Getting Real & Back to Basis

March 1, 2010 at 4:03 a.m my entire world turned upside down. With the loss of my cousin, I thought that something special had come to an end. Little did I know that it was just beginning: of something wonderful.

I always deal with stressful situations by trying to take care of those around me. In essence, I DON'T deal. This time was different. I couldn't shake it.  While I did focus on taking care of my family, when I was alone I was beside myself. My thoughts would go to his his parents (my Aunt & Uncle), his brothers ( my cousins) and his lil' nephew that he never got to meet.  I would just sit and cry. I cried, not for Curtis because he was free: of pain, of stress; but for all the opportunities lost, for all the moments that I wont have with him. I mourn because I wish I had been there more. I wish I'd taken the time to sit with him more, talk to him more, laugh with him more, tell him that I love him more. As I look back on my times with Curtis, I realized that MOST of them were with me in a hurry. "Yack yack yack...okay cuz, imma holla at you later."  Only time I was really able to sit with him was when my sister would download music for him and he'd sit across the kitchen table, and we'd laugh and talk. I spent more time leaned halfway in his car with him than anything else. One of my favorite memories of him was at my wedding. Cuz was in pain but had his swag on. :-) White shirt, black pants, cane~In as much pain as he was in, he came to MY wedding. I was honored.

I am sad to say that the most time I spent with him was in the final weeks leading up to his death. I can't help but feel that I was a day late and a dollar short. NOTHING was more important to me than being there for those moments. In the beginning, never in my WILDEST dreams did I think Curt would leave us. He had come back from complete organ failure 10 years previous. So a little pneumonia? Pish Posh. But 1 week in, my optimism began to vanish. But then a few days later, he would be doing well. That rollercoaster went on for four L  O  N  G  ass weeks. When he passed, I must admit that there was a sense of relief. He wasn't in pain. He was finally able to be at peace. But my pain and mourning, as I stated, was for us left behind to live life without him.

Ok. So now I am rambling. The lesson: Even in the midst of so much loss, it took a really good friend to remind me of all the things I had to be thankful for.  One of those things was that Curtis WAS gone. At first I was pissed. THANKFUL? Are you kidding?? Then, I understood. Yes. Thankful: he is not in pain. Thankful that I was able to be there. Thankful that I had him in my life. Thankful for the lessons I have learned with his passing: how important my family is; how lucky I am to have an awesome support system of friends; how working hard all the time isnt the way to go~need to spend more time cultivating my friendships and relationships with others. To make more time for fun. To continue to hug and kiss my sons and tell em everyday how much I love them.

In the midst of all this tragedy, lessons were learned. Lessons to live by. I hope that everyone who is reading this will make a vow to tell the people that you care about how you feel about them, often. Remember the things that you have to be thankful for: for me, the list is long. Each of you are one thing. Then I have my kids, my family, a career that I enjoy, a job, a place to live, food in my fridge, and LOTS of memories to carry me through.

It felt good getting back to working out today. After my intense cardio session, as I attempting to do my cool down, I burst into tears. All those pent up emotions that I had been pushing down came out. ABSOLUTE stress relief.

I wish you all love, peace and happiness. I wish us all a great 2010 because it has definitely gotten off to a shitty start, but that just means that it can only get bettter. Until next time,
Yours in Health, Fitness, and Wellness,
Karen

Reaching my Goals for 2010

2009 was a year of ups and MANY downs. 2010 can only get better. I am not perfect and have my own problems. So 2010 will be my year of "Getting My Shit Together". Here is my plan:
BUSINESS & HELPING OTHERS

•  I will be focusing more on Personal Training. All of my clients, except for 1, are in home, non gym clients. I have gotten lots of message/phone calls from people who want to train but not in the gym. This tells me that, for whatever reason, you are not comfortable working in a gym setting. So I will continue to expand to mobile training and trainings NOT in gym. Although I feel that the gym can only be an asset in any health and fitness program, it can't help if you won't go. So now I have expanded my hours for mobile training to include any and all shown on my website. (http://www.icufitpt.com/) 
• I am expanding my efforts to get you in the Best Shape of Your Life for 2010 by helping you find the perfect add on or Main program. As a Beachbody Coach, in continuing those efforts, I am affiliated with THE best fitness programs on DVD around. I can help you pick the program that is talior made for you.
• Not only can I help you get in shape, but I can help you take care of your skin, as well, on your own without costly trips to the Salon. I will come to you. You never have to leave your home. My job is to show you how for about $1 a day, you can have the type of skin you have always wanted. Take care of the skin you're in with the skin care products that have been ranked #1 for the last 13 yrs and counting~ After all, it's the only skin you'll get. A portion of all sales go toward the MKAF, which supports research for the elimination of cancers and to eliminate domestic violence. (Your Facial is FREE with a $40 skin care purchase. Otherwise, your facial is $20. You can add our very own Microdermabrasion for an additional $10 or its yours FREE, in addition to your facial, with a $75 skin care purchase.) I pride myself in a NON pushy, NON Aggressive, sales approach. There is NEVER an obligation to purchase. I am COMPLETELY mobile, so I will come to you.

PERSONAL GOALS  and How I am reaching them.

• In an ongoing effort to take better care of myself, my office hours are changing. I have rearranged all clients to time slots that are 1. better for them as the new year have arrived and 2. are better for me in helping me reach my goal of getting more sleep. NO MORE clients form 4a.m. - 8 a.m. My personal workouts will start at 6 a.m. and I will be ready for my first clients at 8a.m. See my website for available time slots.
• I am devoting more time to my children and friends.
• As one of my goals for the New Year is to get into the best shape of MY life, I am starting a New round of P90X on Monday January 4th. All workouts have been logged into WOWY and you are more than welcomed to join my team and join me in this venture. You can join me at www.beachbodycoach.com/icufit

As this New year goes forth, I am struggling to love myself and to remember something that I preach all the time: It's okay to put yourself FIRST sometimes. I am going to practice that when appropriate and I am mastering the art of saying "NO". I need to take the time to smell the roses sometimes and I plan on it.

Remember that I am here to help you reach your fitness goals. I love hearing from you.

For those of you joining me for the P90X, get some rest. It's on!
Yours in Health, Fitness, and Wellness,
Karen Williams-deCastro~CPT

My Own Personal New Years Resolutions

New Year-2010

As 2009 draws to a close, I reflect back on this year with a lot of mixed emotions: happiness, sadness, anticipation, fear. Some of my resolutions are short term; most are long term. But I hope to cross them off as the year goes by.
Personal & Family life~

1. Get my personal life in order.  My personal life is a mess. I need to prioritize and learn better balance.
2. Increase my circle of friends. I really do not have a group of people that I "hang out" with. I get so caught up in working or my own issues, that I do not really make time for others. So I need to get a little more social. I need girls night and a group of friends that I can talk to. Any volunteers?
3. Learn to maintain a positive outlook in ALL situations. I have so much to be thankful for, however, in certain situations, ususally personal ones, I tend to forget.
4. Spend more time with my children. I do not spend even close to enough time with them. We need more fun, quality time, instead of: "Is your homework done?", "why'd you do this or that?" , disciplinary time.
5. Take better cosmetic care of myself. I am simply not girlie. I always take care of my skin, but I need to start getting my hair taken care of, put on makeup every now and again, and endulging in pedicures. (This is Tina & Tracy's fault!)
6. Make more time for fun. I spend a LOT of time working. Gotta start enjoying life more.
7. Continue working on Tactfulness. anyone who knows me understands that tact is not my strong point. I have been working on it for years.
8. Stop being so critical of myself.
9. Donate through out the year to the MKAF.

Health & Fitness

1. Complete round of P90X, ChaLean Extreme, & Brazil Butt Lift.
2. Stay committed to my gym workouts.
3. Increases my cardiovascular endurance.
4. Complete a full marathon.
5. Drop BF to 10%.
6. Help at least 30 people reach their fitness, health and wellness goals.

Business

1. Begin teaching Turbo Jam.
2. Begin Teaching Hip Hop Hustle.
3. Attend Turbo Camp. (great for motivation & networking)
4. Grow in my Beachbody Coaching.
5. Increase Mary Kay clients by 150.
6. Build ICU Fit clients, in and out of the gym.
7. Get myself more organized.
8. Learn and implement better time management.

Well, that's gonna do it for 2010. I am going to be extra hard on myself to accomplish all of these things. What are your resolutions?
Yours in Health, Fitness, and Wellness,
Karen Williams-deCastro

Prelude to New Years

It's the day after Christmas. Have you thought about your New Years resolutions? Why not start them NOW? I have given my resolutions much thought. Little known fact? My personal life is a mess. So, in addition to my wellness, health and fitness goals, I had to take a close look at my life. Adjustments must be made.
The truth is, there is no rule that says that you have to wait until New Years to start these things.
This year, one of my biggest goals is to help as many people as possible reach their health & fitness goals, as well as possibly increase their income. That is why I want to be your fitness coach. As you see your success with your weight loss and fitness goals, you, too, will want to help others.
Go now to my Beachbody site and join My Team! There are two options: a free option or a pay ($2.99 a week) option. Read abot it there and decide! Go to www.beachbodycoach.com/icufit. Let's do it!

Help me please!

The Mary Kay Ash Foundation is dedicated to ending women's cancers and domestic abuse.


Throughout her life, Mary Kay Ash showed others how to live and how to give. She gave hope to women who lacked opportunity, self-esteem and financial support. Now her legacy of love lives on through The Mary Kay Foundation, which she began in 1996. The foundations mission is to eliminate cancer and to end the epidemic of violence against women.



My Goal is to raise $5000 for this charity to be delivered the first week of January, 2010. In order to do this I need to sell 770 tubes of lipstick. I chose lipstick because 1. it's low in cost 2. every woman loves lipstick and feels more beautiful with some on, and 3. because lip color is fun.



I have been a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant for many years and the MKAF is a charity that I enjoy giving to yearly. This year I would like to far exceed the amount I have been able to donate in years past. Please help. Heres how:

Go to my website: www.marykay.com/kwilliams-decastro. Go ahead and register. (I won't fill your email with a bunch of stuff. You can expect no more than two emails a month from me about Mary Kay items.)

Click on the link that says "Makeup". Then click on the link that says "lips". Add the colors you'd like into your shopping cart.See the colors on the website. SEND NO MONEY OR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION. I will email you an invoice for your selected items later. That way you can pay in a secure manner w/o worries or hassles. You may pay for your items via Credit Card through online invoice or, MO or Personal check via snail mail. After this event has ended, I will order all lip colors DIRECTLY from the company, and fresh, new product will be mailed to you within 2 weeks of events close. If you live anywhere from Key Largo - Islamorada I will hand deliver items to you. If not shipping is $1 for up to 3 lip colors and $2 for 4 or more.

I know it will be a challenge to sell 770 lip colors. Help me reach my goal.

This event will run from NOW until December 31. PLEASE HELP ME raise money for this event. Cancer and domestic violence are two causes that are close to my heart. Invite your friends and family to join.

No Crust Pumpkin Pie

A quick and easy dessert- just in time for the holidays.
No Crust Pumpkin Pie  This is so delicious you won't even miss the crust.

Ingredients:
1 (12 oz.) pkg. silken tofu
1 c. canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 (1 oz.) box sugar free vanilla instant pudding mix
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Preparation:
Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir until smooth. Serve chilled. Makes 4 servings.
Nutritional information: Calories: 90, Fat: 3 g., Carbs: 12 g., Protein: 4 g.

ENJOY!
Yours in HEalth, Fitness, and Wellness,
Karen Williams-deCastro

Enabling and Taking Responsibility.

I wasn't sure which of the many topics in my head and my inbox to expand on until I turned on the television and got engulfed in TLC's "Half Ton Dad", Half Ton Mom", and "Half Ton Teens", I KNEW I had my topic.
1022 pound young father? A 29 year old mom who is 900 pounds? 800 pound 19 year old?  573 pound 16 year old? 700 pound 18 yr old? Wake up people!

Obesity rates in the United States are among the highest in the world. According to the CDC, 64% of adults are overweight or obese, and 26% are obese. It estimates that the number of obese American adults has been rising steadily, from 19.4% in 1997, 24.5% in 2004 to 26.6% in 2007. Should current trends continue, 75% of adults in the United States are projected to be overweight and 41% obese by 2015.
The economic cost attributable to obesity in the United States has been estimated to be as high as $99.2 billion in 1995, with $51.64 billion attributable to direct medical costs.Researchers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and RTI International estimate that in 2003, obesity-attributable medical expenditures reached $75 billion.

It's not like these people woke up one day and weighed 400 pounds. Barring medical reasons (which none of them had), they have to take reponsibility for their action. The "Half Ton Mom" paid with her life, leaving behind a husband, an 8yr old daughter and a 13 yr old daught who both have weight struggles. Murphey, the 18 year old, paid with his life as well.  But SOMEONE was bringing them donuts, cakes, cookies, sodas and pizza. They couldnt even walk, except for the 16 yr old. Their mothers played a GREAT role in their problems. I watched in HORROR as the moms made hot dogs and lasagna for them, after the doctor told them no more. John orders hot wings, pizza, curly fries, and cheesecake, in ONE MEAL. Mom enables them for everything: they did NOTHING for themselves: 19 yrs old, 800 pounds, and didnt know how to BATHE himself. Moms and other various family members brought them everything they wanted. Everything kept at arms length or a yelled "mom!" away. At what point do we stop enableing our children and make them take responsibility? Even 18 yr old Murpheys death didnt make these people open their eyes. Not the death of Renee, the 29 yr old mom, and not the news from the doctor of their own impending death.
These kids ENTIRE life was in their bedrooms: Video games, Television, Computers, Internet, Cell phones..it's all robbing our children and others of growing up the things that MADE our child hood: Remember playing Kickball in the streets? HA! We would RUN home off the school buss so that we could get our homework done, so we could go out and play kickball in the streets. Home plate was an old aluminum can that someone threw on the side of the road, and second base was that jagged crack in the street. :-) We played tether ball and hide-and-go-seek.We played basketball, and touch foot ball. We played games outside that we made up. "Ok. We run to the tree and find a big rock and then run back and put it on the bucket. The last one to get back is a rotten egg!" We couldnt get lost in the internet, or Video games. OH. We HAD video games. (Remember Atari?) But the concept of sitting at home doing NOTHING wasnt an option.

Our children are dying. They are getting Lazier every day and have this sense of entitlement. Do you cook seperate meals for your children than you do for you? DO you have the snack drawer or cabinet that is for the kids? WHY? If YOU can't eat it because it's crap, why are you letting THEM eat it?
WE need to do something about this. Because, overweight/obese children, turn into overweight/obese adults...if they live that long. I could go into all the different health problems and issues obesity causes..but you already know about them.Take responsibilty: for ourself and our children. DO NOT enable them or their destructive behavior.

I STRONGLY encourage EVERYONE to get moving! Be active.Let your children see you being active. Involve them in activities. DO WHATEVER you need to do to prevent this EPIDEMIC from spreading. Make it a family activity. After dinner, the whole family goes for a walk, a bike ride, something. Okay,Sunday is family day. That is FABULOUS. It doesnt have to be a movie, vegging out, and pizza. Go places. Go to the park and have a family picnic with frisbee and volleyball. WHATEVER. Just get moving.
I am on day 7 of my Beach Body Fitness Journey.I hope to show you that no matter HOW busy life gets, you have to make time for health and fitness. You may follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/mzfitbitch), or on my Beach Body BlogSpot (www.karensbeachbody.blogspot.com).

Yours in Health, Fitness, and Wellness,
Karen Williams-deCastro~CPT