I keep talking about living my passion while having time and financial freedom. I was lucky enough to have been told that my services were no longer needed at my last corporate job. Okay– in layman’s terms I was laid off. Now for most people there are a number of emotions that run through them. When I heard those words, my boss was expecting tears OR anger. I took a deep breath and said what does this mean’ Is today my last day. I should have taken a picture his face was PRICELESS!!! Now let’s face forward to me going home and telling my husband. My husband’s response — you hated that job it’s time you finally did something you love.  Got to love him! He knows how to kick my butt and motivate me to take action.

So for the past few years I’ve been stringing a bunch of jobs together, but now I’m ready to scale it back and create revenue that won’t require me to always be present to deliver the services. I’m also looking for away to be able to travel with my husband without having to shuffle the world around to make it happen.

Today’s blog post is all about how will I make money.

1. I have been wanting to create a digital product for YEARS. Yes, years it’s time for me to get off my butt and take ACTION! Here I’m putting it out there. By the end of 2013 I will have 1 information product. My plan is to have the following.

• Clean eating recipe book
• 12 week workout plan including nutrition

2. I love helping people achieve their fitness goals. I want to continue to coach clients, both in an online way and by phone.  Ideally I’d love to do a 2x year women’s fitness and wellness retreat.

3. For years people have asked me what products I use, I want work with different manufacturers to be able to showcase the best products to my clients. These health and wellness clients will help me the achieve their goals.

Now here’s a fourth dream goal that will take a little time for me, but I’d love to start speaking in front of large groups.

As part of my 30 day blog challenge was asked to ask to take a look at companies and/or brands that I’d admire. Well, that was hard to narrow it down. Well I’ve narrowed it down to 3. One site is in my space. I like how she’s organized her site and how she’s presenting her information. It’s very simple and it’s easy for the visitor to find information and the visitor also knows where to go on the site as well as what she stands for. The site I’m referring to is Wellness Mama. What I have learned from this site and what I plan to implement into my site is clearing up my message and making sure folks know what I’m about and how to easily find information.

The other brand that I admire is Gary V. He took over his family’s wine business with a goofy You Tube video show. I and many others love it becasue he showed his authenticity. He was a REGULAR guy talking about how regular people would talk about wine. Take a look. Some say he’s a little over the top. I think Jim Cramer from Mad Money is over the top =). Gary is just real and honest. Got to say that’s my style. My take away from Gary is 2 fold. 1. I must step from behind the computer and in front of the camera and 2. I must convey to folks my authenticity. Yes, it may be real, but it’s honest and comes from a place of love and respect for helping meet your goals. 

The third brand I admire is the blog challenge that I’m currently doing. her name is Natalie, but calls herself the Suitcase Entrepreneur.  I love it as one of my goals is to be able to work from anywhere I want provide a I had an internet connection, a laptop, cell phone and/or land line. This 30 day blog challenge is really forcing me to commit to taking daily actions in my business and I love it!! I’m also using this blog challenge as a way to have an idea and follow through until completing. This is HUGE FOR ME.

Today’s post took me a little longer than normal, but I got it done. Yeah me!!

Yesterday in my blog challenge we were asked to come up with goals for the next 30 days. That was challenging, but the most challenging part of it for me was taking it to the next step. You see I’m awesome with coming up with ideas, but sometimes  I struggle to take the next step OR the next step overwhelms me OR I get side tracked by something else. Well not this time! I’m focused and committed to making my dreams come true by the end of the year.

Action is the foundational key to all success.
Pablo Picasso

I’m not sure about you, but sometimes we just get stuck in our habits and patterns that we can’t seem to break free! Well. I’m ready to break free. My mission to help women embrace their strength and their power. I feel like I can no longer contain it. It’s time for it to come out!!

Today’s challenge was to come up with 3 tools that will help you stay on track. Here are my three tool:

• Time management — purchased a book that I can track my daily to dos. I’m also finishing reading and immediately begin in-acting The 7 Minute Solution. I will also block time in my schedule DAILY to devote to marketing and promoting my business.

• Meditation —  I need to learn to sit quietly.  I will use my Ipod and set a time for 5 minutes. I have index cards of mantras that I will repeat to help me grow my belief in growing my business and helping my clients achieve their goals. I will continue to read my Daily Book of Positive quotes to help center me and keep my thoughts positive.My affirmation: I confidently go after success!

• Plugging in — I will listen to 3 podcasts/week. This time instead of listening I will take any tips or techniques and find a way to implement them. I will also get back to daily posting on Facebook and Twitter.

Apply yourself. Get all the education you
can, but then, by God, do something.
Don’t just stand there, make it happen.
Lee Iacocca

The first thing that comes to my mind is that song — Give me three steps, give me threes steps mister, give me three steps towards the door …… Now you can take the three steps toward the door to be positive or negative. I take it to be positive. As the saying goes when one door closes another one opens. My taking 3 steps toward the door is positive.  To move me closer to that other door and the life I want to lead here are the 3 things I must do!

1. Develop my 90 day — this means getting it out of my head and putting it in writing. This means mapping out what I need to get purge to make room for what I truly want my life to be.
   • Part of my plan will be to become a better and consistent blogger
   • Build a community of women
   • Develop an information product
   • Track and log all the ideas in my head
   • Create a clean eat recipe database
   • Set the ground work to become a fitness speaker
2. Get clear about my health — right now I’m going through some health challenges and I really to make sure that I make the decisions that will help me long term. Nothing to be worried about they tell me I’ll live a nice long life.
3. Have a daily plan — I find that when I map out my day the night before I feel focused and productive. They say it takes 21 days to make a new habit. So.. I’m going to give myself 90 days to really burn it in.

So.. what are your three steps. What you do you need to purge to make your dreams come true”

Today is all about how we can mix work with play. What an interesting concept!! This is so timely because one of my mentors told me I needed to CHILL out! That I was working to hard and needed to find a way to mix business with pleasure. That comment made me take a big step back!! I didn’t know where to begin, so this blog posting is quite timely.  I’m going to treat this blog post today like an interview. Kim I want to you close your eyes and visualize your perfect day.

1. How would you spend it’ I’m a sucker for the ocean. Ideally I would love to wake with the help of an alarm clock. I would go outside and with a hot cup of coffee and just take in the morning. I know that they say you shouldn’t read the paper, but it helps to ground me. I find that when I read the paper it’s not about the fire, murders and bad things, I really gravitate towards the human interest, science and okay a little entertainment news. The main thing is really all about just sitting out and breathing in that ocean air.  Once my morning is complete I’d head out to the gym. Then I’d head back and start my work day. Once my work is complete I’d head back outside and watch the sunset — I love watching the colors and how they vary from day to day. It’s just so fascinating to me.
2. With whom’ I envision myself surrounded by friends who share my vision, make me laugh and push me to better than I think I could possible be. Of course my husband would be with me, but we both know that if we spend to much time together it would make us crazy –LOL =)
3. Where would you be’ As I’ve mentioned I LOVE warm weather!!! Ideally I’d be in a place that I can be outside enjoying warm weather. With that said, I could be somewhere where I wear a light jacket or fleece, but certainly not wearing a hat, scarf and gloves!
4. Would you be working, playing or both’ My day would a combination of both. One of my clients said it best everyday would be a Saturday! You know where you might have some things to do in the mornings, but then the rest of the day is YOURS!!! The challenge as I mentioned earlier is to just relax and not feel like I need to ALWAYS be moving!
5. What does that smell, look and feel like’ They say that if you are doing something you love you are in the “flow”. My goal through this blog challenge is to really discover “my flow”. Over the past few years, I’ve done stuff for money. Now..I want to pay attention to what I do that makes me get into the flow. So.. my day looks and feel relaxed, I’m not anyone’s else time schedule or agenda. I’m working on projects that make me happy and while I’m working on them I lose track of time. The part of my day is really make sure I have blocks where I’m not watching the trying to squeeze in project into bits of time. I truly believe that’s what hurts my flow. As I lose my rhythm and its hard to get it back.

Kim, now that we got the personal thoughts of your day, let’s talk about your business.  Contemplate how a business fits into your perfect life.

• What kind of work do you do’ My business is a  combination of online and telephone coaching. I’m also working on creating easy to make clean eating recipes. One of the outcomes of my business is also recommending and sharing products that would be beneficial for my clients.
• Who are your customers’ My clients are busy moms and working women over forty who are looking to get their groove back.
• How much time would you spend in your business’ In any given day, I would love to spend 4 hours working in my business and another 2-4 hours working on my business. Now here is the distinction.  In my business is doing the hands on work, actively coaching clients, writing programs, responding to emails, putting together information products, and marketing my business. Working ON my business would be meeting with business partners, attending conferences, marketing, attending networking events.
• What hours would you work, ideally’ I find I’m most awake between 11 and 4 and then get another burst around 8pm. 

This is day 4 of the my blog challenge, today is all about location independence. Let me just say I’m a SUCKER for warm weather. Once the the temperature hits 70 or higher I can soak it all in like all. At times I think I’m a battery just to get my dose before the long hard winter. Here in New England winter typically lasts about 7-8 months.

In my ideal world, I would be able to pick up my business and have it anywhere I have an internet connection and cell reception.
I would love to chase the sun as soon as it got too cold here in New England I’d move South or West. Even if its for a few weeks, just to recharge my sun batteries.

Now I don’t want my current clients or potential clients think that my work ethic will suffer. In fact, it will excel. I find when I’m in with nature I’m much more creative and energized to work.

I truly believe that if you are where you love your work life and regular life will thrive.

3 tsp high olive oil
1/2 cup pine nuts
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 bags (12 oz total) fresh spinach
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
dash red pepper flakes
2 cups fresh basil leaves, torn
optional: fresh grated Parmesan cheese

In a very large skillet, add cooking oil over medium-low heat.
Add pine nuts and cook, shaking skillet gently, until just starting to brown a little, about 2 minutes.
Add minced garlic and continue cooking, stirring constantly for 1 more minute.
Turn heat up to medium and add spinach, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Toss spinach around in skillet for about 3 minutes or until it just starts to wilt.
Add fresh basil leaves, tossing to combine, and continue cooking for 1 minute.
Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Grate fresh Parmesan cheese on top of each serving if desired.

Last month I had the opportunity to go on a trip of a lifetime. My husband and I have always wanted to go to Europe. Of course with so many countries. You always say which one. We narrowed down our choices to Spain, Italy and Greece. Now.. with only a limited amount of vacation time we had to choose wisely. As serendipity would have it. We got a mailing that talked about a Mediterranean cruise that went to all 3 of those countries. Once we got on the boat we were blown away!!! It was awesome.

Beside being pampered we discovered folks who were living the lifestyle that we’ve always dreamed. When we asked folks where they were from multiple times we heard they lived in multiple locations. These weren’t just retirees these were folks who were still working, but chose not to suck up winter anymore or just liked living in different parts of the US or another country. I was jealous that they found a way to make it work.  Imagine that. How awesome would that be to just pick up every few months and go someplace else. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had big dreams for awhile and just stuffed them in the closet. This cruise caused those dreams to come crashing out of the closet and asking begging me to revisit them and really look at how could I make my dreams come true NOW.

So.. here’s my dream — I want to create a coaching/mentoring practice where I inspire women to not fear fitness. I want to help them to learn how to include health and wellness into their lives without feeling guilty. I also want to help them to feel comfortable looking in the mirror without making judgements or comparing themselves and feeling inferior. I know it’s a tall order, but I think I’m up for the challenge. The best thing about my dream is that I can do it from anywhere’ All I need is a cell phone and a fast internet connection. Never do I want to udder the words —

• My boss won’t…
• I can’t take the time..

I also want to be able to pick and go whenever and I want and not be tied to anything specific. Right now my husband travels to Germany quite a bit and each time he goes I can’t tag along and that pisses me off, because I’m tied to being someplace.

I’ve told you my dream now tell me yours” What would you do if woke up tomorrow and could do anything. I know most of your the first thing out of your mouth would provide I won powerball. Let’s put do both, what would do if you won powerball and what would you do without.  Leave me comments below.

I started this blog in 2008 when I was actively competing as a way to keep me sane =). I also wanted to share the nutrition and fitness information I was getting by competing. I was lucky to find a fitness mentor who was patience with me and answered all my questions. I asked a TON!!! I also wanted to be able to do the same thing through my blog. I get it, I read the magazines and watch the shows and it’s CONFUSING!!! My goal was to bust myths and give clear information about health and fitness.  I also wanted to sprinkle in some of my own stories so you realized that even though I know stuff, I still struggle. To the left is my pic in January — let’s just say I had a great holiday season!! I’m human not an alien!! Yes.. I go on vacation and although I try my best I do give into temptation — aka ice cream and a few glasses of vino!!

Through the years my blog has evolved and my main audience are women over 40 who are looking to get their groove back. You know what I’m talking about. You’ve been a Mom, on the corporate treadmill or just haven’t had the time to take care of you!! One day you wake up and put your pants on and Mother of pearl they don’t fit. I wear gym clothes 80% of the time this past January when I went to put on my dress pants from August, boy was I in for a big surprise. So.. I get I understand when you just look at your body and you are like how the HELL DID I GET HERE!!  My hope is that my blog provides answers as well as solutions.

I just joined a 30 day blog challenge and over the next 30 days I’m going to not only challenge myself in the gym, but I’m going to challenge myself by writing a blog post for the next 30 days.

Thank you in advance for joining me on my adventure. Who knows where it will lead’

The Isagenix Celebration  Blitz is Coming to Boston!

For the past few months I’ve been sharing with you information about a health and wellness company that I have been working with for the past 2 years. They are a 10 year old company based in Phoenix and they are looking to expand here in the Greater Boston area.

Please join me on Thursday, August 29th at 8pm — Four Points Sheraton  Norwood, MA where executives from this company will be here to share product information as well as ways you can add this product line to your current offerings adding an additional revenue stream.

This is a free event. If you’d like to attend,

Don’t live in the Boston area” That’s fine, Isagenix will be hosting them all over the country!! Click to see a city near you.

Here we are can you believe we are already fast approaching the end of summer. You said you would get in the best shape of your life once Memorial Day hit and then again on the Fourth of July and here we are again fast approaching Labor Day and you are no closer to your goals. I don’t say this to make you feel bad, I say this because just like me you’ve looked in the mirror and you said to yourself one of the following statements.

• I’m ready to feel better from the inside out
• I’m ready to step out of your comfort zone to make a change
• I’m ready to find a plan that I can FINALLY stick with

I AM READY TO GET YOU THERE!!!!

SEPTEMBER “BACK TO SCHOOL” CHALLENGE

GOAL: TO Create healthy lifestyle changes that WILL last!!!

***BY ELIMINATING:
-unhealthy habits
-bad food choices
-unwanted inches and lbs
-relying on caffeine and artificial stimulants
-unhealthy cravings
-inconvenience of meal prep and planning

***THIS CHALLENGE Includes:
-challenge launch call
-weekly check-in
-meal guide
-workout guide
-online community support
-eating out guide
-healthy recipes

***Challenge runs from September 8th -October 5th
***CASH PRIZE for best transformation. Before/after photos must be submitted.

I’m ready to take the challenge.

The more complex a joint, the more likely it will get injured in sport. Knees are the most complex. Followed by the ankle and shoulder.

All the synovial joints rely on the integrity of their cartilage for healthy movement. Cartilage is the soft tissue layer on either side of the joint that cushions the ends of the bones. Bones have a slick of synovial fluid between them that lubricates the moving parts and enables them to slide freely.

Sports are tough on cartilage, continually creating rough spots and wearing it out. Sports are also tough on the synovial fluid. Whenever the intensity of your exercise causes the rate of wear and tear to exceed the maximum rate at which you can produce new cartilage and synovial fluid, you get inflammation, pain, and stiffness of the joints (2).

Synovial fluid, a complex mixture that contains a viscous gel.  Hyaluronic acid is the water-holding molecule.  One gram will hold more than a thousand grams of water.  Its gel structure retains the water that cushions nerves and joints, and also provides the shape and form to the human eye and skin. The harder you exercise the more hyaluronan you use. Your hyaluronan acid decreases with aging, and not collagen as frequently claimed, this is the main cause of wrinkles and fine lines.

Science has discovered natural substances that speed the body’s processes of renewing cartilage and synovial fluid, and inhibit their decline. Here are the best of those substances that research shows improve cartilage and lubrication of joints in controlled trials.

1. Collagen- Athletes certainly need the extra collagen in their joints, and should do everything that can maintain it. Athletes can preserve collagen levels in joints by eating a diet high in free-range poultry, wild fish, and shellfish or through supplementation (3-5). I
2. Glucosamine sulfate – Glucosamine taken as a dietary supplement increases glucosamine levels in joints (7-13).
3. Chondroitin sulphate – Taken as a supplement, chondroitin sulfate has been successful in increasing the quality and volume of new cartilage in numerous controlled trials over the last 20 years (13-17). Research recommends that athletes routinely use glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate daily.  Overall research recommends doubling normal doses of each daily when doing intense training, such as runs longer than 15 miles in preparation for a marathon, or the four weeks before a big game.
4. Hyaluronan- A major component of the synovial lubricating system of joints is hyaluronan. For 50 years, researchers have been using various formulations of hyaluronic acid to determine if it will increase production of synovial fluid. The big problem has been absorption, because hyaluronic acid is usually a whopping molecule, seemingly too big to pass through the gut wall.  So the usual therapy used with patients involves injecting the hyaluronan directly into the joints. Some oral formulations now offer small molecule hyaluronan to overcome the absorption problem.  Recent reviews of the evidence, however, indicate that even large molecule hyaluronan taken by mouth does increase synovial fluid in joints (7). Research recommends supplementation of hyaluronic acid for athletes.
5. Methyl-sulphonyl-methane (MSM) – To make new cartilage, the body also needs a lot of sulfur, which is likely why the sulfate form of glucosamine is the most successful in creating cartilage. Combined with alliums in the everyday diet to increase availability of sulfur, runners have had great success with sulfur especially for knee pain. If you are not getting sufficient alliums, that is onions, garlic, or leeks every day, then you will need to take daily supplements of basic sulfur as MSM.