It's All About RESULTS!

Nowadays, with fast food, 8 minute abs, instant grits (GASP!!), text messaging, ect. - everything moves at lightening speed…or it's expected to.  Ever waited for "that guy" to text you back??  Those 30 seconds felt like decades!!!  The excuses that go through our minds in those 30 seconds - "he's probably with another girl!!"  "he thinks I'm a loser."  "ya know…whatever, I don't even like him that much anyway!"  Then he replies, "hey, beautiful!  been thinking about you all day!"  Annnnnnd suddenly you are back to drafting your tattoo of his name on your body.  Typical. 

We live in such a culture of instant results, that when things take time (even 30 seconds!!), we feel that it's not worth OUR time and we move on.  But I am here to tell you - to PREACH to you - that the BEST things…they are worth the wait.  (Shout out to my awesome husband here! :)

Let's…get... physical, physical…for a minute and talk about working out.  I admit - I was always the girl that looked for the instant results when it came to fitness.  I bought every tape/DVD/gadget out there - Cindy Crawford's workout, Tony Little, Tae-Bo, The Firm, Thigh-Master, Brazilian Butt-Lift, and even some crazy thing that promised to shock my abs into shape.  I would give each of them a SOLID, committed, beyond dedicated 3 to 4 days…and then toss it in the graveyard of fitness fails.  What I needed was a personal trainer, but I knew I couldn't afford it.  So on I would go to the next quick-fix, until…..  

Three years ago this month, I stumbled upon a gym that is truly unlike anything I have ever tried (and clearly, I have tried it all.)  They market themselves as a 30-minute, total body workout, that's fun and addictive.  Curious…I thought, why not?  And would you believe, I have actually been going consistently for now THREE YEARS!!  Me!!  The girl who wouldn't give anything else more than a week before rejecting it!  What is this amazing gym, you ask?  It's 9Round -  30 minutes, kickboxing inspired workout where you get a total body workout and muscle confusion every single day.  BEST!! My husband is also addicted!  It's too fun to be called "working out,"  and it's too cool to be called a "gym."  This place is all about a fitness lifestyle and making it attainable.  But the results speak for themselves…

After consistently going to 9Round 4-5x a week, my clothes definitely felt a little different.  But overall, I just felt healthy, not so much "buff."  Then after 5 months of consistency, I was in Mexico for a dear friend's wedding.  A few people made comments about my figure, but I just thought they were being nice.  And then I saw this picture of myself:  

Are those abs?!?!  On me??  What tha...?  When did…?  I was shocked!!  I did not expect that.  31 years old in that picture, and I looked better than I did in my 20s!  Talk about motivation to keep going!!!  Now, I'm not some Victoria's Secret model or anything, but this was truly the best ME I have ever been!!  After the wedding, I started right back at 9Round (and they actually got a few new members off of that trip!  ha!), and I have been going ever since.  This was me this past August for another friend's wedding in Maui (yes…my friends have super cool weddings.  Don't hate.)  

Just 30 minutes a day, 4-5 times a week!  Almost everyone can make time for that.  And the best part is that 9Round is completely affordable!!  Waaaaay cheaper than a personal trainer (although you actually get one with them!) and even cheaper than most gyms!  If you have one in your area, you MUST go and check it out.  Your first work out is FREE!  If you are close the Uptown/South End area of Charlotte, you can find me at John's location.  If you are south of the city, you'll want to hit up Mark and Suzi's location.  Not in Charlotte??  No worries!  9Round is one of the FASTEST growing franchises, so you can be sure there is one near you or will be soon!  Check out all locations here!  

But what does this have to do with skincare??? Glad you asked.  :) Answer: everything.  This is why we ask all of our customers to take pictures of their skin before they start our regimens.  Just like with our bodies, we are our toughest critics.  So relying on the reflection in the mirror to talk back to you and motivate you will keep you feeling like you are not making any progress.  But pictures do not lie.  They capture the reality of what is actually there.  You WILL see results!  Not overnight, probably not even in a week, but over time, and definitely after 60 days, you will see your progress, and you will love it!  But, you have to be consistent in your morning and nightly routines!  

And just like the gym, when you start something new, it can be painful!  (I couldn't walk for a solid 3 days after my first visit to 9Round!)   Our bodies (and our skin) react to change!  But isn't that what we are going for here??  Change??  Don't think "why bother?" or "a few days of not using it won't really make a difference."  or "it's not working."  It is working…it DOES work, but you must be present to win.  Stay in the game…keep washing your face…be consistent! I can't WAIT to see all of my customers' results!!