Fitness saves my life Daily

The past several weeks have brought many distractions within our home and business life. Avenues have opened, some closed, and some still winding in many different directions. Life is an ever changing adventure that we must embrace on the daily. With daily struggles there has to be good to outweigh the bad, right?
Changes these last few weeks: dog ran off 5x in two weeks, dog impounded, placed our dog for adoption, got rid of the dog, show house, business opportunities present great deal of time spent away from home (late nights, early mornings),  continuing education documentation was misfiled by entity, submit paperwork and coursework to deem in good standing, very personal women's health related issues, toddler potty training, toddler not sleeping, putting toddler to bed by laying on the floor until he is asleep just so you don't have to hear him cry because your head hurts already, continuing education paperwork lost in the mail, mother gets emergency surgery, toddler and brothers waking 5am!? 2 pieces of gym equipment needing repair, order parts, finally repaired. 3 year old won't stay in bed, kids miss dog, questionable business outcomes, change hours of operation, BIG PROJECTS, kids fighting all the time, computer crash at business, re-route all computers and printing gym computer 2, get notified of recall on new hardware at gym, check recall, no need for repair, 3 treadmills in one day crash at the gym we own, order treadmills, install one, repaired 2. Resend continuing ed. paperwork that was lost in the mail, call number for shipping reimbursement (no one answers, fax line?!) Toilet won't drain, one son with a rash and cough, 2 with runny nose and cough.
All within three weeks time.

Several mishaps, various frustrations, my husband and I just look at each other with despair! Many times though, we'd just look at each other and laugh in wonder. Wonder of if it is still going to be this way tomorrow? In a few days? A week? A month? A year?

Humor, cries, laughs, tons of prayer, and fitness have gotten me through these past several weeks.


Through many failures, goals, heartaches, and successes I have found that exercise has helped me through it all.
Nearly 5 days a week I am up at 5:00am to get my workout in before I see clients. My routine has been a little skewed over the coarse of all that has been going on, with kiddos barging into our room or not being able to sleep at 3am, I was often awake, unable to go back to sleep at 3:30 am. Looking back at those early mornings I praise God for getting me out of bed and into the gym.

You see fitness to me is much more than just health, feeling great, and looking good. Fitness to me is very personal and spiritual. It is what keeps my head on straight. My morning cardio consists of an elliptical or bike with the lights off (if no one else is there), worship music in my headphones, and my daily devo pulled up on my phone. Followed by weight training session, often spent hashing out the daily grind! Many-a-mornings spent this way before seeing clients. What a blessing!

Fitness saves my life daily. Keeps me grounded, clears my mind, keeps me in tune with my thoughts, body, and spiritual self. My gym time is my stress relief and my outlet, which allows for me to be better wife, mother, friend, daughter, and child of God.

Onward friends! I love you all so very much!

where is the line

We all have a story...A life. What we do or do not do, deep down has a reason stitched to the intertwined network inside of us. Reasons no other may be able to ever grasp. Such could be tied to character, past scars, experiences, habit, lifestyle, foundation, function, distinction , stability, or instability, Faith, action, pride, and God forbid, genetics.

So why? Why judge the fat person in the gym? At least they are there, probably trying to lose weight! Why call the skinny girl anorexic? Maybe she's actually trying to put on weight in muscle! People struggle to gain weight just as people struggle to lose weight. To throw judgements at one another leaves you hasty toward the opposite of what you are (skinny vs. fat or fat vs skinny)

We are called to take care of our bodies. In that calling there is a choice to do it constructively and honorably or we can choose to be destructive and disobedient to how we are supposed to treat ourselves. 

Just recently I came across a story of a school teacher who had posted some bikini pictures on her facebook page and almost lost her job! In fact she may have actually lost her job but I did not read all of the article. She was obviously fit and probably worked hard to get where she is at with her fitness. I agree with modesty but I also think it is a huge fete for some people (especially women) to lose weight and build a toned body that she can love and appreciate. Too often there are women who hate their body (I hate mine most days) is it too tacky to see a woman post progress pictures? Not to say the pictures this particular woman posted were totally modest or totally distasteful but it was enough to jeopardize her job. Where do we as women draw the line? Where do MOST men draw the line when it comes to seeing images of half naked women even if they are "progress" photos? SOME men do NOT draw a line at all. Women are guilty of flaunting it and asking for unneseccary attention. 

Maybe the woman who posted the pics is a good woman, maybe she's married with kids. Maybe she's a mom who overcame postpartum depression through working out and became happy with her body. Maybe she's a recovering alcoholic or drug addict. Maybe she used to be obese. Perhaps she overcame an eating disorder and will inspire millions of young women to do the same. Until we have the facts and reasoning we are in the dark. Who are we to judge such? 

On the other side of the fence our society has openly accepted the sexualization of women in particular. Sex sells. It's everywhere! Thrown in our faces to look good, be sexy, appeal to men, be skinny. Pasted all over social media, the fitness industry, food commercials, and even in hunting magazines! What the hell are we supposed to do. My heart aches for women who think their body is to flaunt. My heart wrenches for my husband and the men in this world who are up against a huge demon when it comes to the sexual images that the world has made ok. I'm terrified for my boys and what they will face with the temptations of pornography, not that it has to go to that extent because half of what they see in the world every day on billboards and magazines at the grocery store  is soft porn. 

As a wife I feel compelled to look good for my husband not only because I'm called to honor him but also to honor my own body by taking care of myself. This can be healthy until the comparison to other women game starts in my head. As wives how do we even begin to compare to what's thrown in our husbands faces as "sexy"? How do we help protect ourselves, our husbands, and our marriages from that poison?

As mothers we need to set the stage for our children on what it means to have beauty, what it means to honor our bodies, and what it means to be a woman. If the example is not set at home then how can we expect them to demonstrate the " right thing " as they grow up? 

A great book that comes to mind as I write all of this is a book called "Captivating" by John and Staci Eldredge. I encourage women and men alike to read this book. It's an insight to why women are the way they are, how to fight th good fight against all of this, how to be a good mother and wife, and to turn to God in order to find our beauty and validation.

If you are a man reading this I encourage you to read "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge. It sets the stage for what it truly means to be a man. To love beauty but to not find your validation in the woman. 

Most importantly though, we can all learn from God's will and plan for our lives. Through Him we are made whole, beautiful, pure, lovely, and worthy.

Somewhere in between a wife, mother, business owner, and fitness junkie

A few weeks ago I stumbled over toys scattered on the playroom floor adjacent to my office at the gym. Ever so casually I placed the toys in the big blue bin that my sons keep everything in. As I started for the exit to head home for the day I decided I'd take some of the toys home so that I could swap the items out for some from home. I like to do this every once in a while to keep things exciting for my youngsters. Just like most days I had a hand full of things to carry out to my car. Eight arms would have been sufficient but the toys found a place inside of my gym bag. At that moment one of my employees had arrived for his shift. While zipping up my gym bag I paused and said, "Wow, now that is an epic array of items in my gym bag." He peaked over at my bag and said something along the lines of, "That's how you know you're a mom." Laughing, I agreed before checking the diaper and wipe level in the playroom/nursery so that I could be prepared for the following day. On my drive home a toy with a tune went off in my gym bag as I hit a bump. Again confirming the life of a busy mom. A huge smile shown across my face the entire way home because I would not have it any other way!

Perhaps the above is the reason why I have not blogged in a couple of months.
Gym owner, mom of two who takes both kids to work, finds time to lift at least 4-5 times per week, is married to a man who owns our other business as a graphic/design artist who custom designs, prints, and installs vinyl banners, signs, graphics, decals, and does pencil sketch on the side. All more reasons why this blog has taken a back seat.

It just goes to show what is important in my life right now!
If you want to follow elsewhere I do a lot of fitness stuff on instagram and facebook. Check it out @ashnseelygymmom or @trapperfitness on instagram.

To follow on facebook check out Trapper Fitness Center

I try to post workouts, meals, inspiration, and much more on those two social media avenues.

Stay fit, stay focused, stay fabulous!

Builders dessert

Craving something sweet like ice cream, but want less sugar? Here is the perfect blend packed full of healthy fats and protein to provide your body with the energy it needs to build lean muscle. Light yet filling and tasty!

Ingredients:
4oz heavy whipping cream
1scoop musclepharm combat protein powder vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Whip the cream on high for 1-2 minutes
After 2 mins slowly add in one scoop of protein powder and the cinnamon.
Continue to mix for 1-2minutes until somewhat fluffy and well whipped.

You can eat this right away, refrigerate, or If you want more of an ice cream type dessert place in the freezer for approx. 20 minutes.

Eat plain or add to strawberries, gram crackers, or smoothies.

Enjoy

fighting colds and fatigue with doTERRA

Wednesday morning I woke up with the worst stuffy nose, sinus pressure, watery eyes, and headache! I could not smell or taste any food which made life even more miserable because I gotta have my taste buds ramped up due to my love of food! I frantically searched the medicine cabinet for some sort of quick cold medicine to relieve my symptoms as I had to be in to open the gym, along with dragging my two boys with me (both age 2 and under). I took daytime nyquil which did not take the edge off at all. By mid afternoon I had called my mother to come and get my kiddos because the headache seemed to get worse while working and taking care of the boys. Thank goodness she took care of them! After she left with the boys I remembered that I had some doTERRA On Guard in my gym bag. I rushed over to my bag, opened the bottle, empty... Good thing we carry it at Trapper Fitness Center! I ran over to the display cabinet and grabbed a new bottle and took 2 tablets before tossing the bottle into my gym bag. In the past on more than one occasion when my son and husband had a stomach bug I took the OnGuard softgel tablets 3x per day during their sickness and I never got the bug. I figured maybe it could help me kick a head cold as well.


Here is the info on the OnGuard tablets

On Guard+ Softgels

"Get the immune support your body needs when facing winter threats or elements that can weaken your immune system with the proprietary blend of dōTERRA On Guard and Black Pepper, Oregano, and Melissa essential oils.
• Features a unique blend of essential oils in an easily dissolvable, vegetarian softgel.
• Provides additional immune support when needed.
• Protects against environmental threats."

 https://www.mydoterra.com/ShoppingCart/index.cfm?FuseAction=CategoryShop&CategoryID=1140

A doTERRA order was supposed to arrive that same day with both the TERRA GREENS and the MITO2MAX supplements. I was sure rejoicing when it did arrive. TERRA GREENS is a fruit and vegetable supplement mix that comes in a powder form. You mix it with water and drink it.  Here is the info. on TERRA GREENS

"

TerraGreens dōTERRA TerraGreens is a proprietary blend of whole food fruits and vegetables combined with superfruits and dōTERRA CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® Essential Oils. This powdered mix packs a daily boost of fruits and vegetables into a mix that can be stirred into 8 oz. of liquid for easy and convenient nutritional supplementation."

https://www.mydoterra.com/ShoppingCart/index.cfm?FuseAction=CategoryShop&CategoryID=1436

 A skeptic of such supplements I have been reluctant to try the TERRA GREENS. However I know that along with the OnGuard the past 2 days I have taken it 2x per day and I feel a lot better! Both helped me get over this head cold within 2 days I can breathe out of my nose, taste my food, and I do not have near the sinus congestion or headache that I have had!. Other people I talk to who have had the same symptoms have been sick for over a week!

Today I felt really good so I decided to get a workout in. The supplement MITO2MAX is supposed to help with cellular energy and I had heard that it is a great supplement to take prior to a workout. A lot of body builders, strength trainers, and other athletes prefer to take a pre-workout  supplement to boost stamina, bloodflow, energy, etc. Some of those pre-workout supplements are not all natural. All doTERRA products are natural which is appealing to me due to my interest in whole foods, natural wellness and healing. I was able to take MITO2MAX tablets before a full body circuit routine. Keep in mind again I used to be a skeptic of these types of supplements. If you read my blog post about caffeine you know what I'm talking about when I mention the "pump" feel is real! MITO2MAX did that for me! I could feel it working as I got into my workout. Thus proving to me that my money was well spent on this product! Here is the info. on the MITO2MAX supplement 

Mito2Max (Original Formula)

dōTERRA's Mito2Max is a proprietary formula of standardized plant extracts and metabolic cofactors of cellular energy. Mito2Max supports healthy mitochondrial function and aerobic capacity, and improves stamina naturally without the use of harmful stimulants. Use Mito2Max as a healthy long-term alternative to caffeinated drinks and supplements for increased energy and vitality.

 https://www.mydoterra.com/ShoppingCart/index.cfm?FuseAction=CategoryShop&CategoryID=621

My promise to you is that I'm giving you my cold hard truth about this line of supplements. doTERRA has proven to work for me and I would recommend this to anyone that is interested in natural wellness, natural remedies, and/or natural supplementation. 

I use other oils/oil blends from doTERRA for cleaning (LEMON and WILD ORANGE), wellness for my kids when they have a cold (oil blend BREATHE),  Disinfecting the office, cuts, or laundry (oil blend OnGuard in oil form), and much much more! 

Again this is all my testimony on the doTERRA products. I am writing this blog to share the good news! Please be encouraged to try some of these products! If you need more information on such supplements or oil blends please contact me! 

Thank you ALL! Happy Memorial Day!

ASHLEIGH N. SEELY, RDH

        

 

always thirsty never satisfied

Human nature tells us to never be satisfied. As Americans we drive the best cars, have the best food, water, and homes. Most of us have jobs that sustain our way of life. Too often we are bombarded by the constant pull to upgrade to the latest and greatest smart phones, laptops, GPS systems, etc.This type of living can be somewhat consuming unless there is a re-route to how we go about our daily lives.

There must be areas where we can use such attitudes to our advantage. How about we use it to the body's advantage? What would health look like if we were always thirsty for fitness and nutrition. What would we reach if we were never satisfied with our performance?

To be complacent is to stop on a plateau, never to go down or back up. Who wants to stay where they are at? I do not want to stay the same. Life is ever changing. Life is real. Our bodies are our temple. Progress is our driving force.Stay thirsty and keep the satisfaction bar higher than you can reach. You won't regret it.

Food for thought

Coffee

Did you wake up needing a little boost this morning? Our neighbor's dog barked ALL night long. Naturally I am a light sleeper and wake up to the sound of a pin drop, so lets just say I did NOT sleep well. This morning I managed to press the snooze button on my alarm 2x before I decided to shut if off completely. The first thing I did upon getting out of bed was kiss my husband before making a mad dash for the coffee pot. He of course already had it brewed and ready because he can go through an entire pot alone in one day.

How much is too much?
There have been countless studies on the effects of caffeine. Remember when there was a push against caffeine? Now some reports state that coffee can aid in the prevention of type 2 diabetes, it can enhance athletic performance, and it has even been thought to prevent Alzheimer's, depression, and skin cancer.

The old saying "too much of a good thing can be a bad thing," probably rings true for coffee. It is not recommended to drink a pot a day! 1 cup per day is my usual dose of caffeine but on occasion I indulge in 2 cups depending on if  I let the first cup get cold before I get to finish it!

It was not until recently that I tried drinking caffeine before a workout. The "pump" is real! Many athletes such as bodybuilders take a dose of caffeine before a workout to provide the body with a natural boost. This boost is due to caffeine's antioxidant properties that release fatty acids into the bloodstream which allows for the body to burn those fatty acids for energy (see article below). The actual "pump" is most likely from the Theobromine found in coffee that acts as a vasodilator, which means the blood vessels widen, providing more oxygen and nutrients to the muscles.

Check out more information on the benefits of caffeine to see if there is reason for you to jump on the coffee train! Research shows many good properties. Coffee has become part of my daily routine. Believe it or not, the benefits most likely out weight the negative effects.

See the article here to get info. On my above claims.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/17/coffee-health-benefits_n_4102133.html



Here is an article taken directly from sciencedaily.com



New research has brought us closer to being able to understand the health benefits of coffee.

Monash researchers, in collaboration with Italian coffee roasting company Illycaffè, have conducted the most comprehensive study to date on how free radicals and antioxidants behave during every stage of the coffee brewing process, from intact bean to coffee brew.
The team observed the behaviour of free radicals -- unstable molecules that seek electrons for stability and are known to cause cellular and DNA damage in the human body -- in the coffee brewing process. For the first time they discovered that under certain conditions coffee can act as an antioxidant, a compound found in foods that helps stabilise free radicals.
The findings, published in PLOS ONE, will lead to a deeper understanding of the brewing process, as well as the potential health benefits of coffee.
Chief Chemist of Illycaffè, Dr Luciano Navarini, approached Monash physicist Dr Gordon Troup, School of Physics and Astronomy, and his team in 2012 to conduct the research using state-of-the-art EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) Spectroscopy.
"Dr Troup was one of the first scientists to discover free radicals in coffee in 1988 and so it made sense for Illycaffè -- a ... coffee roasting company actively involved in coffee research -- to collaborate with Dr Troup and his team on this significant piece of research into free radical and antioxidant behaviour in coffee," Dr Navarini said.
"The most important aim of this research was to better understand the development of stable free radicals during the roasting process and the possible influence exerted by developed radicals on the well-documented coffee antioxidant properties. We also wanted to evidence possible coffee constituents as a source of antioxidant activity."
Dr Troup worked with a team of researchers including Monash alumnus Dr Simon Drew from the University of Melbourne, who carried out the spectroscopy at the University of Melbourne.
"Our research studied both the Arabica coffee bean itself and what happens to its stable free radical and antioxidant properties during the brewing process," Dr Troup said.
"The findings provide a better understanding of the potential health benefits of coffee, as well as a deeper knowledge of the roasting process -- ultimately leading to the highest quality cup of coffee."