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Transformation Fitness & Wellness

Life is about “AND”

When you take full ownership of your life, you realize a lot of things.

One of those things is that you are 100% in control of yourself, your time, and what’s possible in your life.

Too often we adopt the belief that we “can’t have it all” or that we “must choose.”

We must choose a successful career or raising a family.

We must choose between being a dedicated parent and taking care of ourselves.

We must choose family time or fitness.

The truth is that these are all lies.

There is no “either/or” when it comes to an overall successful and fulfilling life.

You can take incredible care of your body and health AND be a great parent/spouse AND have a wildly successful career.

You can have it all if you’ll let yourself believe it and create it.

So, wherein in your life do you believe you must choose?

What if you changed that belief? What would it look like if you could have it all?

Please hit reply and share. I want to know what’s coming up for you around this common fallacy!

Arin 

Your brain is watching…

When you resolve to do something, whether or not you actually follow through can have a profound impact both now and in the future.

You see, I believe that your brain is always watching.

If you stick to what you set out to do – lose weight, write a book, run a marathon – your brain starts to believe in you more and more.

But when you don’t follow through, the opposite occurs.

Your brain subtly begins to doubt you and your commitments.

It becomes easier to make and believe excuses.

It’s more likely that your ego will win, keeping you just where you are instead of progressing forward.

Would you prefer your brain to believe in you and support you with the right thoughts and beliefs?

Or will you train it to doubt you, almost inevitably keeping you stuck on big and challenging goals?

As always, the choice is yours.

Would love to hear your comments, thoughts, or experience with this!

Arin

Brussels Sprouts with Pepitas and Figs

Ingredients

2 lb. Brussels sprouts halved

5 tbsp. olive oil  

Kosher salt 

Pepper

1 tbsp. unsalted butter

1 c. pepitas

1/2 tsp. ancho chile powder

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground coriander

1 lemon

1 c. dried mission figs, quartered

Directions

Heat oven to 425°F. On large rimmed baking sheet, toss Brussels sprouts with 2 tablespoons oil and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Arrange cut sides down and roast until golden brown and just tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, in small skillet, melt butter and 1 tablespoon oil on medium. Add pepitas and cook, stirring occasionally, until pepitas are golden brown and begin to make a popping sound, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate and toss with chile powder, cinnamon, coriander, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

Finely grate 2 teaspoon lemon zest into large bowl, then squeeze in 2 tablespoons juice and whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add Brussels sprouts, figs, and pepitas, and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

Nutritional Information (per serving): About 285 calories, 17.5 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat), 9 g protein, 275 mg sodium, 27 g carb, 8 g fiber

Are you playing this dangerous game?

It’s December again if you can believe it!

Time for family, friends, parties, and reflection on the past year.

But I want to highlight something that I think is incredibly important…

If you aren’t where you want to be in terms of your health and fitness right now, and you’re waiting for January 1 to get started, there is a 93% chance you’ll be getting ready to start your journey all over again on January 1, 2022.

Let me explain…

When we put off change and tackling goals, it sets us up for almost certain failure (93% chance according to research). That’s right, 93% of people will not achieve a goal they set.

And given that my mission is to help people push past goals and truly transform, this kills me!

I know you’re probably thinking “but things are just too crazy during the holidays!”

Or “this year is different – we’ve had a pandemic!”

As you may have heard me say before, that’s simply a false story that far too many people believe.

If you’re serious about making a change in any area of your life, it’s never about tomorrow.

It’s about the choices you make moment to moment that really count.

Putting things off until January is an extremely dangerous game that almost guarantees failure.

So, if you’ve had January 1 in your head to take action, throw that out right now, hit reply, and let me know you’re ready.

Be in the 7% that achieve their goals and true transformation.

I can’t wait to support you.

Arin

 

Hardwiring

Earlier this week I wrote about the hardwiring of our brains and how it shapes us.

Today I want to talk more about how we rewrite this hardwiring we have.

This is not easy work to do but I feel is very relevant with the increase in anxiety from this year at hand. When I talk to most people, they are making it through this tough time, but they have increased stress, not sleeping as well, constant worry and I want to offer some help.

Also, I don’t think everyone realizes what they carry around all day long.

We do a simple technique in our gym where we belly breathes, but I tell you most struggle to truly breathe.

This comes from anxiety, stress, worry, self-doubt, I could go on.

This is also a conditioned response and the pandemic only accelerated it.

So, what can we do to start the process to rewire our brains?

First, we need to identify the talk tracks we play in our heads.

If you are constantly worried about something for example lets use the broad statement:

I don’t know if I can get through this pandemic. (this is level 1, I can’t negative acceptance and the most harmful)

This is a very negative fear-driven response.

We have to reframe this statement in order to rewrite it in our brain and BELIVE the statement to be true.

We have to move this statement into level 2 which is Recognition and need to change. I need to get through this pandemic.

This level gets us to the I should or ought to…

Level 3 is the Level of the decision to change.

I am no longer worried about getting through this pandemic. (this statement already feels better)

This level of programming makes you want to go for it.

Then the last level, level 4 is the universal affirmation, I am getting through this pandemic. I will get through this pandemic well.

Look inward each day and notice the talk tracks you play to yourself.

If you constantly say,

I never, I won’t, I can’t… let’s rewrite that. We don’t have to go all the way to level 4 and say I am but drop it to a level you feel comfortable with.

I have personally used this rewriting for years.

Specifically, when things get challenging and I want to cower to old behaviors or thoughts this is where reprogramming is extremely beneficial.

When I had our daughter Lyvia, I listened to affirmations daily about her birth and I finally believed in my desired outcome, even though I had tons of baggage from the past I was able to rewrite my thinking.

I have used this with public speaking. I used to say, I could never do that, I could never go on stages and speak in front of several people and now speaking on a stage of thousands is fun, exciting and I genuinely look forward to it.

Test it out. Like anything it has to be done daily…kind of like bathing. 🙂

Take care,

Arin

Pork Tenderloin with Quinoa Pilaf

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. olive oil, divided

1 clove garlic, thinly sliced

1 1/2 c. quinoa

4 c. baby spinach (about 5 oz)

2 small pork tenderloins (about ¾ lb each), cut into 4 equal pieces

Kosher salt and pepper

2 tbsp. white wine vinegar

2 tbsp. orange marmalade

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

1/2 c. pomegranate seeds

Directions:

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in medium saucepan on medium. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until toasted, about 2 minutes. Add quinoa and cook per package directions. Fluff with a fork and fold in spinach.

While quinoa cooks heat a skillet on medium. Add remaining tablespoon oil, season pork with ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper, and cook until browned on all sides and an instant-read thermometer registers 145°F, 12 to 14 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, marmalade, and mustard. Transfer pork to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Discard any oil left in the pan. Add mustard mixture to skillet and simmer until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Brush on pork.

Slice pork, serve over quinoa and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.

Nutritional Info: About 545 calories, 16 g fat (3 g saturated), 45 g protein, 410 mg sodium, 54 g carb, 6 g fiber