The Commitment challenge

Committing to make a change, no matter what it is, no matter how big, how small, takes more than just desire.
There has to be "why" behind it.
For those who are committing to lead a healthy lifestyle, need to know or have a reason for doing it. "Weight loss" or getting in shape is not enough. It has to go deeper than that. It has to be something so important, something that without doing it, will have negative consequences. A friend once told me her why she was working on losing weight. It was earth shattering for her. She had some major health issues and her goal was to get on a track so she would live to see more life. And that is why she is so very committed.

One of my favorite sayings is "you can't exercise your way out of a bad diet" and my second is "Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym".
Nutrition is by far the most important ingredient when it comes to health. If you choose food that are high in fat, so will you. If you choose foods high in calories, you will gain weight.
But it goes so much deeper, you need to feed and fuel your body correctly in order for it to respond.

There is so much science out there which one do you follow? Vegan? Gluten free?
First, you have to know your body, what does it respond to?  You have to change your eating habits to find out how you perform with less carbs, more protein and if it doesn't work, adjust accordingly. Carbohydrates are not the enemy, unless you eat them and SIT... Carbs are energy, and your body, will store it, if it's not used.

Making a change involves more than a decision to do it.
Set goals, and make them realistic, specific and measurable. Then ask yourself WHY??? What am I doing and why do I want it?
Then ask yourself why again. Maybe then you can get down to the true why.

Then once you get your true why, it will be easier to commit fully. Not only when you feel like it. It will become your life, and you will be consumed fully and participate without question.

Find someone who has similar goals, and become  "partners". Stay accountable to each other.  This helps.

So, I leave you with this, are interested?? Or are you committed? Only one person has the answer, and that is you.
In health
Barb

The reality sets in

So, my car died last week, and the mechanic said it needed some work. It had nearly 150K miles on it, and it was 8 years old.
I loved my car.
It was mine. The bank didn't own it, I did.
Yes, PAID in full.
SO, I found myself in the shopping mode for a new vehicle.
Several pre-requesites needed to meet my desires.
No mini van, room for at least 7, no red. Not too picky?? Price point? CHEAP.



Apparently since the last time I shopped for a car, the prices have changed. A LOT.
So, seeing what was out there where I wanted my payment to be, was a rude awakening.
I felt stupid looking at cars that were more than 5 years old with a price tag of $20K. But that was the reality.
A friend of mine who works selling cars, basically said I needed to increase my price range. OH NO!! I don't want to do that.
So, we kept looking. And talked to friends, and basically, they said the same. A good car is about $500 a month. Why can't we afford that?? Well, the issue is not being able to afford it, it's not wanting to afford it. I would rather do something else with our funds.
I need a reliable car.

What it led to was realizing that our nation must be in debt, so much more than I ever imagined. A house payment at $1000/mon is not a fancy house, and a car payment of $500. For alot of people that's one whole paycheck right there. Add in the monthly bills, food, gas and it's no wonder the credit card companies are reaping the benefit.
The average American family owes over $100K between houses, cars and credit cards.
that is the AVERAGE. The average american has over $7K on credit cards.
The average American income is $45K a year, (again an average). These are scary numbers.

The problem with averages is that many have less and many have more. More debt??
The major issue is our need to have status symbols as signs of success.
Think about a Mercedes Benz, if someone drives one, you think, wow, they are doing well. But in reality, do they own it or does the bank?  Are they doing well? Or is it just a desire they had to fulfill.
Living above our means is what the US does best, from the US government all the way down to the "poor".
There are many "poor" people who have the best cars, phones and trinkets, because they want them. Who really owns it?

So there are 2 methods of solving the problem, spend less or make more.
Spending less is hard, with food, gas, and prices going up, so making more is likely beneficial. However, in reality , only if you agree to do both will lead to true freedom. If you make more and spend more, you defeat the purpose.

One of my favorite quotes, "live like no other so that one day, you can live like no other".

So, the question is, what are you going to do?
Are you going to make more? Spend less? or BOTH.

In financial health
Barb

Pondering Life....

I have been up a good part of the night, with my brain in overdrive. Trying to figure "Stuff" out. Where I am going, what I am doing. Am I doing the right thing for me?? For my family? Am I  overcommitting?

I work full time, I teach 5 classes a week, I have 2 part time home based businesses that I work on. Plus a house, 3 kids and Husband!
Yes, its alot to think about.

I still make 90% of the sports, 100% of the functions and manage to have everyone where they need to be, sometimes with a little help of friends/family.

What crossed my mind...
My debts! The house, one car, the pool, the bills...I mean really? A monthly cell bill is $250 for 5 people. Car insurance....they just keep coming. I think about people that I know, that make half what I earn, and wonder how they drive great cars and have big houses. Then it made sense, they too, are highly likely to be be a slave to the loans for them.
When I got divorced, I had virtually nothing, starting over.
So, I went out and bought "STUFF". TV, furniture, computers, household goods.
Well, since I need this "stuff" to help me in everyday life, I had to have it.
So, I charged up the credit cards.I had a car payment, I had a house payment, I had credit card debt. And I owed a lawyer $9000....

People thought I was doing great. But in reality, I was living a life of quiet desperation. Living paycheck to paycheck. Probably not making the best financial decisions.
So, in hindsight, I really didn't need all that stuff. It just made life a bit tougher.
I went on thinking that my salary and paycheck would cover it. But it didnt. It didn't account for those extra costs, like a broken car, or higher electric bill. I took another job, to rid the debt.

It wasn't until recently that I realized something. You will never make as much for your hard work,  if someone else is making a decision about what you are paid.
You can bust you butt, and it won't get you far. You might get a little raise, but it won't be very much.
To truly be financially free, you have to do something different. You have to be the decision maker. You have to do something "outside the box".
So, I leave you with this..

Don't sit back and hope that things will take care of themselve, go MAKE IT HAPPEN!!

Stay with the Fight, Barb