NO, my Life isn't Perfect!

YES I will certainly be the first to admit that my Life is certainly NOT perfect. I have had a few people recently tell me things like "Well your life seems perfect...." Or "If I had your life I could be happy too." or "Well I it was easy for you, but it's not easy for me, to get fit."

So I decide to Get Really real with Y'all and share with you a little bit of how my life is and how it's not as perfect as it may appear to be. I also don't want to make this post miles long, so I will try to just get to the point with out adding too much fluff. :)

I need to start back about 5-6 years ago. My hubby and I did some real estate investments that went very bad when the housing market crashed in 2006. Due to that in 2007 we decided to move to Florida for a "Fun" adventure and to try and sell our house. We figure it would last a year or so and we would come right back home (to the west coast).
WOW, were we wrong. we ended up stuck in a not so great situation, I had 2 small children, my husband worked over an hour each way from home and we had 1 car. So of course that meant I was stuck at home with NO neighbors for at least a mile and no close friends to come visit me or pick me up to spend the day with them.
We ended up getting the house we lived in foreclosed on as we couldn't afford $1,800 a month for the 3 bed 2 bath home we had built. We found ourselves relying on Food Stamps, we found ourselves with out power for a few days because my husband had lost his Job, due to the market crash.
I was depressed, Miserable, and pleading daily for months for the Lord to allow us to move back to Idaho.
I HATED my life in Florida.
I hated the Huge Bugs
I hated the Humidity
I hated that when around Holiday when ever we would invite some one to spend it with us so we wouldn't feel so alone, they would politely decline saying they were going to be spending it with their families.
I hated that my family was in Alaska and in 5 years Never once came to visit me, although I went to visit them twice.
I hated that I was stuck at a house with two little kids, whom were whiny and clingy and needy. Although I loved them very much, it was just tough to be a parent with no break.
I hated that my husband and I constantly fought over money because it never seemed we had enough
I hated that I felt so ALONE and with out close friends that I could talk with, and then if I ever did talk with any one I felt guilty because all I did is complain about my miserable life.

So I'm not going to explain the whole process of how we came to be back in Idaho, but It happened.
I did not want to be that same miserable person I was in Florida so when I moved I decided that I would put that life behind me, be grateful to be back closer to (my hubby's side) family and near a few friends, I had know before we moved.

But Guess what the week after I moved I found out we were pregnant with baby number three it took my husband 8 months to find a Decent job that could pay the bills, but by then we had borrowed thousands from friends and family just to not find ourselves homeless and starving, and I was feeling like I could never get out of the awful Pit of Despair we found ourselves in AGAIN.
Gosh  Darn it, WHY!!!!!
Why was this happening TO ME again. Even once my hubby did find work and I had the baby we still couldn't seem to make ends meet and were always behind and Still on Food Stamps. I was embarrassed felt like there was NO way out. This was simply going to be m life, living pay check to pay check. Arguing daily with my spouse and always screaming at my babies.

Then IN summer of 2014 my friend shared with me the opportunity to become a coach with Beachbody. She shared with me about making Personal development a part of my life EVERY day. Reading/ Listening to books that would teach me how to Rise above my circumstances and Stop letting LIFE Just Happen To Me.
I Learned that we Create Ourselves and our lives to be what WE want them to be. WE DO have control over our thought and thoughts become actions and actions become your LIFE.

So although I still someday's yell at my kids,my back still is in pain a few times a month, my hubby and I still get into nitpicking arguments, my house is rarely all clean, and we rent a house that we don't care for, I have Mounds of laundry on a weekly basis that NO one else with help with, unless I SCREAM and threaten, Dirty dishes that pile up, because my kids think they need a new cup every time they get a drink. And plenty of other not so perfect circumstances.

I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY, I choose to keep pushing on and working towards Creating the Life I want to live. Because Giving UP is not An option, I will NOT go back to the Sad depressing life I lived before.

So Why did I take the time to type all this up when I need to be running out the door on a Date night with my hubby to celebrate his Birthday Day???
Because I wish some one would have shared with me back when my life was a Sad depressed state that their is a WAY OUT! There is a path to follow that does not involve HUGE Major Changes in your mind shift, but causes HUGE MAJOR changes in your LIFE!!!

TODAY I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY!!!!

p.s. that doesn't mean there are not days i feel sad or life doesn't try to drag me down, but i choose not to allow those days to define me, Because I am a Happy Person. Oh and some days a I want a donut so I eat one.

Don't Be A Hater! Take The Steps To Make Your Own Health a Priority!!!

      I popped in my DVD to work out this morning and had this brief thought "I don't want to Push myself too hard today, I'm just not feeling it" Then almost as quickly as that thought came it was followed by this thought "I should be so Thankful that I am in a place now with my health that I can Push my self during my workouts. So I am going to give it my all today!" Then a Smile literally lit up my face as I started the workout. And any time it got tough and I thought I wanted to slow down or give up, I thought "NO WAY, I Can do this" and Smiled as I plowed through the move.

      For those of you who are not aware of my health history, I will briefly share a little about it. I had a bad back for many years and have been in and out of the chiropractors office since I was 16, spending thousands of $ on trying to find relief. Then after my second child I tried to get into running and biking thinking that if I got FIT my back wouldn't keep having so many issues. But instead I just pushed myself harder than I should and Hurt my knees pretty bad.

      So naturally I quit exercising daily and then I moved across the country and found out I was pregnant with my 3rd child, although I tried Not to put on a lot of weight I gained around 38lbs and I was already 10lbs over where I wanted to be. So after my youngest was born I found my Back and Knee problems even worse as Now I had the extra 30+lbs on me.
      My sister approached me about a fun Online Challenge Group that she was starting up with some friends, so I decided to join her and I found an online Yoga YouTube channel that I really enjoyed doing. But other than that, I couldn't even jog a mile due to the aches in my knees. So over 8 months I participated in these 6-8 week groups with her and did lose a few lbs and inches and was grateful for the health path they led me too. After joining her for several groups I began swimming at the the local YMCA, and after 3 months of that I developed serious Carpal tunnel pain, on top of the back pain and knee pain. I Felt Broken and UnFixable, BUT I wanted MORE, I knew there was More for me, for my Body, for my Health and I knew that I just had to FIND IT. I prayed diligently for a way to get Fit and Free of this pain and asked to be guided to that answer.
       I started utilizing essential oils and saw and felt a difference, so I decided this must be the answer and decided to form a business with two of my friends and went gung-ho on that and poured hours upon hours into starting a business from the ground up! I focused all my energy on getting it, a website up, advertising, creating products, etc...
      It was right in the thick of that when my friend reached out to me and shared with me information on Beachbody and what it could offer me, for my Health and as a business. I just couldn't focus on it enough to give it a second thought at that time. Although it intrigued me a lot. 
      After 4 months and getting the business underway I reached out to my friend and began asking more questions, as I was still desperate for Healing and Full relief from my knee pain, carpal tunnel, and back issues. I liked the answers she shared with me and Felt like "I have tried just about everything to get Fit/healthy and heal from all this pain, and it hasn't Fixed me yet, So Why Not give this a go. If it works, Great! If Not, no loss. I'll be where I am now." So I JUMPED and purchased a combo pack of Shakeology and a Pilates/Yoga Program called PiYo.
      Now I wish I could say it was cake walk from there on out, BUT it wasn't. It was a slow process that took many little steps forward and a few big steps backward. However over time my body slowly started to heal and the Shakeology allowed my body to get vitamins, minerals, and other nutrition that is was lacking. It helped me to cut my sugars and junk food WAY back and over the next 5 months my body got stronger and was able to accomplish exercises that I had not previously been able to do for many many years. 
      Today 18 months later I am so Thankful for the Healing and Support that being a part of Beachbody and Support Groups has offered me. I am Now a Beachbody Coach myself and love offering/inviting others to learn about Beachbody and what it could offer them as they begin their health journeys. 

      Today I was honestly Beaming with Appreciation as I completed my work out and I wanted to let you KNOW:
"Just because you may be in pain, or sick or have other health issues DOES NOT mean that you will never be healthy or Fit again. It simply means that you need to find the tools for YOU to get back at taking baby steps if necessary to get results."
     Are you Feeling at a LOSS and not sure how or what to do??? I remember being at that point too! 
Lets talk, and figure out if the tools I can offer through Beachbody and Me as your Coach are what you need to Get Results. 

Contact Me

How Can You "Really" Live Your Dream Life?

I really don't want this to come across as offensive or hurtful to anyone, please know that this comes completely from my heart. I want the same for you, to wake up "Living Your Dream" one day soon.

     This past weekend I was able to attend my Teams Retreat, that I worked diligently to earn. (I only paid the $66 in gas to get me to and from the Retreat, the rest was covered by my Coach) It was held in Jackson Hole, WY. Where the scenery was absolutely gorgeous (it's been over 12 years since I was there last) and filled my spirit with so much gratitude to our God for the Vast creations that he placed on this earth for our enjoyment. The friendship, and team building was so beneficial to me. Our food was Scrumptious when we went out to eat, and cooking together in our Condo brought me back to collage days and time spent cooking with my roomies. 

     I was able to sleep in a big, comfortable bed, with out any one to wake me up in the night or hubby pulling the blankets off me, or waking me up because I am putting my arm across his face *oops ;) I had a Bathroom to myself that was the size of my kids bedroom. and when I did put my make up on I didn't have my daughter wanting me to put it on her too (you know how much faster I can put on make up when it's just on me and not both of us? like 10 minutes) 

     I am blessed to have a wonderful Hubby and group of friends who were willing to take care of my children so that I could attend this event. So thank you to each of you who made this possible, I couldn't have gone with out knowing my kids were in good/safe hands.

     We started our first morning out by testing out the Sneak Peek of the New Beachbody program Country Heat!!! It's line dancing, and YES it does make you work up a sweat and feel your ab muscles working. We had some great laughs as most of us fumbled along trying to figure out the moves. But it was fun and a great way to bond as a team. "If only we looked that good, Bwahaha!"

     I was able to sit out in a small meadow with a pond on in front of us surrounded by aspen trees, and a gurgling stream behind us with many singing birds, while we planned out our next few weeks of business and gathered ideas from one another. 

     Then we got to go out into Nature and go on a mountain trail ride on the back of a horse, where we rode up the hill to the peak at 8,000ft. The View was so incredible, we could see 5 mountain ranges and way down below the snake river winding through the valley. My spirit was over flowing with gratitude and although my knees were killing me from riding, I felt lighter than air!!! 

     I have a Bad Fear of heights and parts of the trail were about 8" wide with a couple hundred foot drop on the side and a hill on the other side. I was wigging out when we first approached a part of the trail that was that way. But I was able to instead focus on the beautiful quit forest, that we had virtually to ourselves, aside from the critters that resided there and our horses. I learned that many times rather than Focusing on our Fears (what we are afraid of doing) we can focus on the benefits of conquering those fears and by "Not Looking Down" push past what we thought wasn't possible before.

      When we returned home after our Excellent dinner (BBQ, with Salad bar), and dessert (Hagen Daz ice cream) We walked around down town Jackson Hole, and check out some of the shops and just soaked in the awesome ambiance of it all. Once we returned home and checked in with our families and told them each about our wonderful horse ride through the mountains. We soaked our sore muscles in the Hot Tub and each shared * One Challenge we have overcome, *One thing we are most Proud of accomplishing in our life, and *what our Big goal is to accomplish in the next three years. Then it began down pouring on us and we had to Rush inside. Put on warm jammies and talk around the fire place until we were all to tired to force our eyes open any long and retired to bed. 

     I think the thing that struck me the MOST on this whole trip is "GOD Wants To Bless Us All." He wants us to be Happy and be able to participate in the awesome opportunities that await IF We Will Just Step Forward and WORK For Them. God put this opportunity to become a Beachbody Coach in front of me two years ago, and it took me a while to Realize this was a Good Choice for me and my family. But since I acted and began working to get my Health in order, showing others that the products and group support DO Work, our lives have changed, Very Much for the Better. 

      I want you to be able to HAVE all that I have and then some. I want you to know that this "Coaching" opportunity might be the vehicle for you to Reach your Dreams Too. But you wont know if you don't at least learn what it's all about. 

      So If you are reading this, and you have sincerely been praying and searching for a way to Break the corporate world cycle of earning more by putting in more hours at the office, then Please talk with me. I would be honored to go over how to get started, what a Beachbody coach does, and answer your questions. I won't Push you into it, if it's Right for you, you will Know and you will be ready to Join Me!!! If it's not for you, that's fine too, I know it's not for every one, or that timing may not be right for you at this time. 

     But if you are Ready NOW to begin working towards making "Your Dreams" a Reality and find yourself waking up one morning in awe... of your situation and the wonderful life you are living, Lets get you started.  

Contact Me Through My Wesbite

Do You Hate or Love Mothers Day?

Mother's DAY

I have wanted to share this from the moment I started doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen on Mother's day. But I have been busy and just now am getting the chance to sit down and write it out. 

So I hope and Pray that this will come out the way God wants it too and that it will make sense and NOT offend any one as that is certainly NOT my intentions at all. 

So Mother's DAY what do you think of when you think of that day?

Are you one who thinks: 

* Awe... No big deal, just another day of the week

* I expect my significant other to pick me out the prefect gift and help my kids do the same

*This is about celebrating my mom, not to worried about myself

*I have always wanted to be a Mom and haven't been able to yet, So I HATE this day

*I wonder what this day will bring, eager to enjoy what life presents you with

*Can every one just leave me the Heck alone today so I can have some much needed peace and quite 

*Do I really have to go to church and listen to all these talks about Amazing MOM's who my mom was nothing like and I am not anything like either

*a day out to eat, or spend shopping, relaxing, etc....

*I hated my MOM and feel like I am a sucky mother so why celebrate all these Perfect MOM's 

*Every one else seems to have the perfect day and Mine sucks, my kids don't listen, my spouse doesn't seem to notice it's even mothers day, and NOW I am angry!!!

*I have the Best Children, and spouse who cleaned the house last night, I woke up to breakfast on the table and Flowers and gifts, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the day will be like

*Could we just skip today, as you pull the covers back over your head

So my morning started out with my at my bedside asking the Lord to allow this day to go Beautifully, to allow my kids to fight less and to actually listen to me, so I didn't have to yell after the 5th time of asking them to get their church clothes on. I asked that I would have a cheerful and thankful attitude for whatever might come my way and that I wouldn't EXPECT anything grandiose so i wouldn't be let down. I Thank my Heavenly Father for allowing me the privileged of raising 3 of his children as my own on this earth. 

Then I walked down stairs to get breakfast started before we rushed off to church at 9am and on the way down my hubby great me with a fruit smoothie he had made me to give me breakfast in bed. I took it told him thanks but I was going to go down and make a full breakfast for everyone, and I sipped on it while I began making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip pancakes and eggs. DeLish Right!!!

Well after only 15 mins the Yelling began, the younger two kids were arguing, my oldest wouldn't get moving and I needed help getting the food finished and table set if we were going to eat before we left for church. (mind you I have not showered, dressed or done hair or make up yet) Gah.... I did not want to be a Yelling Mother on Mothers day. What kind of example of a GOOD mother was I, NOT so Much of one a all at that moment. 

So I tried to calmly express that I didn't want to raise my voice and to please hurry so that we could all enjoy breakfast together, things calmed a bit and the kids came down and began assisting and we were able to RUSH to eat before running out the door to church with 10 mins to spare when we arrived, Yahoo!!!!

So at Church, Yep the talks were about others who had amazing examples set for them from their Mothers, and at first I thought Yes don't we all wish our mom's could be so perfect, but then almost as quickly as that thought crossed my mind I thought, I am sure that their mothers also Yelled, and got frustrated over them not doing what was asked, but that they just chose to share the positive experiences that their moms showed them, so I was grateful that I learned from the messages shared, my Kids will remember what we do with them the most. So as long as we do not YELL, at them as often as we read, play, laugh or dance with them It's OKAY, that we mess up (as long as we keep trying) 

Then our Relief Society meeting was about how Motherhood is a natural instinct in all women, and that we do NOT need to physically bare a child to have the ability to Mother, Nurture and Be an example of what a Mother should be. We can reach out to those who's home life maybe less than Ideal and bring them in under our wing and love, them. Show them that they do have some one who cares about what they do in life. and even if we have our own children we still can reach out and love others, as SO many in this world do not have that blessing of some one they can call "MOTHER"

Then we had Cheese cake for all the Women in our church 18+ in age and visited for a while and that was so nice. 

Okay so now fast forward to us driving home, I say to the family, I invited a friend over to dinner (her hubby is oversees with the military right now) so she wouldn't be alone for Mother's day. So could you each help as soon as we get home, and I assigned out tasks that need to be taken care of to make the afternoon flow more simply (and all the responsibility dumped on me)

So I came in and got things stared while others were changing and then I remembered that I needed to call my mother before her Church began, so I got on the phone with her, I noticed while I was on the phone that none of what I had asked be started on was being tended too. So after 30 mins I told my mom I needed to get off the phone with her and go figure out why nothing was getting done. (Our kitchen was a disaster from the night before and breakfast and there was NO way I could cook dinner in it)

I Promise I have a Point to all this rambling, please keep reading

I go out of the room I was in to find the kids watching a movie, then I walk upstairs to find my husband Napping!!! YEP I am sure you guessed it I was ANGRY, Hurt, Disappointed and Started Yelling Again!!! "Why On Mother's day do you all seem to act worse and less caring about me than every other Dang day of the Year. Why can't you just do what I freaking ask you to do instead of make me do it all" "It's ONE day, ONE Flipping Day a year that you guys should Respect me and help out with out being screamed at first!!!" 

I totally screamed that, except it was probably worse (but I don't want to go there) so I stormed back down stairs into the kitchen and began Cleaning it, (the dishes were piled up because Layne hadn't unloaded, that's one of his assigned chores) for 2 days so there were many piled up dishes and now the sinks and other counter were filled too. I began washing the dishes by hand and Asked my daughter to take a photo to document "How Crappy my Mothers Day was!" 

But then while I continued to scrub the dishes feeling sorry for myself my heart was soften and I began thinking Know what, I have things Pretty darn good in life. So What that my kids didn't help out right away or my hubby went and took a Nap. I have a Husband who loves me and I love him. I have Smart, wonderful children whom I love and they love me (or at least they tell me they do daily, multiple times) I have a home that I can cook in to mess up the kitchen so that I have to Clean. I Have the Gospel to teach me that It's OKAY that I am not perfect in this life, that is what the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for. I am grateful I have a friend that want's to come spend Mother's day with us.

So then I began thinking more about WHY I was so hung up on Not feeling things were good enough on Mothers Day and I came to this conclusion:

"I was Comparing myself, children, husband, and circumstances to others. I was EXPECTING things to go the way I had heard others Mother's Day's in past years had gone. I was wanting my Family life to be a compilation of all those wonderful stories and images I have seen over the years of how others Celebrate Mothers Day. And how they most likely left out all the negative things that may have occurred through the day as well." 

LADIES, We have to Stop Comparing ourselves (or our lives) to Others Best selves (or highlights of their lives) The Devil wants us to be miserable like he is and he is really great at taking a day (Mother's Day) that was set a side to give thanks and show appreciation to our Mothers and making it all about "Me" day! Poor Me, Things didn't go as I Imagined, Expected or Had Hoped they would, so Now I am going to get down on myself, my family, and turn to Social media to express how Crappy this day went for me!

So I had some Good highlights about my day and some Really crappy ones as well, just like I am betting many of you experienced. 

To end the day once I got the kitchen fully cleaned I cooked a wonderfully delicious meal, and enjoyed it with my friend and our kids played great together after while we talked and painted our toe nails. Thanks Tiffany for being a good friend and helping to make my day Fun and filled with laughter.

In Conclusion, PLEASE Stop hating Mother's Day, Stop Expecting things to be perfect (we aren't perfect and neither are those around us) Stop Freaking out when Life isn't as Perfect as "Sally's facebook" Shows her life seems to be. Do NOT Judge her and be Mad at her or her spouse for sending a couple hundred bucks on her. Because we Have No idea what there Real Life (behind closed doors) is like and it's Not our Place to Judge or criticize. 

Instead Embrace the Fact that you were instilled with the ability to Nurture and Love others from Birth, and YOU are not dependent on others to make your day wonderful, YOU can Choose for it to be that way, or You can Choose to feel depressed, Angry, Hurt, etc.. by others actions. 

I Choose Going Forward on Mother's Day to Embrace it all, to LOVE that I am a Mother (even when my kids can't even pose for a dang picture, or help set the table) to Not Expect it to be some Glorious, Relaxing, Perfect Day, Because I live in Real Life not Television, and I sure hope you will choose to do the same. 

Thanks for Reading, I hope this showed you a different perspective than you may have considered before. 

Sherin Stark

I LIKE To Eat TOO!!!

I have seen several memes shared on social media lately like this:
Shows an image of an overweight person shoving french fries in their mouth and says: "I'd be Skinny, But I like to Eat" 
Or 
Shows an image of an over weight person drinking soda and says: "I thought about Going to the Gym today, But on the way I stopped to Grab a coke, and figured what's the point."
Another one, which is the one that prompted me to write this Blog post, went something like this:
again an overweight mom was pictured, with a thoughtful look and a thought bubble above her head read "I would like to be Fit, But I LIKE Food More"
I am Sad that People think that getting health means they have to Starve or Go With OUT foods they enjoy in order to be FIT. 
For so many years society has pushed the DIET "Eat strange foods you would never normally eat for 2-3 weeks, and drop 10lbs" or the Detox "Only Drink apple Juice for 3 days" that People are simple confused and scared to begin their health journey for fear it would: 
Be awful - tasty nasty, feel hungry all the time, etc...
Won't last - even if you release 10lbs during those 3 weeks it always comes back 
Be too inconvenient - way to much planning prepping and going out of their way to make it work

GUESS WHAT?!?!?

Beachbody does NOT believe in that either, because NON of those things do work, long term.

I as a Beachbody Coach have been taught That rather than letting FOOD Master YOU, You Learn How to Master the Food, and make it Fuel your Body.  

It may seem scary and different at first, but the wonderful thing about having a Personal Beachbody Coach "ME" is that I link arms with you and assist you along until you feel you can do it on your own. I do not Ever expect you to just figure it out on your own, or fend for yourself. I walk you through it, step by step, teaching you how to follow the 80/20 Rule, which states:
Eat Healthy/ Clean 80% of the Time so you can Indulge on the foods you want 20% of the Time!!!
So, Yes that means that we can still enjoy: 
A slice of cheese cake smothered in caramel
A Margarita 
A Plate of Nachos
A Dinner out of Fried food
A Milk shake 
and the list goes on.....
We learn how to USE food to nourish our bodies, and give them the energy, they need to preform all that's required of them. 

I also have Coaches on my personal team that battle with food addictions (They are real) and YET they have learned to Master Food and not It Master Them, So Can YOU!

If you have wanted to Know how to MASTER FOOD, but aren't sure where to start, or have started and stopped over and over again because you don't have the support or encouragement to keep going, Reach out to me, and I would be honored to assist you, and get you started on your way to Health!!!!

I want to Conclude with YES, "Skinny People" Also like to EAT, and NO we do not Starve ourselves or eat like birds. SO Please Stop using the excuse that you would like to Look Thinner BUT you Like your Food too much. It's Totally Just an Excuse!

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