap. And yet self-care has an incredibly overlooked importance in all of our lives.

Without self-care we don’t have the energy or patience to give to others authentically.

And self-care doesn’t have to take much time, energy, or money.

Here’s a few ideas to get you started, whether you are an altruistic mother, aunt, sister, or friend. It doesn’t matter what your motherly status. Take today and honor yourself for the gifts you generously give to others.

• Take a walk
• Listen to your favorite music
• Journal
• Read a juicy book or blog
• Call a friend
• Sip some yummy tea
• Take a bath
• Eat some chocolate
• Take a nap
• Drink some infused water
• Look through some old photos with your family
• Visit a local art museum or botanical garden
• Meditate
• Go for a road trip
• Book a mini-retreat
• Try a new class (art, yoga, fitness, French, kick-boxing, belly dancing, etc.)

Whatever you choose, choose it for you. As a mom (no matter whether you have birthed or reared kids of your own or not), you are a nurturer and giver who deserves to take a few moments each day to focus on feeling great in your own skin. Sort of like giving yourself a little hug each day.

“Of all the roles I’ve played, none has been as fulfilling as being a mother.” -Annette Funicello

For all of the "mom's" out there who have loved me, nurtured me, believed in me, and supported me.  This post is for you.  I sincerely hope that you can take a few moments today and give yourself a mommy hug that lingers.  I love you all.

6 secrets to making less more

12 days ago I delivered a healthy 8lb 5oz little miracle we named Clara Joyce Irlbeck.  Having delivered twins almost 3 three years ago to the day, lots of people were telling me how this one would be a "piece of cake" and how much easier it will be raising a singleton. I want to believe them, I really do.  However, when my kids started getting a barking cough and fever the day we came home from the hospital, I knew we were in for a whole new experience in dividing our time between a new precious baby, our adorable two 3 year olds and...oh yes, managing to notice my spouse too.  I find myself hanging on to bits of advice like, "spending even 10 minutes of one on one dedicated time with your three year olds will be adequate in the beginning".  Now that I am in the midst of nursing a newborn, I can see how that is almost all the time I have!

We all have our own daily distractions.  Those things that keep us from tending to our needs, that pull us from doing the things we keep re-adding to our to do list, and that make us feel small because there is "never enough time to get it all done".

I am a recovering perfectionist.  I am haunted by the belief that who I am and what I do is never good enough.  But when faced with adding a third child on top of my dreams to build up confidence in others by empowering and strengthening their bodies...I will admit I am anxious about how much it seems there is to do in so little time.

What I am learning, is there is SO much to be said for doing less to gain more.  From your relationships to your workouts, this mantra is where I believe we all need to start to begin finding our freedom and confidence again.

I've summed up my secrets to how to make less more here:

1) Get out of the way.  In giving other people more responsibility in my life I have realized the beauty of collaboration.  Not only does it empower others, it allows you to reap the reward of bestowing purpose to others.  During my maternity leave, I have referred clients to trusted trainers who have turned out to be an amazing fit.  In my own need to be seen and find value, I had to let go of needing clients who needed me and instead trust that there are many other people who are capable of stepping up.

2) Forget expectations. When I find myself being pulled down the rabbit hole of postpartum blues, I remind myself that there is no play book for my life, or anyone else's for that matter.  Every day we get to create our own expectations and vision for what we will allow and what we will embrace in our lives which adds to the enjoyment and mystery of being truly present in the moment.  And yes, my kids are watching entirely too much Thomas the Train right now...but in the end, my sanity is saved and they are happy little guys.

3) Nap more. There is a plethora of research showing that even in our sleep deprived world, taking a nap of 10-30 minutes can boost our brains, improve our mood and feelings, and is good for our heart, blood pressure, stress levels, and surprisingly, even weight management.  Even if you tend to run on too little sleep, taking a quick nap will boost your energy and brain power more than caffeine!

4) Power pump.  This applies in so many ways in my life right now.  Pumping out work should be like pumping out milk for a new mom.  A quick lesson...the more a new mom's breasts are stimulated to produce milk, the more milk they will produce.  It is better for a baby, or pump, to have short frequent sessions than long stretches of nursing/pumping and then no stimulation.  We tend to believe that they harder and longer we work, the better output we will create.  Nope.  Crank out as much as you can in as little time as possible, then take a break.  Breathe.  Stretch.  Get some water.  Your mind and body will thank you.

5) Apply the minimum effective dose (MED) principle. Tim Ferris popularized this priniciple in his book, the 4-hour body. The MED is the smallest dose that will produce the desired outcome and anything BEYOND the MED is wasteful, and could even be a detriment to the body.  For example, water will boil at 100deg C at standard air pressure.  Turning up the heat beyond that won't make water "more boiled", it just wastes heat.  The same is true for our bodies.  You don't need to do crazy workouts 6 days per week to accomplish incredible results.  You do, however, need to focus on getting a total body challenge that includes a variety of intensities to stimulate strength gains and fat loss or improved metabolism.  That's why hiring a trainer is so great...we can help you find your MED!  And here is a great example of how MED works.

6) Practice Being.  My biggest take home and ah-ha from maternity leave so far is this:  challenge yourself to just be.  As I look into little Clara's eyes, all I can think is how beautiful and amazing she is- simply for existing.

You are the same.  You are a beautiful gift to this world beyond what you look like in the mirror, beyond what your resume or your checking account says, beyond any diagnosis or past trauma.  Take 5 minutes and let go of all need to be more than just the living and breathing YOU.

No need to do more.  Just sit back and let your less be your most.

Why exercise makes your whole life more content

Are you one of those people who at various points in your life dreaded working out?

There are so many things in all of our full lives that we feel like we should do, that often times doing something that sounds hard...like exercise, just doesn't sound too appealing at all. Self care actually takes work.  Something most of our ancestors only dreamed of having the time to think about since they were too busy finding food, cooking, canning, washing by hand, and doing lots of manual labor.  How is it that in our modern age, when we have so many more conveniences to give us the time to take care of ourselves, we so easily ignore our body's basic needs?

The obvious answer is that we have so many more awesome choices of things to do (ha!) ...but I'll bet most of you feel like you "just need more will-power" or "better self-discipline".  And to be honest, there actually is some truth to this.

When we make a choice to workout when we don't want to, we are actually strengthening a very specific part of our brain.  And over time, the more we repeat the choice to deny our immediate gratification to delay our desire to avoid working out, the more content we feel overall with our lives.

The area of our brain that wants what it wants when it wants is the limbic system.  The limbic system is a set of primitive brain structures located on top of our brainstem that drive our emotions and motivations related to survival. These include fear, anger, and emotions related to procreation, hunger, and safety.  As a mother of twin toddlers, I can tell you this area of getting what one wants is VERY strongly engrained in our DNA.  (bless their little hearts).

The area of our brain that can respond to our desires with rational thinking that is less fear based and more based on long-term gains is our pre-frontal cortex.  This is the area that will allow us to say NO to ourselves when we would rather stay on the couch than get out of our comfort and go for a jog.  It is the "adult" thinking place that tells us to do what is right, just, good, and best for our health and the health of others.

The BEST news is that the more you use your pre-frontal cortex to say "no" to your inner toddler, the more you will create synapses that make it easier and more automatic to do things that once felt super hard to motivate yourself to do.

When I first became a runner, I dreaded workouts and long distance days.  But over time, as I learned to move (literally) past my fears and my initial dread, I found that it became easier and easier to ignore that little groaning inside of me that begged be to stay home in front of the TV.  It didn't happen overnight, but over the course of months and years, I now can say that it's easier to find contentedness in any circumstance because I have repeatedly practiced saying "no" to my immediate gratification.

"What you want and what you need aren't always the same. Be willing to delay short-term gratification for long-term greatness"  -Mandy Hale

I challenge you to step outside your box a little this week and to do something you don't really want to do to see what progress you can make toward YOUR long-term greatness.  Give yourself a chance to say NO to your excuses and self-sabotage.  Because, by the way, you are worth it, and you really are capable!

Moving can boost your memory. Hallelujah!

Brain Fog.  Overwhelm.  Clouding of Consciousness. Pregnant brain. Mommy brain.  It doesn't matter what you call it, clouded thinking seems to effect us all.  And on a daily basis. I can attest that post-twins and during this pregnancy (can you believe I, Nicole, am due in just 8 short weeks!?) I often feel like it's a miracle I can remember anything at all.  I am guessing you can relate. Because our world is throwing new information, and a lot of it, at us constantly.  There is work pressure, parenting pressure, illnesses that creep up all around us, taking care of those around us, making time for ourselves (phew), and so much more.  It's no wonder our thoughts are often jumbled.  Distraction abounds, so it's no wonder we crave focus, clarity, and peace of mind.  Wouldn't it be nice to always remember where we put our keys or the phone when we need it!?

This time of year we are inundated with the idea that it's "time to lose weight".  Quite frankly, that feels like a lot of pressure, and honestly- we don't have that much control over weight loss because weight loss is only an outcome...not a behavior.  So what would it mean to focus on getting more movement because of how it makes us feel, think, and engage on a daily basis rather than some number on a scale?

Your workout is worth so much more than simply giving you an extra calorie burn in your body.

Exercise is good for your brain! Science shows that complicated activities like playing tennis or taking a dance class, or even trying a new activity provide the biggest brain boost by increasing the level of growth factors in the brain, helping you make new connections and brain cells. "You're challenging your brain even more when you have to think about coordination," explains Ratey, Harvard Med School and author of “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain”.  He adds, "Like muscles, you have to stress your brain cells to get them to grow". Putting stress on your brain by stimulating your thinking while you workout has the added benefit of increasing blood flow to the brain too.

A recent study published in the Archives of Neurology suggests that a simple daily walk or jog could lower the risk of Alzheimer's (disease which causes severe memory loss over time)—or blunt its impact once it has begun.

We don’t fully know how or why activity improves memory and brain function, but here are a couple of fun facts about what we do know:

• Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is released with activity to protect the brain from emotional disorders and repairs damage from stress and depression.  (Repair stress?  I am IN)
• In 2000, Dutch researchers found that inactive men who were genetically prone to Alzheimer's were four times more likely to develop the disease than those who carried the trait but exercised regularly. (Exercise can reduce risk for dementia and Alsheimer's- yay!)

And here is the best part...

“Even 10 minutes of activity can change your brain” - John Ratay

What will you do today to boost your brain by engaging your body?!  

Try something new, or up the challenge in your next workout by adding some balance exercises or doing a few more complicated moves.  Not only will your fun factor go up, but your memory will get moving up too!

Top 6 Creative Fitness Fit-Ins for the Holidays

Are you feeling rushed with shopping, partying, packaging, baking, cooking, planning, and...oh yeah, keeping up with your "normal" life?

"It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!... Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!" ~Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Whether you celebrate Christmas or some other year end-tradition, this time of year is always full of way more than most of us can normally imagine fitting in. Yet we do all the "extra's" gladly because of the joy it brings in the end.  With all of this running around, perhaps you may be getting in the movement you need. After all, it's estimated that:

• Wrapping gifts for an hour burns 120 calories, and

• Shopping while pushing a full cart of presents can burn a little over 100 calories in just 3 minutes.

Imagine!  But here's a little secret.  These little blips of movement add up to more than you think- and I will testify that one of the primary reasons Erica and I can stay in the shape that we do is because we have lots of little bouts of lifting, moving, carrying, stretching, and rushing in our days.  It's the perk of being in fitness, yes, but you can create this for yourself too.  All it takes is a little creativity.

A study completed in 2000 showed that subjects who stood and fidgeted burned 81% more calories than those who stood still, and those who sat and fidgeted burned about 50% more than those who sat motionless.  Ah-ha.

Here's our top 6 list for Creative Fitness Fit-Ins for the Holidays...

1. Stand, talk with your hands and act out your stories at parties and family events.  You might need a cocktail to get this one rolling, but your family will surely be entertained.
2. For every present you wrap or open, stop and do one burpee or jumping jack (or better yet, have the person who gave you your gift give you a new challenge for every gift!)
3. Purposely take the stairs as many times as possible per day.  Even if it means you commit to using only the bathroom on whatever floor you happen to not be on. (Oh, and commit to drinking a full glass of water every time someone says "Thank you".  I am banking on the idea that you have grateful families and friends).
4. Speaking of the bathroom, do 50 squats after every time you visit the loo...you are all alone in the room (is my guess) and there's no one to judge anyway.  A 135 pound person who does 50 squats in 2.5 minutes can burn about 22 calories.  May not seem like much, but considering how many times in a week you visit the bathroom, this could really add up!
5. Help with clean up in every way possible.  Do the dishes, take out the trash, help the kids set up their new toys and them put them away, make a "giveaway" box for the things that must go to make room for your new stuff.
6. And finally, if you are willing to get really creative, grab the kids- or just be willing to get a little silly, and learn  this kid friendly dance (includes tutorial)...don't worry- you don't have to do it perfectly, just get up and dance!

Above all- move.  It matters.

P.S.  We are partnering with a phenomenal nutrition coach to lead a 21 day Health Transformation support group for January.  Stay tuned for more info!!

Being More than Chronically Ill

I wanted to take a moment and share a piece of my story with you.  I have been working with Nicole for the last 3 years as a fitness coach and we opened Inspired Athletic Movement gym together a little over a year ago. I hope you can either relate or reflect or even gain some insight on your own well-being based on my journey. For the last 7 years I have had an array of health issues. Without going into the details, I can tell you that I definitely spent time in the beginning frequently questioning "WHY ME?!" and feeling pretty angry about my new limitations. Fast forward 7 years and I feel I am exactly where I am supposed to be. "Be where you are. Not where you should be." Where SHOULD we be exactly anyways? Life has many ups and downs that come and go, and what we SHOULD do is take care of ourselves the best we can in each moment and continue to put one intentional foot in front of the other. That's what leads to happiness and successes- the continued and intentional trying and reminding ourselves of the importance of wanting to move forward. Each step forward in the direction we are aiming for is not only liberating but feels so rewarding!

There are days still when I feel sick, overwhelmed, achy or tired but I have made a choice, even on those days, to do and be my best version of me. The best version of me can look different and that's OK too. On the harder days, that may mean brushing my hair and trying my best to smile, while I make sure to hold myself accountable to reaching out for support when I need it. This could look like a walk with my dog, meeting a friend for a low key workout, reading an inspiring book, a phone call with a good friend, or a therapy session. It's these little things, that feel good, that remind me that life (even on the hard days) is incredibly wonderful and feeling my best is worth fighting for... and sometimes it does feel like a very uphill battle but I must choose to face it head on. My happiness is up to me!

The harder times do pass and become better times and even great times, and that cycle continues- that's life! I believe that having a chronic illness or having an ill loved one shines light on the ups and downs even more so. It is our individual duty to take care of ourselves the best we can. That is how we thrive. Support from my doctors, therapist, family and friends plays a big role for me in my self-care. Feeling sick can become a large burden to carry alone and can quickly and easily weigh you down into depression and limited self-care.

I no longer have to make a decision each day to take care of myself. It has over time become my norm and I am grateful for that. Even on the very hard days, I am well aware of how much better I'll feel if I choose self-care (writing in my journal, movement, reaching out to someone in my support network, etc). My passion is to help others in similar situations realize their potential and ability of self-care and the grave importance of it. Your best and your self-care plan are uniquely yours- unique to your body and your needs. It's so special how we can not only create but discover and work towards our best selves; most of us are much greater, stronger and more capable than we believe or even know possible!

There is no reason to feel alone and singled out when chronically ill.

You have many strong hands wanting to help push and lift you up. It may start off feeling impossible, but you can achieve happiness, success and your well-being through one intentional baby step at a time. You, like me, are way more than chronically ill!

All my best, Erica

Is your body in a rut?

There's nothing wrong with your body.  Really.  No matter what you are struggling with, and no matter what you feel- your body is not the enemy...or your slave.  It is a beautiful gift. When starting out my professional path toward health and wellness, I was coming out of a dark period of my life. I had worked my body to the bone with running and restricted eating, I had a long history of burning the candle at both ends trying to do as much as humanly possible to prove myself every day, and although I loved running and focusing my health, I felt completely out of balance.

Have you ever done something you really believed was "right" in order to be healthy, happy, and whole, but were left exhausted, burnt out, and frustrated with the lack of joy in your life?

Because that was me.

Despite all the data out there today about how various versions of diet and exercise will solve all your life's problems, it became very clear to me as I started this journey that I wanted to help guide people to authentically partner with their bodies. Too often people are "should-ing" themselves right out of feeding their souls and their overall health because they are neglecting to listen to what they actually need and then actually taking action on it.

When Erica and I started working together, what I admired most about her (and still do) was that she was choosing to listen to her body, to find ways to love it and listen to it more, and to evolve without waivering on one thing: that she is worth it.

And here is the thing I want you to consider today:

Your body can make you happy.

Exercise isn't just something that's nice to do, or that will ultimately make you look better. Exercise is a drug. Once your heart rate elevates and your body starts moving, a series of chemical responses in the brain occur that lead to short and long term benefits. It's called the "Happiness Effect".

Here's the tip...stop beating yourself up for all that you are or are not doing to move and exercise and start doing little things that leave you feeling happier because you did them. Especially if you are feeling stuck in a rut with your energy, weight, or joy.

As Albert Einstein said..."Nothing happens until something moves."

Why moms have a chronic illness

The American medical dictionary defines illness as:

"Disease of body or mind; poor health; sickness."  And disease is defined as "any deviation from or interruption of the normal structure or function of any body part, organ, or system that is manifested by a characteristic set of symptoms and signs and whose etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown."   While all women can attest that there definitely is a huge deviation from AND interruption is normal structure and function of MANY body parts and organs during and after pregnancy, it doesn't seem that we all agree that our right of passage into mommy-hood is still having a negative effect on lingering chronic illness to deal with.

The most common chronic illness for moms (who have kids of just about any age at home) is chronic fatigue.  Between taking care of kiddos through the night when they are young to staying up late wondering if they are OK as teenagers, a lack of sleep seems to be a part of the territory for most mothers. A 2007 survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that two-thirds of the women polled say they have had sleep problems a couple nights a week in the past month.  Sleep deprivation, especially over a long period of time, is linked to:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Weight gain
• Depression

Secondly, while some moms can recover their brain function over time, many moms find they have a hard time with mental focus and memory after having kids.  There are a finite number of things that the brain can focus on at once, and when we begin multi-tasking work, paying the bills, cooking dinner, thinking about a friend, and nurturing a screaming toddler, our brain can go into overload.  When the priority is your baby or kid, lots of other things become forgotten or fuzzy.

Finally, it's not a joke that hormones surge during pregnancy and often have a hard time re-balancing once we hit our groove in motherhood. The most common hormonal imbalances that can linger and wreak havoc on energy and metabolism are Estrogen Dominance, Hypothryroidism, and Adrenal Fatigue.  All of these hormone imbalances can lead to depression, anxiety, and once again...fatigue!

So here me now.  If you are a mom or your know a mom...no matter how old her children may be, if she is still battling fatigue, erratic emotions, and hormone hell, it is time to give her some grace and gently suggest that it is OK for her to get help and take time to heal!  One of the biggest ways to elevate mood is with consistent movement.  Sunshine, sleep, and support can also go a long way, so reach out and get the help you need to start feeling more like you again.

New Research for Food and Fitness Timing

My mother in law raised 8 children on little to no money and with very little support.  When we go to visit Iowa, it's a wonderful time to unplug and relax a little as the world seems to keep spinning vehemently around us.  This last trip, she said something that will stick with me forever...

"I was busy once too".  

As I raise my own children (now 2 and a half...eek!!) and consider how time means nothing to them, and how they drift through each day running and jumping and exploring, I am reminded of what she said.  Life is much more calm at the beginning and the end.  And there is so much of our story to be LIVED in between.  I like what Socrates said: "Beware the barrenness of a busy life."

I, for one, am very aware at how much the pace of my life can drag me down. I'll bet you feel it too.  So how can we use the latest research to make the most of the time we spend focusing on our health so we have more energy and time for the things that make our lives rich and meaningful?

Here's two new tips:
1) Have a little something to eat an hour or two before your workout.
2) Go by feel for your rest days and instead of hanging on the couch, choose some active recovery.

Want more of the juicy details on these tips for how and why?  Well, a recent study in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that people who were on a treadmill for 36 minutes, who ate breakfast beforehand, burned fat at a significantly higher rate for as long as 24 hours compared with those who ate post-workout, even though both groups consumed the same total calories per day. Also, a recent report in the Strength and Conditioning Journal proved you won't be able to go as intensely or burn as many calories, and you'll also lose more muscle if you workout without pre-fueling.  What's the best thing to eat pre-workout? Try these 150 calorie or so ideas: A banana with about a half to whole tablespoon of peanut or almond butter or a half a cup of yogurt with a quarter cup of granola.

Finally, rest really is important.  Our muscles re-build, we replenish our energy reserves, build bone mass, and restore connective tissue during our rest days. A recent study out of Brazil showed that beginners who completed four sets of 10 reps of bicep curls needed over 3 days of rest to recover. When you overwork a muscle that is not fully recovered you could be compromising your results and risk injuring yourself.  However, it is still important to keep moving even on recovery days.  Choose something low key like lower intensity walking, cycling, swimming or a dance class.  Research from the National Cancer Institute discovered that even for those who work up a sweat on a regular basis, the longer they sit around, the higher their risk for an earlier death.  Plus, the added bonus is you will burn more calories and elevate your mood.  What better way to make the most of our "busy" lives!

Some of our favorite Corrective Exercises!

We always start Fitness Fire group classes or a training session with some dynamic stretching and then a couple corrective exercises. This is meant to prep your body for use and warm up the areas you're about to workout. It's great to pin point weaker areas of your body and do specific corrective work for those issues. Here's a break down of some of our favorites!

Wall slides: These are great for those of you who sit at a desk all day long and may be trapped in that forward-leaning position. Wall slides work your thoracic spine and really help to open up your chest and shoulders which helps greatly with good posture.

Stand with your back against a wall with your feet about 6 inches away from the wall and a little less than shoulder width apart. Tuck your tailbone forward and make sure your back is nice and flat against the wall, you may need to adjust where your feet are for this to happen. Tighten your tummy and bring your hands up to the wall with your elbows bent at 90 degrees. Now squeeze and press your shoulder blades against the wall (make sure your back is still touching!) and begin to slide your arms from rib height straight up then back down again. Do 10-20 reps with good form.

Bridges: If you have a hard time engaging your glutes, this is a great one for you. 

Lay on the ground with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Make sure your back is flat. Push through your heels and squeeze your glutes simultaneously to bring your butt off the ground. You want to make sure you're keeping your hips level and squeezing your glutes very tight. Pause at the top and repeat. Do 15-20 reps. To increase difficulty you can do a single leg bridge by bringing one foot off the ground and extending the leg towards the sky.

Clam shells: This exercise targets your glutes, inner thighs and hips, which are key for a healthy back and stable knees.  

Lie on your side with your hips and knees bent 45 degrees, legs and ankles stacked. Keeping your feet touching each other and head resting on the ground, raise your upper knee as high as you can while keeping your hips stack. Do 15-20 reps on each side. For added difficulty, put a small resistance band right above the top of your knees.

T-W-Y-I: These target the muscles of your upper back that stabilize your shoulder blades (trapezius and rhomboids). They also strengthens your rotator cuff and help promote good posture.

Start by laying on your stomach. Flex your toes into the ground and make sure they stay touching the ground the whole time. For Ts: Extend your arms out to your side, palms down and gently squeeze your shoulder blades together lifting your chest off the ground. Pause at the top and come back down. For Ws: Bend your arms 90 degrees at the elbow or make a "touchdown" shape. For Ys: Put your arms slightly above you in a Y shape, thumbs pointing up to the ceiling. For Is which are the hardest: Arms come straight above you, palms down. Channel superman or superwoman for this one! If you feel any pain in your low back leave out the Is until you become stronger. Do 8-12 reps of each. You can make this more challenging by holding light weights.

Quadruped opposite arm/leg lifts: his move strengthens your glutes and core, as well as strengthening the stabilizer muscles around your spine which can help immensely with alleviating low back pain.

Get down on your hands and knees with your palms flat on the floor and shoulder-width apart. Tighten your tummy, and raise your right arm and left leg until they're in line with your body. Briefly pause and return to the starting position. Repeat with your left arm and right leg. Continue to alternate sides until you've completed 10-15 reps on each side.

Give these a try... which are hardest for you? This means you should be doing the hardest ones a couple times a week!

It's important to strengthen and engage your weaker areas. If you're diligent, you'll most likely notice improvement quickly.

What's The First Thing You Do Every Morning?

Just as we've mentioned (lots and lots) how crucial getting enough sleep is, what you do first thing in the morning can often set the tone for the rest of your day. It can affect your mood and your behaviors for the following hours. What's the first thing you do every morning?

Do you:

• Check your e-mail?
• Run to wakeup the kids?
• Drink coffee?
• Check Facebook or other social media?
• Read the news?

What if you were to set your alarm for literally 5 minutess earlier and spend 5 extra minutes doing something that could really positively affect the rest of your day? It could lead to a more productive work day, keep your stress levels regulated, lead to a better workout, help your food cravings even! We'd love for you (if you don't do it already!) to add in one of these listed below or something similar that would jumpstart you in the right direction.

Try:

• Journaling for 5 mins about ANYTHING! A dream you had, an interaction you had from the day before you want to remember, your goals for the day, organizing your day, etc.
• Taking the time to listen to a favorite, motivational song that makes you feel like you can conquer the world! You can do this in between hitting the snooze buttons while you're still in bed!
• A 5 min meditation, this can be a guided recording or not and you can even stay laying in bed if you'd like! We think you'll end up loving this so much that you may end up choosing to wake up earlier for a little longer of a meditation.
• If you're not quite ready for meditation, take a few deep breaths and simply repeat a mantra you enjoy. THEN, hop out of bed! 
• Stepping out of bed and doing some gentle stretching right in your bedroom. Very gentle light stretches would be perfect; as easy as reaching up towards the sky with a deep breath in while lengthening your spine and then folding over letting your breath out. If you'd prefer, you can even stay in bed, laying flat on your back pulling one knee towards your chest at a time to start.

5 simple extra minutes in the morning can truly make a difference in how the rest of your day goes. Taking the time to center yourself and be present first thing in the morning  can bring a whole new outlook; the point is to take a few extra minutes for yourself to feel whole, reassured and happy. Give it a try! If you'd like some more guidance on some tools to use for your new morning routine, please feel free to reach out to us.

The one friend who will NEVER leave you isn't who you think

If you had to count your friends, and I mean really really good friends, who would they be, and what number would you reach?  What makes a person a best friend?  My guess is, it's one of those people who is always there for you when you need them, they are able to empathize and say or do just the right thing you need, and they are totally accepting of you no matter what you do or say.  You can depend on them.  You can also tell them exactly what is on your mind, and even (sometimes) get away with being demanding or neglectful. Well, you may not have thought of your body in this way, but dear ones...your body is truly the closest friend you will ever have. The first time I really got this was when I was putting my twin boys to bed.  I tucked them in and kissed their cheeks and told them how much I loved them.  I thought to myself, "No one could know or love you more than I do right now"...and suddenly it occurred to me that they already have someone who actually knows them better than I do.  Their twin brother.  They started life side by side, they sleep side by side, they share every single meal together.  It occurred to me then how sad it is that the rest of the "singletons" like me don't have this.

Ah, but we do.  We have our flesh and blood.  Our hearts and minds.  Our spirit and souls that are with us every where we go.  But all of that is encapsulated into this miracle we carry with us from embryo to death- Our Bodies.

Now consider this:  How are you treating the very best friend you will ever have in the world?  And how do you feel it is treating you?  Who's fault is it?

While the body does have some say in what it can demand and voice, it is ultimately a servant to our wishes.  And as our servant it's primary mission is to help us stay alive.  It takes effort to thrive, doesn't it?

That effort can either be from a place of pushing, punishing, and prodding, or it can be from a place of self-compassion, love, and respect.

You ultimately have a finite number of days to get to know your closest friend.  What will you do to love, nourish, enjoy, and free your body up to join you in the greatest possible life you could imagine?

What could you do in 30 days?

Summer is a time to gather for picnics, take time out for walks and hikes, go on the road for vacation, or slow down at a summer music festival.  My boys have been begging to go outside every day all day.  It's because summer is so full of possibilities that I hear so many of my clients and friends telling me they have a hard time staying away from the sweets and alcohol, and fitting in their strength workouts on a consistent basis.  Sure, they have great intentions, but too often "fun" wins over "fuel and function". But what if summer was the perfect time to take control over your health and jump start your body so you could feel like a million bucks?  The solution is actually pretty simple, but we get too distracted to see it.  Maybe you can relate.

This got us thinking. What could we create that would give you a (loving) kick in the pants and empower you with tools for exactly what you need to get the ball rolling in the direction of more energy, ease, and enjoyment in life?

Well, here are our 2 sweet solutions:

1) We are opening up 10 spots to coach with Erica and me - at no cost, our treat- for 30 minutes (over the phone).

It's our How to Take Charge and Reclaim Your Body Breakthrough Session.

However, with only 10 spots available, they will be snatched up fast.  In order to be considered, you'll need to complete the following application questions below before June 19th.  All you have to do is reply to this post and answer the questions FULLY in our .  If you do not answer each question you will not be considered for the session.

Together in this How to Take Charge and Reclaim Your Body Breakthrough Session we will:

• Discover what is sabotaging you from consistently giving your body the movement, nourishment, and recovery it needs.
• Create a clear plan that outlines the steps you need to take to embrace more energy, ease, and enjoyment through feeling kick-ass in your body.
• The one highest calling step you can take to resolve to take action for good.

Here are your Application Questions:

1. What is your name and tell me a little bit about your current health status?
2. When it comes to taking charge of your health, what are your biggest challenges?
3. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest) how important, honestly, is it to you to get your health back as a major priority...and why?
4. What is the #1 obstacle that's kept you from solving these challenges?
5. Where would you like your health to be in 6 months?  In 12 months?
6. What is your phone number and email address? (We'll contact you by Thursday, June 19th to let you know if you were accepted for one of these 10 limited spots).

Remember, to take advantage of this How to Take Charge and Reclaim Your Body Breakthrough Session opportunity, simply send us an email with the questions above answered in full.

 2) Use the Power of Connection:

Too often we buckle down in our shame or frustration and drift away in self-pity.  But as the wonderful Marianne Williamson states: "As we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."  Which is to say, rather than going inward and trying to push and shove ourselves to change, why not reach outward and lift others up while we work toward freeing our greatness?  There's a great App that we love called "Lift" which employs coaching, community, and data to help you be your best.  Check it out and join one of their great challenges- even if it is as simple as taking your supplements every day!

We would love to hear from you about how you are challenging yourself this month.  Don't worry, you are exactly where you need to be and have access to everything you need.  And if you don't believe me, fill out the application and let's talk!

Is it all in my head, or is my body stuck?

It's sometimes tough to know if our body is holding us back or if a lack of motivation and discipline is all in our heads.  We often talk about intuitive movement and eating at Restoration Fitness, and while we firmly believe that it is possible to get to a point where you can deeply check in with your body's needs and intuitively know exactly what to give it at any moment for nourishment and love- many of us are not able to get a good reading on this because our body's signals are compromised.  And we won't go into how it can become compromised, but suffice it to say, if you struggle to stay in motion and have trouble eating well, it is quite possible that your biochemistry is off.

Your body is undergoing chemical reactions constantly including using hormones (which tell you when and how much to eat), digestion and assimilation of food, and the utilization of amino acids and micronutrients, to name a few.  If you don't have a balance hormonal system, or you can't absorb your food and convert it to energy properly, or you have a deficit in the nutrients you need- your body will not be able to keep up.  When this happens, our body can either shut down leading to fatigue and a sluggish overall system, or it will work so hard to do it's best to keep up that systems will begin to fail.  Ever wonder why no matter what you do to avoid eating chocolate or to force yourself out of bed in the morning isn't working?  It likely isn't all in your head- it might just have more to do with an imbalance biochemisty in your system.

On the other hand, once we have a few exercise sessions where we feel defeated, it becomes easier and easier to loose our mental edge and we therefore end up giving in too easily to defeat.  A recent study in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise Journal showed that positive self talk reduced RPE (rate of perceived exertion) and increased time-to-exhaustion by around 18% during high-intensity cycling exercise. This shows that, at least in recreational athletes, we really can talk ourselves into working harder if we keep a positive "I can do this" attitude throughout our workout. So what we think about ourselves during a workout, or during a time where we are avoiding overeating really does matter.

So what is to blame for those times you just can't get out of your rut and get your butt in gear to move and eat healthfully? Your body or your will power?

First of all, take a deep breath and remember that your body is an amazing miracle that is doing the best it can to keep up with all that is going in your world.

Secondly, take another deep breath and remember that you are not crazy or weird or stupid or too much or at fault for being human.

Nothing is to blame.  In fact, if anything, there is so much to be grateful for because our body does such a great job of giving us signals and helping itself to heal when we take baby steps toward nourishing and respecting it's needs.  The hardest part for all of us to swallow, is that it will take patience, and it might be a little out of your comfort zone at first to figure out what to tackle in the body-mind mix to help you get well and feel more empowered and energized in your health and fitness.  Here are the first steps to take should you feel sluggish, discouraged, or unmotivated:

1) Get your hormones checked with a reputable naturopath or physician.

2) Reduce the sugar (particularly the fructose) in your diet and choose protein instead.  Protein takes more energy to digest and it provides you with the building blocks that support elevated brain function and muscle growth and repair.  Often when we crave sugar, we are actually low on the amino acids that keep our brain happy, and eating protein helps give us the boost we need.

3) Drink tons of clean water. Water makes up 60% of your body.  If you aren't hydrated, your body will fatigue.

4) Surround yourself with positive people you admire.  The only caveat here, is that this is not meant to become a comparison game.  Use their positive action and energy as a catalyst for your own growth.

Reach out to us if you are struggling with your motivation for a pep talk!  We are also connected to quite a few practitioners in the area who would be happy to help you out. All it takes is knowing that something needs to change and asking for the help you need.

What you do means more than you think

I was asked a week ago, "Nicole, what were you put on this planet to do?"  As an entrepreneur, this question is on my mind all of the time.  It isn't easy mothering a business (or two), and it is even harder when you have a couple of twins running around who are a big distraction!  But when I am asked this sort of deep deep question, I have to pause and consider that I've made some pretty significant decisions based on the answer. "Why am I here", of course begins with me wanting to be a devoted lover (and biggest supporter) of my husband, kids, family, and friends.  One of the major decisions I made outside of my personal life, though, was a very conscious choice to help all women and girls KNOW that they are valuable and beautiful. And I can speak for Erica when I say that she, too, has a deep passion to start a revolution that supports a tidal wave of positive body image to well up in the women of our world.

What drives our purpose and our decision to keep going is that we know that when women and girls don't have a foundation of love for themselves and their bodies, they can lose a lot of precious time and energy.  Negative self-talk can isolate women and girls from having authentic and meaningful relationships and careers, and poor boundaries can cause women and girls to extend themselves beyond human capacity.

It might be easy to brush it off and think, well, it's only really hurting me.  But if that is what goes on in your head, then you need to know the truth....

Everyone has at least 5 to 10 things they excel at. If you can sing, calculate odds, track bird migrations, or know which direction is north better than 100 random people or your high school class -- your gift puts you in the top 1% of the population.

When you start calculating the odds as you add in more of your gifts and talents -- your combination of 5 skills means you are one in ten Billion likely to have that combination. That is more people than are alive on the Earth today. And when you add in the other 25 + ingredients of your work potential, you get numbers that are astronomical. (from Manifest Your Potential.com)

Human DNA consists of more than 3 billion building blocks whose sequences form genes, just like letters spell a word. For any two unrelated people, these letters are 99.9 percent the same. But that leaves millions of single-letter differences, called SNPs (pronounced “snips”) that provide genetic variation between people.  To make this even more complicated, you are the result of the fusion of one particular egg with one particular sperm. Each sperm and each egg is genetically unique because of the process of meiosis. A fertile woman has 100,000 viable eggs on average. A man will produce about 12 trillion sperm over the course of his reproductive lifetime. Let's say a third of those (4 trillion) are relevant to our calculation, since the sperm created after your mom hits menopause don't count. So the probability of that one sperm with half your name on it hitting that one egg with the other half of your name on it is one in 400 quadrillion. (from huffington post)

The problem is, too many of us walk around talking poorly about ourselves and generally dismissing what a unique and amazing gift we have been given simply by being born.  The fact that we get a body for our soul to inhabit is truly a miracle.  So rather than beat ourselves up about not being good enough, or worthy of time to devote to your own well-being, or feeling like you are incapable of living up to expectations, why not start a revolution?  What you say and what you do with the time and the body you have matters, because in all of time and space, there is only one like you.  Let's start speaking to ourselves and our youth from the "I Am A Miracle" Perspective!!

Feeling like you could use some support to raise up your banner and charge ahead?  There are 2 ways to get involved:

1) Check out our Redefining Revolution at Inspired Athletic Movement: a 6 month support series dedicated to redefining how we interact with ourselves and our culture to cultivate positive body image.

2) Register to get more information about "Us Girls": A 1-day workshop for women and girls to come together to learn about loving your bodies with fun movement, a confident voice, and a centered sense of sexuality.  This workshop highlights Nicole Irlbeck, Catherine M. Houston, and Johanna Walker...3 women's health advocates who are dedicated to creating a world of where bold and authentic tweens and teens can thrive.

At the very least, give yourself a little pinch.  You are a living breathing miracle!!! You can be the example for all others to follow in how you act on your behalf to believe it with everything you do.