Is it possible to love our families and not feel the joy that should go with that? Have you ever wondered how you can create more joy in your family?  I'll share with you on today's podcast how daily exercise is the most important first step to building a joyful family: by helping us feel good so that we can do good by giving us confidence and strength to set healthy boundaries by making us more pleasant to be around by placing the responsibility of our happiness directly on ourselves by raising our standards for success in all areas of our lives At the end, I share three tips of how you can make sure you get exercise on a daily basis. As always remember, "for a more beautiful life, choose strength, always." -Coach Rebecca Fitness & Life Coach Certified

Strength For Life

Building Joyful Families

Would you be surprised to learn that having strong relationships in our lives is just as important to our health as eating and sleeping well? Listen to our new format podcast to learn how strong relationships: increase our longevity prevent illness help us bounce back better motivate us to take better care of our health act as a natural analgesic to the pains of life In the meantime, remember that "for a more beautiful life, choose strength, always." -Coach Rebecca

Life's Greatest Medicine

Join us in our interview with Brendon Collins of Strong Tower, a health and fitness studio in Cleveland, OH. Brendon's vision is to build as many happy, health, and mission-minded people as possible through accessible physical, mental, and nutritional fitness services.  Although six pack abs are nice to have, with a background as a teacher and pastor, Brendon is most passionate about life change. When he's not CrossFitting and powerlifting, Brendon reads and spends as much time as possible with his beautifully strong wife and three adventurous kids.

Brendon Collins Interview (e31)

Did you know that holding tension in our body is a learned habit? And that just as we have learned to be tense, we can learn to relax? As a gift to you, our listeners, here is a full round of progressive muscle relaxation, recorded for your listening convenience. We hit all those hot points ... shoulders, neck, back, and jaw ... as well as places you probably didn't even realize you held tension (yes...even your legs). In the editing process, I went through a full session for myself (ok, let's call it quality control) ... and I could feel the tension melting away from my body. Don't let the Grinch get you down this holiday season. Arm yourself with the power of muscle control. Have a joyful Christmas! Rebecca xo

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Have you ever chosen to skip your workout over a trip to the spa? Or, wondered if there's a better way to manage your anxiety than simply through medication? Listen this week to how daily exercise can benefit you not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Get through your holidays with confidence and low stress. Rebecca xo

Daily Exercise for Reduced Stress and Increased Confidence

Have you ever felt trapped by a thought or emotion, almost as if you didn't have any control over it? Or, have you ever wondered how to gain control of your emotions so that they don't run your life? This powerful episode shows you how to use a tool that I've benefitted from for over 20 years. After listening to the episode, follow this link so that I can send you a pdf copy of the form that I  use: Thought Transformation Form (Note: in this episode, steps 2&3 are reversed from how they appear in the form. Either order will get you results, though the steps outlined in the form are even more effective.) xo Rebecca

How to Transform Your Negative Emotions to the Positive

Have you ever worried that by giving to others, there will be less for yourself? Or, have you ever wondered if there are benefits to giving that go beyond the value of the act itself? Listen to this episode of Strength for Life to learn how acts of generosity: 1. Build an abundance mindset 2. Give you a dose of happy 3. Expands our reach in the world 4. Reduces anxiety 5. Interrupts obsessive thinking And if you make it to the end of the episode, I give you a challenge to see through in the month of December. Happy giving! xo Rebecca

Boost Your Well Being with Generosity

Are you curious about meditation but haven't known where to start? Join me as I speak with Carol Chapman of Hearts Rise Up. In addition to the Hearts Rise Up podcast that she co-hosts with Ann Serrie, the heartsriseup.com site shares many other resources to help you jump start your meditation practice.

SFL Interview: Carol Chapman of Hearts Rise Up

You've probably heard the acronym WIIFM. It stands for "What's in it for Me?" Applied to gratitude, your answer is A LOT! If you want a better life for yourself and those around you...gratitude is a great place to start. Listen to this week's Strength for Life Podcast to learn how applying a grateful mind towards your life makes every day better. xo Rebecca

Gratitude for a Better Life

Have you ever wondered how other people can stay on the straight and narrow with their eating, while you feel like you're heading in more of a zig zag line? Or, what about all those rules that your supposed to follow, do you wonder how to keep them all straight? Well, do you want the good news or the better news first? What if I told you that the secret to gaining control of your eating starts with choosing the rules that work best for you? Listen now to learn how.

Gain Control of Your Eating

In every moment, we get to choose between seeing: the problems or the grace; the "don't haves" or the "haves"; the gap or the sufficiency. One stems from a scarcity mindset and the other from a mindset of abundance. The truth is that a grumbling heart shows in our face, our attitude, and in how we take care of ourselves. If you've ever witnessed someone with radiant beauty, upon further questioning, you'd discover someone who chooses gratitude more days than not. Listen this week to how exactly gratitude makes us beautiful...and rise to the challenge posed at the end.

The Secret to Radiant Beauty

Halloween used to be one of the most stressful times of year for me. Whereas most other times of the year, I'd choose what and how much candy would come into my house, all that changed with the thought of expectant Trick or Treaters stopping by my house. Inevitably, big bags of chocolate bars and tart candies would find their way into our house, and I'd live in constant temptation. Sometimes I'd resist. Sometimes I'd succumb. What a relief it is to no longer feel like a slave to my desires. In this episode, I share the winning strategies we use in our house to feel in control and stay on track with our health goals.

Facing Halloween Candy

Do you find yourself feeling stuck in worry? Do you feel overwhelmed by all of life's demands?   What is holding you back from living the life you want to live? What do you need to move forward? Listen here for three steps you can take today to feel more free in your life.

Free Yourself to Live

You're tired of making the same mistakes with your food choices. You feel like your good intentions never last. You're not alone. Most of us know what we SHOULD be doing to eat better. But to actually DO it is something completely different. Eat 4 Results is all about the individual - YOU.

Eat 4 Results

Find out the Questions that other listeners are asking ... they might be the same as yours! Do you want to know: - Will lifting weights make me bulky? - What's the best way to build core strength? - Am I going to look masculine if I get too strong? Listen for the answers to these questions and more. xo Rebecca

Notes from the Mailbag

In the Strength for Life Podcast, we explore topics related to spiritual, mental, and physical health for more grace-filled lives. With this trinity of health in balance we can: come out of hiding to socialize; create joy in our families; and like the person we see in the mirror...all possibly for the first time.