Janice Cesar's blog: Finding your POWER with healthy living

Exercise, to me, is a form of therapy. I use it to feel strong. It empowers me.

Two years ago my personal life took a dive and my marriage ended. It was a complete surprise to me and rocked my world. How could I possibly move on? How would I handle 4 little boys on my own? The world seemed very dark and honestly I wanted to throw myself on the couch and eat brownies until I just couldn’t breathe anymore. (and I might have done that for a few days!) I decided to channel all my frustration into a new workout plan. I picked up an olympic weight bar and added the plates….one by one….and taught myself how to deadlift. I picked up heavy dumbbells and I lifted them over and over and over. Heavy weights became my therapist. Over the summer, my body transformed and people who hadn’t seen me in a year barely even recognized me. I built my STRONG on the outside and with it, came the sense of strong on the inside.

I could do this. I could pick up my life, move on, and make it stronger. As Maria Shriver said “You have to be willing to let go of the life you planned in order to make the life you’re meant to live.”

I got an email from this company recently and their message really sunk in for me.They believe that “women have incredible potential and that healthy living helps unlock that power”.

This is SO true. You have to believe in yourself and sometimes just lifting that bar over your head or running your fastest mile or completing that triathlon, will turn that switch. YOU have the power to change your life. If you are feeling like you just cannot catch a break —please do NOT give up.

Swoob has a fantastic post –We Are All Survivors –that every woman should read. Learn to love yourself for who you are and find your strength in all areas of life.

The message is about sexual assault and something that needs to be shared more often. The survivor stories make me realize that it can happen so easily, especially in my constant state of distraction. I run a lot on wooded trails with my headphones blaring because I usually think “it won’t happen to me”. Sadly, the statistics prove that it could easily happen to me! Sabre has a Runner Pepper Spray with Adjustable Hand Strap that is ideal for runners and walkers. One can never be too prepared.

I rarely run with any ID or keys because I don’t have anywhere to put them. Swoob has solved that problem for me with their sports bra line that has an interior pocket. It’s genius! I have the Dragonfly Travel Pocket bra—as you can see, there is a little pocket on the inside that is perfect for your ID.

Since it is in the middle, you don’t even feel it it up against your body.

I’m headed out now for a run and get my daily therapy. Two years ago I didn’t think I could do all of this and now I know that not only can I do it, I do it pretty damn well!