A Life That Fits

Find Your Perfect Fit Body, Mind and Soul

Slow down to get what you want

by Victoria Bailey on August 7, 2010

in Life & Love

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“Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you”

I recently saw this quote and smiled. I have been on a path of slowing down for the last few months and have directly experienced the truth of this statement. Even though I continue to experience the miracles of this in my own life, I still find it one of the most difficult things to do.

I think for many of us, slowing down is so difficult because it implies being perceived as lazy, unmotivated and lacking ambition. Even more challenging is just the simple act of doing less. When we are busy, we don’t have time to think and reflect. Slowing down requires us to reconnect and create space for things to happen. That space can be scary.

As I considered what to write about this month, this seemed particularly timely given that August is an interesting time of year. On the one hand, it is very much a time for slowing down. The “lazy hazy days of summer” are the time when businesses slow down, families take vacations and the city feels quieter as everyone heads up North for the cottage. More

At what point should you settle?

by Victoria Bailey on April 21, 2010

in Life & Love

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I was in Chapters this weekend, browsing the wellness and self-help sections (my favorite sections of the bookstore ever since I can remember) when I came across a book that really triggered an emotional response in me – I won’t get into the name and author, but essentially the point of the book was an argument for the ‘advantages’ of settling for “Mr. Good Enough”. And “settling” in general.

Hence the inspiration for this post.  The author’s main point (from what I could gather in 10 minutes of flipping through the highlights) was that part of the reason we (particularly women) are so unhappy these days is that in a world so full of excess, our expectations have gotten too high. Essentially we want too much out of life. Hence… we over scrutinize men, holding out for a perfect ideal that we may never meet and hence may end up old and alone.  I’m sorry but….I couldn’t disagree more.

The idea of finding the perfect man vs a healthy and fulfilling relationship is a whole other topic, today I want to talk a little more about the idea of settling.  The issue of “settling” has always been something I’ve been very conscious of, I’m not sure why, but it’s one of those things that even as a teenager I became very aware of.  From the time I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by the question of why some people grow up to lead extraordinary lives and others settle for average. More

Are you ready for change?

by Victoria Bailey on January 28, 2010

in Life & Love

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As a coach, I get to help people transform their lives.  I get such joy from seeing the physical and emotional transformation that takes place when my clients create the lifestyle and life they have imagined for themselves.  While I wish I could spread this feeling to everyone, the reality is that not everyone is ready for change. At least not in this present moment, and the present moment is all that matters.

I often meet individuals that inquire about my services or are curious about life coaching and seem genuinely interested working with me, and then they don’t call me back for months. Are they afraid of change? Perhaps. Are they procrastinating? Maybe. Are they ready to make a change? Probably not.

Here’s the thing. Fear will always exist. So will the list of reasons why this is not the best time in your life to do the thing you want to do. Until you are ready, you’re not ready. It’s as simple as that. Whether it’s changing your diet or starting an exercise routine, changing jobs or careers, moving to another country, or leaving the comfort and security of a familiar relationship; there is always going to be an aspect of fear and discomfort associated with making any type of significant change in your life. More

Do Calories Matter?

by Victoria Bailey on January 20, 2010

in Body & Beauty

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Tape Measure next to Nutrition FactsGiven that most of us are focused on weight loss during this time of year, I’m going to devote the next couple of posts to this topic.

It continues to amaze me how much misinformation there is on this topic. It’s something I am very passionate about because I spent most of my teens and early twenties on diets or periods of calorie restriction. So when I meet with women that are frustrated, disillusioned and confused by their countless attempts to lose weight, it makes me more determined to get the right information out there.

As you’ve heard me say in a previous post, we really need to eliminate the weight loss mentality from our vocabulary. And I’m happy to say, the shift is happening. There is definitely more awareness about the benefits of eating healthy, and the ineffectiveness of fad diets and quick-fix gimmicks.  Having said that, there is still some confusion and conflicting information.

One topic that always sparks debate is the need for calorie counting. I’m sure you’ve heard people say things like “as long as you’re eating healthy food, calories don’t matter” or on the opposite end know of successful programs that are based points and pre-set meals etc that do limit your total daily intake. I’ve also met many people who say to me “I’m eating healthy and still gaining weight, why is that?” In fact, I’ve experienced this last one myself! More

Make 2010 your best year yet!

by Victoria Bailey on December 26, 2009

in Life & Love

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2010 sparks and fireworks

I’m writing this post from the beaches of beautiful, sunny Punta Cana.

It’s been raining for 2 days now (so much for the sunny part), but I’m taking advantage of the weather to sit under the palapa and get some work done. There’s a bright side to everything right!  Going down south during the holidays has become a tradition for my fiancee and I. The first year that we took our trip, we had no intention of making a tradition out of it, but it ended up being such a fantastic way to spend the holidays and start a new year that we were hooked.

For us, coming here is so much more than escaping the snow or having somewhere to celebrate the New Year’s festivities. Though, believe it or not it is also a great way to spend Christmas. We have found that slowing down and being present every day really allows us to enjoy the holidays with one another. But ultimately, this is truly our time to re-set, re-energize and plan for the year ahead. It allows us time to reflect on all of our accomplishments and everything that we’ve experienced over the past 12 months. Most of all, it’s the most precious two weeks we have alone together, with no interruptions and workplace emergencies. For two ambitious and focused professionals, this is a rare thing and so we are very conscious to enjoy every minute. More

The biggest weight loss mistake

by Victoria Bailey on December 1, 2009

in Body & Beauty

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88386687The dieting season is fast approaching. Here are some statistics for you to think about:

• More than 70% of woman are currently on a diet
• Over 95% of dieters regain the weight within 1-3 years

As a nutritionist, many of the clients that come to see me have weight loss as one of their primary goals. Yes, as much as health and disease prevention should be our motivation, the reality is that most of us women just want to fit into our favorite jeans! While I do believe that a lasting approach to weight loss is actually grounded in healthy eating principles rather than “dieting” restrictions, I know that often the external results are a more immediate incentive than the health of our insides. I’m no different, as a woman I do care about my external appearance and so I relate to my clients who come to see me with an issue that many of them have been struggling with for years.

Of course we all want to be healthy, but how we feel about our bodies is reflected in our self-esteem, self-confidence and the energy we project out into the world. Therefore I think it’s important that we strive to get our bodies to a size (and this is different for everyone) where we are comfortable in our skin and no longer obsess about weight loss. More

My Shine experience and lessons learned

by Victoria Bailey on November 12, 2009

in Life & Love

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Last week I attended Ali Brown’s Shine event in Las Vegas from Nov 5-7. ali-purplesuit-web

Ali Brown is a millionaire entrepreneur coach and CEO whose company recently reached the prestigious Inc 500 list of fastest growing private companies.  Her story is nothing short of inspiring. I’ve had the pleasure of following her career for the past year or so, but many have known her for 4+ years and have watched her transformation. Her growth and success is a testament to the magic that happens when we align ourselves with a higher purpose and step fully into our power.

The Shine event for me was an incredible experience. As is the case for many of these events, your experience often depends on your expectations. Personally I approach these events with an open mind, knowing that if I am open and paying attention I will receive exactly what I need (and it’s not always the thing I’m looking for).

What I hoped to get at Shine, and what the event delivered was an amazing networking opportunity with a high caliber group of female entrepreneurs, inspiring examples from women who have achieved tremendous success, insight into the mindset shift of successful entrepreneurs and some sparks of ideas for my own business. Each day featured key notes from exceptional business women including – Anne McKevitt, who runs over 20 companies and recently sold one of them for over $975M (yes, you read that right); Julie Clark, founder of The Baby Einstein Company; real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, and Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin. Each of their stories were unique and inspirational, but all had a common thread – perseverance. They never gave up. More

Your thoughts create your reality

by Victoria Bailey on October 27, 2009

in Life & Love

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GettyImages_90996836Some people find this concept a little New Age. They immediately think of movies like The Secret and Law of Attraction. However the power of thought is an idea that goes far being marketing gimmicks and “self help” talk.

As part of my practice, I work with thoughts and belief systems all the time. It’s usually one of the first steps in ensuring my clients get results. Our thoughts have the power to set us up for success or failure, even before we start. The beauty is: we get to choose.

If you’re still not convinced, consider this: When you think about biting into a juicy sour lemon, what happens to your body? There is a physical reaction right? What about when you focus on someone you dislike, or an event that happened that really upset you. Your body becomes tense or maybe you have a tightening feeling in your chest or stomach. The point is, our thoughts have the power to create a physical experience. And this phenomenon is constantly at work, whether you are conscious of it or not. So why not use it to your advantage? More

What’s wrong with coffee?

by Victoria Bailey on October 15, 2009

in Health & Nutrition

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GettyImages_90499858The number one thing I hear when I meet with clients for the first time is “please don’t make me give up coffee!!”  As a former Starbucks “junkie” living on 2-3 venti size coffees per day, I don’t think there’s anyone that loves coffee more than I do. So I can definitely relate. If I can reform my caffeine habit down to one double espresso per day, I know anyone can do it.

Now this can be a controversial topic and you will find differing opinions amongst holistic practitioners. No doubt my own love of coffee is influencing my approach and opinion on this matter, however based on my knowledge and experience I generally take an “in moderation” approach to caffeine intake. I believe that for some of us it can be unrealistic to give up coffee forever. Not only do many people love the taste, but it is also a huge component of our social rituals. I think there are many other elements of our diet that can cause our health much more harm than a cup of coffee a day.

Now having said all that, for some individuals, there may be specific reasons to give up caffeine, such as during a detox or cleanse, or if they have certain conditions where caffeine may worsen or aggravate symptoms. Taking a ‘break’ from caffeine can also be a very good thing. But as a rule of thumb for the general population, 200-400 milligrams of caffeine per day is a tolerable amount. More

Simple ways to reduce your breast cancer risk

by Victoria Bailey on October 4, 2009

in Health & Nutrition

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iStock_000010431255MediumOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This is a cause that is very dear to my heart, as my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer twelve years ago. I am happy and grateful to say that today she is healthy and cancer free. She made a personal choice to pursue a holistic approach to her treatment. She is my hero – her courage, dedication and faith will forever inspire me. It is because of my mother that I know anything is possible, in health and in life.

As you can imagine, that experience changed my life in so many ways. It taught me to cherish each and every day and never take loved ones for granted. It also opened me to the world of holistic nutrition and the amazing ability of our body to heal itself when given the proper nutrition and support. Most importantly, it was an education in prevention. While no one can pinpoint the exact cause for cancer, we do know that a large percentage of the contributing factors are lifestyle related. Studies show that genes account for 15%-20% of all cases, which means we have some influence on the remaining 80%.

None of us have complete control over what will happen to us during the course of our lives, but we do have the ability to control how we eat, how we live and how we treat our body. There is no better method of prevention, than a combination of nutritional and lifestyle factors that support the body and the mind. More

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