A Note from Tosca:

IF 2012 was a year of lessons and learning then 2013 will be the year of healing and growth with new goals to achieve along the way.  I wish to put all I have learned into action.  And boy have I learned some things!

Let me start by saying “I made it!”  It may be trite to quote this but “That which does not kill you makes you stronger.”  Amazingly I feel stronger.  So what is my goal for 2013?  Leading with emotional strength I will continue to explore my physical limits.  I may compete again.  If I do it will be with results-producing Coach Rita by my side.  Stay tuned for that one.  In the gym I will continue to push for results especially for trickier body parts.  I won’t forget the basics Bob has taught me like thorough and complete training of the glutes at least three times per week, shoulder work to create a powerful frame and back work to initiate the sought after V-taper.  I may be 53 but that is not an excuse to slack off on effort.

Physical goals aside I am gripped by a desire to live my life with purpose, and struggled over the holidays with what that purpose was.  I asked myself, “Am I doing enough?  Am I where I should be?  How can I build a stronger wider base so everyone can enjoy the Eat-Clean lifestyle I so adore?  Am I optimizing the talents and skills I have to be my best?  What more is there for me?”  You can see these questions are presenting themselves because they are demanding answers.  I believe there is much more work to be done here and I intend to bring my message into full sunshine this year with continued hard work and creative thinking.  Giddyup!

For my family I have a goal to continue the close-knit chemistry we have but to also help each of my children step fully into independence by supporting them as they pursue their dreams.  It takes courage for a mother to cut loose her little lambs but she must do it in order that they reach their full potential.  This year we will see Rachel graduating from naturopathic medical school, writing her qualifying board exams and becoming a full fledged doctor.  Kelsey too will be graduating from university with an eye to furthering her career in art.  She may take a year off to manage the numerous works of Wolfgang Kals (Bob’s painting alias).  Kiersten is currently applying to study for her MBA and Chelsea continues to excel at university.  My girls are on their way.

Another goal I have that is most difficult to share is that I must sell our home, the home Robert and I built together.  It is simply too much house for me and although my heart aches to have to do it, I have no choice.  Every nail, board, tile, light and detail about his house was a decision made by the two of us together.  I will have to say a sad farewell but I also know I cannot move ahead unless I cut myself loose from this piece of the past.

Two more frivolous goals include dusting off my language skills and learning how to speak Spanish.  Ole!  And I also wish to take ballroom dancing lessons. I want to look amazing on my feet when Rachel gets married in 2014.

I practice gratitude every day for the multitude of gifts my life has given me.  This practice has sustained me throughout the most difficult of times. I am never too busy to say thank you.

As for you, my friends, I want you to know, I am and always have been here for you.  You may think I have an army behind me to create the Tosca Reno and Eat-Clean Diet brands but alas it is through the efforts of myself and my daughters, Kiersten, Rachel, Kelsey-Lynn and Chelsea that we bring you our love of Eating Clean and the quirky reality of my life.

Set your own goals.  Write them down. Share with me.
Gratefully,
Tosca

A Note from Coach Rita:

No goal is too big! The holidays are over, the cookies, cakes and delicacies are unfortunately just a sad reminder on our midsection. With this festive time of year complete, we are supposed to enter a new year with renewed hope, new goals on the horizon and a positive attitude for all things to come. Easier said than done? I think so. I know all too well about the pressure of goal setting (everyone else is doing it, so shouldn’t I?). Year after year, I ponder what obstacle or challenge I will try to conquer for the upcoming one. Sometimes that goal is as clear as a bell, and other times I have to dig deep to come up with one.

I have learned that goal-setting should be part of our daily routine, just as gratitude should be. When you wake up each day, or as you lay your head on your pillow at night, ponder what things in your life make you happy, which things don’t, and something you aspire to achieve. It will take some time getting used to talking, and more importantly, LISTENING to YOU. Daily practice will help you decipher which changes need to be made, and how you can better your existing circumstances. We all need a tweak here or there… trust me. No human being is exempt from bettering themselves.

Once you have figured out your goals, you can start setting out the roadmap to guide you along the way. You cannot achieve your goals or get anywhere without direction or proper planning. And trust me – there is no goal that is TOO big. Yes, we are supposed to pick tangible goals, realistic to our time frame, yadda, yadda… But I say, shoot for the impossible, the “never-ever dreamed of” and the “people-will-think-I-am-nuts” kind of goals. Without them, you will never ignite your true passions. Limitations exist only because we place them upon ourselves. I would never be where I am today, training my mentor Tosca, writing for the top women’s fitness magazine Oxygen, coaching women around the world, pursuing my passion of fitness and supporting my family along the way, if it were not for pushing myself beyond my perceived limits and expectations.

EXPECT the BEST for yourself and MAKE it happen.

I have found that visualization is a HUGE factor and great method for becoming successful. Closing your eyes and visualizing yourself in your ideal situation, whether it is in your new fit body, in a new career, or on the cover of a magazine . Daily visualization will make you feel empowered and keep you motivated. You will also need to do your homework and figure out what the best steps are to help you along your journey. You will not lose 50lbs solely by seeing it in your mind; it will be a culmination of choosing a method i.e. Eating Clean, resistance training, creating a support group, and believing that it IS possible. The same goes for any other goal. If your goal is to enter a new career path, talk to people you look up to in that new career, do your homework, get educated and try to emulate those you aspire to be like.

On a personal note, it has taken me 5 years of waking at 4am every day, Monday-Saturday, training 10+ clients daily, courses on the weekends, writing, blogging, travelling, competing (over 11 shows in 3 years), and much more, while learning the ropes of motherhood and being a supportive wife to a newcomer in this country with his own career aspirations. It has been a journey that has had many hardships, sacrifices and of course blessings and success. I would not change a thing, and am humbled by my accomplishments. I will continue to set new goals and set out the roadmap to help me arrive.

A last word of advice – do what is right for YOU in regards to your goals; they are after all, YOURS.

Coach C

“There are many roads to Rome.”