exercise | Piloting Paper Airplanes

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Cheers,

Larissa

Some days (weeks?) I just need that extra “oomph.” Something that pushes me from a blah day to a successful day. Just ask my husband; last night I was a whiny, mopey, defeated mess of a person. For no particular reason – or actually, maybe a lot of reasons, but none specific to the day. So I got to thinking…

What makes me feel powerful?

I’m looking for tangible things. Things I underestimate, but that make a big difference. And I settled on a few that automatically take my day up a notch.

The power of sexy shoes.

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I’m talking a good pair of sexy heels, not the kind that make you wan to cut your toes off. The kind that make my legs look so good I want to show off all day. Never underestimate the power of some good heels.

Screeeeech, stop, back up.

Am I talking about heels? Me?? The woman who for a long time has said I don’t like them and wear them never–only–on–blue–moons? Yup. Because somewhere in my adult life I’ve learned the power of good shoes. For so long I collected hand–me–downs from friends. Now I have 4 pairs of comfortable memory–foam heels in good colors – black of course, nude, red and silver – and man, do I feel good with a cute dress and some sexy skinny jeans and those heels.

And seriously… some days my comfortable & sparkly flats are just what I need. I have 3 pairs in black, silver and gold that add the perfect little “somethin somethin” to a more casual outfit.

silver toms {PilotingPaperAirplanes.com}

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The power of a green smoothie.

Woah, 180 here, but bear with me. Nothing makes me feel better than a fresh green smoothie. Like honestly, it’s magic to my insides. It settles my stomach, replenishes protein and energy, keeps me hydrated and gives me just enough sweetness to take the edge off those give–me–chocolate–before–I–poke–someone’s–eye–out moments. (We generally keep a bag of chocolate chips in the fridge as Jon preferred to keep his eyes).

I generally make a pretty big smoothie batch and put some in the fridge for the next day. I also pre–wash and cut all my veggies so I don’t have to mess with that every time. Keeps me from being too lazy to make a smoothie.

The power of a good run.

This is an obvious one. I’m a runner, I like to run, I go for runs and feel better, done.

Running is just as much a mental things as physical. Once I get those endorphines flowing, the muscles burning and some “me” time in the fresh air, I feel great. Most of the time…. there are always bad run days, or days I just can’t make my goal distance/speed. But so long as I don’t feel guilty about those runs, I still reap the benefits.
The power of REST.

Ahem. Let me climb onto my soap box and put on a mom hat. Go to bed! Set a bed time and stick to it. Preaching to the choir here, but I’ve even gone to bed early several nights in the last week. Makes a huge difference.

Another part to this: rest days. Yes, I’ve seen all the graphics and Pinterest images about “No days off” or “Sweat every day” and every time I just think how dumb that is. (If I’ve used one in my motivation posts, apologies; I usually stay away, but it might have snuck in – side note: snuck? sneaked? My grammar/editor/journalist friends need to help me out. They both sound funny.) Anyway, I’m still on that box, so listen up. Use those rest days and take care of your body. Plus, think of all the reading/TV watching/shopping/general interneting/sleeping you can do?

Sweat every day UnderArmour {PilotingPaperAirplanes.com}

This is just silly.

The power of living without guilt.

I had a dinner work event on Monday, during which I ate more than normal and had a few (*counts fingers in uncertainty*) glasses of wine. It was fun, but I came home feeling bloated. Total fat moment. I said to Jon, “You don’t have a thin wife tonight” and something about “undoing my progress” *grumble grumble fall into bed.*

What I got was sweet “But I have a beautiful wife!” followed by a stern talking to about how I don’t get to feel guilty about just one meal/day/weekend/etc. And he’s right. Not only is that guilt completely unfounded, it doesn’t help my mind or body at all. It just makes things worse.

Instead, I need to take a moment to thank my body for being healthy and strong enough to bounce back. Maybe I even need to apologize to my intestines for the extra work I’m asking of them. And then move on sans guilt. That’s powerful right there.