An important lesson I learned on my fitness journey

We cannot change genetics! We are born with a certain body type! Learn to embrace it and love your body! Learn how to properly work out your body to achieve your ideal physique! No you cannot get taller, longer legs, longer torso ect but yes you can perfect your beautiful body and be proud of every inch of it! I'm a hair stylist by trade and this applies to my line of work also! Often times women come in with a picture and say this is EXACTLY what I want my hair to look like and I say ok honey well you do not have the same face shape as this celebrity, you don't have the same hair type as this lady, you don't have the same, thickness, the same extensions ect ect but yes I can give you a version of this hair style! Tell me what you like most about the hair not the celebrity but the hair. They often change there mind completely and we decide on something suitable for there face shape and hair type! The same applies for your body and your fitness and diet routine! I am personally very short I am 5'1 so any weight I gain is extremely noticeable! I have a short torso and short legs so I really do not want to add any bulk to my physique I just want to tone and tighten to create an illusion of height! I do not use weights I do all of my exercise just using my own body weight. I do use a medicine ball for my Russian twists and for one of my squat circuits but other than that no weights at all. You need to figure out your body type set reasonable goals and make a plan of how to turn those goals into reality! We have to truly know and understand our bodies if we want to get accurate results! 

I have truly learned to love my body. I embrace being short! Good things come in small packages right! 😜 I have embraced my tiny boobs and learned to appreciate them! I've learnt that the best thing we can do for our mind body and spirit is truly love ourselves and take care of our selves! Life is beautiful start living it to the fullest! What is stopping you? Fear? Kick fear in the but and prove it wrong! You won't be sorry you may be sore! But you will never be sorry!! Xoxo 

 Ashylla

How I stay motivated

I have been asked a lot how I stay motivated. So this week I have been thinking about this question a lot and I decided to blog about it!

I am so very thankful for my body! My body has been through and done so many incredible things. The most amazing being carrying my son for 9 months and giving birth! What an amazing experience that was! We have to love our bodies and give ourselves credit for the amazing things our bodies do for us every single day! I can honestly tell you that I love my body! No it is not perfect, but it brought me my pretty close to perfect baby boy and for that I will always love my body!! We have to love our bodies and our selves through every stage of life! If we don't love ourselves how can we expect others to love us? I keep motivated by loving my body, pushing my body and seeing just how far I can go to reach my goals and live this beautiful life.

I stay motivated by challenging myself! Weather it's going an extra 5 min on our morning hike, pushing myself a little harder on my bowflex or adding an extra 5 minutes to my circuit workout! We have to push ourselves and challenge ourselves to keep motivated and from getting bored! The worst thing you can do is compare yourself to other women!! Just don't do it! It's so easy to get caught up in the "I'll never look like her" "my boobs will never look like that" "she's never had a kid" "she's so tall" ect ect ect you should only ever compare yourself to yesterday's self! Just try to improve your health and fitness one day at a time and the rest will come!

I motivate myself by setting goals! I usually set a goal for the day, the week and the month! It's s good way to keep yourself accountable. Star small, set reasonable goals it can be fun! Start challenges with your friends family! It helps to have a good support system! The girls and I in my family have our own personal fitness Facebook group to help motivate and challenge each other! It's a great way to stay motivated and brings a bit of a competitive edge to the group.

The biggest and I think most important way to stay motivated is to just MAKE exercise and healthy eating a part of your daily routine! You'll get so used to it that it won't even seem like work anymore! It will become easier and you will crave it and want to do it!

Did you know that almost every restaurant has a calorie wise part of there menu now! So you can still enjoy going out to eat and maintain your health lifestyle! That sure keeps me motivated!! Everyone likes to go out to eat once in a while! Now a days there really are NO excuses for not making the healthy choice! So if you really want it bad enough it is all yours!

You have to make healthy eating and working out a priority! If you have time for social media, watching tv, ect you have time to work out!! Even if its just getting out and going for a walk! Start small and you will work your way to a happy, healthy, and strong you, inside and out!

Only you, and you only can make the change you have to want it so bad that your not willing to let anything stand in the way! I cannot do it for you! That's what makes exercise and healthy eating so rewarding you have to work for it! Push yourself and never look back! Your body will do anything you have to get your mind in the game and believe in yourself! 

You can do it! Xoxo.      Ashylla

The 3 D's

    It has been a year of many hospital visits for us Smiths! I'm hoping we are good for a while now!! It started with Lane getting RSV, Matt's health scare and then a week ago I was hospitalised with a horrible kidney infection! We are all doing great now! I am so thankful for our amazing health care and more specifically Pincher Creeks hospital! They have always taken such good care of us and I am so very thankful for that!
    Because I was so sick I had to have lots of fluid and antibiotics intravenously, which resulted in A LOT of bloating and I was not supposed to work out. This was extremely hard for me! It was extremely discouraging looking in the mirror and all of my hard work had disappeared. I knew deep down that it would go away but it was still terrifying there was that shred of doubt in me that I could not seem to shake! after 2 nights in the hospital I was able to go home. I took it easy for the first couple of day just went for walks and listened to my body. It has been a week and half since this happened and I am so relieved to say I am back to where I was before and I am feeling happy healthy and strong!
   During this lifestyle change I have learnt a lot about my body, soul, and mind. I have learnt that your body will do pretty much anything you want or need it to do. Our bodies are simply amazing. I have learnt that feeding your body healthy food and cleansing your body helps it to work better and perform better! I have learnt that living a healthier lifestyle has made me so much more happy! It has helped me to destress, and to live my life to the fullest. It has helped me think clearer and see things I never did before! I am so happy and I am so proud of myself for truly making this transformation and working every single day to stay happy healthy and strong!
    I have been asked a lot what I am doing, eating, what work out plans I am doing etc. Here is the biggest piece of advice I can give anyone looking to change there life for the better. To be happy healthy and strong.
#1 discipline
     you have to be willing to discipline yourself and follow through! You HAVE to start small and work your way there! If you cannot discipline yourself and follow through than you will NOT see results its as simple as that. You have to want it, nobody is going to do it for you.
#2 dedication
     you have to be dedicated to your lifestyle change. You have to jump in with both feet and not look back! You have to push yourself to get results. If you are not willing to dedicate your time to working out regularly and dedicate yourself to eating healthy you will NOT see results!
   # drive
        you have to keep yourself motivated. Take before and after pictures, weigh yourself, drive yourself to your goal. You are the only person who can do it. You have to make a choice to be happy healthy and strong and you have to keep yourself motivated and continue to drive yourself to set and achieve goals!

    I am in no way perfect or a fitness coach I am just a stay at home mom who has fallen in love with fitness and health! It is so liberating to take control of your life and push yourself and see yourself exceed your expectations! We need to build each other up! Cheer each other on and help each other feel good! I am taking this day by day and it feels so great!! I am currently doing my third skinny mint tea tox and feeling amazing! Go get it! Be the best you and never say never!! xoxo
                                                                                                Ashylla

Happy healthy and strong

.    I have really flip- flopped on blogging about this but I decided if it can help even just one person out, then it's worth putting it down on paper.
     Since starting on my journey to a happy, healthy lifestyle I have received a lot of positive feedback! And I am so thankful to all of you for that! But that's not what I'm blogging about today. Today I am blogging about the overwhelming amount of NEGATIVE feedback I have received.
      NO I do not have an eating disorder! I am 5'1 and I weigh 122 lbs, my bmi is 107! I count my calories, and cook healthy and clean! I have done 2 teatoxes that have aided in weight loss and help cleanse my body! I have talked to my Dr and he approves of my calorie intake and routine. I do not take any diet pills or anything harmful to my body. I am healthy, happy and strong!
     Since my husband had his health scare a few months ago we have both really made an effort to be our best selves! We inspire each other and build each other up and that's really all that matters! If you find yourself so inclined to talk about me in a negative manor or to criticize my lifestyle, maybe there is an underlying issue you need to work out with yourself. I post progress pictures of myself to help inspire other people and because I'm dam proud of what I've accomplished!! Yup that's all!
                         Xoxo Ashylla

I want to inspire and be inspired

  Lately I have been told that my lifestyle change is inspiring. I am so happy that I can help others achieve their goals and become healthy, happy and strong! I honestly just feel so amazing every day! It is intoxicating! I look forward to my life! I feel liberated and I want others to feel that way too! I want you all to know that your likes, messages, comments, texts and kind words inspire me! They motivate me to keep on eating healthy, working out and being happy! So thank you for all of your love and support!! We need to build each other up! Share in one another's successess and try not to compare ourselves to any one else! I will keep on living this beautiful life and challenge myself everyday! Follow me on Instagram @ashyllafitness, on Myfitnesspal pal ashyllasmith and we can keep on inspiring one another!! Here's to us living our lives to the fullest being the healthiest, happiest Us that we can be! 😘❤️😍
 

Achieving a goal

    For as long as I can remember I have lied about and been in denial about my weight! I can honestly say I never thought I could weigh 125 lbs but now I know I was just hiding behind fear of failure and holding myself back from truly fulfilling my potential and being happy and healthy!!

      I am so proud of myself for pushing myself to be better and for achieving a life long goal of mine. It feels pretty dang good!!
     Now to maintain and grow healthier and stronger and push myself to be my best self always! I am so excited to continue on this journey of health and fitness! I hope I can inspire you to want to be your best selves! I know that looks don't mean everything! We live in a vain world where it is easy to get caught up in the superficial ness of it all! That's not what I am promoting in any way!! I'm promoting health! Feeling good and nourishing your body! Yes looking good is w nice perk to it all, and I have always been the type of girl to take pride in my appearance. It feels great to feel as good on the inside as I do on the outside!
      I am so happy with my lifestyle change and I am just so excited to keep at it and challenge myself and take care of myself! xoxo

My fitness Journey

           I want to start this blog off with the BEST news. My Matthew had his follow up appointment with his doctor following his MRI scan on the 5th and I am so happy to report that they did not find anything. I feel such a peace knowing that he is going to be ok. Of course we are still going to monitor his health and if anything suspicious or of the same nature happens again we will be seeking medical attention ASAP. I am feeling extremely blessed and such a peace with this news and I am so ready to continue our beautiful life together!

          I have had a lot of people asking me and commenting about my lifestyle change! I wanted to answer some questions and just share some information on what has been working for me, and about how amazing I feel! I wanted to write a bit about why I decided to make this change. The biggest reason is because of Matt's health scare. We both decided we needed to make some changes and be the healthiest that we could be, to further prevent any issues with our health. I also really wanted to do something for ME. Being a mom is the most amazing thing I have ever done! But being a mom can consume you, and take away pieces of you, and make you wonder who you are sometimes. I really wanted to have some ME time and I dedicated this me time to making myself feel better and to relieve some stress and feel good about myself. I have found myself in working out, and I have bettered myself and become someone even better then I ever knew I could be.

         As most of you know I am a big supporter in the Skinny mint teatox! The reason I decided to do it detox is because I really didn't feel great about my post pregnancy body. I will admit I am one of the lucky ones who looses there pregnancy weight (or most of it|) by breast feeding. But I knew once I stopped breast feeding I wouldn't be burning those extra calories and I was terrified of gaining it all back. So I started looking into detoxes and I stumbled upon the skinny mint teatox. This specific teatox caught my eye because of it's natural ingredients and because it is NOT a meal replacement you simply drink it in the morning before or with your breakfast, and every other night after your last meal. The morning boost tea is a great way to kick start your day with extra energy! it has Green Tea which boosts your energy, improves immunity and burns calories. Yerba Mate which boosts metabolism, and curbs your appetite. Nettle Leaves which is a natural diuretic and antioxidant. Dandelion which improves digestion, detoxifies, and cleanses your body. Guarana which increases physical endurance and alertness and stimulates your digestion. It also contains a hint of grapefruit, strawberry, and pineapple to make it taste even yummier! It is a scientifically developed herbal blend, its fresh and tasty and it is such high quality! Obviously if your doing a detox you also want to eat a healthy diet to help the detoxing process and to get your maximum results. I absolutely love my morning boost tea. I find it really does give me that extra boost in the morning and it just makes me feel so great!

The night cleanse helps to reduce bloating, improve digestion and lose weight! It has Ginger root which is for anti bloating and detoxifying. Orange Leaves that improve digestion and promotes good sleep. Lemon grass which is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and also enhances complexion. Senna Leaves which acts as a natural laxative, anti bloating, and helps reduce appetite. Licorice Root that relieves cramping and constipation. All mixed together with a hint of peppermint, hawthorn berry and psylium husk to make it even more effective. I love the night time cleanse it helps me wind down at the end of the day and it truly does make me feel so great! I do not sell this product, they are not paying me to give them good reviews, although I did get a free tea tox for sending before and after pictures so if you decide to try this out make sure to take before and after pics and send them to them so you can also receive a free detox! I just love this product I am currently doing my 2nd detox and feeling amazing!

     I have always been a visual person. The myfitnesspal app just works for me. I like being able to see how many calories I've eaten, how many more I can eat, and track my workouts to see how many calories I've burned. I am a FOODIE I love food! this has always been my biggest down fall. I had to really make a choice and decide if I wanted to eat what I wanted all the time, or if I wanted to be healthy and happy and look great. I finally decided after many years of yo yoing with my weight that I would try something different in my eating habits. IT WORKED. And I could kick myself for waiting this long to change. It helps so much that Matt is on board with our lifestyle change. I am always buying calorie wise and low sugar, low fat ect of everything, and cooking clean, and smaller portions. We are always trying new recipes and broadening our horizons! It is lots of fun! I recently made Matt homemade protein bars and energy balls. (I feel like martha stewart) haha It is so fun to watch both of us change and become so much more happy and confident in our own skin! I find that counting my calories has worked wonders for me! If you want to try out the myfitnesspal app add me and we can motivate each other! ashyllasmith

     Can I just say I am in love with my bowflex m5 and I am so spoiled that I get to work out in the comfort of my own home!! The bowflex m5 are 15 minute workouts they are freaking HARD but they are so great! This just works so well with my stay at home mom lifestyle! I am able to put Lane down for a nap and head to my basement and get on my bowflex machine and get an amazing workout in. I usually throw in a circuit workout afterwards, some sit ups, weights, squats ect. And Wala its a half hour tops and my workout is done! How amazing is that?! I still have time to shower, get ready for the day and have lunch on the go by the time Lane wakes up! Its fantastic. Since the Weather is beautiful we usually also get a good hour morning walk in with the puppy so that keeps me exercising as well. I find if I don't exercise now I get cranky! lol I never thought I would ever be that kind of person but I truly look forward to working out and challenging my body to see its limits and to strengthen myself.

      If you are struggling with your fitness, or just don't know where to start, or don't think you can, I've been there and I just want to say you CAN do it. Start small! I started by ordering a detox, and then by going on short walks, and then I expanded it to much more. Just start! Go slow you can do it. Start eating a bit less or making healthier choices its as easy as that. If I can do it so can you! There is no time like the present, Take control of this crazy beautiful life! Your body is yours machine! Be the best you. I have found that I have got just as much negative feedback as I have positive. Crazy right? I am happy healthy and making the best life for me and my family and I know that. I am so happy for this lifestyle change and I can hardly wait to see what I future holds! xoxo

here are a few pictures from my fitness journey...

150lbs

these top two phtotos are right before I decided to make this lifestyle change

140

these pictures were taken a short 28 days later..

130lbs

One of my goals has always been to look good and feel good in a bikini! 

127lbs

these two photos I took on Sunday night right before I started my skinny mint tea tox for the 2nd time

I love skinny mint

I am soo spoiled to get to work out in the comfort of my own home

Happy :)