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BE YOUR BEST

BY LEARNING FROM THE BEST

SSomeone smarter than me once said that continuous learning leads to continuous improvement. While the name of the person didn’t stick with me, the sentiment did. We can only get better when we are open-minded and willing to learn from other people who are doing it better. For me, it’s being able to ask the question – brace yourself – what if I’m…wrong?

I used to think that to lose weight,

I had to crash diet. To get fit, I had to follow a six-week intensive exercise regime. I was so focused on putting a time limit on my goals.

I wanted perfection and I wanted it as quickly as possible. And shock of shockers, it never worked. I inevitably fell off the proverbial wagon and was left feeling like a huge failure. I was hungry, tired and pissed off all the time.

I was going about things all wrong. My best thinking was leading me in the wrong direction.

I started paying attention to the women who seemed to be sailing through life, happy and healthy.

They looked great, but they also seemed to feel great – I wanted some of that! That’s where I learned this concept of continuous improvement: setting small, attainable goals and getting a little bit better each day. If it worked for them, maybe it could work for me.

That’s what this magazine is all about. These pages do not contain quick fixes, they provide information and advice from women who really know what they’re talking about. I’ll be the first to admit that things like positive energy and affirmations used to solicit a self-righteous eye roll from me (“I am an athlete, damn it!”). But then I opened up my mind long enough to be teachable and to admit to myself that my own ideas about health and wellness might be misguided. In this special issue, you will learn from Nichelle Laus, a real-life warrior who is conquering life one battle at a time. She shares her inspiring story, but also her favourite workouts to light a fire under your butt. And sprinkle some Olympian into your daily routine by learning how gymnast Ellie Black has set goals and worked through challenges to stay on top of her sport for nearly a decade.

Plus, the power of positive thinking, harnessing energy, daily affirmations, intuitive eating and so much more helpful and honest advice from Canadian women who are killing it at life. As women, we are trained to feel jealous of other women who are successful, but those days are o-v-e-r. These women are not threats; they are teachers.

When you set the goal of getting just 1% better every day, you are going to constantly be feeling successful. And success makes you feel powerful and in control (the exact opposite of the way we feel when we fail at a diet or exercise challenge). Open your mind and your heart to living life differently – you might just surprise yourself! Cheers!

JULIE LAWRENCE Editor, OptiMYz

2021 Vol.14 No.3 OptiMYz is a magazine for Canadian women who care about improving their health, fitness and lifestyle—and who want to make a better world.

EDITOR JULIE LAWRENCE DESIGNER DENISE SWAN ASSOCIATE/DIGITAL EDITOR JESSICA CLERKE PROOFREADER YASMIN MISSAGHIAN ALL OF THE BEST. ALL IN ONE PLACE. SONIA JHAS, SHAKERA MARTIN, DORIS WARD, MO HAGAN, NICHELLE LAUS, JENNIFER ETTINGER, MARYLENE VESTERGOM, MARCI WARHAFT, KRISTA STRYKER, NATALIE MACMILLAN, AERYON ASHLIE, LAUREN TOYOTA, PENNY DE VALK.

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