Exhausted.

Disappointed.

Frazzled.

Defeated.

Used.

You can’t do it all.

You desperately want to. You try relentlessly. But it doesn’t happen.

You fall deeper and deeper into the black hole of indecision, guilt, doubt, fear, and anger…wondering when you can get out. Wondering if you will ever get out. 

You worry about everyone else in your life. Parents, kids, spouses, friends, coworkers… You cater to their needs. You say “yes” all the time. You haven’t taken a vacation in…you can’t even remember when. But forget about the vacation, you haven’t had a day for yourself, or an hour, or a minute, in how long?

You want to make healthy meals at home. You want to be excited to pick out your summer wardrobe. You want to run that race, join a volleyball team, or take walks with your spouse every night after dinner.

Something’s got to change. You can’t keep living like this.

Exhausted. Disappointed. Frazzled. Defeated. Used.

You wish someone else would ask, “how are you?” and genuinely care about the answer. You’re the one who needs help this time.

You give, give, give, and only wish you could receive. You desperately want someone to care. Someone to remind you that you are amazing. Someone to give you the boost of energy you need. Someone to tell you to keep going. Someone to get you back on track. Someone to help you set your priorities. Someone who actually cares about your well-being. Someone who can help you make sh*t happen…for yourself.

Maybe then will you feel sexier, more confident, under control, and ready to take on the world. 

Tell me what’s making you feel unsexy, and I’ll help you get your sexy back. For free. Before Summer. How does that sound?

I want you to take advantage of my current special: The Get Your Sexy Back Session 

For 30 minutes, you and I chat to:

• Clarify what sexy means to you
• Uncover what’s crushing your confidence and blocking your success
• Discover the ways you can regain control and unleash your sexy once again

This session is extremely special, very limited, and absolutely free.

So many Unleash Your Sexy Members have already scheduled their times with me and explained why they are feeling unsexy. Grab your spot while it’s hot. May is filling up fast.

Read more about the Get Your Sexy Back Sessions here.

Healthy feels much sexier.

If you’re anything like me, you’d love to have a relaxing, energizing 10 minutes to yourself in the morning before real life starts. 

The emails, the phone calls, the frantic running throughout the house to find your shoes, the kids screaming…ya know, life.

Whenever I give myself these 10 minutes, with no distractions, I stand taller, feel more centered, and am ready to unleash my whole, confident, amazing self to the world. 

Whenever I don’t? I feel like crap. Period.

You may be thinking that you couldn’t possibly add 10 more minutes to your morning routine, yet you really love the idea of some quiet “me time” before your day starts.

Read this. Then ask yourself, “Do I deserve this time? Do I deserve to do something for myself at the beginning of the day? Do I deserve to live the life I want?”

That’s what I thought.

So tomorrow morning, get out of bed, check your phone for emails (I know you’ll still do this, I do), go to the bathroom, but then walk right over to your yoga mat and play this video.

You’ll thank me for it.

Click here if you cannot see the video.

13.1 miles.

In general, that distance doesn’t seem that far.

Until you decide to RUN those 13.1 miles.

Saturday, March 16, 2013, marked my first half marathon. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series in Washington DC.

click here for a picture of us runners on Instagram.

BOTTOM LINE (for those who have been following my journey and want the fast recap)::

I had a great time. I ran at least 1 minute-per-mile faster than any of my long training runs and I beat my goal time. Most importantly, I felt really good throughout the entire 13.1 miles. I can’t believe it’s over!!

BACKSTORY (for those who want to learn more about how I trained, the obstacles I overcame, and how to do this for themselves. plus my next big goals.)::

I committed to running this half marathon in early December 2012, after my marathoner-friend told me about the race. My runner-boyfriend also decided to sign up, so we all planned a fun weekend in DC.

But it all started in November of 2011. That’s when I made the big decision to start running long distances and complete a half marathon.

This was a big deal for me because I hated running. I only ran about 4 miles at one time and only did that every few months. I didn’t enjoy it. I had convinced myself that I had to run a certain amount of miles in a certain time. And when I didn’t make that time or when I felt like crap, I hated running even more.

Too much pressure for something that is supposed to be fun.

So back to November 2011—I decided to start training for a half marathon. I wouldn’t check my times. I wouldn’t be so concerned about miles. I would just run. I would go at a comfortable pace and build my endurance.

Even though I exercised constantly, nothing can get you in shape for running long distances other than running long distances. Swim to be a better swimmer. Play that sport to get better at it.

This was a challenge for me. Even though I exercised constantly, nothing can get you in shape for running long distances other than running long distances. Swim to be a better swimmer. Play that sport to get better at it. While you can train those muscles to be stronger, also start the exercise you want to get better at.

But I persevered. And I actually became pretty good. I was running longer distances at faster paces-paces I didn’t even know I could do-probably because I stopped being so concerned about my time.

But then in mid-January 2012, I had to take 3 weeks off for severe arch pain. It sucked. I had finally found my groove and I had to stop. I practiced acceptance and patience. I knew I had to rest properly if I wanted to keep any injuries away.

I started back up in late February and signed up for a 10K in Central Park in June, the Women’s Only Mini 10K race, with my marathoner-friend. I trained for the 10K and had a great time. I felt great during the race and enjoyed it, even though I didn’t go as fast as I had previously been able to go.

I basically took the summer and fall off from running after that, and when I got back from Asia in mid-November, I decided it was time to pick a race for the half marathon. And it turned out to be March 16. 

The 12-week training plan I followed was for people who had never run a half marathon before but had been running distances. I wasn’t going to fool myself and train to run at a faster pace that would only leave me injured again. Most of the runners I talk to (and who are in the Runners Unleashed group) have or had injuries preventing them from running. It’s important to recognize them and make sure you don’t overtrain to exaggerate the injuries or sign up for a race you won’t be able to train properly for. My friend just told me this man tried to prove he didn’t have to train for a marathon and only ran about 9 miles at the most. He completed the marathon and sustained permanent injuries because he didn’t train. 

While I felt my arch a bit during training, it never caused a major problem. I had already learned how to massage my foot to ease up the muscles. I had discovered my left piriformis muscle (muscle in the mid-lower area of your butt) was very tight and acted up during runs. But I stretched it constantly so it didn’t become a major problem either.

And because of that training, neither one of my problem areas acted up at all during the half marathon.

Fast forward to the days leading up to the half marathon::

I was nervous. I had a bad long run the weekend before-meaning I felt very tired and my legs felt heavy during the run. So my brain focused on that instead of all my previous amazing runs. I barely slept the night before the race, though I had read that the most important sleep night is actually two nights before the race because hardly anyone sleeps the night before, so I was rested from that. With a 5am wakeup and a 7:30am start time, I realized that I was probably so delirious that I had no idea I was running for the first half of this race. (I’m not a morning person.)

My nerves subsided as soon as I arrived in my corral. I was ready. I had a good feeling. My body felt good. I had prepared for 12 weeks. I knew exactly what to do. I had all my gear, and I knew my friend and my boyfriend would be waiting for me at the finish line.

I tried to remember I was doing this for fun. This was not a competition. That’s really hard to do, but you realize quickly that there are thousands of people just like you running this race and you become inspired by every single one of them.

The massive, steep hill around mile 5 didn’t scare me, especially when I read the sign of a spectator that read, “Make this hill your bitch!”

The first 3 miles went by fast. The massive, steep hill around mile 5 didn’t scare me, especially when I read the sign of a spectator that said “Make this hill your bitch!” The subsequent hills after that were easy. Once Mile 10 hit, I realized I had 3 miles left and I still felt good. I couldn’t believe it. Then Mile 11, two more miles left. And I ran as fast as I could at that moment for the next 2 miles to finish.

Could I have gone a little faster? Maybe. But that wasn’t the point.

The point was finishing. It was sticking to something I made a decision on and started. I found my pace, felt great while doing it, and went faster when I felt my body could do it.

I didn’t want to end the race falling over. I wanted to cross the finish line proud that I accomplished this. While I did have a time goal that I made the week before the race, it was attainable for me. I knew I could do it.

Will I do another half marathon again? Probably. (I thought this answer would be no, so I surprised myself.)

Will I ever do a full marathon? My answer is still HELL NO. I am very impressed by those who run marathons but that is not for me.

MY NEXT BIG GOALS::

Mini 10K in June 2013

Tough Mudder? – Summer 2013

Favorite Sports: Tennis, Surfing, Swimming – starting Spring 2013

Sprint Triathlon – 2014

Thank you for getting to the bottom of this post! I’d love to hear what your goals are and how you are accomplishing them. Need a kick? Read last week’s post and Monday Mantra on getting sh*t done! (the most popular post so far this year)

Warning: This post is a big, swift kick in the ass following this week’s Monday Mantra. Read that first if you would like a softer approach, and when you’re ready to start making sh*t happen, continue below.

You’ll never do anything if you don’t start getting sh*t done. 

You won’t. 

The complaining. 

The talking. 

The wishing. 

The hoping. 

That does nothing for you.

What helps? Starting something. Doing something. Making a decision. 

The main source of our stress and anxiety is indecision. 

So start making some decisions.

All of those outstanding things that keep building up are holding you back. If you don’t make any decisions, then they will continue to be there, haunting you until you completely lose your mind or actually start doing something about it. 

Want to start an exercise routine? Start moving your body. Now. Move it, shake it, run it, bike it, dance it. Move.

Want to start eating healthier? Choose a healthy recipe, buy the ingredients, and make that healthy meal tonight. 

Want to go on a big trip? Pick out a sexy place you want to visit, research how much it costs, and start saving. 

Want to do something different this weekend or visit friends? Make a phone call, pick a date, and stick to it. 

No more: “what ifs” “maybes” “laters” can’ts” or “shoulds”

If you want something, really really really want it, then start doing it. 

It doesn’t have to be big or perfect. That’s where we get tripped up. Because we want everything to be perfect—the perfect weather to run outside, the new top from lululemon, the right time and day, the new season (when summer comes…), the new year (January 1…), the perfect vacation plan….I could keep going.

We wait wait wait wait and wait some more for everything to line up perfectly. But guess what? Nothing’s going to line up if you don’t ACT. 

I’m scared out of my mind to run this half marathon on Saturday, and every possible demeaning thought has literally run through my brain. But I started it and I’m going to finish it because want to prove to myself that I can run 13.1 miles.

Was I scared to start the training? Yes.

Did I start the training? Yes. 

Did I give up during training even though I had bad days? No.

Am I going to bail on the race? Nope.

Am I going to let my thoughts get to me so I get so anxious I barely make it to the start line? Hell no! 

“The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy…It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed.” -Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

Want to run a race, swim a mile, or start a new sport? Then start running, start swimming, and start playing that sport. 

Want to start your own business? Set aside one hour per day to brainstorm about that business and start writing a plan. 

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be the most amazing runner to start running. You don’t have to be an Olympic swimmer to start swimming.

Too many times do we let these thoughts of comparison, perfection, and fear get in the way of doing what we actually want to do. 

So what’s stopping you? What’s holding you back from doing what you want? What are you waiting for? 

Put yourself first. Don’t wait on anyone else or anything else.

Be honest with yourself. Then start. You may fall, you may hurt, you may not get it right the first time, you may *fail*.

But starting and trying something that you want to do outweighs not doing it at all. (click here to tweet that)

In about two weeks, I will be sending out personal invitations with an offer for a free 30-minute stress busting-action oriented coaching call to my UYS members. We’re going to figure out what’s elevating your stress levels, find out the fuel feeding the stress and how to put out the fire, and set up at least one action to conquer your stress and start doing what you want. Sign up for free to receive your personal invitation from me. http://dianaantholis.com/membership

Print this out, share this with your friends who need a kick, and read it every day. Make it your new mantra. Make it happen. 

As promised, you are hearing it first. My ebook “Unleashed: Live the Balanced, Centered, and Sexy Life You Deserve” is officially available for purchase on Amazon!

This is your kick in the ass to start leading the life you were meant to live.

“Unleashed” is an extensive online guide designed to help you live happier, be healthier, and exude confidence by embracing your inner sexiness. This guide takes you step-by-step though the core philosophies I teach: Define Your Balance, Find Your Center, and Unleash Your Sexy.

Based on my signature Unleash Your Sexy Healthy Lifestyle Program that my clients call rejuvenating, enlightening, and epic, I created a guide that can be taken with you anywhere with tools that can be used any time on your own.

The powerful yet easy-to-follow exercises help you dig deep into your mind to help you start living your best life immediately. Each section also shares my life-altering wisdom gained from years of study and practice and candid stories from Unleash Your Sexy graduates.

Also included are ways to eat healthier without sacrificing taste, the major foods you want to eat to have more energy and live longer, and how to have a rocking’ body in 30 minutes with 2 bonus workout videos.

Click here to read MORE about the guide, including all the sexy details like:

• Why you’re chasing happiness in all the wrong places and how to find it.
• The reason we should all believe in balance
• The REAL definition of stress.
• The secret behind embracing your true sexiness.
• How to believe you are as red hot as the bottom of Louboutins.
• AND MORE.

Purchase it for immediate download on Amazon now. 

Don’t have a Kindle? Don’t worry.

Click here to download any of the free Kindle Reading Applications available on the following:

• Mac*
• Windows PC*
• iPad
• iPhone
• iPod Touch
• BlackBerry
• Android (phone and tablet)
• Windows 7 Phones (Windows 8 tablet)

 *Works in your browsers (Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome)

Thank you so much for your love and support over the last year. The Unleash Your Sexy members are truly an amazing community. 2013 is going to be one hell of a year. 

2 FAVORS PLEASE. 

When you purchase (and read) the ebook, please:

• Leave a review on Amazon so others can hear what you have to say!

• Tell all your friends that you’ve bought “Unleashed.” Spread the love. Click to tweet.

• Write me a private email with your address and I will send you a personal thank you

diana (at) dianaantholis (dot) com