Changing life circumstances have me quiet lately. Much of my time spent reflecting on the past and thinking on the future. That said I’ve made a conscious effort as I move forward to live in the present. It’s very easy, especially in the midst of change and loss to mourn the past and if you are not doing that you might fear what the future holds. When we do that, we fail to appreciate the little things life has in store for us right now.

People of every fitness level have obstacles that they come across. Unfortunately this is part of life and it does not discriminate. We all have busy lives, and sometimes our personal fitness takes a backseat to life’s other obstacles and problems.

For some people the biggest fitness obstacle is lack of time. How many times have you heard someone complain that the reason they are out of shape is that they don’t have enough time to workout? This is my favorite obstacle (complaint). I always have the same reply to these people. You don’t have a time problem; you have a time management problem!

Other people will say that they lack the energy after a hard day of work and they have kids, family, etc. For some people, the biggest obstacle is just plain lack of motivation. Maybe you were working out and you didn’t see the results you wanted and you gave up. Regardless of what your personal fitness obstacle may be, it is important to realize that your journey in fitness and health should be considered a marathon, not a sprint. The following tips will help you overcome any current fitness obstacle you may have, and should jump start a great 2013 for you all!

Let’s get down to the facts. This month has been a full-on challenge. Between illness, juggling too many jobs, the stress of launching a new business, the desire to please everyone, attempts to figure out finances in the face mounting medical bills (which will get taken care of eventually once the paperwork is finalized from my November accident), and struggles with one of my sons who’s facing difficult times right now I am completely wiped.

My usual reactions seem to have disappeared. My go-get-em attitude is lacking, my ability to cheer for people’s success isn’t as strong as it usually is, my patience is thin and most of all, my desire to kill it at the gym is just not there. I spend hours daily trying to figure out how to combat these things right now. Fortunately, having age on my side has given me the wisdom to know that these moments seem to come in waves. Things are hard for a while, I try as hard as I can to stick with them, and BOOM…things turn. That’s why I have the ability to appreciate the good moments, because I have my share of the bad.

It was cold backstage. I could feel myself shaking and shivering. Looking back that was likely due to my low body fat percentage and nerves. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I stepped on stage for my first bikini competition, but this is was definitely unlike anything I’d experienced before.

I almost couldn’t believe it myself when I’d signed up to compete four months prior. Who does this, I thought as I met with my trainer. I do apparently. The journey changed my life.

I didn’t see it coming but I felt the full impact and the next thing I knew I was laying on the hard cold pavement scared and bleeding from my head. I was crossing the crosswalk on a walk signal headed to my normal trail running destination when the car hit me. I couldn’t see her but I could hear the driver panicking and screaming, “Ohh my God” over and over. “I’m okay. Please calm down and call 911,” I kept saying. One thing I know about myself, I often react well in the midst of crisis. I think it has something to do with all the things that have happened to me in my life. Crisis, at some point, has become second nature to me.