"You are as happy as you
decide to be"

- Abraham Lincoln

Hello Fitness Friends!

I have always been reluctant to tell others what I think would be best for them. I only know what works for me and I stay disciplined to that plan of action. I am happy to share what I have learned over the years with you in hopes that you will take this information and insight and develop a plan of “what works” that suits your lifestyle.

As a wife and mother, keeping in shape is difficult with all the commitments, distractions and schedules that require nurturing and time. It’s easy to put yourself on a back burner. Work with these things, not against them. Find ways to mix your kids activities with your workouts and find other mothers that want to do the same.

I have always been the type of person that never allowed myself to be more than 5 lbs overweight, knowing that 10 lbs was really hard to lose. I use my workouts to release stress and improve my focus and thinking. Because I love to eat, I have always worked out. I never wanted to deprive myself of something I wanted to eat, therefore, that determined how much I worked out. I would be eating something and it will be so good that I would have ” just one more bite”. I still do that today. The difference is that I have found a way to eat everyday to keep my energy up and not gain weight that fits my lifestyle. Believe me, it’s not easy. Everything worth doing is worth doing well. Effort must be put into it. You can have hope and expectation, but you must put the energy into it to reap the rewards.

I believe you have to challenge yourself by setting goals. I have always participated in the goals that my children and husband have for themselves. I always talk to my husband and children about their goals, listened and supported them in their dreams. What I did not realize was that my children were growing up fast and that I was not setting goals for myself. I thought about the seasons of my own life.

Roger came to me one day and told me that we had been asked to do a photo shoot for Sports Illustrated. I had major anxiety! I was a 39-year-old mother of 4! Once I realized that this WAS going to be a reality, I decided I had to give it everything I had. My mind was set. I am not a risk taker, but have since learned that with great risk, sometimes comes great reward. The responses from that experience have been wonderful and I feel it was a turning point in my life. It’s nice to have a goal for yourself and to see it through. The goal kept me motivated and focused. Using common sense and my ability to balance my life, I achieved that goal.

You can look forward to frequent updates so make sure that you continue to check back!

Best Wishes,
Debbie Clemens